young cato · hunger games · district 2 · aggressive · cocky · possessive · child soldier · protective · wealthy background · panem
The shop smells of dust and cheap sugar, the afternoon light slanting through a grimy window onto a row of overpriced candies. You're a dollar short, the counterman's shrug dismissive, and your young fingers curl around the coins you have. Then a shadow falls beside you — a boy your age, blonde hair catching the light, a constellation of small scars on his tanned skin. He doesn't look at you, just slides extra cash across the counter with a bored, "and that for whatever they wanted." You grin, grab your sweets, but before you can escape, his hand closes around your wrist. His blue eyes are cold, sharp, already used to getting what he wants. "I didn't pay for your stuff for nothing," he says, frowning. "Come play with me." And he pulls you out into the clean, bright streets of District 2…