CHAPTER 3.22
'To the ends of the earth,
Would you follow me?
There's a world that was meant,
For our eyes to see.'
A/N: RATING HAS CHANGED. IF NOT COMFORTABLE WITH M MATERIAL, SKIP THE MIDDLE PART OF THE STORY.
Unshed tears glistened in Katniss' grey eyes but they burned brightly with carefully controlled anger. Taken aback by the expression, Indiana pondered whether Katniss was angered by Peeta's words or by what the Capitol had turned him into. Stood by Haymitch's side, they had monitored the conversation that occurred between Katniss and the volatile blonde and whilst it might not have been the reunion Katniss was hoping for, it had gone far better than the first time.
Ten minutes passed whilst the medics analysed Peeta's behaviour to see if he developed a delayed negative reaction to Katniss' presence. After he continued to sit peacefully in his bed, they allowed Indiana to enter with a warning that he could quickly change. Brushing off their concern, Indiana knew Peeta would never hurt her. After all, she had been there with him since the beginning.
"Hey, you." Indiana smiled at him, an expression that widened when she saw the equally joyous look on his face. "I brought you cake."
"Why, good evening, Mrs Hadley. I wasn't expecting to see you tonight," he greeted, shuffling over so that she could sit next to him on the bed. "You're finally married. Didn't I tell you that Cato wouldn't stop until you were back in his arms?"
"I suppose this means I should listen you more often then, huh?" Indiana teased, bumping his shoulder with her own.
"Now you get it," chuckled Peeta.
Laughing along with him, Indiana tilted her head and took in the state of her friend. Dark circles were still under his eyes and whilst his face was gaining more weight in it, it still had a chalky complexion. Attempting to keep the sympathy out of her face, she faked a smile when he looked at her.
Whilst she had been able to fake her recovery and get discharged, it had been impossible for Peeta to mask the madness milling beneath his calm façade. Hearing the word Katniss turned him feral, let alone seeing her and unless that changed, he would continue being trapped here.
"How can I ever thank you? My cake was beautiful. My only regret is that you weren't there for the ceremony."
"You don't have to thank me. I can never repay you for all you did for me in the Capitol. You kept me sane and the cake was just me beginning to find a way to thank you."
"Oh, Pete, you never have to thank me for that. We were in the same boat and nobody should have had to suffer through that alone. Anyway, I didn't help you half as much as you helped me."
Wrapping her arms around him, the two blondes were reluctant to let go of the other. Trapped in an unfamiliar place, Peeta felt as if he had simply traded one prison for another. Indiana's visits provided him with a sense of companionship and he was reluctant for her to leave as he would be alone once more.
Guilt coursed through Indiana when she realised she was leaving him alone yet again. Peeta had grown hateful of the woman he loved yet Indiana was about to spend the night with the man she loved in wedded bliss. Eventually his conscience got the best of him and Peeta dropped his arms, pulling away from the beautiful bride.
"I shouldn't keep you from your groom for too long."
Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at her, Peeta wished Indiana an enjoyable evening. Sensing her hesitation, he promised her that he would be fine on his own and that his slice of cake would be keeping him company. Kissing him softly on the cheek, she thanked him once more before skipping towards the door. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkled as she thought about what was waiting for her.
"Indiana?" Peeta called out before she could leave. "You look extremely lovely tonight. Cato is lucky to have you."
"After everything that's happened, I'm the one who is lucky to have him."
Leaning back into her husband, Indiana smiled contentedly when he began loosening the braids in her hair and gently brushed out any knots with his fingers. Sighing at the tender touches, she turned in his arms and began undoing the buttons on his crisp shirt. Sliding the material down his muscular arms, she giggled when he jokingly flexed for her, his own fingers tickling their way up her arm. Gazing into his eyes, she smiled shyly up at him. Never breaking the eye contact, her hands wandered down his chiselled torso until they reached the button on his trousers. Popping it open, she shimmied them down his legs. Stepping out of them, Cato pulled Indiana to him and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
Winding her arms around his neck, she pressed her body against his until there was no space between them whatsoever. Cato's love for her pressed against her thigh. Lips inches apart, neither one moved to close the gap between them as Cato's hand hovered over the zipper on her dress.
Whilst it wouldn't be the first time he had seen her bare body or made love to her (they had done it for all of Panem to see it), this time was different. Indiana's body had undergone harsh changes due to her cruel treatment and whilst Cato didn't care if she looked different, he understood that she was anxious to let him see it. Nodding eagerly, she stopped him when he reached for the lights. As much as he wanted to see her body once more, he respected her discomfort and her decisions.
They were man and wife now. Her scars were his scars. His pain was her pain. Trauma was shared evenly between the two and they helped the other fight their battles and demons. No longer would she hide any part of herself from her husband. Understanding what this meant to her, Cato finally connected their lips and whispered his love for her.
Tracing the strap of her bra until he reached the back, Cato thanked her for sharing herself with him. Goosebumps prickled to life under the tip of his finger and Indiana shivered, coaxing a smirk from her handsome husband. Quickly unclasping the bra with one hand, his left hand wandered down until it reached the top of her plain underwear. Hand stilling before he could push them down, Cato wanted to ensure that she was willing to go through with it. If all she wanted was to fall asleep bare and in each other's arms, after weeks apart, that would be enough for Cato. Gazing into the familiar blue eyes that brought her safety and comfort, Indiana whispered her consent and let out a breathy moan when his finger rubbed her clothed core.
Trailing his lips down her body, he continued etching sweet nothings against her skin with his lips until he reached the top of her underwear. Using his teeth, he dragged them down her legs and gently nipped the inside of her thigh on his way back. Winding her hands in his hair, Indiana yanked on the blond locks when his mouth connected with her heat. Stumbling backwards slightly, her head fell backwards against the wall as he inserted a finger where she needed him most. Moaning, Indiana panted his name in need before pulling him away from her.
Before she could return the favour, Cato picked her up and deposited her on their bed, promising that she could next to but he wanted to make the evening about her. Weeks had passed since they had last been able to lie together and whilst he wanted to feel her mouth around him, he wanted nothing more than to be sheathed inside her.
"How did I get so lucky?" Cato asked, hovering above his beautiful wife. "I love you so much, Indie."
Grabbing her legs, he wrapped them around his waist before pushing into her slowly, inch by inch. Cursing, she buried her face in the crook of his neck, needing time to adjust to the size of him after so long apart. Hips stilling after he had bottomed out, Cato pressed a kiss to the beating jugular in her neck and grinned at the tight fit of her snug walls around him.
Begging him to move, she softly bit his shoulder when he pulled out before slamming back into her. Soft moans and sighs filled his ear and the familiar melody caused a deep groan to spill out of Cato's mouth.
"Faster," panted Indiana, grabbing her husband's ass as she pushed him in deeper.
Hands gripping the top of the headboard, Cato plunged in and out of his wife, coaxing the shrieks of lust from her. Upon hearing the desperate pleas for him to go deeper as she felt her impending orgasm, Cato wrapped his arms around her back before pulling her up and into his lap.
"Cato!" Indiana screamed as the new angle pushed him in deeper, hitting the spot.
Grunting, he slammed into her faster than before. Her name spilt past his lips and she felt his muscular stomach clench as he spilled inside of her. Feeling his warm substance coat her walls, Indiana gripped his arms and allowed herself to fall over the edge with him. Sweat coated both their bodies as Cato collapsed back against the bed, Indiana snuggled into his chest.
Tracing patterns on his muscular chest, Indiana glanced up at the blissful face of her husband. "I love you too, more than I can ever express."
Pulling her in closer, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head as his fingers skittered down her spine to the peak of her butt. Promising that he didn't need words to feel her love, Cato said that her marrying him was the only declaration of love he needed. Claiming that being his wife was purely a selfish decision, Indiana teased it was so she didn't have to share him with anyone else.
"Is that so?" Cato chuckled, squirming when her finger traced across his nipple.
"Now I get to keep you all to myself."
"You had me long before we were married. I couldn't imagine me with anyone else."
"And you never will," she faux threatened, pressing an open mouthed kiss to his sensitive nipple and sucking gently.
Feeling himself harden once more, Cato flipped her onto her bank and shoved her legs apart before planting himself between them.
"My possessive little wife. I like it." Cato smirked before entering her once more.
Huddled in the room with the other important officials and members of the Mockingjay team, hands intertwined, Indiana and Cato glowed with happiness from their first morning as husband and wife. Sharing small smiles every now and again, they didn't let the confusion damper their spirit. They had no idea why they had been dragged out of their honeymoon bubble (they were supposed to have the day off) and forced into an urgent meeting. Forgoing their morning in bed, Cato had his arm wrapped around his wife's waist, chuckling at her shaky legs.
Coin sat at the head of the table, whispering to a distressed Heavensbee. Beetee sat in the corner of the room near the monitor that was used to display propos. However, the Hadleys knew they hadn't been called to the meeting just to watch a propo of their wedding. Something had happened.
"So, we put the propo out in the early hours of this morning. Whilst others were still partying or sleeping, Beetee worked tirelessly to make it perfect and we showed it throughout Panem. Snow has responded." Coin announced, face impassive and revealing nothing.
Cato's grip on Indiana's hand became tighter. Switching on the screen at the front of the room, the citizens of District Thirteen watched as the Capitol symbol flickered onto the screen. As usual, President Snow was broadcasting from the blinding white room he had made Peeta and Indiana have their interviews in.
Staring at the familiar room, Indiana collapsed into Cato and reminded herself that she was no longer there. Wrapping his arms around, Cato kept a slight pressure around her waist, keeping her grounded as they waited for Snow to begin talking.
"Most of you will have seen the propaganda released by these so called rebels this morning. Indiana Summers has escaped from my custody but this does not mean she has sided with the rebels. Do not be so foolish as to believe that the union of Indiana Summers and Cato Hadley is a sign that the rebellion is winning. It is not." Snow hissed. "The rebellion is nothing but a band of imbeciles attempting to portray their numbers as bigger than they are. I warn you, Panem, do not test me. So far I have been lenient to your minuscule acts of defiance but make no mistake, I am past being merciful. If you no longer trust my word then perhaps you will trust my action."
Beckoning to something off camera, President Snow took a step back as Enobaria was dragged into the frame. Two Peacekeepers stood on either side of her, faces disguised by their masks.
"Rebels, I hope this serves as a lesson to you, nobody is safe." President Snow stepped off the screen just as the camera zoomed in on Enobaria's terrified face.
During their imprisonment, Enobaria had practically been absolved of the rebel plans. Torture had scarcely been inflicted upon her and even then, the worst she had received was a slap across the face if she became too mouthy during her interrogation. Whilst the other prisoners had been rescued from the Capitol, Enobaria had been the lowest priority and the rebels had run out of time before they could rescue her. Enobaria had been left behind and her fate had been a mystery to Indiana. Staring at the face of her Aunt's friend, the blonde knew what was about to happen but she held her breath in hope. Frown lines appeared on Cato's face as he looked at the woman who had mentored him on her knees and begging. She deserved better. She had followed the rules of the Capitol and yet she was still paying for it.
Hearing the cock of the gun, Enobaria glanced right at the camera, raised three fingers in the air and yelled, "Long live the rebellion!"
A gunshot rang out and Enobaria fell face first to the floor, her crimson blood staining the sterile white floor.
'Heading out into the unknown.
Well if there are strangers,
And all kinds of danger.
Please don't say I'm going alone.'
