The stench of moldy food, dirty laundry and of course, alcohol, mixed within Plutarch's nostrils as he entered into Haymitch Abernahy's territory. He didn't bother knocking knowing the possible condition the inebriate is in right now. Instead he just entered his home and covered his nose and avoiding all kinds of trash while searching for Haymitch. Eventually, he found him asleep on his dining table.
"Haymitch, Haymitch, wake up," Plutarch began shaking Haymitch's shoulders awake.
Haymitch began groaning.
"Haymitch!" He yelled and tried shaking him again.
"WHAT?"
Good, aresponse, Plutarch thought.
He decided to shake him some more but suddenly, Haymitch pushed Plutarch against a wall with a knife in his throat. Plutarch made rasping sounds as Haymitch strangled him.
"Ha—hay"
Haymitch shook his head and widened his eyes. He immediately released his grip seeing a panic-stricken Plutarch. Plutarch rubbed his neck as he gasped for oxygen. Haymitch face palmed and his hands slowly slid down from his face.
"Dammit, Plutarch! Don't wake me up when I'm in a hangover," Haymitch growled.
"I'll keep that in mind," was Plutarch's simple reply after regaining his breathing.
Then, Haymitch helped Plutarch up and lead him to the living room. He swept away the alcohol bottles piling up on his couch before asking Plutarch to sit. He took the recliner across the couch.
"So, what brings you here?" Haymitch grumbled folding his arms over his chest.
"We have a situation at hand and we need you," Plutarch stared intently at Haymitch's half lit eyes which grew in alarm but he blinked it away.
"Snow's dead, there's no Hunger Games, most of us are... sort of alive. What could happen this time?" Haymitch hoped that his sarcastic tone hid all the worry he actually had and hoped Plutarch just came in to say hi but the twitch in Plutarch's face killed the little hope he had.
"It seems that Snow slipped in a final gift to Katniss, Peeta and Gale somehow,"
Haymitch's eyes grew wide. He took a deep breath to avoid panicking.
"They are fine, by health anyway, Haymitch, but—"
"But WHAT?" Haymitch growled. The poor man couldn't take the built up tension in him. "Come on, Heavensbee. SPIT IT OUT."
Plutarch sighed. "Peeta, Katniss and Gale received these roses. They all panicked at the sight of it, so they threw them out which was a bad idea. The roses were sharp and it was doused with some concoction. So, they got cut and the chemicals seeped in their bloodstreams,"
"Causing what? Slow Poisoning? Where are they? Take me to them," Haymitch stood up almost about to leave. "Good heavens. You're ki–"
Suddenly, Plutarch slammed his hand on the small table beside him causing a vase to fall and crash.
"Mr Abernathy, SIT DOWN, SHUT UP AND LET ME FINISH!"
Haymitch swallowed air as he made his way back to his seat and Plutarch took a deep breath returning to his calm disposition.
"I must say, Haymitch. I've never seen you so- concerned,"
Haymitch glared at him. He's not sure whether he is mocking or complimenting him.
"Anyway, Good guess, but no,"
"Then what? Why can't I go now?" Haymitch's voice sounded impateient again. Plutarch glared a warning at Haymitch and waited that he looked like he's willing to listen before continuing.
"Katniss, Peeta and Gale have all turned into children,"
Haymitch blinked rapidly and stared at him in disbelief.
"Heavensbee, you screwing with me?" Haymitch snarled. "They ARE children, Plutarch, old children, but children nonetheless,"
Plutarch could understand his confusion. He was just as confused himself when he heard the news, but he's got to make Haymitch understand.
"You don't understand. We're not only talking about children in the 'they-are-young' sense. We're talking about young children–SIX years old, Haymitch. They are now SIX,"
Haymitch's brain was numb. He couldn't wrap his mind around what he just said. He leaned back on his chair scratching his head.
"Are you kidding me, Plutarch? Is that even possible?"
Plutarch nodded in reply.
"Apparently… This little girl. She's the granddaughter of the lady who watched over Katniss after the war... uhh…"
"Greasy Sae?"
"Ah, yes, her. Her granddaughter visited the area this morning to deliver something to Katniss and heard crying from Peeta's house. She was curious and looked inside the window and saw a child crying. Hoping that Katniss would help, she brought the boy to her house but instead, found another child. She asked the two their names and answered that they were Katniss and Peeta. She was confused and scared so she looked through Katniss' list of phone numbers. She saw Dr. Aurelius' name and being a doctor, she called him up first. Dr. Aurelius couldn't believe it, so, he called me up for this matter. I was afraid it would be a trap, but someone from District 2 called up and told me about Gale's situation. One of his companions witnessed Gale open the package, so I sort of know how it all happened. I came here and checked up on Katniss and Peeta and sure enough, I saw the girl playing with six year old, Katniss and Peeta. I saw the roses spread all over the floor. The girl was also able to bandage the wounds they got, but their situation is still bad."
He couldn't believe his ears. Haymitch knows how advanced technology is but this sounds ridiculous to him. He bent forward with his chin propped on his locked hands and his attention focused.
"Wait, they still think like their age and remember… everything?" Haymitch asked.
"No," Plutarch shook his head in reply. "All they can remember is their name and people but so far, they didn't show anything that involves trauma over the Games,"
Haymitch turned to the clock whose hands weren't functional anymore.
"What time of the day is it, and why hasn't anyone called me?"
"It's seven at night,"Plutarch answered. Haymitch glanced at the window. He couldn't tell the time because all his heavy curtains were closed all the time.
"And we did," Plutarch continued. "We tried to call you several times. We wanted you to be the one to check up on Katniss and Peeta, but you wouldn't answer your phone,"
Haymitch leaned back in his chair trying to process what Plutarch had said. Then, when he's sort of believing it, he slouched forward and locked his hands, ready to listen and participate.
"Alright, what do you want me to do? Help find that bastard who sent that to them? I can do that." Haymitch's face turned dead serious. He's grown attached to his own star-crossed lovers and he doesn't want to see something bad happening to them.
"No, that won't be necessary," Plutarch said.
Haymitch didn't understand. He's confused at what role he takes in with this problem.
"Wait, what DO you want me to do? I can't make a cure,"
"District 3 has it covered," Plutarch informed.
"And I can't think of anything else I can do, really, and you asked me for help. So, what are you thinking?"
Haymitch's eyes squinted in confusion and Plutarch smiled nervously at him.
"I need you to take them to the Capitol for check-up. You know, test them if they are indeed the real Katniss and Peeta through fingerprint analysis and DNA tests,"
His eyes shot open.
"You want me to babysit them. Are you kidding me? Of all people. Why me?"
"Because you're their mentor," Plutarch reasoned.
"Come on, Plutarch," Haymitch's voice raised and his arms begin flailing around for effect. "I'm in no condition to babysit six year olds. What about Katniss' mother or Hazelle, heck, what about you?"
"She's in no shape to face her daughter, Hazelle's sick right now and I have my own duty regarding this situation. Besides, you're close to these kids, and they seem to remember you pretty well. Katniss calls you Uncle Hobo,"
Plutarch grinned, obviously to stop him from bursting out laughing while Haymitch just rolled his eyes.
"As for Mr. Hawthorne," Plutarch added. "His companions will meet you with him in the Capitol— IF you go,"
Haymitch huffed. He really doesn't want to do it, but he sort of loves Peeta and Katniss. The three of them are like this messed up District 12 victor family and he just wants this over with.
"Fine, I can babysit the little rascals for a while, but only for the test,"
Plutarch smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I already called up Effie,"
Haymitch moaned at that name. "Her?"
"Yes. She'll meet you at the train station tomorrow at nine am. She knows you and the Capitol both at the same time, so, she'll be your… aahhh…" Plutrach drummed his fingers on his thigh thinking of the correct term. "… Escort. Just a Capitol escort and not an escort to death,"
Haymitch gritted his teeth at all this and Plutarch looked at his watch.
"The next train to the Capitol would leave at nine pm, so get ready because my train to 3 leaves soon,"
Plutarch stands up, about to leave and Haymitch yells at him to stop.
"Yes, Haymitch?" Plutarch turns to face Haymitch who is now standing with paranoia written from his face to his body form.
"Who's taking care of Katniss and Peeta now?"
Plutarch tried to stifle a laugh.
"You were so concerned for them yet you haven't even asked the basic of questions,"
Haymitch grew tired of Plutarch's humor. It took all his effort not to stab him with one of his broken bottles at that moment. Plutarch could feel Haymitch's fury.
"They're with… uh… who was that really happy friend of Katniss now?"
"Delly, I think?"
"Yeah, she's watching over them. The granddaughter had to go back home. She said her grandmother was sick but she couldn't leave the kids. So when I arrived, she left them to me for a while and I asked her for someone to babysit. Those kids are such a handful, especially Katniss. I was thankful that the girl came here fast. Katniss LOVES to jump on furniture. That's actually why I wanted to talk to you here; Because Katniss is so hyperactive and I doubt we could talk in peace in your alcohol infested home,"
"Oh joy," Haymitch grunted while blowing a stray hair out of his face.
"Come on, Haymitch. You survived the second quarter quell and managed to mentor and participate in a rebellion with two or more dozens of the strongest alcohol and massive hangovers. You can handle little kids,"
"That's kinda why I didn't recommend myself for this job,"
Plutarch placed a reassuring pat on Haymitch's shoulder.
"You'll be fine, Haymitch. The odds WILL be in your favor,"
With that, Plutarch left Haymitch less than two hours to pack his things and get Peeta and Katniss.
Author's Note: The First Multi-Chap Fic that I am willing to finish. (I think? XD) Seriously though, I hope I can finish this cause I want to do a multi-chap and most of the time I try to write one, I end up abandoning it. It's my first attempt to do a multi chapter in years, so be nice, but I also need criticism. BTW, this is a comedy so there may be tons of logic fails, maybe slight ooc in the story, but, hey, comedy is comedy right? XD Did I do Plutarch right?
