EVERYONE GETS DOWN ON WEDNESDAY. Well, for me, they do. Because that means a new chapter for all you lovely people and a new South Park, too. I adore South Park. Anyway! Sorry for any typos or errors in this chapter, I usually read it a million times over plus it's beta'd but I got lazy and didn't reread it over and over. So hopefully nothing is wrong.
AND YES. The Games finally start and Cato and Peeta interaction finally happens a lot. About time, all of you are saying. I agree. But I didn't want to rush anything and their relationship is not going to be rushed, either. You've been warned. Loving everyone following and reviewing or just simply reading. Thank you guys for the support. I worry that this story isn't good enough and that the flow is bad or the writing style is retarded but that's just me being dumb because this story is awesome haha.
MangoMagic: Thank you for reviewing and reading! I appreciate your opinion and there's a lot of Peeta and Cato interaction in this chapter! It's enough to make up for the lack of it so far :)
Imagine03: Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it. It only gets better as it goes on ;D
BrittBrat03: Suzanna Collins did an amazing job with Peeta. It just showed how much Peeta truly loved Katniss and how much he was willing to risk his own life for her and blah blah. But in this story, Peeta is falling for Cato so, sorry Collins, gotta change it up lol. Thank you for being my beta!
Abysslullaby: Thank you for reviewing! Glad to see you back :) I can just see this change happening in Peeta, it was really fun to write. Enjoy this chapter because there's a lot of Peeta and Cato interaction!
Thank you to all my followers and readers! Much love to you all.
Enjoy!
Chapter Four.
Peeta can barely breathe as the day comes. Maybe it'll be best to stop breathing and just die now. Maybe it would be better if he just kills himself and not die painfully in the Games. As Portia slips on the dark jacket, he's shaking and can't breathe normally. She places her hand on his shoulder and squeezes. "You can do this," she whispers to him. "I know everyone was so bent on Katniss but Peeta... you're strong and you have a fire of your own inside of you."
Peeta feels his heart thump and he's hugging the Capitol woman, the stinging of tears behind his eyes. She hugs him back and when it's announced there are thirty seconds left to get in the tubes, they step back from each other. "Thank you," he whispers, his voice shaky.
"Chin up, Peeta," she says, giving him a tight smile. "Go prove to the world you're the Boy on Fire."
The stinging grows worse in his eyes and he quickly turns away. His steps feel heavy and slow as he walks towards the tube, the ten seconds counting down quickly. Just as he steps into the tube, the voice says one and he's being closed in. He barely as time to turn around and see a tear slipping down Portia's cheek before he's being lifted up. At first, everything's blindingly bright. He shields his eyes and blinks, waiting for them to adjust. He drops his hand and takes in the surroundings; the Cornucopia stands before him, all shiny and bright in the sun, weapons and supplies laid out temptingly before it. They're in a clearing and woods surround them and as Peeta looks around, he spots Katniss, in a running stance. She wasn't considering running and getting something, was she? That's just asking to be killed! As the clock gets closer to one, she looks over at him. He shakes his head, silently pleading with her to not do it, to not run into the bloodbath.
She would surely be killed. She stares at him before turning away and the clock is nearly up. Did she change her mind? He hopes so because as the countdown reaches zero, all he can hear is his heavy breathing, his loud heartbeat, and his running footsteps as he darts into the trees. He doesn't look back, he just keeps running, running from the bloodbath surely happening behind him. He wishes he can just run from everything, from all of this. Run back to District 12 and hide in the bakery, the only place he truly enjoyed himself at. He trips then, his mind racing along with his legs, and hits the ground hard, the wind leaving him. He lays there for one second, gaining his breath back, before he's up and running again. He has to get far from them. He remembers what Haymitch said as he escorted him to go to his death; find water. He needs to find water and think of how to approach the Careers. He knows what to say to them but he isn't exactly sure how to approach them. He isn't sure how to find water, either. He remembers some tips Haymitch told him. The dirt would be wetter, moss pointing towards the water. Simple tips, shallow tips. Maybe he wants to see what Peeta could do, maybe he gave all his good, in-depth tips to Katniss. He isn't sure and he doesn't need to think about it.
He finally stops, taking a break. He falls against a tree, sucking in air, trying to calm his racing heart. Everything around him is quiet, the occasional bird making its presence known with a tweet. He leans his head back and stares up into the leaves. Is this how the forest around District 12 looks? He's never been in it but he thinks this is how it looks. Katniss must feel so at home... if she got out of the bloodbath. He jolts as the cannons begin to go off. He counts them in his head, jumping less and less as they each go off. Eleven. There's a good chance Katniss is part of that eleven. He'll have to find out when they show their faces tonight. He takes a deep breath and begins to walk, not sure what to do. He doesn't want to go back to the Cornucopia today. He needs to let the Careers get settled, needs to let them set all their things up before he approaches them. He begins his search for water.
He isn't sure how long it takes but he knows it takes a while, the sun already beginning to dip when he finally manages to find a water source. It's a small pond and he falls in front of it, cupping his hands and taking a drink. It's cold, fresh, and he takes two more gulps before seeing the strange rock formation beside it. He gets up and walks over, before crawling up on top of them. Some rocks jut up farther than others, creating deep groves that he could easily slip into and be out of sight for the night. He works quickly, considering the sun was setting, and crumbles leaves into the area he'll lay. It's a quick, poor job but he gathers some mud and puts it all on his right side, in hopes he wouldn't be as noticeable in the groove. He crawls up the rocks and begins to settle in, the leaves crunching loudly under his ear. He's surprised he found so many leaves, considering the trees are full and the leaves green. But then he remembers he's in an arena that people are controlling and decides there's going to be a lot of things he'll see he won't be able to explain. He sprinkles a few leaves over him and shifts a little before crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. One day down if he didn't get killed during the night. Tomorrow, though, he's approaching the Careers and that might surely get him killed.
During the night, the anthem brings him from his sleep. He shifts, the arm tucked under him numb. He slowly leans up, everything around him lit up by the moon's glow. He props himself against the rock behind him and looks towards the grid-like sky, watching faces begin to show. Eleven down and Katniss was not in that equation. He should feel happy, right? Instead, he feels torn. He doesn't know how to feel. He wants to be happy because she is alive but he also wants to be upset because she's alive. It's not making any sense in his head as he massages his arm back to life. He takes a deep breath and leans his head back. He wants to protect Katniss but at the same time, he wants to protect himself. But Katniss had more to live for, that's what he keeps telling himself. Because it's true. But a selfish part of him wants to live, believes he deserves to live more than her. Which is untrue. She has people to go back home too. He does too but not in the same way. He lays back down, feeling heavy with sleep, and closes his eyes. Tomorrow, he would join the Careers and protect Katniss. He would make sure she got out of here, even if he's confused about his feelings for the Girl on Fire.
Peeta jerks awake, birds tweeting, the sun making its way up. He feels sluggish as he slips down from his makeshift bed and crawls over to the water. He washes the mud off of himself and fills his belly with water before standing up and stretching. If Katniss went into the bloodbath and made it out, does that mean she has a bow? Does that mean she would shoot him on sight? He knows she would if she sees him with the Careers. The only loophole in their plan; Katniss wasn't in on it and would surely think Peeta was betraying her. He splashes water on his face and runs his wet fingers through his hair before beginning his walk back to the Cornucopia. He isn't sure he's going the right way since he had to take so many turns to find the water, which was pure luck to begin with, but he decides to just go this way and hope for the best. He wishes he had something to put water in and he knows Katniss does, since she ran into the bloodbath.
There's that envy again, crawling its way up and consuming him. He shakes it off, tells himself to grow up. Katniss did something stupid and by sheer luck, got out. Peeta did the right thing by running. If it took him so long to find the water, he wonders if it would take him as long to find the Cornucopia. He hopes not, he'd rather not approach the Careers during the night. The sun slowly creeps up, the heat getting worse. He has to take more and more breaks as the day continues on but he pushes himself and he finally makes it to the clearing. He stays in the bushes, assessing the area before he has to go in. All the supplies that were at the Cornucopia and not taken by a lucky soul that got out alive were piled into a pyramid, fresh dirt hills surrounding it. Confusion fills Peeta and he scans the ground, wondering what that was about. He isn't stupid, he remembers what Haymitch told him. If he had stepped off the platform before the clock went off, he would have been blown up. He sees the holes around the platforms and is honestly surprised. Were they that smart, that clever, to dig up the mines, rewire them, and place them around the pile?
It seems like it. He notices they have tents set up near the pile. The tents were meant to be separate dwellings but instead, they put them together to make one long tent. There was a fire pit near the tent and containers around it, for sitting. And of course, the Careers are there. They're eating, sitting on the containers and laughing about something. Peeta frowns as he sees how relaxed and calm they are. He slowly slips off his jacket, rolling it into a ball, before standing up. He spots Cato, ripping a piece of bread into his mouth, and laughing at something. Even with a mouth full of food, he's still attractive. That's his game, Peeta reminds himself. He drags everybody in with his charm and looks and stabs them in their back. He's already done that with the other Careers.
The girl from one, Glimmer. She's staring at him with big eyes and she's obviously trying to puff her chest out a little more when he looks her way. The girl from two, Clove, she seems to not be as affected by Cato. The boy from one, Marvel, he keeps looking at Glimmer and then at Cato. Peeta only sees the back of his head but he's sure Marvel is jealous. He spots the tribute he believes is from District Three and he understands now how the mines were set. He knew the Careers weren't that clever with mines. He slowly enters the clearing, his heart pounding in his ears, as he stomps loudly, to make his presence known. The atmosphere around the group shifts as they notice Peeta and they're all on their feet, the District Three boy getting up slower. Clove aims one of her knives as Cato lifts his sword, Glimmer notching an arrow in place on the bow, and Marvel gripping his spear. Wait... Glimmer has the bow and arrows. So, Katniss didn't get them. Maybe she had managed to grab a backpack.
"I got him," Clove says as she rears her arm back, about to throw the knife.
Peeta grips his jacket harder, ready to lift it up and block the knife when Cato tells Clove to back off. They all look at him in confusion as Cato keeps his eyes locked on Peeta. Peeta swallows, the heat growing in his stomach, beginning to steadily make its way through his body. It was Cato's game, this is how he played. He had to ignore the feelings. "You aren't attacking," Cato announces the obvious, that grin twisting onto his face, "What do you want, 12?"
"To join your alliance." Peeta announces loudly, his voice bouncing through the clearing as he straightens his shoulders.
They all laugh expect the boy from three. "What the hell can you do?" Marvel speaks up, amused. "Paint someone to death?"
"No. But I can camouflage weapons so they aren't taken. I can pick up ten times my weight and I know hand-to-hand combat. Best of all, I can help you find Katniss." Peeta explains, getting closer to them, showing he had no fear. He's ready to lift his jacket up in case Clove gets sick of his talking and tosses a knife. He has a death grip on the jacket, the only thing giving away his fear and nervousness.
Cato glances down at his hands gripping the jacket and Peeta knows he sees it. Peeta isn't the only one good at reading people. Cato's grin grows. "You want Katniss dead, Lover boy?" he says, sounding a bit surprised. Of course, Peeta was suppose to be in-love with her.
"There can only be one winner and she's strong." Peeta replies, keeping his voice steady, his posture strong.
"How can you help us find her?" Clove speaks up, sounding unsure. They probably think they can find Katniss on their own but Peeta knows they can't. They need him and they're slowly realizing it.
Peeta's trying to ignore the heat he feels as Cato's eyes sweep over his body, landing on his hands again, before their eyes lock. "I know Katniss better than any one of you. That's how." he says, breaking eye contact with Cato, the heat in his belly nearly burning him. He looks at Clove who grabs Cato's elbow and turns him towards her. She gets on her toes and whispers something in his ear, glancing at Peeta. Cato's grin drops and he shakes off her hand, shaking his head. He looks at Peeta and the grin returns. Peeta is going to have to get use to this constant warmth in his belly. Just like he has to get use to the bitter feelings he keeps getting over Katniss. "Welcome to the alliance, 12."
The others don't seem as excited for the new addition, especially Clove. She rolls her eyes and sits back down. Glimmer, Marvel, and Three join her but Cato stays standing, watching Peeta. Peeta releases his strong hold on the jacket and slips it back on, adjusting it before approaching their little camp. Cato gives him that grin and sits back on his container, patting the spot next to him. "We don't bite," he says mockingly and the others snicker expect for Three. He's very quiet and who wouldn't be? They probably forced him to stay there.
Peeta doesn't want to sit beside Cato, especially with that warmth, but slowly, he does. He needs to listen to them, gain their trust. Their shoulders brush and Peeta stiffens as heat shoots down his arm, along with a tingling feeling. It's something he never felt before and honestly, he doesn't want to feel it again. Cato is relaxed, propping his elbows on his knees and looking around at everyone else. "Here, 12," he reaches down beside him and pulls out a piece of bread. "You'll get more once you prove yourself," he adds as he tosses it towards the baker. Peeta catches it, fingering the bread for a moment. It's a fine bread, not cheap, and he's surprised it was given to him. He doesn't complain and nods his thanks before nearly swallowing the thing whole. He hadn't realized how hungry he was till now. Even after eating it, he's still hungry and he sees others eating more than him. He has prove himself? That'll be easy.
"So, Lover boy," Cato begins, not looking at him as he rips off a piece of bread from the large slice he has, "Why do you want to see the girl you're supposed to be in-love with dead?"
"I've already said," Peeta retorts quickly, looking around at the faces around him. "There can only be one winner."
"And you think it's going to be you?" Cato sounds amused now, letting out a scoff after his sentence. An air of amusement grows around them and Peeta scowls at the fire pit with churned wood in it.
"No." he answers tightly, wishing he could move away from Cato. He doesn't understand the warmth flooding through his being with Cato beside him and if he was being honest with himself, he doesn't want to know.
"Then why don't you want it to be her?" Glimmer pipes up, curiosity in her voice as she looks Peeta over.
Peeta shrugs. "You know that sick idea of if I can't have her, nobody can? Yeah." he says, trying to seem like he wasn't bothered with that lie. Did he feel that way? If he dies, would he want Katniss dead too? No. No, he wouldn't. He loves Katniss, he does, but maybe he didn't love her as much as he previously thought.
Cato actually laughs beside him. It's a deep, loud rumble and since Peeta's shoulder was against his, it shakes Peeta's frame. Peeta feels something bubbling inside him at the sound of the harsh, deep laugh and he bites his tongue. He certainly doesn't want to understand these feelings now. Why he was getting so warm and tingly and aroused around Cato? It wasn't right, he knows that much. "That is a sick idea, 12. Maybe you aren't as bad as I thought," he chuckles and finishes off his slice of bread.
"Why? Just because he has a twisted way of wanting to keep the Girl on Fire?" Clove rolls her eyes. "You're such an idiot sometimes, Cato."
"And you're such a bitch sometimes but you don't see me downing you for it," Cato snaps and Clove glares at him but doesn't retort.
Yeah, Cato was running this shit. He even has that air about him, that he's the top dog and nobody can undermine him. "As I've said before," Cato's talking to Peeta again, "You've got balls, 12. Just remember, the moment's going to come where I'm going to cut them off."
"Yeah, you've already said that," Peeta finds himself saying. Everything grows tense then and Peeta looks at Cato.
Cato locks his eyes with Peeta's and suddenly shoves him off of the container. Peeta hits the ground on his ass and he's about to get up and do something, what he isn't sure, when Cato suddenly has him pinned down to the ground, the bite of a cool blade on his neck. Peeta's wide blue eyes connect with Cato's icy blue narrow ones. The blade is smooth and cool, as Cato settles down on his body, his lips inches from Peeta's. "Maybe I need to cut off your balls now, huh?" he hisses out in a sharp whisper, his warm breath on Peeta's lips causing him to shiver. Cato feels it and raises an eyebrow. "Scared, Lover boy?"
"No." Peeta's voice is, thankfully, steady. Oh, he's scared. His heart is pounding in his ears and his mouth feels dry but he's also turned on so damn much. Cato is on top of him, his hips straddling his own, their breaths mingling. He can see this close, the deep blue of Cato's eyes, the swirls of blues that has his breath leaving his lungs and refusing to go back in. He can't believe he's turned on by this; he can feel himself hardening and he tries to think of something else but Cato's body on his, his lips so close to touching his own. He thought that was how Cato pulled people in; by being extremely attractive but by the way Peeta's body is reacting right now, he's unsure of that theory.
Was Peeta really... gay? And for Cato, of all men? He feels disgust at himself; not because he could possibly be gay but because he's attracted to Cato. And what about Katniss? Wasn't he, isn't he, suppose to be in-love with her? And as Peeta's thoughts are racing madly, the worse things happens. Cato glances down, it's just a quick glance, barely noticeable if you weren't paying attention, but he glances down where their hips are connected and Peeta knows that Cato knows he has a hard-on. Cato's eyes get a glint in them, a glint of something Peeta's never seen before. Is that... lust? His own arousal? The blade changes angle, Cato shifting his arm, and that's when Peeta's reminded of where he's at, of what could easily happen to him.
"No?" Cato's voice drops lower and so does his head. His lips brush along the shell of Peeta's ear and Peeta fights off a shiver, instead just stiffening up. "Maybe it's because you're turned on, Lover boy." he whispers for only Peeta to hear before he's straightening up, the blade leaving Peeta's skin. He suddenly throws the blade in the air and Peeta watches with wide eyes as it spins and comes back down. He feels the air catch in his throat and all he can think is that his last moment on Earth would be spent being aroused. That sucked. The blade is coming down and before the tip of it can sink into Peeta's chest, Cato had grabbed the handle, letting it dingle above the spot where Peeta's pounding heart was. Cato gives him that sick, twisted grin before raising to his feet. Peeta quickly leans up, pulling his legs up a little, so the hard-on in his pants wasn't noticeable to the others. "Cross me again and we'll have a problem, all right, Lover boy?" Cato says, taking his seat back and slipping the blade into a sheath at his thigh.
Peeta nods his head and moves so his back is against the container, his shoulder nearly brushing against Cato's leg. But he makes sure to sit just far enough so it doesn't. He keeps his legs bent some, so his hard-on wasn't noticeable to any of the others. But Cato knows and that has to be the worse one to know. He knows how Cato makes him feel, he knows that he might possibly be gay. And, damnit, he didn't really want to think about it but he knows he can't avoid it, especially being around the person that's causing it. He takes a deep breath through his nose and glances at Cato from the corner of his eye. Cato's staring forward, glaring at something. Peeta glances that way and sees Clove. Speaking of Clove, why wasn't she shoved into the dirt and threatened when she offended Cato? Then again, Peeta is the new guy and they view him as weak. Clove is staring back at Cato, raising an eyebrow and her eyes flicker over to Peeta. Their eyes connect for a brief period before Peeta drops his. Were they having some secret conversation about him? Were they even capable of having a secret conversation with each other? He was curious about how well the District 2 tributes knew each other.
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon and Cato looks at the fire pit. "Whose getting the wood this time?" he glances at Peeta and grins. Peeta sees the glance and grin out of the corner of his eye and stiffens, knowing what the blonde brute was thinking. 'Peeta already has the wood.' Asshole.
"I got it last night," Glimmer says, stretching her legs out. "I'm not doing it again."
"I helped her," Marvel speaks up, glancing at Glimmer with a slight smirk.
Cato rolls his eyes. "I don't give a fuck who did it last night. Go get some more." he demands.
"Why can't new boy do it?" Marvel asks.
"Yeah, since you just so willingly let him in." Glimmer adds sourly, obviously not happy with the new addition to the team.
Peeta just had a feeling she didn't like the fact she didn't have a say in it. That Cato decided it in the end. "Because he could be help to find the Fire Girl. I'm getting pissed with your lazy asses," he stands up, grabbing Peeta's jacket and yanking him with. "C'mon 12, looks like we're the only ones who are willing to do something useful." he snaps and begins to drag the boy off towards the woods after he snatched his sword up with his free hand.
Peeta swallows, trying to not stumble over his feet, considering Cato still had a strong grip on his jacket and was walking at a fast pace. "I can walk," the Boy with the Bread finally snaps, not liking how Cato was dragging him like some dog on a leash.
Cato releases his jacket, shooting a glare over his shoulder at him. "Watch your mouth," he demands as they enter the cover of the trees, the shadows sucking them in.
Peeta wants to say something back but Cato didn't push him into the dirt this time and so he shouldn't push his luck. Peeta sees them passing perfectly usable sticks for the fire but Cato keeps going and, not wanting to test 2's temper and lag behind, he keeps following. The shadows are growing darker, the sun that was previously shining through the leaves disappearing. He swallows as Cato brings him deeper into the forest. He isn't sure why they keep going but Peeta is finally sick of the walking. They're far from the campsite now and it's pissing him off, that Cato is being so careless. He stops walking, crossing his arms over his chest. "We've passed a lot of usable sticks. How far are we going out?" he demands, watching as Cato stops and tenses up.
Cato turns around, anger flashing over his face. "What's it to you? You could have stopped and picked up those sticks," he points out and then a grin that Peeta has decide only Cato can pull off comes onto his face. "Or maybe you just enjoying staring at my ass and forgot about the sticks."
Despite himself, Peeta feels his cheeks darken. He's glad it's too dark to tell, he can barely see Cato's face, only his tall, big outline. "Why would I stare at your ass? Not everybody's into you, Cato." he snaps, rolling his eyes. "Can we just get the sticks and get back?"
"Not even an hour here and you're acting like you run this shit," Cato approaches him, grabbing him by the front of shirt and pulling him to his tiptoes, so they're eye to eye. "What have I told you about that mouth, 12? Or do I have to keep it busy?"
Even in the dark, Peeta can see that twisted grin, hear it in his disgusting words. He scoffs, grabbing Cato's arm and squeezing it hard, in hopes he'll let go. "Fuck you, Cato."
"You'd like too. Or was that boner just because you were so scared, you couldn't even control it?" Cato teases, shaking Peeta slightly.
Peeta scowls. "What are you talking-"
"Playing dumb won't work." Cato drops him and shoves him away. He gives a dry laugh that sends chills up Peeta's spine. "You aren't actually in-love with the Girl on Fire, are you, Lover boy? You're actually gay, right?" he sounds amused, like this is some sick joke to him.
Peeta feels anger fill him. "Is this why you brought me out here? To screw with my head? Yes, I'm in-love with Katniss, and no, I'm not gay."
Cato shakes his head. "Really, Peeta?" there's his name again, rolling off that tongue with such anger, such disgust, such passion that Peeta feels his knees going weak. "Is that why you've been sneaking glances at me? Is that why you got a boner for me when I was on top of you? Is that why you're blushing like a fucking girl? Because you're in-love with Katniss and not gay?"
Peeta tries to play his words off, waving his hand in the air, as if he could physically brush away the truth of Cato's words. "I've been in-love with Katniss since I could remember. I am not gay. You're just full of yourself." he turns around, ready to get back to the campsite. And the others are probably pissed that they're taking their sweet time with getting wood.
Cato grabs the back of his jacket, not letting him walk off. "You go when I tell you too," he spins Peeta back around and forces him back, until his back slams into a tree. Peeta sucks in a sharp breath as Cato presses his sword against the side of Peeta's head. "And guess what, Lover boy," his breath ghosts over Peeta's face and Peeta feels his knees wobble as he grips the bark behind him, "I never said you were attracted to me so why do you keep saying shit about me, hmm?"
Cato was right. He hadn't said Peeta was gay for him. He had just said Peeta was gay and had gotten a boner with a man on top of him. Never about being attracted to him. "Because you were implying I was attracted to you," Peeta said lamely, shrinking against the tree, away from the sword at his head. The moon light shifted then, hitting the two just right, and Peeta could see Cato's shadowed face. Peeta knew it was the Gamemakers, wanting everyone to see what was happening between the District 2 and 12 tribute.
"I never said anything about myself." Cato chuckles deeply and shakes his head. "Poor District 12 boy, so confused about his feelings."
"You don't know me," Peeta spits, glaring at Cato angrily. How dare Cato say that. He doesn't know what Peeta is feeling, what Peeta has been through. He feels anger flare through him.
"I know you have a boner for me," Cato says, giving his grin that has Peeta's skin crawling in one way or another.
"Fuck you. I do. Not." he says slowly, hoping it would get through Cato's thick head he didn't have a boner for him... hoping the lie would get through Cato's thick head.
"Hey, remember who has the sword here," Cato taps the sword against the side of Peeta's head, who flinches lightly. "Keep telling yourself that, Lover boy." he leans in close, his lips nearly touching the ear that wasn't having a sword pressed against it. "Let's see how long you can lie about it." he steps away, heading back towards the campsite. "Get some damn wood, 12!" he snaps over his shoulder.
Peeta can barely breathe, let alone move. He takes a deep breath and tries to get his head on straight. Cato scares the living shit out of him, he knows that, but he also raises feelings in him he never had before. Like the feeling of fire going through him. Cato makes him literally feel like the Boy on Fire. A stick suddenly smacks him in the side of the head and falls to the ground. "Ow! What-" he turns and sees Cato's figure standing there, a scowl on his shadowed face.
"Get some damn wood! You're going to get killed if you keep spacing out like tha-" Cato stops talking and that grin comes onto his face. "That isn't a bad thing though." he turns around and keeps walking.
Peeta feels anger flare in him and bends down, grabbing a stick Cato could have carried himself instead of throwing it at him. His head throbs a little as he picks up a few more sticks, trying to keep up with Cato. Cato walks through the forest like a damn buffalo; loud stomps, shoving things out of his way as loudly as he can, scoffs as he has to step over something. He's so careless, he thinks he's untouchable and that's pissing Peeta off more than anything. He glares at the back of his head as they reenter the clearing.
"About time!" Clove yells as they come towards the campsite.
"We thought you two got lost." Marvel shakes his head. "What took you?"
Clove shoots Cato a look that Peeta doesn't miss. Cato snatches the sticks from Peeta's hands and kneels down, shoving them into the fire pit. "Lover boy takes his sweet ass time."
Peeta glares at the back of his head, mad that he threw him under the bus like that. He wants to say something rude back but bites his tongue. He doesn't need to get killed on the first day of being with the Careers. Haymitch would probably punch his body once it got back. Haymitch... shit. Haymitch was probably wanting to punch Peeta anyway. He's been fawning over Cato and not doing good on his confession of loving Katniss Everdeen. He takes a deep breath as he sits down in front of the container Cato had sat on, leaning back against it. "Where the fuck are those matches?" Cato suddenly snaps loudly, making Peeta jump a little.
Glimmer rolls her eyes and stands up. "Hold on," she says, walking towards the large pyramid of goodies. Peeta's brows furrow as she does an awkward dance to get to it and realizes he was right; they kept the Distract 3 boy only so he could dig up the mines and rewire them around the goods. He wonders who came up with that idea. He has a feeling it wasn't Cato. Glimmer is digging through something and Cato is obviously getting impatient.
"C'mon Glimmer!" he yells and huffs. "What the fuck is wrong with you. You guys knew I was coming back with wood, you could of had the matches." he gets up and sits beside Peeta, on top of the container. His knee bumps Peeta's shoulder and Peeta tenses, wanting to scoot away but that would draw attention to himself.
Clove rolls her eyes. "Stop your bitching, Cato. It's getting tiring."
"Don't tempt me to take one of your knives and shove it up your ass, Clove." Cato all but growls, glaring daggers at her in the darkness.
Clove scoffs but doesn't say anything. Clove had the backbone to talk back but once Cato made a threat, she got quiet. It slightly annoys Peeta. Why didn't Marvel, Glimmer, and Clove just gang up on Cato and take him down? Then they could do what they want. Maybe they actually like him being the leader? Peeta probably would never understand their relationships with each other. Glimmer finally hops her way from the goods and comes back. "I got 'em, I got 'em."
"Instead of wasting matches, I can start a fire with rocks." Peeta finds himself saying before he realizes it. All eyes turn to him, even though they could barely see anyone in this dark, even with the abnormally bright moonlight.
"Why go find rocks when we just have the matches?" Glimmer deadpans as she takes one out.
"Just a suggestion," Peeta mumbles, rolling his eyes.
"No, he's right," Cato says, looking at Glimmer. "Go to the lake. I bet there's some rocks around it."
"It's just easier to use these matches-"
"You're just being lazy. Go!" Cato snaps.
Glimmer stands there, staring at him with annoyance. "Fine." she snaps and throws the match she had out and the box in the dirt before stomping towards the lake. Marvel stands up, shaking his head. "I'll help her," he says and walks after Glimmer.
"He's just hoping to cheer her up and get a piece of ass," Cato says, smirking over at Clove.
"Ew, they better not do it in the tent." she says and looks over at Peeta, whose staring at the fire pit. "We don't have room for one more, Cato. What do we do with him?" she asks bluntly.
Peeta looks up at the mention of him. Even if she hadn't said his name, it was obvious who they were talking about. Cato looks over and gives that grin. "He can take first watch and then whoever comes out and relieves him, he can take their bed."
"Can't he just sleep out here? After all, he hasn't proved himself. For all we know, he can be in an alliance with Katniss and trying to discover our weaknesses-"
"Shut your mouth, Clove, you're giving me a headache. He's sleeping in the tent tonight and taking first watch. There's no arguments over it." Cato cuts her off, glaring at her from across the fire pit.
A bit of surprise flashes over Clove's face and Peeta wonders why. Is it because Cato is so willingly letting him in? And now Peeta's wondering exactly why Cato is allowing him in so easily, with no problems. Was this his way of gaining Peeta's trust and then turning it against him? Peeta wouldn't let that happen. No, he was planning on gaining their trust and then turning it back on them. "Fine." Clove gets up, shooting the dirtiest look towards Peeta. "I'm going to bed. I'm not relieving him of watch." she snaps and walks towards the tent. She pauses, glancing back. "Hey Three, come with me." she demands.
Three jumps to his feet and quickly follows after her, like a puppy. Cato rolls his eyes. She's probably going to fuck with him. Cato looks down at Peeta, whose watching Clove and Three disappearing into the tent. He looks up when he feels Cato's eyes on him and he narrows his own some as blue and blue clashes. "What?" Peeta asks after a few seconds of the staring contest.
Cato raises an eyebrow and points the tip of his sword at Peeta, it brushing the tip of Peeta's nose, who tenses up. "That mouth is going to get you in trouble, 12."
"You keep threatening me but you have yet to go through with one." Peeta points out. He doesn't know why he said it but he did and he curses himself inside his head.
Cato's eyes light up and his eyebrows nearly reach his hairline. "Would you like me too?" he asks in a joyful voice, that grin forming on his lips.
"No." Peeta deadpans and Cato swings his sword away, stabbing it into the ground.
"When the time comes, 12. When the time comes." Cato says just as Glimmer and Marvel come back.
"Here's your stupid rocks," Glimmer says, throwing the few she had down. She looks at Marvel though, smiling. "Marvel got them all, though. He's so sweet," she says, puffing her chest out the slightest and running her finger down his covered arm. He smiles at her. Peeta can tell Glimmer used her looks to get her way with him.
"Light a fire, Lover boy." Cato demands.
Peeta almost doesn't move from his spot. Almost. He gets on his knees and moves forward, grabbing the rocks. Some are damp so he puts them aside and uses the two driest ones he can find. He begins to knock them together, the clanking echoing in the clearing, as he keeps it close to the fire pit. It would help with some leaves but he knows he can do it. He doesn't want to look like an idiot and not get it down and he really doesn't want to be bitched at. He keeps trying and after Glimmer huffs and a few more knocks, a spark shoots from the rocks and catches one of the sticks, lighting the whole thing on fire. He sets the rocks aside and slides back, placing his back against the container, making sure his shoulder didn't touch Cato's knee. The warmth of the fire was nothing compared to what Cato made light in him.
"About time!" Glimmer announces, falling onto a container in front of it. Marvel joins her on the same container, staying close to her.
"Nice job, Lover boy," Cato clamps his hand on his shoulder, shaking it and giving him that grin.
Peeta looks up at him, the warmth that Cato makes him feel making his body hot, not the fire, and finds himself returning a small smile. Oddly enough, he feels pride swell in him at the approving look in Cato's eyes, the way his hand squeezes his shoulder. He quickly looks away at his thoughts, into the fire, not believing what he was thinking. He told himself he wouldn't trust Cato, wouldn't trust any of them, and wouldn't care for them. But in some way, he was beginning to like Cato as a friend, even with the threatening and the annoying air of smugness around him and the fact he was just playing a game with him, and if that kept up, Peeta had a feeling it would turn into more. And that scared him more than what Cato could ever do to him.
...
I love it. haha. I hope you do too! I really wanted to make Cato this teasing, fucking-with-your-head person. I can totally see it. REVIEW PLEASE. They seriously make my day. I tell people I get reviews who don't even understand what is but whatever, they make me happy. Love you all! Even if I don't know you... I'm just a creeper like that.
QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER IS... DUNDUNDUN...
If you managed to wiggle your way into the Careers, how would you gain their trust? Would you just do everything they said and not talk back? Or would you stand up to them while protecting their backs, to show you're not weak but also loyal?
Till next time, loves! Much Love, LW.