After disposing of Aiden in the studio, Haymitch leads me through a series of corridors and down a flight of stairs. In an empty hallway he turns towards me.
"Say it."
"What?" I ask exasperated.
"You know - " he starts, rolling his eyes.
"I can't believe that you left Peeta in the arena." I say. "You promised me that he would be the one to live."
Haymitch nods his head slowly, his arms crossed.
"And I can't believe that you left him out of your sight." he says looking up.
I look at my feet, not knowing what to say.
"Look here sweetheart," Haymitch says "we both fucked up. But the important thing is that Peeta is still alive. And so are we. We can't backdown now, you need to lead this rebellion for everyone. For Peeta."
I nod.
"Now I don't know what kind of shit they were planning for you in that studio but it sure as hell was not working." he says.
"Then what are you proposing?"
"That we send you into combat." says Haymitch.
...
"No." replies Coin flatly when Haymitch proposes the idea in our next meeting together. "It is too dangerous, we cannot guarantee your safety."
"Name a moment that Katniss Everdeen truly moved you." interjects Haymitch, unfazed.
"Oh, when Katniss volunteered for her sister, at the reaping." says Effie.
"Great, what else?"
"When she sang the song for little Rue."
"Right." continues Haymitch "Katniss Everdeen does not need a script to move a nation. We need to send her into the real world and let her own voice lead this rebellion. Not some crap that your writers come up for you."
As Haymitch finishes, Coin looks towards me. "And what if you're killed?"
"Make sure you get it on camera." I counter.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Haymitch smile.