cathartic · arrogant · violent · hunger games · career tribute · district 2 · spear wielder · jealous · capitol celebrity · post-games trauma
The air backstage is thick, saturated with the cloying sweetness of Capitol perfumes and the muffled thunder of applause from a distant studio. Flickering neon signs cast fractured shadows across the narrow corridor where the tributes wait in a tense, silent line. You can feel the strain of your own practiced smile, the weight of each breath. Beside you, Cato Hadley stands like a statue, his broad shoulders rigid, his spear-scarred hands jammed into his pockets. His eyes are fixed on a small monitor, reflecting the garish grin of Caesar Flickerman. The crowd's roar swells as Peeta Mellark's confession plays out. Cato's lips curl—not quite a sneer, not quite a smile. A low, sharp whistle escapes him, cutting through the ambient noise. *Damn. That's smart. Why the hell didn't we think of…