Why hello, my loves! Miss me? :) So, As I promised in my other story (The Window), I am starting a Cato/Katniss fic. It was a random idea that I couldn't get out of my head... :P
OH! And for those of you that have read my Glee in-progress story, Taking My Socks Off, I am SO SORRY I haven't updated in like... Forever. I was busy, then I forgot about it... One thing turned into the next. But I WILL be updating as soon as possible! Don't give up on me... (;
And my life kinda SUCKS right now, so I might just resort to updating weekly instead of every other day. Every Sunday? Is that fair enough?
Okay, let me tell you about the story. It takes place in the first book, and I'm debating on whether I want it in three POV's, (Cato, Katniss and Peeta) or all Cato. This chapter will be Cato, and if you like it, I'll keep going with him. If you have questions that need to be answered, I'll do the three different ones. Let me know!
Another thing, this isn't going to be my only Katniss/Cato story. I'm starting another one, and I think you'll like it even more. I'll let you know as soon as I start posting. And if you want, I'll tell you the summary in advance, as a reward for your reviews. :) Just tell me if you want the summary or not. This is 'Not Always a Monster', and the other one will be 'The Love That Wasn't'.
Oh my Josh... These author's notes are getting longer and longer... Sorry about that!
(Oh, and by the way, I'm definitely more of a Peeta/Katniss kind of person, so don't hate me, I just HAD to write this or I would go INSANE.)
Disclaimer: Hunger Games, as well as anything you recognize here DOES NOT belong to me. :P
Okay, I'll shut up now... Enjoy!
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Chapter 1: Can't Help It
Cato's POV
I'm from 2, she's from 12. We've basically been enemies since before we were born. And yet, I've loved her ever since I saw her become the Girl on Fire. (I had to admit, flames really worked for her.)
In a way, it's a good thing. It means I'm capable of not being a monster every once in a while. But I don't know what to do about it; one of us has to die in a few days.
And either way, there's a problem. Loverboy.
They're supposedly the 'Star-Crossed Lovers of District 12'. I don't believe a thing. I mean, it's obvious HE loves HER, but it's ALSO obvious that SHE doesn't love HIM.
Well, with me being from district 2, I'm one of the Careers. Maybe I can use that to help her...
As I walk to the training room, I come to a realization.
I have to get BOTH of us out alive.
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I wake up to thumping down the hallway. I look to the clock on my nightstand and see that it's 2 in the morning. Who's up at 2 in the morning? I think to myself.
I make my way to the door, slowly open it, and make my way through the long hallway. The thumping is coming from the training room. I open the door to see... Her. She's shooting arrows at targets, which explains the thumping. She doesn't notice my entrance, so I quietly make my way to the other side of the room, leaning against the wall. She looks up at me with a shy smile on her face. And then, she talks to me for the first time.
"Did I wake you?" she asks, looking slightly concerned.
I smile. "No. Couldn't sleep, Firegirl?"
"Not really... I guess I just feel too...lonely," she shrugs, continuing with her target prctice. Her voice is...beautiful. I wonder if she can sing.
"Well...maybe I could help you...?" I suggest, winking when she turns to look at me.
"Aww, Cato, you wanna snuggle?" she giggles. In seconds, I was in front of her, my arms on the side of her head, trapping her.
"Sweetie, I want much more than that with you, but I'll take what I can get," I say, surprised by my sudden outburst.
She tries to duck under my arms to get free, and I take that opportunity to gently take her face in my hands and crush her lips with mine, and at first she's unresponsive, probably shocked, but eventually she starts kissing me back with twice as much passion.
I wish Loverboy was here to see this... The thought makes me smile into the kiss. I remove my hands from her face and move them down to her waist. I pick her up and she wraps her legs around me. I turn and slowly walk to the elevator to get up to her floor. As she tangles her hands in my hair the doors open again, and I continue to slowly walk to her room, hoping I don't trip on something.
But when her door closes, all kissing stops.
"Do you want me to leave?" I ask, wondering if she's uncomfortable with me being here.
"No! I mean... Only if you want to," she says, looking at the ground.
It only takes me half of a second to respond, "I think I'll stay."
"You know, if you weren't such a good kisser I might have kicked your ass," ahh, THERE'S my Firegirl.
"I might not have minded," I say, grinning.
"Why did you kiss me in the first place?" she asks, all kidding aside.
I didn't plan on telling her now... What do I say?
Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.
Come on, your Cato! Just think of something, but don't piss her off.
And then, the truth comes out before I can stop it. "I love you."
Her eyes became the size of the targets. She doesn't say anything.
"I...should get going," I say, feeling embarressed for the first time in my life.
I then feel her small hand on my wrist. "Don't go, I guess I kind of like you, too," she flashes me a cute crooked grin. I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her hair. We lay on the bed, and I'm hoping she can get some sleep. I want to tell her about my plan tomorrow. I'm going to ditch the Careers in the arena and team up with her, keep up the romance, and if the crowd likes it, they'll change the rules and allow two victors due to popular demand. It's flawless, really. With my strength and overall power working with her stealth, we're invincible. This thought pleases me enough that I fall asleep peacefully.
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Oh shit.
I stayed all night. What if one of someone comes in and sees us?
I gently shake Katniss' shoulder, and her eyes flutter open. I swear that that's the hottest thing I have ever seen. Ever.
"Hey, beautiful," I say with a smile. "I have to go, I don't want anyone to find us like this. But meet me in the training room tonight, there's something I want to tell you."
And with that, I hear the key being put in the door to unlock it. I panic, and so does Katniss. "Hide!" she hisses. I immediately run into the closet, hoping no one saw me. I hear voices, although the conversation is muffled by the closet doors. It lasts about ten minutes, and then the doors open, and there stands my Firegirl. She walks to the bathroom and grabs a towel, obviously about to take a shower, and then proceeds to start taking her clothes off. I'm shocked.
"You can leave now, 2," she says. I move to stand behind her and trace her small frame. She's in a light purple bra and matching underwear.
"Oh, and miss out on seeing my Firegirl naked? I don't think so," I grin and turn her around so I can bask in her beauty. She's gained alot of the weight that she didn't have from being malnourished. She's obvioualy not fat, and from the training, she's basically all muscle. her breasts aren't huge, but I think I like them all the same. And her ass... Don't even get me started on her ass.
"Like what you see?" she asks jokingly.
"You have NO idea."
She takes a step closer and runs her hand down my chest, and starts fiddling with the button on my jeans. "Well if you're staying, you have to take your clothes off too. Just to be fair," she teases. I decide to try my luck and step away, taking my shirt off as I go. She just stares.
I've been training my whole life, so obviously I'm toned. She wasn't expecting it to suit me so well.
She practically tackles me, but I manage to regain my balance. Her lips are on mine instantly, and I turn her around so she's pinned against the door. I move my hands to her ass, squeezing lightly. She rewards me with a long moan. Just then, we hear her door open, and we both freeze. "I'll hide again..." I say, moving to stand in the shower. She's about to say something to me when the bathroom door opens and in comes... Loverboy, I think with disgust. I'm hidden by a half wall, but I can hear and see just about everything.
"Hey, Katn-" he stops, taking in her appearence. She's still in her bra and underwear, and he's staring at her chest. That bothers me.
Without a second thought, I step out of the shower and look menacingly into his eyes. "Watch where you look, Loverboy. You know, you should really knock before barging into someone's bathroom like that. Major cockblock, dude. NOT apprecciated."
He stares at me in disbelief, and then turns and hauls ass out the door.
Katniss grins mischeviously. "You should go, 2."
"Whatever. Don't stay naked TOO long without me," I wink and leave the room.
As soon as I step into the hallway, I get a furious glare from 12's mentor, Haymitch.
"I heard about your little encounter with Peeta," he starts. I'm surprised he actually looks sober. "Look, I don't know what you think you're doing, but Katniss is actually a good girl. Don't screw her over like I'm sure you've done to every girl you could get your hands on. The Games are in a week, don't let her get attached to you. Because loving someone is all they need to be able to take everything away from you." And with that, he walks away.
I shake my head and make my way to the elevator, knowing I would prove him wrong in the arena.
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My day is pretty normal, I talk with my mentors, Brutus and Enobaria. I try to tell them about my plan with Katniss, and at first they throw a tantrum, but after a few death threats, I get them to agree. The rest of the day is pretty boring until I meet Katniss in the training room.
When I walk in, I notice that she's in her pajamas. It's a dark blue nightgown that only goes down to just below her butt. The straps are thin and by the way she's sitting, I can see down the front of it. I walk over to the couch she's sitting on and pick her up, sitting her on my lap so that the nightgown moved up a few inches, exposing her pea green underwear.
"Hey, 12," I smile at her.
"Hey, 2," she returns my smile.
"So, I was thinking I could ditch the Careers in the arena after I get whatever we need from the cornucopia. I'm determined to get both of us out alive. I already talked to Brutus and Enobaria, and they said they'll help. Okay?"
She looks up at me, and then her hands are in my hair. The kissing continues, and only one though occurs in my mind.
I WILL get to keep my Firegirl.
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So... What did you think? (: Let me know! And if you haven't already read the A/N at the beginning of this...READ IT! I know it's long, but it's important! So, let me know your opinion about the POV's and the summary. I think the next chapter will be the Games. Hope you enjoyed it! See you Sunday... (:
~Alex