Prompt : You're such a great writer this whole fic us awesome! Could you do a pre-mockingjay fic where Effie has this irrational fear where she's terrified of lightning? And haymitch finds out and at first he teases her for it but then he like comes into her room and sees how scared she is an he comforts her or something? Thanks so much if you do!

Lightning Storm

The storm was a catastrophe.

The train had shut down on their way to the Capitol, in the middle of the night, leaving them without power, which meant Twelve's tributes wouldn't be on time for the parade which meant the parade would have to be pushed back which meant Effie was in for a lecture.

Nevertheless, Effie's worries had first been directed at the two children who had rudely talked back at her for having woken them up. The girl had been nicer about it but the boy had simply rolled his eyes, told her that it was just a storm and that she had to chill before slamming the door in her face.

She was still fuming about it as she walked along the train corridor, trying not to trip on anything in the dark. The recurrent lightning bolt helped but she could have passed on the loud thunder that followed. She barely knocked on Haymitch's door before hurrying inside when another thunderous boom startled her. The sound of the rain on the train's metallic roof was deafening. It was pouring outside.

There was no more light in his cabin than in hers but it didn't seem to trouble him.

"Will there ever be a situation where I won't find you drinking?" she hissed.

The flash of lightning revealed a smirk. His eyes trailed up her bare legs and then to her head, free of make-up or wig.

"Drop the dressing gown and you might find out." he taunted, taking another swallow of whatever foul liquor he was drinking.

The thunder made her jump again. It felt as if the storm was right over their head. "Do you think we are safe?"

"Is Effie Trinket scared of a little storm?" he snorted.

"I can handle a little lightning just fine but this is a lightning storm, Haymitch." she snapped. "We have two children to take care of and I am not sure…"

"Calm down, sweetheart!" He rolled his eyes. "Nothing is going to happen."

That declaration was followed by another round of thunders and Effie inched closer to the bed. "What if the lightning touches the train?"

"It's a Faraday cage, we're as safe as can be." he replied without a care in the world.

"A what?" she frowned. The lightning made her jump again and she sat at the foot of the bed despite how rude it was to do so without being invited. "Do you often have this kind of things in Twelve?"

Haymitch seemed amused. "We don't have a controlled weather if that's the question."

"Well, you should." she huffed. "I don't see why anyone would subject themselves to that."

He handed her the bottle. "Liquid courage."

"I don't need courage. I am not a child, to be afraid of lightning." she scowled but then the thunder rolled and she snatched the bottle from his fingers. She debated for a few seconds before drinking from it. Not only would it be far stronger than what she was used to but she didn't share drinks with anyone. And yet the storm was so violent, she thought it couldn't hurt.

"Tonight if possible, Trinket. I'm thirsty." Haymitch grumbled, moving as if to take it away from her.

She brought the bottle to her lips and took a respectable swallow only to cough right away, her eyes watering from the heavy fume. "What is this thing?"

"Ripper's best batch." he chuckled. "For the worst days only."

She studied him attentively, keeping the bottle out of his reach. "How much of this vile stuff did you have?"

"Not enough. Give it back." He attempted to get it back but she held it away from him and they started struggling until he ended up pinning her to the bed, a leg on each side of her hips to stop her from running away and a hand on her shoulder, the other reaching for his liquor. The bottle escaped her fingers and rolled from the bed to the floor in a clinking of glass. They both stared at the mess and then Haymitch frowned. "That's the last time I try to be nice to you, sweetheart."

"You have a strange definition of what being nice consist of." she retorted. "Would you move? This is improper."

"improper or uncomfortable?" he asked.

Her cheeks flushed red. "You are a ruffian."

"Yeah. I think that's what turns you on." he mocked, leaning forward until their lips brushed. "Or are you breathing so quickly because you're afraid of lightning? Which one is it, Trinket?"

She couldn't confess to one more than she could confess to the other.

His smell was terribly familiar, it was a mix between liquor, sweat, cheap soap and the faintest trace of coal. It shouldn't be good by any mean and, yet, she preferred it to every expensive fragrance in the Capitol. It was comforting somehow and it created an odd sort of ache in her belly that she would never ever call desire.

"I am not the one turned on or do you keep another bottle in your pants?" she spat. "This is inappropriate. I ought to report you for sexual harassment."

"Do you feel sexually harassed?" he snorted, brushing his mouth against her jaw. It was maddening. He brushed but never actually kissed.

"As a matter of fact, yes." She tried to sound calm and collected but his lips had closed on her earlobe and it came out as a whine.

"You should have thought of that before you wasted my booze, sweetheart." he chuckled in her ear. "I can't very well stumble all around the train in the dark for more… I need another… distraction." He pulled on her dressing gown's belt, revealing the short pink nightgown she was wearing underneath. His hands ghosted over her side, not quite touching. It was driving her crazy and judging by his smirk, he knew it. "Do you have another suggestion?"

"I…" She licked her lips, at a loss for words. She should have pushed him away, she thought, and certainly not entertaining ideas that would make a proper lady blush in shame. "Haymitch…"

The lights flickered back on and the train started humming again.

Haymitch looked up, blinking at the sudden flux of light and then down at her. "Lucky you." He got away from her and all she registered was how suddenly cold she was. She didn't understand what he was doing until she heard the door opening. She propped herself on her elbows in time to watch him disappear in the corridors, no doubt in search of liquor.

She wasn't sure she was as lucky as he made it sound.