It felt like a long time since they felt each other like that but it felt so familiar, it almost felt like home the moment their lips have met. What had started gentle soon turned into something feral as he pinned her against the wall. It reminded him of the first time they kissed each other in his bedroom. They're rough. It's their domain. Her back complained against the hard wall but it added something to what she's feeling at the moment. She gasped when Haymitch literally ripped her dress into two.
"Haymitch! That dress cost more than your house!" she exclaimed in horror.
He did not respond. He picked her up as she automatically wrapped her legs around his waist and he brought her inside her bedroom. His clothes flew everywhere inside the space after he had tossed her onto the bed. She made the quick effort of removing the wig from her head before Haymitch ruined it too. It's been a while since they do this and they are both lacking on the patience department. They're hungry and thirsty for one another. When he's done ripping all items of clothing from her body, he dropped to his knees, pulled her on the edge of the bed and latched his mouth on her throbbing center.
"God!" she moaned.
He's not playing. He's desperate to let her know how much she means to him. Though he's not good with words, the least he can do is show it to her, make her feel what he wants to tell her. She melted in his skilled ministrations and it did not take long for her to fall apart and scream his name.
"I need you", she said and he crawled on top of her and entered her in one swift motion that left them both gasping for air.
He felt complete. She felt not alone. They're both missing pieces of each other's puzzle and together they're whole. Haymitch never thought he would something like that in his life, something with that kind of meaning. For years, he avoided attachments, relationships. He denied Snow to have any pressure point on him, any kind of leverage to torment him, but Effie waltz in his life and despite his resistance, she broke down his walls.
Same could be said with Effie. It felt like her whole world ended the moment she was chosen to be an escort for the games. It ended her personal life, her safety, her innocence. She felt like she's going to spiral down fast and fall off the cliff until she met Haymitch. She knew he was trying to keep her at a distance but she was craving some sort of comfort, someone who understand what she's going through. They're both thrown into the world of President Snow's cruelty and they have each other to cling to. She was not looking for a relationship or to be his pressure point but he became her saving grace, her calm in the middle of a never ending storm. He's her clarity when she felt like she's going insane.
"Haymitch…" she moaned his name like it's a sacred prayer.
Her hands desperately held onto him, afraid she's going to drown if she lets go.
He felt that with only the mention of his name and he tightened his grip on her to let her know he's not going to let her go.
"It's alright. Let it go, princess. Come for me", he urges and she did.
She shattered underneath and around him. Her muscles gripped his so tight, it pulled him to his own release.
Once they both recovered, he settled next to her and pulled the covers over their bodies. Effie frowned but she did not say a thing. They have slept together yes but they don't sleep together. The one time it happened, he had a nightmare, sliced her arm and she fell onto a glass table. He almost had her transferred to another district after that. They never ventured into that again…until maybe now?
"What is it?" he asked when he saw her staring.
"What are you doing?" she asked him back.
"Princess, if you're looking for round two, you need to give me a minute. I am not as young as I would hope to be", he answered.
She shook her head.
"No. This…what are you doing? I thought you don't want us to spend the night on the same bed. You're confusing me here, Haymitch. If this is some ploy to get me to stop talking to Seneca…"
"It's not a ploy, princess, although if it works for you that way, I wouldn't mind. I don't like seeing you with that guy", he cut her off.
She pursed her lips from being interrupted but let it slide.
"I don't want to be your pressure point. I don't want to be someone you have to protect because protecting me means you have to destroy yourself and I can't stand that. I won't stand that", she continued.
He's been an alcoholic from the day she met him but he was able to tone it down and he was getting better until he relapsed willingly for her. She can't be the reason for his health failing. A lot of children had already died because of her, she will not be the reason for his death too.
"I don't think it matters whether we want something or not, princess. We need to do what we have to if we intend to survive and I want you to survive. Of course, it's for my own selfish reason but it's also for Twelve", she frowned, "Haven't had any escorts who care for the children before, sweetheart. People in my district may not like you because you're Capitol and you're an escort but they wouldn't want any other Capitol dolls to take your place. You're their only consolation that if ever their kids got reaped, you will be here to treat them like human beings", he said.
Effie's eyes watered with that admission. She knows how distant the people in Twelve are when it comes to her. She can see fear and disgust in their eyes whenever they see her but she never knew that it's how they felt about her being their escort. It's only natural for district people to hate escorts and for them to feel a little ease knowing she will take care of their children whether they make it or not…it feels great.
"Don't kill yourself, Haymitch. I mean it. You're the only…" she paced herself, careful about her words even though Haymitch had cleared her bedroom at the penthouse from bugs, "I wouldn't survive this job if you die…please", she pleaded.
She understands the need for it and she would understand the temptation to fall back into old vice. Hell, she is craving for hers every single time. What she couldn't take is for him to give in to his addiction in the name of her well-being.
"I promise to keep it under control, princess, and you keep it together. Follow my advice and don't get too attached to the kids. I know it's hard for you but you can't be like you were with Bran and Grace. Be the escort and flashed that ridiculous escort smile. How about that for a compromise?" he proposed.
It's a hard bargain. There will be times when he will need extra boost from his whisky to get him going but he's willing to make that deal with her if only to spare her the heartbreak she suffered when the Locksmiths died. He watched her toyed with the bracelet Martha gave her around her arm. He just noticed that she's still wearing it.
"I don't think I can take another heartbreak like that. We have a deal", she agreed.
Haymitch pulled her closer and kept her warm. The games always ruin good people and it came too close in ruining Effie as well. He may not be able to save everyone but he can try and protect her from the danger of this world. It's the only thing within his power.
"Are you really going to spend the night here?" she asked hesitantly.
He never dared that before consciously and he hated the memory of hurting her that one night she woke him up from his nightmare. It's just that after everything that happened this season, he feels the need to set aside his fear and cherish his time with her. Not everyone is so lucky to be given the time to be with someone precious to them. He felt it to be disrespectful to those who died with him wasting moments to be with her.
"I cannot promise you that I will not wake you up because of my nightmare but I can promise you that I will not cut you again because I don't have my knife with me. I just want to hold you for tonight, princess", he answered.
She wants that more than anything.
"Hold me then", she replied.
Surprisingly, he did not wake up panting nor kicking and screaming. He had a pleasant sleep for the first time in a long time. It was some sort of a miracle and when he opened his eyes, he found Effie by her dressing table getting ready.
"You're all set", he mumbled.
She glanced over to him from the mirror.
"It's alright if you still want to get a few more minutes of sleep. I already took care of everything. Your train will not leave for another two hours so you have time to rest or have some breakfast", she said.
He carefully studied her. She's back to wearing ridiculous clothes and her neon wig but her eyes show him her heart. They may dress her up like a Capitol doll but they can never mold her into someone like them. That's both a blessing and a curse depends on how you look at it.
"Did I have a nightmare last night?" he asked.
Maybe he drunk too much since he cannot remember.
"No, you did not. You mumbled something in your sleep but that's just about it. You did steal all the blanket though and the space on my bed. I will tell you that", she answered with her thick Capitol accent.
She was amused by it more than irritated and it made him smirked. She's going to be alright, he thought. They're going to be alright as long as they stick to their agreement.
At the train station, she told him that all his clothes are already in his room. She hugged him goodbye and promised to call and to answer his call when he gets home.
He did not expect to see a package inside his luggage that is addressed to Martha Locksmith. Out of respect, he did not open it but he's tempted to. That act alone can get Effie into trouble but she promised to keep it together for the next season so he let it slide.
When he arrived in Twelve, his first destination is the Locksmith's house where Martha is mourning the loss of her kids. Obviously, she did not expect to see him there based on the look on her face.
"Haymitch…what are you doing here?" she asked while staring at his suitcase.
"Just got back…Trinket wants me to give you this", he answered and handed her the package.
She did not ask her to leave so he stayed just to see what is inside. Martha hesitantly opened it and gasped when she saw sheets of drawings made by her children. Haymitch was completely certain of it because he had seen those himself at the penthouse. Effie used to teach the kids how to sketch amongst other things. He has no idea that she kept them and now gave it to their mother.
"Did they…did they draw these?" she asked in awe and disbelief.
He nodded.
"Trinket said Bran had a rare gift in the arts. He drew the good ones. Grace was interested more with colors", he answered.
Martha sobbed and smiled as she studied them sheet by sheet. She can tell which ones were made by Bran and which ones were made by Grace.
"Thank you…can you tell, Ms. Trinket, thank you?" she asked him.
"I will…just one thing. Don't tell anyone how you got those. If anyone asked, the kids drew those here. Smuggling from Capitol to districts is illegal. Trinket does not care much about that rule but she could lose her tongue because of it", he responded.
It's not the first time she smuggled something from the Capitol to give to him. It's stupid and reckless but he appreciates the gesture.
"I will never tell a soul", Martha swore.
He knows she will keep her word and with that he left and went back to his house. When he got in, the phone is already ringing and he knew who it is.
"Trinket", he answered.
'I've calling you for ages. Really, Haymitch…is it that hard to get up from your couch and pick up the phone? You really have no manners whatsoever'
He smiled and for once, he's happy to hear her nagging.
"Calm down, princess. I'm here. What do you want to talk about?" he asked happily.