The Sword's Other Half

We are the Champions

I look into the eyes of Cinna as he puts the finishing touches on my deep red lipstick. "Aaand you are ready to wow the crowd," Cinna says, spinning my chair around so I can look at myself in the mirror and smiles at me.

"Wow, as always this is fabulous work, Cinna," I tell the man with a bright smile.

"Are you ready to go tell the crowd all about your experience in the ring and act as if it didn't scar you for life?"

"Just gotta fake it for about an hour, so I'll be fine, and Cato will be there to help ground me if need be so that will help. Will it ever get easier to deal with after this, Cinna?"

Cinna looks at me with the utmost care in his eyes, "I don't know, Fairy, but you aren't going to go through this alone. The pain may never go away but it will dull. Those that you lost in the games will always be watching over you. You've touched so many lives, Fairy so you have so many people in your corner to help you through this."

We are interrupted by a knocking at the door and Cinna calls out letting them know that it is okay to enter. The door opens and Haymitch walks in stopping in his tracks when he sees me. "You look absolutely stunning, Princess," He tells me with a proud smile.

I give the blonde male a bright smile in return, "Thanks, Dad."

He holds his arm out to me to lead me to the stage where we will be talking to Caesar. Standing from my chair I walk over and give Cinna a kiss on the cheek and a grateful smile before walking over to my father figure and taking his arm being lead out. Once we make it to the stage I am met with the stunning and breathtaking view of my handsome soulmate. Cato is wearing a deep red suit to match my dress and the look of utter adoration in his eyes when he sees me makes my knees weak. "Well hello there, Loverboy," I say causing Haymitch to bark out a laugh at my use of his nickname.

Cato smirks that damn smirk that makes me want to just be held by him and to never be let go. "Hello to you too, Beautiful. I would kiss you but your dad it right there and Cinna would have my head if I messed up his masterpiece." I pout but settle for holding his hand as he brings me closer to him. He chuckles at my pout and places a kiss on the crown of my head not disturbing the little bit of makeup I am wearing. I give him a bright smile to which he scrunches up his eyes and groans, "You make it so hard to control myself, you mischievous fairy."

I giggle and lead the two of us on stage after hearing Caesar announce us. "Well hello again, Caesar"

Caesar smiled back at me kindly, "Welcome back, Soulmates on Fire. So how are you feeling right now?"

"I think I speak for the both of us when I say that we are both relieved to have made it out of there together. The games were a literal rollercoaster of emotions. We felt panic, betrayal, fear, love, relief, and many others that I can't even put into words," Cato explains causing me to squeeze his hand at the perfect explanation.

"Melissa, how did you feel when you found Cato hurt in that tree?"

"I was full-on panicking. I just lost Rue and I was not going to lose someone else that I care about, especially not my soulmate. I was just in the mindset that I had to find him. Then when I did he decided to be the class clown and make jokes and be sarcastic all while in pain. I don't know how he did it."But when I realized that it wasn't immediately life-threatening, I felt so happy and relieved that I can't even put it into words. I genuinely couldn't imagine my life without him now. And it isn't just because if he dies I die too, it is more than that, he makes me so unconditionally happy."

Cato gives me a heartwarming smile and leans over kissing my cheek, "She saved my life and she is my everything."

"I love you, My Fairy."

"I love you too, My Warrior."

"Ladies and gentlemen, this years' victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, The Fire Fairy, and her Warrior! Give it up for the Soulmates on Fire!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, this years' victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, The Fire Fairy, and her Warrior! Give it up for the Soulmates on Fire!"

Cato and I stand from our chairs as President Snow approaches us with our crowns placing them on our heads. After placing the crown on my head he brushes my hair to the side having noticed the pin that Prim had given me. "What a lovely pin."

"Thank you, President Snow. I received it from my younger sister when I entered the games as a sort of good luck charm."

"They must be very proud of you," He says causing me to bit my tongue to keep from smarting off to the man that could have everyone that I care about killed in a second.

{Time Skip brought to you by PUDDING!}

Cato and I sit on the couch on the train back to District 12. I am sitting in his lap with his arms wound tightly around my waist and his head dug into the back of my neck placing kisses there randomly. "So what is District 12 like?"

"We are a small poor district but I love it because we are a tight-knit community. Everyone knows everyone there. It will definitely be a downgrade for you though."

Cato grins against my neck and places a kiss right on the juncture where my neck meets my shoulder giving it a little bite as well causing me to tilt my head back on instinct giving him access to more of my neck, "I don't care about you thinking it is a downgrade. As long as I have you by my side it is a definite upgrade in my eyes." I close my eyes and savor the moment before pulling up to District 12 and having cameras pointed at us filming our return and having to put on my mask of being 100% ok again.

As I thought when we pulled up to District 12 the entire district was there to greet us as well as cameras. Everyone welcomed me back with open arms and even warmly welcomed Cato to the District. I search around the crowd until I finally find who I am looking for. Prim is sat comfortably on Gale's broad shoulders with one of his hands on her knee and his other hand nestling Katniss' within it. I grin brightly and run up to them nearly tackling Katniss in a hug. All of them pull me into a group hug and I turn my head reaching for Cato pulling him into the hug as well. Cato chuckles and kisses the crown of my head causing the smile on my face to grow even wider. It is going to be a tough journey from here but I know that I won't be going through it alone.

I love you, My Warrior. Forever and always.

Forever always, My Fairy I love you too.