Batmarcus A/N: Hey sorry we have not updated in a while, but we each had stuff to attend to. Now we're back baby! Also Inspite of what Skye says she is an amazing co writer.
Chapter 3
Kale and Prim were woken from a rather peaceful sleep by Effie's shriek. Her loud vocals probably waked the entire train.
''What is going on here?'' she demanded, her cheeks flushed.
"We were sleeping." Kale said, as though it was obvious. He rubbed his eyes tiredly, wanting to glare at the district escort, but finding his eyes too heavy.
''In the same bed? You're too young!'' Effie yelled, her hands moving with every word.
"And you are being very rude by waking us up."Kale said yawning, covering his mouth mid-yawn.
''It's my duty to wake you! Should I call yourfather?'' She asked, her tone almost satisfied. Kale wanted to laugh.
"He's probably just getting to sleep." He said easily, stretching.
''Then he'd still be awake... Wait here...'' she turned towards the door and disappeared down thehallway.
"Are we in trouble?" Kale asked, turning to Prim who was stretching awake.
''Nah.'' she mumbled, wiping the sleep from her eyes. The yellow flakes littered her fingertips and she wiped them on her shirt.
"So she's always like that?" he asked rubbing sleep from his own eyes.
''How should I know?'' she shrugged.
"You've been around her more." Kale said, helping Prim to her feet
''Doesn't mean I paid attention.'' She said airily, moving to the closet.
"True, want breakfast?" Kale asked, his stomach rumbled right on cue.
''Yes, but I think we should get dressed first.'' Prim pointed out from her position in front of the closet.
"Alright, I'll meet you in the hall in fifteen minutes?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
''Okay.'' She waved a hand in the air.
Kale went into his room and hopped in the he spent a few minutes jumping around in hot and cold water, and somehow dosed himself in a lemony smelling soap before he managed to get out, dry off and get ready.
He looked disheveled when he met Prim in the hall. She wanted to laugh, but thought better of it.
''The shower got to you too?'' she asked, nodding her head knowingly.
"Yeah so much soap." he said dramatically, his hands creating bubbles mid-air. She laughed.
''I've grown used to it in Victor's Village... haven't you?'' she asked, her tone careful.
"Yeah the showers don't kill there." he said sarcastically.
''You haven't figured them out yet?'' She asked, aghast.
"Have you?" he questioned, impressed.
''It's not that hard.'' She sounded a bit smug.
Kale raised his eyebrows. "How did you figure out all the buttons?" he asked as they entered the dining cart.
''I'm quite smart, you know.'' She said playfully.
"I know Prim, I never said you weren't." He chuckled.
At that moment Effie and Haymitch came in, Haymitch looking rather reluctant, his feet were dragging. If Kale hadn't known better, he'd have said he had had too much to drink again.
''What do you have to say to them?'' Effie asked him. He gave them a thumbs up before falling into the nearest chair.
Kale and Prim both broke out laughing, while Effie was seething. Katniss and Peeta entered, looking confused at each other.
''We missed something funny, didn't we?'' Katniss asked, a small smile already in place.
"Yes, you did." Kale smirked. Effie, however, turned to Katniss, hoping for support.
"Are you aware your sister and Kale were sleeping in the same bed?" she asked, a lot calmer than she had been earlier.
''I know. I told Kale I'd murder him if he broke her heart.''
Effie looked like she wanted to scream, but, thankfully, she held her tongue so they could all prepare for District 11.
''We should guard them from all the pink.'' Katniss whispered to Peeta as Effie explained about said district.
"The pink?" Peeta asked, confused.
''Effie's going wear an overdose of it. I saw her planning it out last night.'' Katniss shuddered.
"Ugh, okay you have a plan?" he asked.
''We steal her clothes, and she has to borrow mine.''
"Okay we'll need a distraction though." Peeta said. Katniss smiled as Peeta nodded.
''Haymitch.'' They said in unison.
"Ugh, what now?" he asked tired, lifting his head.
"Just distract Effie while Kale and Katniss do some rearranging in her room." Peeta said.
''Okay... Katniss, look away.'' Haymitch ordered.
''Why?'' she asked, the confusion now hers.
''Because I need to distract Effie somehow, and running around without pants is good for that." He said matter-of-factly.
"Wait, so what are we doing?" Kale asked as Peeta steered him away from Prim and toward Katniss.
''We're stealing Effie's clothes.'' Katniss said, rolling her eyes.
"Okay," Kale said, jumbled as he heard Effie shriek: "Haymitch put your pants back on!"
Haymitch cackled evilly and ran away from her.'
"Never!''
"I hope that Prim covered her eyes." Kale said as he and Katniss entered Effie's room and opened her closet. Katniss shrieked.
''Peeta, get in here!''
"What is it?" Peeta asked, coming in, chuckling just as Kale said: "Ah, it's so bright! My eyes, they burn!" he backed away from Effie's closet.
''It's horrifying! Look at it...'' Katniss, victor of the 74th Hunger Games, was afraid of clothes. The irony of the matter did not escape Peeta.
Kale, having recovered, actually threw some dresses out the window. "Why does she dress so... brightly?" he tossed a neon green dress out.
''I don't know...'' Katniss threw an arm full of Effie's clothes out the window, as if afraid the clothing items might bite.
"Well, we're doing district 11 a favor by ridding the world of these." Kale said, tossing out the bright pink dress Effie had intended to wear.
From afar they heard Effie and Haymitch fight, the word 'pants' kept resurfacing.
''Well, Kale, you'll never have a boring life.'' Katniss picked up a bright sunny dress.
"No, I won't, but I might go blind with that in my face." he said, motioning towards the dress Katniss was holding. She threw it out the window, watching as it fluttered away in the wind.
''That's the last of it. Now, Kale, go find Prim and do something to establish your alibi. Peeta, you're with me.''
They dashed from Effie's room, making sure the closet doors were closed and all evidence of them doing anything was gone.
Kale sprinted back to Prim's room, to find her sitting on the little couch reading.
"Hey, Prim." He said, stopping to breath in front of her.
"Hey. You should tell your pop to put his pants on, it's weird.'' She didn't look up from the book.
"Oh, he did it on your sister and her boyfriend's orders." he explained, sitting beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
''I know, but go tell him it's weird.''
"Do I have to go now?" he pleaded.
''We are almost in 11, unless you want him to show his colorful underwear to the entire Panem... At least i hope they're colors.''
"Huh, fine but I do this under protest." he said with mock outrage and walked towards the door.
''You still love me, don't deny it.'' she said, not looking up from the book.
Kale froze, they'd never breached the subject of 'love'.
"I...what?" he asked, stunned. His tone of voice finally made her look up. She fell backwards, giggling.
''Never mind.'' She breathed between giggles.
"Wait – you can't just say that, then blow it off." Kale's voice was back to normal. He looked at her, his brow furrowed.
''I wasn't thinking, all right?'' She said, her own voice nervous.
Haymitch appeared in the doorway, he seemed to think of something before shrugging and tackling Kale.
"Ah, dad what was that for?" Kale asked, placing his feet on Haymitch's chest and surprising Prim and Haymitch by pushing him off and onto the floor.
''I have no idea. Did you take my pants? Prim! Don't look at me!'' He yelled. Prim giggled and averted her eyes.
"No, I think Peeta did, they're in your room. Come on."he helped Haymitch up and walked towards his room.
"I'll be right back, Prim." he apologized.
''You're weird, Haymitch.'' Haymitch just smirked as they left Prim's room.
Haymitch noticed that Kale seemed distant as they walked.
''What's bothering you, kid?''
"Huh." Kale said snapping back to reality, he looked at Haymitch before realizing what he said. "Oh, nothing, just something Prim said." Kale shrugged his thin frame.
'Do share, it sounds interesting.''
"Well, it's just she said I love her." Kale said in a rush, looking at the floor rather then at Haymitch.
''Wow... You guys sure move fast.'' he said just Effie caught sight of him,
''Haymitch, put on your pants!'' she shrieked, Haymitch grinned.
''Hey, Kale, do you want to see something really funny?''
"Sure, I could go for some humor." Kale smirked.
''Then take off your pants and run in that direction, I'll go the opposite way and we see Effie react.''
"Sorry, not today, dad, we're almost in District 11, and I kind of need my pants there." he said, knowing the effect this would have on Effie. She gasped.
"We're almost there! I need to change!"She forgot about the nearly nude Haymitch and rushed
"Dad, want to hear something funny?" Kale asked as Haymitch was putting on his pants.
''Always.''
Kale held up five fingers and put them down one at a time when he reached one, Effie shrieked.
"My clothes! What happened to my clothes!"
Haymitch lost his balance as he laughed. Prim appeared in the doorway, laughing as well.
Effie walked in.
"Alright, who took my clothes?" she demanded from the room at large.
''I don't know, I was with Prim. And you were chasing dad.'' Kale said coolly.
"Oh, really? Can Prim confirm that?" Effie asked, her face reddening with anger.
''I can. He was reading with me.'' Prim said evenly, her face not betraying anything.
Effie spluttered, huffing and throwing her hands in the air repeatedly. Finally she left in a huff, mumbling about talking to Katniss and clothes. Kale wondered why on earth Effie would want to talk to clothes.
"That was fun." Kale noted after a moment as they all felt the train start to slow down.
Meanwhile on Katniss and Peeta's side...
''You do realize she'll blame you?'' Peeta asked. Katniss lifted her shoulders.
Effie appeared in the styling car, where Peeta and Katniss were being styled at the moment, the two stylists both concentrating on the clothes.
"Katniss, where are my clothes?" she asked, her voice tired.
''Um... In your closet?'' Katniss played dumb. ''Effie, its really not my job to look after your clothes.''
"Katniss Everdeen, I demand to know what you did with my clothes!" she breathed angrily.
''I didn't do anything!'' Katniss insisted.
Effie stared at her, but could not tell if she was lying or not, Katniss was sometimes such an impassive person.
"Very well, may I borrow clothes until mine resurface?" she sounded defeated. Katniss was doing an internal happy dance.
''Ask Cinna, Effie.'' She looked away from the pink-haired demon.
"Fine." she said glumly, posing the same question to Cinna. Cinna pretended to hesitate for a moment, Katniss and Petta had already told him the tale. Finally he agreed, but not without sighing dramatically.
Half an hour later everyone was walking around fully clothed, enjoying a tour of District 11. Effie seemed glum in Katniss' clothes. Prim and Kale at the back of the group held in laughs.
''What an odd place.'' Prim said after a while, her hand indicating the entire district.
"Much bigger than home." Kale said, holding Prim'shand tightly.
''It's terrifying.'' She commented, her eyes wide.
"It's just big. I don't think it can hurt us." Kale said, nonetheless looking around.
''You can never be sure.'' She said warily, narrowing her eyes.
"Then we'll stick with the group, it'll be okay?" Kale comforted her.
''Look.'' she motioned to a girl who looked distinctly like Rue. Kale looked at the girl too, recalling the female tribute he had watched Katniss team up with in the Hunger Games. She was just watching the group, her arms crossed.
"What do you think she wants?" Kale asked Prim.
''Justice.'' Prim said immediately.
"Justice?" Kale questioned, looking down at her.
'It's what I'd want had it been Katniss.'' The talk of the games made them both a little nervous, realizing this year was quarter quell.
''We'll take only one tesserae, we don't need more.'' Prim said, as if reading his mind.
Kale very visibly tensed at the mention of tesserae.
"Prim, we don't even need to take one, we both live with victors."
''It's not fair, though. Towards the others.''
He had to admire her. Even though she didn't need it, she still cared.
"I know, but it's an unnecessary risk to take on your part and I can't have more tesserae."
"Why not?''
"Because every year there was one orphan who had to sign up for tesserae for the rest. Well, just before I met you all, it was me. So my name is in the ball about 30 times."
''What? And you pick now to tell me?'' She asked, outraged.
"The subject never came up between us. I told dad the night I moved in. I'm sorry, I'll just shut up now." He blushed scarlet.
''Yes, or I might murder you myself!'' She threatened.
Kale looked at the ground, ashamed, as they approached the District 11 Justice Building.
''I'm kidding, okay? Cheer up, will you?'' She sounded less angry.
Kale looked at her to see she was smiling, which always seemed to calm him down.
"I'm sorry for not telling you." he said as they were lead into a room with Haymitch, Effie, and Cinna.
''Well, it's all right... I guess...''
"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"he asked, while the program started in the background.
''Just be quiet for now.'' She said, turning her attention to the television.
He nodded and looked at the floor rather than the screen, where Peeta had begun his speech.
''Here comes trouble.'' Prim murmured. Kale looked up at the large screen.
"No, Katniss is the one who causes trouble." he whispered back.
''Exactly. She's already thinking about it. Which was I said, here come trouble.'' Prim, as it turned out, was correct as Katniss got up and made her speech. And then just as it ended the scene cut out. ''I know my sister, and that was just rude of the TV-people.''
"We could sneak out and see what's happening."Kale suggested in a whisper.
''Not gonna happen,'' she said as they pushed Katniss and Peeta through the door, moments before a gunshot had gone off. Prim was terrified, she clutched at Kale.
"What was that all about?" Kale wondered loudly as Haymitch dragged Peeta and Katniss away.
''War, probably.'' Prim said cynically.
Kale thought this over; they were told to wait for dinner where they were and Peacekeepers guarded the doors.
"Wow, peacekeepers to 'protect' us." Kale muttered. He was glaring at the guards, an action not gone amiss by Prim.
''You know... am I the only suspecting that you're a bit weird? I mean outside your obvious... oddities, I mean there's always a lot of security around 's like you're the president's kid or something.''Prim joked.
"Yeah, maybe I'm a threat to him somehow."
''Um... You're fourteen? Are you going to throw such a big tantrum that he'll die? Kale, I never want to see you throw a tantrum, then.''
He laughed. "Not likely, but look at it how many fourteen year olds have to be guarded by ten peacekeepers?" he asked, turning his glare to another white uniform.
''Maybe you're like his long lost kid or something? I don't know, it's weird. Stop staring at me like I'm a lunatic!'' Prim shrieked at Kale's look of utter disbelief.
"Sorry." he chuckled, "It's just why would Snow have a kid in District 12?"
''Anything's possible.''
"I suppose so, but it seems unlikely." he said asKatniss and the others reentered the room.
''Hush.'' she said, returning to the sweet sister role. Kale rolled his eyes as Katniss approached them and said dinner was ready.
Dinner passed with nothing notable happening and before they knew it they were all back on the train.
"You should all get some sleep we have 10 in the morning." Effie said, her voice daring them to contradict her.
Prim winked at Kale.
''Yay! Come on, Kale, we can do what we did last night, only more and longer!''She squeaked, jumping up.
''I'm sorry, what?'' Effie spluttered. Kale quickly caught on and smirked.
"Of course, Prim, anything for you." he scooped her up in a bridal-style fashion. Peeta and Katniss laughed, Katniss put her head on Peeta's shoulder.
"They seem, to be awfully close." Peeta said, smiling as Kale carried Prim away while Effie started yelling again about age-appropriate behavior.
''Yeah, they are, they slept together last night too.''Katniss giggled. Peeta snickered, then brought up something he had noticed.
"Have you noticed the odd number ofpeacekeepers following Kale?" he asked.
''Yes, I have... He's got more people on him than I do... I feel so relieved.'' She whispered.
"I feel worried. I'm glad it's not us, but I can't help but wonder why?" he glanced worried at where Kale and Prim had been a second ago.
''We all can think what we want to, but only few know the truth.'' She said lightly, taking another bite of food. She thought of the one single paper she'd kept hidden from them all. That paper depicted the reason Kale was being shadowed, but she had hidden that paper deep within her pockets and had no idea for using it soon. Unless it was to blackmail the president of Panem.
"Katniss, you know something." Peeta said matter-of-factly.
''I know a lot of things.'' she agreed.
"You know what I mean." Peeta said evenly. Taking a bite out of his roll.
''And you know why we cant discuss it.''
"Fine, but you need to tell me eventually." he said in a tone that said it was not a request.
''I will. Just not in present company.'' She whispered, smiling pointedly at Effie. Peeta nodded.
The next few day's were exhausting for all on the train. Between the dinners, speeches and Effie's rambling about her clothes. No Districts were as bad as 11, but still in all of them Peacekeepers followed Kale, and it still annoyed him.
They were leaving District 1, which was not fun for Katniss, when Effie spoke again.
"Tomorrow, we enter the Capitol, so I expect good behavior from all of you." she said, looking pointedly at Kale and Prim.
''So you mean I can't call Kale my little wolf?'' She pouted. They'd been taunting Effie continuously with remarks that they did more than just sleep at night. Effie bristled with anger
"No, and he can't sleep in your room tonight!" she said.
"Oh, Effie I would love to see you try to stop me."Kale said with a smirk and a wink to Prim.
''I have my ways!''
"I doubt that somehow you have tried every night to stop me… to no avail." Kale said with a Haymitch-worthy gloating smile.
''I have the keys to these rooms, you know.''
"Your sure about that are you? Why don't you check?" Kale asked teasingly.
''What?'' she yelled, running to her room. As she left, Kale held up a ring of keys for the room to see.
"She still hasn't learned you can't beat me at this sort of thing." Kale smiled satisfactorily.
''Now lock her in her room until morning!'' Katniss begged. Kale sprinted off down the hall and came back moments later, just as they heard Effie shriek.
"Thanks for the idea Katniss." he said taking his seat on the small couch and laying his head in Prim's lap. Peeta followed Kale's example and put his head onKatniss' lap. The latter didn't argue – it worried Peeta immensely.
"So, at the Capitol, is there some sort of dress code? Because, as far as formal goes, I don't have anything." Kale sasked the two stylists.
''Clothing is my and Portia's job. You just worry about Effie's reaction tomorrow.'' Cinna grinned conspiratorially.
"All right, I was just wondering." he said.
"Will Kale Abernathy report to the driver's carplease?" A very crisp voice said over the intercom. It echoed throughout the train.
''It was dad!'' Kale screamed, pushing they keys into Haymitch's pocket as he passed him. ''They'll never take me alive!''
The voice that was apparently monitoring them, because it rang out again.
"Kale Abernathy to the driver's car now!" it cut out again. Kale looked at Prim.
"Wonder what they want." he said, all humor gone as he made for the exit. Kale stopped at the door .
"Want to come, Prim?" he asked, hoping she would.
''Yes!'' she jumped up, running to him. She took ahold of his hand as they walked down the seemingly endless tunnel. They stopped at the driver's cart door.
"Do you think I'm in trouble?" he asked, suddenly anxious.
''Um... Yes?'' she grimaced.
"You can go back if you want." Kale said, putting his hand on the door knob.
''No.''
"Okay." he said as he pushed the door open into a spacious room and they looked around at the regally decorated and furnished room. Then Kale's look hardened considerably as he peeked around a corner, successfully blocking Prim's view.
''That's rude, you should really come in.'' said a voice from around the corner.
They walked in, Kale standing protectively in front of Prim.
And then she saw him. President Snow: puffy-lipped, nearly artificial, and all with the driver looking nervously behind him.
''Um...'' she cleared her throat nervously. ''Hello, sir.''
"Hello Prim, Kale." He nodded to each of them in turn. "Won't you take a seat?" he gestured to the two large chairs in front of the couch he was sitting on.
Prim followed Kale to the chairs nervously.
''How can we help you, sir?'' Kale asked.
"Oh, I just wanted to meet you both. The other districts seem to adore the pair of you." he said.
"Really? So this has nothing to do with the crazy amount of peacekeepers that follow me everywhere?" Kale asked bluntly.
''You're noticed, have you?'' Snow looked like he wanted to laugh.
''It's kind of hard not to.'' Prim commented.
"I agree, Prim. It is kind of hard to ignore ten to twelve heavily armed people in bright white uniforms following you." Kale sounded as if he was discussing the weather.
''It's why I'm here, truly. Though what I am about to reveal to you, no other living being knows.'' The last person that knew, the orphanage's matron, had been killed. He eyed Prim for a moment, ''Your little friend may also know, if she must, I have no doubt you'll tell her, whether I ask you to or not.''
"Your right for once sir, I tell Prim everything." Kale said honestly. Well, there was that one thing…
''Trust.'' Snow nearly laughed in dark mirth. ''I almost pity you for it.''
"You need trust sometimes, otherwise you close yourself off." Kale said, intrigued.
''Yes, I can see that. But being who I am, I find it hard to trust anything but my roses.''
"Forgive me sir, but that can't be very healthy." Kale said good naturedly, but Prim saw his right hand clench.
''They aren't, but they listen when I talk.'' he said casually. ''Tell me, Mr. Evergreen, what have I said or done to offend you? Your hand isn't clenched for no reason.''
"Sorry, sir, I'm just on edge a lot lately, what with the constant peacekeepers and the interesting sights we've seen over the last few days. Makes me bit uncomfortable being followed." Kale explained, not unclenching his hand.
''Yes, well, the president's child can't go around unprotected.''
The silence that followed was so thick you could hear a pin drop. It was as though a bomb had gone off.
After five minutes, Kale spoke.
"I'm not your son. My father was a miner, not you."
Snow sighed. ''There is no 'Evergreen' male or female in District 12, only you. There never was an Evergreen. It's your mother's maiden last name I gave you.''
"I don't believe you, I very clearly remember the two people that raised me until they died." Kale said with conviction.
''You were brought up in an orphanage.''
"Only after they died, don't tell me about my own life, I know it all." Kale shot back.
''Do you? Do you know how incredibly lucky you've been? The orphanage took care of your needs before the others. Most of all, the two people you remember raising you, was your own mother and I! You were too young to remember me clearly now!''
"If that was true, then wouldn't have been raised in the Capitol not District 12? No matter what you say I know for a fact I spent my whole life there."
''Specialists that made the place seem as District 12.I never took you to the outside world. When your mother was killed, I sent you to District 12. You saw flames erupt, not true? Rubble rained down? You held a small lizard toy that day.''
Kale stiffened, no one, not even Prim and Haymitch as of yet, had known about all the details of that day he kept them to himself. He still had the toy, his only keepsake. Snow gave the details perfectly.
"No… it's… not possible! You're not my dad! If you were, then tell me who was my mom and how did she die?"
''Liliana Evergreen, she was murdered. She had your hair and eyes.'' Kale looked at him, awestruck and entirely thrown off guard.
"How do I know you're not lying?" he asked simply, at a loss for anything else to say.
Snow lowered his hand, reaching for the suitcase next to popped it open and took out a photo of Liliana, and another of Snow and Lilliana, obviously in love. Another photo followed, it was the home Kale had thought they lived in. Lastly, he took out a small bag containing multicolored toy lizards; their colors had become faded over time, but they were the same to the one he had. Memories of Lilliana and Kale, playing games.
''They'd been your favorite.'' Snow offered.
Kale sank in his seat, his hands over his eyes. There was absolutely no doubt now.
Snow was his biological father.
Prim who had not spoken for a while, finally found her voice.
"If your his father, then why leave him in District 12? Why not raise him with you?" she asked as Kale seemed lost staring, at his mother's picture. Snow's eyes flashed to her so quickly that it unnerved her.
"I am not the antagonist you seem to think I am, Miss Everdeen. I, too, am a victim in this war.''
It was his tone that snapped Kale back.
"Don't talk to Prim that way!" he said "She has a point! And you? A victim? Living all nice and safe in your mansion?"
''I am not going to argue with you, Kale, I just came to tell you start training. Now. The one pulling the strings wants you gone.''
"Why should I trust you?" he asked modestly.
''You don't have to. It's simply advice." Sow said calmly. Then he sighed, his calm demeanor faltered briefly and he sighed. "I don't expect you to embrace me, Kale, not after everything I've done, and Mr. Abernathy is a truly great mentor for you. I do say that these games will be very limited.'' he stood up and looked pointedly between the two of them. ''Very limited.''
He left without another word. Kale picked up the photo of his mother and put it in his pocket, he glanced at the other photos and took them too, not knowing what he'd do with them. Lastly he took the lizards. He still had a soft spot for them.
He turned to Prim. "I think we're going into the arena this year."
''What?'' she said in shock.
"Think about it… Why else would we need to train?" Kale asked as they made their way out.
''Well..." Prim's bottom lip quivered. Her eyes brimmed with tears. She looked from Kale to the hallway. "Katniss!'' Prim ran, searching for her sister. Kale followed her. He found Prim hugging both Katniss and Peeta as if they would disappear. Peeta looked surprised by Prim's show of affection.
"What's wrong?" Katniss asked Kale, her expression serious.
"Well, it could be the series of bad news we just got."Kale answered with an odd, lost look in his eye.
. . .
SkyeElf A/N: Hey guys, I realize we haven't uploaded in a very long while, and I take full blame. I'm a horrible co-writer and a lazy beta. But I blame my senior year paired with exams. But I am sorry, everyone. So… please review?