Prompt : Can you write a sequel to "Effie Trinket, Rebel"? I really enjoyed it! Fabulous work!(:

This takes place during Mockingjay so minor spoilers if you haven't read the book. Also the prompt refers to chapter 27 :)

Under the Bombs

"Where is Effie?"

Haymitch grabbed Plutarch's arm as soon as his friend had slipped between the two doors the guards were about to close. The lockdown was imminent and not everyone was accounted for. They were expecting bombs to fall on Thirteen in less than ten minutes, he and Plutarch had been dispatched with Coin to the most secure location of the District.

"I don't know." Plutarch replied, looking around the hybrid of natural and technological cave they were standing in. It was the deepest spot and the safest one too. "She should be here."

Effie hadn't been with them when they had watched Peeta's message, she probably didn't know what was going on and that it wasn't a drill.

"Close the doors!" Coin ordered. "The lockdown is effective as of now."

"Wait," he started to say but he spied a blond woman in grey slipping through the closing doors just then and sighed in relief. He barely heard Coin beginning her speech on loudspeakers, he hurried to Effie in the crowded space – lots of important people in Thirteen and small room – but she met him halfway. "Where were you?" he hissed, as soon as he could catch her arm. "The alarm rings you get your ass down here at once."

There was a flash of irritation on her face. "I helped Primrose get her cat. I thought Katniss would appreciate the gesture."

"A damned cat?" he growled. "We're about to be bombed into oblivion and you're risking your life for a damned cat?"

"Haymitch, I'm alright." she sighed. But he wasn't, he wanted to tell her. They were about to be attacked and even if he knew they should, technically, get out of this unscathed, he was still scared and not knowing where she was didn't help matters… If he had to die, he wanted her by his side. It must have been written on his face because she took hold of his hand and steered toward one of the bunk beds lining the walls. They sat side by side, clutching each other's hand and waiting for the first bomb to fall.

The other citizens should be grateful, he thought, because they didn't have to listen to Plutarch shouting the running countdown of their imminent death. Coin remained impassive through it all as did most of the people in the room. They were all sitting on beds or on the ground, holding to each other or head bowed in silent prayer.

"I love you." Effie said, out of the blue, just as Plutarch was reaching ten. Haymitch turned his head so fast, something snapped in his neck. She licked her lips nervously and forced a smile. "I thought I should tell you. Just in case."

He desperately wanted to say it back but he couldn't. The words stayed stuck in his throat. But he leaned in and kissed her even though people were looking at them. He didn't care about them knowing. Effie wasn't well loved in Thirteen because of her past as an escort, few people accepted that she had been a part of the rebellion all along, and she was having a hard time for it. She had been invaluable in helping Plutarch, though.

"Don't die on me." he commanded.

Plutarch dived under a table and that was all the warning they got before the bomb impacted. The sound was deafening, like Earth shattering opened, but the bunker didn't shake. The lights shot down for a few seconds. Effie was gripping his hand so hard her nails were digging in his flesh. The dimmed lights of the emergency generator kicked in.

Effie leaned against his shoulder when Plutarch explained it would probably be the worst one and Haymitch put his arm around her shoulders while Coin used the loudspeakers again to reassure everyone. The following bombs weren't as loud and the ground and walls barely shook. No one really relaxed though and Plutarch's repeated warnings that there could be more bunker missiles coming wasn't actually helping them doing so.

Effie's eyes were shut tight, the lights kept flickering on and off and it probably wasn't the best time to reevaluate his life's choices but Haymitch found himself doing just that all the same. He and Effie had never put a label on what they were, after her stunt in the hovercraft, they had slept together a few times but neither of them had as much free time as they would have liked and they usually were too tired to do more than crash and sleep, they shared a bed more often than not. He loved it when she sneaked in his bed or when he woke up pressed against her. She made the lack of alcohol bearable.

"Do you miss the Capitol?" he asked, between two blasts. It was like waiting for thunders, he mused.

"Right now when they are bombarding us?" She grabbed the standard blanket at the foot of the bed and spread it over them both. It was getting chilly. "Not really, no."

"Yeah, maybe not right now." he snorted. "But… You know. You love parties, the city, all those fancy clothes…" Because she wasn't exactly rocking the grey uniform. She missed colors, he knew.

"Sometimes." she admitted quietly.

"But not all the times." He was strangely relieved by that.

"What are you getting at?" She snuggled against him, closing her eyes suddenly when another bomb made the entire bunker shake.

"Nothing." he denied with a shrug. "Just… Maybe you could… come to Twelve when everything is over." He winced at his own clumsiness. "Sometimes."

"Only sometimes?" Her smile was smug and a little teasing.

He would probably have kissed it away if there hadn't been another series of bombing that made the lights go out. The darkness was total and oppressing.

"Generators will kick in again." Coin's voice rang out, calm and confident.

But they didn't, not immediately at least.

"Haymitch, I'm scared." Effie whispered, clinging to him. He could barely hear her over the noise of the explosions. He pressed his cheek to the top of her head and closed his eyes. There was nothing to do but wait.

"Everything will be alright, sweetheart." It was a hollow promise and wistful hope but it also was the only thing they had right then. "I got you."

At least, they had each other to hold close in the darkness. Some weren't as lucky as they were.