Effie had arrived early at Haymitch's house for the Reaping. She wanted to have more time with him before the whole fiasco started so she adjusted her schedule. She also bothered to tone down her clothes and bring the actual dress she's going to wear to the ceremony just in case Haymitch decided to be a caveman and rip her clothes…again. She did not expect for him to open the door for her and pulled her inside the house with force.
"Haymitch! What are—"
He cut her off with a deep and passionate kiss. It took her breath away literally. Once he pulled back to get a good look at her, he saw confusion and surprise in her eyes.
"Where the fuck have you been, princess?" he growled.
He saw the way she wrinkled her nose, something she always does whenever she heard him cursing or being rude.
"Language, Haymitch. You know where I've been, in the Capitol where else?" she responded.
It's not like she has the luxury to travel to other districts whenever she wants to. Well, she can in a sense but for her mental stability, she will not do that to herself. The district people hate Capitol citizen and she's one. The fact that she's also famous makes it hard to blend in. She would love the idea of visiting Finnick and Mags at Four and see the ocean the boy used to tell her about but that's not plausible. Even if she manages to go there without Four's citizen detecting her, her travel will not go unnoticed by the Capitol and that's a big problem to have.
"I called your apartment and you weren't there to pick up. I called you for five days straight and I got nothing. I even got Chaff to check up on you once and he said you're not in your place. You're not anywhere near the usual bars we go to so where the hell have you been?" he clarified with more impatience.
"I went to stay in my parents' rest house for a week before the season starts. I told you I'm going on vacation for a few days on the phone", she answered.
Did she?
"You could have said you're dead serious about the whole vacation thing, sweetheart", he muttered in realization that she did tell him about going on vacation.
She rolled her eyes around. Of course, he forgot.
"Alright, I apologize for not calling when I arrived at the rest house. I should have known you're most likely to forget about it", she sighed and saw the worry left his face, "What's this about? Did something happen? You looked incredibly worried", she asked.
She knows he can be possessive and overprotective sometimes but for him to get up so early in the morning so he can confront her about something, it has to be important…something big to scare him like that.
"Nothing, princes. You just scared the shit out of me. Next time you want to hide on some house for a week, let me know you actually got there, okay?" he answered.
It's hard to determine whether he's lying to her or not but with the way he caressed her face, he's more worried than lying. He's really scared for her.
"Okay, I will", she agreed.
They lay side by side on his bed, both panting and sweaty. Her wig has been disregarded on the floor somewhere in his bedroom. Her makeup has been smudged and she was right, he did tear her dress apart.
"You are a caveman", she muttered while catching her breath.
He smirked at her.
"Isn't that what you like about me, princess? You got sick and tired of your usual Capitol guys", he teased.
She pursed her lips and shook her head.
"That's not what I like about you and you know that. Besides, you're the only man who would prefer me looking so plain and ugly like this", she responded.
Trust Effie Trinket to think of herself plain and ugly without all of the crap on her face and head, he mused.
"You look ridiculous with all that crap on your face, sweetheart", he pointed out.
She buried her face on his chest and for a moment, she forgot why she's really there for. They don't do cuddle but it's something that has been occurring as years went by. How long have they known each other by now? Nine years. It's a very long time to be with someone, though they're not exactly together for the first few years but they've been partners before they started sleeping with each other. Even now, what they are to each other is still blurred. They don't have a label for what they have. They can't afford to put a label on it. He said it's not safe and she trusts him.
"Alright, we need to get ready or we will be late. I have so much to do after you ruined my wig and my makeup", she said once she saw the clock.
It's going to be a pain reapplying her makeup once again and pinning her wig but it's worth it because she was able to spend time with Haymitch without bothering to be quiet or worrying that someone will walk in on them.
"Good thing you brought an extra dress", he noted.
She glared at him and he returned a smirk.
"That's the actual dress I am going to wear at the ceremony. I am not going to risk you ripping that one because that's haute couture and extremely expensive. Thank you very much", she slid off the bed and walked around his bedroom, naked as the day she was born, "I'm taking a shower so should you", she said.
He took his time, admiring the view. It's not often a beautiful woman like her (without all the crap on her face and the ridiculous wigs) would walk inside his bedroom all bare like that. Despite her being conscious about looking plain, he can see how confident she is with her own body and she does not bother hiding it.
"If it's your way of asking for round three, it's working, sweetheart", he teased.
She threw a glance over her shoulder and smiled.
"If you can handle round three…" she teased back which made him growl as he ran towards her inside the bathroom.
Though he can see the nerves creeping up on Effie as she put on her escort mask, she's more relaxed than the previous years. Her little vacation did some good on her. It allowed her to rest and put her mind at ease even just for a week.
As usual, she reaped two young kids who are most probably going to be killed five minutes into the game but that did not stop her from putting her effort into her job. She ushered them into the train, relayed the schedule and sent them to their rooms to rest. He noticed her smoking less now. Few years back, she would chain-smoked her way after reaping kids from Twelve. It's either she got better in playing escort or she's coping better now than before. He is hoping it's the latter.
"Haymitch…" she called.
Her tone is enough to sober him up fast and separate him from the bottle his nursing.
"What's the fuck happened?" he asked.
She frowned at him, clearly not amused with how he answered her.
"What happened to 'what's the matter?'" she groaned, "Why do I even bother…anyway, I was hoping I could ask you for a favor…" she answered.
He studied her mannerism, her tone of voice…her thick Capitol accent. She seemed nervous, hesitant even.
"Princess, if you're going to say something better say it fast because I am thinking of a lot of things now", he warned.
"Right…sorry. I wonder if you can accompany me to dinner with my family", that's something he did not expect, "It's not part of our schedule and totally unrelated to our jobs. It's just that Mother requested for your presence or rather asked me to invite you for dinner. It's her birthday on the weekend and she wanted you to be the guest of honor", she said.
He never met her family before but from what little she mentioned of her mother, she sounded so horrible and he already knew there's more to why she asked her daughter to invite him. He thinks Effie knew it too. That's why she's afraid to ask.
"Your family is not going to like me, princess, and I have a strong feeling they wouldn't like me either", he mentioned.
She sighed. She already knew that. Her mother just wants to boast around her friends that she got a Victor as a guest to her birthday party. She did emphasize on her that it's the only contribution she can ever give to their family after she became such a disappointment, not that she would tell Haymitch that.
"You don't have to come. Mother just asked me to invite you and I did. Whatever your decision is, I will respect it", she added.
"Are you going to that stupid party?" he asked.
"It's my mother, Haymitch", she simply said.
She does not have a choice on the matter, he translated.
"Alright, I'll go with you as long as you promise me you're not going to leave my side the whole night. I wouldn't want to deal with your family on my own and cause a scene you wouldn't like", he accepted.
That made her raise a brow.
"Why, Haymitch…you're concern for my well-being all of a sudden", she mocked.
He scoffed.
"No. I am concern for my well-being. I want to spare my eardrums hours of your nagging if I cause a scene to your mother's birthday party", he retorted.
"Deal", she replied.
They spent the following days preparing the kids for the fiasco. Haymitch kept his distance and paced himself while Effie is coaching the kids. When it feels too much for her, she takes a step back and allows him to takeover to give them pointers or just make fun of them or piss them off entirely. His goal is to give her time to breathe, recollect herself, before she can resume teaching the kids again. It is working for them and it gives Effie the balance she needs in order to work with the tributes without getting too attached and snapping at them at the same time.
Then, the weekend came.
It's just one night and the kids are already asleep, too exhausted after a full day of training and interviews. Haymitch was forced to wear a full-on tuxedo but Effie made sure to keep the tone neutral. She knows he does not like flashy clothes.
"You looked like a white Christmas tree", he commented when he saw her at the living room.
She's wearing a white ruffled dress that's actual inspired by snow. Her wig is also white.
"Snow is the inspiration for the dress, the thing not the man, if you must know…and I don't expect you to understand fashion", she replied.
He just rolled his eyes on her and they left the building together.
Haymitch knew Effie's family is rich but he did not expect to see how rich they are. Her parents' house is not something anyone would call a house, it's a freaking mansion and there's probably hundreds of people attending the party inside. A butler greeted them at the entrance regarding Effie like a royalty. He noticed the way her posture has changed when they entered the house. He expected her to relax since it's her home as well but no. She became even more tensed.
"Still breathing, princess?" he checked in just to make sure she still want to be there.
She took a deep breath, grateful for his concern.
"Yes, still breathing. Don't leave me, alright?" she requested.
"…not even if you asked me to", he replied.
They walked inside the mansion and into the main hall. Eyes are already following them and everyone's talking. He had guessed already why her mother wants him to be there. He's the main attraction.
"Euphemia! I was wondering when you will arrive", a woman in a purple wig approached them and greeted Effie before turning to Haymitch, "…and you must be the infamous Haymitch Abernathy. I am Amadea Wellbrook, Euphemia's sister. It's a pleasure to meet you", she introduced herself as Haymitch felt Effie's grip on his hand tightened.
"Hopefully, I could say the same at the end of the night", he responded.