Capitol Costume Parties

Written for my 2021 Halloween event.

Pairing: Cato x Male!Reader

Prompt: Cato + “You have a tail. And ears. Pleasetell me those aren’t real.”

A/N: This was the tenth prompt for my 2021 Halloween event! The next piece will be posted on Saturday, October 23rd.

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In the time since Cato had won the Hunger Games, he had started to get used to the specific brand of extremism that came with a visit to the Capitol. He’d grown… not comfortable, but accustomed to the dyed skin and hair that was popular with the Capitol’s citizens. The odd beings had always made him a little uncomfortable, but with the discomfort of their presence came the blessing of yours.

You’d been the escort sent by the Capitol to accompany Cato and Clove on their way to the Games and in the days leading up to entering the Arena and in the weeks on the Victory Tour, Cato had grown close to you. You’d been a breath of fresh air; virtually untouched by the all-around weirdness of the Capitol- normal, despite having lived your whole life in the city.

Cato supposed that was the reason that seeing you across the room at a crowded Capitol party was so shocking. Well, seeing you wasn’t so surprising, he mused, Those were.

Emerging from your (h/c) locks were a pair of pointed wolf ears, which flicked and jolted at the varying noises of the party. At one point, you turned to speak to someone behind you and Cato caught a glimpse of a matching tail swishing behind you.

Eventually Cato managed to catch you when you were on your own, over near the bar lining one edge of the room.

“Oh,” you’d said, eyes widening as you turned to head back to your companions and came face to face with Cato. Your expression brightened as you recognized him, “Cato! It’s been ages since you’ve come to visit! How have you been?”

Your pleased reaction had a small smile teasing at the edge of Cato’s lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to focus on anything but your new… appendages. “You… have a tail. And ears. Please tell me those aren’t real?”

A bright laugh bubbled out of you, eventually settling into a fond grin, “No, Cato, they’re not real. A stylist friend of mine made them; they’re programmed to respond to sound. You realize this was meant to be a costume party, right?”

Cato blinked, and then again, turning to look around him. After a moment, he shrugged and turned back to you, “If I’m being honest, everyone here looks just as weird as they always do.”

“Do you think I’m weird too?” you asked, a teasing glint in your eye as you looked up at him.

He blanched, trying to figure out how to respond in a way that wouldn’t completely blow his chances with you.

You laughed, waving off his silence and setting a hand on his shoulder, “Look, I chose to live in the Capitol instead of taking a residentially stationed job in one of the districts. I know I’m not normal.” You trailed your hand down his arm until you could lace your fingers with his and tug him after you onto the dance floor, “Let me show you that being strange isn’t so bad?”

With you looking up at him like that, Cato was sure that there wasn’t anything you couldn’t get him to do.