Haymitch Abernathy is dwindling a pen between his fingers, sitting comfortably reclined in his chair and talking quietly to another associate when he first sees Effie Trinket. He's 25, fresh out of law school, and wants to become the biggest corporate lawyer this city's ever seen.
"Abernathy," Rothman calls. At the sound of his employer's voice, Haymitch fixes his posture and looks up at the man.
"Yes Sir?"
"I want you to meet Ms. Trinket. She's one of our new paralegals, and she's going to be helping just the associates for now, so you better get to know her."
He turns his head to face the girl standing in front of him and she's beautiful; her hair is the palest blonde, falling in soft curls around her face, and her eyes are such a bright, piercing blue. They remind him of sapphires, and she gives him a small yet awkward smile, probably because he's been staring too long.
Almost immediately he looks away, embarrassed that he was gawking at her, and keeps his gaze on the wall behind her. "Nice to meet you, sweetheart."
"Oh!" she exclaims at the nickname. "Um, my name is Effie. You can call me Effie."
Chaff turns around to look at the new recruit. "He calls everyone sweetheart. Don't take it personally."
"I don't, I just prefer Effie," she nods with a fake smile.
"Well Effie, I'm Chaff, nice to meet you," he responds, and she has a look of satisfaction on her face as Rothman leaves her to socialize with more associates. Soon she's greeted them all, and for some reason she arrives back at Haymitch's desk.
"I never did catch your first name, Mr. Abernathy."
When he looks at her he sees someone so pure and so genuinely kind that he doesn't know how to communicate with her. His life thus far has been filled with a broken mother, a dead brother, a drunk father who ran away. He doesn't know what trust is, or why people would be foolish enough to keep it. Though he barely knows this woman, he's senses that she expects him to be kind as well - to be friendly.
"It's Haymitch."
"Nice to meet you, Haymitch," Effie remarks, beginning to walk away. "Well, you know why I'm here. To help you lawyers with work, research, coffee. I'm just down the hall, so if you need anything, you know where to find me."
She walks away with a spring in her step, and Haymitch can't keep his eyes away from her. They're stuck on her ridiculously long legs and slim waist. He thinks she could've probably been a model or an actress. He snaps out of it when Chaff starts to snicker and throws a ball of paper at him.
"You want her so bad."
"Please," he snidely responds, getting back to work as quickly as possible. She's probably an awful person behind that fake smile and perfect composure. Besides, she's just a fucking paralegal.
Haymitch ought to be damned if she becomes anything more.
They talk sometimes. It's always office stuff: fact check this, review this document, copy this other one. On certain days he and Chaff invite some of their colleagues out for drinks. He likes the act of drinking - likes the way it feels in his body and the way he talks when he's had a glass of whiskey. Effie always declines though, says she has work to catch up on or has to get home early.
Haymitch wishes she would come out for once so he could get to know her. He knows that she's 22, knows that she takes the subway home and that this is her first legal job. He knows that she probably thinks very little of him for visiting bars so often. Yet still, he's so intrigued by her presence that he continues to drop the offer at her door most nights.
One evening in particular, she's in the firm's reference library with books surrounding her on the desk. It's already seven, most people went home long ago and Haymitch was only here because he had to finish drafting subpoenas.
Effie sees him walking in and smiles briefly, returning to her books and writing something down. Her usual blazer is lying on the back of her chair and her hair is done up in a messy ponytail. Haymitch tries not to look at her shirt which has ditched a couple buttons and instead, waves back at her.
"Hey princess, what are you still doing here?"
"Nothing," she insists, not even looking up to make eye contact with him.
"These are a lot of books; do we really have you doing this much research?" he asks jokingly as he picks up one of them. He realizes that it's not a normal law book, but a prep book for the Bar Exam. He's confused. "The Bar?"
"Not that kind of bar. It's a test you have to take, before you can practice law? I'm sure you're familiar," Effie responds sarcastically, causing Haymitch to laugh at her joke.
"Yeah, I'm familiar, but why are you studying for the exam? Right now?"
"Believe it or not, Mr. Abernathy, I have bigger dreams that just being a paralegal for the rest of my life. I want to be a lawyer. Like you, like Rothman and everyone else here. I'm taking part-time classes. I don't care about going to a prestigious school or anything like that, I just need to pass."
They stand in silence for a while, Effie furiously highlighting and reading while Haymitch just watches her. He didn't think that she wanted to be a paralegal forever, it's just that he didn't know that this is the reason she never goes out with the other people at the firm. She's immensely driven and determined, he realizes, and he respects her for that.
"If you're going to keep staring at me like that you might as well sit down and help me," she states after a couple of moments. "I could use it. If not, you can go get your drinks now, I'm not going to keep you."
So Haymitch sits down. He forgets about his plans to stop by the liquor store before it closes and takes a seat in front of the paralegal: this girl he's only known for a couple of weeks. She explains to him that she needed to start working as soon as possible and couldn't afford law school, and that if she manages to pass the exam, Rothman's offered to hire her as an associate. Of course, she still needs to take another three years of her part-time law classes to even be eligible, but Effie doesn't care at all.
"What are you studying right now?", Haymitch asks curiously.
"Constitutional Law."
"Well it's your lucky day, that's my speciality," he jokes, picking up the book.
Her eyes light up and Haymitch wishes he teased her more often. "Is it really?"
He scoffs. "No."
Effie's laugh echoes through the quiet room, and he can't help but chuckle too. Not because what he said was particularly funny at all, but perhaps out of joy for the company. She tucks some hair that fell loose back behind her ear, and rests her chin on her elbow, which is propped up on the desk.
"Well?" she asks, raising her eyebrows and shoving her thick book across the table.
"Well, what?"
"What are you waiting for? Test me, Mr. Abernathy."
On the days when Effie sticks around to study in the library, Haymitch does too. It's just to help her, he says to himself. He himself passed the same exam with flying colours not too long ago, so he knows exactly what material will be on it and what kind of questions they will ask. And Effie seems to enjoy his company too, despite the fact that they barely talk during work hours.
Chaff still notices though. He sees the way that they look at each other for just a bit too long, or how Haymitch takes the long way around to the bullpen so that he passes Effie's office. When he says anything, Haymitch denies it all and calls him a nutjob.
"Trust me, if there was something going on, I'd tell you."
"Whatever you say, man."
The best nights are when they order sushi from the place down the street. He'd never tried it before and Effie gasped in disbelief, insisting that it's one of finest things in life. The restaurant is shitty, nowhere near her expectations, but at eight o'clock they're both starving and would eat anything.
One day while he's testing her on international trade law, he takes out a flask from his briefcase, and Effie gasps audibly in joking disbelief.
"Hello? How are you supposed to help me study when you're inebriated?" she demands, throwing her pen at him.
"Ow! Please Princess, I'm not trying to get smashed, normally I'd be home by this time and would've already poured myself a glass, is all," he justifies.
She tilts her head as if in thought and widens her smiling eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize I was impeding your slow and steady decline into alcoholism, you drunk," she laughs, not realizing how close to home her words have hit.
Haymitch doesn't say anything - doesn't talk about how alcoholism runs in his family or how without a glass of whiskey he often can't fall asleep at night. That's not what she wants to hear, and that's not the person he wants her to see. He takes a swig and savours the taste, looking towards Effie who has her eyebrow raised.
"Come on, sweetheart. What are you going to do, tell on me?"
When Peter Undersee brings his three year old daughter into work, nobody can concentrate on filing evidence or preparing testimonies. She's a tiny little thing, so fun yet so shy.
"I'm Madge," she says while holding her daddy's hand, and Effie can't get away from her.
She practically kidnaps her to the break room, feeding her cookies and braiding her hair. Haymitch rarely sees Effie smiling this much, and it makes him kind of warm too. When he goes to refill his coffee, he asks her if she has any work she still has get done.
"Well, yes, but work is nowhere as fun as little Madgey over here! I'll get it done before I leave, you aren't my boss, Mitch," she remarks, and Haymitch has nothing to do but agree and walk away. He doesn't know which nickname shocks him the most: the one she's given to the little girl she's just met or the one she's given him.
They're barely friends. They see each other at work and help each other out, so Haymitch and Effie are acquaintances if anything. Still, Haymitch wonders if Effie wants kids; he wonders how many she'd want or what she'd want to name them. She'd definitely be a good mom, she's caring and understanding and all those things that moms should be.
At the end of the work day when Peter leaves with Madge, they stop by every cubicle in the bullpen before heading for the elevators.
"Goodbye, Mr. Abernathy," she bids, waving her pudgy little hand.
"Call me Haymitch, sweetheart," he smiles, waving back.
"Bye Haymitch," Peter nods, and just like that they're walking down the hall hand in hand. They stop by the paralegal office and Effie steps out, offering Madge a big hug and saying a couple words to her. He watches as the tiny thing clings onto her and begs her dad to let her stay for just a little bit longer.
Yeah, Effie would definitely make a great mom.
Things don't change until a year has passed. It's Haymitch's birthday, but no one says anything. That's the way it should be, because he hasn't told anyone. He's content with spending it in silent contemplation and keeping things normal. Rumour has it that Rothman's looking to recruit some of the associates to junior partners, and if it's not Haymitch then he'll be positively furious.
So, he works extra hard and shows that he's partner material - taking on a pro bono case and winning it for the firm. When the day ends most people have already left: Effie had an appointment, Chaff apparently has a date and Peter couldn't find Madge a babysitter so he has to get home.
He walks down the street towards his designated bar; it's his birthday and he more than deserves a drink or four. The air is chilly and windy outside, and Haymitch can't wait to step into the warm pub. As he opens the door, he sees a mass of people gathered near the back of the room.
"Surprise!" he hears, and it shocks him.
They've gathered quite the mob, he sees about twenty other people from the office. Peter snaps a picture of his reaction, which is surely one of terror and Chaff strolls up to the door to give him a hug.
It's a never ending flow of "happy birthday"s and well wishes. It's overwhelming, Haymitch hates attention, but it's good to know that people care about him and want to spend an evening with him. When he reaches the last person, he spots Effie looking at him warmly from the back corner with a glass of water in her hand. She puts it down on the table next to her and approaches him.
Haymitch is looking at her in astonishment. He never thought he'd see her here, ever.
"Happy birthday, Haymitch," she greets, pulling him in for a hug. They've never hugged before, but Haymitch decides that he likes it, a lot. Her hair smells like vanilla and it's so soft against his cheek. Effie's only a bit shorter than him and she fits in the hollows of his body perfectly.
When they pull away, he speaks. "So you finally decided to come down for a drink? This is wild."
"Well I couldn't miss your birthday, Mitch, of course I had to come," Effie says casually, but she also looks into his eyes and bites her lip just a bit. They talk a little bit more about work and clients, but the bar is so noisy they're practically shouting over one another.
"Do you want to go outside?" Effie suddenly asks. "I want to grab a smoke, you're welcome to join me."
Without thinking too much he follows her out of the doors. There are still a couple people walking back and forth on the sidewalks. It's only seven, but the winter months make the days so incredibly short.
"I didn't know you smoke," he mumbles, the music and voices from inside still ringing in his ears. Her deep blue eyes twinkle, it reminds him of the sun's reflection against ripples in a lake.
"Well, there are a lot of things you don't know about me yet."
From teasing way she looks at him and how her dimples are peeking through from her small smile, Haymitch has to follow her out. Sometimes Effie says things that sound like a challenge or a promise, and they make his stomach turn upside down and his heart beat faster. He's entranced and excited, so he doesn't think twice as he lets himself fall further for the flirty paralegal.
"Happy Thanksgiving," Haymitch mumbles sarcastically, placing their big order of takeout sushi on the sleek desk where they're situated in the office library. Effie laughs giddily and unties the bag, reaching in for her soup and roll.
They're the only two people in the office, as per usual. Except this time it's not only because it's late, it's because it's a national holiday and practically the whole office took a day off. He thought Effie would be going home too, except she surprised him by walking into the office today and confirming their study date for tonight. Her exam is in a few months, and she's starting to get really nervous and neurotic about not studying enough.
"See, I'm very thankful for all the food options we have in this city. I much prefer Japanese to a traditional turkey dinner, anyways," Effie blabbers while chewing. She doesn't usually let herself loose at the office, but studying at night seems to turn her into a whole other person. Haymitch likes it when she's silly, quick-witted and a bit flirtatious.
He huffs in response. "I love turkey dinner. I think it's really good once in awhile."
"No. Never. Or maybe it's just awful at my household. Mother isn't really a great cook anyways."
"Is that why you're here instead? Because you hate your mother's food?" he asks doubtfully.
"No," Effie scoffs, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I usually do go home. It's just that this year I'm protesting my family's values, the status quo, so to speak."
"What do you mean?"
"My mother is obsessed with getting me married. She would probably rather have me marry rich than spend a dollar on law school, hence this," she explains, motioning towards the study books set out in front of them. "And my father doesn't do anything to stop it. My sister is such a fucking kiss-ass, so this year I decided to be stuck in bed with the flu." Effie shrugs playfully. Haymitch tries to laugh along, with her, but she notices the solemn look on his face.
Perhaps she feels guilty for everything she just said; how awful is it that she chooses not to see her family for such seemingly shallow reasons, when Haymitch has no one? He doesn't blame her though, she doesn''t know, and this is just the way things are for him.
"Mitch?" she starts, looking at him intensely. "Why aren't you home for the holidays?"
"No home to go back to, I guess," he whispers, playing with the chopstick wrapper. He doesn't want to make eye contact with her, doesn't want to see her pity him or think of him differently. Talking about his problems is not something he's comfortable with, and it's peculiar how quickly light-hearted banter could turn into real, hard conversation with Mitch and Eff.
After a couple of silent moments he feels her small hand rest on top of his, stopping his fidgeting. "Well Haymitch, I might just have to bring you home for Thanksgiving sometime soon. And then you'll never miss turkey dinner again."
He smiles.
"Hey Abernathy, where's Effie today?" Chaff asks absentmindedly, working on some papers.
"She took the day off. Writing the Bar," he grumbles. He and Effie had met for coffee this morning before she left to write the exam. She wouldn't be at work for another two days - just another form of torture that they make students go through before becoming a lawyer.
"Oh shit, already? Time flies, doesn't it."
It really does. It's been almost three years since Effie began working at Rothman & Associates, and Haymitch can't believe that they'd been studying for that goddamn exam for so long.
"Imagine Trinket sitting here in the bullpen, with us," Chaff laughs, motioning at the large open space filled with cubicles.
If she was in the bullpen with him, he'd never get any work done. She'd probably find some way to make him laugh, some kind of inside joke that would cause him to look at her every few minutes. That's what it's like with them, fast paced, quick humour. He'd also probably be distracted because of how much he likes looking at her. Effie always catches him staring at a loose strand of hair in front of her face or at the way she chews on her lip when she's concentrating. But sometimes when she manages to make him smile, he looks up and sees her gazing back with something more than friendship in her eyes, which leaves them both hopeful.
Yeah, it's safe to say that having Effie in the bullpen would change things quite a bit.
A long winter passes, and when the snow finally starts to melt away Haymitch finds himself in a relatively better mood. After another long day at the office, he descends in the elevators and steps out into the lobby. He's surprised to find Effie sitting on one of the benches waiting for him, already in her long coat. She calls his name, waving him over to her.
"Hey, Eff, is something wrong?"
The blonde chews her lip nervously and holds a large white envelope in her hand. "Maybe. Hopefully not. I just thought that you should be here, to open this because if I passed, it's as much your victory as it is mine, so I waited here for you to be done and-"
"Your Bar results came in," he concludes from her rambling. "Well, what are you waiting for, let's open it."
"I just-" she starts, but can't seem to find the words. "I'm scared of what I'm going to do - if I pass or if I don't pass."
"If you don't pass we're going to study more, study harder so that you're ready to try again next year. If you do pass, I'll take you out for dinner right now and celebrate what an amazing lawyer you're going to be."
Effie looks at him with wide, hopeful eyes and a reluctant smile. After over three years of knowing her, Haymitch still can't get over her deep blue eyes and the way they light up. He swallows hard, realizing how much he cares about this girl. Nodding towards the envelope, he urges her to open it. She rips the seam with her nail and slowly pulls out the papers. Effie's poker face is impeccable, and Haymitch finds it impossible to read whether she's disappointed or overjoyed.
"Effie? How'd you do?"
"I- I did it," she whispers as her hands drop the envelope and come up to cover her mouth. "We did it. I passed, Haymitch, I'm a lawyer!"
He throws his arms around her and pulls Effie in while she's still frozen in disbelief. Soon she begins to hug him back, and neither of them care that they're on a bench in the lobby of their building where everyone is watching them, because Haymitch is so fucking proud of her and the fact that she's finally a lawyer.
It feels so natural. Her smell, her warmth, her name when it rolls off of his tongue. So when he leans in to capture her lips, it feels natural too. She tastes like the sweetest candy and the finest wine. When Effie starts kissing him back and moving her lips, Haymitch swears that he's already drunk.
It's such a gentle kiss. Neither of them are demanding or rough, and although the exchange is brief, too brief, by the end she's leaning into him and pulling on his tie.
"Fuck, Eff, we're- we're in public," he states, chuckling nervously. He's trying to act normal but truthfully he's thinking too much. Thinking about kissing her again, touching her, making her moan and scream his name: he's finally seeing that he'll never want anyone more than he wants Effie Trinket, right now.
Effie doesn't say a word. She simply nods in agreement and clutches her result papers tightly, as if she's never going to let them go. Her cherry red lips are swollen and still slightly parted, and Haymitch swears it's the sexiest thing he's ever seen.
"Well," he starts while coughing awkwardly. "I promised you dinner, what's it going to be, sweetheart? Your choice."
She thinks for a little bit before her eyes flash bright. "There's a new Greek place across the street, I heard their gyros are to die for. Would that be okay?"
"Sounds amazing," Haymitch says, getting up from his seat and walking towards the door. Effie quickly follows. They don't touch and simply walk side by side; he thinks that perhaps Effie didn't want to be kissed.
But maybe (just maybe,) she also feels the tension thick between them and wants him too. It seems like a stretch, but can't a man hope?
For weeks they don't talk about it. Their nightly study sessions have ended, and Haymitch and Effie aren't able to see each other as much anymore. Especially because Effie is busing moving her stuff from the paralegal office to the bullpen, and Haymitch, arrogantly, already feels like he's moving out.
He knows Rothman's going to promote him anytime now. Chaff jokes that the boss secretly thinks about Haymitch as his own son, and he doesn't disagree. Haymitch doesn't mind it; he'll be Rothman's favourite if it also means he gets to be a junior partner. Soon he's going to have his own office and associates to boss around, and he entertains the idea of him and Effie working on the same case.
Speaking of Effie, every time he sees her he panics and freezes up. When they went to the Greek place later that night, they had simply pretending that nothing was different - that they never kissed. And Haymitch wishes it wasn't like this, he wants to kiss her again and again until both their lips are numb. But if Effie wants to forget about it, he's not going to embarrass her; he'll keep his distance if she wants.
Until she pulls him into the supplies closet.
They were passing each other in the hall after lunch when Effie grabbed his arm and dragged him in, taking him by surprise. They hadn't talked in so long, her face almost felt foreign and changed.
Effie seems nervous or at least fidgety. Her eyes are wide open as if she's waiting for him to speak first, but all Haymitch can do is stare back. He's pushed against boxes of white paper, and Effie's practically between his legs. They close the door awkwardly, not wanting anyone to look in and see two associates this close to each other.
"Are you attracted to me, Haymitch?" Effie finally asks, and Haymitch is taken aback.
"What do you mean, is this a trick question?" Of course he's attracted to her. This whole time he's been avoiding Effie because he's so freaking attracted to her. He thought that she wanted to forget about the whole thing, and therefore never brought it up. But now that they're together, confronting one another in such a confined space, Haymitch realizes what an idiot he's been, what an asshole he must've looked like.
"Are you attracted to me," Effie repeats. "You know, do you think I'm pretty or smart or funny, or do you want to kiss me again because I feel like I did something wrong for you to ignore me. I mean, if I was bad, I assure you it was only because you took me by surprise and-"
His lips are on hers in no time at all, and Haymitch swears he hears Effie sigh into his mouth in relief. She kisses him with so much intensity he doesn't think he can stand any longer, so he leans back against the wall, careful not to let the tower of boxes tumblr to the ground.. Soon, she's standing between his legs with her hands running through his hair and his own snake around her waist and draw her in so close they're flush.
When Haymitch's hands descend toward the curve of her hips, Effie lets out a low moan and grips tighter to his hair. She tries to slow him down, remind him that they're in the office, but her own body keeps responding and moving against his.
After a couple more minutes of intense kissing and innocent petting, they draw back from each other, and Haymitch is beaming.
"Yeah. I'd say that I'm pretty attracted to you, Sweetheart."
Things move quickly after that. Everyday they go out to eat lunch with each other and steal glances across the bullpen. Effie makes him feel giddy, like the way your heart seems lighter at the top of a roller coaster. They're still trying to keep things at a good pace though, only kissing chastely, and for too short of a time.
One day Rothman calls him into his huge office in the corner of the building. From where he's sitting, he can see an entire city skyline through the floor to ceiling windows, and he wonders what it would be like to work in a space like that every single day. He knows this is it. After years of taking on extra cases and impressing all the partners, he was finally going to join them: get his own office, attend partner meetings, get to boss around some associates.
"Abernathy, I assume you know why you're here."
"I hope so, sir."
He's ready to shake his boss's hand and thank him for the opportunity, but what Rothman says next is not what he was expecting at all.
"You and Ms. Trinket. Is it serious?"
"Uh- I, um-"
"Because if it is you better tell Human Resources, fill out a form. We're fine with office relationships here, we'd just prefer to know who's kissing who, so that no one's distracted, you understand?"
"I understand Sir." He thinks he understands. He's just very confused and shocked that name partners like David Rothman would notice anything about him and Effie, and also that he's in his employer's office and not getting the promotion. He stands up to leave, still hesitant, but stops right before opening the glass door. "I just thought I'd be made a junior partner sometime soon."
"Oh you are," Rothman says blankly, sporting an amused smile. "Congratulations, Haymitch."
Haymitch scrunches his eyebrows in disbelief, not understanding his boss's state of mind. Maybe he's gone crazy, or forgot until that moment. "What do you-"
The old man shrugs. "I just like to see you squirm."
He's working peacefully in his private office when she knocks on his door, letting herself in.
"Wow, Mr. Abernathy, nice digs," she jibes.
"Thanks, Ms. Trinket, the views pretty good isn't it?"
"Which view are you referring to?" There's that twinkle in her eyes again, and Haymitch gets up to approach her, sitting on the front side of his desk. Her plum coloured cami dips down just low enough to tease him, and the junior partner can't help but lick his lips.
Effie either doesn't notice or ignores it, because she walks towards his full length windows and looks down on the city and admires the view.
"I'm going to be a partner here soon. When I get it, I want an office bigger than yours."
He raises a brow, and looks at her from behind. She's still 26, far younger than the partners here at the firm. But for some reason, he feels like if anyone could become the youngest senior partner this firm's ever seen, it would be Effie. He believes she'll do it if she says so, and he decides to play along with her game.
"I want to become name partner one day, have my name plastered on all the signs."
She spins around, looking him up and down as if she's sizing him up. Haymitch loves that with Effie, it's never about the past or any problems they might've dealt with before. With them, it's about the future - big dreams, expectations and goals - and that makes Haymitch feel excited and like there's something to look forward to.
"Abernathy & Associates," Effie says to herself, processing the idea. After a couple of seconds she shrugs and nods jokingly. "Yeah, I can see it."
One night they're leaving the office, hand in hand as they descend into the subway. They commute separate directions, and usually say goodbye about now, but this time when they're about to part ways Effie gives his hand a tug, pulling him her way.
"Are you doing anything right now? Because you could come over if you want - if you have time."
Haymitch raises his eyebrows at her and nods, following her down the tunnel to her subway platform. Neither of them have work tomorrow and he was just going to go home, drink a glass or two of scotch and call it a day, but going to see Effie's place definitely sounds like a more eventful evening. Of all the time they've known each other, they've never met outside of a three block radius of the office, never seen each other out of their suits and blouses.
The train quickly pulls up and they step inside. There are panels in the subway car right next to the doors, and since most of the seats are taken they each lean on one of them, facing across from each other. Haymitch takes a look at Effie and she's beaming, looking at their fingers intertwined and the way her knuckles graze against his. For a moment they just listen to the rumble of the subway tracks and the quiet mumbles of the other passengers. But Effie's apartment is still a couple stations away, and the two of them can only stay quiet for so long.
"So what are we doing at your place?" Haymitch asks, half suggestively and half with genuine curiosity.
"Oh you know. Monopoly, hide-and-seek, snack. The whole shebang," she jokes as she looks up to meet his gaze. He laughs, leaning his head against the panel behind him and chuckling. "What's for snack?"
"I'm thinking pasta."
"That's really fancy for a snack," Haymitch comments, playing along. "Are you cooking?"
She snorts. "Of course not. There's an amazing Italian place near my house. You have you try it, their pesto is to die for." She bites her lip. "And I may have already made reservations for us two days ago."
Haymitch shakes his head in mocking disapproval and clutches onto her hand a little bit tighter. "Neither of us can cook, we've never eaten anything not made by someone else. I think I'm going to have to leave you. Princess."
Effie pulls on his arm when the subway also jerks to a stop, which causes Haymitch to stumble forward awkwardly into her body. She puts her arms around him and keeps him against her, so that her mouth is against the nape of his neck, laughing. Her hot breath against his skin and teasing smile are driving him mad. A kiss is planted on his delicate skin, and Effie gazes up at him with those fucking blue eyes, jibbing him.
"You would never."
And just like that, Haymitch is hungry for something else.
They skip the restaurant and head right to her place, practically running up the stairs and Haymitch buries his head in her hair and holds her hips from behind her as Effie fumbles with the keys. Soon she's pressed against her wall and Haymitch is kissing her hard, running his hands up and down her clothed body. He throws off her coat and begins to unbutton her blouse and trail his kisses down her neck, and soon Effie is mewling into his ear and moaning his name.
She's the sexiest thing he's ever laid eyes on, and when he sees her peach coloured lacy bra against her creamy white skin he starts salivating. Haymitch dips his head down and leaves a love bite on the top of one of her breasts. Effie is pulling at his tie and messing with his dress shirt to get it off, and when he's shirtless and bare-chested she runs her hands over his muscular build.
"I want you so fucking much, Haymitch," she whispers almost as a confession, heavy lidded and filled with lust.
"I swear, I'm yours."
So they claim each other in the most intimate way. It's rough and aggressive and their constantly fighting for dominance. Slowly but surely they make their way across Effie's apartment and into her bed, falling right over onto the plush mattress. When he fucks her slowly and eagerly, he loves seeing her face and hearing her noises with every thrust. She's so perfect and tight, and he wishes they could be joined like that forever but it only takes a couple more minutes for him to be shouting her name and spilling into the condom that they'd managed to get on.
It's the best sex he's ever had, and by the way Effie's smiling to herself and still trying to catch her breath he knows that she feels the same way.
After a couple minutes of comfortable silence he feels her shift on the bed. She's reaching onto her nightstand for her box of cigarettes and a lighter. She needs it even if Haymitch doesn't like it, but even he has to admit, there's something so entrancing about Effie Trinket lighting up a smoke in bed; she's still naked and her breasts are illuminated by the moonlight from the window, and the way she makes a few "o's" out of smoke that float through the room leaves Haymitch hypnotized.
It's like they're floating on a cloud, or existing in a bubble that no one can reach or dare pop. It makes his heart race and his head dizzy, but he's never felt more alive in years. Not since before his brother's car accident, or before his life turned to shit.
He has a feeling it scares her too, but they never did do boring.
A/N: Hi! Thank you so much for making it to the end of Part 1. This was supposed to be a one-shot, but it kept growing and growing and I needed to break it up! Soon I'll post the second part, which is much darker and a tad bit more angsty; this first half is definitely all fluff.
This is story also exists in the same universe as my Gadge story, "Attorneys at Law," but you aren't required to read it at all. Unless you like Gadge, which in that case, please check it out. (There's snippets of Hayffie too!)
Did you love it? Hate it? Tell me what you think, I'd love to hear your opinion!