Everyone is still talking about the 73rd Hunger games where lovers won the games. But no rebellion talks because the 65th hunger games a brother and sister won at 14 and 12 years old. That would be my games, Aquamarine and Finnick Odair's games.
Well, now I'm Aquamarine Hadley. I married the 69th hunger games winner Cato Hadley. He is considered a monster but at sixteen he fell in love with me. The 74th hunger games are beginning. Haymitch is here this year to teach then how to mentor, but next year he gets to retire and be forgotten. Lucky him.
Cato is not allowed to mentor. He's not allowed to be alone. So, he comes to the games with me. I live in two now with him and go to four right before the reaping's. Enobaria and Brutus take on his care we meet back up on the trains the next day. Enobaria always says he doesn't sleep on the night that I'm not there.
Finn loves Cato because he protects me from Snow. I know he appreciates Cato's help in cleaning him up after appointments as well. Cato also allows him in the bed after as well. So, he isn't alone. Cato says it's because he feels alone when I'm not there and he can't imagine what it would be like if he went through what Finn does and had to be alone after.
Finn, Cato, our tributes, and I exit the train. The crowds are deafening. Finn plays up the crowd. Our tributes try but they're frightened. I act like my shy self that they know me as. Cato is just straight faced.
We head into the building. Our escort Fopra takes the tributes to go get primped. We head to the mentor lounge. I greet everyone there with hugs all around. Looks like twelve is the only ones not here. Cato just nods to everyone. They nod in return. We both sit on the couch. Cato pulls me into his lap, Finn beside us.
All the couches are in a circle around a four-sided TV. We can watch anything we like. On this floor there are rooms, a kitchen. And an area to send tributes sponsor gifts. We all usually spend time here after the tributes go into the games. We also spend it here while they are training, when we aren't out getting sponsors. Finn takes care of our sponsors. He never minds doing it. Says he can't be booked then. So, I let him do it all.
Twelve finally comes in and they walk over to me the boy sticks his hand out.
"Hi, I'm Peeta," I just not my head to him.
"I'm Aquamarine," I say. "This is Cato and Finnick," I point to Finn when introducing him.
"Aquamarine is the most polite out of all of them." Haymitch says to Katniss and Peeta.
"Hey!" My brother exclaims in fake outrage.
Cato grunts and start running his fingers through my hair to calm himself down. First day at the Capital is always hard for him. Haymitch ushers Katniss and Peeta to their couch.
"When Cato says playtime is over then it's over," Haymitch warns them.
"But Cato didn't say anything," Peeta says confused.
"He rarely does. His body language says it all. When he's under too much stress people die," he explains.
"Shouldn't he be on medication?" Katniss asks. Peeta shoots her a look.
"Oh, he is. He can still kill you on it. His meds are one of two reasons everyone in this room is alive right now," Haymitch tells them.
"What's the second reason?" Peeta asks.
"Aquamarine." Haymitch says.
"So… I think my tributes are bloodbath," Johanna says changing the topic.
"You think four will be careers this year?" Brutus asks Finn and me.
"No, I'm thinking bloodbath," Finn says with a sigh. I nod agreeing.
"I think eleven has potential," I say looking at Seeder.
"Oh yes, I am so excited to work with him," she says. "He just can't get cocky. If he does, he will be dead in the bloodbath."
"Why are you all talking like that? Don't you want your tributes to win?" Katniss asks outraged.
"Oh, we do, we just also know what is more likely. In the mentors lounge we are all friends. We play up an act in the eyes of the public, but here we can just be us. Also, no point in getting connected to your tribute if you know they aren't going to win. There are times when we are surprised though." Enobaria explains.
"Being a winner isn't easy Katniss. Surely, you have seen that in the past year. In this lounge everyone understands what you're going through and so much more," I add in.
"You won't just learn how to be a mentor from me. You will learn from them as well. They do care about their tributes but that doesn't mean they won't help to get yours out as well. Mags the original female mentor for four and seeder taught me how to mentor." Haymitch informs them. Gloss and Cashmere stand.
"Our tributes are ready. We should go give them some advice on how not to get eaten by the Capitalites." Gloss says cracking a smile. The rest of us laugh except Cato. He is still playing with my hair.
"We should get going too," Brutus says. "Wiress, Beetee you coming? Yours should be done shortly after ours."
"Of course, lead the way my good sir," Beetee jokes.
"Is it always this friendly?" Peeta asks with a smile.
"Usually, we all fought in the arena. We all made it out. Why add more pain and suffering. We've all seen enough of it." I say. "If you shall excuse Cato, Finnick and I, we need to go to our tributes," I stand taking Cato's hand threading our fingers together.
I look at Finnick still lounging.
"You coming?" I ask.
"Fine, if I have to," he jokes.
We all exit the lounge. We head to the tributes, fishing nets again great. I suggested flowy blue robes, but no. I know nothing. I roll my eyes and huff in frustration. Cato puts his hand on my back. I look up at his face. He's worried, but I'm frustrated.
Finnick will have to work harder for sponsors. I hate when he has to do that is makes me feel bad. I always try to do something to help make things easier for him. Finnick gives me a look that tells me that it's alright.
"Alright you two, hold hands. We want a united front. Smile, wave. You want the attention on you," I say. They both look at me shocked.
"You don't seem shy," the boy says.
"I'm not as shy as I was at twelve years old. I just play it up for the Capitalites. They love it. They like seeing the beauty and the beast dynamic that Cato and I have as well," I explain.
"Oh," he says.
"Come on lets get you up on your carriage," Finn says. Him and I both help then up on the carriage.
"You got this!" Finn exclaims.
He smacks the male tribute on the back, and we walk away.
"Well, hopefully they swim, Aqua." Finn tells me.
"I hope so too," I say with a sigh.
Cato rubs my back. We head up to our seats. I sit beside Beetee and Cato. Finn on his other side. We watch the parade. I'm seriously thinking male district eleven tribute will win.
"The male eleven will be the winner. You can see the way he carries himself. It's the way we get taught to carry ourselves at the academy." Cato says quietly.
Finn, Beetee and I were the only ones who heard.
"That's who my money is on," Finn says.
"Not sexy district one," I joke with Finn,
"Now, Cato is the only one who has my heart. Him and I are running away together," he jokes back.
Cato smirks at me. He leans over and kisses the side of my head. That's his way of showing he is happy and comfortable. I can feel Katniss watching us. I can hear Brutus's loud laugh. I look over at him and smile. He smiles back at me. When the parade finishes, we all head back down. I see Seeder and head over.
"Hello Aqua, Cato." She greets.
"Hi Seeder, Cato was just telling me that he is thinking your male will win," I tell her.
"Well, his predictions have yet to be wrong, except last year. He predicted only Katniss. Bit I think we can forgive him for that," she giggles at the end.
I join her. Cato playfully scowls at us. If you don't know him, you wouldn't know it was playful. We walk over to our tributes.
"Hey, you two ready to eat then pack it in?" I ask them.
They both nod. We step into the elevator with one and two.
"Gloss, Glimmer, Brutus, Enobaria," Finn greets them.
"Finnick, Aquamarine, Cato," They greet back. They all get dropped off on their floors. We head to ours.
"That was intense." Our female tribute says.
"It can be, but they won't hurt you yet. They aren't allowed," I say confidently.
"How did you deal with one and two?" She asks.
"I ignored then and did my own thing," I say. We head over to the table and they both se the aquarium. They both squeal and run over.
"Oh my god," Cora our female tribute says.
"Did you know this was here?" Dirk asks us.
"of course, I did. After Aqua and I won, I had it put in to help sooth Aqua," Finn says with a small smile.
"It's to have a piece of home here at the Capital," I say with a smile, remembering how much time I've spent watching that Aquarium while I'm here.
On the nights I can't sleep Cato and I sit and watch. I usually end up falling asleep and Cato carries me to my bed. Sometimes if he is too tired, he will make us a bed in front of it and we will just spend the night there. Once you've been through the games you will take anything that brings you comfort.
Cato's is punching a punching bag and me. Finnick's is the aquarium and swimming. We all have different things at home. Cato helps train the little one's in sword fighting. Having the youngest at the academy train with him helps him remember he isn't in the arena.
I teach them hunting and foraging and medical plants, poisons, ect. I like doing that. Most of them don't pay attention. The two who volunteered this year know nothing at all. All they need to do is blow up the supplies. Maybe I'll offer that to Seeder as an idea to offer her male tribute. We all sit to eat sinner and talk strategy. Even Cato adds in a few things to say.
"Do you want to go down to two and offer some advice?" I ask Cato after our two tributes left to their rooms.
"Not really," he replies.
"Any particular reason why?" I ask curiously.
"They were both arrogant during training. They never took any of the winners seriously. Why would they start now?" Cato says with a sigh. He hates tributes who are conceited.
"Marvel is supposed to be coming before the games begin," I tell him.
Marvel is district one. He won the games after Cato. The only reason he isn't a mentor is because Gloss and Glimmer are brother and sister. They don't deal well with separation. Marvel comes into watch the games with us. Cato and he are sort of friends. He's a cool guy.
"Come on let's head up to the top. I wanna watch the Capitalites freak out." I say dragging him to the elevator.
We get to the roof and walk out. There is a cool breeze, but it isn't too cold at all. It's actually pretty nice out. We watch the Capitalites for a little while till be hear the elevator open again. Cato pulls me close in front of him. Shielding me from the intruder walking up behind us. I look to the side and see Peeta. He leans on the railing.
"How are your tributes?" I ask.
"Scared, probably going to die," he says with a sigh,
"All you can do is hope for a swift and painless death," I say.
"I guess. Is it always like this?" he asks.
"A lot yes, especially for you in twelve, but you will get that one or two tributes that you really can see making it out alive. Those are the ones you put all your heart and soul into. The others you offer guidance and advice but hope they go swiftly and painlessly." I explain offering advice.
"I bet two is better," he says.
"Not this year," Cato chimes in.
"Really?" Peeta asks. Cato stays silent.
I take the torch from him knowing he doesn't like to talk too much. Gone is the cocky boy who went into the games so long ago. You catch glimpses of him sometimes. But not often.
"Yes, they are way too cocky. I think most are predicting eleven male will win this year unless they really do spin the game. Beetee won when no one not even the mentors thought he could win," I explain.
"But you welcomed him, right?" Peeta says looking worried.
"Of course, we did. I know in your games you were the unexpected winner. Finnick and I were both as well. Usually, you discount the twelve-year old's automatically. Finnick got discounted because he would get himself killed saving me. So, when we both won it was a surprise." I say with a smile.
"How did you all get two winners?" he asks. Knowing for him it was both of them dying.
"When there were three left riots in the Capital started. The Capitalites wanted if Finn and I were the last two for us both to win. So, we got a note from Mags telling us that if we kill the last tribute we both win. It has been done before us. And you did it after us." I say. I think Peeta with fit right in with the group.
"What do we do when the games start?" Peeta asks,
"Haymitch didn't tell you?" I ask, he shakes his head. "We head back to the lounge and watch together. Mourning together. Cheering together, Offering each other tips. It's a family a really messed up family but one I wouldn't trade for the world," I tell him.
"I hope I get accepted," he says wishfully,
"You will fit in just fine," I say smiling at him.