Not a prompt but I thought we most of us being confined we could use something a little more cuddly cozy. ;) Let me know your thoughts!
Enduring
"Why is it so cold? Is the heater not working?"
Haymitch looked up from the book he hadn't really been reading and couldn't help a smile at the sight of Effie Trinket wrapped in so many layers of clothing. Well… It wasn't that many layers but for her who had always favored short dresses or skirts and a minimum amount of fabric…
She was wearing flannel sweatpants that were far too big for her – and for good reasons since she had stolen them in his dresser – woolen socks and a navy blue sweater that might have belonged to Mrs Everdeen once upon a time. Katniss had cleared her house of her mother's stuff since she wasn't coming back and Effie had grabbed – or rescued in her terms – whatever clothes she thought to be salvageable.
"That's Twelve for you, sweetheart… Better get used to it." he smirked.
She huffed and came closer, nudging the book aside to sit on his lap as if there weren't a few other more comfortable seats. He didn't complain though. He would never complain about her presence.
They had been living in a ruin, Katniss and him. Twelve had been deserted and when he had brought her back after Coin's murder, it had been him and her and a whole District of destroyed buildings and charred bones. They had vaguely talked about starting the clean up the first morning and then had never mentioned it again. They had holed themselves up into the mostly untouched Village and only wandered out when a hovercraft came with supply every two weeks.
Remaining sober wasn't that difficult when there was no alcohol to drink. Still, it wasn't easy.
People were supposed to come back, to rebuild… But it wouldn't happen anytime soon. It would take months to secure a budget, doctors, working crews…
Peeta had been scheduled to join them in exile as soon as he would be stable, of course, but he hadn't expected Peeta not to be alone when he would finally show up with the supplies. Watching Effie step out of that hovercraft had perhaps been the happiest moment of his life, all the more so when he had spotted the pink suitcases the boy had been carrying with him.
He had told her not to be a stranger, she had taken that to heart.
"First Thirteen then Twelve." she grumbled, burying one of her hands under his armpit to keep it warm. "You do like to seclude me in freezing districts."
He dropped the book and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck a little.
"Ain't secluding if you come willingly…" he remarked.
"True enough." she sighed, propping her head against his. "Although I was not that willing to go to Thirteen. There was a kidnapping I believe."
"That's Plutarch and his flair for dramatics…" he snorted, his fingers slowly running up and down her side. "I'd have just taken you with me given the chance."
But it had been too risky to have her in the hovercraft that was going to rescue the victors and it had all worked out in the end. She had made it to Thirteen and she had been safe – or as safe as could be anyway.
"Let's be honest here… You would take me anywhere." she purred in his ear.
He chuckled. "Are you dirty talking me, Princess?"
"What can I say, talking about Thirteen makes me miss our little bunk bed." she joked. "So cozy."
"Sure was cozier than this graveyard." he sighed without any amusement.
Being in Twelve was taking its toll on him and she might have not said much about it but he knew she wasn't any happier about it. It was hard to live next to so much rot and decay. The dust, if anything, was everywhere and no matter how much she tried to get them all to clean the houses, it kept coming back, carried by the wind. And that was without mentioning the wild animals that came for the carrions – although Katniss took care of that quite swiftly with her arrows. The death got to them all, they were just more or less adept at hiding it.
Her nose bumped against his cheek, a slight rebuke. They had tacitly agreed they would keep it together for the kids.
The rebels would show up eventually and they would put the District back to right. It was just a matter of time and waiting. Enduring. Haymitch was used to that at least. As for Effie… She kept on surprising him since Thirteen.
His hand settled on her thigh when she slumped more against his chest and he picked up his book with his free one. She seemed content to just stay there and watch the flames in the fireplace while he read.
He was content to have her close.
Always.
