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Chapter Text

Celestia woke up early on reaping day. She showered and ate a light breakfast. A plain meal since her family did not have much. She could not eat much even if she wanted to. It was July 4th. Something she didn’t want to think about so she kept herself busy.

Celestia helped her 2 younger sisters get dressed. Only one was coming with her to the reaping, Nivara but Lyara wanted to look nice too. Celestia smiled as she helped her get dressed. She was too young to know what the reaping was and she was glad. After helping her sisters started getting ready. After wearing her dress she looked at her reflection in the ancient mirror, the glass old and cloudy. She was wearing a simple light pink dress. It was too big on her like her shoes but those were the best things she had. She looked at her hair and put on a light pink headband before sighing. She tied her hair up in a bun.

When the time arrived, Celestia went with her sister to join the rest of the district at the square for the ceremony. Lyara tried to follow them but was convinced by her mother to go to the other side. District 11 was big, so only half of the children went. There was a pre-reaping and she was unlucky enough to be chosen alongside her sister. She was thankful that it was not just her little sister. Just in case. 

Celestia walked slowly as they divided them into groups and she stood with the other girls her age. She smiled at Nivara and kissed her cheek before letting her go. Having taken position, she turned around and after scanning for a while, she was finally able to locate her mother and little sister amidst the crowd. When the music started she looked at the screen. She watched the same video they put up every year. 

Velina Vane, the representative of the Capitol, arrived to host the event, as usual. She was smiling like always. As if she wasn't sending children off to their deaths. Celestia despised her but looked down. She didn’t want to attract too much attention.

Velina Vane started with the girls. She called out a name and Celestia smiled. It was not her or her sister. People moved aside and a young girl started to move towards the stage. Celestia was shocked at how young the girl looked. She had to be 12 or older but she looked so much younger. They were all starving, yet something about her made Celestia feel bad.

The game was so unfair.

"I volunteer," a voice spoke out, and Celestia exhaled. Relief. The girl was safe. Then her chest tightened. Wait-was that… her voice? It took her a while to process the reality.

She had volunteered.

Her heart was pounding as she looked at people moving aside to let her through. She started walking, her strides were steady as she made her way to the stage. She could hear the whispers of the crowd, and feel their eyes on her, but they felt far away. The little girl's face flashed before her eyes, and she smiled, at least she was safe.

Once on the stage, she looked in front of her, she felt like she was looking at everything from a different perspective. She could almost see herself standing there, not quite believing the reality unfolding.

Celestia squared her shoulders, reminding herself: This isn't about her. It's about keeping that little girl safe. A hundred cameras captured her every move. She looked down at her shoes not wanting to give them the satisfaction of seeing a glimpse of fear.

Celestia swallowed hard, willing herself not to break. She would come back. She would fight to come back. For her family. She started believing it.

The loudspeaker crackled again, and Celestia snapped out of her thoughts. "And now, for the boy tribute," the announcer's voice boomed. Celestia's stomach twisted. She had barely registered the announcement when they called out a name.

A cold sweat erupted on her skin. She tried to keep herself together, but the knot in her stomach tightened further. How could she ever compete against someone like Thresh? He was built like an oak tree, and she was nothing more than a branch.

The thought of facing him in the arena made her sick. She was smart, but in the Games, that wasn't enough. When she looked at him she could see he was scared. Just like her. It was just for a second then his expression was unreadable again. He didn’t look at her and she looked back down.

Celestia could not even recall how she got to the Justice Building. She was sitting in a chair, her family saying goodbye. Her mother was not happy that she volunteered. She cried when she said goodbye. She had never seen her mother cry.

After they had left, Rue entered with her mom.

Rue that was her name. Rue cried when she hugged her, she did not even know her and she cried. She was relieved that she did not have to go and grateful that she could take care of her family. She was so small, but she was the oldest in her family. The room was quiet and cold. Rue's embrace made her feel warm and even more confident in her choice. They were still talking when the guards entered to take them away. The next few hours passed in a flash. She travelled by train toward the Capitol. On the train, she saw luxury for the first time. She had a large bedroom, something that was odd in a train. Even a shower that she immediately used. She took a shower and the water was warm for as long as she wanted. Something she never experienced. She wore simple clothes. She could not remember when she had last worn anything so new.

On the train, she met Velina Vane, the capital escort. She was even more selfish from up close. She complained about everything. Celestia was glad when they sat to watch the recap of the reaping together thinking Velina Vane would stop complaining about people from the districts, but she kept talking about how Celestia’s first impression wasn’t the best. And about how there she has no sense of fashion. 

Celestia ignored her as she looked at the screen and saw the boy from District 2 for the first time.

His blond hair was short and perfectly styled, his blue eyes cold and calculating. He looked like someone who had trained for this his whole life. Muscles rippling under his clothes, his posture was straight and powerful. As soon as she saw him, her eyes widened. The confidence he exuded made her stomach twist. He wasn't just strong; he was a threat. How am I supposed to survive against him? The question echoed in her mind. Her heart started beating faster for fear and something else.

******************************************************

Cato studied the tributes one by one, his gaze narrowing as he measured up the competition. He was already picking out the ones he'd want to join the Careers. After District 4, there wasn't a single one that caught his attention, until he spotted her. Celestia.

His heart leapt, and before he could think, he moved in closer to the screen. He stared at her: her hair, her eyes, she seemed so fragile, as if about to cry. She wasn't dangerous, not like the others could be. She was small, thin, and weak-looking, but for some reason, he couldn't look away.

He frowned when he saw the boy tribute shake her hand, a flicker of something strange and unknown crossing his face. He couldn't quite place it, but something was off at that moment, and he didn't like it.

As Cato's eyes remained fixed on Celestia, he didn't notice Clover staring at him. Clover raised an eyebrow, her eyes sharp and questioning. Cato's new interest in someone like Celestia, someone clearly unable to protect herself, was strange to her.

Brutus, their instructor, felt the tension. His broad shoulders stiffened as he turned to follow Cato's gaze. "Don't waste your time," he muttered beneath his breath, a low growl forming in his throat. "She's no threat. But if you want her, you better make it quick. We can't afford distractions."

Cato shot him a sharp look, but Brutus just shrugged, his gaze flicking back to Celestia. He wasn't wrong. In a place like that, distractions were a death sentence. But still, something about Celestia intrigued him.

"Who said I want her?" Cato's voice was low, almost dismissive as he leaned back in the chair, his gaze remaining on the screen. The words were said with practiced indifference, but the sharp clench of his jaw and the drumming of fingers against the armrest betrayed him.

Clover didn't miss it. "Don't pretend you're not interested, Cato," she said to him, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "I can see it in your eyes."

"Just make it quick," Brutus said once more, his voice cold.

"I never said I wanted her," Cato snapped, his voice sharper now, a cold edge cutting through the room. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady but dangerous, daring Brutus to push him further.

She's weak, he said to himself, but there was something about her that made him keep his eyes on her. Her eyes, glassy with unshod tears, flicked nervously around the crowd, yet there was a quiet determination there, faint but unshakable.

He shook his head, scowling. No. That doesn't matter. Weakness is weakness. And yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't look away.

"I'll ask her to train with us," Cato said, his tone flat but carrying a quiet authority.

Brutus sighed heavily, his broad shoulders slumping as if the weights of the Games still bore down on him. "And why in the world would you want her?" he asked, his voice tinged with scepticism. "She's not Career material, and we both know that."

Cato's gaze was fixed on the screen, unwavering. "Because I said so," he growled, his voice cold and absolute. "That's enough."

Brutus snorted a dry sound and shook his head. "Enough?" he repeated, his voice rising towards incredulity. "She's weak, Cato. She'll slow you down, put a target on your back. She's a liability, plain and simple."

Cato's jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists. He finally turned to face Brutus, his blue eyes blazing. "She's not your problem. She's mine," he said, the possessiveness in his tone unmistakable. "I'll deal with her, and I'll decide what happens to her."

Brutus raised an eyebrow, studying him for a long moment. "Yours, huh?" he said, his voice carrying a faint hint of amusement. "You're already staking a claim on her. You sure that's not going to get in your way?"

"She won't get in my way," Cato snapped, his voice ice-cold. "I'll make sure of it. She'll do what I say when I say it. And if she doesn't?" He shrugged, the motion deliberately casual. "Then she's gone."

Brutus sighed again, his disapproval evident. "Fine," he grumbled.

Cato turned to the screen, his expression hard. He glared at Celestia, forcing his face to remain unreadable.

Weak or not, she's mine now.

The thought made him tense. No, that wasn't right. She wasn't his. She couldn't be. He shouldn't even care. But the thought lingered, and he pushed it away, unwilling to acknowledge it.

Chapter Text

Celestia saw herself on the screen. She appeared to be scared and on the verge of crying. She thought that she appeared fierce, but she was wrong. No one was going to take her seriously. She thought she looked confident, a bit shaken but still confident. What she saw was the total opposite.

Once in her room, Celestia got in bed and could finally be alone. The room was unfamiliar. The bed felt too soft, the blanket suffocating. Everything was cold and sterile. Too perfect. She buried her face in the pillow, she felt like crying and she tried to stop unsuccessfully. Her sobs were muffled by the pillow, her body shaking as the weight of reality crashed down on her. She didn't want to die.

She cried because she knew she would. She cried because she wouldn't be able to hug her mother again. She cried because she knew she would die. She cried because she was going to be unable to hug her mother. She cried because she failed to wake up early enough to be able to see her father one last time.

Celestia pinched shut her eyes, trying to take a steady breath, but the air was heavy, suffocating. Breathe, Celestia. Breathe, she told herself. The words barely registered, drowned out by the noise of her thoughts.

******************************************************

The next day Celestia took a long warm shower. She tried to look presentable and not like she cried all night. She didn’t need to appear weak. Weaker.

As Chaff, her mentor, spoke to Thresh, discussing their strategy in low, careful tones, Celestia ate quietly, feeling like a shadow in the room. Her stomach twisted with anxiety. It was clear they already had everything planned for him. Thresh was strong, capable, and a real contender in the Games. But what about her?

After a long silence, she broke through with her words as her trembling voice conveyed quiet determination. "What about me?" The question hung in the air, sharp and desperate. Chaff paused, his gaze shifting to Celestia with a flicker of something, pity, maybe, or calculation, Celestia couldn’t tell. Thresh glanced at her.

"Keep a low profile," Chaff said, his voice flat, dismissive. "Blend in. Stay out of the way. We don’t need any attention on you."

The words stung more than Celestia expected. Her chest tightened as anger bubbled beneath the surface which she managed to swallow down. Thresh never said a word although his gaze remained on her. Neither did Chaff. The silence pressed in, thick and heavy, as if they’d already given up on her.

"That’s it? You spoke with Thresh for an hour," Celestia said, her voice breaking. "And that’s all I get? I’m not going to get a single piece of advice?" She felt a lump form in her throat, and though she fought to keep it down, the words tasted bitter. She hated confrontation. The last thing she wanted was to cry.

Chaff didn’t meet her gaze, his voice flat. "You can try to pretend to be strong and pretend you're hiding your skills." He suggested. "Like Johanna Mason, I'll show you her tape later." He continued.

Celestia’s brow furrowed, the frustration giving way to confusion. "How will that help? Shouldn't I be training?"

Chaff turned to her slowly, his eyes cold. "So people can see there’s nothing you can do?" The words felt like a slap.

The pounding in Celestia’s chest signaled the rise of her pent-up fury. "How do you know I can't fight? You didn’t even ask me about my skills." Don’t cry. Whenever she got angry she felt an urge to cry. She wasn't going to cry.

Chaff lifted an eyebrow while his mouth formed a minor smirk. "What can you do?"

"I know a lot about plants," Celestia said, her voice quieter now.

Chaff's eyes flicked to her, but there was no real interest there. "Like everyone from District 11," he replied flatly, not looking at her.

"Medical plants too," she added, her words more pointed now.

Chaff paused, finally meeting her gaze. There was a flicker of something acknowledgement, maybe but it was gone just as quickly.

"That might be useful," he said, his voice distant, as if he was already thinking about something else. "But it’s not enough to win the Games."

"I can use the skill to find allies," Celestia said, her voice gaining strength. The words hung in the air, not just an idea, but a plan she was determined to make work.

Chaff’s gaze finally shifted to her fully, but his expression remained unreadable. "Allies?" He tilted his head slightly as if he hadn’t considered it. "What makes you think you’ll have any allies?"

Celestia glanced down at her plate, suddenly aware of how little she’d eaten. She wasn’t hungry anymore. She didn’t speak for a long moment, as if weighing the question carefully, trying to convince herself that her skills were enough. If she could convince herself, convincing others would be easier, right?

Finally, she spoke, her voice was quiet. "What if someone wants me in their team?"

Chaff didn’t miss a beat. "You’ll refuse."

Celestia’s head snapped up, confusion and frustration flickering across her face. "Why?"

Chaff leaned forward, his elbows on the table, his voice dropping to a low, deliberate tone. "Because allies will turn on you the second they don’t need you anymore. You being a healer won’t help."

Celestia hesitated, her fingers tightening around the edge of her plate. She didn’t want to admit it, but the words slipped out anyway, quiet and uncertain. "Well, I'm not a healer."

"You are not a healer." He repeated losing the little interest he had before.

"Everything I know is because… well I read about it. I know the theory." Celestia whispered.

Chaff’s eyebrows shot up, a sharp laugh escaping his lips. "Theory?" He repeated, leaning back in his chair with an incredulous look. The way he was repeating everything she said was making Celestia more annoyed. "You’re telling me you want to offer something you’ve never actually done?"

Celestia’s composure faltered, humiliation spreading through her like wildfire. But she forced herself to hold her ground, lifting her chin ever so slightly. "I know about herbs," she said, her voice steadying as she met Chaff’s gaze. "I know how to identify them, how to use them. Just because I haven’t practiced doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing."

Chaff studied her for a long moment. Finally, he leaned forward again, his tone softer but no less cutting. "Let me tell you something about the arena, Celestia. Theory won’t save your life. Action will. If you think knowing how is enough, you’re already dead."

Celestia knew the conversation was over when Chaff turned to face Thresh. The rest of the travel toward the capital went fast. Everyone, including Thresh, looked at her like she was already dead. She didn’t talk much while they ate and she stayed in her room most of the time.

She didn’t cry. She refused to cry.

It was only the last day of the journey when she saw Seeder for the first time. She was standing with Thresh and Chaff. They didn’t even look up when Celestia entered the room, their conversation continuing as though her presence didn’t matter. Like they didn’t think her knowing his strategy was a problem.

Celestia stopped just inside the doorway, her chest tightening. The sight of Thresh with two mentors stung more than she expected. She hesitated, then took a step forward, her voice cutting through the low hum of their discussion.

"So, he gets to have two mentors, and I can’t even have one?"

All three turned to look at her, the weight of their gazes heavy. Seeder opened her mouth, but Chaff got there first, his tone calm but dismissive.

"Thresh has a real shot at this. We’re doing what we can to help him win."

Celestia’s eyes flickered between Chaff, Thresh, and Seeder, her fists clenching at her sides. She’d had enough of feeling invisible.

"You didn’t give me a possibility," she said, her voice tighter than she intended, but the words had already escaped her.

The room went still for a moment as if they didn’t expect that from her.

Seeder raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered, but there was a hint of something else in her eyes, maybe a surprise? Chaff’s gaze hardened, and Thresh said nothing.

"I never had a chance because you never gave it to me," Celestia added in a softer but still betraying tone. Without waiting for a response she turned on her heel and left the room while her footsteps reverberated in the quiet space.

******************************************************

Celestia’s first glance at the Capitol was overwhelming. She saw towering skyscrapers gleaming in the sunlight. The streets were alive with people, brightly dressed, with perfectly coiffed hair and faces painted with smiles that felt too wide, too perfect. Everything was designed to dazzle and distract.

Celestia felt small, out of place, as if she didn’t belong in this artificial world. The weight of the games settled heavily on her shoulders, reminding her that she was there to be paraded, she was just a spectacle. People greeted her when she walked out of the train, smiling and saying her name like fans. 

The Capitol had everything, but everything was so wrong.

Was she supposed to smile? Pretend she was okay with being treated like a pawn in the games. She looked at Thresh, he wasn't smiling. But Velina Vane was. Celestia kept her head down.

When she arrived at the stylist’s chamber, the air was thick with perfume and unfamiliar chemicals. She was finally alone until the door opened. The stylist walked in. She was a tall woman with neon pink hair, she barely spared Celestia a glance before waving her to a plush chair. "Sit. We’ve got work to do."

Celestia’s heart pounded as the stylist worked quickly, applying layers of makeup, pulling her hair into an intricate updo, and dressing her in a glittering, red outfit. Celestia barely recognized herself in the mirror. She was a stranger, bright, shiny, and perfect in a way she didn't want to be. For a moment, she almost forgot who she was, lost in the transformation, but it didn’t take long for the discomfort to return. She quickly looked away.

Later, as Celestia climbed into the chariot, she could barely contain the nervousness swirling inside her. The chariot itself was a masterpiece, gleaming and moving slowly through the streets of the Capitol, the crowds roaring with excitement. She could feel the eyes of the citizens on her, waiting for a performance, waiting for something they could enjoy. Her hand gripped the side of the chariot, her smile a fragile mask.

The Capitol was too much, too bright, too loud, too alive. The faces in the crowd blurred together, all of them expecting her to be someone she wasn't. Her mind drifted back to District 11, to the quiet, simple life she had left behind. She wasn’t made for this, for the glitter and the noise. But as the chariot continued its slow procession, she forced herself to look forward. This was part of the game. This was what she had to survive.

After the chariot stopped. President Snow appeared on a balcony overlooking the tributes. He gave a brief speech to mark the official beginning of the Hunger Games. Celestia looked down, fidgeting with her dress. She tried to focus on her dress to distract herself from everything else.

Chapter Text

Cato couldn’t look at anything but Celestia. The ferocity that usually blazed in his eyes wasn’t gone, it had just changed. It simmered now, directed at her with an intensity that felt foreign, unwelcome even, but impossible to suppress. His fists, so used to punching, hovered uncertainly at his sides. He hated how unguarded he felt, hated the way she drew his focus without even trying.

President Snow’s voice droned on in the background, lost beneath the roaring in his ears. Cato’s attention had locked on her, and there was no prying it away. 

Celestia. His Celestia. No, not his, she wasn’t his, and yet… something deep and primal whispered otherwise.

She stood on the chariot, the silver accents of her outfit catching the Capitol’s lights like precious gems. But she didn't look like she liked the attention the way the others did. She looked down at her hands, fidgeting with her dress, her movements small and self-contained. It was like she didn’t want to be noticed, something Cato found odd since she needed to be noticed to have a bigger chance at winning the games.

Celestia’s dress was red, her foulard green. An apple, he realized, biting back a sharp laugh that felt out of place in his chest. Of course, the Capitol would make her a fruit. The sweet apple from 11. He wondered if she tasted sweet too.

He remembered how the crowd cheers shifted as she passed, dipping for a moment before surging back, louder. Was it her beauty? The quiet confidence that seemed to radiate from her like a shield? Or something deeper, an unspoken presence that set her apart, marking her as someone who couldn’t be ignored?

Cato’s jaw tightened, his gaze fixed solely on her. He tried to push the thoughts away, to focus on something else. Anything else. The crowd, the Capitol, the tributes, they were distractions. They should be distractions. But none of it mattered. Not really.

It was her. Only her.

And it infuriated him. It was dangerous. Deadly. Attachments in the arena weren’t a weakness he could afford, yet the thought of anyone else looking at her, anyone else getting close to her... It churned inside him, a quiet rage he didn’t want to name. He told himself it was strategy, that keeping an eye on her was just another form of vigilance. But deep down, he knew he was lying to himself.

It wasn’t a strategy. It wasn’t control. It wasn’t safe.

He didn’t care about her. She was just another tribute, another obstacle in the Games. He didn’t need anything else weighing him down.

He looked away when Snow was finishing his speech.

******************************************************

Celestia finally looked up when Snow finished talking. After the parade, she finally went to her room. She was happy to be out of that stupid apple dress. She didn’t stay to talk to her mentors or the capitol escort, she just went to sleep dreading the following day. The first day of training.

The next day, she went downstairs with Thresh. They got in the elevator in silence, and when they reached the training room, he disappeared without a word. For a moment she considered following him and maybe asking him to work together, but she shook her head.

She wandered to the books section, her mentor’s advice echoing in her mind: stay out of the way. She picked up a book, looking at the cover, her gaze unfocused.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the male tribute from District 2 approaching. Her breath hitched. She quickly ducked her head, pretending to be engrossed in the book, her fingers tightening on the edges of the pages.

Now he was next to her. She could feel his presence before she dared to look up.

“Join us,” Cato said, his voice low but commanding.

“What?” Celestia murmured, her eyes on the book in her hands, though the words blurred under her gaze.

Cato’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “I want you to train with me,” he said, his tone casual, as though it was a simple request, nothing more.

She glanced up then, finally meeting his eyes. For a split second, she saw something, something unreadable yet intense in his gaze. She quickly looked down again.

“I don’t... I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She could feel her pulse quickening, the pressure of the moment too much to handle.

Cato tilted his head slightly, his expression unchanged. “It’s the smartest move you’ll make,” he said, his tone steady, it sounded like a threat, and Celestia didn't like that. He sounded confident, like he knew she would say yes.

Celestia swallowed hard, the book now feeling like a shield she was too afraid to lower. “My mentor said I can’t,” she said quickly, unsure if she should even be telling him. She nervously played with a lock of her curly hair, her fingers twisting it as she avoided his gaze.

“I can't,” she murmured, her voice a bit louder when he didn't answer. She looked away, her eyes focusing on anything but him. “I have to go now.”

Her words hung in the air, quiet and unsure. She took a step back, clutching the book tighter as though it might anchor her to something safe. Cato didn’t move, his eyes still locked on her, but he didn’t say anything. For a moment, it felt like the silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken. She turned quickly, her heart racing, and made her way toward the exit, feeling his gaze lingering on her even as she walked away.

Celestia lost half a day of training just because she was scared. She sighed as she waited in the canteen for most of the time, she ate before everyone else, and when it was time to eat, she left to go to the training room. It was nice having the place all to herself. While in the training room, she thought about her interaction with Cato. She didn’t like how shy she was and how quiet her voice sounded. She decided she would be more assertive. 

Celestia was taking notes on weapons when people came back from lunch. She studied the weapons, trying to figure out which one might be best for her, but her mind kept wandering. She wasn’t sure if she had the skills to use any of them well. As she turned a corner, she nearly bumped into Cato. His eyes locked on her, and for a moment, she froze, uncertain of what to do.

“What are you doing still here?” he asked, his voice deep and slightly angry.

She blinked, taken off guard. “I’m here to train.”

His gaze flickered over her, sizing her up in a way that made her uncomfortable. “I don’t want you here.”

“Why?” she asked, confusion in her voice. Why was he even talking to her again?

Cato gave her a skeptical look, his jaw tightening. “I don’t want to see you. Go somewhere I can’t see you.”

She swallowed, fighting the urge to back down. "I don't understand," she lied, her tone softer than she meant. She knew why he was saying this, it was because she had rejected his offer to train with him.

“You know exactly what I mean,” he said, his voice low and firm.

Cato gave her a stern look, and she felt a chill run down her spine. She could tell this wasn’t a guy who would let things slide.

Celestia frowned slightly, and for a moment, she almost turned away, ready to leave. But then she remembered her promise to be more assertive.

“I’m staying,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. She straightened her back, meeting his gaze head-on. Her frown deepened. 

"Now the little apple is pouting." He smirked, almost amused. 

"This is a serious frown." She said, hoping she was at least a bit intimidating. She was confused at the nick name. Why was Cato calling her an apple?

He narrowed his eyes, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by Glimmer's voice.

"Cato, shouldn't you be training?" she asked sweetly. She was standing behind him, but he didn't even budge. His full attention was on Celestia.

"Yeah, Cato, just leave," Celestia whispered.

He stared at her for a moment, still not moving. "What is your name, anyway?" He said slowly, his tone calm and yet threatening.

"Celestia, from District 11."

"Celestia, eh?" He scoffed. "I had a feeling you weren't from a district that counts." He said mockingly.

"Because I'm not arrogant..." She asked. She tried to sound threatening. "Bastard." She added, hoping it was mean enough. 

She knew she was going to regret it in the arena, but she didn’t want to be nice anymore.

He stiffened, and she regretted her decision immediately. He didn’t look mad, just surprised.

"I don't want to hear another word slip out of your mouth, okay? I'm not in the mood to talk to rude little bitches, so why don't you just get lost and let me train?" He didn't sound like he was playing around anymore.

"You came to me, you should get lost." She whispered, turning and walking away. He didn't hear her, and that was her intention. She was mad and shaking after he called her with such a degrading term.

She could still feel his gaze on her back, but at least she didn't have to hear his voice anymore. Then she heard Glimmer laugh. That’s when she noticed Glimmer was walking with her. 

"You pissed him off," she said, walking with her. "That might not be the best idea."

"He pissed me off first." Celestia said, turning to look at Glimmer. "It's not like I have to hide just because he doesn't want to look at me."

Glimmer looked at Celestia with an amused expression on her face.

"You have guts for a tribute from 11," she said coolly. She was making fun of her. "That will probably send you to an early grave."

"What?" she asked before stopping.

Glimmer just smirked and went back to training.

As Celestia left the training room, she couldn't help but feel a little paranoid. Why was Cato taking such an interest in what she was doing?

She couldn't exactly turn back now, but she worried.

As she walked, she couldn't help but think about Cato. He wasn't the only tribute that she had upset in her short time there. Glimmer apparently wanted her dead.

"I'm in deep trouble," she whispered.

Celestia stopped in her tracks, trying to process the situation. She was alone in a deadly game that consisted of 23 other tributes, and she had already made 2 of them hate her. Two of the most deadly. She could understand Cato, but she did nothing to Glimmer. She was nice, she tried to be nice, but people walked over her, and when she tried to stand her ground, she became a target.

She laughed. She knew it was ridiculous, but she couldn't help but laugh. She tried to see the situation through the eyes of Glimmer or Cato, and it was even more absurd. They were mad that she had the guts to stand up to them. It was all just so ridiculous.

She was the only one Cato didn't want to see, so she decided to be up front. She had to be there. It was mandatory. And she didn't need his permission.

Chapter Text

Celestia headed toward the training center the following day, her thoughts went to her interaction with Cato. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was onto her.

Maybe she was being a little paranoid. But that would matter in the games, right?

Celestia pushed open the door to the training center. She decided to study plants, what could be edible and what to avoid. She knew a lot about plants from her district, but not all the ones in Panem, she didn't know what arena was waiting for her. She didn't want to try to use a weapon when people looked at her. And Chaff thought that avoiding weapons was the best strategy for her. The previous day, Seeder trained her in private. She was nicer than Chaff, and she actually wanted to help her.

Celestia started to study the plants and wildlife from previous games. While she was in the training center, she spotted a collection of books sitting on a nearby shelf.

They had titles like "Plants and Fruits", "Wilderness Survival", "Animals of Panem", and "Hunting with Bow and Arrow." She laughed at that. Who would learn about weapons from books? Her. She was desperate enough.

Perhaps she would try to make use of her free time by studying up, she had nothing much else to do. But first, she went in the direction of traps. An instructor was explaining how to use them, and she didn't want to miss it.

Celestia read up on how to construct a variety of traps. And now she was learning the practice from an expert. The books also provided a few designs to use as reference points. The trainer showed her different traps and answered her questions. She was the only one there, so she asked a lot of questions.

Once the instructor left, she couldn't help but look toward the careers, toward Cato. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him. He was walking toward another training station. As he spotted her, he looked away quickly before taking his leave.

She wondered what he was up to now…

Celestia went to her reading spot and kept reading about plants she could eat in the arena. Some were obvious, like berries, fruits, roots, nuts, and leaves. But there were also some things that she was unsure of, like whether or not it was safe to eat plants of certain colors or if a certain species of moss was edible. She didn't want to eat moss.

As she was reading, she noticed that she was not alone. Glimmer was standing over her shoulder, looking down at the book in her lap. When did she come so close?

"Hey," Glimmer said. She looked down at Celestia, her expression neutral. "What are you doing?" She asked, her tone flat.

"I'm reading, it's what people do with... books." She smiled, feeling proud of her comeback. She wasn't being too rude, right?

"...Right." Glimmer looked a little confused, but she decided not to push it. Why was she reading to prepare for a mortal game? "Well, what are you reading about?" she asked.

"Plants." Celestia waited a moment before continuing. "Why are you here?"

Glimmer came to talk to her two days in a row, that couldn’t be normal. She started to think that maybe they wanted to get closer to her to get to Thresh. The careers were smart. 

Glimmer shrugged, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms. "Nothing better to do, I guess."

"Tired of following Cato?"

"Not really." Her reply almost sounded a little too casual. She was good at hiding her intentions. She walked over to sit down beside Celestia, looking over her shoulder at the book.

"That's a whole lot of reading... Why bother?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"There is nothing else to do." That was a lie. She could learn to use at least one weapon. She could find an ally. There were a lot of things she could do.

"I can think of better ways to occupy your time," Glimmer said, her eyes scanning the page in her lap. "How about a little spar?"

"You want to fight?" Celestia asked.

Glimmer smirked. "I thought you might like that. Let's get those instincts going. How long have you been training by the way? We have never seen you use a weapon or spar."

Celestia looked up from her book, Glimmer was giving her a challenging stare. She has never trained, but she couldn't say that. "Five years," she lied, hoping Glimmer wouldn't notice. She didn't.

"Five years? You must be quite confident." Her tone was almost mocking. Celestia knew people from district 1 trained for all their lives.

Celestia stood up and looked at Glimmer.

"Cato said you have guts," Glimmer added. It was a taunt. She had said it to rile her up, to see how she would react. 

"Happy to hear that." Was all Celestia said. Was that a lie? Or was he talking about her? Why would he talk about me?

"Don't get too cocky," Glimmer warned. She didn't look impressed; rather, she looked like she expected Celestia to say more, to open up. Show her weaknesses. "How about we spar? It's better than reading." Glimmer asked again.

"I'm busy." Celestia lied again.

Glimmer looked at her with a skeptical expression. "Sure, whatever you say," she scoffed. "It's a bit weird that you don't want to show your skills."

Celestia knew she was messing with her. It wasn't worth arguing, though.

Glimmer let out a sigh. "You're more boring than I expected. I guess Cato's taste in girls is worse than I thought."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Don't worry about it." 

Celestia turned away, trying to look like she wasn't bothered as she walked toward the next station. There was something in Glimmer's tone that made her irritated. She couldn't help but feel like there was a deeper meaning to Glimmer's comment. What was she insinuating?

"You like him though, don't you?" Glimmer added when Celestia was still close enough to hear her.

Celestia turned to look at her as she snorted in annoyance. Glimmer gave a look that implied she already knew her answer. Why would she like Cato? Did she look at him too much? Was she giving the wrong impression?

"It's obvious, just thought I'd let you know." She smirked. "He has eyes for someone else. I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you."

"I don't care." Despite her protest, it was clear that she had hit a nerve. Celestia's face must have betrayed her feelings. She was irritated, but not because she liked Cato, she didn't like him.

"Sure, whatever you say." She laughed slightly as she moved closer to Celestia. "You want to know why he spoke to you?" Glimmer asked.

She was trying to get a rise out of Celestia again.

"Why?" Celestia asked too fast.

"Why do you think?" Glimmer said, grinning slightly. She knew exactly what Celestia was thinking. "He wants to get you out of the way quickly, after learning more about Thresh. Since he’s the real threat."

Glimmer looked her straight in the eyes, daring her to deny it.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Why? It's interesting, that's why." Her coldness suddenly melted away, as if she couldn't hide her anger any longer. "You don't even stand a chance but don't worry. I can keep him calm." She was pretending to be nice, but her words had just confirmed Celestia's earlier suspicions. She was jealous. But why? Did Glimmer like Cato?

"I don't need you to do that."

"Good luck." She said, turning to walk away suddenly, but when Celestia didn't respond, she turned back towards her. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me. He listens to me." Her coldness returned as she walked away.

Celestia was alone again, but maybe that was for the best. She was frowning, clearly irritated. But she was satisfied too. Glimmer liked Cato, and she was jealous of the fact he talked to her. So by staying away from Cato, she may stop being on Glimmer's radar. She didn't have time for more enemies. So she decided to avoid both of them.

She decided to keep training with a knife, as Seeder taught her. Chaff wouldn't like that, but she didn't care at that moment. The knife was small and easy to use. She couldn't waste time just because people could discover she wasn't good at using weapons when she could use that time to train and learn.

Celestia noticed Marvel and Clove practicing in the weapons area. They seemed to ignore her, and she tried to pay as little attention to them as possible. She grabbed a small knife from the shelf and practiced using it on a mannequin.

Her mind kept wandering back to Cato... No, she wasn't thinking about him in that way. She tried to convince herself of that. He was just one of the biggest threats. That's why she was thinking about him.

Celestia shook her head, trying to concentrate. She needed to stay focused until she learned how to use one weapon. At least one. She kept practicing, but each time she stopped, she thought back at Cato's words.

She couldn't help thinking about the way he spoke to her. He meant what he said, she knew that. On the first day of training, he invited her to train with him, and after she kindly declined, he started acting like they were enemies. He was probably not used to hearing no.

And what did Glimmer mean when she said that he had "Eyes for someone else?" Why did she tell her? Why would she care about him and who he liked? She didn't care. Was that other person Glimmer or maybe Clove. Celestia turned to look at her. She was deadly with the knives.

Thinking about Glimmer 's words made her blood boil. But it wasn't out of interest. She had bigger problems right

Celestia looked at the maniquine and kept practicing when Marvel strolled over, his usual cocky grin plastered on his face.

“Want to spar?” he asked, twirling his weapon casually. Why did anyone want to spar with her? Was it sparring Thursday? She almost laughed at her joke.

“No,” she said flatly, not looking up. Be assertive.

“Why not?” He pressed, his tone playful but insistent.

“I’m not used to this weapon,” she replied, her grip tightening slightly as she tried to focus on her movements. She wasn't used to any weapons.

“You’re not used to most things, I guess,” Marvel shot back, his grin widening as if he’d landed a clever jab.

He continued to taunt Celestia, throwing out remarks meant to rattle her, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she kept her eyes on the weapon in her hands, pretending he wasn’t there, though her jaw clenched ever so slightly.

“So, Cato’s worth your time, and I’m not?” Marvel asked, his grin slipping into something sharper, more pointed.

“What are you trying to say?” She asked, surprised. “He’s a jerk,” she whispered, finally looking up at Marvel. Her tone was cautious, but there was a firmness to it that she hoped would end the conversation.

Marvel tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Just wondering why you’d brush me off but not him.”

Celestia sighed, turning fully to face him. “I’m training—”

He didn’t let her finish. His hand shot out, grabbing her shoulder roughly, and he yanked her, pulling her closer.

Her breath hitched, but before she could react, there was a blur of motion beside her.

Before she could even process what was happening, Marvel was on the ground, clutching his face, his nose bleeding, probably broken. She didn't want to see that.

Celestia blinked, startled, and looked to her side. Cato was standing there, his fist still clenched and his expression dark, seething with barely contained fury. She hadn’t even noticed him approaching. For a moment, the room seemed to freeze, the tension thick in the air. Marvel groaned, glaring up at Cato, but the warning in Cato’s eyes made him think twice about saying anything. Celestia's heart was pounding. Cato didn’t say a word, his focus locked on Marvel as if daring him to try again. Cato was so close to her now, his presence almost overwhelming. 

She looked up at him, still processing what had just happened. “Good, at least the blood won’t make you faint,” he said, his voice a low drawl. He was mocking her.

Celestia furrowed her brow, her tone defensive. “Why would I faint for that?” Cato gave her a half-smirk, his gaze never leaving her face. “You seem like the type.”

Before she could respond, Marvel began pushing himself off the ground, wiping the blood from his nose with a grimace. His glare was fixed on Celestia, but there was hesitation in his movements now.

Celestia took a small step back, her heart still racing from the tension. Marvel looked like he was about to kill her, but Cato’s presence, towering and unwavering, seemed to make him reconsider. Cato didn’t even need to say a word, his silence was enough. The quiet threat in his stance, the clench of his jaw, and the way his fists remained ready all screamed that Marvel would regret making a move.

Marvel hesitated, his gaze flicking between Celestia and Cato, before he finally took a step back, muttering something under his breath. Celestia felt a flicker of relief when Marvel left.

Cato turned to look at Celestia, his sharp features unreadable. Her frown deepened, she was upset.

“Why is he mad at me? You’re the one who punched him,” she said, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and confusion.

Cato’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. “Because he knows better than to go against me,” he said, his tone laced with dark confidence. 

She crossed her arms, glaring up at him. “Because of you, I have two new enemies,” she said pointedly. 

“Two?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Glimmer,” she said flatly. “She clearly hates me because of you.” 

“That’s not my problem,” he said after a moment.

“Of course not, you want me dead too,” she said, her voice quieter now, but the accusation hung heavy in the air.

Cato’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. For a moment, he didn’t respond. The silence between them grew heavier, crackling with tension. 

“If I wanted you dead,” he said finally, his voice low and deliberate, “you wouldn’t be standing here.” 

Celestia swallowed, her throat tight, her gaze darting around the room before settling back on him. “You can’t kill me… yet,” she said, trying to sound braver than she felt. Her eyes flicked toward the peacekeepers stationed nearby, and she relaxed, just slightly. “It’s against the rules.” 

Cato’s eyes followed hers briefly before returning to her face. Something in his gaze shifted, darker and more intense. “But I can protect you,” he said, his tone quieter but no less commanding. “From them. From everyone. Accept my offer. Stay close to me, and they won’t touch you.”

Celestia was surprised by the sudden change of subject. Her heart raced as she processed his words, her instincts screaming at her to be wary. 

“And what’s the price for that, Cato?” she asked, her voice edged with both defiance and caution. “Nothing’s free in the arena.” 

His smirk returned, sharper now, carrying a weight she couldn’t quite decipher. “I'm sure you can figure that out, little apple.” 

With that, he left. She felt a chill go down her spine. He used that nickname again.

Celestia was not ready for the games. Not when someone like Cato was in it too. Not when everyone was in it. There was no tribute she could harm in combat. Was she ready to hurt someone? To kill? And she really didn't want to eat moss.

Chapter Text

Celestia kept training and lost track of time. When she arrived at the communal dining area, it was almost empty. She grabbed a tray with food and was about to eat when she heard Marvel bully the boy from District 3. She looked at them. She convinced herself that it had nothing to do with her and was about to sit down and eat when she started walking toward the two of them.

"You shouldn't bully someone smaller than you," she said, her gaze fixed on Marvel.

"Three, you can leave." Marvel's tone was dismissive, and the boy from District 3 quickly stood up and ran away. He looked back at Celestia, his face twisted in anger.

Before she could leave, Marvel stood up and snatched the tray from her hands. He put it down and looked at her, his expression hardening. He had a bandage on his nose.

"Sit," he ordered as he sat down.

"I would—" she started to protest, but the look on his face made her hesitate. Without saying anything more, she sat down.

"Eat," he ordered her. Celestia hesitated, feeling intimidated by Marvel.

"I'm sorry about your nose, but it's not—" she started but was quickly interrupted.

"I said eat."

Reluctantly, Celestia began eating, though she lost her appetite. She tried to force herself to eat something.

"Now, tell me why you can't mind your own business," he said, still mad.

"I don't like people bullying those weaker than them," she replied. "He clearly didn't want to eat, and you forced him, like you are doing with me."

Marvel was uninterested; he looked at her, but it didn't seem like he was actually listening to her.

"Why did Cato defend you?" He asked, and Celestia was annoyed. Why was he bringing that up? Why was everyone always bringing Cato up?

"This is not about him," she snapped.

"Why did he help you? What’s going on between you two?" he pressed.

"Nothing," she said flatly.

"So he wouldn’t care if I hurt you now?" he asked, his voice dark.

"Why would you? That’s against the rules," she replied, unfazed.

"Do you think I care?" he sneered, moving his fork closer to her neck.

Celestia didn't move away. He looked at him, daring him.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from her?" a voice said, and Marvel smirked. Celestia didn’t need to turn around to know it was Cato.

Marvel moved the fork away, looking amused, as if this was all just a challenge, and he was enjoying it.

"Leave," Cato ordered Celestia. She didn't let him tell her twice. She stood up quickly and left without looking back.

It was official, Celestia didn't like Marvel. There was something sinister about him. About the way he acted around her. Like he was trying to challenge Cato, and Celestia was the best way to do it.

After her training, Celestia decided to head to the terrace for some fresh air. It had been a stressful training, and she felt like a break was necessary.

As she entered the terrace, she spotted several tributes sitting around and conversing. It was nice to see so many tributes interacting with each other. It was a little awkward sometimes, as some hated each other. But this was the only time of the day when they managed to stay civil. Most people were with their district partners or allies. That was a good moment to get an ally, she thought.

Celestia sat down by a couple of tributes. They seemed friendly enough, but she could never be sure. She tried to find a way to talk to them. She wanted allies. She was just getting comfortable when she heard a familiar voice.

"Look who's finally decided to come here." It was Cato.

Celestia tried to ignore him, but his words were too loud to tune out.

“You finally realized that being alone is bad for you?” He chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery. “I'll keep you company." He said before adding. "I’m only doing this out of pity, don’t get the wrong idea.” He sat next to her without waiting for an invitation. He looked her up and down, his eyes sharp and assessing.

“You seem weirdly invested in me,” Celestia said, her tone defensive as she shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Oh, you have more self-esteem than I thought," he said, raising an eyebrow. "I like that."

"But it doesn't change the fact that you're still alone, desperate for someone to talk to you." He pointed out.

Cato's words hurt, but he was right. She didn't have an ally even Thresh didn't talk to her. Maybe lying about being good was a mistake, perhaps she should have said yes to Cato's proposal on the first day. Maybe training with them... Stop regretting things you can't change. And she didn't like the idea of training with Marvel.

She wanted to say that she decided to sit by the group solely because she wanted to hear their conversation. But that was a lie, and she knew it, she craved company. She wanted an ally. She wouldn't tell Cato that.

Celestia sighed before standing up and walking away from him. In an area of the terrace, she had never seen. She had no energy for Cato. And she still didn't understand his mood. Wasn't he somewhat nice the first day they met? Didn't he help her twice already? Why was he suddenly so mean?

As Celestia walked, she spotted a greenhouse. It was a serene place, far from the training center and the main area. She couldn't leave the building that was the closest thing to a garden she could see, so she decided to walk inside. Maybe she would finally find peace. She was used to living on a farm, maybe this would help her.

“Are you trying to get away from me?” Cato smirked, his sudden appearance startling her. She hadn’t even noticed him following her.

The greenhouse, once her quiet refuge, now felt suffocating under his presence. She didn't even have the place to herself for one minute. Cato stepped closer, his movements deliberate, and before Celestia could step away, his hand reached out to touch her shoulder. She hissed sharply at the pain and instinctively pulled back. It was the spot where Marvel had grabbed her during training. Cato’s brows furrowed, and his expression shifted, annoyance flashing in his eyes. “Stop that,” he said, his tone clipped.

“Being in pain?” She asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm as she crossed her arms defensively.

"Showing your weaknesses. You're more fragile than I thought. Maybe you'll be easier to take down than I thought."

She felt a wave of fear wash over her. Her worst fears about Cato might just come true. Why was he obsessed about killing her?

"I can't wait to kill you," he whispered, his voice low and venomous. He seemed like he was trying to convince himself.

She swallowed the threat, forcing herself to stand her ground. There was no way she’d let him see her fear. Instead, she locked eyes with him, her gaze unwavering, daring.

"You haven’t seen what I’m capable of yet," she said, her voice steady despite the tightness in her chest. She wasn’t sure if her confidence was convincing, but it was all she had.

Cato’s smirk deepened, his expression unreadable, though the amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. “Can’t wait to find out,” he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

She exhaled sharply, her frustration breaking through. “Why do you want to kill me so bad?” she asked, her tone half a challenge and half a huff of exasperation.

His smirk didn’t falter, but there was a flicker of something else in his gaze, something she couldn’t quite place. “Because you make it interesting,” he said simply as if that was all the explanation she’d ever need. "I won't even need to draw my sword, I can do enough damage with my bare hands."

She swallowed nervously, trying to steady her nerves. "You underestimate me," she said, her voice firm, though her heart pounded in her chest.

Her mentor had drilled it into her. Play the part of quiet and lethal. Pretend to be weak, don't be a threat until the arena forces you to survive. Stay under the radar until the numbers are low, then do whatever it takes to stay alive.

But it wasn’t working. Not like she hoped. All the careers knew she was just lying. Probably even the other tributes. She wasn't fooling anyone. Celestia knew that.

He smirked, "You've never fought anyone like me before."

"You wouldn't have survived a day in District Two." He slowly closed in on her, not taking his eyes off her.

"Against me, you'd last no longer than two seconds," He said, grinning.

Celestia took a step back, feeling the glass wall against her back. "Try me," she said, looking into his eyes. Why was she still trying to act, though? At this point, she should start preparing to die. She was in danger with the way Cato, Marvel, and Glimmer were treating her. Maybe dying here is better.

"I don't have to try anything," he said, looking at her intently. She felt his gaze pierce through her skin. "I can already smell your fear, little apple."

He took another step forward, closing the distance until he was barely an inch away. Celestia could feel the heat of his presence, his towering form overwhelming her.

“I can hear how heavily you’re breathing,” Cato murmured, his voice low, sending a shiver through her. “How your heart’s beating faster.”

He lowered his voice even further, his words a whisper against her ear. “I can see how you’re trembling.”

Her breath caught in her throat as he invaded her space, too close, too much.

“I’m not scared,” she lied, her voice shaking.

“Liar,” Cato breathed, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke. The word felt like a burn, sharp and accusing.

A shiver ran down her spine, but she fought to stay strong, to push down the vulnerability threatening to rise. Don’t show weakness. Don’t be an easy target.

“You don’t have to lie to me,” he whispered softly, his voice like silk. “I already know everything about you. You’re not as good a liar as you think.”

He pulled back slightly, his face now dangerously close to hers. The air between them felt thick, charged with tension. “You have a chance to make this easy,” he said, his smirk sending a wave of dread through her. “Give up.”

“I...” Her voice trembled, breaking on the edge of her defiance.

“Say it,” he pressed, his voice soft but relentless.

The tension between them was unbearable, her heart pounding in her chest, fast, too fast. “Say the words,” he urged, his tone smooth, almost coaxing. “Say, ‘Cato, I surrender, my life is yours.’ Say it.”

Celestia looked around the greenhouse, noticing how alone she was. "No." She said and tried to hit Cato. He blocked her and grabbed her wrist tightly.

He grumbled, "You'll have to do better than that."

She tried to pull away, but he was too strong, and she couldn't escape his grasp. Escape him.

"You can try to resist, but you are no match for me," he said as he grabbed her wrist tighter.

Celestia felt like he could easily break her wrist if he wanted to.

"You aren't going anywhere, darling," he chuckled, enjoying her fear.

Celestia knew she was not his match, and he knew too. But that didn't mean she was going to give up without a fight. She lifted her free hand to punch him in the face. She read about it. It should be the right technique.

She punched him in the face, using every ounce of her strength to inflict enough damage. But Cato didn’t flinch. He didn’t even try to avoid the punch. He took the blow without a single reaction. But his grip on her loosened slightly, and she quickly stepped to the side, her heart pounding in her chest.

A smirk slowly spread across his lips, the same arrogant expression from before. "Maybe I underestimated you after all," he said, his voice low, almost admiring. Or was he just teasing her?

Celestia was breathing heavily, her pulse racing. She had no idea how this would end. She was trapped in the greenhouse with him. No weapons, no way out. Should she surrender? Tell him what he wanted to hear? Join the careers?

Her mind raced, trying to find a way to escape, but the fear clung to her. She could see the door, but that was the only way out, and Cato was blocking it.

Cato could feel her desperation. He knew Celestia was thinking of running, and every second he kept her there, the stronger it became. There was something twisted in his desire to make her afraid of him, something primal. Maybe it was because she had rejected him so easily, and this was his way of regaining control. Or maybe that was the only way to deny what he felt.

He took another step toward her, Celestia had nowhere to go, her back was already against the wall. Cato was closing in, and her body was screaming at her to do something, anything. She had to fight. She needed a weapon. She grabbed the nearest object, a heavy vase, clutching it tightly in both hands.

Her hands shook as she held it up, a thin barrier between them.

Cato didn’t pause. He kept moving, his expression darkening. He was no longer amused. He wanted to scare her, not make her think he was really going to hurt her. He almost apologized.

The tension between them was suffocating. He was too close. Celestia could feel the weight of the vase in her hands, but it felt fragile compared to the threat he posed.

“Don’t move,” she said, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and defiance.

Cato ignored her, stepping closer, his eyes never leaving hers. His presence was suffocating, and her breathing became shallow, her chest tight with panic.

“Put the vase down,” he ordered, his voice cold and commanding.

She refused, clutching it tighter.

“Don’t move,” Celestia repeated, her voice strained.

Cato didn’t stop. Step after step, he came closer, until his face was inches from hers. Her heart was pounding so hard, it was as if it might burst from her chest.

“I said, put it down,” Cato repeated, his tone now hard and impatient.

She could feel the heat of his breath against her skin, the pressure of his proximity overwhelming.

“Just... stay away,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Cato smirked, a twisted, possessive gleam in his eyes. “Give up,” he said, his voice lowering to almost a growl. “You can’t win.”

The words hit her like a wave of cold water. She finally realized she had an advantage. Cato was strong but arrogant, and she could use that against him.

"Cato," she finally breathed, her voice trembling.

He froze for a moment, his surprise evident. For the first time, his expression softened, his gaze shifting. It was almost like the Cato she had met before, just glances.

"What?" he asked, his voice gentle, almost unsure.

Celestia still held the vase, but the fear she had felt was starting to fade. There was something different in his eyes now.

"Yes?" he prompted softly, taking a step back. His voice had lost some of its edge, replaced by a faint curiosity.

She didn’t know why she had said his name. It wasn’t a plea. It wasn’t an invitation. It was a warning, maybe?

He smiled, his expression shifting into something more amused. "You're using my name," he teased. "How cute."

Celestia's breath caught in her throat. She had been trying to be intimidating, but his presence, his twisted smile, left her feeling weak.

"You want to tell me something?" he asked, his voice low, almost coaxing.

Celestia shook her head at first, not sure what to say. She didn’t want to admit anything, didn’t want to show more weakness.

“Speak up,” he urged, his voice soft but still commanding, like he was waiting for her to finally break.

And for a moment, she thought she might.

"I'm scared."

"Adorable," he said with a smirk, his voice dripping with a mixture of amusement and something darker.

She tried not to flinch as he brushed her hair back and tilted her chin, his fingers lingering too long. His gaze felt intense, like he was reading her every thought, every fear.

"What are you scared of?" he asked, his voice low, almost amused, as if he already knew the answer. He smiled, but it wasn’t a kind smile. It was something darker, like he was enjoying the control he had over her.

"Of your reaction after this." She whispered, her hands trembling only slightly before she slammed the vase onto his head.

"Dammit!" he growled, stumbling back. He took a sharp intake of breath.

Celestia didn’t hesitate. She rushed to the door, her hand shaking as she reached for the handle.

Then, a terrifying thought crossed her mind. What if he catches up to me?

Celestia froze for a moment, but the fear pushed her forward. She took the key, left the greenhouse, and locked it behind her quickly.

With the key in her hand, she ran. Her legs moved faster than she thought possible, the sound of her feet hitting the ground almost drowned by the pounding of her heart.

She didn’t dare look back. The fear of being caught was too much to bear.

The terrifying thought of him chasing her, catching her, clawed at her every step.

Celestia knew she needed to get away. She quickly made her way to the elevator, glancing around the terrace for any sign of Cato or anyone else.

The hallway was eerily quiet... too quiet. She fumbled with the door to the elevator, praying it would open quickly. She didn’t know where Cato was, but she hoped he wasn’t close.

Once inside, she pressed the button for level 11, and the doors shut behind her. She took a moment to catch her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

Where was Cato? Was he still in the greenhouse? She didn’t know, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

When the elevator reached her floor, she ran straight to her room, slammed the door shut, and locked it. Celestia was safe for now, but the thought of what Cato might do if he found her made her blood run cold. Her heart raced.

Then a horrible thought crossed her mind. Maybe I hurt him too badly...

Her stomach churned, and the adrenaline that had kept her moving now made her feel sick. She was still trembling from fear, unable to relax.

He’s going to find you.

A knock at the door made her jump. It could be dinner, but she wasn’t about to find out. She sat on the bed, trying to calm herself. She eventually hid under the sheets and tried to sleep.

Chapter Text

Celestia was sleeping until she felt someone call her name. She woke up and saw Cato standing near the door. His face was covered in blood. Celestia tried to scream, but he ran to her, covering her mouth. "You did this to me, little apple," Cato whispered. He pointed a knife at her neck and was about to kill her when she suddenly woke up. Celestia was covered in cold sweat and breathing fast. She looked around the room to make sure she was alone.

It took a bit of convincing before she was calm enough to shower, and after a bit more self-convincing, she walked out to have breakfast. She barely touched the food she was too anxious to eat. Celestia didn’t want to go to the training center. She just wanted to stay in her room and hide from everything. But Seeder was against that, she was watching her, her gaze stern.

“You have to train,” Seeder said, her voice firm.

“I don’t want to,” Celestia mumbled, her eyes downcast.

“Why?” Seeder pressed.

“I’m tired,” Celestia replied quietly, her voice small, as if the weight of everything was pressing down on her shoulders.

“You need to—” Seeder began, but Celestia cut her off.

“I need to rest,” she said, a little more forcefully, but still reluctant.

“It’s mandatory,” Seeder insisted.

Chaff, who had been quietly eating, looked up from his plate. “But don’t use weapons. We don’t need people to see how bad you are.”

Celestia frowned, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “I’m not bad with all weapons,” she muttered, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. But then, her shoulders slumped, and she sighed. “And today I’ll die.”

“Die?” Seeder asked, sounding incredulous and worried.

Thresh looked up for the first time, he was curious.

“I’ll die. Cato will kill me,” Celestia said, her voice barely above a whisper as if speaking the words made them more real.

“Why?” Seeder asked, her tone softening slightly, and her eyes were more worried.

Celestia didn’t meet anyone’s gaze as she explained. “I don’t know. He just... he hates me. He asked me to train with the Careers, and I said no. Now—”

“What? He asked you to train with him, and you didn’t tell me?” Seeder’s voice was tight.

Celestia shook her head, her lips pressed into a line. “It’s not important. It’s not like you would have said yes.”

“It is important. That was the best way to gain allies. You don’t have any. Neither of you do,” Seeder said, looking at Thresh, her frustration growing.

Thresh, who had been silent, spoke up. “He was looking at her during the Tribute Parade.”

Velina Vane smiled brightly. “How romantic,” she said with a smile.

Seeder glared at her before turning back to Celestia. “We could have used that to help you prepare for the scoring session. You could be learning from the most lethal people.”

Celestia hesitated, the corners of her mouth twitching in frustration. “I’m already learning to use a dagger from you. You’ve taught me a lot.”

“This changes things,” Seeder replied, her tone soft but serious.

“This changes nothing. He just wants me dead... or he wants to learn more about Thresh. I’m no threat to them, and we all know it. All of Panem knows it.”

“He was still looking at you,” Chaff said, his tone more matter-of-fact than teasing.

Celestia shifted uncomfortably, her face warm at the thought of Cato’s gaze on her, but she didn’t respond. Her mind was too consumed with everything else. She wished she could shrink into the floor and disappear.

Celestia arrived late at the training center, having spent hours in her room trying to calm her nerves. Sleep had evaded her the night before every time she tried to sleep, she only got nightmares; every sound made her jump, fearing the door would burst open and Cato would appear, ready for revenge.

When she finally entered the center, she avoided looking directly at anyone, she didn't want to see that he was missing and confirm that she indeed killed him. She needed to find a book about the subject.

"Can hitting someone with a vase of roses kill?" Would specifying it was a vase of roses be helpful?

The encounter in the greenhouse haunted her, why had he called her "cute"? Why had he seemed amused by her fear? She knew he wanted to hurt her, but why was he obsessed with her? That uncertainty was somehow worse.

She risked a glance toward the Careers' corner, her stomach twisting as she did. Relief swept over her when she saw Cato was unharmed. Yet, she quickly looked away, determined not to draw his attention.

Still, conflicting thoughts tugged at her. Celestia hoped he’d leave her alone, yet some part of her wanted to talk to him. Was she losing her mind? She shook her head, trying to focus on her training, but her thoughts refused to settle.

The day dragged on. She trained with her daggers and knives, trying to look calm and confident, but her nerves betrayed her.

When she tried to climb, she failed miserably, slipping repeatedly despite the instructor’s patient guidance. Frustration gnawed at her. How could she survive the Games if she couldn’t even climb properly?

She turned to the plant identification station, hoping for comfort in something familiar, but even that was tainted. The smell of leaves and soil brought back memories of the greenhouse and Cato. Her focus shattered, and her mind replayed the encounter endlessly.

“Maybe I didn’t have to hit him that hard,” she thought guiltily. “Maybe I should have let him win.” Would that have made things easier? Would he have left her alone? The questions swirled in her mind until she felt dizzy.

Then she saw him.

It was just a glance, but it was enough to freeze her in place. Cato was staring at her, his blue eyes sharp and intense. The world around her seemed to vanish, it felt like she was the only person in the room. The weight of his gaze was suffocating.

Her heart raced as she tried to interpret the look. Was he angry? Did he want revenge? Or was it something else entirely? Before she could figure it out, he turned away, his expression darkening with irritation.

The tension made her chest tighten. She needed to do something, anything, to stop this spiral of fear.

She decided to talk to him. Not alone, she wasn’t foolish enough to risk that, but in public, where other tributes and Peacekeepers would be nearby. Surely, he wouldn’t hurt her with so many witnesses.

Taking a deep breath, she waited for the right moment, her hands trembling slightly. As the room filled with people, she gathered her courage. She didn’t know how he’d react, but she couldn’t bear the uncertainty any longer.

With her heart pounding in her chest, she walked toward him.

"Hey," she said, her voice soft.

Cato turned to face her, his movements deliberate, as if he’d been waiting for her. There was no surprise in his eyes, he’d seen her coming.

"Hey," he replied, his tone calm, his expression neutral.

He seemed to be trying to read her mind, his piercing gaze studying her expression. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but the intensity of his gaze sent a chill down her spine.

Celestia felt like every move she made, every breath she took, was under scrutiny.

Her voice wavered slightly as she broke the silence. "Is your head... okay?"

He didn’t answer immediately. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might ignore her completely. Irritation flickered across his face. "Why do you care?" he murmured.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to stay composed, her face betraying nothing. She didn’t answer his question. Instead, she pressed on. "Did I hurt you?"

His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. After a long pause, he shrugged. "Not that badly," he muttered, his voice low. "Just enough."

She swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. "I’m happy to hear that," she said finally, her words tumbling out in a rush. Then she added awkwardly, "Not happy that you’re hurt, I mean. Just happy—in general."

Celestia waited for him to speak, but he remained silent, his gaze locked on her with an intensity that made her uneasy. His eyes seemed to strip away her defences, leaving her feeling exposed and unsure.

Celestia felt uncomfortable with the silence, but she didn't know what to do to change it without saying something stupid. She was waiting for him to speak, but he didn't.

The silence was starting to look more like a staring contest. With a quiet sigh, Celestia shifted her gaze away first, her heart racing as she fought the urge to look back.

“There are no hard feelings between us, right? We’re even… right?” Her voice wavered, betraying the confidence she tried to project. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve as she forced herself to meet his gaze.

"Even?" He repeated, raising an eyebrow.

His tone was neutral, making it hard to guess what was going through his mind. She couldn't tell if he was upset or not.

“That depends,” he said, each word deliberate, measured. His gaze didn’t waver as he added, “Do you really think we’re ‘even’?”

Her stomach twisted. There was no accusation in his voice, but the weight of his question made her chest tighten. Was it a challenge? A test? She suddenly regretted asking.

“No…?” she said hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“But…” Her words faltered as she noticed the careers watching them, their curiosity unmistakable. Why were they so interested?

She shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the weight of their stares.

"What?" He urged her, not wanting to let this slip away.

She noticed Marvel walking closer to her, staring at her with a grin on his face. And a new bruise.

Cato didn't seem to notice or care. His eyes were still firmly fixed on her.

"I don't want to talk here with everyone listening," she said. She didn't want to say that they were even because she was scared of his answer.

“What’s the matter?” He asked, his lips curving into a slow, amused smile. His eyes sparkled with a teasing glint as if her words were the most entertaining thing he’d heard all day.

"You don't have a problem hitting me in public," he said, "Or calling me a jerk in public."

"When did I—?" she started to ask.

“Marvel told me.” He cut her off, his tone sharp. Marvel smirked, clearly enjoying the tension.

Cato’s gaze shifted to him, icy and unwavering. The stare was enough to make Marvel falter, taking a hesitant step back before returning to his training.

The careers, sensing the shift, quickly turned their attention elsewhere, no longer watching.

"Since we are even, I'm going now," Celestia said to Cato.

"Oh, no, you are not." Cato's tone was sharp.

He took a step closer, looking her right in the eyes.

Something about him was different.

"We aren't even," he replied. "Not yet."

His voice was stern, but he didn't sound angry about it.

It sounded like he liked that she wasn't afraid to defy him even if she was scared. She was starting to think that he enjoyed this little back and forth.

He stayed close to her, waiting for her to say something.

"Why?"

"Why should we be?" He countered. "You didn't even apologize."

"I'm not sorry," she said.

"Then it seems we aren't even," He answered calmly.

Celestia felt like the walls were closing in on her with Cato right in front of her. He was so close, she could feel his breath on her ear.

"Fine." She said taking a step back. Her stupid pride was going to get her killed.

"If you want us to be even," he said, taking a step closer. "I need something from you."

"Something that's not an apology?" She asked, confused. What could she give him? Maybe her knowledge of plants? She knew a lot about medical herbs.

Cato smirked at her question.

"Yes, of course," he replied, "Something better than an apology."

He paused for a second, seeming to try to figure out what words would convince her the most.

"I need something for all the pain you caused me," he eventually said.

He was still smiling, but the look in his eyes was chilling.

"What do you want?" She asked with an uncertain voice.

"Telling you now won't be fun," he smirked.

He stayed silent for a few moments before looking at her again.

"You'll give me what I want." He said firmly.

"I don’t even know what you want." She said.

"I know," Cato said calmly. "But you will, eventually," he promised.

He took a step towards her again, making her feel claustrophobic. He was so close to her, too close.

He was enjoying this exchange, trying to get under her skin.

"Is it something physical?" She asked, hoping he would say no so she could relax.

He looked like he was about to say something but changed his mind.

Celestia could see that he wasn't going to reveal whatever it was that he wanted from her just yet.

"Maybe," Cato said.

He seemed to enjoy the way she was so close to him at that moment, almost as if he liked her discomfort.

“Meet me after training in the greenhouse,” he whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin. He smelled faintly of pine and leather, a mix that sent a chill through her despite the heat around them. She almost leaned closer.

He didn’t wait for her response. Without a second glance, he turned back to his training, his focus now entirely elsewhere. The air between them felt heavier as he deliberately avoided looking in her direction again.

Chapter Text

After training, Cato took a shower and got changed into more comfortable clothes. When he walked into the greenhouse he noticed that she wasn't there yet so he waited. He looked at the flowers for 10 minutes when suddenly the door opened. He didn't turn to look at her. Celestia waited for him to talk but when he didn't she decided to break the silence. “That’s a Bloodroot,” she explained while walking closer. “It represents life, death, and survival. The red sap looks like blood, a reminder that survival comes at a cost. It grows in the shadows, thriving where few others can…” She suddenly stopped. She was nervous and she realized she was saying random facts about plants.

“Is that your plan?” Cato asked with a skeptical edge to his voice.

“What?” Celestia replied, caught off guard.

“Bore tributes to death? Give them a lecture every time they try to kill you?” he asked, his tone mocking, he finally turned to look at her.

She smiled slightly. “It’s toxic. I can trick someone into eating it if I find it in the arena.”

"Will you make them tea with the flower?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Celestia frowned.

"Is that how you plan to kill people? By giving them tea?" He was mocking her now, unable to hide the playful edge in his voice.

"It’s rarely lethal. It can make people sick. While they’re weak, I can take their food and weapons," she replied, her tone steady. He thought the flower was like her dangerous and beautiful. But he didn't say that.

"And how do you plan to make people consume it? You don’t need to trick anyone," he said flatly, his voice turning harder. "Leave the scheming to the others. Just focus on staying alive and hidden."

"I can’t hide all the time," she shot back.

He was done with her defiance. His words were colder now, a promise of control. "You can stay with me. I’ll protect you."

"I don’t need protection."

Her stubbornness irritated him. She didn’t get it, he needed her to be safe. Needed her to stay close, where he could keep an eye on her. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight. Cato’s jaw tightened. “You don’t need protection?” he said, his voice low, almost a growl. “Do you even know what the others would do to you? They’d tear you apart. And I won’t let that happen.”

The thought of anyone else hurting her, or worse, anyone else taking her from him, made him see red. He stepped closer, his gaze sharp and unyielding. She moved back until her back hit the door, her breath quickening. "You’ve been telling me you’ll kill me since the start. You’re not the best option," Celestia muttered, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her unease.

"And yet you accepted to meet me here. Alone." His voice was low, and he moved impossibly close, his presence overwhelming.

Celestia bit her lower lip nervously, and his gaze flicked to her lips for a split second, his control slipping slightly.

"About that 'something' I wanted from you," Cato murmured, his voice thick with intent.

His possessiveness was undeniable, each movement drawing her closer, his presence a silent command. He wasn’t letting her escape, not this time.

"I’ll apologize," she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips, her nervousness clear in the tremble of her voice.

He leaned in, his gaze intense. "No, it’s too late for that."

"I’m so—" she started, her words cut off by his kiss.

Her hesitation was palpable, her body stiffening at first, unsure whether to pull away or give in. But he didn’t give her the chance. He pressed closer, his lips insistent against hers, savoring the moment more than he cared to admit. She didn’t respond immediately, her uncertainty hanging in the air, but he couldn’t stop himself. There was something intoxicating about her, the way her breath caught. It made him want her more, she indeed tasted sweet. His sweet apple. After what felt like forever, she kissed him back slowly, tentatively. His grip tightened on her waist, and he deepened the kiss and it turned possessive, his lips claiming hers with intensity. He could feel her inexperience, the slight tremor in her movements, and the nervousness that radiated off her. Was this her first kiss? The thought flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t focus on anything except the way she responded to him, hesitant yet captivated.

Cato didn’t care that she was nervous. She was his. He pulled her closer, marking the moment as his own. The uncertainty in her movements only fueled his need to control the kiss. She moved her hands to his chest, her fingers pressing against him like she might push him away, but she didn’t. The hesitation only made him more determined, more desperate. He kissed her deeper, his grip tightening around her waist, pulling her closer as though he couldn’t get enough.

Her lips tasted like something sweet and forbidden, like honey and sin, sweet and dangerous, intoxicating him with every touch, every gasp. He lost himself in it, in the feeling of her against him, and for a moment, nothing else mattered. Her nervousness made him crave more. He wanted her to feel the fire he couldn’t control. She was panting, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps as his lips left hers, trailing down her jaw and grazing her neck. The sensation overwhelmed her, sending a tremor through her body, and for a fleeting moment, she froze, torn between pulling away and surrendering completely to him. Her hands pressed weakly against his chest, a faint attempt to push him back, but he didn’t relent. His grip tightened, pulling her even closer as his lips hovered just above her skin, sensing the hesitation in her every breath. He could feel her resisting.

"Cato..." she whispered, her voice trembling, breaking under the weight of what she couldn’t say. The sound of her voice, raw and fragile, only drove him further, igniting a fire in him that he didn’t want to extinguish.

"Shhh..." he murmured against her skin, continuing to kiss her neck, each touch more insistent than the last.

"Stop," she finally managed, her voice strained.

After a low growl of frustration, he pulled back, though his eyes stayed on hers, full of unspoken hunger.

She looked down as he gently moved her hands from his chest. A shiver ran through her as the heat between them intensified, his body pressed so close that she could feel the warmth radiating off him. It was overwhelming, almost suffocating, but she couldn’t pull away. The sensation of his hands on her was like fire, burning against her skin, and for a moment, she was lost in the heat of it all, torn between wanting to stay and needing to escape. He pinned her to the wall, his body towering over hers as he looked down at her with an intensity that left her breathless. He caressed her lower lip, swollen from the passionate kiss. He couldn't look away.

“T-tomorrow is the assessment. We should rest,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, trying to regain some control.

"Tonight you will sleep in my room, sweet apple," He said gently, but his tone left no room for argument.

"Cato—"

"I don’t want that Thrash near you," he snapped, cutting her off, his voice thick with possessiveness.

"His name is Thresh, and we each have our rooms, so—"

"Doesn’t matter. You’ll be next to me, where I can keep an eye on you," he growled, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming.

"You can’t order me around," she snapped, her voice shaky but defiant.

Cato released her wrists, and for a moment, she felt a sense of relief, but it was short-lived. In an instant, he picked her up, throwing her effortlessly over his shoulder.

"Put me down," Celestia demanded, but he didn’t listen. He walked out of the greenhouse and simply started walking toward the elevator, carrying her like she weighed nothing.

"Cato, what if someone sees us?"

"If you stay quiet, no one will," he said, his voice cold and certain.

She fell silent, the reality of the situation sinking in. After a moment, she spoke again, her voice tinged with unease. "I’m starting to feel dizzy..."

"Get over it," he growled, his grip firm, unyielding.

"Put me down! I’m upside down and you’re moving too fast!"

Cato slowed down slightly, the question slipping from his lips as if it were a challenge. "Is this the way you want to show you’re not frail?"

Celestia hesitated, frustration and confusion mixing in her voice. "But I’m upside down..."

His grip tightened slightly as if her discomfort only fueled his control. He didn’t stop and didn’t even seem to care about the awkward position she was in. "And?" Cato asked, his voice laced with an edge of amusement.

"I might feel sick," she muttered, the dizziness hitting her harder now, her words barely a whisper.

"You’ll be fine," he replied, his voice calm and detached, as though her discomfort didn’t concern him at all.

The lack of empathy made her feel even smaller, more vulnerable in his grip, as though her pain didn’t matter. Still, despite his indifference, he slowed his pace again, the slightest acknowledgment that he wasn’t entirely unaffected by her distress.

******************************************************

Once inside his bedroom, he slammed the door shut behind him and locked it with a finality. Without hesitation, he threw her onto the bed. She let out a soft gasp, caught off guard by his forceful movement.

“You can’t just—” she started, but her words faltered as she watched him begin to undress. Her eyes widened in shock, and she quickly sat up, turning away from him, her heart racing. “I-I’m not ready for this,” she stammered.

Cato rolled his eyes, clearly irritated, as he walked to his closet to change. When he moved closer to the bed again, she froze, her body tense, every instinct telling her to retreat.

He sighed, exasperated by her reaction. “I’m not going to touch you,” he said, his voice laced with annoyance.

Celestia turned to look at him, her heart still racing, only to see that he had simply removed his shirt to change into something more comfortable. He was wearing a simple T-shirt and sweatpants. Relief washed over her, but before she could process it, he moved swiftly, pulling her into him as he lay back on the bed. She let out a small breath, his grip firm as he tugged her down beside him, his body heat engulfing her. For a moment, she tensed, unsure of what he intended to do, but he didn’t give her a chance to resist.

"I have to get changed too," she whispered, trying to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.

"Is that an excuse to wear my clothes?" he asked, his voice low, the edge of possessiveness clear in his tone.

Celestia gasped, she felt warm all over. "That’s not what I meant," she stammered, but the way his eyes darkened made her second-guess her own words. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath, feeling the warmth of his body next to hers. His hand slid from her waist to her hip, his touch slow and deliberate, as though he was marking his territory. The weight of his hand, the possessiveness in his movement, made her pulse quicken. She could feel his presence in every inch of her skin, a constant reminder that she was under his control, whether she liked it or not.

"Cato?" Her voice was softer now.

"What?" he replied, his tone still sharp, though there was an undercurrent of curiosity in his voice.

"Do you like me?" she asked, her words hesitating, as if the question itself was dangerous. She needed to know if everything that happened between them was real.

He paused, his hand still resting on her hip. His gaze never left hers, intense and unreadable.

“Is that what you think this is about?” he finally said, his voice low, possessive.

"You kissed me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as if the words themselves were a confession.

His gaze darkened, the silence between them thickening. He didn't answer right away, letting the weight of her statement settle in the air.

"You think that means something?" he asked, his tone cool, but his hand still possessively resting on her hip.

Her heart skipped a beat, uncertain of what to make of his response. There was a dangerous edge to his words, but something else beneath it, something more complicated. She shook her head, her eyes briefly meeting his, searching for something she couldn’t name. After a long moment, she turned away. He let her, but only for a second before pulling her firmly back to his chest.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and unyielding, until she finally broke it. “You kissed me. That’s intimate. You shouldn’t... use people.”

"Are you finally showing your claws?" he teased, a hint of amusement in his voice, though his grip on her remained firm.

Her frustration boiled over, and she tried to push his hands away. He didn’t budge, didn’t even seem fazed by her struggle.

"You’re upset," he said, his voice maddeningly calm, as if her anger meant nothing to him.

"Of course I am! You’re a… a…” she stammered, her voice breaking with emotion.

He turned her to face him, his hands unrelenting. His gaze bore into her, intense and unyielding, making her pulse race. He thrived on her defiance, the fire in her eyes only fueling the possessiveness in his.

“I should go back,” she muttered, her voice strained as she tried to get up, but he still didn’t let her. His hand tightened around her, pulling her back down effortlessly.

“No,” he said, his voice firm. “Go to sleep.”

“We have the assessment tomorrow. I need a good night’s sleep,” Celestia insisted, her voice a little more desperate now, trying to pull away.

Cato chuckled darkly, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. “The assessment? You’ll get a better score not showing up,” he said, his gaze cold.

Celestia shot him a sharp look, her frustration rising. “What is that supposed to mean?” Her eyes met his, challenging.

He held her gaze for a moment, his lips curling into a small smirk. “I saw you with a knife.”

Her pulse quickened, but she tried to maintain her composure. “I’m improving,” she said, her tone defensive, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her voice.

"I'm uncomfortable. I can't sleep like this... I should—"

Before she could finish, he let her go and pulled off his t-shirt.

"You can wear this," he offered.

But Celestia wasn’t listening. Her gaze lingered on his chest, defined, muscular. Heat rushed to her face as he cleared his throat, snapping her back to reality. Without a word, she took the shirt and hurried to the bathroom. Inside, she leaned against the door, eyes closed, heart pounding. Could she go back out there? She slipped the shirt over her head. It hung loosely, just long enough to cover her mid-thigh. It smelled like him, warm, familiar. She inhaled before shaking her head.

Focus.

"Get it together," she whispered to herself, steadying her breath before walking back into the room.

Celestia climbed onto the bed, careful to lie as far from him as she could. She closed her eyes, trying to quiet the storm of thoughts and get some rest. But before she could settle, he gently pulled her closer and moved her head, adjusting it so it rested on his chest. The gesture was almost too soft for someone so intense. He was wearing another T-shirt. Celestia was almost disappointed.

Cato's warmth enveloped her, and for a moment, she felt herself relax against him, despite the tension still lingering between them. His hand rested on her back, his grip more gentle than before. As she finally fell asleep, her breathing soft and steady against his chest, Cato stared at her for a moment, lost in the complexity of the feeling she stirred in him. His thoughts raced, but one question stood out, cutting through the haze of his emotions.

Why am I obsessed with this girl? He asked himself, his mind racing, the question hanging heavy in the air. He didn’t have an answer, and for the first time in a long while, the uncertainty gnawed at him. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to understand it, or if he ever could.

Chapter Text

The following day, Celestia woke up alone in his bedroom. Alone.

Cato hadn’t woken her up. What had she expected? Morning kisses and breakfast together? He was using her, she was sure of it now. And she was furious, hurt. She couldn’t afford to dwell on it. That was the assessment day. She had to stay focused, had to push past the anger.

Still, the thought gnawed at her. Did he want her to fail?

Was he intimidated—

She cut herself off. She found herself laughing on his bed. Even thinking about that was ridiculous.

She sighed and hugged his pillow taking in his scent for a moment before throwing it away like it was burning her. What is wrong with me? She wondered before getting changed and running out of the bedroom. She went to her room and after a quick shower, she got changed for the private Session. 

Celestia arrived late. So she didn’t see Cato. She was glad, she didn't want to see him. She sat next to Thresh waiting for her turn, they didn't talk. She was lost in her mind wondering. When they called her name she went in not knowing what to do. The only things she knew how to use were throwing knives and daggers. Was that enough?

Celestia entered the training center.

The Gamemakers didn't look at her. A couple looked lazily in her direction but the rest didn't care. She was somewhat confident in three things: knife throwing, archery, and hand-to-hand combat, though she had only read about the last two. Yes, she read that book about archery and it was very instructive.

Celestia knew that her mentors would be disappointed in her if she didn't perform well on the assessment, and she wouldn't get a sponsor. She also knew that she would be compared with the other tributes in their respective districts and that the higher her score, the better. She took a deep breath and reached for a knife, feeling the cool metal against her fingertips. The weight was familiar, but her grip tightened with uncertainty.

Steadying herself, she raised her arm and focused on the target. With a sharp exhale, she let the knife fly.

She missed it.

Murmurs rippled through the small crowd. She ignored them, grabbing another knife. Her pulse quickened. She adjusted her stance, trying to recall what she had learned in her private training sessions.

Another throw. Another miss. Laughter erupted behind her, brief but sharp. The few who had been watching lost interest, turning away.

Celestia looked back at them, knowing her score would be terrible. She tried again, getting better and hitting the target twice. She turned toward them, but they were ordering food?

She felt devastated by their reaction, she needed a way to get their attention.

She looked frustrated as she threw her knives again, trying to show off her skills. She was hitting the target now, but no one was looking.

Celestia noticed a man wearing a hat and she wondered if by hitting it she could get their attention. But she didn't. Her hands were shaking and she felt like crying out of frustration.

Celestia quickly left the assessment station, not wanting to waste any more time. She didn't even wait for their dismissal. She knew that her score would be bad, but she decided not to stress about it. She had done what she could, and she needed to relax after that situation. She hoped the tributes from other districts had scored lower than she had. She didn’t want to be the worst.

******************************************************

Celestia sat with her mentors and Thresh watching the different scores. Cato was the highest for now with a 11. And then she saw her score was an 11 too.

Who was she trying to fool... it was a 2 lower than she expected. She was the worst. The worst tribute. At least people won't pick on her trying to kill her. They would underestimate her. But could she use that to her advantage? She was doing nothing right. She quickly sat next to Seeder, who was watching the scores of each district with interest.

Seeder looked at Thresh happily, and she praised him for the effort he had put into it. He didn't say much in response.

Chaff just laughed and said. "You are really playing into this 'pretend to be weak' role." Celestia just ignored him.

Celestia felt a little panicked, but maybe... maybe... There was nothing positive to say. She started regretting following her mentors' advice. They were only interested in Thresh. The better tribute. The one with a chance to win. She felt overwhelmed as she tried to calm down, unable to stop her train of thought. She left the room and ran toward the greenhouse she needed to be alone. 

******************************************************

Celestia stayed in the greenhouse for almost half an hour crying when suddenly the door opened.

Cato walked in with a smirk. "Of course, you're crying."

She glared at him, her frustration bubbling up. "Can't you leave me alone?" She snapped, standing up and quickly wiping away her tears.

"Where’s the fun in that?" he replied casually, his smirk widening.

"You won’t understand. You got an 11," she said, her voice thick with frustration.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Like your district."

She clenched her jaw. "I only got a 2."

"Like my district," he said as if it didn’t matter. He paused, looking at her with an almost amused expression. "Is this destiny?"

She huffed, clearly irritated. "It’s not funny," she muttered, turning her back to him, still trying to hide the frustration she couldn’t quite shake.

“So you are the worst tribute,” he said, his tone mocking.

She faced him and shot him a glare, frustration rising. “I got a low score because they weren’t even looking at me.”

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “You would’ve had a worse score if they had actually looked.”

"Why are you here?" She pushed him, the frustration spilling over as her hands made contact with his chest.

He didn’t flinch, his expression unwavering. "I want you with the Careers, sweet apple." He said the last part softly.

“No,” she replied steadily.

“That wasn’t a question, Celestia.” He said, his tone harsher now.

“You want me in a group with you, Glimmer, and Marvel,” she shot back. “I wonder who will try to get rid of me first.”

“They won’t touch you,” he said, his voice sharp with certainty.

“What about you? Am I even safe from you?” She asked, her gaze locking onto his, searching for an answer she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear.

His expression hardened, the air between them growing heavier. “You’re mine.”

“So you can hurt me?”

His jaw tightened, and he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “Yes,” he said, his voice low. “But no one else can.”

Her breath hitched, but she refused to back down. “That’s not protection, Cato. That’s control.”

Cato tilted his head, his gaze piercing. “It’s survival. You stick with me, and you’ll stay alive.”

“And if I cross you?” Celestia challenged her voice barely above a whisper.

Cato's lips twisted into a small smile, his voice lower. “You won’t."

Celestia inhaled sharply, refusing to back down. “I might,” she challenged, her voice steady despite the unease stirring in her chest.

He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "Not if you want to survive. You stick with me, you stay alive."

She stood her ground, she was tired of him. “You think you can control me?”

He didn’t flinch. “I already do,” he said quietly, the words landing heavily in the silence.

Celestia scoffed, crossing her arms. "Since you don’t like me, is this ‘obsession’ because of my knowledge of medical plants?" Is that why you pretended to care last night?

Cato shot her a look, his tone dismissive. "I don’t give a shit about your plants."

She took a step back, her eyes narrowing. "It’s a very useful skill," she said defensively, her voice edged with offence, clearly irritated by his dismissal.

Cato raised an eyebrow, his smirk never fading. "How's that gonna help you survive? If I stab you in the heart, how’s a plant going to help?"

She took another step back, her voice steady despite the irritation. "It’s useful for minor wounds," she said, unwilling to let him dismiss her skills so easily.

He scoffed, a mocking smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Minor wounds? What’s that gonna do when someone’s trying to kill you?"

She glanced at him, feeling the weight of his words. "Not everything is about brute force, Cato."

Cato moved closer, his presence overwhelming. He grabbed her by the neck, tightening his grip just enough to make her gasp. "Use your plant knowledge. Get free," he muttered, his voice low, almost taunting, as he pinned her against the wall. His grip tightened again, and she struggled, her hands desperately pressing against his wrist to break free.

"Maybe your knowledge of plants can keep you alive," he said, his tone dark and cold. "But once you face a tribute stronger than you, you’re dead."

The pressure on her throat increased, and her vision blurred, her breath becoming shallow. She fought to push him away, but his grip only tightened further, suffocating her with every second.

Finally, he released her, grabbing her waist, steadying her, though his gaze never wavered, cold and unyielding.

Once he made sure he was steady he just left her there. Celestia was upset at him and herself.

******************************************************

Celestia was woken up to the sound of people outside of her room, talking and moving around. She realized that that day was the interview day, her big chance to get sponsors.

It was a critical moment for her because if she performed well, she could win the sympathy of viewers which would only increase her chances of winning. Her last chance to be liked and get sponsors. Celestia was nervous because she knew that her interview was going to be broadcast live in front of the entire country. She knew that every little detail was going to matter.

She looked at herself in the mirror, she wore a long gold dress with flower accents. The theme was the Golden Harvest, she was happy she wouldn't have to be another random fruit. The dress was beautiful. With a headdress of interwoven vines, flowers, and wheat. The subtle golden glow emanating from the costume made it sparkle.

She put on the dress because she didn't have a choice. She wanted to make a good impression, but she didn't want to look weak. Everything she did since the start made her look weak and now it was confirmed after her low score. She wanted to look lethal. She looked at her reflection. The golden leaf crown on her hair made her look cute. Her curly hair was styled cutely. Everything about her was cute. She huffed.

As Celestia waited for the interview, she saw Cato. It was almost his turn. He looked good in his black suit, his gold tie standing out. For a moment, she almost smiled, they were matching, her gold dress complimenting his tie perfectly. Then she remembered him choking her to make a point. And her faint smile disappeared.

He looked like a true winner at this stage, someone who was confident about the games. Just like Glimmer. She looked deadly. Glimmer winked at her while passing by. They were wearing the same color, but while Celestia was cute, Glimmer was sexy and lethal. Celestia looked away.

She was scared that other tributes would do better in the interview than her and that they would steal all the sponsors away from her. What sponsors? She asked herself, she got a two!

Celestia watched Cato's interview and if she had money she would sponsor him too. She was impressed by his confidence and determination. Cato was talking freely and confidently about his past and what he planned to do in the games without giving away too much. He seemed like the perfect tribute, someone who was strong and not afraid of the other tributes. The perfect victor.

Celestia froze when Caesar Flickerman said her name.

“We’ve heard from reliable sources that you and Celestia are often seen together,” Caesar said, his voice playful as always.

Her eyes widened, and she looked up at the screen, where Cato’s smirk was magnified for everyone to see. Then the camera pointed at her surprised face. She stood straighter until the camera focused back on Cato.

“As we all know, she’s no threat. An easy thing to have around until the Games,” he replied smoothly.

Her blood boiled. Why was he talking about her like that?

“So, no tragic love story?” Caesar inquired, leaning in with curiosity.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to kill her,” Cato said, his tone casual, like it was a fact and not a knife to her heart.

That was it. Celestia stopped listening after that. The rest of his interview, something about his training or his strength, faded into static. She was too angry to care.

Why was she surprised? He’d never hidden his intentions, and always made it clear that everyone was expendable, including her. Did she really think things had changed after the kiss? After they’d shared a bed? She was delusional, and she knew it.

Shaking her head, Celestia forced herself to focus on the present. This wasn’t the time to dwell on Cato or his words. It was her turn soon, and she needed to be ready.

Still, the waiting was excruciating, her mind racing with doubt. Would she manage to hold her composure? What if they brought up Cato?

The thought made her fists clench, but she forced her face to remain calm. No matter what, she wouldn’t give him, or anyone else, the satisfaction of seeing her falter. That was an important moment. She wouldn’t let him ruin it.

Celestia was being watched by millions of people, and she couldn’t mess it up.

Her interview went well, and the audience seemed to love her.

She approached the interview with a shy, lighthearted demeanour, cracking small jokes and charming the audience with her calm nature. She was happy she didn't try to be something she wasn't. It was going smoothly until Caesar brought up the question she dreaded.

“Cato?” She repeated, blinking as though she hadn’t heard him correctly.

“Yes, the blond guy from District 2,” Caesar clarified, his smile teasing.

“Ah, right. What about him?” She asked, keeping her tone neutral but feeling her pulse quicken.

“Is there really nothing serious between you two?” he pressed, leaning in like he was uncovering a juicy secret.

Celestia hesitated for just a moment before forcing a smile. “There is nothing between us,” she said firmly. She leaned closer and added in a whisper, “He’s just obsessed with me.” Like she was sharing a secret.

The audience gasped intrigued by her words, they were deliberate, aimed like a dagger. She hoped it stung as much as his had.

“Cade—” she started, feigning confusion, her voice light.

“Cato,” Caesar corrected with an amused chuckle, clearly enjoying the moment.

“Ah, yes, Cato,” she replied, stretching out his name as if it had only just come to her. “I have these skills that he’s... interested in.” She lied smoothly, keeping her face composed.

The crowd erupted in laughter and whistles. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, but she maintained her smile, forcing herself to stay calm. She tried to clarify the misunderstanding.

“Skills that are useful... after fighting,” she added quickly, hoping to redirect the attention. The crowd’s laughter continued their thoughts were clearly elsewhere.

Celestia couldn’t bring herself to mention her knowledge of medicinal plants. That wasn’t something she wanted them to know. It would be useful in the arena.

“I’m talking about food,” she said, her tone casual as she tried to regain control of the situation. “I’m good at cooking, and he wanted warm food in the arena.”

Finally, the crowd stopped whistling, the tension in the air shifting as the laughter subsided. She kept her composure, hoping her quick deflection would keep them from digging any deeper.

When Caesar mentioned her score, she laughed, trying to brush off the discomfort. “I have a lot of secret weapons,” she said, hoping to steer the conversation.

The crowd laughed, still clearly thinking about her earlier words.

“It has nothing to do with intimacy,” she added quickly, trying to clear up any misunderstanding. But her attempt only made things worse, and the laughter grew louder. The audience loved her responses.

Celestia left the stage feeling more nervous than before, her body shaking slightly as the weight of the misunderstanding settled in. She couldn’t stop replaying the moment in her head, wishing she had said something different.

As she walked past Cato, she caught his amused smile. “I hope I can see these skills soon,” he said, his voice low.

Celestia huffed, her irritation flaring, and walked past him without acknowledging his comment, keeping her focus ahead. She hoped that her performance was enough to win some sponsors. She had already been rated lowly in the assessment, and now she was trying to make it seem like she had more skills than she really did. People were probably going to think that she would use Johanna's strategy or her body. She shivered as she kept walking. She sat down and waited for the other interviews to end before she could finally go back to her room.

******************************************************

During dinner, Celestia could feel Thresh’s disgust seeping through the air. She glanced at him, confusion furrowing her brow, but he said nothing.

"What's wrong?" She asked. Chaff chuckled, shaking his head.

"Some of us-" he glanced at Thresh with a knowing look, "not me, are surprised you'd stoop to using your body to gain allies."

Celestia froze, her heart pounding in her chest. “What?” Is that what they think about me?

She looked to Seeder for support, but she wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“I would never—”

Thresh locked eyes with Celestia, his voice low and cold. “If you really needed help, you could’ve come to me. But instead—”

She stood up suddenly, furious, her fists clenching. “How dare you!” I shouted, cutting him off. “You ignore me all this time, accuse me of... that, and now you’re pretending you would’ve been my ally? Don’t act like you ever cared about me. I would never sell my body for allies or anything else. And all of you thinking that-” She didn't finish her sentence. Celestia stormed away as she tried not to cry. And she didn't cry.

Once in her room Celestia locked the door and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She was nervous, but she knew that she had to stay calm and think clearly. She didn't want to think about Thresh or anything else. She didn't want Cato to be the reason she lost the games, so she tried to keep a level head. She didn't sleep much that night, because her mind was racing. Her heart was beating fast, and she couldn't shake away her worries. Celestia felt excited and nervous about the game, wondering if she could survive the first day. She knew that it was her turn to show her skills.

Chapter Text

Celestia was nervous while her stylist helped her prepare for the game launch, fixing her long-sleeved jacket and helping her wear her silver necklace that was her mother's. She looked down at her sturdy boots trying not to think about the games. She was nervous and excited, she wasn't sure why. Celestia knew she couldn't afford to make any mistakes or get distracted, the first day was always critical. The deadliest. But she kept thinking about blue eyes.

Celestia studied her reflection. She wasn’t as thin as when she first arrived in the Capitol. The days of steady meals had softened the sharp edges of hunger she carried from District 11. She liked it and almost smiled until she remembered her situation. She didn't like how people looked at her after the interview. Especially Marvel. She looked at him for just a second after the interview and she saw the way he was looking at her. She didn't want people to think her survival depended on anything other than her own strength and resilience. She took a deep breath, knowing that the game was about to start. She looked at her stylist one more time before stepping on the platform.

"Good luck." The stylist said. This time Celestia smiled and nodded. The door closed, and the platform began to rise slowly, she felt trapped but she remained calm. Soon after light spilled in as she ascended, forcing her to shield her eyes from the sun. She lowered her hand when her eyes adjusted and looked around, taking in the sight of the other tributes.

Celestia felt exposed and nervous. She was in a big open space surrounded by a forest. She felt more relaxed. She was used to trees. It could be worse. She couldn't let her nerves get the best of her. She had to be prepared for anything and ready to fight if necessary. As the platform stopped, she looked ahead and saw the cornucopia come into view. It was filled with food and weapons, and she knew that it was a critical place to visit early on in the games.

She kept a close eye on it, contemplating if she should try to get something that's when the countdown started, and she prepared herself mentally. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

60

The timer ticked down, and she could hear the other tributes shifting and getting ready. She knew that she had to run fast before all of the best resources were taken by others. Before someone was faster and killed her.

30

She looked around and saw Cato, he was almost smiling, ready to kill, his focus on the cornucopia and she decided against it she was just going to take the small bag near her. And hopefully a weapon.

15

She looked at the sky, blinking quickly like she was trying not to cry. That was not the moment. She blinked fast. She wasn't going to cry.

10

She looked in front of her again and closed her eyes, regulating her breathing.

9

She wished she had eaten more, yet somehow less. The nausea twisted in her stomach.

8

She wasn't a fighter, she didn't want to fight. She didn't want to kill.

7

Was her family watching her?

6

Don't cry.

5

Breath.

4

Open your eyes.

3

She opened her eyes, and her gaze fell on Cato.

2

He smirked.

1

She looked at the cornucopia

Begin!

******************************************************

Cato saw Celestia running toward a small bag. She didn’t even notice another tribute running toward the same bag. 

He was running too. He managed to take a dagger nearby and threw it at the tribute running toward Celestia, killing him in an instant. He made sure she was the only one running for the bag before turning toward the cornucopia, ready to kill.

******************************************************

After taking the bag, Celestia looked up to see Cato running toward the cornucopia. She ran in the opposite direction. She wasn't going to die the first day. Celestia could hear the screams and shouts behind her. She didn't turn to look. She ran and ran until she couldn't hear the screams anymore. Until she was struggling to breathe. She was relieved to be away from the cornucopia, but she felt nervous, the forest was quiet, it was almost unnatural. Celestia knew that she had to survive, and this was the best way to do it. Hide until almost everyone was dead, and then fight. She quickly took a look at her small bag, wondering what it contained. She hoped that the items in her small bag would help her stay alive. She could see that she had a first aid kit and a camping sack. She knew the first aid kit was helpful since it meant she could take care of small injuries that she might get during the games. She opened it and only found a medical gaze. With a sigh, she stuffed it back into the bag. Medical gaze and a camping sack weren't enough, she didn't have any food or water to last her for the days ahead. She needed to find water.

Celestia walked for an hour, marking the trees as she went for the first 10 minutes. She was trying to keep track of her progress so that she didn't get lost, but she didn't want to leave any traces that could help other tributes find her so she stopped, feeling frustrated she decided to walk in a zigzag and look around to try to memorize the forest. She wasn't getting very far, and she wondered if she was making the right choices.

Celestia knew that if she went back to the cornucopia, she would risk running into other tributes. She wasn't even sure how to get back. She decided to collect some berries while looking for water. The berries would provide some nutrition, and she needed to stay fed to keep herself alive. She even collected medical herbs. As the sun began to set, she decided to look for a place to sleep. She was too tired and it was too dark to see. No fire. She couldn't risk people finding her. Especially not without a weapon.

Celestia heard 9 cannons one after the other, soon after the bloodbath. She heard a couple more while she walked. She couldn't stop herself from flinching every time she heard it. She forced herself to look at the sky as the names of the dead tributes flashed in it. Cato wasn’t one of them, nor was Thresh. A small, guilty relief washed over her, but it quickly turned into a wave of conflicting emotions. Eleven people were dead, and she couldn’t shake the weight of it. Despite her relief, the loss of life weighed heavily on her. Celestia should have thought about something else, something more human, but all she could think about while hearing the cannon was how there were fewer tributes to worry about. Tears welled up as the guilt consumed her, but she didn't cry. She didn’t know if she was shivering from the cold or because of the ache in her chest, but either way, the darkness around her seemed to swallow her whole.

******************************************************

The following morning, Celestia set out to find water, listening to her body's needs and thinking carefully about her next course of action. The games were moving fast, and she knew that she couldn't stay hidden for too long. The longer she stayed in one place, the more likely she was to be found by the other tributes, so she didn't rest for long and kept moving.

Water. She read that she couldn't survive more than three days without water. She knew that she was dehydrated. She was walking for hours or maybe just minutes when she suddenly heard a stream, and she followed the sound.

Celestia saw the stream, and she almost smiled. She was so thirsty that she just started drinking it. She drank as much as she could, trying to quench her thirst as quickly as possible. She wished that she had a flask so that she could collect some water and save it for later. She realized that the only way to get what she needed was to go to the cornucopia. There were plenty of tributes that had already been killed. The careers were probably hunting the others down. Maybe she could get what she needed and leave. She knew that she might not survive if she went, but she also knew that she had no choice. She had to take a risk or she might die. Celestia tried to convince herself, and it took her 20 minutes to decide that it was worth it. Celestia spent the following hours trying to find the cornucopia. When she found the reference points, she knew she was on the right track. The day after, she knew she was close, she saw the trees she had marked. She ate berries for breakfast and kept walking.

Celestia hid in the bushes and looked at the empty cornucopia, wondering if they had left someone to guard it. She knew that she had to move quickly before the other tributes returned and spotted her. She had to make sure she was careful and stealthy. Celestia took a deep breath before deciding to take a risk and steal food from the cornucopia. And a flask and maybe a weapon. She snuck around, trying to be as quiet as possible, and moved quickly. No one was there. Her body was filled with adrenaline as she found a bag nearby with food and other things that might be useful. She felt a rush of excitement as she got away with it. There was nothing else around apart from a flask and some weapons, and she took the flask. She filled her smaller bag with a couple of knives, and she couldn't help but smile. She knew that it would help her survive, she had everything she needed. It was risky, but it felt good. She smiled, feeling relieved and confident. She had to be careful about how she managed the food since she didn't know when she would find another source. And she was excited about the thrill of stealing from the cornucopia, knowing that she had been sneaky and quick enough to sneak away. She started to feel like she had a chance at surviving the games, and she took a moment to admire the way the sun was reflecting off the metal.

Celestia took a deep breath, feeling proud of her achievements so far, and she started to make a plan for the next few days. She picked up proper daggers as well, and she was making her way back to the woods when she heard a noise. She froze, seeing the small tribute from District 3, trembling with fear, standing in front of her. He was holding a weapon, and she could see how scared he was. She was cautious, and she took a step back so that she could assess the situation. She didn't want to hurt the tribute, but she also couldn't afford to be caught.

"Just let me go," she said, moving away again, but he followed her.

She had to convince the tribute.

"I’m just here to get some food, not fight. Let me go," she said louder this time. The District 3 tribute smirked at her as if it was hilarious. She could't bealive she helped him from Marvel.

She could see the confidence growing in his eyes as he recognized that she was scared too.

He took a step forward, and she could feel the tension growing. "Or I could kill you. Cato was looking for you. He might reward me." He said.

"So you can survive a couple of more days?" She asked. She didn't wait for his answer.

She started running.

She ran as fast as she could, but the tribute threw the knife, which went into her lower leg.

The adrenaline made her run without pain, but even the adrenaline couldn't mask all the pain, it started to become intense. She tried to ignore it and ran as quickly as she could, but it was starting to slow her down. She didn't know how much longer she could keep going. She wanted to stop since the tribute from District 3 was no longer following her. But she was too close to the cornucopia. She got too confident, too cocky and now she was paying the price. Why didn't I just take what I needed and run away? She asked herself.

Celestia fell onto the grass, her knees slamming into the earth as her palms scraped against the rough ground. A sharp sting spread across her hands, the fresh cuts burning as she tried to get up, but her body refused to move. Doubt flooded her thoughts. What if he sent someone else to find me? She could only hope that, when the end came, it would be quick and painless.

"I’m sorry," she whispered to no one in particular.

She couldn't run anymore, and she was starting to feel the pain of the knife in her lower leg intensify. The knife was still in. She deduced that the wound was deep. She refused to think about that. She felt miserable with her wound and blood loss, she wasn’t going to die like that. She slowly sat up. She knew keeping the knife in was the best thing to do if she could go to a medic, to prevent blood loss, she remembered reading that somewhere. But she couldn’t go to a medic. She removed the knife and decided that the wound was not deep. She used the first aid kit to bind the wound, and with the help of a tree, she got up and took her dagger. She didn’t know who would show up, but she was ready to fight.

Was she ready to kill?

The question lingered in her mind as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She had no time to dwell on it. Every second mattered now. The blood loss made her feel dizzy. The gaze was soaked with blood, but she didn't look at it. Celestia spotted movement in the distance, someone following the trail she left behind. Her pulse quickened. Silently, she slipped behind a tree, dagger gripped tightly in her hand. Her heart thundered in her chest as she steadied her breathing, waiting for the perfect moment. The tribute drew closer, their footsteps crunching against the dirt. Louder. Closer.

It was now or never. Celestia sprang from her hiding spot, a dagger aimed at their chest, but the tribute was quicker than she anticipated. Steel clashed as they deflected her attack with their own blade. Her eyes widened as they locked with her opponent’s. It took her a moment to focus on him. Cato. She took a step back, and Cato noticed her struggle. He looked at her leg and then in the direction of the cornucopia. She felt like she was running out of luck and time, and she didn't know where this was heading. She had to decide whether to fight or to try to flee. She couldn't afford to get caught, but she also knew that the person in front of her was a strong fighter. Celestia decided to fight Cato with her leg, trying to run was useless.

She had to fight to survive. Cato's eyes were locked with hers.

Cato didn't move toward her. He moved back to the cornucopia. She was revealed and started to move slowly away. The adrenaline started to wear off, and she started feeling the pain more intensely. She could hardly move. She wanted to stop and use some of her herbs to disinfect the wound, but she was still too close. After a while, Celestia heard the cannon. For a moment, she thought she had died, and she had to put a hand on her chest to see if her heart was still beating. She didn't wonder who died, she just started moving again. She had to keep moving as fast as she could, and she couldn't afford to waste any time. But she didn't move far enough, fast enough, and she heard someone getting closer. She hid and saw someone looking for something. She tried to focus, but the shadow was too far. She deduced it was Cato. She held her breath as she tried to stay quiet and out of sight. She heard the footsteps getting louder, and she was afraid, her breathing was too loud, so she stopped breathing. Celestia had to stay put and hope that he wouldn't see her. But he did, and he smiled? Frowned? She couldn't tell. She was too exhausted to fight, so she didn't even try. He started to move toward her, and she closed her eyes, prepared for death. Her breathing was fast and irregular.

She didn't want to die.

The mortal blow never arrived. She opened her eyes and she found Cato looking inside his bag. She was confused and curious. What could he possibly be looking for?

"Just kill me," she muttered, maybe a bit dramatically as she leaned against the tree.

She was in pain, and she didn't want to fight anymore. She just wanted it to be over as soon as possible. She saw Cato come over to her with something in his hand. She didn't know what he was going to do next, but she was prepared for the end.

“You have a lot of herbs. I need you to tell me what they’re for,” he said, his tone firm.

She just stared at him, silent.

“Celestia, I need your help… helping you.”

Her gaze dropped to the herbs he held.

“You need to grind it into a paste and apply it to the wound. It works as a disinfectant,” she explained.

“Which one?” he asked.

“What?”

“Which one?” he repeated, his voice more insistent.

She pointed to the correct plant without hesitation.

He watched her intently as she explained the uses of some of the others, her voice was barely audible. Still, he seemed to memorize every word and the details of the herbs, nodding occasionally. He made her double-check for two plants that looked similar and waited for her eyes to focus. Before she could say more, he walked toward her, holding a small vial in his hand. She didn't know what the it was, but she was ready to take it and go to sleep for good. She drank it and drank some water, and she felt even more tired. Suddenly, she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore, and she closed them. The last thing she saw was Cato's worried eyes.

"Sleep well, sweet apple."

Chapter Text

In the following hours, Celestia was feverish, caught in a haze of discomfort and fleeting lucidity. Someone was there, tending to her. He coaxed her into eating hot soup and swallowing bitter medicines she despised. The pain in her leg was unbearable, flaring every time she woke. Through blurry vision, she tried to focus on the person caring for her. His face was indistinct, shadowed, and shifting.

“This might hurt,” He whispered, his voice low and steady.

A sudden coldness pressed against the wound on her calf, soothing at first, until it turned into fire. She arched instinctively, she heard someone scream. The sound filled the small place until she realized it was her own voice.

The person held her tightly, his arms firm yet comforting, whispering something she couldn’t quite hear over the pain. The burning intensified, her body writhing against it, until finally, the world faded into silence, and she slipped into unconsciousness.

When Celestia opened her eyes, she was in a cave with a cover over her. Her leg was not hurting anymore, and she looked at the wound to find it had vanished. She couldn't believe her eyes. Not even a scar. The wound was deep, she tried to convince herself otherwise, but it was. And now. Nothing.

Next to her, she found food and something to drink. She was in shock and disbelief, and she wasn't sure what to think. But she was glad that the pain in her leg was gone, and she had food to eat. She saw the medical herbs she had collected neatly arranged. Most of them were almost finished. Celestia ate something and went outside with her dagger, just in case. She was looking for Cato. She knew he was the one taking care of her. She didn't know why. She was feeling stronger and more alert than before, and she was ready to find Cato and talk to him. She wanted to find out why he had saved her life and what his intentions were. Was that a hallucination? Did someone else save her? She knew the food was safe, why would he help her just to poison her?

Curiosity burned within her, and she was determined to uncover the truth.

She spotted Cato sitting beneath a tree, his posture relaxed but watchful. Without hesitation, she approached him, dagger drawn and aimed at him as if ready to strike. He looked up slowly, meeting her gaze with an unsettling calm. As he stood up in one smooth motion, he kept his eyes locked on hers, unfazed by the weapon pointed at him.

She held the dagger a little tighter.

Celestia walked even closer, pointing the dagger at his neck. "We have to talk," she said evenly, looking up at him.

He didn't seem afraid or phased by her actions, and he just kept his gaze on her. Waiting for her to continue. She was in a position of power. She was the one with the dagger. She stood straighter and kept looking at him.

"Why did you help me?" she asked, so close to him that she was almost pinning him to the tree.

"You still have a debt to pay," he stated, looking down at her.

"I already paid it,” she whispered, slightly moving away from him. Her dagger was still pointed at his neck.

"Those were just the first installments." He smirked.

She felt warm all over. Even when she was armed and he was not, he still acted arrogant. Celestia was mad. How dare he call their kiss an instalment? She remembered how he left her in bed and her anger grew.

The moment she dropped her guard, Cato seized the opportunity. In a flash, he twisted their bodies, reversing their positions with brute force.

Her back hit the tree, rough bark digging into her skin through her clothes as she struggled.

His grip tightened around her wrist, forcing her hand to move. Slowly, deliberately, he angled her dagger toward her, the blade mere inches from her throat.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn’t just scared but… thrilled? No. She wasn't.

Cato could easily kill her, and she was… she didn’t even want to think about it.

He let go of her wrist, giving her back control of the dagger. "Are you going to choke me to death?" She asked, looking up at him. She wasn't going to let him mistreat her. Or scare her. Celestia didn’t wait for him to answer. With a sudden movement, she tried to stab him, aiming at his arm. Cato moved faster.

In one fluid motion, he caught her wrist, twisting just enough to loosen her grip. The dagger slipped from her hand, and before she realized what had happened, it was out of reach. He looked at her eyes, then at her lips. She could feel a familiar tingle down her spine as he spoke.

"Not yet, sweet apple."

Celestia frowned at the nickname. Cato stepped toward her, just inches away from her. He smiled at her frown, it was like he was looking for ways to irritate her. She could faintly smell his sweat and something else, his unique scent, now familiar. Celestia wanted to lean closer. 

"What do you want?" She asked when the silence was worse than her fear of talking.

He looked at her, then at her lips as he answered, "You."

This is so wrong. She thought. He was a career that wanted her dead. Did he want her dead?

She couldn't be with him like this. She couldn't...

She looked at him, and in a moment, his lips were against hers. She felt the heat of his breath, and she could feel her heart racing.

It was so wrong. Only one of them could survive, why...

She had no words to describe what she was feeling. His lips were soft and warm, and her mind was spinning with so many thoughts. It was hard to focus, and she just lost herself in the feeling.

She kissed him back, putting her hand on the back of his neck, and the other hand was in his hair. It felt soft to the touch. He pulled her closer to him, and she felt her body lean into his. Celestia could feel her breath quicken, and she felt like her mind went blank. She couldn't believe that she was kissing Cato in the arena, but she didn't care. She was filled with desire and passion, and she wanted more.

"Cato." She whispered under her breath. Asking for more.

He pulled her in closer and kissed her harder.

She felt herself fall into him, and she was lost in the feeling. All her fears and doubts were gone, and she was consumed by sensations. She felt alive. Nothing else mattered.

She wanted him.

And then they heard a loud explosion, and from where she was, she saw smoke. It was far. Cato broke the kiss and looked at her like she was the one who had done it.

"So you getting hurt was just a way to distract me?"

"W-what??" She asked, confused. 

Cato looked at her with suspicion as he stepped away. She looked at the smoke.

“I have nothing to do with that,” she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt.

"I found explosives in your bag, I thought it was just for your stupid animal traps, but it was for this, my base," He said, visibly mad.

Celestia was shocked and confused. He was mad at her for something that she had nothing to do with. She looked at the smoke again. Was that the cornucopia? 

"An explosion like that won't leave much of the animals." Celestia tried to joke, but he didn't laugh.

She tried to explain herself, but he wouldn't listen.

"How can I not think it was you?" Cato asked angrily. 

She didn't know what else to say.

"I was with you, I-I couldn't have done that," she said defensively, but he didn't believe her.

He thought that she had somehow set it up.

"Then how do you explain the explosives?" he said angrily. "You stole them. Your accomplice set them up and you..."

She tried to defend herself, but he wasn't having it.

"I didn't," she said, frustrated and mad. She hated confrontation, so she tried her best to stay calm. “I found a bag and took it. It has everything I needed, so I took it.” She wondered why the bag was just there for her to take.

"How convenient," Cato said, not believing a single thing she said.

"I'll find out what you did," he said finally, walking away from her.

She stood there, watching him go, feeling guilty but not knowing why.

She didn't follow Cato, and she didn't wait for him. Celestia went into the cave and took everything she needed, trying to get as far away from him as possible. She knew that her next encounter wouldn't be sweet and cute, and she was scared that Cato might actually kill her.

******************************************************

It's been less than a week. Celestia survived with the food in the bags she took before leaving. During the week, she only met another tribute. She saw her steal some of her food and run away. She knew she took the food because she rationed it and she saw her next to her bag when she walked back from getting more water. The girl ran away and didn't try to harm her.

Almost everyone was dead. Now it was her, Cato, Thresh, Clove, glimmer, the girls from Districts 7 and 5 and the guy from 10. Marvel was alive too but she didn't want to think about that. 

It had been hard, and she needed more food after some of it was stolen, so when the Game makers announced that they were preparing a feast on the Cornucopia, she had no option but to go. Her traps weren't working, and her food was almost finished.

Celestia felt safe enough to get the bag and run away without being seen. She hoped to see Cato, she wanted to talk to him and make things right. That was something stupid to hope for. All the careers were still alive. And they were probably together.

When she arrived, she didn't run to the cornucopia she waited to make sure no one was there. After what felt like an eternity she saw the girl from 5 run toward the cornucopia. She took a bag and disappeared again into the woods.

No one was standing on guard. She smiled and started running toward the cornucopia. She was about to take the bag with her number when someone pulled her and slammed her to the floor. She tried to take her dagger, but she was quickly disarmed.

"I was waiting for you," a voice said and she froze.

She looked up to see Clove. She has never interacted with her. 

“You need to die, nothing against you 11, I just need Cato to get his head straight,” Clove said with a smirk. She moved her dagger to Celestia's neck. 

Celestia put up a futile fight against Clove, but there was no denying that Clove was much stronger than her. While she was able to get a few hits on her, Clove only seemed to be entertained by those punches. She was clearly playing with her and enjoying every moment of it.

"I don’t know what he sees in you." She said, smugly. Clove let go of the dagger and started choking her.

Celestia tried to break free, but Clove's unrelenting grip on her throat ensured that she retained control. All of Celestia's strength began to fade away, and she felt weak and dizzy. Just before she lost consciousness, Clove was suddenly pulled away from her.

Celestia sat up coughing and gasping for air. She saw Thresh pinning Clove to the cornucopia and hitting her head repeatedly against the Cornucopia. She felt sick and quickly looked away. She saw movement and looked toward the trees and saw Glimmer. Celestia heard the cannon and Thresh let Clove go. She fell dead on the floor. When she looked back toward the forest Glimmer was gone.

“A life for a life. This is for volunteering for the little girl.” With that, Thresh took the bag with the number 11 and the one with the number 2 and left. 

Celestia stood up and tried not to look toward Clove. Since Thresh took the only bag with the number 11 she had nothing. She couldn't take the one with the number one. She didn’t want the tributes from District 1 after her. She was about to leave when someone pulled her up and pinned her to the cornucopia. She gasped for air as a hand came to her neck. She was being choked. Again.

Chapter Text

Cato pinned Celestia to the hard metal. He couldn’t believe she killed Clover after destroying all the career's supplies. He was so furious that he could have almost killed her. 

When Celestia opened her eyes and looked at him, he almost let go. He tightened his grip. He needed to focus.

"You have a lot of courage to come here after everything you've done. And kill Clove?" He looked at her, he wanted to be angry at her, but he hesitated after seeing her teary eyes. Was his grip too tight? He wiped a tear from her cheek and let go of her neck.

Celestia coughed and gasped for air. She leaned on the cold metal to put distance from him and took her dagger. Cato scoffed.

"I didn’t kill her. I didn’t come here to fight," Celestia said, her voice weak after being choked, "I just wanted my bag."

"Of course, you're not here to fight," he said. "Your ally did that for you."

"I just needed my bag," she said again.

Cato chuckled darkly and took his weapon, a shiny sword. He watched her look at her small dagger, knowing she couldn't win.

"You think you could hurt me with that little knife, don't you?"

Cato was surprised when she decided to attack him. She rushed at him, ready to use her dagger as best as she could. He masked his surprise and smirked again, blocking her attack with the sword. The smile disappeared from his face as he looked back at her. At her neck. He hadn’t choked her hard enough or long enough to leave a mark on her skin.

Celestia took the knife and decided to fight with both weapons. She probably thought she had a chance. She attacked over and over again, trying to find a weak spot in his defence. Cato easily knocked her knife away right when she was about to throw it at him.

"You're not even worth my time." His voice was smug, but his eyes were worried. His gaze lingered on her neck, where purplish bruises were beginning to form.

"I hate you," she whispered. He could feel her fear turn into anger, and she attacked him again.

It was like she didn't care about anything anymore, she didn't care about winning. She just wanted to hurt him like he hurt her.

He blocked her uncoordinated attacks, and the smile was back on his lips.

"Is that the best you can do?" he asked, and those words made Celestia see red.

She attacked again, and this time, she lost hold of her dagger, and it fell to the ground. Cato just smiled and took a step toward her.

"That's all you got?" he asked, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Celestia collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.

"Just give up now," he said. "Tell me you killed Clove with Thresh." His anger showed up again.

"I didn’t," she said. “If you want to kill me, just do it.”

"If that's what you want, then let me put you out of your misery."

With that, Cato raised his sword to strike. But he didn't hit her, he hit the ground next to her. He was confused, he still couldn't kill her. Why?

She lay on the ground, waiting for him to finish her off. Cato chuckled coldly and took a step back.

Celestia looked at the blade next to her head and then back at Cato, who just looked down at her.

"I can't kill her." He whispered.

He knelt and put the tip of his sword against her throat. "I’ll use you to lure your ally," he said.

Celestia had no way out of this, and she knew Thresh wouldn't save her, and she didn’t want Marvel to be the one to kill her.

“Just kill me.” She said quietly.

He pressed the tip of his sword closer to her throat, and she gasped.

"Not yet," he whispered. He was still pressing the tip of his sword to her throat, and she could hardly breathe. 

"So she's still alive?" Glimmer asked, annoyed. “Thresh already left, they killed Clove together.” Said Glimmer. “Let’s kill her first.”

“So Thresh is really your ally,” he said coldly. He was just guessing, but hearing it almost hurt.

“No,” Celestia said weakly.

“Kill her, Cato, we don't need more reasons,” Glimmer said with a smirk.

Cato just looked at Celestia. She was lying on the grass, her dark curly hair framing her face. He wanted to kiss her. Fuck.

“I’ll keep her alive if I feel like it.” He said, annoyed.

“After all she did?” Glimmer was furious. She stepped closer, almost challenging him.

“This has nothing to do with you, Glimmer.” He stood up and turned toward Glimmer.

"After you found explosives in her bag?" Grimmer noticed instantly her mistake as she took a step back. 

"How do you know about that?" Cato asked. His voice was calm, too calm. He stepped away from Celestia, his focus shifting to Glimmer.

The moment the sword was no longer pointed at her, Celestia pushed herself to her feet. Cato stalked toward Glimmer, fury radiating off him. She tried to run, but he caught her before she could escape.

"It was all your plan," he said, his voice sharp with anger.

"It was the only way I could get rid of her."

Cato's rage burned hotter.

Celestia stood up and started to run away since the focus was away from her. She quickly turned to look at Cato and Glimmer. She was too far to hear what they were saying. Cato's temper was boiling, and she didn't want to see what he would do. She ran away, not turning to look. She didn’t want to see another death. For a while, she didn't hear the cannon, and then she heard it. It was Cato or Glimmer. It was night when she looked at the sky and saw that it was Glimmer. Now it was her, Cato, Thresh, Marvel, the girls from districts 5 and 7 and the guy from 10.

******************************************************

Two days later, she heard a cannon. Did Cato die? She couldn’t focus for the rest of the day. It was night when she saw it was Thresh. Did Cato kill him? After all, he left with the bag with the number 2. At that moment, all she could do was wait and hope he wasn't looking for her now. After all, he thought she killed Clove.

The realization that she was alone in that horrible place with 5 other people who could kill her filled her with dread. There could be only one winner. She survived so long that she wasn’t going to die easily. No more closing her eyes, waiting for the final blow. No more surrounding without trying her very best. She didn’t like how she surrendered so easily all the times she was about to die. No more of that. 

Her best plan was to remain hidden for a bit more. If she hid until the end, she would be alone with either Cato or Marvel. If she was lucky, it would be the tributes from 4, 5 or 10. They had nothing against her. The worst scenario was being one of the last three with Cato and Marvel. She knew they were both obsessed with her. Cato, for some unknown reason, and Marvel just to spike Cato. She cringed when she remembered thinking his obsession was because he liked her. Of course, he didn’t.

Both of them were deadly, but she was more scared of Marvel. The devil you know and all that. She was used to Cato, and she was actually starting to think that he wouldn’t kill her. At least not in a painful way. It was like he wanted to keep her as long as possible and kill her at the very end.

She looked in her bag, finding water, but no food. And one knife.

The Cornucopia was a long way from where she was. She wasn’t even sure about the way back. She couldn't avoid that situation for long. The game makers would soon have her meet with someone. They wanted blood, so it was probably going to be Marvel. 

She was about to sleep when she heard a loud sound. 

“Attention, tributes. Attention!" Celestia heard. It was a message from the Gamemakers.

"The rules of the Hunger Games have changed. A new rule has been introduced. Two tributes will be declared winners. But only if they both have killed one or more tributes. This will be the only announcement.”

Celestia barely slept that night. She was sure Cato and Marvel were going to team up. There were only 4 people stopping them from winning. The guy from 10 who from what she saw, had a limp, so he couldn't run fast. She didn't know anything about the girl from 7, apart from that she smiled at her. The girl from 5 who avoided confrontation. She was smart, but she didn't look particularly good at fighting. And her. The one that survived by pure luck. 

****************************************************** 

Celestia woke up with someone’s hand covering her mouth. She opened her eyes, and it was dark, but she could see his eyes. Blue. He looked at her for a moment before removing his hand and kissing her. The surprise and the sudden rush of blood to her face made Celestia gasp. She couldn't help how much she enjoyed it, she kissed him back. How could he mistreat her and kiss her like nothing happened? Celestia remembered her promise to fight. She took her knife slowly as they kept kissing. 

"I'm sorry," he whispered against her lips after breaking the kiss, and started to kiss her jaw and neck. He was pinning her down, and he was all she could see. 

Celestia could feel the heat of his body and the familiar tingle. He was so close. Her heart began to pound in her ears, and she felt herself getting warmer. An apology wasn't enough. She didn't even know what he was apologizing for. She needed to focus. Find a way to distract him. She moved closer and started kissing him. He immediately kissed her back. The moment he got his guard down, Celestia broke the kiss and pointed the knife at his neck. 

"It wasn't me," she said, and he whispered, "I know, I'm sorry."

He moved closer again, like he wanted to kiss her again. He wasn’t worried about the knife. He kissed her neck, and she could feel her grip on the knife loosening. She couldn't believe that this was happening, but she was enjoying it so much. Too much. She needed to focus, but she couldn’t. 

She was confused and scared, but excited and alive. She wanted to give in to the moment and let Cato... no, she couldn't. She was about to push him away again when they heard the cannon. Cato looked at her like he wanted to make sure she was still alive. His hand moved to her neck to check her pulse, he wanted to make sure her heart was still beating. 

She could hear the concern in his voice as he spoke. It was like he couldn't see that she was alive.

"Are you ok?" he asked, holding her close to him.

Celestia could feel his warm breath on her skin. She nodded slowly.

"I need to hear it, sweet apple," he said. 

"I'm fine." She tried to reassure him. Forgetting her anger for a moment.

He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before leaning back and settling near the tree. 

She began to climb out of her sleeping bag, her movements stiff and determined, but his hand shot out, stopping her.

“You need to sleep,” he said firmly, his voice low but resolute.

“So you can kill me easily.” 

“I thought we were past that sweet apple.”

Celestia rolled her eyes at the ridiculous nickname. He chuckled, and she frowned. She didn’t want him to think that they were allies or something. She moved closer to tell him that, when she noticed his bruises. 

“You’re bruised. I can help,” Celestia said, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Sleep,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Celestia hesitated, her lips pressing into a line, but the exhaustion tugging at her body decided for her. Reluctantly, she lay back down, keeping the knife close. She didn't care about him anyway. 

Chapter Text

When Celestia woke up, Cato was near the fire. She sat up and looked at him. She wondered if he even slept. 

“I can-” she started, but Cato interrupted her before she could finish. “No need,” He said dismissively. “Just eat, then we move.”

Celestia frowned as she moved closer to him. “You can’t give me orders.” She said, looking him in the eyes. “And we are not allies.” She added after a bit.

“You have no food and barely any water left, you’ll take my help and do as I say.”

“You looked into my bag? How-”

“Eat.”

“I’m not hungry.” She lied. 

“Listen,” he started as he looked at her with an intense gaze. “I know you are mad at me, and I understand. I already apologised, so get over it and eat.” 

Celestia didn't move. She didn't want to eat. And she didn’t like the way he was talking to her with his half-apologies. 

“You don't want me to force you,” Cato added.

“You wouldn't,” she said. But his gaze said otherwise.

Celestia reluctantly took the food and ate in silence while he was rationing the rest of it. 

******************************************************

Celestia had trailed Cato all day, her footsteps quiet but determined until he finally stopped when it was starting to get dark.

Later that night, as they sat in uneasy silence, the anthem played, and the sky lit up with the faces of the dead. The boy from District 10 appeared, accompanied by the haunting melody she was starting to despise.

“How many tributes have you killed?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“One if I kill you now,” she said, not really meaning it. She was mad, and she wanted him to know. 

“Alright.” He chuckled. 

“I’m not going to kill anyone.”

“Okay,” he said, his tone unreadable.

"Are you mad about that?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"You are not the only one who has a reason to be," he replied, his gaze never leaving hers.

“I didn’t kill Clove,” she said, the words coming out in a softer breath.

“Why did Thresh spare your life?” he asked, suddenly shifting the focus. She knew he got the story from Glimmer.

“Did you kill him?” she countered.

He didn’t answer.

She sighed before responding. “Because I volunteered for a little girl, he probably found that admirable,” she said, looking at him, searching for something. “I’m sorry he’s dead,” she added, testing his reaction. He remained unmoved, his expression cold.

“Was there something between you two?” he asked, his voice sharp.

“Did you kill him?” she asked again, her tone more insistent.

“Answer my question,” he said, standing up, towering over her.

“Answer my question first,” she shot back, refusing to back down. She stood up too.

Without warning, he grabbed her face, his fingers digging into her skin as he pushed her back until she was pressed against a tree. The pain was sharp, but she didn’t flinch.

“Was there something between you two?” he demanded again, his breath hot against her face.

“You don’t answer my questions. Why should I tell you?” she shot back, her voice edged with frustration.

“No one can touch you except me,” he growled, his grip tightening as his words hung in the air like a threat.

“I’m not yours,” she replied sharply, defiance flashing in her eyes.

“You have been since the moment I saw you.”

“You are a jerk. I want nothing to do with you,” she said, her chest heaving with anger.

“Every day your mouth gets dirtier. Will you start cursing soon?” Cato's tone was sharp, almost mocking, laced with something darker as if he enjoyed provoking her.

Celestia clenched her jaw. “You are impossible. First, you try to make me skip the assessment and now this.”

“You were better off not going,” he said, voice low.

Celestia frowned, her chest tightening, but she stayed silent. Her mind churned, unsure if she should push back or stay quiet.

He looked away first. He was silent for a moment before finally speaking. “I struggle with my feelings.” He admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn't used to being vulnerable. “I’ve never felt like this. I like you, Celestia, something I couldn't think about before, but now that we can both win…”

“I won't take a life, Cato.”

“I took enough for both of us.”

Celestia was about to say that it didn’t work like that, but he kissed her. A quick kiss before letting her go. She could pretend everything was going to be fine for a little bit more.

******************************************************

The following day, Celestia woke up with Cato caressing her hair. She looked around and noticed she had lost at least half of the day. They ate in silence, and Cato kept looking at her like he was about to say something, but then stopped. He made a light meal, and she wondered if they were planning to run or something. 

After eating, he finally spoke. “I have a surprise for you.” 

Celestia didn’t ask questions, knowing he wouldn’t answer. She smiled as she followed him, wondering what it was. When they got closer, he covered her eyes. They walked the rest of the way. Celestia couldn't wait, and she started asking questions, but he never answered. When he removed his hands, she was expecting to see something cute, anything, but not the girl from 7 tied to a tree.

“Cato… w-what?” Celestia whispered, her voice trembling.

“You will kill her.” He said firmly.

Celestia looked at Cato like she was seeing him for the first time. “No, I won't.” She whispered, taking a step back. The girl from 7 was looking at her, crying. Her eyes were red. Her mouth was covered, her words muffled. Celestia couldn’t understand what she was saying, but she was going to help her.

Cato took a dagger and started explaining where to hit. Celestia couldn't hear his words, and she couldn’t believe he was being so cold about the situation.

“I’m not killing her, Cato, she was nice to me.” She remembered the smile they exchanged. They never spoke, but how could she kill her?

“Nice?” He asked, his tone flat, unwavering.

Her stomach twisted. She took a step back, then another, her mind racing. “No, I... I won't.”  

“Celestia, this is the only way.” He pressed, leaning closer.

“I… I can’t,” she stammered, her hands shaking.

His eyes narrowed as he ignored words and moved closer, placing the dagger in her hands. Cold metal pressed into her palm, and she flinched. She wanted to drop it, to run, but her fingers clutched it anyway as she kept shaking her head.

“I’m sorry,” she said to the girl from 7. She didn't attack her, she started cutting the rope around her. Cato stopped her. 

“You will kill her.” He said harshly. She looked at him and knew he wouldn't back down. If she didn't, she was going to die either way. Cato wouldn’t let her go. 

Celestia decided to play it smart. She pretended to think about it before sighing. “This is the only way. She would die either way.” She whispered.

He cupped her face and nodded.

“Can you give me space? She asked. 

“Of course, taking a life is not easy. I won't be far.” He kissed her forehead before walking away. 

Once he was far enough, Celestia moved closer to the girl. “I'm not going to kill you.” She whispered. “Please don't scream,” She added before starting to cut the rope. “You have to run, okay?” Celestia said, and the girl nodded, not able to talk because of the gag. 

The moment she was free, she attacked Celestia. She tried to fight her off, but the girl from District 7 was too strong.

Cato watched the entire thing from the side. He hoped Celestia would just kill the girl, but he knew she was going to free her. That’s why he stayed on the side to teach her a lesson. Teach her that people were merciless and wouldn't show her the same mercy. Especially in the arena. 

When the girl took the dagger from her and was about to kill her, Celestia heard a cannon, and the girl fell on her. Celestia tried to push her off in panic at all the blood on her. Cato sighed and helped her. 

“What a waste.” He said before taking the bloody dagger and cleaning it on the girl’s clothes. “Next time, do as I say.” He said coldly. 

Celestia was still shaken. She knew Cato had no empathy, but this was too much. She tried to leave, but he forced her to stay. She was upset for the rest of the day, and she decided to stay far from Cato. He was insane, and she needed to find a way to leave. That night, he slept with her close, not letting her try to leave again.

The following day, Celestia was surprised when she received a gift from a sponsor. It was simple bread from District 2. The message said. “I suppose people do whatever it takes to survive.” The message was carved on the bread, and there was nothing else. Celestia was furious, and she didn't even eat it, she threw it away. She was eating a handful of berries when she heard a cannon. She immediately thought it was Cato, and she ran toward him. She saw him running toward her. 

Her foot caught on something, and she stumbled. Looking up, she saw the girl from District 5 lying still. Cato was already kneeling beside her, lifting her gently. Celestia froze, the taste of the berries souring in her mouth. She still had the bread in her hand. 

“The bread... it killed her, it was meant for me,” she whispered, her voice trembling. She turned away, guilt clawing at her chest.

She told Cato everything, removing the message. Her hands shook as she finished.

He watched her, his expression unreadable at first. “Hopefully that counts as a kill-” he began, but stopped when he noticed the depth of her guilt. 

“We should stay close,” he said after a moment of hesitation, his voice almost softer. He looked at her to make sure she agreed. He wasn’t asking, but having her collaboration was going to be better. 

He started walking, and she followed him just to be as far as possible from the body. After hours of walking, he stopped and sat near a tree. 

Celestia sat away from Cato, and he arched a brow. “Let's keep our distance.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what I said.” She said coldly. 

“I like you, Celestia.” He whispered like he wanted only her to hear him. “I'm not good at showing it, but I do.”