HADs Promppt : The kids find out that haymitch is a big cuddle bunny

Things Better Left Unknown

Peeta had been overjoyed when Effie had come to join them in Twelve, not least of all because she had seemed to need it badly. He had been worried at first, not fooled by her chirpy antics and her hollow smiles. Katniss had been oblivious until he pointed it out but Katniss didn't know much about what had happened in the Capitol cells. He wasn't sure how much Haymitch knew although he suspected Effie had told him most of it.

Their mentor was too overprotective of her for it to be otherwise.

It had taken months for the situation to stabilize. They had assimilated Effie to their routine without any trouble, even though it had taken a few weeks before she had ventured out of Haymitch's house. Even walking to their house one evening out of two seemed to be a hassle to her. She had been hiding, unsure of her welcome in the District, unsure of where she had stood with the rest of the world…

It was alright now. She had made some friends, she helped him out at the bakery, she was playing seamstress and toying with the idea of opening her own clothe shop…

A year and a half after the official surrender of the Capitol, life in Twelve was good. They hadn't really outgrown the nightmares or the demons haunting their minds yet, they hadn't completely grieved their dead, but Peeta was optimistic about it all.

He was overjoyed about having Effie in Twelve…

… but he really needed to remember not to barge in Haymitch's house like he used to.

There had been incidents before that had left him embarrassed for no real good reasons, like that time Effie had come home drunk after spending the evening with Katniss, Jo and Annie – who had been visiting – and had dropped down on Haymitch's lap despite all the available seats in the room. And Haymitch had automatically embraced her instead of chiding her, bringing her closer to his chest and mocking her in soft tones about her weakness for tequila.

Another time, he had been helping Katniss do the dishes in the kitchen and he had walked back to the living-room to grab a dirty cup in time so see Haymitch tugging Effie into a hug, seemingly out of the blue. It had been a long and intimate hug, Haymitch had buried his face in her neck and they had swayed a little on the spot, almost as if they had been slow dancing.

There had been the time when they couldn't find Buttercup and he had gone over to Haymitch, hoping to find the missing cat only to stumble on their mentor and their escort napping on the couch like it was a normal thing to do at ten a.m. – although it might have been, given they all had troubles keeping to a steady sleep schedule. Haymitch had been wrapped around Effie like an octopus.

There had been other moments he had walked in on: hugs, tender kisses on an exposed neck or cheeks, hands in the other's hair… Every time Peeta was noticed, Haymitch grumbled and acted all grumpy and defensive, claiming that Effie was mushy. They all knew better but they humored him.

So, all in all, Peeta wasn't entirely surprised, that morning, when he walked in through the back door, carrying cheese buns for their breakfast, to find a chuckling Effie struggling to make coffee because Haymitch had his arms wrapped tight around her waist and was plastered to her back, peppering her nape with kisses. They were both in their pajamas – or, in Haymitch's case, wearing loose sweatpants that hung so low on his hips it didn't quite hide everything it was supposed to hide.

"For fuck's sake, boy…" Haymitch growled, letting go of Effie to glare at him. "Learn to fucking knock. If we haven't told you a thousand times…"

"Sorry." Peeta winced because they had and he should remember. He and Katniss tended to consider Haymitch's house like an extension of their own. It had never been a problem before but now… Well, they liked it better when Haymitch announced his presence before coming in. It saved them from embarrassing situations.

"One day, I swear, you're going to come in like that and you'll find us fucking on that table." Haymitch insisted, on the same line of thought he was.

"Haymitch, really!" Effie huffed, whacking his shoulder, suddenly flushing red. She didn't look entirely at ease either, wearing nothing but her nightgown, even though Peeta was making a pointed effort to look elsewhere.

Peeta made a face. "Tell me you don't. We're having dinner on that table."

"Do not listen to Haymitch, dear." Effie awkwardly giggled. "He thinks he is funny but we all know he is not."

"We've fucked in every room of this house." Haymitch shrugged, matter-of fact. "If that peeves you out, might be better if you stick to your house from now on."

"Haymitch!" she hissed, glaring at him.

"What have you got here?" Haymitch asked, snatching the tray from Peeta's hands. "Cheese buns. Nice. I'm starved. Thanks, kid."

Haymitch proceeded to ignore him, taking mugs out of the cupboard and setting up the table for breakfast – a table Peeta would never ever eat on again. Effie, on the other hand, didn't miss how embarrassed he looked. "Peeta…"

"I'm going." he announced. "I was never here. We never had that conversation."

Some things, he decided as he was flying back to his own house, were better left unknown.