The prompt "I dreamt about you last night." comes from a list reblogged on the hayffiepenthouse =)

A Different Story

Haymitch tried not to look too eager as the little bell over the bakery's door announced the arrival of a new customer. Ten o'clock on the dot, like every morning.

That woman was nothing if not a creature of habits.

Schooling his features in appropriate boredom, he stopped trying to make sense of Peeta's system for stocking cups and walked behind the counter, ready to take her order – it would be complicated and ridiculous, like it was every day, because she aimed to make his life difficult.

The bakery wasn't very crowded that morning – it never was, really, their town was small and the only reason Peeta's business was thriving was because there was no other concurrent bakery unless you were willing to drive a town over; and it wasn't worth it because Peeta's cakes were the best. Doubling as a coffee shop had been Katniss' idea and it had been a good one. Hiring Haymitch… Well, nobody had hired Haymitch. He had hired himself because he had been helping out one day when that stupid woman had showed up with her stupid order and then he had felt compelled to come back the next day to point out just how stupid and ridiculous she was once more and then… Well, she had assumed he worked there full time and he hadn't seen a reason to explain he wasn't technically on the payroll and that he mostly showed up every morning for those five minutes banter with her.

Peeta said he was hopeless and should just ask her out because she was nice.

Which he wouldn't do.

That girl was fancy and he didn't go out with fancy girls. They expected far too much shit.

"Good morning, Haymitch." the woman said distractedly, her eyes roaming over the daily selection of pastries on display. He wasn't sure why she kept looking every morning because she never bought any.

"Morning, sweetheart." he muttered.

As always when subjected to his pet names, she held her breath for a second in pure irritation and then released it, her crimson painted lips stretching into a tight smile. "Must we do this dance again? You know my name."

"Do I?" He raised his eyebrows in fake surprise. "Maybe I forgot. I see a lot of people in here, you know… Ain't like you're special."

She was plenty special though.

She was… Yeah… Fancy. Her clothes were always out of place. That day she was wearing a short blue dress made entirely of leather overlapping in the front like a huge jacket and taken in at the waist by a large white belt… Fashion she would hiss every time he remarked on her weird clothes.

He had never visited the little shop she co-owned with her best friend two streets over but if everything in there was like what she was wearing he wasn't sure how they managed to keep in business at all in a town like theirs. Though Katniss assured him they had good stuff. She had apparently bought boots that were both practical and pretty – or so she claimed.

The woman didn't belong here and that was an undeniable truth.

"What a nice thing to say to your favorite customer." she deadpanned, not departing with her smile. "Portia is in the mood for a coconut milk mocha machiatto today. As for me I think I will have an almond milk honey flat white, if you please. Oh, here."

She handed him two travel mugs, the kind that Peeta encouraged with a discount. Hers was pink. Her friend's had a cartoon character blowing raspberries on the side. He knew because he had asked before. He had also said her friend sounded much funnier and that she should do the coffee run during her own break from now on. He had never met the friend though. She kept coming. Every day. At ten. On the dot.

He watched her for a moment – tried not to be too obvious as he ogled her, really, because she had done her hair in braids that day and it really suited her face – while he tried to decode that order.

She loved to confuse him.

It had been a genuine mistake at first, her acting like this was a Starbucks equivalent and spitting out those words like it had any meaning whatsoever. They weren't that fancy at Peeta's bakery though. Sure they had drinks that annoyed him on menu because they required far more investment from him that just pouring liquid into a cup but… They didn't have anything like what she was asking.

He had made fun of her thoroughly that first time and she had vowed to never come back given the atrocious customer service. But they were the only coffee shop in town so, obviously, she had been back. With a second terribly confusing order. And a third. And a fourth. And so on until he had stopped counting. It must have been… close to two months now. At this rate he was pretty sure it was a running joke.

"So…" he drawled out. "Hot chocolate with some coconut powder and coffee with non-fat milk and honey."

She didn't even bat an eyelash. "If you must put it in such boring terms…"

He snorted, grabbed her mugs and got to work.

The drinks she wanted were never on menu but he made do every time – even though Peeta discouraged that sort of custom orders because everyone would be asking for one if word got out.

"You know…" he said while he fixed her friend's drink. "I dreamed about you last night…"

He had surprised her by admitting that much, he could tell.

"Oh?" Her smile turned into a mischievous grin. Those blue eyes of hers sparkled as she leaned a negligent elbow on the counter. "That sounds interesting. Do tell."

He placed the green travel mug on the counter and moved on to fixing her own but not before shooting her a look, letting his gaze drag down her body… That dress of hers wasn't very generous with cleavage that day but, boy, did it show off her legs… And her legs were flawless. Long and toned and…

The legs had been a star feature of that dream – and, if he was honest, of all the dreams he had had lately. It was a nice change from all the nightmares.

"You were very bossy." he commented.

"That sounds accurate." she hummed, that grin of hers becoming even more tempting.

The second elbow joined the first on the counter as she leaned in a little, lowering her voice so the rare customers sitting at the surrounding little tables wouldn't hear. Mostly, they all looked busy reading their newspapers, books or typing on their computers but appearances were deceptive and in a town this size gossip ran fast so he imitated her by leaning forward and keeping his voice low.

"I said dream… A real nightmare, you were…" he mocked.

"I can be that if it floats your boat, yes." she purred.

She actually purred.

Haymitch felt a lot of blood suddenly rushing south.

It didn't leave much in his upper brain to find a clever repartee to that.

"I can also be very nice if you like that better." she added with a wink. "You forgot the honey."

He added the honey to her coffee, not even trying to fight the smirk off his mouth and then plopped the travel mug on the counter but didn't immediately let go, a bit desperate to prolong the encounter a little.

"You sell socks in your shop?" He heard himself ask. He blamed the blood that was too busy downstairs to irrigate his brain properly. "Cause I need socks."

She took a couple of bills from her wallet, her grin turning into a secret smile, and slid them over the counter. Her gaze remained on the bills until the very last moment. Then they darted up and met his.

And fuck it but her eyes were so fucking blue…

"I am afraid socks aren't exactly my area of expertise. But you could always write down your number on a napkin and pass it to me like I have been waiting for you to do for weeks now, you know." She gathered her drinks and flashed him a killer smile. "A thought to keep in mind for tomorrow." She let her eyes roam all over him – making him feel even hotter than he already was. "I hope those bad dreams do not keep you up all night…"

And with that parting word, she sauntered out, leaving Haymitch to stare after her.

"You know…" Peeta sighed, leaning against the door that led to the kitchen – where, no doubt, he had been busy eavesdropping. "If you don't give her your number, I will."

"Mind your business, kid." he grumbled.

He wasn't going to pass notes like a teenager…

But maybe, just maybe, he would visit her shop later.

They didn't have socks, fine, but maybe they had shirts. He needed a new shirt.

And he was curious about her friend.

Yeah, that was it…

It wasn't that he was desperate to see her again and not in twenty-four hours, he just needed a shirt and was curious…

And if she sneaked him her number, say… on a receipt for his purchase… Well, that was a different story altogether, wasn't it?

She probably did give him her number XD aaaah... Don't we love how smooth Haymitch is? This game could go on for YEARS people. YEARS of Haymitch showing up to work from 10 to 10 to 10:15 every morning XD Peeta will probably be the one to give in first hahaha