Hello, I've decided to continue with this story. So here's the third chapter, hope you guys will like it.
The usual disclaimer applies; Don't own the characters. Just playing around with it :)
Chapter 3
"Later" as promised by Haymitch never came as they were swept away in the bustling post-Games activities. They visited Katniss, unconscious after being heavily sedated, and after being reassured repeatedly that Peeta was not in any terrible danger despite having his leg amputated, Effie left for the Game Headquarters where the remainder of the Escorts and Mentors were gathering.
The Games after parties were usually loud, boisterous affairs and would go on for days on end until the Victor had recovered enough to give an interview on air. Haymitch loathed those pretentious parties that catered to the rich and privileged and could normally be found spending his time with Chaff slumped in a corner, nursing his drink.
This year, his excuse for not attending the after party lay at the feet of his two Victors, understandably, after a near death and a nail biting climax to a particularly bloody edition of the Hunger Games. Effie went alone and as she stepped into the room, she was greeted with a loud cheer and applause from all around.
"Effie, dear, Effie," a high pitched voice called out.
Effie turned towards the voice and saw, Dareia, the escort from District 4 making her way towards her, arms extended for a hug. Dareia was twenty years older than Effie and reminded her of the kind of aunt that everbody has and loves to forget about. Dareia was a true gossip in every sense of the word, gigglish and overbearing. She came of money; her husband, a higher-up in the Government catered and attended to her every need. The only reason she became an Escort was for the fame and glory that one would inevitably derive from having Tributes they escorted ascending the throne to Victorhood. She planted light-as-a-feather kisses on both Effie's cheeks, and gushed at how lovely she think Katniss and Peeta were, how terribly glad she was that the two star-crossed lovers made it.
Effie smiled politely, spouted a few thankful pleasantries and excused herself. She made her way to the group of sponsors she caught a glimpse of, talking and laughing by the refreshment table. Their faces lit up when they saw her petite frame making its way purposefully towards them.
"Oh, Miss Trinket, congratulations! Two Victors this year, you must be positively delighted," said one of them.
"The only Escort in history to have two Victors, too! How amazing. Let me tell you, Ms. Trinket, your name will go down in the history books of Panem!"
"Well, yes, thank you and thank you, too for your sponsorship, Mr. Abraxas, Mr. Stephen," she said nodding towards the two sponsors Haymitch had sealed the deal with. She stayed a while to make small talk, to ensure that she remained in their good books and that these sponsors would remember District 12 when next year's Hunger Games came around.
Effie had been raised early on to recognise the importance of establishing relations and having connections. In the Capitol, where the citizens hardly understood the scarcity of food and the starvation of people in the Districts, knowing the right people could prove to be their ticket for survival one day.
As she walked towards the big doors of the Games Headquarters, her path was intercepted by Chaff who tugged her arm and twirled her around playfully, his laughter ringing in her ears. Effie's eyes widened in surprise as she felt Chaff embrace her, his voice whispering in her ear, "Tell Haymitch to be careful. Tell him to remember his Game. You understand, darling? Pass the message."
Effie nodded and Chaff released her, smiling at her. Any observers viewing them through the cameras would have seen Chaff congratulating Effie and walking away. They would have no way of knowing the sudden frantic beating of her heart, her mind racing a million miles a minute, trying to process and decipher Chaff's warning.
She saw Finnick, casually leaning against a wall, a drink in his hand, smiling disarmingly at her. His sea green eyes twinkled mischievously and Effie wondered how anyone was supposed to resist such charm. He pushed himself off the wall, sidled up to Effie and softly murmured "Listen to him," before he left, trailing after Chaff.
She hurriedly walked back towards the hospital and collapsed on the chair in the waiting room. Portia was there, waiting for news on Peeta. "Where's Haymitch?" she asked, looking around.
"Last I heard, he was giving the Gamemakers a piece of his mind," Portia replied. Effie whipped her head towards Portia, face frowning in confusion. "What?"
"They wanted to alter Katniss surgically," Portia supplied her with an explanation.
"What's wrong with that?" Effie asked, confused, not quite comprehending the issue. After all, surgical enhancement was not a foreign concept in the Capitol.
"Not while she's unconscious. Haymitch would have none of it."
"Oh, well, yes, getting her consent is only appropriate. I'm glad Haymitch is sorting it out then," she leaned back against the chair and briefly closed her eyes.
The kiss she shared with Haymitch came flashing back into her mind. She wondered if the kiss was only a thing born of the spur of the moment, if he was so overwhelmed by the twin feelings of relief and victory that he displaced it on the nearest person in the vicinity, in this case, her.
I was the one who threw myself at him, hugging and crying, but oh, his lips were so soft. He meant it, surely? He wouldn't have kissed me if he doesn't. But this is Haymitch, he doesn't usually mean what he says, either, Effie thought sadly to herself, her mind a jumble of irrational thoughts.
Later that night, as Cinna and Portia left to discuss the design of the outfits for the Victor's interview, Haymitch and Effie were left alone at the dining table. Effie glanced up at Haymitch who was drinking, once again.
"Heard you fought with the Gamemakers," she tentatively broke the silence.
"Yeah," he replied, not even looking up at her.
She bristled. Following the kiss they shared yesterday, he had been acting like she was a carrier for infectious diseases and not worthy of his attention. He did not meet her eyes, he refused to even acknowledge her presence at the dinner table and when they were pulled into conversation by Cinna and Portia, he did not speak to her directly, ignoring her every comment.
Clearly, now was not a good time to bring up the kiss, as Effie had mentally labelled the incident. Incident, she thought derisively, it sounds so... technical, emotionless.
She leaned forward inconspicuously and lowered her voice, "I met Chaff, today."
"Oh?"
"He said to let you know that you shou-"
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the tiled floor. Effie looked up, mouth agape, seemingly confused by his sudden movement. His hand gripped her upper arm; she winced and stood up before he dragged her towards her bedroom where he promptly released his death grip.
He shut the door with a soft click, went to the television to switch it on and turned up the volume. He threw the remote on her bed and gestured for her to take a seat. She complied and felt her mattress dipped as he sat down beside her.
"Bugs," he muttered, by way of explanation, his hand waving towards the television broadcasting the live feed of the various post-games parties all around the Capitol. She nodded in understanding.
"Chaff?" he reminded her.
"Oh yes, well, I was at the Games Headquarters and, I thank the sponsors, did my job and, I think we might have a sponsor base for next year, Haymitch, I really do. I also met Dareia, you remember her? She's the –"
"Sweetheart, I'm pretty sure there is a point somewhere, will you wake me up when you get there?" he told her.
Effie blushed in embarrassment; her habit of rambling off when nervous is well known. She would have pointed out how rude he was for interrupting her, but she knew that he didn't have the patience to sit through her narratives unlike Cinna who would smile and nod at all the appropriate moments.
"He told me to remind you to be careful. He said to remember your Games," she said softly. Haymitch hated talking about his Games, the mere mention of the Second Quarter Quell and the 50th Hunger Games would bring him to his feet and out of the room faster than one could say 'Panem'.
"Finnick said the same." She added as she stayed his hand, preventing him from leaving. He told her once what the Capitol did to him after he was crowned victor. How President Snow meted out his punishment for making the Capitol look like a fool.
"I was only trying to survive, you know. What would a 16 years old boy know about making the Capitol look foolish? I just... I wanted it to end, wanted to go home," he told her once, as he drank his whiskey.
It was Haymitch who opened her eyes to the sufferings of the people in the district, and he had done so unconsciously. He would tell her stories of the coal mines and the electrical fences surrounding Twelve, the memory of the starving children of the District causing him to frown in displeasure each time he caught Effie wasting her food. She stopped taking more food than could be consumed after he shouted at her once.
"The stunt with berries is going to bring down the Capitol's ire on them," he informed her. She nodded, having already figured out as much.
"Do you have a plan? Any way to spin the story to our advantage?" she asked as she nibbled her lower lips worriedly.
"Stop it," he commanded.
"Stop what?" she asked, startled.
"That. Stop biting your lips like that. You keep doing that all the time, sweetheart. It's... it's distracting," he said as his eyes flickered towards her lips. Effie thought she could detect a faint note of desire in his voice.
"Yeah, I have a plan, don't worry your pretty head. Go to bed," he ordered as he stood up and walked towards the door. His hand was on the door knob when she called out his name. She stood up and walked towards him.
"Haymitch... I..." she faltered unsure, if she should go on. She wanted so much for him to kiss her, and wrap his hands around her, tell her that everything will be okay, even if it was a lie. She wanted the comfort that only Haymitch Abernathy could bring.
"Goodnight," she stood, tiptoeing, and planted a soft kiss on his stubble cheeks.
Thanks, beta!
& thank you for reading. Leave a little review, it makes my day :)
A/N: Chapter 4 has been written and will be uploaded before Sunday!
