Bound By Honor

Panem Map just posted by The Hunger Games twitter account.

【♞】—— ; 

    ❝ Then have me–- claim me,       because for some reason I–-      I really want you, Cato.  I feel      something for you. ❞

♔—— ;

Cato took a deep breath before sighing. This kid was persistent. He reached  over and pinched his cheek hard  enough to leave a mark. . ❝ There. I marked you. ❞

   ❝ Why is that so bad, to want that     happy ending, and if it’s with you?     Because that’s what the district      raised you to do.  But–- you decide     now what you want.  Even if it’s for     these limited moments. ❞

♔—— ;

❝ Because you might find better.     Right now I want you regardless      of what happens, Peeta. ❞

【♞】—— ; 

Peeta glanced up at Cato and he sighed.  He didn’t want to be the winner of a game that meant he had to kill to be there.  But what if he won?  What if he didn’t kill and win, he could change everything with him being the first to not become a pawn in the games.

         ❝ And what if my new dream is with you?             I know you have a heart in there, Cato             and you deserve to be happy too. ❞

♔—— ;

❝ I’m not denying that I have a heart.    That’s the thing, Peeta. You don’t    want me. You just love the idea of    this wild happy ending. You’re the    one that didn’t volunteer like I did.     I did so because I’m a trained killer.     People like me don’t get happy endings.❞

【♞】—— ; 

    Peeta glanced up at Cato and     he didn’t want to tell him his     private thoughts.  But eventually     after a bit of silence he did.

           ❝ The games would have been completely                over.  That we would get to know others                from different districts. ❞

              ❝ I would have met you and instead                  of knowing one of us would die, we                  would get to know each other.  Hell                  maybe there would be a chance to                  fall in love.  I don’t know. ❞

♔—— ;

He listened in silence, his jaw tensed the entire while.  Cato reverently felt over his sides. Part of him wanted to shut down his childish dreams and stamp them in down into the earth.  He took a deep breath before he sighed and ruffled his hair. 

❝ That’s a pipe dream, Peeta. You’ll win this.     You can make any dream you have a reality.     Maybe then you can change the world somehow.     It’d be a better place if you made it. ❞

❝ What’s what I study got to do with being here? And I suppose a meat-head jock like yourself has every right to be here. I can do whatever I want okay.❞

♔—— ;

❝ Whatever you say, Peeta, right? ❞

❝ Well I needed to get out of the house, something to distract me I guess. ❞

♔—— ;

❝ Aren’t you the kid in all those home-ec classes?    This party isn’t for you, dude. You’re more than    welcome to bake everybody something though. ❞

【♞】—— ; 

Peeta didn’t want to cry.  But it happened.  Tears slowly  started to crawl down his face.  When the other blond said that this was how they were meant to meet, to have each other cuddle, and forget about their inevitable death.

        ❝ I wish we could have.  I wish we had a            normal life.  Maybe we’d be happier. ❞

♔—— ;

He seized up. He didn’t know how to  console Peeta. Cato cleared his throat before wrapping his arms around his shoulders. 

❝ What would it’ve been like? ❞

"Oh you caught me, I’m not quaking in my boots."

♔—— ;

❝ --You're my first target out there.  ❞

"Oh that’s charming, I’m threatened."

♔—— ;

 ❝ No you aren't. You liar.  ❞

"Oh good, I’ve made some sort of impression."

♔—— ;

  ❝ My fist is going to leave an impression on your face. ❞

【♞】—— ;

The boy watched as Cato led them towards the floor.  The boy just wanted to fall asleep and maybe he’ll never wake up.  Perhaps Cato will be kind and kill him in his sleep.  That was the most peaceful way to go.  He felt a tear fall on his cheek and a soft smile coming over his face.  He laid there, curling up and resting his head on the boy’s chest.

         ❝ I wish we would have met before.  Wish               that life was kinder to us. ❞

♔—— ;

He was silent as they laid together. It would've been even enough to surrender to his feelings and cry but he refused. He wouldn't shed a tear. He wasn't sad for himself. Peeta had shown him that there was more to life than violence. Yet he wouldn't be able to partake  in any of it. 

❝ This is how we were supposed to meet.    Exactly like this, Peeta.. ❞

【♞】—— ; 

 Peeta heard the canon and he knew that another was dead.  Who it was, he didn’t know.  He didn’t know if Katniss was alive now. Even if she was alive, he knew that the two of them wouldn’t go home alive.  He glanced over at Cato and he nodded.  He sighed, as he rested his head on Cato’s chest.  He wanted to have his last night spent with Cato.

          ❝ Can you sleep with me please?  Or at least hold               me til I fall asleep.  I got this medicine or something               I don’t know what it is. ❞

♔—— ;

He took a deep breath before his arms fixed around Peeta's  shoulders. This would be enough. It had to be. Cato tugged them toward the floor before he shrugged off his jacket and  moved them so they were laying together. He laid facing  Peeta, an arm open so the baker could hide against him.   ❝ Just lay down with me. ❞

【♞】—— ; 

Peeta looked at the other.  The way he spoke to Peeta like he was going to actually live made him feel a bit hopeful, but the boy knew better than to trust the words.  He glanced up at him wishing that he wouldn’t say stuff like this.

           ❝ Stop–- stop saying that because I’m being               realistic and you’re just giving me false hope. ❞

♔—— ;

Cato had already formulated a plan. During the finale he would protect Peeta to his dying breath against whatever they threw at them. There would be no stopping him from doing that. He'd even knock Peeta unconscious if he tried anything. Outside a  canon sounded, causing Cato to jump in fright. One more down. Three to go. Thresh or Katniss were the last tributes beside the two boys.    ❝ Do you want to rest up here? It's going to be over soon.       You'll need your rest. What'd you get at the feast? ❞