A/N: The response to the previous chapter was amazing! You guys are awesome people! Thank you all so much. My only concern is that now I have to match/beat that quality. ARGH! I'm doing this prompt cause it fits with the Cinna chapter. This one's from Belabsouza - "When Effie and Haymitch found the note" :D This one was difficult, cause I didn't know where I should start. It'd be really short if I did them just finding it, but I didn't want to go too much into dinner cause it's been done. I compromised a little. [NCISfanatical, I shall do yours after, since I've just done 2 of yours, you lucky bugger. :P :)]
I'm sorry it's taken me a few days. I meant to update the other day but I was fangirling over sheet music and the Game Of Thrones theme tune we might be getting for my concert band. It's exciting. First and foremost I am a proud band geek. So yeah. I'm sorry for the delay. Sheet music and good arrangements are my weakness. I have also been watching Lord Of The Rings a lot. I'm a complete nerd. But I love it!
Also you lovely people, I now have Tumblr. I'm still learning the ropes and stuff, but I'll post random Hayffie/THG stuff and perhaps some update alerts or sneak peeks, so follow me if you want to (and so I can follow you back! I promise I will.) at ABlazingMockingjay :)
NOW FOR SOME HAYFFIEEEEEEEEEEE! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! But just so you all know, there's no frigging way in hell I can top the last chapter... at least not yet.
Enjoy.
-Ellie.
I moan his name as the pleasure overcomes me, and he groans into my shoulder as he joins me in bliss. He collapses against me, placing gentle, sloppy kisses along my shoulder, neck and collarbone while I lean back on the wall. The hot water from the shower cascades over us, and I feel completely and utterly relaxed and peaceful. We're still breathing heavily when he lifts his head to look at me. I reach up and gently sweep aside some of his dark, wet hair that has gotten stuck to his face. I allow my hand to rest on his shoulder, my thumb gently stroking his jaw. He smiles and returns the gesture, his hand coming to rest on my cheek. I lean into his palm, smiling as he tilts his head to place a soft kiss against my hand. His eyes meet mine again and he leans in slowly to kiss my lips gently. I sigh happily as our lips meet again, returning his kiss eagerly. He keeps it gentle, but there's so much passion that it makes my heart flutter. It almost feels like love. Almost. I'm not sure when the sex between us turned into making almost-love. If you'd have told me 5 years ago that I would ever be able to be comfortable passionately kissing Haymitch Abernathy while naked in the shower shortly after having sex with him... well, I'd have told you to go get yourself a therapist. But here I am, here WE are... yet again.
He places one last soft, lingering kiss on my lips and pulls away to rest his forehead against mine, sliding his hand down to join his other at my waist. I lift my other hand to rest on his shoulders, gently stroking his dripping hair away. He rolls his eyes when it falls straight back into his face, which makes me laugh.
"You need a haircut." I smile at him.
"Nah. It'll be fine." He pulls back a little and shakes his hair, much like a dog, spraying me with water and causing me to giggle. He smiles, looking at me with an unreadable expression - but I'm sure it's not love - and leans forward to kiss me lightly on the nose. I hum in approval as he rests his forehead against mine once more, and I bring my hand from the back of his neck to caress his cheek. As I look into his silver eyes, smiling, I wish I had seen this sweet side of him the first year I knew him. I must be looking at him curiously, because he questions me, smiling.
"What?" He murmurs against my lips.
"You can be so sweet when you want to be." I whisper to him, and he places a soft kiss against my lips and grins.
"Don't get used to it, sweetheart." I caress his cheek again.
"But I like it. I love this side of you." I mentally kick myself in the face. NOT LOVE! He doesn't seem to notice my slip-up. He just smiles and reaches up to stroke some stray hair away from my face.
"You like it do you?" I nod and he studies my face, smiling softly. He strokes his hand through my hair and I let out a sigh and close my eyes. "Mm... beautiful girl." I open my eyes to look at him. His expression is intense but soft, and our eyes lock. I feel my heart flutter again. I want to kiss him. I want him to kiss me. I just want him again. He seems to either read my mind or want the same, because he claims my lips passionately. I moan and melt into the kiss immediately, clutching his hair to pull him closer. I feel his tongue gently brush along my lips, so I open my mouth to grant him access, moaning when I feel his tongue against mine. His hand slides down my body, causing me to shudder as his fingers gently drift over my chest. He gives my behind a light squeeze, pulling me closer, and I feel his body reacting to mine. His mouth moves to my neck, kissing and sucking on the skin of my shoulder. When I scrape my nails lightly across his scalp, he growls, causing me to giggle, but he silences me by biting down on my shoulder - not enough to really hurt, but enough to surely leave a mark. It causes me to gasp and let out a moan, which he muffles by kissing me hard on the lips. His hands reach down to the top of my thighs and he lifts me off the ground, pinning me to the wall with his body. I kiss him back with all that I have, because I simply cannot get enough of the pure electricity his touch causes in my veins. He moans against my lips from the friction when I wrap my legs around his waist, which makes me smile. I love that I can have this effect on him, just as he does on me. I feel the lust and desire washing over my entire body. He pulls back from the kiss and rests his forehead against mine again. His eyes question me, and my answer requires no words. I need him. I kiss his lips, then work my way along his jaw and down to his neck. He understands, and I moan his name against his neck when we become one. He groans in reply, leaning his face down to kiss my shoulder, neck and anywhere else he can reach. The hot water heightens every sensation as we move together, and I lose complete control of any noises that escape my lips - though I am vaguely aware there are many. Our hands and lips roam each other wherever we can reach. When the sensations become too much, I beg him for more and he obliges, quickening the pace. I climax quickly, crying out his name, and he follows soon after. He groans and whispers my name against my shoulder, kissing me softly there.
We remain clinging to each other, softly kissing each other and allowing the soothing water to relax us once more; although here in his arms, I feel safer and more relaxed than ever before, even without the water. I feel him kiss softly up to my ear.
"You're an amazing woman, Effie." He murmurs, wrapping his arms a little tighter around me. I smile into his shoulder and cling to him tighter, and I realize I don't ever want to let him go. I don't love him... I can't love him... but I think I do... I know I do. I want nothing more than to kiss him and tell him I love him and have him kiss me back like in one of those romantic Capitol movies, but I have a feeling he'll run away. I know he's scared of love.
"Haymitch." I mutter, pulling back to urge him to look at me. He lifts his head and we stare into each others eyes, noses touching. I find myself lost in his shimmering silver eyes, and I almost tell him. I almost say the 3 words that will send him running, never to return. Somehow, I stop myself and settle for kissing him instead. After a moment or two, I pull back again. "Haymitch, we need to prepare for dinner." I smile apologetically at him as he whines and buries his face into my shoulder. He murmurs a muffled "No!" and I chuckle at him.
"We have to, Haymitch. Everyone is expecting us, and it would look suspicious if I don't show up, never mind how it would look if we skip it together. We have to go. I'm sorry." He lifts his head, a thoughtful expression on his face which soon turns into a cheeky grin.
"Or - and hear me out here - we could stay here" He kisses me on the lips, trailing kisses slowly along my jaw, to my neck and shoulder, sneaking ever lower. He murmurs against my skin in between kisses. I let out a soft moan. "and I could keep kissing you like this" He lifts one hand from my waist to trail his fingers over my body. I bite my lip to stop any noise escaping my lips again. I cannot give in, but I so want to. "and I could keep touching you like this" I whimper when he trails his lips and tongue up to my ear. "and I could make love to you again and again, all night." A moan escapes my lips, but I disguise it as if I'm clearing my throat. Haymitch isn't fooled, and chuckles lightly into my ear. The low sound makes all of the desire flow through me again, but I have to keep my resolve.
"H-Haymitch... N-no..." He doesn't stop, his hands leaving a tingling feeling behind wherever he goes. "H-Haymitch... Stop. Please." My voice comes out barely above a breath. "We need to get dressed and go to dinner." He sighs and stops, resting his head against my shoulder for a moment before pulling back to look at me. "Haymitch... I want to, I do, but we have to go. We can come back later and... pick up where we left off." He smirks.
"We can, huh, Princess?" He presses his lips to mine.
"Mhmm" I murmur against his lips. He pulls back smiling.
"Fine. Whatever you say then, sweetheart. But if you get your say now, later on, whatever I say applies." He smirks at me - his lopsided smirk that makes my heart race a little. I can't help but smile.
"Fine. Now, we really need to get out of this shower. How long have we even been in here?" He shrugs, chuckling.
"I'd say we most definitely lost track of time."
"Very astute, Mr Abernathy." I laugh at his stupidly obvious statement. He smiles and kisses my nose gently.
"Well, Miss Trinket, I do try. Thank you." I giggle as he lifts me off the wall and turns so the water drenches me. "Come on, let's get you clean!"
"Haymitch! Stop it! Put me down!" I struggle to get the words out through my giggling.
"But you're dirty, Miss Trinket." He grins at me as I struggle against him, laughing.
"S-so are yo-ou! Ha-ay-mitch!" I splutter through the water and my laughter. He laughs and joins me under the water for a kiss. I meet his lips eagerly, still giggling.
I comb my hair in the mirror of my vanity, smiling at him in the reflection. He walks up to me and begins placing soft kisses on my neck. It's clear he's trying to seduce me, and were it not for the fact that dinner is in less than half an hour, I would easily fall for it. We're both dressed now, but I've yet to apply my wig and make-up. To him, I guess the fact that I'm "naked of the Capitol" means that it's fair game. The game's only over when the wig and make-up are on, and even then, it's never fully over. I'm sure dinner will be fun, as usual, even if it is his turn today. He moves to murmur huskily into my ear.
"Sure you don't want round two, Princess?" I shake my head and chuckle, turning my head to look at him.
"Haymitch, the shower was round two... And three!" He shrugs and smirks at me.
"Maybe the first two were just warm-up. That would mean we've yet to have round two. I want round two." He winks at me. I smile.
"I want round two as well, but unfortunately, Mr Abernathy, round two will have to wait until after dinner." He sighs and places a final kiss against my shoulder.
"Fine, but I'm gonna give you one hell of a round two. Remember, later on, what I say goes." He moves to whisper into my ear again, his words sending a shiver of anticipation down my spine. A shiver I barely manage to suppress.
"That means I can do anything I want to you." My breath hitches in my throat and he stands up, gives me one last smirk in the mirror, and turns around to walk to my bed. I notice him pause, looking at something, but I cannot see what it is.
"Eff..." His tone is confused, but suddenly a little too serious for my liking. He leans down to pick something up.
"What is it?" I turn around to look at him, but he looks down at whatever he holds. "Haymitch?" I feel worried. I can tell this is something bad.
"Effie... I think we've had a visitor." I look at him, confused, until he turns around. He holds a piece of paper - a note. My eyes widen and I gasp.
"Relax. It was just Cinna... here." He hands me the note and I take it with a shaky hand. I gaze down at the paper, reading the elegant script inked onto the page. I feel a little relieved when I finish the note. If he heard anything, he hasn't revealed it in the note, but if he did...
"Haymitch! What if he heard us? What are we going to do!?" I panic immediately.
"Sweetheart, relax. You read the note. He didn't say anything. It's fine. He probably came and scribbled the note and left. In and out. Don't worry."
"But what if he did hear? He could've come in at any point! What if we were too loud? What if...?" He walks up to me and gently places a hand on each of my arms.
"Effie. Listen to me! It's fine. I promise, sweetheart. It's Cinna."
"Exactly! It's Cinna. You know damn well he wouldn't say anything if he did hear us. He's a gentleman. You know that, Haymitch! He wouldn't embarrass me like that. How can we know? How can I sit with him for dinner? How am I supposed to look at him? Talk to him. Anything! How, Haymitch!?"
"Just act normal, as if nothing has happened. Trust me." I hate how he is being so calm, making me look foolish for freaking out. I have a damn good reason to lose it! He places a soft kiss against my lips. I feel my anger melt away, being replaced by just worry.
"Oh, Haymitch. If we get caught, if he tells someone. I'll be fired, Haymitch! I will! I'll never see you again!" I feel a tear escape down my cheek. He wipes it away.
"Sweetheart, this is Cinna we're talking about. I trust him with my life. He's on our side. Anyway, Princess, if we do get caught and you get fired, I'll kidnap you and bring you to 12 personally." I look up at him in confusion, trying to decipher the meaning behind his words.
"To stay?"
"Yeah, Princess. Of course. To stay with me."
"Y-you'd want me to?" I stutter, taken aback.
"Sweetheart, of course I'd want you to! Maybe we can, after this year. You know... after the Quell." I know he means after the rebellion, but he can't say it out loud. I smile at him.
"Haymitch Abernathy, are you asking me to...?"
"Come and live with me. In 12. Yeah, that's exactly what I'm asking. I want you to want to stay with me in 12. To not have to hide our... um..."
"Just call it a relationship, Haymitch. I haven't been with another man in years anyway."
"You haven't? Oh..."
"Have you been with other women?" He hesitates for a moment, then smiles at me.
"None since you." I can tell he's being honest. My smile widens. "I found I couldn't want them." I kiss him. "So... do you want to stay with me in 12, you know, after?" I squeal a little and hug him tightly.
"Oh! Of course I do!" He kisses me and holds me tighter. I murmur against his chest. "Only you could make a kidnapping sound romantic."
We laugh together, holding each other for a few more moments before we must prepare for dinner.
I don't know how I will ever be able to look at Cinna again.
A/N: Sorry for any mistakes. I suffer with an illness that makes me really tired quite a lot, so when it gets bad, a full day of hard work can just knock me out completely. I'm running on fumes basically (and Lucozade - nom). So I apologize, and if there are any mistakes or stupid things that are really bad, just let me know and I'll get on it right away. Reviews are love, and earn you a virtual "Hayffie hug" from yours truly (the kind where I knock your wig askew, but you secretly love it). :D P.S. Trend #Hayffiehug on twitter, and you'll get a virtual piece of the finest Effie-approved mahogany in all of Panem. ;)
P.P.S. I claim the term "Hayffie hug" *evils* :P