Author's note: Wow! That was the best chapter yet in terms of reviews! You guys are awesome! I'm deeply sorry for not updating sooner, I've just had a bit of writer's block and life has been busy. Here's the next chapter which goes out to Roborams not only for being a great reviewer and FF friend but also for agreeing to proofread my chapters. K, you're awesome! Also, I big thank you to Jada and StoryLover who reviewed. I can't reply personally to you like I do all the others so you get a special shout out. Loved your ideas, Jada, by the way. I may just use some of them.
Disclaimer: Won't be repeating myself here. You all know the drill and who it belongs to...
Brutus POV
I'm in the lobby waiting for Haymitch. I assume he wants to talk about Cato and Katniss allying during the Games. I know it's what Cato wants. Although, come to think of it, he was pretty quiet coming back from the roof this morning. I wonder if he spoke to Katniss about it.
"Brutus."
"What's up Haymitch?"
"Let's go somewhere else, shall we? We need to talk." He gives me a look like he's trying to relay a message.
"Okay. Where to?"
"There's a bar not far from here. We can talk there."
"Let's go then."
We walk on in silence for about 10 minutes. We get to the bar and it's not promising. It's seedy and looks like a dive. The perk? We walk in and you can count the patrons on one hand. That's fantastic if Haymitch is looking for privacy. He looks at me and mumbles, "No cameras."
Why would he be worried about being filmed? I must be giving a skeptical or confused look because he sighs and says, "No chance of being overheard by the Powers that Be." He sniggers.
"Why can't we be overheard?"
"Because I can guarantee that rule change wasn't sanctioned by our most beloved President and so I don't want him to know what we're cooking up."
"I see. Let's do this then."
We take a table in a darker corner, because of course the corners in this bar have to be darker to emphasize its seediness. It's very cliché. We order our drinks and wait for them to arrive before we start our conversation.
"Alright, Haymitch. What did you have in mind? Assuming your girl wants to come out with Cato, of course."
"Of course she does. Only she doesn't know it yet."
"What? What do you mean she doesn't know it yet?"
"Let me explain something to you about people from the Seam in my district. We may be poor and starving but we're also proud. We've lived our lives being seen as the scum of the country and because of that the saying, only the strongest survive, has a very distinct application. People starve everyday because working in the mines doesn't pay enough to support a family, even a small one. It's just a fact of life. And no one does anything for free, because they just can't. If you can't pay then you trade or you have a debt to repay. Katniss' dad died in those mines when she was eleven. Her family was starving to death because her mom went catatonic. Katniss was the one who stepped up to try and keep her family alive."
"Are you serious?"
"Do you see me smiling? No. Anyways, after a few months, the money ran out and they started starving too. She would trade what she could from their meager belongings but it wasn't enough. One night, when they were inches from death, she gave up. It was raining and cold and all she had to trade were baby clothes that nobody no one wanted. She collapsed by a tree and was ready to die when Peeta threw her couple loaves of fresh bread. He took a beating from his bitch of a mother for it too. Two days later, I saw her, as she is today, for the first time. She showed up at the Hob, which is our black market of sorts, with game to trade. From that point on, she raised her sister Prim and kept food on the table for her family and a good part of the Seam almost single-handedly. Her mom has never been the same."
My eyes are as wide as they can get. I can't believe all that girl has gone through. It definitely makes me respect her more than I did before.
"What do you mean she's fed a good part of the Seam? I thought you said that no one does anything for free?"
"She doesn't. But she also doesn't make fair trades with them. Katniss gives some game to the much poorer families who repay her by doing simple jobs like watching after Prim or mending things. They definitely get the better deal and they know it but they accept it nonetheless because it's all they can offer."
"Okay, I understand that. So she feels like she has a debt towards Peeta for giving her bread? But that would be easy to repay if she hunts. Just give him game to pay for the bread."
"If only it were that simple..."
I give him a quizzical look.
"That debt is easily repaid, yes, but she doesn't see it as just bread. The way she figures, he saved her family's life that day. So the debt she needs to repay is much bigger, much more difficult to repay. And because of this sense of honour she has, misguided or not, she feels like she owes it to Peeta to ally with him and come out of the Games with him. A life for a life and all that."
Oh shit. That's going to be difficult to work against...
"Okay... So what do we do then? Why are we here if she wants to ally with Peeta?"
"We're here because it's in her best interest to come out of there with Cato. If you haven't noticed they've been attached at the hip outside of training since the parade. If they can't be together they constantly look at each other. It's sickening really, but there it is. After everything she's been through, she deserves a shot at happiness and if Cato's that shot, then so be it. She can't put her own life's desires aside again for someone else. That girl's got only her sister. She has one other friend that I know of and that's it. She's never had fun and she's definitely never lived because the minute her dad died, she was an adult with all the responsibilities that entails. She went from being an eleven year old carefree little girl who danced and sang to the serious, stoic young woman who puts everyone before herself. I'm not letting that happen, not this time."
"Wow, Haymitch, that's quite a speech coming from you!" We both look up and find Johanna, the mentor from District 7, and Finnick, the mentor from District 4, staring at us with matching grins.
"Yeah, Haymitch. Who are you talking about that sparked such eloquence and loquaciousness?" Finnick says in his usual flirtatious manner.
They both snicker and Haymitch scowls.
"Why don't you two mind your own business? Can't you see we're talking here?"
"Ah, Haymitch, you wound us greatly with your rudeness." Oh God, he is such a drama queen! I roll my eyes at Haymitch and Finnick continues. "We were just coming here for a drink to discuss this year's tributes when we saw you two. We figured you were doing the same. Are you not?"
"Sort of. We're discussing..."
"Yes that's exactly what we're doing." Haymitch cuts me off and gives me a significant look.
"Perfect, so we can join you then!" And they both pull up chairs and sit down.
"So, who were you talking about? Your girl tribute?"
"Maybe."
"Well it must have been her since you were referring to a girl. Unless of course there's something about the boy that no one knows..." Johanna wiggles her eyebrows at that and Haymitch gets red in the face.
"Fine, we were talking about Katniss."
"Yes I figured as much. That girl sure is special isn't she? She's quite the spitfire."
"Yes, Finnick, she is special. That's why I'm going to fight like hell so that she gets out of that arena."
"And teaming up with a District 2 tribute is going to do it?"
"It might."
"What about her own district partner?"
"As much as I hate to say it, he's dead weight to Katniss. He doesn't have the skills to fight for himself out there. He's not a killer or a survivor. She'd have to worry about feeding him as well as keeping him safe the whole time and she would get herself killed in the process. I like the kid but he's not a fighter, not like you need to be to win this."
"I see. So why District 2 then? Is there something going on between her and the boy? They do stare at each other quite a bit. Ooh! Are they the reason behind this rule change?"
Even though I know they won't use this information to their tributes' advantage, I'm still uncomfortable with them hitting the nail on the head like that. Especially since we don't even know how things are going to go down yet.
"No Finnick. Pairing up with 2 is her best chance at winning. Have you seen the size of that kid? He's a monster!"
I smile proudly. He is a monster. Or was. I don't know how he'll react in the arena now that he cares for Katniss. I really hope he doesn't go soft.
"Sure he's big but so is the boy from 11. Why not him?" Why are they both so God damned perceptive?!
"No, I already tried. He's allying with his district partner. They're almost like family I hear."
"Hmm. Very well. Maybe we should all discuss strategy together then. Maybe we can cook up something that will shock and amaze our Dear Leader."
"Maybe some other time, Finnick. We're kind of in the middle of something and I don't think your tributes are going to want to be a part of it."
"Let's be honest, Haymitch," Johanna scoffs, "we both know my tributes won't make it past the bloodbath. They have no skills."
I roll my eyes. "Johanna, you're seriously giving up on your tributes before they get their training scores? You're worse than Haymitch!" Only the mentors from outer districts would give up so easily.
"What Brutus? Are you offended because I'm being honest? I asked those kids what they could do and they told me themselves they can't use any weapons and never learned any survival skills even though we live in the fucking lumber district! They should know how to use the trees to their advantage for crying out loud but guess what? They can't!"
Finnick has his trademark smirk on his face, completely unfazed by Johanna's outburst. Haymitch looks at her with understanding because he's used to tributes being unable to take care of themselves. He's used to giving up from the beginning. He does what he has to do to try and get sponsors for them but he doesn't make extra efforts. This year is the only time since I started mentoring that I've seen him almost sober and totally engaged in getting his tributes all the help they could possibly need. I'm the only one who is taken aback at her angry outburst. Then again, I'm the one who's the least used to her since I've never really interacted with her much.
"Okay, Okay! Sorry I said anything, Jo." I back off quickly, not wanting to further aggravate her.
"Can we get back to the matter at hand, please? I've got a girl to save."
"Right, your princess... Isn't that what you call her?", Johanna says mockingly.
"Princess? Ha! You couldn't have picked a name less fitting for Katniss. I call her Sweetheart."
Johanna looks sceptical. "Hmm. She seems a little cold to be a sweetheart".
"I'm not getting into this again. She wasn't always stone faced like she is now, okay?"
I sigh, getting frustrated with Johanna. "Can we just get back to the matter at hand, please?"
"No need to get your panties in a bunch, Brutus." They all laugh.
I've had enough I think. "Alright Haymitch, come see me when you're ready to talk seriously."
I make my way to leave when Haymitch calls me back. "Come on, Brutus. We can talk; Jo and Finn are going to leave us to our conversation unless they have something constructive to add, right guys?"
"Well count me out. My tributes don't have anything to add to a possible alliance. I'll see you guys later."
We all wave Jo off and turn back to one another. "Ok, so what's the plan?" Finnick starts.
"Here's the story, Finn. Katniss feels like she owes Peeta and because of this she thinks the only way to pay him back is by allying with him so he can come out of the Games. The thing is, Peeta wouldn't survive very long on his own which means he would only be dragging Katniss down, getting himself or both of them killed. She can't constantly be worrying about keeping him safe. She has to worry about herself."
"Gotcha. And she can only do that if partnered with the District 2 boy?"
"Cato's the best shot she's got", I say a little affronted that he doubts Cato's capabilities. "He's been trained to kill and to be ready for anything."
"Right. But how do you know he won't turn on her, Haymitch?"
Really? "He won't. I guarantee it. Cato has learned to listen to me as his mentor. He knows better than to defy me."
"Okay, so you get her to ally with Cato. She's bound to do what you tell her, right?"
Haymitch bursts out laughing. He's laughing so hard he's almost crying. I turn and look at Finnick, "You think he's gone crazy or something?"
"I'm not crazy. It's just hilarious that you think she would actually listen to me! No, we have to do this so she thinks it's her idea. She will not take orders."
Finnick looks like he's thinking hard when his face lights up. "Why don't we just let her ally with Peeta in the beginning? Then I could instruct one of my tributes to get Peeta out of the way, leaving her free to get together with Cato."
"Hmm. That might be an idea except they can't kill him in front of her. She'll feel guilty and stuff. Bah! There's no sense in working Katniss into this strategy. She'll do what she feels is right and won't listen to anyone when the time comes. It's probably best if we just work on the boy's strategies and see where the cards fall."
If she's as stubborn as he says she is, that may be the best option we have. "Agreed."
Finnick interjects, "You know... You should both counsel your tributes to play up their part in the love story. It will be a very popular scheme for the interviews. I'll bet every tribute will play that aspect to get their share of sponsors and to get the attention. The betting stations have been backed up since the announcement. Everybody wants to know who the happy couple is and they are betting like crazy. They're also highly speculative about who will be crowned Victors. There are the usual individual bets and they've added betting on the winning pair."
"How's my Sweetheart doing in the polls?"
"Not too high, I'm afraid. She's popular, very popular, but people don't know anything about her skills so they aren't betting that she will come out. With respect to the love story though, she and Peeta are battling for first place with GIimmer and Cato."
"Bah! I don't know why they'd bet on Cato and Glimmer. He's got no interest in her."
"Who's he interested in then?"
"Finn, stop trying to get information that doesn't exist. Now let's go or we'll miss our tributes coming out of the private sessions."
The three of us get up and walk back to the Training Centre (Center) slowly. We didn't get much accomplished which is why I stay silent most of the way back. I'll admit, I'm grumpy. I thought we'd get a strategy in place that could help both Cato and the girl but we ended up with no strategy except to play up the love story thing. This was a waste of time... I guess I'll have to figure something out for Cato myself. At least I know a little more about the girl and her intentions.
Alright. That's it. This chapter doesn't have a lot of action but I had writer's block and just couldn't figure out a good strategy that would keep the audience (Capitolites) inspired and rooting for Cato and Katniss. Bah! Next chapter we go back to the tributes.
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