Fight
When he arrives Effie Trinket is waving her arm in the face of the administrator from thirteen. She's distressed, and he seems bemused, which puzzles Haymitch.
"You can easily add another session. Do you know nothing about scheduling?"
The man shoots a glance towards Haymitch and shrugs, appealing for help.
"What's the problem Eff?" He asks, pulling her to one side.
"He won't let me learn how to fight!"
The schedule maker behind him is suppressing a laugh and Haymitch can't stop the smirk sliding across his lips. Effie Trinket is a tiny slip of a thing stripped of her costumes and heels, and is about as dangerous as a kitten. She sees his reaction and her face crumples.
"You're an ass."
He's never heard her curse before, and she's half way down the corridor before he catches up with her furious pace. Her eyes are full of tears but she's working hard not to let any escape. He tilts her chin up so she's got no choice but to look him in the eye. He can see the despair in her. Words spill out like water.
"I need to fight... what if they come back?" She whispers brokenly to him. "I won't let them take me. I'd rather die... they won't touch me again. I need to know what do to Haymitch, if they come back. I need to fight this time."
And she's terrifed, petrified, shaking in his grasp, but still as fierce as a hell-cat. Haymitch at once understands her helplessness as it's the same as his own. He pulls his own knife from his jacket pocket and hands it to her. She clenches it tight to her chest like a talisman.
"We'll start training tomorrow Princess, both of us. They're not going to hurt us again."