A.N: Sorry about the dark chapters recently, I know some people think it's sad and I know that you think I hate him, but he needs to hit rock bottom before he's built up again. The next chapter will be a little bit sad but that will be the last one for a while. Also I was just going to say, thank you for the reviews, I need you to tell me whether you are actually feeling emotion for Peeta and even Cato with Clove's confession on his behalf because I don't actually know.

Cato P.O.V

I rubbed my eyes; I just had enough for today. As soon as she got back to the room Clove started having a fucking go at me, 'Why'd you call him a fag Cato?, 'Why did you do it Cato?'

I don't know why I fucking called him a fag; it just happened I didn't think about it. It came out before I could stop myself. I ran my hand down my face rubbing my temples in exasperation. I grabbed the door opening it with a hollow click, I stood rooted to the spot, I started second guessing myself did I lock the door. I entered cautiously; my footsteps gradually making me walk into the rooms.

Shit, my eyes watered threatening to break into tears. I choked at the broken figure huddled in the darkness. Waves of pain radiated from his body, slumped in exhaustion. I crawled over to his body, scared to touch him in case he broke underneath my touch, the feelings were all consuming. The perpetual beatings of my childhood paralyzed me into fear. No snap out of it, he needs you, he needs you Cato. I fiddled with the overcomplicated knots of the material tied on his hands and around the back of his head. Once his binds were released, I glanced over him the purple bruises faintly forming around his wrists. Tears streaked my cheeks, I picked him up embracing him closer, my arms cradling and protecting him but I felt helpless unable to relieve the deep seated trauma that littered the stains on his skin and the tracks that had paved his cheeks.

I checked the hall, its eerie silence adding to the boys despair but thankfully it was clear. I lay him down on the bottom bunk in his room, turning on the shower. The hot jets finally transforming into a steady stream of clarity, I thrust my hand into the flow checking the temperature. I couldn't gauge the heat properly as I heard slight, haunting screams from the next room. My legs couldn't carry me fast enough to his side; I seized his shoulders shaking lightly coaxing him out of his living nightmare. His head lolled to the side until his eyes pierced my own, his playfulness substituted for detachment. He was slipping through my fingers like liquid sunshine, the remnants of warmth only enough to heat the tips of my fingers let alone my heart. He was oblivious to everything his fatigue making him unresponsive to the point of delirium, stuck in the purgatory between reality and his fresh lingering nightmares.

The temperature was just right; I placed him in the shower, whispering tenderly "Peeta I need you to stand up. Can you do that for me?" his head moved to a small extent as he used the last of his strength to prop his arms on the wall. I took off my tux jacket and pushed the toilet seat down to place it on porcelain cover. I squirted the shower gel into my hand, rubbing thoroughly over his body until it became a thick lather, repeating with the shampoo and conditioner. His arms slipped on the tiles, I caught his body with my arm wrapped around his torso. The water turned off, the continuous sprinkle resulting in erratic drops. I grabbed the towel, wiping him down. I went to wipe the other side, until I noticed the lip shaped bruise beneath his collar bone toward the centre, the sick bastard gave him a hickey.

I place him on the bottom bunk for the second time, walking to the bathroom I picked up my jacket and looked in the mirror, I was completely soaked. My hair stuck out at all angles, I stripped down to my boxers and folded my clothes. I pulled open Peeta's drawers searching for anything that will remotely cover anything, I found a pair of faded grey sweatpants that came to mid shin and sat at the end stroking his newly washed locks. I brushed his cheek with the back of my hand and placed a kiss on his forehead. I can't wait to find the fucker who did this; it was the only thought racing through my mind as he drifted off to sleep, as soon as I moved he fidgeted disgruntled by the loss of company. I pulled my phone from Clove's Dad out of my jacket pocket and draped it over his shoulders, the content look on his face telling me it worked. I searched through the contacts I had for Clove ringing her in a matter of seconds

"What is it Cato?" her voice lethargic

"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you but you need to come to Peeta's room now."

"What are you doing in his room?"

"Just...can you come here please?" The pause in her voice insinuated that she grasped the gravity of the situation.

"Fine, just give me 2 seconds to put on some better clothes."

"Thank you, Clove."

"Ok, ok," her voice cut off as she put down the phone. The room was lit by the small desktop lamp and the electrical illumination of the screen in my hand.

I spun in the chair watching Peeta sleep and waiting for the door to open.

~xXx~

Clove sat on the opposite set of untouched bunks, facing Peeta "What happened?"

"I don't know," I found it hard to hide my worry "he was jus-just lying there."

"It's okay," she always knew what to say "I think, I think it might be my fault."

"Why?"

"Well, I mean about 4 hours ago he came out as gay to me and then you find him like this," she points at the vulnerable boy on the bed "there's got to be some connection."

"That doesn't mean it was your fault, it was a sadistic shit who was eavesdropping." Clove buried her face in her palms brushing her hair back with her hands.

"Cato," I could see her starting to shake, forcing the words to out of her mouth "what did you find?"

"I cleaned him up, there isn't much physical marks except for the slight fist mark and he hickey."

"A hickey?"

"Yeah."

"For fuck sake"

"I know Clove, I know. I'm more worried about how he is, you know? Mentally, emotionally I mean we've both seen it first hand, haven't we?" I looked up as she sighed heavily the silent understanding passing between us. She changed the conversation, distracting us from the depressing air that clung to our skin like invisible icy hands

"Are you going to stay here tonight?"

"I'm thinking about it, yeah. You can go back to your bed now if you want?"

"No. No offense Cato but he might want some female company."

"Uh huh," I muttered. Clove climbed to the top bunk of the unused bed and I lay down on top of the other sheets that were slightly scrunched from were Clove had been sitting.

~xXx~

I awoke startled by the sudden movement in the room; my eyes opened little by little adjusting to the light that flooded the room. The golden rays that jutted from the gaps in the curtains, dotted the floor with sparks of yellow like scattered pieces of hope that with any luck could be reassembled between him and Peeta. When his eyelids fully opened Peeta was sat up with the sheets and his jacket pulled up to his neck, hiding his dignity. He looked positively transcendent, astonishingly beautiful for the night he had just experienced which added to the panging feeling inside him.

"Psst Clove," the top bunk remained silent "Clove he's awake." As I finished she vaulted on to the floor and sat at the end of the bed. She spoke first

"How are you Peeta?"

"What happened? Where are my clothes?"

"Peeta can you remember anything about last night?" Clove asked, I stared at his face as it scrunched up, contorted as he reminisced, he pulled the sheets wrapping it around his waist and ran to the bathroom. The following sounds of dry heaving at his failed attempt at being sick caused the sadness to repeat all over again, I wanted to run over to him, I would do anything for him. Clove pointed to her chest where the hickey was, I acknowledged what she was doing and then I noticed her face the faded mess of mascara that lined her face. She's just as upset as me.

He came out a couple of minutes later "Can I just have some time to myself. Please."

We stood up and headed for the door, Clove and I saying are goodbyes "Promise me you'll see me, you don't have to deal with this alone." Peeta smiled to the best extent he could muster.

Before I shut the door, I said one last thing "Sorry...Peeta." He stared at me wide eyed like a deer in headlights completely off guard and I closed the door behind me. I loitered at the door, listening to the cries that wretched his whole body. That's the first time I've called him Peeta in a long time.