So, uhm, hello at first. This is my very first fanfic I wrote. Ever. And I am not that sure where all this will go ;) I had this idea reading through all the little Drabbles based on that Paring and I admit, I am a bit in love with this ^^ And with all of that Haffie Stuff inside my head there was this idea I would like to read. So I thought about writing to another writer to do something with my idea. But then it was like: Hey, why not try it yourself. And here is the result of it. Sorry if there are some mistake in this Story, my first language is German and the grammar is so stuck inside my head ^^
Enjoy
Disclaimer: Nothing's mine.
It was unbelievable. What was she getting him into? Sitting there, sipping on some herbal Tea, having Smalltalk. With her mother. He never thought he could go any deeper than were he had already been. And that already have been the lowest you could ever imagine.
But just start at the beginning.
"Haymitch, I called you just 3 weeks ago to ask if you could join me with an important appointment. It's just 3 days left and you can't remember anything I told you? I also wrote it in a letter, because I knew you would forget what we talked about." He sensed that everything he would say now would be wrong. So he was quiet. For now.
He held the telephone to his ear, he could hear her breathing heavily in and out, but he wasn't sure what to do next. He had forgotten what she said, she was right about this.
But not on purpose. Also the letter she had written to him just lay next to him on the kitchen counter. Problem was, that it was drowning with booze he had spilled over t and it was nothing to do about the letter, it was unreadable.
He thought about just leaving her there on the phone, hang up and have a nice evening with his best friend Scotch. Instead he had a nice moment and decided to answer her. "Princess, if it is this important to you, you should have done more than just that small letter and a phone call. See, you know how I am, so what are you expecting now? Go down on my knees begging for forgiveness? I don't think so. I can make up for it, if you just tell me again what's the matter of the twist in your knickers." If he had seen it coming he would have held the telephone wide away. Her outburst was unexpected, even to him. "HAYMITCH ABERNATHY, you damn drunkard, I just asked you for one small thing, that's very important to me and all you do is making fun of it!"
Haymitch was beyond hearing, there was just some tingling left in his ear where he had held the telephone. Effie always was calm and referring to her manners, but this… this had been a thunderstorm of hers.
"See Darling, just tell me again what was the matter. And we can make it up then. Not a big deal. Just tell me," he said to her to calm her down and get over with her speech. Rolling his eyes at all that drama he opened a new bottle of Rippers booze with his teeth and spit the cork down on the floor. Someone would clean it up someday, he thought.
At the other end of the line was dead silence. Just her breathing could be heard so he asked: "Still there Trinket?"
"Haymitch. What should I do with you? Even if I tell you know, who could say you won't forget it again just after we hung up? And why can you just not read my letter? Everything is explained there." Effie ran her hand over her eyes in frustration. Why was she even trying to get through to him? Even is she figure it out with him now, tell him what she was expecting and was would be expected from the both of them, how in the world should she do all this within 3 days?
Haymitch sensed that what ever she wanted from him really was important to her. He actually never heard her swearing before. Never. Not in the twelve years they were working together as the District 12 Escort she was and the Mentor to the kids that he should be.
"Ok, listen," she would give it another try, "I called you to ask you if you could do me a really big favor. I gotten into something that I am not able to get out without help from someone else. And that someone will be you, understand?" He nodded in agreement, but remembered that she couldn't see it. So he said: „Sure. Get on with it so I can get back to my couch and do what's best for me." Effie took another deep breath to continue:"I need someone to accompany me to a meeting. Not something official for the Capitol, just something private, but not less important. Haymitch, swear that you would not laugh at me again like you did the last time." His forehand wrinkled with suspicion, why should he laugh about something where he just had to go with her though?
"Ok Sweetheart, some on, spit it out so I can think about it and tell you what's the price you have to pay in return."
'Just like the last time,' she frowned. If she wouldn't know any better she would say she had a deja'vu for what he was telling her. She was a bit nervous about what she would ask of him. But she already managed it once, so why was she hesitating? Was it because of his drinking? Maybe she would fine someone else for the meeting, someone with manners and good behavior like Cinna or someone now completely strange to her. That would be easier than the task she would have to do to het Haymitch in Place. Everyone would sense that something was behind the bush when she would come up with him. That something wasn't right about all the things she told them beforehand. About her job, her friends, her income and of course: of her Finance.
"You have to come with me to my Family. And act as if you are my soon to bee Husband."
Effie closed her eyes and was waiting for his outburst of laughter and all the insults that she had to hear the first time she asked him.
He pressed the laughter that rippled trough him away the best as he could, but she could make out through the phone that he was near exploding with laughter.
"Just… wait a minute… you told I was your what?! Say Princess, what have you gotten yourself into that you ask me of all people to act as your Husband? Is there no one else who can jump in for that cause? No Capitol men at your hand that would love to play a roll in your little nasty play? Why me Sweetheart? Just give me one reason why I should come to the Capitol and make a fool of myself? You know, there are other men out there who are a lot better match than I am?"
If it wasn't for her, he would have hung up that damn phone. Maybe he was drunk but he was not stupid. If she was asking him such a big favor, there was no other one who could go with her. And despite the fighting, shrieking and maybe also a bit of hate that the two had for each other, he knew when she was in trouble. He liked her. A tiny bit. Just enough not to start laughing, because she sounded damn serious.
"Ok Princess, what do I have to do then? Make it quick, so I have you off my back."
So she started explaining it again to him. And that's were all the trouble really began.
I really hope you enjoyed what I wrote for you. In the end , it's not going to be a one shot as I first decided. So there will be more if you like ^^