Who fell first and who fell harder?
Includes: Peeta, Katniss, Gale, Haymitch, Finnick Coriolanus, Sejanus, Lucy Gray & the Career pack
Peeta Mellark:
He fell first and harder
seen from Japan
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Malaysia

seen from United Kingdom
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from France
seen from Germany
seen from Germany

seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Denmark
seen from United States

seen from China

seen from Serbia

seen from Malaysia

seen from Serbia

seen from Serbia

seen from Serbia

seen from Malaysia
Who fell first and who fell harder?
Includes: Peeta, Katniss, Gale, Haymitch, Finnick Coriolanus, Sejanus, Lucy Gray & the Career pack
Peeta Mellark:
He fell first and harder
Hopeless Love (Cato Hadley x reader)
Masterlist
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Description: It was hard going back, this time with even lower chances of survival - but at least you could spent your last days with Cato.
Warnings: p in v, no protection, oral (f receiving), fingering, rough sex, dominant Cato, possessive Cato, talk of death, slight breeding k!nk
11454 words
You were waiting in the same room you were in the first time around, and any minute your family should’ve come in to say goodbye - but they didn’t. The only people who came in were the peacekeepers to get you to go to the train. “Wait, I didn’t get to say goodbye yet!”, you called, but they roughly shoved you forward and you guessed that was it. You’d never see your family again, and because Snow hated you all so much, you didn’t even get to say goodbye one last time.
On the train you were a bit out of it, staring out the window and Cecilia - now yours and Woofs mentor, which was probably so weird for him and her - gave you some space and your fellow tribute Woof was somewhere else in the train. Suddenly she interrupted your melancholic mood, and looked a bit pitiful: “The reaping from 2 is just up.”
Your heart plummeted, and from her facial expression you already knew that your biggest fear came true. You still turned on the screen and saw Cato and the other victors of District 2 stand on the stage. There were lots more victors than in most of the districts and as soon as the male tribute got picked, Catos hand shot up and he was calling out: “I volunteer as Tribute!”
You couldn’t watch the rest, watch how he left the stage and walked towards his death basically. You stood up and went into your room, feeling Cecilia’s sad eyes on your back. Once the door was closed, you let your tears fall for the first time since you left the stage. You knew he did it for you, did it because he loved you, but still - he just volunteered to die with you, and you were feeling so guilty for it, and so angry with him for being so stubborn.
——————
The hustle and bustle before the parade was so different than the last time, when everyone kept to themselves and was rather shy. This time most of the Tributes had known each other for years and they were mingling and chatting when you stepped into the Hall. You spotted Katniss stroking her horse, and excused yourself from Woof and Cecilia to do some mingling of your own - Cato wasn’t here yet after all, and you still couldn’t decide how to handle that situation.
Katniss saw you coming and gave you a small genuine smile, and you couldn’t help yourself, you gave her hug even though you knew she was a bit awkward with all that. “Hey, it’s good to see you”, you smiled, and she nodded. “It’s weird isn’t it”, she said, looking around the premises and you had to agree. “Yeah, I feel a bit like an outsider”, you hummed, also stroking the mane of her horse, when suddenly you were interrupted by a Tribute with very little clothing, Finnick Odair - District 4.
“Katniss, (Y/N)”, he greeted you with a grin. “Hello Finnick”, you smiled, despite Katniss grumpy face. “Do you want a sugar cube? I mean it’s supposed to be for the horses, but…I mean who cares about them right, they’ve got years to eat sugar, whereas us three…well, if we see something sweet, we better grab it”, he smirked, giving you a wink, and throwing the sugar cube into his mouth.
“No thanks, but I would love to borrow that outfit someday”, Katniss sassily replied, and you giggled. “You look pretty terrifying in that dress up. What happened to the pretty little girl dresses?”, he joked, and Katniss had a clever answer ready: “I outgrew them.” “You certainly did”, he was still grinning, but it felt a bit more fake than before.
“Shame about this Quell thing, now you…you could’ve made out like a bandit in the Capitol. Jewels, money, anything you wanted”, he was speaking seductively, and you could tell after only a few minutes of taking to him, that it was a facade. “Well, I don’t like jewels, and I’ve got more money than I need, so…what did you do with all your wealth anyway?”, Katniss asked and gave Finnick a look.
“I haven’t dealt in anything as common as money for years”, he said ominously. “Well, then how do people pay for the pleasure of your company?”, Katniss was being sarcastic and you smiled. Finnick got a bit more serious, stepped closer and said lowly: “With secrets. What about you Girl on Fire? Any secrets worth my time?”, he smirked, and Katniss retaliated: “I’m an open book. Everyone always seems to know my secrets before I know them myself.”
“Unfortunately I think that’s true”, he answered, seeing Peeta walk closer and switching topics, “I’m sorry you had to cancel your wedding. I know how devastating that must be for you.” He bit down on one more of his sugar cubes, and bid his goodbyes with: “Have a good day.” Then his eyes moved to something behind you, and he grinned to himself before gently pushing some hair back behind your ear that fell out of your updo. “It was lovely to meet you (Y/N). You look dashing in that dress.”
You were confused when he gave you a wink, until you suddenly felt two large hands on your hips, and looked up to see Catos angry stare following Finnick back to his carriage. “What did he want?”, he asked you, and you noticed Peeta was next to Katniss too, but not nearly as possessive as Cato. “Is this how you greet me now?”, you were a bit pissed at him - first of all for even volunteering at all, and it irritated you that he was so possessive now. Most of the time you liked it, but when you were angry with him anyway, it didn’t help things.
He looked a bit surprised at your anger, before turning you around and pulling you into a firm hug. “You know I did it for you”, he started, quietly talking into your ear, Katniss and Peeta occupied by their own conversation. But his sentence made the guilt only flare up even more and consequently your anger at him for volunteering and at yourself (for who knows what, maybe for allowing him to fall for you). “Shut up, I don’t want to talk about that right now”, you mumbled, pushing your face further into his chest, not being able to resist his closeness even if you were mad. Plus you knew if you talked about it now, you would probably start crying. This wasn’t the right time.
———————
You didn’t want to face Cato again after the Parade, and you didn’t even know why. You knew he only meant well, and he loved you and wanted to protect you and all that, but now you’re back to square one, even worse probably, you wouldn’t make it out together again - hell the Capitol wouldn’t let any of you win with the rebellious mood in the Districts, not Cato, Katniss, Peeta or you, they’d be stupid to. So now you were both going to die.
You just couldn’t face him, you had to deal with your emotions alone, at least tonight. You knew he’d never want you to feel guilty, but you did anyways. You rushed towards the elevator as soon as your carriage stopped, stepping inside and Katniss and Peeta joined you with Haymitch. You didn’t look out of the elevator, but Katniss nudged you slightly as a warning (considering Peeta also volunteered for her, she probably knew how you felt even if she wasn’t showing it so outwardly) and Cato stepped inside too.
He didn’t seem to accept the distance you put between the two of you, and just pushed himself behind you, pulling your back into his chest and hugging you to him. He didn’t press a floor button, so you guessed he’d ride to your floor with you, before going back down.
You didn’t fight his embrace, didn’t want to cause a scene and also no matter if you felt guilty, you still loved him and wanted to be close to him, and you had missed him so much. You just wished you could push your feelings aside and just enjoy being with him for now - but you couldn’t blend out everything that was going to happen.
Before the doors could fully close, Johanna Mason stopped the door and stepped in - District 7 if you remembered correctly. “You guys look amazing”, she said annoyed, turning around with her back to you and taking stuff out of her hair. “Thanks”, Katniss said, looking annoyed by her presence. “My stylist is such an idiot”, Johanna starts to complain, “District 7, Lumber, trees, ugh. I’d love to put my axe in her face.”
You were a bit shocked by her krass language, and you were even more shocked when she continued shedding her accessories and her clothes. “Now, what do you think, now that the whole world wants to sleep with you?”, she grinned, and Katniss scoffed. “I don’t think that-“, but Johanna interrupted her and turned around. “I wasn’t talking to you”, she smirked provokingly, making Katniss roll her eyes and you immediately wondered what had happened to Johanna, that made her this prickly.
“Unzip me?”, she asked Peeta, and you saw Katniss was definitely bothered by her, grinding her teeth together in annoyance, and you were glad she left you and Cato alone - not that you thought Cato would ever agree to unzip her dress. Peeta on the other side, was too polite for his own good, actually unzipping her and then she was naked in front of you all.
You were shocked to say the least, Katniss next to you stiffening too and you reluctantly looked upwards to see if Cato was looking at her - she had an awesome body, and even Peeta took a quick glance before looking away (Haymitch didn’t bother, he seemed to enjoy the show). But when you looked up, you met his eyes right away, and you blushed and looked down again. Of course he wouldn’t look, he’d only looked at you. He reassuringly squeezed your waist and your feelings of guilt and sadness and anger started to fade a bit.
“Thanks”, Johanna said when you stopped at her floor and left the elevator, “Let’s do it again sometime!” “Thank you”, Haymitch chuckled and you just knew Katniss wanted to punch him. Next was your floor and reality hit again - Cato wouldn’t be getting off with you, because you were regular tributes again, not victors sharing a floor. So you just pulled yourself out of his embrace and left with a quick “I’ll see you all tomorrow!” You could feel his stare on your back, but you just couldn’t face him.
The silence in the elevator was loud as it was going up to floor 12, and Katniss took pity on the tall victor next to her. “You know she feels guilty right”, she said and Catos head snapped towards her, a bit confused. “Guilty?”, he wanted to know what she meant, wanted to know how to make things between you right again even though he didn’t really know what went wrong. He thought you might be a bit angry, but not like this.
“Yeah, she feels like she’s the reason why you’re going to die, because she got reaped and you volunteered for her”, she stated and then glanced towards Peeta who just stared at the wall and Haymitch who stared at the ceiling. “Or at least that’s what I think she feels”, she added, and Cato realized she was probably right - and sensed that Katniss was feeling similar about Peeta.
When they left the elevator on the twelfth floor, he pressed the button for two and called after her: “Thanks Everdeen!” Katniss just nodded over her shoulder before the doors closed again. Cato rubbed a hand over his face and slumped against the wall. He really hoped you’d meet him on the roof tonight, just like last time, just so he could fix this.
————————
Cato was waiting on the roof, and he had been waiting or the last two hours - his hope that you were actually coming up was dwindling by the second. He knew you felt bad and stuff, but how was he supposed to fix this if you wouldn’t talk to him? This was one of the last few nights you’d probably ever get to spend together and you’d rather stay in your room? Eventhough he got where you were coming from, he was also growing a bit angry.
He did it for you after all, after he saw the reaping in District eight, he couldn’t just let you walk into the arena alone. He knew you’d both probably die this time, no way were you gonna make it out again, but if it meant spending at least a bit more time with you, he’d gladly sacrifice his life for that. There was nothing left in District 2 for him anyway, his grandfather had died a few months back, and he was the last of his family - so to live in a world where even you were gone, wasn’t an option.
He had to make you understand that, you couldn’t go into the arena like this, he needed you. So he got up with newly invoked fervor, a plan forming in his mind how he would sneak into your room - he wasn’t stupid, he new if the people responsible here didn’t want him to sneak in, he wouldn’t be able to, he just hoped they would let him.
You on the other hand laid in your bed crying in that moment. It was just too much. The guilt of him volunteering for you, and now the guilt of him probably waiting for you but you being too cowardly to meet him, and talk to him about it, it just overwhelmed you. You were clutching the comforter to your chest, tears silently running down your face and your head simultaneously running wild with thoughts and being completely empty, when you heard it.
It was already late, so it was weird that someone was walking around near your door, that had never happened before, but before you could react, your door opened and someone slipped inside. You held back a scream, when you recognized the familiar shadow, and just stayed silent when he turned on the bedside lamp.
He looked a bit angry, probably because you left him waiting up there (and you briefly wondered how he was even able to sneak in), but when he took one look at your tear stricken face, your eyes meeting with all those emotions in them his face softened and sat down next to you, leaning against the headboard and pulling you into his arms.
That’s broke all your walls and you were just sobbing into his chest, holding onto him like he was the only thing keeping you together, and he probably was. It felt like hours passed with Cato comforting you quietly, stroking your back whispering sweet words into your ear, when you finally calmed down.
“I’m sorry”, you whispered, tears still staining your face, but the flow had stopped, “this is all my fault.” “Hey”, Catos voice was gentle but insistent, “Don’t say that, do you hear me, none of this is anyone’s fault but Snows.” You were exhausted from all that crying: “But if I wouldn’t have been reaped we wouldn’t be here, you wouldn’t have to go into the arena again - better yet, if I wouldn’t have been reaped in the first games, or just wouldn’t have made it out, you would’ve won and would probably be living happily now, not dying because of me.”
Cato was silent for a moment, and then suddenly turned you both around so that he was pinning you to the bed with his body, his hips wedged between your legs and his eyes had an anger in them that almost made you wince. “(Y/N) I never want to hear you say that again. You really think it would’ve been better if we never met? If you fucking died? That’s bullshit and you know it. My life wouldn’t be worth living if you weren’t in it. That’s why I volunteered. I love you, and I’d rather spent a few more days with you, protect you as good as I can, than see you die on screen and live the next 50 years in misery, missing you. You know that, you know how much I love you, so can we please, please get over this and just enjoy the time we have together now?”
He seemed to have talked all his anger out, only gazing down at you softly now with a hint of desperation. “Please?”, he gently brushed some hair from your forehead, grabbing your cheek and waiting for your answer. Looking into his eyes like that, hearing him say how much he loved you again and again, it made you realize how stupid you were being. You didn’t want him to die - but he was also an adult making his own decisions, and you weren’t responsible for those.
Suddenly the answer came to you easily, and you were also just so exhausted.
“Yeah”, you whispered, “yeah, let’s just…just kiss me, please.” He didn’t waste any time, capturing your lips in a long awaited kiss, and immediately you felt at home again. You couldn’t believe how stupid you were to avoid him, you should’ve known he can erase your insecurities and doubts in a heartbeat, like he always could.
His grip on your jaw pulls you in closer, his tongue gently tracing your lower lip and slowly slipping into your mouth to meet yours, making the butterflies go crazy - but in that moment you also realized that there was something deeper, something that felt like your relationship was on another level, more devoted and serious. You knew it before, but it hit close to home in that moment, that Cato was the one for you - you would’ve wanted everything with him, marriage, kids, a home. But Snow was going to take that from you.
————————
When you stepped into the training gym the next morning, Woof immediately went off to find his old friend, while you didn’t see Cato yet and decided to go over to Katniss who seemed to be as lost as you felt. “Hey”, you smiled and leaned against the table with what seemed to be fishhooks on it. “Morning”, she sighed, clearly unhappy about something.
“Where’s the bad mood coming from? Something specific?”, you were curious, and she met your eyes and seemed to have a moment of enlightenment. “Would you…I mean Haymitch says we need to find allies, and since we already know each other”, she let the rest of the sentence hang in the air, and you giggled a bit, knowing she just was a bit socially awkward. “Of course! I think us four would make a good team right? This time from the beginning”, you agreed, kinda happy that you could present Cecilia with a win tonight at dinner.
She seemed a bit relieved too, nodding and smiling a bit. “Who else have you thought about? I think Mags is lovely, she seems very smart”, you said thoughtfully, it was just a gut feeling, but the way she volunteered for that young girl from her district, showed she’s got her priorities straight. “I actually met her earlier, and I agree, also thought about Wiress and Beetee - they’re very smart too”, she recounted what happened before you arrived.
“They showed me something”, she told you, her eyes quickly and without drawing attention to her, pointing towards the judges sitting up high and conversing while drinking. At first you were confused, trying to not stare to obviously while trying to figuring out what she meant, when you saw it. A tiny kinda blurry spot in midair. “What’s that?”, you wondered, turning back to her and she seemed to suppress a grin.
“It’s a force field”, she chuckled, “I shot an arrow at them last year, so that’s my fault I guess - well actually just at a pig at their table, but I guess it makes no difference.” The both of you had to laugh after her confession, and you were glad that even through all this horror you seemed to at least have made a friend. The thought of how long the friendship would last once the number of tributes in the arena would be dwindling, was pushed to the back of your mind.
Cato still wasn’t there, so the two of you stuck together and did a few stations, while talking more, until you arrived at what seemed to be a simulation that could be used to train with weapons, that the Careers used very impressively. But you knew who could be even more impressive. “You should have a go”, you elbowed Katniss towards the entrance and she seemed reluctant, but after a bit more encouragement, she gave in.
And just like you thought, she totally cleared every single target - the craziest part was, they were actually simulated attackers which seemed to be inspired by the other tributes. When she was done, you noticed how quiet the gym had gotten, and saw that every single tribute was standing there, looking at Katniss - which was well deserved after that performance.
“She’s impressive huh”, someone whispered in your ear, hugging you from behind and you almost had a heart attack. “Don’t scare me like that!”, you scolded him playfully, turning around and accepting the short kiss he pressed to your lips. “You should really be more aware of your surroundings, love”, he scolded you back, and you watched as the other tributes spread out across the gym again after the show was over.
“It’s weird to think about where we were last year at this time isn’t it”, you sighed, the thought suddenly crossing your mind, as you remembered how your relationship started. “Yeah, I definitely remember that asshole from your district trying to feel you up all the time”, he scowled, and you just giggled at his antics. “You’re an idiot”, you shook your head, planting another short kiss on his lips, and smoothing out the lines on his forehead. “Come on, we definitely need to use the time to work on your self defense”, he stated, pulling you along with him.
—————————
The next day at training, Cato was actually there first, but you had convinced him that you needed a break from his self defense training today - you were still sore from yesterday. So he reluctantly went off to train some more, while you were standing together with Mags who showed you how to make a fishhook. She was so sweet, and very helpful even though she couldn’t talk, encouraging you without words.
Suddenly though you felt a large hand on your hip, and at first you thought it was Cato, but the grip was a little too hard, and the feeling to unfamiliar. So you looked to your right, seeing Gloss standing there - the Career tribute from District 1 - with a creepy grin on his lips. You tried to pull away, but he just held on even tighter, your chest tightening in fear.
“You think you can win these games with some fishhooks sweetie? You’re even more innocent than I thought”, he smirked, and you tried again to push his hands away, panicking when he just pinned you against the table with his other hand. “Let me go”, you tried to keep your voice steady, but the slight tremor in it betrayed you. You threw a desperate glance towards Mags, who was suddenly gone, and no peacekeeper seemed to pay attention to you either. Oh no.
“Don’t be like that, mhm”, he looked at you like he tried to see right through your clothes, a shiver of disgust running through you, “you spread your legs for one Career already didn’t you, why not for another? I could show you a good time.” You kept trying to wind yourself out of his grip, thinking about screaming for help, but you hated causing a scene and you were a bit overwhelmed by this.
“It’s not like that”, you mumbled, looking away and he just chuckled. “No? You didnt let him touch you then? Maybe you’re right, you’re such a young naive girl, sweet and pretty, such a shame we’re heading for the arena.” You kept glaring at him, trying to catch the gaze of a peacekeeper, but considering you couldn’t even see their eyes, this was hard.
Mags didn’t just leave you alone of course, but she knew there wasn’t a lot she could do to help you, so she hurried off to find Cato. He was currently training with his swords, talking to Peeta a bit, who he had shown a few things to, when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around quickly, confused who’d interrupt him, and was even more confused when he saw the old lady from District 4.
“Do you need something?”, he tried to be polite, knowing you liked her and would want him to be. He knew she couldn’t talk, but when she started gesturing towards something, and he saw you being grabbed by Gloss, he knew why she came to him anyway. He immediately started stalking over there, his face dark and the panicked look on your face was stoking the anger boiling in his chest. What did that fucker think he was doing?
“…such a young naive girl, sweet and pretty, such a shame we’re heading for the arena”, was what Cato could hear as he got closer and he saw red. He didn’t even want to imagine what else that scumbag told you before, so once he was within reach, Cato ripped him away from you and had him face down on the floor in seconds, pinning him by his neck and kneeling on his upper body. Gloss was a pretty impressive Career, but he was also older and shorter than Cato.
“Yeah? Maybe you’re too old for this, shouldn’t spew such bullshit if you can’t deal with the outcome grandpa”, Cato hissed, and Gloss just groaned when Cato put even more weight into his hold, “I’ll fucking kill you, first chance that I get asshole.” And with that he let the Tribute go, holding his hands up in a peaceful manner when the Peacekeepers came to pull him off, and turned to you to pull you away from the scene.
He pulled you into an empty little nook close to the unoccupied climbing station, that you couldn’t see into from outside, and held you close for a minute, allowing himself to quench his anger and you to calm down a bit. “What a fucking asshole, who does he think he is taking to you like that”, Cato grumbled, mostly to himself while stroking your hair, knowing you were upset about it. “Thanks for saving me - again I guess, lost count of all the other times”, you chuckled a bit, and he just held you closer.
“I shouldn’t have left your side, hope he fucking learned his lesson now”, Cato wanted so badly to go back and make sure he understood to stay away, but he knew he’d get in trouble, so he tried to make do with the thought he’d be able to kill him soon. You seemed to know what he was thinking, because you distracted him with a gentle kiss, trying to eradicate the feeling of the other man touching you - the soft grip Cato had on you comforting you now, a stark contrast to before.
———————
You were just changing into your pajamas, looking for some underwear in the drawers of the closet in your room, when you came across something interesting. You were used to wearing pretty basic underwear in you district, and also here in the training center, it was just what you knew and what was practical. You knew your mother had some nicer nightgowns, she once told you they were from her wedding night (which you only really understood as you got older), but they were nothing like what you had found.
The underwear that someone must’ve put in your drawer probably did serve the same purpose, which you roughly guessed was to look more enticing to your partner, but they had significantly less fabric, and looked almost sinful. Where you would normally wear a plain cotton bra, this one was adorned with lace and some pearls, delicately sewn onto the fabric, and you could only admire that handiwork as a fellow seamstress. It was beautiful.
The panties however, were pretty much nonexistent, the front displaying the same lace and pearls as the top, but the back was only a small sliver of fabric, which would leave nothing to imagination. Actually you were sure no part of this matching set left a lot to imagination. You were blushing even thinking about putting it on, not to mention Cato seeing you in this. You briefly wondered if someone put it there on purpose, but when you checked the time, you saw that you were running late meeting him on the rooftop, so you had to decide what to do with it now.
You stared at it for a few moments were it was laying on your bed, and after taking a deep breath you decided - fuck it. You were going to die in that arena, so why not be a bit brave and put it on to feel pretty, and for him to take it off of you. You were blushing already, but the thought also made you excited. So you quickly slipped it on, putting on your pajama pants and shirt on top, before taking a blanket and sneaking out onto the roof.
Your blood was rushing in you ears, and your cheeks were bright red, and when you stepped onto the roof and rounded the corner, Cato was already there and could immediately tell something was up. He brought a blanket too, so when he saw you had one as well, he put his on the ground so you could sit on it, and pulled you into his lap as soon as you were in reach, before spreading your blanket over the two of you.
“You okay? Did something happen?”, he inquired once you were in his arms comfortably, and suddenly all that bravery from earlier when you put the underwear on, had vanished. Damn it. “Nothing”, you tried to sound confident, but your voice wavered slightly, and trained Career that he was, Cato picked up on it right away.
“Okay now you’re worrying me, what’s wrong love?”, he looked at you with furrowed brows and you bit your lip trying to build up the courage to show him, trying to tell yourself he’s not gonna think it’s silly. Which it kind of felt now, but there was no going back. “There’s something I found in…in the closet in my room”, you reluctantly started, turning around in his arms and sitting on your knees in front of him now, between his bent legs, and you were holding onto his knees for support - mostly moral.
“Okay?”, Cato was curious now, quirking one eyebrow. He could see you were nervous the moment you rounded the corner, all blushed and fidgety, and he really wanted to know what it was you found now. “Did you bring it?”, he asked further when you didn’t elaborate, and you seemed to blush even more, and he couldn’t help but smile at how pretty you looked.
“Kind off, yeah”, you stuttered, and he was only more confused now, where was it then? But you seemed to gather your courage after all, and what you showed him was not at all what he expected. You took you pajama shirt off, and under it was a basically fucking see through lace bra. His brain stopped working for a minute, totally caught off guard by that move, the gears only starting to turn again when you tried to cover yourself, because you were growing more and more nervous, and he caught your hands to stop you.
“Fuck, is that what you found hm?”, Catos voice was raspy, lower than normal, because he couldn’t wrap his head around how you put that on for him. Just him. He knew stuff like lingerie from District 2 of course, they were equipped with luxuries like that a lot better than your District, but the thought of you finding this, being confused at first, and then coming to the conclusion that you wanted to wear it for him, had him hard in seconds.
You on the other hand were growing hot under his predatory gaze. He always watched you in that possessive way whenever you two got intimate, but never before had he looked at you like this - like he wanted to do unspeakable things to you, all dark and handsome. “You put that on just for me, did you? Fuck you’re so perfect”, he growled pulling you closer and then immediately manhandling you down onto the blanket, trapping you underneath him. God, he was so intense, you were growing wet already.
“Just for you”, you whispered, still a bit shy, your hands softly moving over his arms, and holding onto his shoulders, the muscles moving underneath your touch, his hips grinding the bulge in his pants against your clothed core, the tough friction making you whimper a bit. His eyes were still glued to your boobs, his finger delicately stroking the lace, cupping them before pulling the cups down, and revealing your nipples to him.
You sucked in a harsh breath when he pulled your right nipple into his mouth, flicking it with his tongue, sucking on it, while his other hand gave attention to your other nipple, gently rolling it between his fingers, the tingling sensation moving all over your body, right to your pulsing core, where he was still grinding into you.
He pulled back suddenly, looking down at you with a smirk that made the parties stick to your folds, and his fingers teased the waistband of your pants. “Are you wearing the matching panties?”, he grinned, and you blushed again, your cheeks hot under his gaze, and just shyly nodded. He bent down his mouth brushing your ear. “Good girl”, he hummed, suddenly pulling down your pants and throwing them somewhere, pausing to take you in for a moment.
Cato looked down on you, your tits spilling out of the cups, still glistening from his mouth and pretty nipples all perky. You were telling the truth, the matching panties - more like a thong - were clinging to your soaked pussy, and you looked like a fucking goddess. And you were all his. He quickly shed his shirt, propping himself above you once more and completely taking off your bra, his lips finding yours in a short but passionate kiss, before he descended until his head was right in front of your soaked panties. You were so perfect.
Catos tongue started moving over your panties, and you were stunned by how sinful the sight was, and by how good it felt. He pressed the lace against your clit slightly, moving it around, and the resulting sensation had you moaning his name. His fingers were gliding underneath your panties, pushing them aside a bit and then pushing into you easily, you were so wet already he could’ve fucked you right away, but he wanted to take his time.
He knew your body like the back of his hand by now, curling his fingers just right, his tongue still moving over your clit and bringing you closer and closer towards your first orgasm, and then he suddenly pulled his fingers out, ripped the panties right off of you, and sucked your now bare clit into his mouth with such vigor, that you came on the spot.
Cato was painfully hard and his grip on his patience was slipping, so when your legs tightened around his head, your moans echoing into the night, he was already pushing down his pants and boxers while continuing to eat you out through your orgasm. Once you were coming down, twitching away from him sensitively, he let up, pulling himself up and above you.
“Fuck I love you so much, you have no idea”, he groaned, his heart almost beating out of his chest when he looked down at you, and he leaned down to capture your slightly swollen lips in a soft kiss, his cock sliding between your folds, making you both moan into the kiss. “I love you, Cato, please”, you whimpered, “I need you.”
That was all it took to throw over his self control, amd he positioned himself at your entrance, before pushing in, the stretch burning so good, your pussy pulsing to accommodate his size. When he bottomed out, the head of his leaking cock pressing against your cervix slightly, he pulled back without giving you a moment, a gasp leaving your mouth when he started thrusting firmly, grazing that spongey spot inside of you with every move.
“Cato”, you breathlessly moaned, and he buried his head in your neck, groaning at the feeling of you clenching, sucking him in even deeper, and his thrusts became a bit harsher, making you hold onto his back, the muscles all flexed and tight. When he changed his angle, his pelvis was lightly grazing you clit with every other thrust, pushing you closer to the edge with every movement, and he could tell, by the pleasured expression on your face, that you were close.
“Fuck, you’re gonna cum for me hm?”, he hummed in your ear, a precise thrust making you whimper and nod in desperation. “God you’re so perfect, I’m almost there, gonna fill you up so good”, his mouth was a bit looser than normal, your little show with the lingerie making him hornier than usual, but by how much you were clenching around him, he knew you liked it.
“You like that don’t you? Fuck, in another life I would’ve gotten you pregnant some day, would’ve given it all to you”, he growled, the thought suddenly so emotional, that it pushed him to the edge, and it seemingly did the same to you, because you shattered around him, moaning his name, and he followed right after you, pushing into you a few more times, before cumming inside of you with a deep groan, holding onto your thighs firmly.
You were both catching your breath for a minute, when he gently pulled out of you, watching as his cum leaked out of you slowly, but he pushed it back into your swollen pussy, a whimper leaving your mouth when he touched the sensitive area. He laid down next to you with a smirk, closing your legs firmly, before pulling you closer and covering you with the second blanket. “Keep me inside won’t you”, he hummed possessively, grinning a bit when you blushed at his naughty words, but pressing your legs together all the same.
“You know”, you started after a while of you two just cuddling in silence, “I would’ve wanted that someday. If we ever had the chance I mean. A family.” He looked down at you, the both of you a bit melancholic at the thought of what could’ve been, if it wasn’t for Panem - if it wasn’t for Snow. “I love you”, he kissed you gently, just focusing on having you here with him in that moment, soaking in the way it made him feel impossibly happy. “I love you”, you whispered back, kissing his cheek, and interlacing your fingers with his, holding onto this moment.
————————
It was the last day of training before the individual sessions would be held and Cato was as always very clingy - especially after the incident with Gloss. “I’ll just go over to the fire station, you’ll have a clear view of me don’t worry”, you tried to convince him he didn’t have to interrupt his training just to come with you, squeezing his hand calmly, but he looked unconvinced. “Cato”, you scolded a bit, seeing as he was about to open his mouth to tell you he’d come with you, and he shut it again. “Alright”, he grumbled and you smiled before giving him a kiss and bounding off towards the fire station, wanting to refine your skills a bit more - Cato was the muscles out of the two of you, and even though you were pretty swift and bendy, you wanted to level up your survival skills.
Finnick saw this as an opportunity to make a move - in a tactical way of course. He knew Katniss and you liked Mags, the problem was the both of you liked him not so much. Or more like Katniss didn’t trust him, and you didn’t know him enough to actually judge him. He knew if he wanted to secure an alliance in the arena, you were the link of their group that would be most likely to stop Katniss from killing him, so he needed to make a good impression, which wasn’t so easy with Cato being around you all the time.
You were a bit startled when the Tribute from District 4 sat down next to the fire you just managed to start. “Finnick”, you smiled politely. You were always good at reading people, and you had noticed from the first word he spoke back when you met him that he wasn’t actually all cocky and cheeky - what he actually was like you didn’t know though.
“Nice fire you got going there”, he acknowledged it with a nod and you thanked him. “Katniss taught me last year. What brings you here?”, you asked, wanting to know what he wanted before Cato noticed him and interrupted you two. “Mags tells me you picked up on making a fish hook pretty quickly too, she likes you”, he ignored the question, making you cock your head slightly.
“I like her too”, you decided to play his game for now, “It was very brave of her to volunteer for that young girl from your District.” And that got a reaction, one you thought it might get - Finnicks mask slipped slightly. “Annie, right?”, you softly inquired - it seemed like speaking her name kinda made him sink into himself a bit, and you realized your hunch was right. You had seen it in the way he looked at her during their reaping.
Finnick was caught off guard, he underestimated you a bit, thinking of you as the slightly innocent and oblivious girl, but you seemed to keep your talents on the low - nobody has ever read him so fast, and he was impressed. “You love her”, you smiled, but not in an evil way, like you just had gained information you could use against him, no in a touched and pure way, like you just thought it was sweet and nothing else.
“Yeah, I do”, he said, it seemed like the thought of Annie made him a bit melancholic and you were glad he had come to talk, happy to see behind his mask for just a moment. “I’m sorry you had to leave her behind”, you said, your smile turning a bit sad when you squeezed his biceps in comfort. “I’m sorry you have your love here with you”, he gave you the same sad smile, and you understood what he meant - it was sad to leave his love behind, but he was still glad she wasn’t here with him.
You held his gaze for another moment, before he suddenly looked behind you, grimacing. “I’ll get going before your Career kills me before we even get to the arena”, he grinned, his cockiness back and the moment gone, and you just shook your head with a grin. “I’ll see you”, you waved when he moved, and a moment later you were scooped up by the waist, piled into a familiar strong chest, and you rolled your eyes.
“What was that?”, Cato sounded on edge, and you had to admit possessive Cato never got old. “Nothing”, you smiled, turning in his arms and the way his big hand gripped your waist made your panties stick to your folds almost immediately. You were feeling a bit naughty, thinking about how you could mess with him a bit, maybe he’d be a bit rougher with you later tonight. “What were you doing touching his arm like that then?”, Cato scowled, and you knew he didn’t actually think you were flirting with Finnick, it was just the fear of losing you combined with his already protective nature - he trusted you fully. You smiled innocently, a plan forming in your mind.
“He just wanted to me to feel his muscles to see if he was ready for the arena, that’s it”, you explained, acting as if that was completely normal, and as you anticipated, Catos gaze darkened significantly. “I’ll kill him”, Cato exclaimed, trying to march away from you and to wherever Finnick disappeared to, but you stopped him with a laugh. “You didn’t honestly believe that did you? I’m just messing with you baby”, you giggled, and he cocked one brow.
He looked at you for a moment, observing the way you blushed under his gaze, and leaned down. “You’re a bit naughty today are you? I can’t leave you alone for five minutes, you’re too pretty, attracting so much attention - and then you go and touch him”, his voice was raspy when he lowly whispered in your ear, leaving goosebumps everywhere. “Doesn’t matter why”, he shut you up when you wanted to protest that the touching wasn’t flirty or anything, “I think I still need to make sure you know you should only touch me hm?”
He noticed the way you squeezed your thighs together immediately, a smug grin on his face and determination in his gaze. “Come one”, he exclaimed, pulling you along to the elevator, and considering training was over anyway, that didn’t attract too much attention.
You were suprised that no one stopped him when he stepped onto your districts floor with you - in retrospect you figured someone was watching you all the time, so that must mean they let you two do this. “Cato”, you tried talking to him once the door to your room shut behind you but he just interrupted you with a rough kiss.
You were a bit shocked, especially when he made quick work of you your clothes, leaving you bare infront of him - well except for you panties, and the dangerous glint in his eyes made the wet patch on them grow. You were reaching for him, wanting to touch him and undress him too, but he caught your wrist in his big hand, easily holding it where he wanted.
“You don’t get to touch baby”, he smirked, suddenly turning you around and bending you over the bed, his still clothed rock hard erection pressing against your thinly covered pussy, and your head turned to the side, looking at him over your shoulder. “Cato”, you whined, but he just chuckled and started grinding into you, bending down and gently kissing your cheek, before claiming your lips in a passionate kiss again, his hand tangling in your hair and pulling a bit - not enough to hurt but just right to get you even more excited.
He pulled back and stood up straight again, admiring his perfect girl in front of him, and quickly shed his shirt and pants before letting his hands run up and down your back a few times. You held your breath in anticipation of what he would do next, kinda really enjoying this even more dominate side of him, and when he finally pulled your panties to the side and his fingers found you all dripping, the groan he released made you bite your lip to stop an embarrassing whine from coming out.
“Fuck love, is that all for me?”, he grumbled, then bent down a bit and growled, “or for Odair?” And then he slid two fingers in to the knuckle making you moan out in suprise, clenching the covers in your fists. He didn’t let you catch your breath, instead immediately setting a fast pace, curling his fingers into that spongey spot inside you and totally overwhelming your senses. “You! For you Cato, please”, you whimpered, not sure if you were asking him to stop or to keep going.
“Don’t worry, I’ll always be here to take of you even if you’re misbehaving”, your eyes were clenched shut, but you could still hear the grin in his voice. He added his thumb to circle your clit, making you see stars and rapidly approaching your high, but just as you reached the edge, he pulled back and left you hanging.
“Cato”, you pouted at him over your shoulder, and he seemed pretty satisfied with himself. “You’ll only cum on my cock today, I need to make sure you understand you’re mine”, he smirked, lining himself up with you and then only pushing his head in, teasing you a bit, “need to make sure you’ll cum with my cock deep inside you, feeling it’s only me who can make you feel like this.” You were so fucked out, you heard him but couldn’t answer, instead just clenching around his tip, making him groan and push all the way in - fuck you’ve never done it from behind before, but his angle felt like he was deeper than ever before.
“Cato”, you moaned when he picked up the pace right away, thoroughly fucking you, his hips slapping against your ass with every thrust. “Fuck you’re so tight”, he groaned, molding himself to your back while continuing his assault on your poor pussy - not that you were complaining. You weren’t sure if you talking to Finnick actually bothered him, or if it was just all the stress combined, but damn were you glad this was the way he chose to handle it.
Contrary to his rough thrusts, he laid his hand on top of one of yours, sliding his digits between yours, while balancing himself on his other arm as not to crush you with all of his weight. “I love you so much, I hope you know that”, he hummed into your ear, and even though he simultaneously brought you closer and closer to the edge, you couldn’t help but smile - even when he was being rough, he was still a softie inside (at least for you).
“Love you too”, you mumbled, squeezing his hand and gasping when that made him pick up speed, a small move changing the angle so that he was drilling into the right spot, and because he fucked you with your panties on, they were conveniently rubbing your clit with every move of his hips. “C-Cato”, you stuttered, suddenly very close to reaching your high, you walls already clenching around him in anticipation and he buried his face in your hair with a moan.
“It’s alright come for me, I’m close too”, he grunted, his thrusts getting slightly more sloppy but never losing power, and then you were cumming all over his cock, the angle letting you feel him so deep, that your vision went white for a second, and your walls squeezed him so tight, he pushed as close a he could with a moan, his dick twitching inside you as he filled you up.
You two stayed like that for a minute, fingers still tangled, his front still covering you and his cock still inside. He seemed to go lax though, so he started crushing you a bit and while you loved having him close, you also liked to breathe. “Cato”, you mumbled, wiggling a bit but he just released a content hum, not moving an inch. “You’re crushing me”, you complained, but not being able to hold back your giggle, squeezing his hand.
“Sorry love”, he whispered, his mood suddenly totally relaxed, as if he really got all the stress and frustration out of his system. He gently pulled out, quickly pulling your panties back in place, so that his cum couldn’t leak out, and looking over your shoulder you could see he was smiling like he just accomplished something. You could only roll your eyes (even though you secretly thought it was hot).
Before you could attempt to move on your own, he carefully picked you up, holding you infront of him, before pulling back the covers and situating the both of you underneath. When he pulled you into his chest, his arms wrapping around you, making you feel safe. “You okay? I wasn’t too rough?”, he asked, pushing some hair behind your ear and you smiled at him. “I’m good, that was great”, you sighed, pushing your face into his neck. “I hope you know that there was no reason to actually be jealous though”, you added, your hand painting little pattern on his chest, making him kiss your head with a smile.
“I know”, he admitted, “doesn’t mean I like seeing that pretty boy close and personal with you.” You giggled, leaning up a bit and kissing his jaw fondly. You loved the sex with him, but you loved these cuddly, intimate moments with him after even more. “You wanna know what we were talking about?”, you started, the hand on your hip squeezing lightly to signal you to continue, “he was telling me about that girl he loves, back in his district.”
“Girl?”, Cato was curious, and you weren’t suprised he had no idea, his skills in the combat department were off the charts, but his observance when it came to people, was pretty bad. “The one Mags volunteered for”, you explained, and he just gave a thoughtful hum, kissing your temple, and pulling you even closer. “That makes me hate him a little less”, Cato smirked, and you just accepted that with sigh.
—————————
You and Cato were laying on the rooftop together, exhausted but happy to spent some time with each other. You finished the individual sessions today, Cato excelling his last score with 11 and you holding your 7 steady. “I’m still wondering what Katniss and Peeta did to get that 12, that’s insane”, Cato wondered out loud, and you were nodding, the way everyone around the screen gasped still fresh in your memories.
“I don’t think it had anything to do with their actual skills, knowing Katniss she probably did something to provoke them. I should ask her about it tomorrow”, you shared your thoughts, and considering she told you she shot an arrow at the gamemakers last year, you probably weren’t far off. “But Peeta? He doesn’t seem like the type of guy to outright provoke the Capitol like Katniss would”, he said, his hand on your back absentmindedly drawing circles on your back and you sighed in bliss, cuddling even closer into his chest.
“No not outright, but he knows how to get a rise out of people without actively attacking you know”, you mused, and Cato hummed in thought. You two laid there under the stars, in one of the last nights you had to yourselves, but you stopped these negative thoughts. You just tried to live in the present.
“We should do something passive aggressive when we have the interviews tomorrow you know”, Cato said after a while, making you raise you brows in suprise. He was right of course, but you hadn’t thought that far yet, trying to block out the looming threat of being on live television again. “What do you have in mind?”, you wondered, and he was silent for a few moments.
“Has to be something that riles up the people you know, even the Capitol jerks have to be angry we’re gonna be send back in there”, he started, and you realized he had been thinking about this for a while already. “Yeah, you’re right, maybe something that makes them feel like they’ve been left out of the love story, something that makes it even more tragic”, you agreed, raking your brain for a suitable idea. It was quiet for a few minutes while you two thought about it, when suddenly Cato stunned you with his idea.
“Marry me”, he whispered, and you went rigid in his arms, sitting up in shock and looking down at the tall career. “What?”, you asked, louder than necessary and he sat up too, his hand on your waist immediately, the other cradling your jaw.
“Think about it, if we told them we got married in secret, like if we had to face death anyway, we want to be together forever after we die or something, you know - that makes them feel left out, they didn’t get to see our wedding or whatever, we can tell them it was just us, on a quiet evening, that combined with the tragedy of me volunteering to die with you, might actually make them really upset”, he explained his idea, and you had to admit he was right.
Your finger gently ran over his jaw, down his neck and settled on his chest, giving you time to think, before you finally nodded. “Yeah, let’s do it, I wanna make them as upset as possible”, you agreed, and the thought of ‘marrying’ him even if it wasn’t real real, made your cheeks redden. “Okay, okay, I’ll wake Brutus up when I go back down and ask him if he can organize rings before the interview, to make it more believable”, he replied, his thumb brushing your lip, before his mouth replaced it.
You two lay there together for a while, occasionally kissing, but generally just enjoying each others presence. “You know”, he started again, “If I had the chance, would’ve done this right, would’ve gotten you a ring, proposed - I would’ve given you a real wedding.” You shifted your head on his shoulder slightly, your lips pressing a gentle kiss to his jaw that made the arm around you tighten. “I would’ve loved that”, you whispered, his lips finding yours in a soft kiss.
—————————
As soon as you stepped out of the elevator, Cecilia stirred you towards Cato and Brutus, who seemed to be waiting - she was on board immediately when you told her about your plan this morning. It seemed like Brutus was able to acquire some rings, because Cato was holding a small box. “Hey”, he greeted you, a soft kiss to your cheek, and a hand on your waist.
“We’ll leave you to it”, Cecilia smiled, and Brutus nodded. “Yeah, we’ll get you when you have to line up”, he added, and the two of them were off talking to old friends. “You look beautiful”, Cato smiled, kissing you properly now that your mentors were gone, and you couldn’t help but smile too. The too of you were matching, your stylist thinking all black would be adding a dramatic effect - married and wearing clothes as if someone died (or is going to, aka you two). So you were wearing a black dress, and Cato matching in a black tux.
“Thanks, you look pretty too”, you giggled, his eyebrows raising in surprise. “Pretty?”, he grinned, pulling you in closer, and you just laughed. “Yeah, also strong and scary of course”, you rolled your eyes fondly, and he pinched your side, before directing your attention to the box in his hand, flipping the lid open and revealing two rings: one larger basic golden band, and on delicate thin gold ring with a diamond in the middle. “Wow, they’re so nice, considering Brutus only had today to get them”, you gasped, and he nodded, laying his cheek on top of your head while you two admired them for a moment.
“I…guess we should put them on, huh?”, he mumbled, and you nodded, the moment feeling more serious all of a sudden, as if - even if you didn’t officiate anything - you would actually be married. He took yours out and you held out your hand for him, shaking slightly, and he gently slipped the ring on your finger. It fit perfectly.
You looked at it for a moment, before taking his out, and slipping it onto his big hand, smiling to yourself at the way it looked - the way it meant (even if only for show) that he was yours forever. “This feels good”, he suddenly said, and your eyes snapped up, meeting his gaze and the love in his eyes almost overwhelmed you. “It feels real”, you added, and he nodded, pulling you into his arms completely, cradling your jaw and stopping right in front of your lips.
“You may now kiss the bride”, he grinned, and your giggle was stifled by his lips. “I love you”, you said between kisses, your hands locking behind his neck. “I love you”, he whispered, his lips back on yours, until you were pulled apart by your mentors when it was time to line up. Let the show begin.
————————
“Married?”, Caesar gasped, the crowd was stunned and your heart beat out of your chest where you were waiting backstage. You were thankful Cato had to go first and break the news - not that he had to do much, Caesar noticed his ring right away. “Yeah, we just thought, if this is going to end soon, we want to be together forever after you know”, Cato said, and you basically see all the women in the crowd swooning over the big, bad Career being so soft. Not that you weren’t, you were always swooning over him.
“And you kept it a secret?”, Caesar asked, intrigued by the story, but you also saw that he knew what you two were doing. “We didn’t want anyone to take that moment from us too”, Cato said, and the underlying message wasn’t lost on most people, “and you know, she’s the one for me, why wait for a time that we both know is not going to come.”
“Is that why you volunteered? To be with her again?”, Caesar asked about what most people were probably interested in. “Yeah”, Cato took a deep breath, “I was hoping she wouldn’t get reaped, and when I saw she did, I knew I had to volunteer and be here with her. I couldn’t have lived a life where I didn’t try everything to protect her - and I guess even if we wouldn’t be here, you wouldn’t have let us have our happy end anyway huh?” That shut Caesar up for a moment, and then Catos interview was over. You had to stop yourself from rolling your eyes at all the crying woman in the crowd.
“So (Y/N), how is married life treating you? Is Cato a good Husband? Your ring is beautiful by the way”, Caesar started your interview with a joke. You laughed politely, the crowd joining in. “Thank you Caesar. He’s the best, he always is”, you smiled, then put your sad face on, “I just wish we could’ve had it all you know? Growing old together, having kids, grandkids…” You were suprised you were able to push a tear out, and the crowd ate it right up.
“Yes, we would have loved to see that”, he said with empathy, squeezing your hand, “but life sometimes plays out differently, and you’re both here together - tell me, how did you react, how did you feel when you saw he volunteered?” Now your face actually fell, the moment Cecilia told you still fresh in your mind. “I was so angry at first”, you sighed, remembering how you lashed out at the parade.
“Why is that?”, Caesar replied, urging you to continue. “I knew I was going to die when I was reaped, and I didn’t understand why he would volunteer just so he could die with me you know”, you explained reluctantly, not sure if you actually wanted to share your real thoughts with everyone, but you continued anyway, “but when we saw each other again, and he…made me understand how he couldn’t live without me, and how much he loves me, I understood why he did it - I would’ve done the same.” The crowd was a wreck after this, lots of woman crying again and talking about how much you deserved to be together. But what really made them lose it, was Peeta dropping that Katniss was pregnant.
————————
It was colder than the other nights in the rooftop, Catos arms keeping you warm under the blanket where you were laying. You were both still naked, the sweat from your previous activities drying - the last time you would ever get to do that. “I can’t believe this is out last night together”, you whispered, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to overwhelm you, “we’ll be back in the arena tomorrow.”
Cato arms tightened around you, your face buried in his neck, and his lips ghosting over your hair. “Please baby, let’s not think about this, let’s just…”, his voice gave out, and you could tell he was trying to keep it together, your own tears flowing over and hitting his skin. “I love you so much, please always remember that”, he told you, taking a deep breath, his finger gently stroking your back. “I love you too, I’ll always love you”, you whispered, and you left the few drops of liquid that hit your hair uncommented, kissing his neck gently instead.
————————
The moment Aspasia gave you your clothes for the arena you knew it would be different than last time - the lightweight, thin material pointing towards a warmer climate. Your thoughts were running wild and at the same time it felt like you couldn’t process anything at all, you couldn’t believe you were about to enter the Hunger Games again.
“For what it’s worth, I loved being your stylist”, Aspasia broke the silence, trying to give you a smile but failing to conceal the sad look in her eyes. “I loved being styled by you”, you said, and it was genuine - she had always been really sweet with you. She opened her mouth again to respond, but the voice from the speakers interrupted her - it was time to go into the arena.
She wordlessly pulled you into a tight hug, and then seemed to remember something. “Wait, I almost forgot, that would’ve been a disaster! They cleared your ring”, she quickly pushed your wedding band, the one that Cato had put on you and that you had to give up before coming to the arena, onto your finger. “Thank you”, you whispered, actually happy about having it with you - who knew what would happen, at least you had a piece of him with you.
You forced yourself to step into the tube, the door sliding shut, and it took a while longer than last time for you to be going up, but when you did, you were blinded by the sun immediately - it was so hot and humid, you were probably right about a warmer climate, probably tropical. And when your eyes adjusted, you were proved right again, the arena was a huge jungle, but the part that worried you laid before you.
The cornucopia was in the middle of a circle shaped body of water, the tributes only separated by strips of rock leading towards the island in the middle. You started to panic, seeing the water slosh against the platform you were standing on and the countdown sounding in your ears. Then you remembered you weren’t alone, your eyes shooting up and trying to spot Cato, or really any of your allies, no matter if Katniss or Peeta.
You spotted Cato about a quarter of the circle away from you, his eyes already on you, taking in the way you looked at him wide eyed, your eyes darting towards the water and back up again, and when you subtly (as not to give your weakness away to the other tributes) shook your head, you could see it dawned on him that your plan of running towards each other again would be a problem, his eyes reflecting your own panic - you couldn’t swim.
==========
So finally a next part, I’m so sorry I always take so long, but even though I have a thousand ideas I’m soo lazy when it comes to actually writing them down ahahah! Hope you liked it anyway, I’m not completely happy, but let me know what you think and if you wanna be tagged in the next part :)
Taglist: @lisedanie @iskamr @fangirlninja67 @star611 @markeyateallyourfood @urmomsbananabread @faces-ofvenus @hopefulatrocity @inej-ruination-ghafa @trainboom @dxrkheavensworld @itsmytimetoodream @heartsforsha @enchantingpiratepeace @thorins-queen-of-erebor @darlingtonbubbles
promise me - cato hadley
Cato promises you he won't volunteer for the Hunger Games, and then he does. When Plutarch Heavensbee offers you a chance to get back at the Capitol for taking your boyfriend away, of course you're going to say yes.
masterlist
Cato is dying. So they say. You haven’t been watching.
It sounds bad. It is bad. But you had made your boyfriend promise that he would stay as far from the Games as he could, and you’d actually believed him when he said he would, that he’d live to old age with you. Cato has been wanting the Games as long as he’s been alive, but you’ve been wanting him to stay with you for about that long, anyway. It took forever to wear him down enough for him to say he’d give up his dream of being a Victor, and just when you felt sure of yourself, he’d gone and volunteered.
could I please get a Cato x soft/quiet gf reader she’s really good at hiding and when he’s training or even talking with friends she sneaks a kiss when he’s not looking and disappears until one day he finally catches her and gives her a real kiss💓
pairing: cato hadley x fem!reader
summary: you hide from cato when he wants a kiss. he always finds you in the end...
hunger games masterlist
Cato has always thought you're charming in a sort of elusive way; you're not a particularly social creature, quick on your feet and opting to hide and duck out of people's line of sight before they've even spotted you. It's endearing, truly, but it tends to frustrate him when all he wants is a kiss from you.
Cato's practicing his knife throwing in an empty field lined with dummies. He brings his elbow up and over his head before letting the blades cut through the air and thwack as they lodge themselves in the targets every time. You watch, entranced - perched just out of his line of sight - as his muscles ripple and flex with his movements; you imagine how they feel under your touch, his warm skin under your hands.
anti-hero - c
maroon | snow on the beach | masterlist
Warning: blood, character death
Summary: the one where he realises too late the real price of the games, your life.
Worcount: 2.1k
FREEDOM MASTERLIST
Cato Hadley x reader
Notes: for the need of this story, Cato takes part in the 72th Hunger Games and is 17 at the beginning of the serie. Reader is 16 at the beginning and she/her. No physical specifity written so you can imagine her as you want.
Taglist
Cato's arc
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 4.1 (Y/N's pov)
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8: Transition chapter
Y/N's arc
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Moodboards and Visuals
District 2 concept
District 2 moodboard
Y/N moodboard
Cato moodboard
Y/N & Cato moodboard
Cato and Clove's Arena for the 72th games
Fighter and Mother / Cato H. x OC V.
part I. part II. part lll. part lV.
Slowly I turned, the ache in my chest still thrumming, and when I saw who stood at the edge of the roof terrace, every feeling shifted into something else entirely.
Cato.
I froze and, without meaning to, gripped the fabric of my cloak at my throat. My heartbeat sped up—not from fondness, but from that raw mix of fear, tension, and a strange, unwanted curiosity. He stood like a shadow in human form: broad shoulders, a face hewn from stone, eyes that pin into you and won’t let go.
“I didn’t think you exactly needed a lullaby,” I said, sharper than I meant to be.
Cato smiled, and that smile was anything but kind. “No, probably not. But if I did, at least I’d know who to come to.”
I pressed my lips together and fell silent. I had no idea why he was here. Why he watched me. Or what he expected.
I stepped aside, as if to give us both some space. He answered the move—not by stepping physically closer so much as tilting his weight in, invading that space with an attitude.
“So — singer, mother, protector of little ones…” he drawled. “When will you start doing something that actually looks like fighting?”
That stung. “You know nothing about me,” I snapped.
He laughed—short, low. “I know you’re attached to those two squeakers from Eleven and to that boy from Twelve who clings to your heels. That’s enough for me.”
“And you’re clinging to the gang with swords in their heads and shouting in their throats. Congrats,” I shot back.
“We won’t be dead on the first day, unlike you,” he sneered. Then he paused, eyebrow lifting as if a thought amused him. “I hope you keep singing in the arena. When I find you. When I try to kill you… I’d like to hear you one last time.”
The cold in his words forced me a step back. Beneath the threat there was no empty cruelty—there was a frankness, and maybe a flicker of curiosity.
I forced my chin up. “You might not get the chance.”
Something in his look flickered for a beat. Surprise? Pleasure? It was hard to tell.
“Well, at least you’ve stopped smiling like some kind of caretaker,” he muttered. “Progress.”
Then he turned slowly and, without another word, melted back into the shadows toward the elevator. His silhouette swallowed by the night.
I stayed where I was, my breath burning in my throat. My fingers dug into the cold edge of the bench where I had been singing. The moment had lost every ounce of tenderness. What was in his head—violence, conflict—why single me out to intimidate? I doubted I’d be his greatest threat to victory.
Everything in that moment just felt so heavy, and in that moment I just wanted to sleep throw everything just to rest for eternity.
When I returned to my room Turen was peacefuly sleeping, he just looked so little like a fragile baby bird. How can I deal with him in the arena, I need to get back to my little birds, but how can I ever hurt him. I could let him to fend for himself , however how could I let him to the cruel world in which we will be heading. Never I could never just to other tributes.
then I just lie down next to him I will protect him and hope that we will not be the last two standing.
The following days blurred into a strange rhythm. Every morning, Effie woke us with relentless precision, and right after breakfast—always a divine feast of flavors I’d never known—we headed to the training center.
I came to love those mealtimes. The warmth of fresh bread, the sweetness of ripe fruit, the tenderness of meat that melted on my tongue—it was all impossibly good. I knew I shouldn’t let myself get used to it, that in a few days I might be fighting for a sip of water, but I still savored every bite.
In the training hall, I developed my own routine. Mornings were for what I was good at—plant recognition, tracking, climbing, traps, survival. The instructors soon recognized me by sight and often offered extra tips. One of them taught me how to defend myself with a simple knife against a stronger opponent—and from that day on, I practiced it daily.
Rue often joined me. She was like quicksilver—small, quiet, yet unbelievably agile and fast. I soon realized that the little girl had a sharp mind and a quicker tongue, and though we came from completely different worlds, we understood each other. Turen talked to her as if she were his little sister, and their laughter often echoed through the entire hall.
Thresh, meanwhile, remained a quiet presence. He never let Rue stray too far, always keeping watch. When the four of us were together, it almost felt like a team—an alliance, even—though we all knew it could never truly be that.
And through it all, one thing became impossible to ignore—Cato. I saw him every day. Sometimes he was practicing with spears, sometimes laughing with the Careers from District One, but always—always—his eyes found me. Sometimes subtly. Sometimes openly.
I ignored it. I didn’t want to assume anything. Maybe he was watching me as a threat. Maybe as a weakness. Maybe just out of curiosity. Whenever our eyes met, I looked away quickly, pretending not to notice.
Turen noticed, though. “He was staring at you again, you know that?” he said once at lunch.
“It doesn’t matter,” I replied flatly. “It would be a waste of energy.”
But still… it lingered in my mind. His eyes. The way he looked at me, as if searching for something. Whether it was interest, contempt, or simple curiosity—I refused to give it meaning.
I was here for myself. For my children. For survival.
And nothing hidden behind Cato’s gaze could change who I was—or what I had to do.
The day every tribute dreaded had finally come — the private evaluation before the Gamemakers.
Even before I opened my eyes that morning, I felt it — a knot of tension coiled tight in my stomach, all the fears I’d managed to ignore until now pressing in at once. Training was one thing… but this? This would be me, completely alone. No Turen. No instructors. Just me and them.
After breakfast, Haymitch gathered us in the living room. “Time to show them what you’re made of,” he said, his voice somewhere between encouraging and weary. “Save your best for last, make sure they remember you. Above all—be memorable.”
Turen squeezed my hand. “We’ll get through this,” he murmured. I smiled, but my heart was pounding so hard I thought everyone could hear it.
Down in the underground levels of the Training Center, we waited. One by one, tributes were called in. Rue. Then Thresh. Then Turen. Each time someone left, I offered a silent smile or a nod of encouragement. And then, finally, my name echoed from the loudspeakers. My stomach clenched.
The corridors were eerily quiet; my footsteps echoed off the cold floor. My heart beat so fast it felt like even the Gamemakers above could hear it—the people who would decide who lives and who dies.
I stepped into the training hall. The same familiar room stretched before me—metal weapons, dummies, targets—but now, high above, behind a wall of glass, sat the Gamemakers. A long table, plates piled with food, glasses of wine, laughter. Not one of them even looked up.
I clenched my jaw and forced myself to breathe. Fine. I’d give them something worth looking at.
I worked quickly—rope, pulley, dummy. My hands moved with practiced precision. The dummy shot upward, hanging upside down. I grabbed a knife, aimed, and threw. Chest. Arm. Leg. Every strike hit dead on.
And still—nothing. Just a lazy tilt of a head, a bored glance, another sip of wine.
Heat flared in my cheeks. All that effort, swallowed up in their indifference. I tried to hold it in, to breathe through it, but then… I snapped.
“Hey!” My voice cracked through the air, echoing against the walls. Nothing.
“You up there!” I shouted louder, my voice trembling now. “Do you even care who you’re sending to die? Or are you just here for the food? We’re not here for your amusement or your wine! We’re people! The ones you’ll watch die for your entertainment! So at least have the decency to look at us while you do it!”
A few heads finally lifted. One of the Gamemakers looked me over and gave a faint, amused smile, like I was some animal that didn’t know it was in a cage. That tiny smirk was the last straw.
I stepped forward, grabbed the Capitol banner hanging on the wall, and tore it down in one violent motion. The heavy fabric, embroidered with the seal of Panem, crashed to the floor. I flung it toward the light fixture beside the gallery—sparks erupted instantly. The symbol began to burn, flames licking up its golden edges.
Only then did they all look at me.
And with my breath ragged and heart racing, I said, “Now you see me, don’t you?”
Then I turned and walked out before they could react.
When the doors closed behind me, my hands were still trembling—not from fear, but from the emptiness that comes after fury.
Back in the apartment, Haymitch and Effie were already waiting. Haymitch lounged in his chair, drink in hand, eyes sharp and alert for once. Effie stood beside him, looking seconds away from fainting.
“Please tell me it’s not true,” she burst out, her voice shrill. “Tell me you did not burn the Capitol’s symbol in front of the Gamemakers! That’s— that’s absolute madness!”
Haymitch took a sip, then laughed. That rough, broken laugh of his. “Madness?” he raised an eyebrow. “Maybe. But also damn clever. Finally, someone made those pampered puppets look up from their plates.”
Effie gasped. “You approve of this?!”
“I’m celebrating it,” Haymitch said flatly. “They’ll remember her now. And memory means attention. Attention means sponsors. And sponsors… mean a chance.”
I stood there, still breathing hard, trying to grasp what I’d just done.
Turen stepped closer and laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You did what you had to,” he said quietly. “If they refuse to see you, you make them. And you did.”
His voice was calm, but I saw the worry in his eyes. “Just… be careful. The Capitol doesn’t forget.”
Effie sighed, running a trembling hand through her perfect hair. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to go… You were supposed to look strong, proud, not— revolutionary!”
Haymitch chuckled. “Well, Effie, maybe you missed it… but she was exactly that.”
Hiiiiiii everyone sorry I took a long break but I am ready to be more active again. If you have any request please let me know I am always open to anything. I hope you like this series just like me please let me know what are you think about the series and if you have any questions or ideas about it.
erika-simps
nowayhomenever
kittykataerokitty
@zelabee
@sopitasopita
@meiisamotherbitch
@the-death-defying-night-crawler
@chelseyyouraverageluigi
@google1000
@greengarbanzobean
THG Christmas HCs
Words: 118
Fandom: The Hunger Games
Ships: Peeta/Reader, Cato/Reader, Katniss/Reader, Finnick/Reader, Gale/Reader
Tags: Fluff, Headcanons