𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐫

𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧

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Clove sat at the edge of Cato's bed, her notebook sprawled open and her pen tapping rhythmically against the page. The quiet, interrupted only by the scratch of pencils and the low hum of the rain outside, was almost peaceful—until Cato broke it.

"Remember last time we worked on something together?" he asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Clove's shoulders tensed. She knew exactly what he was talking about, and she had no interest in reliving that argument. "Let it go, Cato," she muttered, not looking up.

But he pressed on, undeterred. "Come on, Clove, it wasn't even that big of a deal. You got all bent out of shape over nothing."

Clove's jaw clenched, and her fingers gripped her pen tightly. "I said, drop it," she replied, her voice steady but simmering.

But Cato just rolled his eyes, his tone playful but edging on mocking. "Oh, please. You always get so worked up, acting like everything's a huge deal."

"Are you fucking serious right now?" She snapped her gaze up to him, eyes flashing with a heat she hadn't quite meant to let out. "You know what, Cato? I'm in no mood for this. Drop it now."

Yet he pushed harder, his own voice growing louder, almost as if he enjoyed the challenge of getting a rise out of her. "Why do you always take things so personally? It's not like I'm trying to make you mad. But you blow up at the smallest things."

Clove's patience frayed to its limit. She snapped her notebook shut, shoving her things into her tote bag with jerky, forceful movements. "You're such an asshole , Cato. You don't even know when to back off, do you?"

Cato crossed his arms, watching her pack with a defiant glare. "Oh, come on, Clove. It's not that deep."

"Oh, fuck you, Cato," she spat, hoisting her bag onto her shoulder as she stormed out of his room, heading down the stairs with purpose.

The sky was thick with clouds, and the rain poured down in heavy, relentless sheets outside. She didn't care. She barely even noticed. Throwing open the front door, she pulled her hood up and walked into the downpour, welcoming the way it drowned out her rage, muffling everything but the pounding of her heart.

Behind her, Cato hesitated at the threshold, glaring out at the rain. He didn't like getting wet, and the thought of trudging after her into the storm made him scowl. But then he saw her figure growing smaller through the rain, walking away without a backward glance.

With a frustrated huff, he clenched his jaw and stepped outside, the cold rain immediately drenching him. "Clove!" he shouted, but his voice barely carried over the sound of the downpour. He ran after her, boots splashing through puddles until he was close enough to reach her.

"Clove, come on," he said, a little breathless as he caught up to her. "Talk to me, please."

She kept walking, her jaw set and her eyes fixed forward, refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking back.

"Clove!" He reached out, grabbing her wrist and spinning her around to face him. She shook her arm free, glaring up at him through the rain streaming down her face.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Her fists clenched at her sides as she kept going, her voice raw and fierce.

"Why do you always have to act like this?" Clove's voice trembled, each word sharp and unyielding as she glared up at Cato through the rain. ""Does seeing me get upset make you feel better about yourself? Do you like picking at me until I finally snap?"

Cato watched her, his gaze fixed, almost calculating. Her words struck something in him, each one fanning the tension between them. She was close enough that he could see every raindrop clinging to her lashes, every furious breath puffing out in the cold air between them.

And then he'd had enough.

Without thinking, he closed the distance between them, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers, cutting off her rant in an instant. The kiss was brief, almost restrained, just enough to stop her mid-sentence, to leave them both breathless with surprise. He felt her stiffen, her hands faltering at her sides as she froze, eyes wide with shock. It was just a single, simple kiss, yet it held the weight of every unspoken feeling he couldn't put into words.

They broke apart, only inches away, both of them catching their breath, the rain pattering around them. Clove stared up at him, her expression flickering between disbelief and something else—something he couldn't quite name but that mirrored his own pounding heartbeat.

For a second, they just stared at each other, the silence thick, and then—almost as if drawn by some invisible force—they surged forward at the same time, their mouths colliding again, this time with a desperate, unrestrained hunger. Cato's hands gripped her waist, pulling her against him, and she responded instantly, her fingers tangling in his wet hair as she kissed him back with everything she had.

The kiss deepened, fierce and fervent, each of them pouring weeks, maybe months, of pent-up frustration, anger, and longing into it. Cato's hands tightened around her waist, and in a swift motion, he lifted her, her feet leaving the ground as she wrapped her legs around his waist. It was instinctual, effortless, as if she belonged there, pulled close against him. Her arms wrapped around his neck, clinging to him as he held her firmly, his fingers pressing into her sides as if he couldn't bear to let her go.

Their breaths mingled, coming in heavy gasps as they finally broke for air, their faces just inches apart. The rain fell harder, streaming down their faces and soaking through their clothes, but neither of them seemed to notice. Clove's gaze searched his, her chest rising and falling with each breath, her expression a mix of surprise, exhilaration, and something that had been hidden for far too long. She fit against him perfectly, her body molded to his as they lost themselves in each other, forgetting the rain, the cold, and every argument they'd ever had.

They finally pulled back, breathless, rain dripping down their faces, but neither of them moved away. Cato held her close, his arms still securely around her waist, as if afraid to let go too soon. Slowly, he loosened his grip just enough so her feet could touch the ground, but he didn't take his hands off her. They stood there, faces inches apart, and he let out a small, almost nervous laugh.

"I'm... sorry," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, his gaze softening. "I shouldn't have pushed you like that. I just... I don't know what got into me."

Clove looked up at him, her expression softened now, her anger melting in the warmth of his gaze. She shook her head slightly, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "You're an asshole, Cato," she murmured, the words lacking any trace of the heat they'd had just moments before. "But... I forgive you."

Relief washed over him, and he reached up, gently pressing a kiss to her forehead, lingering there as if savoring the moment. "You don't know how badly I've been wanting to do that," he whispered against her skin, his arms wrapping around her in a warm, steady embrace that felt like it was long overdue. "I love you, so much."

"I love you too," She let herself relax into him, closing her eyes as she rested her head against his chest, the steady beat of his heart calming her. The rain continued to fall around them, but neither of them cared. In that moment, they were content, wrapped up in each other.

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