This was inspired by the Mockingjay trailer and my overactive imagination, enjoy!
He knew who had entered the canteen by the slight murmuring and the majority resorting to stern silence. As Effie's new work boots squeaked offensively on the solid linoleum, she kept her head bowed, far too aware of the stares that pierced her.
After eventually persuading Coin that by no means Effie was ever going to be a threat to them, they released her early that morning, her first emerging at the 7pm meal time. She was confident still in her walk but Haymitch saw her eyes darting, looking for an empty table. There was never any excess in District 13, the first thing she would learn.
After stopping to readjust her grip on the food tray, Effie spotted him. As their eyes met, Haymitch couldn't help but give a smirk. It could only be her standing so nervously there, not a hint of militancy in her stature. Though her expression was wrong, there was no annoyed pout, or not even a small smile, just emptiness. Her face was blank of paint, yet also of forced happiness. Without her wig and her heels, she was tiny in being, and like a child similar, she stared.
Gesturing to the spare seat next to him, Haymitch welcomed her to his table. An action that went mostly unnoticed by others as everyone had returned to their hushed conversations, mostly a recirculation of orders. Effie's eyes widened slightly as she sat and placed down her tray. She was suddenly aware why it felt so different, her and Haymitch. For once neither of them was under any expectations, this time, for the first time they sat together as themselves.
Unsure what else to do, Effie began picking at the tough meat in one of the portions of her tray. Haymitch remained still, watching her tentative actions. Seeing his non-starting, Effie too, became still. Glancing up at him quickly, trying to analyse her brief capture of his expression, Effie returned staring down at her food. Without a word Haymitch picked up her utensils and began slicing the stiff poultry into smaller pieces, the kind action performed with a more serious expression. Haymitch returned her fork to her, whilst doing so, hearing a quick whisper.
"What sweetheart?" Haymitch asked his head cocked towards her for her to talk again. At the very hearing of his voice, her eyes welled slightly, though quickly she gulped and suppressed the feeling.
"Thank you" Effie whispered again, her voice catching slightly in her swollen throat.
"Anytime" he mumbled "In fact it'll probably have to be every time with the food down here". He didn't turn to look, but as Effie began to eat her meal he could see the tiny smile lines on her cheeks reappearing. They ate the rest of their meal in silence, for once Effie finishing before him.
Haymitch continued eating, noticing Effie's terrible attempts to cover up her stare at his own tray. He looked her over more, the overalls hung loosely on her frame, her collarbone jutting slightly against her skin. The hollows of her cheeks became more pronounced the longer he looked. Did they even feed her down there?
Neither of them said a word as Haymitch placed a roll on her tray. Effie, not wanting to draw attention to the action, quickly picked it up and began breaking it into smaller pieces. The crust was hard and it was almost too dense, the grain they grew was more of a lab experiment than a delicacy, it at least would fill her up. There was an almost audible sigh of grateful relief as she placed the tiny pieces of bread in her mouth, looking around still to see if anyone had noticed.
"Isn't this… illegal Haymitch" She asked, still facing forward.
"Effie, it's bread, its fine" Haymitch stressed, unsure yet not caring himself how much trouble that could possibly get him into.
After they had both finished the last of their meals, Haymitch rose and moved towards the tray rack, Effie soon followed behind. Haymitch could see that this would soon be the essentiality of their relationship in 13, her following quietly behind him, mimicking his movements to blend in. The thought almost made him laugh, almost.
"So do you know where you're staying yet?" Haymitch asked as they walked down the hall.
"Yes, I was told it was room 3448" Effie stated, reminded herself, the number they had mumbled to her when she was released was one of the/if only the fact she had been given. She tried not to think about what had happened in the hours, days before.
"Alright then, I'll show you to your "room"" Haymitch laughed stressing the verbal quotations, anticipating her reaction to the assigned cells everyone had been given.
They moved silently further and further down the hallway, Haymitch stopping briefly to indicate his own cell. As they reached Effie's room, he let her in, almost waiting for an explosive reaction. There wasn't one.
Effie took a breath and stepped into the room, her fingers gliding over the rough fabric of the grey quilt.
"Not exactly spacious is it princess? And that's coming from me" Haymitch offered, trying to decipher the odd silence that she gave.
"It will be fine" She sighed and said after a while, still trying to register and process the situation around her. Haymitch entered the room, moving closer to her. As she turned around they came face to face, the first time, truly, they had ever been alone. Silently he placed a hand against her cool cheek, his face an expression of comfort yet with a militarial seriousness.
"Haymitch, thank you… again" She breathed, her eyes searching his. They knew what each other were thinking, they always had. He knew what she couldn't say, what she couldn't even begin to explain. Trying to offer comfort would have to be simple and occasional.
"Coming here, to 13… you did good sweetheart," his eyes flicked down, assuring her. His hand dropped, before promptly returning to his own room.
Effie was left there in the concrete darkness.
The warmth he left still lingered on her cheek.