Meant it

"Did you really mean what you said" Effie asked discreetly as they all dispursed from the board room

"Mean what?" Haymitch answered, seemingly clueless. He was a few steps ahead of her and he tried to hide the smirk on his lips from the sound of her heels, tottering quickly behind him to keep up

"About me, my look. Do you…"

The tottering stopped and it made him come to a halt too. He turned around to see her shaking her head hastily and scrunching her eyes.

"Never mind" she trilled eventually, pressing her lips into a thin smile "Forget about it…" the moment had passed for her and boarderlined awkward. She tried to walk on past him but he stopped her, looked around them sharply and then guided her into a nearby empty room.

"I meant it" he said bluntly after a beat. He crossed his arms across his chest and looked her up and down curiously. "Did you mean what you said?" He asked back, catching her off guard.

Effie swallowed slowly but tried her best not to break eye contact with him. Giving herself away would be a humiliating mistake. She was stronger than that, she took a breath and fired back.

"If you mean, did I mean to say that I am glad you are no longer a sour, mean and foul mouthed drunk of an ass, then yes, of course I meant it"

He looked a her for the longest second as she stood there with her chin raised in front of him, acting like their moment alone and their proximity wasnt effecting her in any way. She didn't fool him.

He snorted a laugh and licked his lips "I'm still foul mouthed, sweetheart"

"Yes, maybe" She stuttered "B-but you're not a drunk, and that's the most important th-"

Her voice disappeared as he advanced.
He was so close she could feel the warmth from his body stroking her skin. Without another word she felt his hand at her face and his thumb caressed slowly across her jawline making her knees weaken.

He saw it. That split second moment of weakness in her eyes and he knew he'd ensnared her, just as she had ensnared him as she licked her parted lips.

He moved a little closer and Effies eyelids fluttered shut, expectantly.

"I meant what I said, Trinket. Even if you are still a weirdo"

Weirdo?! Her eyes shot open in anger but before she could even think of protesting, his lips were against hers and suddenly words didn't matter anymore.

The kiss was definitely meant.