A/N: Baby chapter! I couldn't just leave my first update in almost a year at that. This story is almost finished and then I will be writing my Catching Fire version of this story, which I already have mapped out. So exciting! Anyways, huge ass moment in the story coming up so I will shut up now!
Cato felt his head spin, his heartbeat pounding in his ears as the words echoed in his brain over and over again.
Only one winner.
Only one winner.
Of fucking course, they would.
"Figures." He growled out, his hands reaching down to undo the tourniquet Katniss had tied around what remained of his leg. It was a bloody pulp. If he allowed it to bleed, he would just bleed out quickly and Katniss would be crowned victor.
Well, time to do what you came to do.
Shaking, bloody hands covered his own, "No." Her voice was nothing but pain.
"Katniss" He sighed, looking up at her tear-streaked face. This was the first time he had truly looked at her since they started running from the mutts. She was covered in cuts, blood leaking out from her arm, her eye was swollen with tears streaming down her face, cutting through the splattered blood on her cheeks. The look on her face was pure heartbreak. He felt his heart begin to shatter just seeing the devastation in her features.
"I love you so much. I love you. I love you." He kissed her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, "I'm so sorry, I have to leave you."
"You promised!" She sobbed out; her entire body was shaking.
Visions of their rooftop, the sound of the windchimes, her face as they kissed for the first time, and he promised her he would find a way to live too.
"They have to have their victor, little flame." Cato answered her, feeling the pain begin to seep back in. True to her nickname, Katniss exploded with fury.
"Why should they? Why should we have to choose! I can't do this, I can't just sit here and let you die! I'll never go home Cato! I'll die in this goddamn arena with you!"
Why should they?
Why should they?
They have to have their victor.
An idea sprung in his head. His hand flew to the berries in his pocket, half smushed, but still deadly.
"Are you fucking insane?" Katniss spat at him as she saw what was in his hand.
"Katniss. Do you trust me?" Her eyes flew to his. She knew what he was thinking.
Look in my eyes Katniss, they have to have their victor.
"Yes" She breathed, a soft sigh as all of the anger faded in her body.
"You said you would die here with me, then do it." Ice blue eyes met grey as all of the gears finally connected in her head.
"I love you." She answered with a nod, crashing her lips onto his. He felt the fire spread through his body, feeding courage into him as he cupped her face and kissed her with the passion beating in his chest.
"On three?" He breathed into her lips, dumping a few berries into her hand. He looked down, seeing the dark purple fruit against her bloodied hand, knowing that image would stay in his brain until his final breath.
"One" She pressed her forehead against his.
"Two" He trailed his hand down her face, soaking in every feature.
"Three" She placed her hand against his heart.
They lifted the berries to their mouths, and the edge of the poison was a hair away from their mouths when another announcement rang out;
"Stop! Stop! Ladies and Gentlemen: The victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Cato Hadley."