Prompt from a Tumblr user: Make one where Haymitch learns that escort doesn't mean what he thinks it does. (Which means Effie actually became a prostitute for the game makers).
tw: physical abuse/language/sexual abuse
As the most recent games had been particularly painful, Haymitch had passed out in a slump on his hotel room floor, waking up several hours after the District Twelve train had left the Capitol. There was one every morning, if only he hadn't drunk so much, then he could have at least not had to deal with the foul splendor that was the Capitol for one more day.
A gentle thud on the carpet interrupted his thoughts.
When he went to study what had fallen, a painting it looked like, a piercing scream reverberated through the thin hotel walls. A rushed hush from the second party was the reply. Haymitch froze, and then remembering that it was in fact Effie's room next to his, her scream, he moved quickly to her door. Unsure whether to knock or not, he rapped heavily on her door. Advising murmurs were heard within before the door swung open, revealing not Effie, but a stout man of about 60 years old.
"I… I heard yelling" Haymitch forced.
"Oh yeah nothing to worry about, thanks for checking up!" Deputy Gamemaker Renold Tassa answered smiling, with only a hastily placed towel covering his manhood. As Tessa made a move to shut the door, Haymitch placed his foot in between.
"Where's Trinket?" Haymitch asked, trying to get a better look inside her apartment.
"She's here, I would fetch her for you but she's a bit… tied up at the moment," Renold joked with a wink.
"Well alright then" Haymitch countered. As he began to walk back to his own room he considered, he knew that scream, that scream wasn't one of someone in pleasure, it was fear. Not that he could do much about it, the game makers were practically untouchable- to victors anyway. He just had to remind himself to ask her later, assuming he wouldn't pass out again.
Several hours later, the night sky had replaced the sun. In the blackness and rare state of sobriety, Haymitch remembered what had happened before, although he hoped it had been some odd twisted nightmare due to his atypical surroundings.
The painting was still on the floor.
As he rose from the couch he had collapsed on, Haymitch was still unsteady on his feet. His body leaned and dragged himself walking towards Effie's door, this time not even knocking before pushing it open. As he entered Effie didn't seem shocked, holding a teacup between both of her hands, wearing only a robe- she gave him a sad smile. Her face for once void of makeup, her wig gone, stark circles under her eyes.
"I see Tessa's gone?"
She gave a small nod before returning her gaze to her cup.
"You slept with him," Haymitch probed, more of a statement than a question.
"Well I didn't have a choice" Effie stated, her shrug causing her robe to fall slightly, a flash of colors uncovered on her skin.
"Now what the hell is that supposed to mean?" His voice lowered. Fragments of memories and knowledge he tried to piece together, his fists clenching slightly, trying to understand what would lead her to do something like that.
"Haymitch, that's just the way it works around here, I'm sure one of the escorts must have told you?" Effie asked; more concerned with his reaction than the bruises that seemed to darken the longer he looked.
"I guess they never stayed long enough to talk" His breath hitched as moved closer to her, sitting down on the couch.
She stiffened as Haymitch reached out a hand and pulled her robe back up to her shoulders, his eyes fixed to the marks he was covering. As he got a closer look his expression darkened, brows furrowed, his jaw tight.
"Please Haymitch" She whispered unmoving "It's okay".
"It's not okay, they've got no right to lay a hand on you" Haymitch seethed.
"That's just Renold's preference Haymitch, not all of them are like that" Effie murmured, not wanting Haymitch's anger to increase.
"Not even one of them should be hurting you," Haymitch muttered, his fingers ghosting her darkened collarbone. "Even in Twelve this stuff is frowned upon". She sighed, unable to try to explain the horrid normalcy of what she was doing.
"Haymitch, what did you think our use was when we weren't involved with the Games? We have to make a living for the rest of the year too," Effie reasoned.
"There are always other things you could do right? Things that don't involve having to sleep with guys like Tessa?" Haymitch questioned.
"Don't you think I've already tried? Do you think I have a choice Haymitch?" Effie's throat was thick "Did you think I knew this was going to happen? Did you think I wanted this, asked for this?"
Haymitch silenced, watching her pull her black and blue peppered knees to her chest. Unsure what to do, he pulled out his hipflask and pressed the cool metal body against one of the newer marks on her thigh. Effie was silent as she reached for what he was holding, unscrewing it, she downed contents unflinchingly. Usually he'd be proud of her, finally drinking some hard liquor, but he only wondered how he could have missed such a large operation.
Quietly and without prompt Haymitch pulled two larger bottles from the cabinet adjoining the couch and placed one next to her. Out of all people, he understood how much she needed it.
When she had finished her bottle and half of his own her rested on his lap, even too tired and drunk to cry, she whispered a simple thank you.
"Princess there has to be a way this can stop; I wouldn't feel right knowing…" Haymitch trailed, unsure what to say.
"It's too late Haymitch" She sighed "Unless you're willing to pay me to sleep with you that would be the only way you could help"
"I'll do it" Haymitch's tone suddenly serious, quickly thinking.
"You'll do what? Pay me to sleep with you? Never thought you were one of the sort" Effie slurred, smiling sadly.
"No I'll cover you, I'll pay the remainder," Haymitch considered "Victors get enough money for an entire family each month, might as well help you out than spend it on this shit". As he gestured to the flask, Effie sobered slightly.
"You would do that? You would give money to someone from the Capitol?" She asked confused, her eyes fixed to the ceiling as she calculated intoxicated figures.
"You're not just someone from the Capitol" Haymitch pressed, his hand resting in her natural hair "You're much more than that"
She sighed, her mind was fuzzy. Why would he want to help her. Her mind searched perplexedly, her head still resting on his lap.
"Do you care about me Haymitch?" Effie slurred quietly.
A soft kiss placed on her shoulder was his only reply.