Haymitch sat by the audience and watched as the Victors come and go on stage. The past few days have been crazy. Once the game starts, things will surely hit the fan. The rebellion will commence by attacking the arena first hand to break everyone out. Plutarch is on their side. District Thirteen which had been nothing more than a myth for years is fueling the second wave of the revolution. They are ready to make themselves known again, to come out of hiding and take a stand against Snow. Everyone is on board except for Katniss and Peeta. He cannot trust the two not to spill anything if he tells them. They cannot be distracted, not yet. They need to focus on surviving long enough for them to be rescued inside the arena. Surely Snow will come after Katniss. He will make his move to get her killed inside so the people will not blame him for it.
Then, there's Effie. He knows he's not being fair but it's a lot safer for her if she does not know anything. He had learned from the last time he asked for her help in putting his ideas in motion. Seneca died and it put her in the line of fire. Snow had summoned her so many times and threatened her. He was just thankful that he did not tell her first why he wanted to meet with Seneca that night or otherwise, Snow would know. The old man is gifted in detecting lies from people. Even Effie is good with that game, she wouldn't be able to hide from him if she had known what he was planning with Seneca. That secret had kept her alive, so he chose to keep her out of the planning of the rebellion to keep her safe. If they fail, at least, she wouldn't be a part of it. She would be safe.
Keeping her in the dark is a tough job though. Effie has always been observant. It does not help that she knows him very well. Lying to her does not feel right, it never does. When she had asked him if he's alright that night in the car, he lied and told her it's just Chaff messing with him. She looked him straight in the eyes and told him she trusts him. He felt so guilty because he does not deserve that trust, not when he's lying to her face.
The other kept telling him it's for the best. It's keeping her safe and he chose to believe them. He should have put a distance between them but he cannot bear being without her for a single day so he always found himself on her bed each night but staying until sunrise means talking and he does not want to keep lying to her so he would slip out of the bed when she's sleeping and go back to his own room. She did not say anything about it. She never did.
Taking a part in the rebellion might be their only chance of having a life together, of making that dream vacation happen without worrying Peacekeepers will come bursting through the door but there are some sacrifices to be made first and keeping her at arm's length is one of them.
When Peeta and Katniss hit the stage, he just knew Effie was the mastermind behind the girl's makeup. She had always made a point that Katniss does not need much on her face because she has that real beauty. The girl looked amazing in that wedding dress. It's a farce, of course. The girl is not getting married to Peeta but it's a story they spilt around to get more support. The two started charming Caesar and the audience. The host asked Katniss if she got another trick under her dress since the last time she was there, her dress produced fire.
Katniss stood up front and twirled, but instead of the usual trick Cinna put in her clothes, her dress catches fire and slowly turned it into a black one with feathers. Haymitch cleared his throat and saw Cinna looking very pleased with his work. He wanted to strangle him for being so goddamn cocky. He just put a target on his head for dressing Katniss as a mockingjay right on Snow's face but he guessed that the stylist doesn't really care.
At some point in the interview, Caesar made a gibe at how the dress is now wasted because Cinna had altered it.
"Oh, the wedding gown is not a waste, Caesar. Katniss and I…we're already married", the crowd gasped at the revelation, "Well, it's unofficial but there's a marriage ritual in our district called toasting, and that's what we did before all of this and in our minds and in our hearts, we're married as we could ever be", the boy lied so effortlessly.
Katniss is shocked but she played along and held his hand.
"Wow, that is shocking news but it's only a testament to your relationship. I am so glad that you had some time together before the Quell", Caesar responded with a knowing wink to the audience.
It lightened up the mood which was the aim, obviously, but unbeknownst to the host, Peeta was not done dropping bombs.
"Well, if we had known about the Quell and that we're…that we're coming back, we would not have done it…because now Katniss is pregnant", now that is one major bomb to drop in front of live television, "It's why I volunteered…the baby…the baby and Katniss are the most important people in my life right now and I want to be there to protect them, to ensure that…that at least, they will make it even without me", the boy added.
Some people in the audience failed to control themselves and started demanding to shut the game down. It's one thing Capitol and Districts have in common. They draw the line with a pregnant woman. Perhaps, it's why the boy came up with that sham. He wants to cause an uproar from the Capitol citizen to stop the game.
Katniss and Peeta stood along with the other Victors and for the first time in Hunger Games history, they all held hands from District One to District Twelve and raised them in solidarity and unity. It gave Haymitch the chills and brought tears in his eyes. They're all united in wanting to stop the game that will end their lives. They all supported Peeta's lie about the pregnancy. Also, first time in the history of the games that they turned the lights off on live television to stop things from going further as chaos already broke in the audience while they chant 'stop the game'.
"Do you think they will stop the game?" Katniss asked once they're back at the penthouse.
Haymitch is shaking so badly he had to down a full glass of whisky first before facing them.
"Don't know. That never happened before", he then turned to the boy, "What the hell were you thinking spouting lies like that? You're married? You made a toasting? She's pregnant? Are you that dumb? Don't you think they would warrant a test to confirm if Katniss is really pregnant?" he exclaimed.
Katniss does not approve being labeled as pregnant woman even though she's not but she understood where Peeta was coming from. It was actually clever to rally the Capitol's own people in stopping the game.
"Leave him alone, Haymitch. It was my idea", everyone turned to Effie who is already nursing a cigarette between her fingers, "As to the test, I already took care of it. Don't ask how", she then turned her attention to Cinna who is sitting with Portia on the couch, "Now, you Cinna, darling…what in Panem do you think you're pulling off by that stunt? A mockingjay? Do you have a death wish or you just want to piss off some people?" she asked the stylist.
Even Portia is pale. That was pretty bold of a statement to make and Snow will not let that slide.
"It was art, Effie. You used to understand art, and people love it", he simply answered.
Of course, he's lying to her face too. Everyone is lying. She is getting pissed off with all the lies.
"Children, kindly go to your rooms and rest. If the game still continues, you have your private sessions tomorrow and you need your rest", she instructed and the two obliged.
She then made her way to the bar and poured herself a glass of vodka, her drink of choice lately.
"It was your idea to have the boy telling everyone the girl is pregnant?" she only hummed, "When have you come up with that?" Haymitch asked.
He watched her finished her drink in the same pace as he does with his. It's kind of scary. It's like he's looking in the mirror.
"Right before the kids go on stage. When Johanna started cursing everyone on live television, I saw the Victors agreed with all the things she said. It just occurred to me. Who knows if it will work? If it does not, Snow and the gamemakers are not going to be very popular for sending a pregnant woman inside the arena", she answered casually as she blew out smoke throughout the space.
It is clever, impulsive but clever.
"Should have told me first before you had the boy doing that…things would have gone ugly", he said.
Peacekeepers could have come in and do something nasty. Effie sent him a glare.
"It's not like you're always available these days. I'm certain you have other things to take care of than listen to me. On that note, I will go to my room and call it a night. Tomorrow is a big, big, big day", she responded and walked away.
Haymitch watched her go while absorbing what she said. Of course, she knew he's up to something and though she's not saying anything about it, she's being affected by all the secrecy.
"Things are going to get ugly, Haymitch. We all know that. It's better that she does not know anything just yet", Cinna reminded him.
He groaned.
"Don't have to tell me that every single time", he grumbled and poured another drink.
"When it's time…you get her out of here, right? It will happen fast but you get her out of here. Keep her clueless for now to make sure Snow will leave her alone when he questioned her before we do anything but when it's time, you get her out because if not, she'll be the one to take the fall for all of us and I wouldn't want that for my friend. Do you hear me?" the stylist demanded.
He had put her on his list during the planning stage. Chaff snorted at that but Mags and Finnick fully supported his decision. Every Victor gets a list of people they want to be rescued when it's time. Effie is in his alongside Katniss and Peeta's families and other people in Twelve.
"Crystal clear", he agreed.
The private session was a disaster. Peeta and Katniss retaliated against the gamemaker in some sort of weird protest. Peeta did a mural of Rue surrounded by flowers to remind them of the little girl's death while Katniss…she hung a dummy and labeled it as Seneca. Effie was not happy but she's too exhausted to lecture the two. The Seneca part has gotten into her and she has been holding a glass of vodka all day.
When the scores came in, both Katniss and Peeta got the perfect score of 12. It's a shock since no one has ever gotten that. It was given on purpose. They're putting targets on the kids' backs by making them some sort of threats to others.
On the last night before the game begins, Effie requested to have a private dinner, just the four of them. She banned any talks about games and politics. She wants it to be a simple dinner full of banters and laughter. After that, she handed them boxes as gifts.
"Sweetheart, you ain't buying me with your diamonds", Haymitch mocked before opening the box.
They all did.
Katniss got a golden mockingjay pin, almost similar to the one she had last year but it's made of pure gold. Peeta got a golden necklace with a mockingjay medallion for a pendant, while Haymitch got a golden bangle with a flame pattern.
"Your tokens. I know your families weren't able to give you one since…well, it was not possible at the time so…I took the liberty. It also represents us. Hair for me. Pin for Katniss. Bangle for you, and for Peeta, the medallion we talked about. We're a team, aren't we?" she explained.
Her voice is on the verge of cracking.
"Thank you, Effie", Katniss said followed by Peeta.
The escort went on to hug them both as her lips wobbled.
"I am so proud of my Victors…so proud. You both deserved so much better…" she tried to compose herself for a moment but it's lost cause. "I am truly sorry", she muttered.
The kids did not know why but Haymitch understood it and Effie had left the room to hide herself as she cries her eyes out in her room. Meanwhile, Haymitch hugged the two one last time since he's not walking them to the cylinder the next day.
"Any last advice?" Katniss asked.
"Stay alive", he answered.
They just have to stay alive long enough for them to get them out. His part is to ensure that they will be able to get them out when the time comes but for now, it is goodbye.
i can't believe i surpass 100k words with this fic. I am so into it right now. I can barely function in other things!