A song fic based off the song Bang Bang by Nancy Sinatra. That and can be found in the Kill Bill series and also as the theme and for Bonnie and Clyde. I highly recommend it.
I was five and he was six
We rode on horses made of sticks
He wore black and I wore white
He would always win the fight
Bang Bang
He shot me down
Bang bang
I hit the ground
Bang bang
That awful sound
Bang bang
My baby shot me down
"Haymitch, why do you always win?" Five-year-old Effie Trinket whines, when she's hit with a fake nerf bullet. Six-year-old Haymitch Abernathy appears from behind a tree.
"I dunno Princess." He says, picking at his black pants. They had these Games every Sunday. Effie would pick out her prettiest white dress, Haymitch would wear a nice black shirt and matching slacks, then after church, they would slip to the woods behind her house and play with Haymitch's nerf guns. Effie never won.
"I don't wanna play again." She pouts. Haymitch collects the bullets and then helps up Effie. They begin to walk home. As Effie looks at him, she smiles and grabs his hand. She's giddy when he doesn't pull away.
I can't believe it, she thinks, he really likes me.
Seasons came and passed the time
When I grew up I called him mine
He would always laugh and say
Remember when we used to play
Bang Bang
I shot him down
Bang Bang
That awful sound
Bang Bang
He hit the ground
Bang Bang
I used to shoot him down.
As the duo got older, they fell in and out of love. One day, Haymitch is cooking a romantic dinner for their twentieth anniversary when Effie comes in. A man hangs loosely off her arm. He appears to be from upstate, where Effie was born.
"Haymitch I didn't know you'd be home so soon." Effie says. Haymitch sets down the wine glasses and crosses the foyer to the pair.
"I wanted to surprise you." He says. Effie opens her mouth, but Haymitch cuts her off.
"I understand though. I'm too I'll old now huh? You don't want the old pile of bones. I get it. You and..."
"Seneca Crane."
"Seneca have a nice life. Happy twentieth anniversary Effie." Then, after throwing the towel down, he leaves the house. Doesn't slam the door. Just leaves.
What have I done, she thinks, I've made a mistake.
Music played and people sang
Just for me the church bells rang
Now he's gone, I didn't know why
Until this day sometimes I cry
He didn't even say goodbye
He didn't take the time to lie
Bang Bang
He shot me down
Bang Bang
I hit the ground
Bang Bang
That awful sound
Bang Bang
My baby for me down.
He didn't show up to their wedding. He just disappeared. But even Katniss, Effie and Haymitch's daughter, could get in touch with him. At first Effie thought he was dead. But news from his brother, Charles Undersee, say that he had moved to a small city named El Paso and changed numbers She was relieved to say the least.
A few weeks into their wedding, Seneca Crane started beating Effie. At night, she would cry. She would wonder why she ever left Haymitch. He was a good man, a great lover. It was a mistake.
He didn't even say goodbye. He didn't even bother to lie, to try and make her feel like he was doing better. No. He just shot her down and left her there.
At least, she thinks bitterly one night as she cocks the gun against her head, we had the twenty years we did.