Haymitch
He had surprised himself by being this sober on the first day of training. Hell he was more than surprised he was down right speechless. The little shits were too sharp for their own good. The boy, Peeta had some how fond nearly every bottle in the penthouse and either hidden or destroyed them. He had spent three hours last night checking all the hiding places before giving up at he had been out foxed by a sixteen year old, and maybe he could do better if he wasn't so hung over.
Then there was the girl. Katniss would just stare at him with those knowing greys and he felt all of his life's mistakes laid at her feet. She was the real reason he had given up the search for the bottle. Because she would look disappointed in him.
"Fancy seeing you here Abernathy." Said a deep voice from behind him. Haymitch turned from watching the live feed of the training to see Brutus from District 2. It was true Haymitch did not normally come to the observation room with the other mentors. In fact he had never come before. He hated the vultures these people turn into pitting children against each other.
The center was where they did everything, but the mentor floor was the worst. Haymitch had always preferred the next floor where sponsors where wooed because they had an open bar there. Here on the mentor floor they only had videos and charts.
"Where is your dog?" Haymitch asked looking around for the blond victor that Brutus practically kept on a leash. It was common knowledge among the mentors that Cato had snapped in the games and had come out not quite human. He was higher functioning but reacted like an animal. District Two was mortified and kept him sedated or watched at all times.
"Getting a tour with Enobaria." Brutus said with a sick smile before sliding into a chair opposite from Haymitch. They were now the only ones watching this particular broad cast of the tributes.
"Now why would he need a tour? Isn't he escorted everywhere?" Haymitch was pretty sure they enjoyed keeping Cato in the dark about where he was so that he couldn't do any real damage.
"He is going to mentor next year." Brutus seemed pleased. "Asked for it himself."
"And in exchange for being a good boy he gets to stop being shot like a rabid animal." Haymitch laughed. The poor kid was catching on to the game what was really afoot.
"Don't be crass. It was for public safety." Brutus looked ruffled and it only made Haymitch laugh harder.
"Yes because drugging him was so much easier than admitting that you broke him." Haymitch figured that was a perfect time to leave; he did so love having the last word. He decided it was time for that drink and made his way to the sponsor floor.
A few people mingled around at the edges looking out the floor to ceiling windows but most of them paid Haymitch no attention. The Avox who worked the bar didn't even need to be told to hold the ice anymore. He had just settled in to one of the better Scotches when some one sat down next to him.
"I drink alone." Haymitch warned before turning to look at his company and for the second time in twenty-four hours was shocked. Sitting next to him was none other than the recently released Cato.
"You drink no matter what." Cato replied without even looking at Haymitch. The blond boy was looking at his hands rather intently and kept rubbing at his knuckles. It was rather unnerving, almost like he was thinking about punching someone. A common occurrence for the boy.
"So off the loopy liquid and right to the sauce?" Haymitch wondered.
"No." Cato clipped. His face was stony but Haymitch saw a flash of disgust. The boy was beautiful no doubt; he had been praised for it before his games. He still was really the scars did nothing to diminish the piercing blue eyes and sculpted face. But he seemed hollow and wild all at once.
"What then?" Haymitch knew he should shut up; he was poking a bear with a stick. Cato reached into the pocket of his black pants and pulled out a slip of paper and set it in front of Haymitch.
Printed in neat lines were several capital account numbers and at the top a standard sponsorship identification code. Haymitch had seen these before, they were watch sponsors have mentor's before the games began. Later it was less organized but in the early stages sponsorship was very impersonal. This was not what he had been expecting.
"For her." Cato tilted his head to indicate the screen that currently was showing a close up of Katniss climbing a rope.
"Mentors aren't allowed to sponsor." Haymitch said but he wanted to say so much more. The hell was going on?
"Not a mentor." Cato responded and went back to the rubbing routine.
"Don't you want to sponsor one of the kids from two?" Haymitch wished he could shut up, he had an early sponsor for Katniss and he was about to spoil it.
"Dead already." Cato said with a slight headshake.
"So you want to sponsor Katniss? What about Peeta too?" He was pushing his luck he knew that but he couldn't help himself.
"She can do it. He can't." Cato stated.
"So what, you can call a winner now?" Haymitch wanted to be offended, hell he felt offended. Peeta was great kid and had a better chance than most of those kids.
"You haven't been this sober in years. I am not the only one who sees it." Cato finally looked at Haymitch and he was a little frightened by what he saw there.
"You aren't as broken as they think." Haymitch said unable to stop himself. He was caught by the piercing intelligence behind those eyes.
"No, I'm not." Cato smirked. It was a half smirk with only one side of his face moving. It was perhaps the scariest thing Haymitch had ever seen.
Three for three. I am on fire. Thanks for the reviews. Leanne hope some of this clears up your questions.
Who want's to see Katniss and Cato meet next? Show of hands(review) if you want that. -E
