Shorter than the others but it's a transition scene before they start training; more intense than the last. Please review with what you think!
The group made their way to the elevator, by the time Clove and Almas arrived Cato had simmered down to simply glaring straight ahead. They filed in, Clove pushing her way to the opposite wall of the elevator from Cato with three assistances between them. The button to the second floor was pressed and the doors shut tight to the silence in the small compartment.
"Pumice," Cato snapped, looking over his shoulder to find the man two people away from him. He muttered his apologies as he shuffled his way through the small crowd to stand next to Cato. The two exchanged whispers, Pumice nodding every so often. Clove glanced over out of the corner of her eye, it couldn't be strategy, Cato would have called over Brutus. Her brow creased in confusion, but considering they were on the second floor the doors opened quickly and they began to file out into the suit before she even think of trying to hear what they were talking about.
"We leave for the training room at nine-thirty, breakfast is at eight, you're responsible for yourselves." Brutus called out simply, not bothering to stop his march through the living room towards his own sleeping quarters. Clove glanced over to Cato and then simply turned, walking back to her room.
She showered in peace, allowing the hot water to roll over her and fill the room with steam. She loved showers, always had. Back in District 2 in those small moments where training would get the best of her she longed to return home to the shower she knew was waiting for her. It was the time to clean her head to really think, however it was more of a burden now to do so; it allowed her mind to wonder too much.
Not spending as long as she had planned in the shower she left it to change into the pajamas provided by the capitol; pleased they weren't forcing her into a nightgown. She pulled on the loose fitting pants and shirt that matched them after drying her hair to a satisfactory dampness and brushing it out. She paced the width of her room for a few minutes before getting the courage to venture out into the second floor suite.
It was empty, everyone must have gone off to their own rooms to think over the day and plan for the day ahead. Clove's light footsteps were louder than she would have liked, her bare feet sticking to the stone floors, the sound echoing throughout the empty open room. She glanced around her surroundings before heading towards the kitchen area on the opposite side of the suite, until she heard a door opening causing her to stop dead in her tracks. She backed up, having been exposed in the opening of the second hallway, and then leaned forward to peer around the corner.
Cato's door was opened; she could see his hand holding it and the murmur of his voice speaking in a low tone to someone. Her brow creased as she inched forward, attempting to see who was with him. It was a long few minutes for Clove as she waited, but soon it was revealed that Cato was with a woman. She had pale pink skin and white-blond hair that was currently in flattened curls about her shoulders. She had wide hips and curves where Clove had bumps and striking green eyes that were locked in on Cato. The woman smiled a pearly-white grin to him, reaching up to run her fingers along his cheek as she took a step back towards the door.
Clove was waiting for it; waiting for Cato to slap the woman's hand away at such an intimate touch, but it never came. She had no idea who this woman was, but she wasn't childish enough to question why she had been in Cato's room. It must have been what he was discussing with Pumice earlier. It was a ridiculous notion to Clove, how that could be so high on Cato's priorities at the moment. Why he would sink so low as to have Pumice round out a woman for him, hadn't he been making eyes at that District One girl, why not call her?
Not as if that would have been any better. The girl was just as ugly as the capitol woman leaving the tribute's suite. Not to mention she would probably just be using Cato, attempting to get an advantage in the games. Although, Cato would be doing the same thing, they would just be using each other. Clove's jaw clenched and she took a deep breath as she chanced to bridge the gap from her wall to the next while attempting to appear as if she hadn't noticed the earlier exchange.
"What's the matter, Doll, can't sleep?" She heard from down the hall before her left foot could disappear behind the wall. She took a deep breath, a moment's internal debate between ignoring him or humoring him took place before she proceeded to continue towards the kitchen. While her footsteps were light with a soft echo following them, Cato's were obnoxiously loud as he made his way down the hall. "I asked you a question." He added, stopping at the end of the hall, his body facing her as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Clove sighed and turned around, the reply on the tip of the tongue lost as she caught a look of him. Cato was not wearing the Capitol supplied pajamas; rather he was simply dressed in the boxer shorts that were issued to the males. His hair was tasseled from Snow knows what activities he was doing in the bedroom with the capitol woman, and his eyes were staring her down with that unhealthy, animalistic stare she was beginning to fear more. With her expression noted Cato took advantage of the pause to close the gap between them, his towering frame leaning to look down at her.
"Did you see my friend?" Cato asked in a low tone, eyebrow rising as he questioned her.
"Yes." Clove replied simply, not giving him the satisfaction of flinching away.
"Could have been you." Cato told her in the same tone, as if someone was attempting to listen to their conversation. One arm uncrossed from his chest, his hand lowering down to lightly run the back of his fingers down her arm. Clove reacted quickly, her hand reaching down to snatch his wrist under her fingers.
"Don't touch me again. It's not what I'm here for." Clove hissed, fingers holding a sturdy grip around his wrist. With a quick jerk he freed himself, brow pulling together as he glared down at her.
"You are here to die." Cato replied pointedly, "The sooner you realize that, the easier this will be." He added, his gaze not breaking from hers. Clove took a deep breath, her eyes not moving from his. Her heart was beating faster; adrenaline from being in control for a few fleeting moments had left her now. She eyes scanned over his features for a quick moment before finding his eyes again. He looked like a bird of prey with its eyes on a weak, injured rodent. Inevitably was in his eyes, she could see it. There was no way he was going to lose this challenge.
"I'll see you in the morning, Cato." Clove said softly, taking a step back to leave. His hands reacted quicker than she could. His arms were wrapped around her, bringing her body crashing into his. She gasped, hands reaching up to push against his chest. "Cato, let me go!" She snapped, hands balling into fist to pound into his chest.
"You need to realize your place. It's beneath me, get used to it." Cato snapped, moving to grab her wrists, his voice was a little breathless; Clove didn't hit like a girl, she made sure it hurt. "Whose name is it they cheer? Mine. Who does District 2 want to win? Me. You're nothing but a stepping stone for me, so you might as well give me a bit a pleasure while we're here and not on camera." Cato smirked.
Clove stared back up at him, her eyes not leaving his. Her body shook, her heart was racing, her pulse pounding. She felt like she was going to become light headed. She took a deep breath, her jaw clenching as she braced herself for a moment; the words were on the tip of her tongue. Her lips parted to speak, but something caught in her throat, stopping her. Cato raised an eyebrow, noticing the motion.
"I'm not worth it, Cato." Clove spoke softly, causing something to change in Cato's expression. His brow creased, eyes now searching hers for a wordless explanation.
"What?" He snapped, obviously having not been able to come up with something on his own.
"I'm not worth this; I'm not worth you being distracted from the games. I'm not worth the chase. Just stop, you only want me because I won't let you. And if I would, you'd realize it wasn't worth it in the end and a waste of your time." Clove spoke simply, keeping her eyes locked on Cato's.
His jaw tightened, staring down at her for a moment. He didn't speak a word, he let go of her with a bit of a push and then turned. His heavy footsteps echoed down the hall until a door slammed shut and they stopped. Clove let out the deep breath she had been holding, shutting her eyes for a moment. She gave a nod, looking around the room again before simply walking back to her own room.