Fours tributes have gone to bed, so we head down to the training area.
"Hey Duncan," I greet as Cato, and I pass.
"Hey Aqua," he greets in return.
"Would you mind possibly sparring Thresh later tonight at all?" I ask while handing him dinner.
"Sure," he replies. He eats as Cato hands his partner his dinner.
"Thanks," the partner thanks. We head inside. I head to the pool and see Thresh already in the pool testing how long he can hold his breath.
"You're doing a great job!" I congratulate.
"Thanks. I want to make sure I'm able to do as much as I can to win." He replies.
"You're doing good. Don't worry." I say. "They won't flood the arena like in Annie's games. The capital was very upset with the result of those games."
"You think so?" He asks.
"I know so," I say slipping into the water. "Let's start with technique then we can work on laps." I say.
I start teaching him different techniques. He picks it up quickly. Then we both do laps. We do that for a little while.
"How was that?" He asks when we finally break.
"It was good. We can move on to making traps now." I say. We both get out and dry off. I get some rope for both of us. He starts to pick up the different knots I teach him.
"You're a quick study," Finn says sitting down next to us. He pulls out the rope he always has with him. Ever since our games he carries it. He says that making knots keeps kin sane just like how making notes keeps me sane.
"Thank you," Thresh thanks. "I'm just trying to learn as much as I possibly can, so I have the skill in the arena."
"Very smart, follow Aqua's plan and you should do amazing. Only person who learned that before their games was Cato," Finn says.
"Cato was the best of his games despite his win." Thresh says.
"Yes, I planned him training regiment here," I say.
"You planned mine as well," he says.
"Yes, I did. I plan one for every tribute." I say. "I told the rest of it to Seeder. She will relay your next few days as the time comes."
"Thanks so much for the help. I have no idea how to repat you," he says.
"We have never been this involved with a possible winner tribute. But what you can do for me is to win and go back to you family. This way you can help your people." I say to him.
"I will," he vows.
"Then trust us to help you when you win for all the issues after." I tell him.
"I will. You have all helped me. There is no need to change that trust," he says.
We keep working on different knots and traps he can use for both animals and humans. I only show his quick kill traps. I didn't want to have anyone suffering. Nor did he.
"Would you like to try sparring with Cato's brother again?" I ask him.
"Sure, is he here?" He replies.
"Yeah, he's right outside the door. He's a peacekeeper so he can give you a different perspective on fights." I say. Finn goes to get him.
"Hey, I'm Duncan. Good obstacle course run." He compliments.
"I thought no one could see that." He says looking bashful.
"The mentors can. They use that to gage what needs work. I just happened to be in the lounge when you did your run." He says.
"Oh, thanks then." Thresh replies. "I'm Thresh."
"Nice to meet you men. Let's teach." Duncan announces. They both step into the ring. The spar only stopping for Duncan to correct Thresh or give extra tips. They finish and decide to take a run around the track together to cool down. I look at Cato.
"Did you try to set my brother up?" he asks me.
"I didn't mean to, but I might have in a happy accident." I reply giving him an innocent smile.
"I'm okay with that. Who knows? They might be good for each other." Cato says pulling me into a hug.
"That's true," I agree.
"Tired?" he askes when he sees me yawn.
"A little. They have one more day of tribute training then off day. Day after they have solo view and Caesar's interview so it's a jam packed few days," I say.
"That's true, but we will take it one day at a time. Your tributes and Thresh will do great. Once they are in the games it's out of your hands," he tells me.
"That's true. The part I hate the most," I say.
"That's true as well. You get very antsy during the games," he replies.
The boys run back over. "I think I'm going to bed," Thresh says panting and covered in sweat.
"You did great, man." Duncan says giving him a bro hug.
"Yeah, you're doing amazing." Cato compliments.
"Thanks," Thresh says then leaves.
"I should get back to my station," Duncan says.
"I'll bring you food when I wake up," Cato tells him. They both hug. Cato and I head upstairs. We go to the fourth floor, today.
"There you guys are. How was Thresh?" Finn asks.
"He's good, worked hard today. He went up to sleep. So, we came up." I say.
"You're early tonight," Finn tells me.
"Great, we might get more sleep." I say.
Cato and I head to my room. My walls always have the aquarium running on them. It helps me stay calm.
"You never turn your walls off," Cato comments.
"Nope, not even when I'm not here," I say with a laugh. "Capital screwed me up. Least they can do is pay for my walls to be always on."
"I don't even know the wall options," he admits.
"Even after all these years?" I ask.
"Even after all these years," he says with a smile looking down at me.
"Why not look?" I ask.
"Never cared to. I don't care what's on my walls. Before I was going to be a winner. After it was because I would rather be looking at you," he says.
"You say the nicest things." I reply, my cheeks bright red.
"Come let's get some sleep." He says.
He pulls me into bed. He pulls his shirt off. He crawls into bed in just his sweatpants. He pulls me to him. He gives me a kiss and I put my head on his chest. He wraps his arms around me holding me to him. I close my eyes and it seems like minutes later, I'm in my games. I see Finnick get stabbed. I scram out but on one hears. All of a sudden, I'm thrown. It's Cato getting killed this time.
"Aquamarine!" I hear. That makes no sense. Finn and Cato over top of me. I burst into tears hugging him. "You're okay. I'm here," Cato sooths. He holds me tighter. He picks me up with the blanket and carried me to the sitting room to my aquarium.
"Is she okay?" I pear Peeta ask. "Should we do something?"
"She will be okay. Cato has it handled. The tank will calm her." Finn tells him.
Cato sets me down in front of it with more blankets and pillows. He must have grabbed from our bed. He runs his fingers through my hair soothing me.
"I can't believe she has nightmares. She seems the most put together," Peeta says.
"She is, but like all of us. She does things to cope. She's just more aware of the world around her," Finn replies. "Let's watch Caesar's talk show." He flips it on.
"Has anyone seen our favourite couple? Aquamarine and Cato Hadley." Caesar says. "We got a glimpse when they arrive but that was it. they have to give us more. We need more. I'm going through withdrawals."
I continue to just watch my sea creatures. Hoping that watching the fish swim would help me calm down. Cato just runs his fingers through my hair and rubs my back. He pulls my back to his chest so I can feel him breath. He takes my hands in his and threads his fingers through mine.
"They are a cute couple," Peeta comments.
"Yeah, Caesar has that one right," Finn agrees. "Come one, we can head to my room to sleep. They might be up for a while."
I hear them turn off the TV and get up. They head to Finn's room probably to get some sleep. I just watch my aquarium till my eyes get so heavy that I can't hold them up. I fall asleep being spooned by Cato.
I wake up to him still holding me and the sun being up. He is eating with one hand has the other arm around me.
"You're awake. How was the rest of your sleep?" Cato asks me.
"It was alright," I say.
"You didn't seem to have anymore nightmares." He tells me.
"No, I didn't," I say.
I take a bite of breakfast that he offers me. I don't generally eat much the day after a nightmare. He hands me my notebook and I start writing Thresh's victor plan in it. This is Thresh's book. Cato knows I will be quiet and off for the rest of the day. He always knows just what I need.
"Is she okay?" Peeta asks.
"She will be quiet today, but she will be back to her usual self tomorrow. It can sometimes take us some time to shake our nightmares off. Her it takes an extra day. That's all." Finn tells him taking a sip of hot cocoa.
He loves that drink. Cato will bring my tribute plans notebook for the seventy-fourth hunger games to the lounge as well in case I want to add to it. I'm always adding more details. I like to get their plans all perfect. I want the perfect plan for everyone, so they are all perfect victors. Cato leads me to the lounge. This way we can watch the tributes. I add some things to the tribute journal.
District six's female needs to learn blending into her background techniques.
District one male needs to stop showing off for female two or he will get killed while not paying attention.
Cato reads over my shoulder and laughs.
"Yes, Cato." Gloss inquires.
"Apparently your male is showing off too much. Mind you our female is acting too much like she has already won and not watching her back. Aqua thinks she will be the first to turn on the career pack and she will do it by stabbing one in the back. She wants to make the best story so to make the biggest impact she will stab her district partner," Cato tells him.
"I don't think I have ever head Cato talk that much," Peeta says walking in with Finn.
"Oh, he doesn't talk much but when Aqua goes quiet Cato talks more." Cashmere explains. "She must have had a tough night."
"She did. I heard her screaming." Peeta says.
"Awe, that's shitty." Enobaria says.
She comes over and hugs me. She goes and grabs me a muffin from the kitchen. She knows I will eat that over the whole day. Cato dips out for a minute to give Duncan breakfast. He's also probably explaining the situation. Enobaria sits beside me hugging me to her.
"You got some good theories," Enobaria says. "She will kill the male from one next because she says he annoys her."
I add that to my book. I add that she needs more endurance training. Enobaria laughs.
"I can agree with that. I'll be tiring her out then having her do the obstacle course till she beats the fastest time on her day off." Enobaria says. I crack a smile at that. Payback sucks. She will hate that. She also needs sleep awareness training I add. "Damn girl you're just adding all the fun things. I shall add that to her day off."
Cato walks in and sits on my other side.
"I can agree with Aqua. She sucks at both those things." Cato inputs.
"Savage, Cato." Finnick says peeking over my shoulder.
District four:
Female: Needs to learn to deal in any weapon. Preferably knives because it will allow her to do close and far combat. She will also be able to skin animals.
Male: Needs to quit thinking nightshade is edible. It's not. He needs to practice his survival skills more.
"He thinks nightshade is edible?" Cato asks, "Even I know it kills."
"I have tried to show him different a few times, but he doesn't get it." Finn tells him.
"Your male tribute thinks nightshade is edible?" Brutus asks in disbelief. "Panem help that young boy. If the bloodbath doesn't kill him, he will kill himself. At least nightshade is a fast and painless death."
"That's true, probably the better way to go then miss sadistic in our camp." Enobaria says.
"So, does that mean your working on plans tomorrow, Finnie?" Johanna says using Annie's nick name for him. He playfully glares at her.
"No, Aqua will because she knows plants better then I do. I struggled with them in my games. It was always good to have Aqua around, so I didn't poison myself," Finn says. "I might accidentally teach him to poison himself."
We all laugh at that knowing Finn is helpless with plants.