I own NOTHING. Enjoy.

Waking up, I instantly knew something was wrong. It was the warrior's instinct that was forced on me my entire life. I remembered vaguely that it was the day of the reaping and pushed the feeling of doom off. Today was my day, the day I was to volunteer. Expected to volunteer, honestly. I kept telling myself it was what I wanted, trained my whole life for, but even with all my training the logic never fit. Why would you volunteer? Even with all the training, there's no gaurantee of victory. Sighing, I drag myself from my bed to look in the mirror. I hated mornings, it always took time to put my mask on. The mask that showed the world that I had no fear, no weakness; nothing but a thirst for blood. My name is Cato, District 2.

The person in the mirror slowly became me, or the person I was meant to be. I smiled at myself, completing my transformation and liking what I saw. Not only did I know how to fight, but I knew how to think, which surprised most people. I just look the idiot jock stereotype and I play it off well. The less people know about me, the better off I am.

"Cato, are you awake?" came a voice from behind my door.

"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute." I replied, fixing my blonde hair. My family would kill me if I volunteered looking like a mess.

I open the door and my mother was standing off to the side, "I started a shower for you." Her voice was cold, as always, but held a hint of worry. I silently laughed at her weakness before walking past her into the bathroom.

I shut the door and noticed she had also laid out a nice button up shirt and dress pants for me. I never much cared for formal clothing, but decided to wear them for my family. The heat of the shower did nothing for me, most people enjoy the relaxed feel. I prefer to feel the dull ache from a good workout, lets me know I'm still alive and that I can push myself further. I climb out of the shower, drying myself off when I hear a knock at the door again.

"What?" I snap, patience running thin.

"Breakfast is ready." The same cold tone of my mother muffled by the door.

I slipped my clothes on, watching my muscles ripple. Never underestimate the power of sex appeal in the arena, I tell myself. It was something I told myself often, reassuring the thought. Not that I needed to, people were lined up to date me. I never cared much, finding more thrill in slicing up a dummy with my sword. But knowing that girls wanted to date me let me know that I was attractive, but I didn't need them to tell me what I already knew.

I left the bathroom, content with the clothes I was wearing, not as uncomfortable as I thought they would be. My mother was finishing up pancakes when I walked into the kitchen. I didn't give her a second look before grabbing one off a plate and walking out the front door.

The pancake was sweet, something I wasn't expecting figuring my mother put extra sugar in the batter for the occasion. It irritated me as I chucked it off to the side. My mother, knowing I would volunteer tried to give me a decent breakfast. It was weak.

I mentally prepared myself for the next few hours before finding my way to the reaping grounds. I was accounted for and waited for it to begin. Some lady, dressed up with to much make up and having an odd shade of orange in her hair walked us through the normal routine before reaching into the girls bowl.

"Ber—" She didn't get to finish before a brunette girl volunteered, pushing herself to the front of the crowd and climbing up the steps. I don't know why they bother with names anymore, someone almost always volunteers in District 2.

I was paying little attention; only catching that her name was Clove before the Capitol woman was reaching into the men's bowl. I didn't even give her the chance to say the name before I was shouting.

"I volunteer!"

It came more excited than I anticipated, but decided to play along with it, making myself seem more thrilled for the blood bath to come. There was no need to push my way through the crowd, people naturally avoided me due to my size. I made myself run up to the stage, playing the façade of the eager volunteer.

"And what is your name?" came the shrill dialect of the capitol.

"Cato."

The next two days were a mental blur. Even being from district 2, all the luxuries still made my head spin. I stayed in my quarters, having no real intention of talking to anyone. I knew what I was here to do, and I knew what I had to do. All my mentor would tell me is how to get sponsors or how to survive, which is something I already knew, no point in wasting my time listening to him.

But that's when everything changed.

The train slowed to a stop as we pulled up to the capitol. But the feeling I had a few days ago returned. Something wasn't right. Everything I knew was telling me to stay on the train, that what waited for me was worse than any death I could face in the arena.

Before I was even able to react, my door was pushed open. Peacekeepers.

"Keep your hands where I can see them." He said as he searched my room. I remained silent. I knew something wasn't right. This isn't how the tributes are treated, something was happening. He seemed to be satisfied with his search and reached to grab me. I naturally defended myself, easily stopping the mans advance on me. The last thing I remember was grabing the man's wrist and snapping it with ease.

I awoke in a strange room, feeling the throbing pain in my head, I assumed that I was knocked out and brought here. But where is here? My mind started to race, not having the normal protective mask I put on every morning. Was I in jail? No, I couldn't be. This place is much too nice to be a prison. Then again, what tribute isn't a prisoner deep down.

"Where the fuck am I?" I shout, not recognizing my voice. That's right, I never put my mask on, the person I am right now isn't the person I show the world. Panic began to kick in as I lept from my bed and ran towards the door, happy that it was unlocked.

Bursting into the common area, I noticed Clove and our mentor sitting at a table having breakfast. No need to state that I was confused, my face said it all.

"Look who finally woke up," Clove's sneered. "Just so you know, that Peacekeeper isn't to happy with you. You're lucky you're a tribute and pretty much free from Capitol punishment."

This got a rise out of our mentor, who nearly chocked on a waffle as he began to giggle. He then turned to look at my confused face and totally lost it, waffle pieces launching out of his mouth and catching themselves in Clove's hair.

"That's disgusting." Clove was fingering the bits out of her hair in gross detestment. I was still standing motionless, confusion probably still written all over my face.

No one was answering my questions, so I decided to ask them. "What is going on? How long was I out? Where are we? How did I get here?" I spouted the questions out, not recognizing my own unmasked voice.

"Well, we are in the Tribute Tower. You were out for almost a day. I dragged you here," Clove explained, "which by the way, was not an easy task." She hesitated a moment, her eyes drifted low and then came back with a sly smile. "But I enjoyed every moment."

Before I could even think I was shouting, "What did you do to me?" My shouting caused a strange reaction from our mentor who screamed sheepishly and tried to hide behind his spoon. "And is this guy high or something?" I added.

"I didn't do anything, your highness." Clove swooned, "I wouldn't dream of it. As for him" gesturing towards our mentor, "I don't really know. He doesn't seem all that sane, he's acted like this since I met him, but I guess you wouldn't know since this is the first time you've actually cared to show yourself."

It was the first time I really felt any remorse from anyones words. I caught myself dwelling on the thought of neglecting my mentor and Clove and willed my mask to return. But it wouldn't, and I knew that. I needed the time to prepare and there were too many questions running through my head to concentrate.

"Well then at least tell me what has happened." My voice still unfamilliar, slightly higher pitched than what I'm used to.

She quirked an eyebrow, most likely noticing my higher voice as well. "Apparently something happened while we were on the train. No one is telling any of the tributes anything at the moment, but all plans for the game stopped. It sounds like this year isn't going to happen."

That explains the Peacekeepers barging in. It didn't make any sense though, what could have possibly happened to stop the games? Surely it couldn't have been an uprising, otherwise us tributes would have all been killed on the spot if only to show the districts that the Capitol has full power. What could it possibly—

"You seem different." Clove stated, watching me more closely. I don't think she figured it out, but I played it off by pointing at my throbbing head. She nodded but didn't lose that coniving glare. "The tributes are meeting for lunch in the practice room. There are no rules agianst conversing and from the looks of it, we're gonna be for a while. Mind as well make the best of it."

The news stunned me. They stopped the games for unknown reasons? I suppose conversing wouldn't be the worst idea, get a little more information about the other tributes. But it works both ways, the more I learn about them, the more they can learn about me.

"Not a talker, are you?" Her voice breaking my concentration yet again. "It wouldn't kill you to make an appearance. From the sounds of it, it's gonna be a long and lonely wait for the games for you. They may never even happen, probably send us back home. Just come on down with me. I've met with a few of them already, they aren't so bad."

They aren't so bad… The thoughts rang in my ear. This is completely backwards. I nod at her before returning to my room. I need to compose myself. I stared at myself in the mirror, willing my mask back to life. My mind was clouded with thoughts and my mask was getting harder to put on.

I must have been trying for a few hours, because there was a knock at the door with Clove's distinct voice, "Are you coming?"

Dammit, this was gonna be tough, "Yeah, hold on." I replied.

I turned from the mirror, not recognizing the person staring back. Little I could do. But I was smart, I'd just observe and say as little as possible. I'd stick with Clove and let her do all the talking; she already thinks I'm quiet.

The trip downstairs to the training area was silent. We walked past the untouched equipment into the dinning hall. There were only two people there, a guy and a girl conversing quietly. "District 12" Clove whispered. I nodded.

The boy noticed our arrival and stood up to great us. He waved to Clove, obviously having already met. He walked over with his hand outstreched in a welcoming hand shake.

"Hi, I'm Peeta Mellark." He said as he reached for my hand.

My eyes widened as his hand made contact with mine, the warmth and strength of his hand was something I've never felt before and made me feel slightly queasy. He stared at me, waiting for a response.

"Uhh Hi…" I stopped, my voice wasn't mine once again, damn my inability to regain my mask. I forced my voice lower, "Erhm, Hi. I'm Cato." That was awful, I sounded like a woman pretending to talk in a man's voice.

"District 2, right?" Peeta said, giving me a strange look but releasing my hand and his smile returned. "I'm from District 12, this is Katniss Everdean, also from District 12." He gestured towards a scowling brunette girl that was still sitting.

"Nice to meet you," I forced myself to say. God that was completely fake. "This is Clove." I said pointing at Clove who looked irritated. "Oh, you two probably already, er, met." I rambled.

Peeta smiled, a genuine smile. A smile that was warmer than his handshake. And that's when I knew it was all over. I knew that without my mask, this boy would have me in the palm of his hands. And I was fucked.

A/N: I've got a few chapters done, but gonna wait a bit to see how this works out before continuing. Don't be afraid of slightly dark "I don't care" style of writting. It will change as Cato develops. After all, it is in his perspective. Tips: Don't be a bitch.