"Denna, these are Peeta and Katniss- but of course, I'm sure you know that. And you two, meet Denna Lazuli, victor of the Sixtieth Hunger Games and darling of the Capitol. Denna helped –"
"It's lovely to meet you both." I cut Effie off hastily, before she reveals the part I played in their victory. I think that, from the way she looks at me, the Mockingjay wants nothing to do with me. Of course, I look like a spoilt Career victor, and I doubt she is old enough to remember my Games. Besides, it's easier for us both if she forgets me- just another face in a long line she must have seen tonight. Don't get attached.
It's easy to do that here. At the party in Snow's mansion where you're lucky to see a person for more than a minute at a time. Peeta doesn't mention that we've met before. With one hand lying protectively on Katniss' waist, he extends the other to me. "I know you've done a lot for District Twelve over the years," he says as I shake it. "Thank you, on behalf of all of us."
Does he know, I wonder? Or has he just figured it out? "You're welcome," I reply. "I hope you enjoy your evening. Oh, and congratulations on the engagement."
Katniss responds only after a small nudge in the ribs from her betrothed. "Thank you," she says flatly, with all the charm of a dead slug. She's so refreshingly blunt that it brings a smile to my face.
"I'm sure you'll make a beautiful bride. I assume Cinna'll design your dress – the man's a genius, isn't he?" I'm doing most of the heavy lifting for this conversation. "I hear you've followed his lead in choosing a talent. I'd love to see some of your designs some day."
"Well, I'm not Cinna," she says, and talking about her stylist seems to soften her a little. To one side, a photographer captures the moment of three Victors bonding. I doubt Snow's censorship team will let it make the news. "But thank you for your interest."
"It's my pleasure."
Katniss huffs a little under her breath, her flinty exterior raised again. I figure that her and Haymitch either get along brilliantly, or are in a constant state of wanting to tear each other's throats out. Peeta grimaces apologetically for her behaviour, and I shake my head and wave one hand so he knows I'm not offended by it. I've had worse.
They are ushered away by their escort, and I melt back into the Capitolite crowd in the ballroom. I need to find Haymitch- not just for personal reasons, but to pass on news of the rebellion. Plutarch is here too, but it will be suspicious behaviour for such a solitary victor to talk to the new Head Gamemaker. Unfortunately for me, there are several people at the party who are uproariously drunk, and it's difficult to tell who they are until you lift their head up from the vomit they've fallen into. Please don't be catatonic, I think to myself, I can never get through to you then. Also, I don't want to get any sick on this dress.
It's not the hands that slip around my waist that make me jump, but how coarse they are. Nobody from the Capitol has skin that rough. My breath catches in my throat, and I scold myself for letting someone have such an instantaneous effect on me.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're incredibly attractive?" A familiar voice slurs in my ear.
"It's been mentioned. How much, Abernathy, have you had to drink?" I ask, removing his hands from my waist and turning round.
"Not enough," he replies, the smell of alcohol on his breath strong enough to make me feel dizzy.
"You look like you need some air."
"I feel like I need some of that wine over there."
"Of course you do." I shepherd him out of the ballroom, down now familiar corridors and onto a balcony. Fireworks, brightly coloured and explosive, take the place of stars in the night sky. "Are you sentient enough still to remember this?"
"Remember what?"
I kiss him - on the lips, on the cheekbone, until my mouth rests by his ear.
"The revolution's started," I whisper. "The Capitol rebels are almost ready to escape to 13."
His shoulders sag. "You have a bloody sobering effect on me," he scowls. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
"The Games. When all the victors and tributes are united, when we're strongest against the Capitol. Heavensbee will tell you more when after the reaping. Grope me, so we don't look like we're talking about this."
His hand moves downwards accordingly. "What else do you know?"
"The Games… they're going to be different this year. I mean, beyond that of a Quell. He won't give me details, but there's something."
"I guess this means I can't pass off mentoring duties to the kids this year then, huh?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't want for you to have to come back here ever again."
"Not even a little?"
"Maybe a little," I admit, because I miss him and loneliness hurts like hell. "But that's just selfishness."
"You're allowed to be sometimes," he assures me. "Especially you. I can't even drink anymore now, if I want to remember all this."
"Isn't that a bit out of character?" I ask, and he snorts. "I'm serious. People will wonder why you're not passed out."
"So I have to pretend? Thirteen can't come soon enough," he mutters.
I grin. "Come on, Twelve. I'll get you one last drink if you promise to dance with me."
"That's a win-win for me, darling."
"Not with my dancing, it isn't."
I drag him back to the ballroom and into the center of the dancefloor, which has been tiled with sparkling sky-colored bricks dotted with jewels. Aside from its beauty and how well it complements the flower gardens and ponds of the décor, it is a nightmare in these shoes. I'm having to raise myself onto tiptoe so that the heels don't buckle on the uneven floor, and I know Haymitch knows how uncomfortable I am, because he's wearing that grin he always has when he's trying not to laugh at me.
He can't have me to himself all evening though. By the time the party of District Twelve leaves, I am fawning over a stylist, and he is propped up between two attendants. Everything has returned to relative normality for the two of us- save, that is, for the Games and revolution hanging over our heads.
A/N oh gosh, I have fallen so far behind in thanking every one of the wonderful lovely people who leave me reviews on this fic. So without further ado, eternal love to melliemoo, Padfootsbane, elliecrawford1605, mathgirl92, CHarmony49, DTaylor201989, calh, christian's bytch, Ms Lilly and StellarLuna for being the bee's knees. My life has been chaos recently (finishing A-levels, starting university, work etc etc) that I've barely been able to update, but getting so much appreciation for this fic means the world to me, and I'm still amazed that it's so popular. Love y'all.