Cato was trying his best to ignore the eyes on him as he stood petting the horse. It felt like every single one of the victors in the room was staring at him. Maybe it was because he was new to their world, maybe because he was the only one reaped from a district that was not his own, maybe it was because they all knew they were here because of him.
He pretended he was completely unaware.
Then, a flash of gold appeared in the distance, moving towards him, and Finnick Odair stood next to him in nothing but a cleverly draped gold fishing net.
Maybe being forced to wear that is just as bad as going into the games again.
"So, you're Cato." The man spoke as if he was unaware, "You're even more menacing in person than you look on a screen."
"I'll assume that was supposed to be a compliment." His brows furrowed.
"Not really." The victor gave a quick not, "Nice to meet you, I'm Finnick Odair."
He stuck his hand out, and Cato shook it, "I know."
I know who you are. I also know what Snow did to you.
"Of course, you do." Finnick smirked, "This must be strange for you."
"How so?" Cato asked.
"Being reaped from 12, coming back a year after you won." The man answered.
"Not so much, I don't really belong in 2 anymore." He said.
Finnick smiled, "I suppose that's true."
"What about you?" Cato changed the topic.
"Oh, I just go where I'm told." Finnick shrugged.
The double meaning of his words hit Cato like a truck. He couldn't think of anything to say, words refusing to come out of his mouth.
"I think you and I have quite a bit in common." Finnick continued.
Cato pursed his lips, "You'd be right about that."
"It'd make for a good alliance in the arena." The man answered with a knowing look; over his shoulder, Cato could see Brutus staring at them.
Of course, Finnick is a rebel.
Perhaps there is a plan.
"I'll have to talk to Katniss first." Cato nodded at him to let him know he understood.
"Ah, yes." Finnick smiled, "She's quite the firecracker that one."
"Tell me about it." He scoffed.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding." Finnick's face turned solemn.
"We didn't." Cato answered.
"Speaking of, there she comes now." Finnick motioned behind him.
Holy shit.
Katniss looked absolutely stunning, clad in a tight black dress, her hair flowing behind her. He was half entranced staring at her, even as she made it to his side and Finnick introduced himself to her.
No wonder I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.
"You look terrifying in that getup," Finnick said to her.
"Good, I'd love to borrow that outfit someday." Katniss answered with a smirk.
Good god, the things I want to do to her right now. Why are there so many people here?
"Ah, you like it?" Finnick smirked, "My stylist got creative with the rope."
"She sure did." Katniss raised her eyebrows.
Rope. We could certainly have fun with some rope. Fuck now for killing me before I could buy some damn rope.
"It might be best for you to refrain from copying my style, I think you broke your fiancé." Finnick answered.
Katniss turned to him; her eyes lit like fire.
So beautiful.
She smacked the side of his head gently, "You're acting like a fucking idiot Cato. There are people around."
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, "My bad, excuse me, what were we talking about?"
Finnick was barely containing his laughter as he spoke, "We were talking about how excellent I look in this outfit."
"Excuse me?" Cato frowned possessively.
Katniss burst out in laughter next to him. A real laugh, not the fake one that she used when they were in the Capitol. Just like that, Finnick was an ally.
"Ah, showtime. I'll see you both afterward." Finnick said, and then disappeared.
"You look fantastic, by the way." He turned to his wife.
"I think you made it abundantly clear that you like this dress." She frowned at him.
"I can't help it." He placed a kiss on the side of her head.
Cinna and Haymitch walked over then, both of them looking solemn and serious. Cato had almost forgotten what they were doing after talking to Finnick. For a minute, he almost felt normal.
Perhaps I faked it a little too hard.
"No waving and smiling this time," Haymitch instructed.
"Look straight ahead, like all of this is beneath you; the buttons are on the inside of your sleeves when you're ready." Cinna finished.
"Shouldn't be difficult," Katniss answered, her face back in a frown.
He boarded the chariot, reaching a hand out to help Katniss up. An image flashed in his mind of a gold gladiator outfit with Clove standing next to him, followed by her body crumpling to the ground next to the cornucopia.
He shook his head to clear the memory.
Katniss's fingers wound into his. "I love you." She said over the roar of the crowd as the chariot began moving.
"I love you too," Cato answered, squeezing her hand for support.
The second they got out of the tunnel; the crowd was deafening. He could hear his name and Katniss's being roared through the stands as he steeled his jaw. He stared right ahead the entire time, trying to remember how to be the career he was when he did this the first time.
As they neared the front of the circle, where Snow stood on a podium, Cato felt hate take over his entire body. His shoulders squared, eyes focused, chin up. His persona wasn't acting now; it was real. He became deadly in a matter of seconds, and the crowd seemed to roar even louder.
Katniss turned her head to look at him, and he met her gaze. As if they were communicating telepathically, they both lit their costumes at the same moment they turned to stare at the president. He thought he would be afraid feeling his clothes burst into flames, but instead, it made him feel whole. A year ago, he was entranced by Katniss, surrounded by those same flames. He had wanted to feel the fire so badly, and now he had. The fire was his as much as it was hers now, and they were one. There was no beginning, no end; they were fire and ice molded together.
I'm going to kill you.
Not today.
Not tomorrow.
But I'm going to kill you.
He willed Snow to hear his thoughts as he stared up at the man he hated most in the world.
Finally, the roar of the crowd lessened as they made it back into the tunnel. When the horses came to a stop, Katniss pressed the button to stop the flames surrounding her. Cato let out a deep breath beside her.
"It wasn't so bad." She comforted him.
"I just hate this, all of it." He answered, running his hand through his hair to break up the gel slicking it back.
"I know. Me too." She answered, placing a kiss on his cheek.
In the distance, she spotted Haymitch talking to the tributes from 11. Chaff was well known as one of her mentor's friends, distict by his missing left hand. The woman, Seeder, looked like she could have been from the Seam; her dark olive skin and long flowing black hair. She looked strong and healthy, and Katniss tried to wrack her brain to remember her games. The second they got close; she wrapped her arms around Katniss.
"The families?" She whispered in the woman's ear instinctively, praying she would understand.
"Alive." Seeder answered before letting go.
Chaff let go of Cato's hand, wrapping his arm around Katniss and leaning in. She barely had time to register what was happening before Cato's hand shot out and pushed the man back.
"No." was all her husband said, shooting the victor a look.
"I should have warned you; Cato doesn't take kindly to people touching his girl." Haymitch laughed.
"Ah, my bad. I thought I'd pull a prank on you, dear." Chaff chuckled, raising his hands in defense.
Oh, how I love Cato at this moment.
"It's nice to meet you both." She answered, at a loss for words.
"All right, let's get you two upstairs." Haymitch motioned them away.
"What the fuck was that?" Cato asked as they walked towards the elevator.
"He's friendly." Haymitch shrugged.
"More like batshit crazy, but okay." Katniss butt in, linking her hand with Cato's. She shot him a look of thanks before stepping into the elevator.
Just before the doors shut, Johanna Mason squeezed through with some kind of massive headpiece that was covered in branches and green gems.
Great, this bitch.
When the doors shut, she immediately began ripping off the tree on her head. "Great to see you two again; you guys look amazing. Meanwhile, I got stuck in this bullshit tree costume. I swear my stylist is such an idiot."
The headpiece tumbles to the ground as she begins ripping her jewelry off.
What the fuck is she doing?
"So, how's it feel knowing everyone in the country wants to sleep with you?" She asked.
"I don't think-"Katniss began to answer.
Johanna cut her off, "I wasn't talking to you."
"Oh." The sound came out of her mouth more like a growl than anything else.
Johanna unzips her costume, the whole thing falling to the floor in a massive heap of brown fabric. Aside from a pair of green heels, she was completely naked. She turned around, her eyes trained on Cato. He was busy staring at the elevator buttons on the wall beside him, as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.
Katniss was sure she was going to snap right as the doors opened, and the elevator dinged on the seventh floor.
"That was fun." The woman smirked; "Let's do it again sometime!"
It took everything she had not to run after Johanna.
The doors closed, and Haymitch burst out laughing. Cato was trying to hide it, but she knew he was laughing too.
"It's not funny." She growled at them.
"Yeah, it is, sweetheart." Haymitch answered through his laughter.
She dropped Cato's hand, storming out of the elevator the second the doors opened.
"How did everything go?" Effie asked from her seat on the couch.
"Not now, Effie!" She screamed, slamming the door to her room.
She began ripping pins out of her hair, fuming as she threw them across the room.
"Stupid, fucking, piece of shit zipper…" She was growling, struggling with a half-unzipped dress, and her hair falling in mess all around her head.
Johanna seemed to have no fucking problem unzipping her own dress.
"Need some help?" Cato asked from the doorway.
"No, I don't need any fucking help." She snapped, "You can get the hell out."
He smirked, shutting the door behind him as he ignored her and walked into the room anyways. She continued fighting with her dress.
"Fuck it." She huffed, pulling the skirt over her head and flailing to get through the fabric. It got stuck on her breasts, the dress refusing to go up any more over her new bust size.
"Dammit!" She yelled, fighting to get through the dress while blind. She bumped into the dresser as her arm got caught in the sleeve, stubbing her toe on the wood in the process.
"Can I help you now?" She heard Cato ask.
She frowned, accepting defeat, "Fine."
He pulled the dress down, revealing her face and unzipped it the rest of the way so it pooled around her feet. One glance in the mirror told her she had smudged all of her makeup and turned her hair into a rat's nest. She glared up at Cato anyways.
"You're gorgeous." He smiled, smoothing her hair down from the static.
"I'm still mad at you." She glowered.
"It's so much more fun when you're not mad at me, though." He pouted.
"You laughed at me." She frowned.
"I was not laughing at you. I was laughing at the situation." He answered.
"You looked at Johanna's boobs." She spoke.
"Now you know that's not true." Cato responded.
"She was naked! Staring at you!" She pushed on his chest.
"Yes, and I looked away. What do you want me to do, gouge my eyes out? Let me know; I'll go to the kitchen and get a fork right now." He defended.
Katniss just stared at him, trying to remember what else she was angry about.
Why is it so damn hard to stay angry when I'm looking at him?
"Come on, little flame, didn't I tell you I'm just yours?" He wrapped his arm around her, the other reaching up to cup her face.
You're angry; you're supposed to be angry right now.
"Show me." She answered, ignoring the voice in her head.
His lips met hers, and the rest of it faded away. The next thing she knew, she was up against the wall of the shower, hoping the sound of the running water was enough to cover her moans.
By the time they were both clean, she wasn't angry anymore.