I'll Be Beside You (Sequel to I'll Be Watching You)

Our Pick of The Litter (with Cato POV)

Once again the Tribute Parade was a blur. Instead of smiling and waving, Cato and I looked down upon the citizens like the whole thing was beneath us. Our outfits resembled those that Peeta and I wore last year and once again the crowd cheered our names. Stepping into the elevator, the female tribute from 7 stepped in with us. She looked us up and down.

"Well, that was amazing."

I could hear the sarcasm dripping in her voice.

"My stylist is such an idiot. District 7, lumber, trees. How I would love to stick my axe in her face. How do you feel now that the whole world wants to sleep with you?"

"I don't think tha-"

"I wasn't talking to you."

She turns around in front of Cato and gestures to her back.

"Can you unzip?"

He grabs her zipper and I give him the dirtiest look I can muster. Johanna now stands in front of us, completely stark naked and I can see out of the corner of my eye that Cato is trying so hard not to look. I avert my eyes away as I do not want my lunch to come back up anytime soon. The elevator stops and she flounces out.

"Thanks, lets do it again sometime!"

I give Cato a smack across his shoulder and he tries to defend himself. We went straight up to the Penthouse, listening to the droning voice of Effie.

"Everything will be different because it's a Quarter Quell. The Capitol has spared no expense; a new training centre and of course, a very special arena."

I rolled my eyes and Cato struggled to hold in a laugh. We walked in through the door and Cato's jaw dropped.

"What!?! This is what you had last year?!? Our room wasn't this flash!"

"Well, that's the only good thing about being from 12."

Effie turned and looked at us.

"What about having me as an escort?"

"Like I said, the only good thing about being from 12 is the room."

She huffed and stalked off to her bedroom while Cato and I doubled over in laughter. Haymitch pushed past us, heading straight for the kitchen. Most likely heading straight for the liquor cabinet. I knew sleep was good for the baby so I headed straight to bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

****

CATO POV

I woke up to the sound of Brooke's voice, my favourite thing to wake up to.

"Cato, Cato! Wake up! Time for training!"

Rolling over, I looked at the clock.

"Babe, it's 6:30. Training doesn't start til 8:00."

"Not in my book. I was at the Centre before everyone. Come on babe you were a Career, you better keep acting like it."

I groan and swing my legs over the side of the bed. I feel Brookes hands on my shoulders and she proceeds to give me shoulder rub. She really get her fingers into the knots and I let out a moan when she hits my sweet spot.

"Oh, so that's your sweet spot huh? Now that I know where it is, I can make you moan all I want."

She rubs it again and I can't stop myself from moaning again. She smiles seductively and runs her hands up and down my back.

"Babe, shouldn't we be training? I mean it was moan your idea."

"Yeah sure, we'll continue this soon."

****

We entered the training centre hand in hand and took in our surroundings. It was a new training centre all right; holograms that attack you, new circuits and all new people. I watched as Gloss threw a knife at a bright orange hologram before Cashmere came and they threw their knives together. My mentor from last year, Brutus, was also using holograms. He threw just the one spear and it 'killed' 2 holograms at the same time. Enobaria was over with a trainer, sparring. She got him on the ground and bared her teeth, I felt Brooke shiver beside me and I put my arm around her. She looked over at Wiress and Beetee who were over at the fire station, they looked like they were having a bit of trouble creating a flame. She walked over to them and they began talking. I look around and see Johanna working alone with her axe. She digs it into the ground and when she spots me watching her, she smirks and picks up her axe. I watch my fiancée as she helps out Wiress and Beetee before getting up and heading over to Mags, who is making fish hooks. Brooke is so beautiful and helpful.

****
I still can't believe it. Brooke completely wowed everyone with her knife and spear skills. We head back up to the Penthouse, Haymitch walking in after us.

"Sharp shooting sweetheart. At least half the tributes want you as an ally."

"Well they saw her shoot."

"You have your pick of the litter."

"I want Wiress and Beetee."

"Johanna calls them Nuts and Volts, babe."

"Ok and who else?"

"Mags."

I sigh, a little bit too loudly.

"Fine, then no one."

"I'll tell them you're still thinking about it."

Haymitch walks out and I sit down on the couch next to Brooke.

"Babe, are you sure those are the people you want? I mean I would prefer Johanna and Finnick to be honest."

"I think that having Mags, Wiress and Beetee could be a huge advantage for us."

****

The next few days just flew by. Soon enough, it was time for evaluations again. It was weird being at the back of the line instead of the front like last year. It seemed that the time went much faster this time around because soon enough they were calling my name.

"District 12, Cato Hadley, report for individual assessment."

I gave Brooke a kiss before heading inside. I just had to do something different from last year, but what?

"Mr Hadley, you have 10 minutes to present your chosen skills."

I look around, there are more weapons than last year but then my eyes fall on the natural paints. I want to show the Gamemakers how angry I am. I grab the paints and just use the floor as a canvas. When Heavensbee tells me that times up, the image of a Dead Peeta is finally finished and I march out, oblivious to Heavenbee's grin.