Two Paths

PastelPuke

Pairing: Cato x Peeta x Gale

Summary: Peeta is a young baker boy with an abusive mother and a best friend named Gale Hawthorne. Everything takes turns for the worst when he and three other tributes are reaped for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, including two of his best friends. What is he going to do when a certain male from district 2 takes a liking to him.

Authors Note:

Hey babes! I am kinda sad that I lost a lot of my readers but kisses to those who stayed. I guess I was expecting too much. I thought I could just start over and delete all my stories and pick up where I left off but I was so wrong ~. I hope I can get people to like me again lol~ but here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Xoxox

Dri~

When Peeta woke he was in the softest bed he's ever felt. The sheets were so smooth and the comforter was very lavish. He blinked hard to try to pinpoint exactly where he was.

"You had a panic attack" a deep voice next to him said. He turned his head to the voice and saw Gale resting his elbows on the bed, his head sitting on his hands. Peeta's breath hitched as he remembered the past events. He took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling. "We're on the train on our way to the capitol. Madge gave you this." He placed something metal on the bedside table. Peeta turned his head to see a golden mockingjay pin. He sat up, immediately regretting it as a headache hit him full force. Gale sighed "Peeta.."

"No. I dont want to talk right now." He said quietly looking at the patterned comforter.

"Peeta please,"

"Stop." And with that, Peeta stood and walked out the small door at the other side of the room. He knew he was being unfair and almost turned back but he was brought out of his thoughts by Haymitch Abernathy walking out of another door in the hallway.

"Hm. You're awake." There was alcohol on his breath and Peeta suddenly felt angry. If this man had just been reaped once more, Gale wouldn't have been here. And Peeta wouldn't have to lose the two people in his life who gave a shit about him. He didn't realise the intense glare he was shooting the man. "Whoa there fire-cracker, calm down and let's get you something to eat." He blinked and looked at the man. He knew Haymitch was a good person and wishing for him to go through the hunger games twice would be A vicious way to release his frustration.

"I-I'm sorry…"

"Hey Peeta, its okay. I understand, I would be angry too. This is bullshit, all of it." Peeta merely nodded, continuing to look at the lavish carpet floor. "C'mon, Effie wants us to eat breakfast together." Haymitch led the way to the dining car, where a nice table was set and there were a multitude of barlike structures carrying different sorts of food. Gale was right behind him and Delly and Katniss were sitting on different couches. The tention in the room was unbearble. Effie trinked sat enigently at the table with a tense, forced smile on her face.

"Well sit down." She said politely yet forcefully. The threat was defenently behind her eyes. Everyone sat around the table slowly, not expecting her mother-like dominance. An avox came into the car and pulled the covers off of their plates. A delicious smelling traditional breakfast was set in front of them. Delly and Haymitch started digging in immediately. Peeta stared at his plate and Gale stared at Peeta. Katniss looked around with narrowed eyes and Effie glared at the wall.

"This is bullshit." Katniss growled. Everyone stopped moving. "What?! You guys are just going to sit around like nothing is happenning?" She stood slamming her knife into the table. Effie stood aswell, glarin daggers at Katniss.

"Mahogany!" She snapped. "Sit down Katniss just sit! And eat this delicious food because the next month is going to be hell! For all of us!" Everyone stared at her in awe. Nobody expected Effie to be one of the first to lose her cool. Katniss sighed and sat. Effie Trinked smoothed out her pink dress and sat in her seat slowly. "Now, everyone introduce themselves an say something about yourself. Haymitch you start." Haymitch looked up with his fork halfway to his mouth. He narrowed his eyes as he decided to play along.

"I'm Haymitch and I will be your mentor. You should listen to me unless you want to get killed." He stated nolonchalantly before returning to his meal.

"I'm Delly and I like Peeta's cakes." She said matter of factly. "We all love Peeta's cakes." She smirked at her plate. Peeta blushed and glared at her for implying something that happened earlier that year.

"U-uhm I'm Peeta and I work at the town bakery..." He mumbled quickly.

"I'm Gale.. And I uh mine and hunt." Gale said distractedly in his deep voice.

"Katniss. I like puppies." She said sarastically. "Now that we got the fucking niceties out of the way does anyone mind talking about whats really going on?" She said harshly. "Most of us if not all of us will be dead at the end of this. You got that?! Dead! Do you want to die?" She asked Peeta randomly. He shakily shook his head. "Do you want him to die?! Or her?" She pointed to Delly and Gale. Peeta was trembling now, anxiety building up in him. Gale stood.

"Hey-"

"Well guess what?! You will watch at least one of them die. Unless you die first." She growled. "That applies to all of you!" Katniss stood once more and left the car. Delly and Haymitch stopped eating and were looking at their plates. Peeta stared at the spot Katniss had been sitting for a moment. He suddenly didn't feel hungry anymore. The baker simply set down his fork and wiped his mouth.

"Excuse me." He said in a quiet voice and politely pushed in his chair before leaving the car as well. He stood in the space in between two cars and stared out the window. Part of him still hadn't really became aware of the situation.

Later when Peeta was sitting in his "room" the sliding door opened. He lifted his head with the intent of telling Gale to leave him but was suprised by Delly standing in the doorway.

"Hey Peeta bread." She said and came to sit by him on the bed." He glanced up at her. He didn't need to say anything. "It's gonna be oka-"

"Dont you dare." He cut her off. "Dont you dare fucking say that Dell." She closed her mouth. "Look I'm sorry but it's not this time. You or Gale have to win." Delly opened her mouth to protest but peeta stopped her. "Hey. Dont. You have your little brother and your parents and Gale has all his siblings and his mom. You guys have something to go home to. You have people who need you." He grabbed her hand. Delly squeezed it back in return and looked down.

"We have some time before the games.. You have to promise me that we are gonna make the most of our lives before then. Just in case." Her dark green eyes were serious. She smiled. "I don't want to hear anything of death from you or Gale before we get sent in there. We will fight till the very fucking end okay?!" Her voice had so much emotion that Peeta couldn't help but nod. "I've already talked to Gale." A soft ding was heard over the intercom.

"We are approaching the capitol, all tributes please gather in the main car." A female voice with a capitol accent played loudly over the speakers. Peeta and Delly looked at each other with wide eyes before racing to the door of the car, tripping and stumbling over each other as they did. They had been dying to see the capitol since they were kids.

At the car Peeta, Gale and Delly stood faces practically pressed up against the window in awe. As passed the large silver gates capitol citizens shouted at them, clapping and screaming in excitement. Peeta felt like he was famous. He started waving at the people with a goofy grin on his face. Delly giggled and joined in. Soon all three of them were laughing dopily and waving at the extravagantly dressed capitol people. Katniss stood in the back glowering at the teenagers.

Once the tributes from 12 were pulled into Capitol Station the were escorted to a room where they were washed and waxed until every imperfection on their body was gone. Peeta walked/waddled with Gale to a room with a woman named Portia. His pale skin was red and raw from the fresh waxing that took place moments ago. He couldn't help but notice Gale's lean, muscular body that he tried ever so hard not to gawk at. And his tight athletic ass. And his cough-rather large-cough um.. Member. 'Fuck.' He thought. He had seen gale shirtless many times but now he was naked and had turned Peeta into a blushing schoolgirl. The baker meekly held his hands in front of his junk although Gale really didn't bother.

The miner had stole a few glances himself. The boy was incredibly skinny although not bony. He had an almost feminine curve to his waist and a nice delicate slope at the small of his back. It seemed to be pointing down to his ass which was perfectly round and plump if he said so himself. His body was soft but toned due to him running around the bakery with large sacks of flour. Gale got lost in his thoughts ans compleatly disreguarded anything Portia was saying. Next thing he knew a garment was being shoved at him. He took it and raided an eyebrow. It was a onesie.

"Its a onesie." He grumbled, pouting.

"Oh shut up, Gale its not a onesie." Peeta smacked his arm. "Put some underwear on please." He looked up noting portia was gone and peeta was in some black briefs he looked at the table to see some in front of him too.

"Oh." He smirked grabbing the underwear. "You sure you want me to put them on?" He teased. If it was possible, Peeta's blush deepened and he looked away. The baker started pulling up the suit given to him. Gale shook his head and started getting dressed as well. The outfits really were like a second skin.

Once they were done getting dressed portia came in with capes. Peeta clapped childishly and put it on.

"What is this all for?" Gale was confused because he wasnt listening when Portia was explaining things. The woman rolled her eyes and he really looked at her for the first time. He was flawless ebony skin and a mop of curly hair. The only makeup she was wearing was gold eyeliner on her bottom lids, which gave her a mysterious look. Other than that she was wearing a sleeveless black blouse and black leather leggings. She looked beautiful.

"She's our stylist, Gale.. And were about to go to the tribute parade.." Peeta said once it was apparent she wasn't going to answer. "I didn't think you were listening.." He muttered. Gale nodded meekly, only he knew what he was distracted with. A few Avoxes came up to walk with them with lit torches. Gale eyed them warily. Peeta backed up a bit. Portia just chucked,

"Dont worry, its synthetic fire, it won't burn 're gonna light you up." She explained as they reached their chariot. Peeta raised an eyebrow and looked around. There were new and old faces all around. He saw old victors from past years and new tributes thrown in with them. He turned, expecting gale but instead a handsome tan face with sandy hair and green eyes stood. Finnick O'Dair. Holy fuck. Peeta stood, gawking at the smirking man from 4.

"Hello, Peeta." He hummed seductively. Peeta blinked. Holy fuck he knew his name.

"U-um hi.." He said shyly, looking down. Big mistake. His eyes unintentionally raked down O'Dair's toned body. The man was wearing nothing but some sort of mesh shorts. "Oh wow. Wait how do you know my name?" He murmured. Finnick seemed pleased and this and took it upon himself to get closer, pressing their bodies together. Peeta turned his head away and tried his best not to make physical contact without falling over.

"You like what you see? And as for your question, I saw you faint on TV." He chuckled. Dread and shame racked Peeta's body. 'Well fuck.'

"You-you saw that?" He asked miserable.

"D'awe don't be embarrassed it was cute." He cooed teasingly. He looked over Peeta's shoulder and smirked cockily at something before leaning close to his ear. "I'll see you later." And with that he was gone. Peeta couldn't help the odd feeling left on his body. Nobody had ever done something like that. Well what had he done.

The baker turned around to see who Finnick was looking at and immediately caught eye contact with someone. It was a boy, he must have been a new tribute. He was hazel eyes and blonde hair. He was from 2 by the looks of who he was standing with. Peeta regretted not watching the reaping tapes. He was really tall, about the same height as Gale and was just as muscular if not more. Man but this guy looked like a beast. He was dressed as a spartan soldier. His face was cold and hard to read. It felt as if he was staring right through Peeta's soul. And the baker couldn't help but shudder. He boy tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.

"Who you looking at?" The voice came from right behind Peeta, making him jump and yelp in fright. He heard Gales deep laughter and turned around, hitting at him rather furiously. Gale just continued laughing and blocking Peeta's half-hearted attacks before grabbing him and picking him up. "You shouldn't have even tried, shortie."

"Gale where the fuck were you. I got visually raped by Finnick O'Dair and mindfucked by some guy from two!" He said struggling in Gale's strong arms for a while but soon gave up.

"Your so cute when you're mad, like an irritated puppy." He chuckled before putting Peeta down, who just glared, pouting at him. "Portia said it's time to get on the chariots. You with Clove, me with Katniss." Peeta grumbled but did as he was told. Everyone around them were getting on their respective chariots. All of the vessels lined up in order of district and awaited for the large doors to open so that the capitol can see their toys paraded at their best. The Avoxes came and lit their capes. The double doors opened and the parade began.

TBC

Authors Note

Alright babes review! I am not gonna put a limit on it because not as many people read this story as they used to so I can only hope that it is to your guys' liking. Btw I got a request for a katniss smut oneshot. I am trying honestly but it might take a bit. Other than the person who requested that, I want nobody else to request anythig centered around Katniss please. I don't really do straight fics and I don't like her character, making it hard to write about her. Dont worry I will get that request done because I told you I would so I will. But I wont be writing ANYTHING else with Katniss as the main character m'kay? Review replies down below~

Jvaughn410: Thanks! I did change his eye color because I like them as brown. And I understand how it can seem rushed. Sometimes I get anxious about getting to the games so I might end up rushing a bit. I promise I'm not trying to! I've rewritten that chapter so many times because of it. I think it has to do with the fact I have to write on a phone. Yep, my computer is broken so its hard to edit. Please keep up with the constructive criticism because once my computer gets fixed I will edit the story a bit.

Genna: Thanks hun I'm typing my thumbs off!

Ardiethepenguin: YAAAAAAASSS YOUR ONE OF MY ORIGINAL PANCAKES! I didn't know a lotta people liked this ship. Honestly ff isnt as popular as it used to be. But I'm back babe!

Morganaxmerlin: I got you, homes.

MBrag2002: •3• take it, babe.