Hello hello!
Here is the 2nd chapter of this fic, not sure how i feel about it yet. we shall see.
Anyways, hope you enjoy!
The room was too quiet. Effie stared at the ceiling, in the semi-darkness, light peeking through the floral print curtains. Haymitch was laying next to her, his forehead against her shoulder and one of his arms laying across her stomach. He slept pretty well this night, she thought, since he had woken up only once from his nightmares.
It was their routine. They took care of each other. They looked after each other. And even if Effie knew nothing will stop them from putting her in the arena, she was scared for him after she had left. Her right hand was playing with his dirty and tangled hair while the left one was holding his.
They weren't lovers, just friends. She had to remind herself this.
The night had been long since she hadn't sleep at all. Mostly because she was thinking and possibly also because she was avoiding the nightmares. She couldn't bare the voices, telling her horrible things. "Haymitch is dead" was one of them. She squeezed his hand at the thought, regretting it when he moved slightly. He deserved a good night of sleep.
« You haven't sleep. » He yawned, putting his face in her neck. He kissed her skin.
« No. » She smiled a bit. « But it's okay. How did you sleep? »
« haven't sleep that good in a very long time… »
She smiled lightly, his breathing slowing down and quieting down again. They had to leave the day after tomorrow for the Capitol for the reaping. The letter announcing her nomination as possible tribute came in the mail yesterday at the same time the annoucement was made. She wasn't going to get out of there alive.
« Stop thinking about it. »
« I'm trying… »
« Try harder, sweetheart. »
He got up pretty quickly, in his underwear, while she stayed sitting. He left the room and she knew. She sighed before slowly getting out of the bed.
« Haymitch…"
« No. You already gave up and that pisses the hell out of me. I'm going home, Trinket, bye. »
She heard him rushing down the stairs and the door slammed. Putting a robe on, she opened the door before he could knock. He had forgot he was in... Well almost naked.
« What a dramatic exit. » She chuckled. He grumbled in his beard but someone yelling her name stopped him from entering the house.
« Effie! Effie, I need to talk to you! » Peeta's voice was angry and Katniss running behind him gave Haymitch the conviction that the ex-escort didn't want to hear what the boy had to say.
« Sweetheart, let's go back inside, would you? I'd like to get my clothes, Peeta can- »
« You know where you left them, go get them. What is it, Peeta? Is there something bothering you? » she said in her very maternal way, getting off the porch and walking towards him.
« I… »
« Peeta, that is not a good idea… » Katniss interrupted him.
« Shut up! You are as guilty as he is! She has the right to know before she goes. » Effie didn't quite get it but Haymitch didn't move, passing his hand on his face. He knew what the boy was talking about and. And it wasn't going to end well.
« Effie. » He started. « Effie, the last Games were voted before Coin was killed. It was voted by all of the remaining victors. »
She looked at him, confused for the first 10 seconds before realizing. She looked at him. Then Katniss. Then Haymitch.
« I voted no. » He added. She sighed in relief, looking then at the others, sure of herself when she thought they wouldn't do that. Not to her.
« I'm sorry, Effie. » Katniss' little voice was hiding behind Peeta. « It was for Prim. » Effie's face puzzled down.
« Are you going to tell her yourself or do I have to do it for you, coward? » Peeta spat out to Haymitch with so much anger on his face it was hard to look at him. The older victor, still in his underwear, stayed silent.
« …No…Not you, Haymitch…? Not you…. » breathed out Effie. She was now trembling.
« Sweetheart… »
« Don't. Call. Me. Sweetheart. Ever. Again. » Tears were now running down her cheeks. « I thought you fucking cared. »
« I care, Effie. »
« Then why did you send me to my death?! My imprisonment wasn't enough?! »
« Effs, listen, I… » he tried to approach, to get her hand.
« Don't touch me. You disgust me. Both of you. Those people are humans. You can't end violence by violence and you should know that better than anyone! I hope their deaths, those other human beings, and mine too haunts you every fucking day of your lives. »
She stormed in leaving a very angry Peeta, a very hidden Katniss and a very almost naked Haymitch. A few minutes after, her sobbing could be heard from outside and Haymitch's clothes were thrown by the window.
