"There's my star victor! Only took you two wake up calls!"

"Oh, my girl's the same. Aren't you gorgeous?"

Nova was hardly awake yet. She sat wordlessly in the dining cart and stared out of the window while both her own escort and District 12's fawned over her.

It was too early for this. She hadn't even had breakfast yet, let alone seen Cato. He'd vanished again at some point during the night, leaving her to deal with her hangover-induced migraine alone and in silence. The only silver lining was that the small amount of sleep she'd managed had helped to soothe her arm pain.

They'd be in District 2 in an hour or so, then her district about 4 hours after that. Her life was close to returning to some level of normalcy. She'd never believed that would happen.

This mother's meeting/hostage situation was driving her crazy though. She was tempted to hop off the train and walk the rest of the way. At least she'd finally have some peace and quiet, away from the piping high-pitched intones of Tiffany, Effie, and Cato's escort Luciana.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Nova was on her feet in less than a second. She sprinted across the room and hurled herself at Conrad, nearly toppling him over in the process. With some difficulty, she blocked out the coos and marginally condescending remarks of the Capitol residents behind her, especially as her tears inevitably started flowing.

Conrad was already ushering her out of the room, awkwardly shuffling back as she clung to his jacket. He still smelled of their district, of factory fumes with just a tinge of rust. It had a nostalgic coppery tang to it that caught on her tongue. Her grip tightened, as if letting go would yank her far away again.

"I thought I was dead," Her voice muffled against his top, "Conrad, I thought I wouldn't–"

He shushed her, but judging by the small amount of urgency in his voice she reckoned it had something to do with the fact that they were standing along the District 2 corridor. "You're out. It's okay, you did it." He dislodged her from his clothing and led her through the District 2 carriage towards where he and Brody were presumably residing. "You made it."

She gratefully took the tissues she was offered. "I can't believe you came," she said, although she wasn't sure whether her surprise was pleasant or quite the opposite. "What about the others?"

"They're fine," he assured her. "It's you we were worried for."

"Who's this?"

Nova was startlingly quick to brush her tears away from her bloodshot eyes and spin around. Cato was standing just outside his bedroom, his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed. This scrutinising gaze was aimed at Conrad, who incidentally reciprocated with a similar look of disapproval.

This wasn't an issue she'd thought of earlier, but she should have. Conrad would have no reason to have any trust or liking of Cato. He would've seen through her forced actions and lies easier than anyone, and not to mention the amount of times Cato had left her both physically and emotionally damaged in the arena. And Cato was just a bastard who didn't really like anyone, so that probably didn't help. Neither did the fact that Conrad was definitely a few inches taller, and slightly more imposing when he needed to be. Cato didn't like being shown up.

She stepped out from between them, in time for Cato to move forward with his hand out. "I'm Cato," he introduced himself. He sounded reluctant to even acknowledge her cousin, speaking through gritted teeth. "Nice to meet you."

It was no surprise to her that Conrad didn't even spare his outstretched hand a glance. "I'd better check on Brody," Conrad said. His voice went cold. "We'll talk later."

Conrad's palm brushed against her shoulder before he disappeared in the other direction, grabbing a bread roll and a carton of juice on his way through. She didn't like watching him leave again. The door closing firmly behind him stung a little.

"That's your cousin?" Cato assumed. "He's an asshole."

That single comment boiled her blood in a way she couldn't describe.

"He's not an asshole," Nova snapped. "If anyone here's an asshole, Cato, we all know it's you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She let out a humourless laugh. "You murdered my friend, you attempted to kill me on several occasions, I spend most of my time being shit-scared of you and your violent outbursts, and somehow you're not the asshole?" Before he could say anything, she held a hand up to silence him. "Forget it. I'm going to get some fresh air."

"Nova, come on–"

She recoiled and whipped around the moment he reached for her arm. He held his hands up in surrender. Her expression must've been murderous.

"Is there a problem here?"

Conrad had returned, presumably upon hearing their raised voices. He didn't leave the doorway. Evidently he didn't want to get involved himself, but his distrust of Cato made him wary of leaving them unattended.

Nova gave Cato an icy look. "No," she said, turning on her heel. "We're fine."

On her way to the back of the train, she brushed past Peeta. Peeta completely ignored her. The only acknowledgement she received was a shove in the shoulder. That's just what she needed: another person on this nightmarish train in a pissy mood.

She watched the rolling fields vanish over the horizon as they sped further away from the Capitol. This was District 2 territory now, with the station not too much further. The thick layer of white cloud overhead covered the tops of the mountains in the distance. The view was nothing short of picturesque.

The door opening had her inwardly groaning. When she'd left for some fresh air, she'd really hoped that everyone on the train would understand that this implied she wanted space, away from other people, alone. She could think of a list of people her visitor could be, and yet none of them she wanted to speak to, for varying reasons.

Yet somehow, without even needing to turn her head or move her gaze, she knew it was Cato sitting near her. He'd left her some space, which in her opinion was the very least he could do. Ideally, he'd be at the opposite end of the train, but apparently that was too much to ask for.

"What actually happened to your parents?" he asked.

Her heart sank at the mere question. "They died of illness–"

"They didn't," he interrupted her. "You lied for the cameras. Also, you're not a great liar."

Her fingers idly wound themselves together in front of her. "I'm just . . . not used to lying about that." She untucked her hair from behind her ear. "Treason. Firing squad. I was 9."

"President Snow spared you?" She couldn't ignore the mild bemusement in his tone.

She nodded. "Sometimes I wish he didn't. Living the way I've had to is worse punishment."

She couldn't lie to herself and pretend she was okay with this conversation, let alone having Cato around in the first place. It was an uncomfortable topic, one she rarely needed to bring up in her district since everyone around there just knew, and they were fine with it. Her district was significantly anti-Capitol anyway, especially compared to one like Cato's.

"Don't speak about Conrad like that," Nova said. She let her head rest against her hands as she stared out of the window. "I don't care if you never get along with each other. He means more to me than you could imagine."

"Fine," was the only reply she received. She didn't want him to say anything further anyway.

Rain began to fall. It started with one small droplet rolling down the polished glass, but that was soon accompanied by an utter downpour that hammered against the roof and windows. The sky was starting to darken. The lights in the room turned on automatically.

"I'm not exactly a serial murderer," Cato told her. "That was just for the games. I wouldn't actually do anything to hurt you, you know."

His comment was shocking, really. She scoffed. "You already have," she retorted.

"I know. And I'm not proud of it." He settled back in his seat and switched the subject before she could continue. "I'll be home in less than an hour now."

Nova nodded. "I won't see you until the Victory Tour."

"Unless I come before then," he argued.

She shook her head. "You can't do that."

And it was true. The trains between the Capitol and the districts were for authorised personnel only. He'd definitely have a tough time just hopping aboard for a short vacation.

"Why not?" he said. "Who's going to stop me from reuniting with the greatest love of my life?"

Despite his obvious sarcasm, she knew he was right. By saying the right words, by working with the correct intentions, he could easily visit her. The Capitol would love it.

"What if I don't want you to visit?"

"I'll bring noodle soup," he replied.

She turned her head with an eyebrow raised, although it didn't disguise the smile that tugged on her lips. "You'll bring noodle soup," she repeated, as if hearing it out loud from her own mouth would somehow make his promise less bizarre.

"Oh yeah," He nodded insistently, "District 2's noodle soup is unmatched. Even President Snow loves it."

"Well," She shrugged one shoulder, "if it has the Snow seal of approval, it must be good."

"Exactly," he agreed.

Regardless of her tone, she couldn't deny that he was clearly quite enthusiastic about the food in his district. It would make sense though — they rarely starved over there. Far fewer people would have unhealthy relationships with food. Lack of starvation was the prize for kissing the Capitol's ass.

"Do you still think the hunger games are 'awesome'?" She specifically quoted part of his initial interview with Caesar.

It took him a few moments before he shook his head. "I don't think so. I doubt the other three would say so either."

She immediately knew who he meant. Their deaths had been some of the most gruesome. The worst part of it all was that they'd all volunteered.

Nova shook her head. "Snow's unhappy with me," she informed him. "I figured you ought to know. There shouldn't have been 4 victors, and I think he's resentful of me for it. For several reasons."

Cato didn't say anything at first, and when he did it surprised her.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to adjust back into my district after this," he confessed. "They're angry. My win wasn't that of a true academy tribute. It was an act of cowardice."

She allowed him to pour them some juice, since there was a distinct lack of booze to hand. They clinked their glasses together, indifferent.

"We're so fucked," she said.

He agreed, appearing almost sickly with dread. "So fucked."

Cato's sister was like nothing Nova had expected. She was a short girl with soft cheeks, dark brown hair, timid eyes, and absolutely no resemblance to Cato at all. It was like watching two complete strangers embrace on the platform.

She had so much to consider when it came to how she felt about Cato. There was no denying that he was a total asshole, but the person she was seeing after the arena, that man who was reluctantly hugging his slightly tearful younger sister, was completely separate from the person she'd competed against for weeks. It was as if he'd completely lost himself in the games. She wasn't sure how she felt about that yet.

"What are you watching?"

Conrad stood in the doorway. Nova didn't tear her eyes away from the TV screen opposite the bed. "I don't know. A cartoon, I think." She glanced down at Brody, leaning against her with his gaze glued to the screen. "The characters are ducks. This episode has a swimming contest, but Duck-ident Snow has just told everyone it's the taking part that counts, so everyone's a winner."

This was one of those rare moments where Conrad was genuinely rendered speechless. "Huh . . . I, er, I spoke to Peeta," he said, visibly reeling over the confusing kids show they were watching. "He seems nice."

"He is," Nova agreed. "I haven't really–"

Brody shushed them both and nudged her away. Nova rolled her eyes and took the sensible option of walking with Conrad out of the room and down the corridor. At least it was quiet, especially with the District 2s gone too.

"Like I was saying," she continued, sliding the bedroom door closed, "I haven't really spoken to Peeta or Katniss yet."

Conrad gained a look on his face that made her immediately dread whatever he was about to say next. That taunting smirk was always followed by the most mind-blowing mortifying insult known to man.

"It's like when you used to sit next to the mayor's daughter in history class," he reminded her rudely. Her face was already heating up, "but you were too shy to talk to her."

"It's not shyness!" she shouted. He cackled. "I'm not 9, you dipshit!"

She shoved him hard into the wall and snatched his bagel from his hand. They stumbled over one another, but before he could grab it back she elbowed him hard in the stomach.

"Give it back!" At this point, he was practically wrestling the baked good from her. "You're getting your greasy, stupid fingers all over it!"

Half of the bagel was already in her mouth. She had definitely bitten off more than she could chew, in a very literal sense. She spewed out crumbs as she retorted back. "That's what you get for–!"

"Need I remind you two of basic manners?!"

The pair froze. Tiffany had simply just appeared. This wasn't even the first time either. Nova had no idea how the woman did that. It was as if she was some freakish omnipresent entity, totally unescapable.

Nova swallowed the bagel. "Sorry," they muttered in unison.

Tiffany had her hands on her hips. "Nova, give your cousin back his bagel."

"I don't want it now," Conrad complained. "It has her saliva all over it. That's gross."

"Then have another one," Tiffany replied, eyebrows furrowed in bemusement as she gestured to a table full of food, as if to remind them that they were standing in a dining cart.

Conrad grudgingly picked one out from a basket of bread and took a small bite.

"See?" Tiffany continued past them. "It's not so difficult to get along, is it?"

They nodded, but at least they were sensible enough to wait until the woman was out of sight before bursting into laughter.

"She's worse than Sairah," Conrad snorted.

Nova couldn't deny that her escort was definitely a lot worse than her aunt. "See how I've been suffering?"

"Hey. What'cha guys talking about?"

She whipped around, her eyes wide, taking quick steps back. It was Conrad's hands on her shoulders that steadied her. Peeta's friendly expression turned, but in a sympathetic, apologetic way. Even the sound of another tribute's voice still triggering her like that wasn't just sad — it was frustrating.

"Nova was told off by Tiffany for stealing my bagel," Conrad told Peeta, his light tone an effort to alleviate the sense of anxiety and tension that had appeared between them.

Nova nodded with a shaky smile on her face. "He was being mean."

"She's being dramatic," he countered dismissively. "They're good bagels though. Want one?"

It took Nova about 10 minutes before she was in a state calm enough to interact with Peeta without feeling like she was going to shit herself in fear. It was stupid. Peeta was harmless. He was genuinely a good person, right to the core, in a way she'd never really seen. The guilt for feeling so briefly terrified around him gnawed at her insides.

She was ready to leave the train the moment they'd pulled into the station. She was to step out of a different door than Beetee, Wiress, and her cousins, just to allow the cameras and paparazzi to take as many unobscured photos and videos of her as possible.

She flattened out any invisible creases in her clothes and spun around. Tiffany gave her a reassuring nod. "You've got this."

Nova straightened out her shoulders and turned back around again. She pressed the glowing button which opened the door, bracing herself for the immediate flash of cameras and lights with a broad smile on her face.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

Author's note: I haven't had the chance to write all week, so this is about an afternoon's worth of writing. Cato isn't very good at being nice. Plus a bonus Effie cameo. She's so fine, I love her.