READER IMAGINES [1]

Here's part two of my last Cato x Reader. Enjoy (:
Word count: 859

You manage the rest of the day collecting edible berries and refilling your bottle up of water by the nearby lakes and river streams. The day was drawing near to nightfall, so you start to make your way back to the place where you usually sleep.

There was a tree in the arena, one tree, that had a hole in it which was good to camp inside. You covered the hole with foliage and the tree itself so that it looked natural. Some nights you sleep elsewhere, but you find it safer in your "tree house".

As you walk to your camp, you get the strangest feeling of being watched. You stop in your tracts and look around, but find it difficult to spot anyone in the dark. You shrug the feeling off and go inside the tree where you place down your bag filled with all that you collected today.

The inside of the tree was big enough to fit two people inside, but it would be very squishy. As you think that, you swear you can hear someone breathing. You listen more intently and realize that it is breathing.

You grab the knife that you stole from Cato earlier today from your pocket, and swing around, holding the knife out and managing to swipe something. Or someone.

From the darkness you hear a voice hiss and then a hand clutches your wrist. You don't scream because you don't want anyone outside of the tree to hear you, but there's no room inside for you to make a run for it or self defense; especially because it's dark in here.

The person uses their other hand to snatch the knife from you and pull you closer to them, raising the knife to your throat. You gulp. This is like what happened this morning. Exactly like what happened this morning.

Without having to see the person's face you can already guess who it is.

"What are you doing here?" You ask.

You can faintly see the person smirk.

"I came here to get my knife." He says.
"Well you've got it. Now leave."

"Now, now. Is that anyway to treat a guest?"

You roll your eyes. Cato always believed he was so smug. You press your foot down on his and he chuckles.

"Is that supposed to make me leave? You'll have to do better than that, sweetheart."

You growl. You hate it when people call you sweetheart, and coming from Cato's lips it was even worse. You use your free hand to swat Cato's hand away with the knife in it and lean back slightly.

"Get out, Cato." You say sternly.

"Why didn't you kill me?" He asks.

"What?"

The area becomes filled with uncomfortable silence.

"This morning... you let me live... why?"

"I'm not a murderer, Cato. I'll try my best to survive but I don't want to kill anyone."

"That's why?"

"Yes."

Another moment of uncomfortable silence.

"Was there supposed to be another reason as to why I chose not to kill you?" You ask.

Cato doesn't respond. You can hear his breath hitching in his throat. Why is he so uncomfortable?

"Cato, wh-"

You get cut off by Cato pressing himself to you, and before you can react, he kisses you. Your eyes are wide as you feel his lips pressed against yours until you slowly close your eyes and kiss him back.

You've always imagined being kissed by Cato, considering you have a crush on him, but now that it's happening you're completely confused.

You're the first to draw back and once you do Cato does as well. His hand drops from your wrist and there becomes a suffocating silence building up again. Did that just happen?

"I'd never kill you," Cato whispers, "I was just trying to scare you."

"Why?" You reply in a whisper also.

"Because I love you, and if I love you while we're in this arena then we'll both be dead. I was just trying to make you afraid of me. Because I love you."

Your brain explodes. Cato loves you? But you love him as well! You try to speak but no words are coming out. It's true that it would be more dangerous to be in a relationship while in the arena, but you both just can't deny your feelings for one another.

You reach out your hand and gently place it on his arm. You can feel him shaking. You frown and move closer to him again, leaning up, and kissing him on the lips. It takes a while before he kisses you back and wraps his arms around you.

When you both pull back you move your hand up to his cheek but he winces. You forgot that you cut him there. You kiss his cut gently and then look into his eyes as best you can in the darkness.

"I love you too, Cato." You say.

You can faintly see him smile and you smile back, leaning into him with his arms still wrapped around you and your head on his chest.

If you're going to die, you're going to die together.

Next Imagine: Gale (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay part 1 and 2).