Moves and Countermoves: Hannah

Chapter 7: The Training Center: Training Day One

Thursday 2nd July

The Capitol.

Hannah woke up alone the next morning, and by the time Euphemia Coin bursts into her room, a mess of colours and angles, she must have been doing her floor exercises for near an hour.

"Goodmor-" Euphemia Coin cuts her greeting off.

Hannah spares the woman a short glance and is relieved to see she has her Capitol attire back on. Her District look only made Hannah feel uncomfortable, verging on sick in her stomach. But if Euphemia Coin was back in her Capitol clothes, hopefully Hannah would be able to concentrate on what was important, winning the Games, and not have her mind preoccupied by unwelcome thoughts and visions.

Hannah grits her teeth with determination when she sees out the corner of her eye, Euphemia Coin, walking slowly towards to where she is currently holding her plank.

She will not get distracted.

She will not get distracted.

Hannah repeats to herself and tries to get her mind to go back to enjoying the way the exercise position make her muscles ache painfully. It seems to be the only thing that stops all her distracting ideas and dreaming clouding her mind.

Euphemia Coin's ankle appears in front of Hannah's focus, blank and so very white, highlighted even more by the colourful patterned background of her costume trailing behind her. Then Euphemia Coin does something Hannah last expects, she kneels to Hannah's side so that they are almost at the same eye level. The breeze of highly scented perfume follows her descent and Hannah is not only attacked by the smell but blinded by the mass of stray material from the woman's costume that blocks all of her vision, the harsh ends of the material poking into her eyes.

Hannah collapses, turning over on her back so her muscles can recover. They beat through her body like a drum.

It takes Hannah a while to acknowledge the movement crossing her eyes is in fact the soft, delicate hands of Euphemia Coin wiping away at her sweaty forehead. But when she does, she sends a glare up at the woman's hovering face.

A halo of light frames her as she smiles down at Hannah, her eyes wide and excited. And suddenly, just like that, it was as if all the paint had disappeared and Hannah could see the District woman underneath it.

Hannah scrunches her face in annoyance. She does not want this woman's distractions.

"Goodmorning, Hannah", her eyes unwillingly go crosseyed as she watches the soft pad of Euphemia Coin's forefinger stroke her nose; like the Breadman with his brush onto his large paper. Hannah's captivated by the woman's movements, the woman's voice. It sets her ears on fire; heat rushing through her body filling it with warmth that feels very much like joy, and Hannah momentarily forgets her annoyance and appreciates being touched as if she was a delicate piece of glass. "Breakfast will be ready very soon".

Breakfast. Plentiful and already cooked. Placed before her in piles and piles across the large dining room table, just as dinner had been. Just as all her meals since the Reaping had been.

Euphemia Coin's finger now reaches Hannah's chin and it easily moves her gaze so she was again looking up at her.

Euphemia Coin.

Her mother.

'We belong to each other'.

'All you drank was the milk my body made for you'.

'Effie. I love you'.

The thoughts were starting to cloud her mind again, and Hannah pulls her face away from the woman's touch. Pushing herself up, she turns herself away from the woman completely, making her way towards her bathroom. She was so sweaty from her exercises, she knew the woman would make her have a shower. But, an invisible weight makes Hannah pause at the bathroom door and she considers turning back to Euphemia Coin, words bubbling on her lips, but she ignores them.

~xXx~

Hannah had scrubbed her skin and hair so aggressively whilst in the shower, her whole body still tingled painfully when she opened the door back into the bedroom, one of the white towels wrapped tight around her.

She had expected Euphemia Coin to still be there, giving into the fact that there was little she could do to stop that woman from fluttering over her like a bird over its nest, at least, until the arena. But Hannah hadn't expected Haymitch and the two stylists to be there too.

Haymitch sits on the end of the bed, his top half naked as Euphemia Coin rubs something into one of his shoulder.

Hannah upturns her nose in disgust and considers going back into the bathroom. Maybe if she waited a while, the next time she came out, she wouldn't have to see the woman's claws on her father's skin, like she owned him.

'Effie. I love you'.

What was she rubbing in anyway?

Some of her magic cream? ... Which meant Haymitch had been fighting.

But who and where?

Hannah cannot think about it for too long as everyone has noticed her entrance and stopped what they were doing to look at her.

That is, everyone except Euphemia Coin, who smiles at her and continues to rub her cream into her father's shoulder. Despite everything that has happened and what she has learnt over the last few days, the sight of Euphemia Coin, the Angel of Death, touching Haymitch's skin still shocks her. That he allows her to.

Maybe they have become each others' mates again? He did tell her he loved her...

Will that then mean that after she has won the games they will all live together in Victors Village?

A Capitol in District 12...?

She wouldn't live to see the light of day.

But... Haymitch was well respected, if he told them she was his mate, they would leave her alone.

Her thoughts get distracted by Haymitch getting up from the bed and picking her up in his strong arms. His new treatment of her as if she was a baby, as if she was made from glass was comforting - is still comforting, but it is also an odd feeling. She feels he shouldn't be picking her up like she is his baby, not now that they are in the Games and she will be fighting and killing and ripping peoples' throats out in a few days... but still, it is comforting and he smells nice.

Hannah looks over his shoulder to see a bruise and a cut that hadn't been there before, the smell of Euphemia Coin's cream smelling heavily from it.

So he had been fighting, and enough for him to get injured.

But who and when had he been fighting?

"You stick by me today, Effie, at all times. I mean it, don't even go for a piss without me", Haymitch.

Hannah instinctively turns to look at Euphemia Coin.

"No need to be vulgar, Haymitch", Euphemia Coin snaps at her father, and the movement her body makes is similar to the way a bird ruffles its feathers, and that is when Hannah realises that Euphemia Coin is dressed as a some kind of butterfly bird. She has long colourful artificial feathers coming out like fans on her shoulders, her breasts, her stomach, her hips, her back, and it goes all the way down to a pool on the floor.

Of all the things.

Even with Haymitch's words, there would be no place for the likes of this woman in District 12.

~xXx~

It had been the two stylists that had got her dressed and her hair done; Haymitch and Euphemia Coin watched silently in the background. It was very uncomfortable for Hannah, all of them helping her to get ready, when for so long she was used to getting ready herself. It was as if it needed all four of them to make sure everything was exact.

Breakfast had all the food she had enjoyed on the train and much more. New delicious things to try, which Euphemia Coin kept putting in small amounts on her plate. She had sat her next to her again on the far end of the table, Haymitch and the Pig Boy sat on the other end, the two stylists sat opposite each other in the middle. Like dinner, the two stylists and Euphemia Coin talked loudly to each other and with much excitement in their voices. If there wasn't the food, Hannah would have found it all very annoying. But with all the food, Hannah kept quiet, keeping her eyes on her food, still nervous about the listening bugs and the cameras.

Or at least she tried to, that was what she kept telling herself to do, but she also couldn't help stealing glances at Haymitch interacting with the Pig Boy, trying to lip read what he was saying to him and more importantly, why..?! She understood that Haymitch was mentor to both tributes, but it was her he was supposed to be bringing back home, she was his child.

And he definitely didn't need to rest his hand on the back of the Pig Boy's chair!

Besides, what was the point? It wasn't as if he had any chance of even making it past the Cornucopia, he was so round and had probably never done exercise in his life.

Anyway, it seemed like every time Hannah would steal a glance, Euphemia Coin's hand would surface out from her lap and stroke Hannah's cheek before putting more bits of food on her plate and encourage her to try it.

Hannah didn't need encouragement to eat.

And it wasn't just Haymitch and the Pig Boy that distracted her attention. There was the Peacekeeper too. The Peacekeeper who was an Avox now. She had noticed him before anyone else last night.

He had been bringing a large plate of what looked like steaming black shells on to the table when, 'Papa! Look, it's-', she had shouted in shock over the excited talking from the Capitols.

'- Oh, Darling, that is Moules Marinieres. I'm sure you'll absolutely love it', Euphemia Coin had answered instead before continuing her loud, excited, talk with the two stylists. But the pause before Euphemia Coin had spoken was too long and Hannah knew that everyone else on the table had recognised him as one of District 12's Peacekeepers. The scolding look Haymitch had shot her kept her mouth shut and her eyes on her plate.

Later in his room, when she had asked him, he had explained to her what an Avox was. When she had asked him what he had done to be considered a traitor, Haymitch had said he didn't know, but Hannah thinks he might have been lying.

Hannah had spent so much time last night thinking of all the reasons why a Peacekeeper would have their tongue cut out and made a slave.

And Hannah quietly continues that list now whilst she chewing her last few pieces of breakfast Euphemia Coin had put on her plate - chopped banana, a fruit from District 11 which gave you lots of potassium which was good for long lasting energy levels - when the woman next to her shrieks loudly, causing Hannah to drop her cutlery loudly on the plate.

It must also shock Haymitch, as he stands up quickly knocking his chair over and is looking around the room for danger.

"Look at the time!" Euphemia Coin shrieks again, looking at the watch on her wrist. "If we don't hurry immediately we're going to be late".

"For- Effie!" Haymitch angrily picks up his chair before sitting back down it.

"Punctuality", Euphemia Coin sings. "A quick eau de toilette and then we must hurry. We don't want to be late on your first day, do we Hannah?" She says grinning at the her before pinching her cheek.

~xXx~

Gymnasium

The tap on the glass doors behind her alerted Hannah and she turned to see Euphemia Coin waving at her, a small smile on her face. Haymitch, stood next to her and nodded his head at her, before taking Euphemia Coin's hand and pulling her away from the glass doors.

Hannah returns her concentration to what the male stylist is telling her. He is explaining to her and Pig Boy the last piece of their costume, a smart watch; which doesn't just track the time, but also your heart rate, the different activities you do and how well you are doing at them. It is another new thing that has been added to the games this year.

After the stylist had finished talking he had shown them the direction of the gymnasium where all the tributes from all the districts would meet to start the training.

Everyone had to stand in a line, girl and then boy from District 1 to District 12. From the line up, Hannah guessed that her and the Pig Boy were the youngest there, they were definitely the shortest, most of them looked as if they were eighteen, some perhaps fourteen and fifteen. Hannah wasn't worried though, more than half of them looked too weak to last more than a day. Like the Pig Boy, they were easy pickings.

Hannah spotted the District 1 boy that had pushed her over after the parade. As she had thought about it more, she was now certain that he had done it on purpose. She wanted to show him her teeth, that would later rip his throat apart, but Haymitch had said that whilst training with the other tributes, you should never show off your full potential. Let them know that you're not easy pickings he had said, but don't show them that you're a threat. That was how Joanna Mason had won. They thought because she was so small and innocent looking, she was easy pickings, but that was before she had slaughtered them all with her axe.

When Hannah saw the head trainer, Atala, - Haymitch had said that was her name, her watch said it was ten o'clock sharp. Euphemia Coin had said to not do any physical activity for at least one hour and that there would be a big clock on the wall near the elite viewing platform and they could watch the time from there. Not that Hannah needed to know that now she had this watch. Euphemia Coin didn't know everything about the games.

The introduction went exactly as Haymitch said it would and Hannah felt confident and was even smiling when she walked over to the survival skills section. She heard loud noises of the Careers as they made their way over to the weaponry station. Haymitch said they would do that too.

When it had been a full hour on Hannah's watch, she had completed the edible insects and plants, fish hooks and the knot tying. It was so easy she had to remember to make mistakes. And it was the same software she practiced on in her house on the small machine Haymitch gave her a couple of years ago. There wasn't any new poisonous plants and insects to learn, and there shouldn't be, because the theme for the Quarter Quell was 'the Hunger Games over the last quarter'.

When an another hour had passed, Hannah started to look at the more exciting stations, namely the weapons. She didn't know what to pick first, they all looked so sharp, plentiful and well made. Logically, she told herself it was better to resist temptation and leave the weapons, start with the assault courses instead, as that would get her muscles and blood working. She could play with the weapons whilst her body recovered.

However when Atala announces that everyone had to stop because it is time to eat lunch, Hannah hadn't gotten further than the archery station 'simulator'.

It was her sixth go.

Although, she had enjoyed the gauntlets and the rope course, she enjoyed so much how the computer generated targets on the archery station got quicker and the target area smaller, meaning she could really exercise her reflexes and her aim.

But at Atala's words, it turns off instantly.

Hannah rolls her eyes and looks disappointingly down at the bow in her hand, greatly detesting the fact that Capitols think it is necessary to eat four times times a day.

When she eventually looks up, she realises that a group of tributes have gathered near the archery station to watch her. She quickly looks up to the elite viewing platform, where she sees that most of the people are watching her too. Just like the tributes, she doesn't focus on their expressions, because she doesn't care about their opinions. She's looking for Haymitch. He and Euphemia Coin are also up there, she recognises a few of the other victors too from the other districts.

She had stole regular glances up there throughout the day, just to see what Haymitch was doing and whether he was watching her and every time she did, Haymitch always had his eyes on her, Euphemia Coin however seemed to always be talking to a crowd of men. And although she can't say for certain, as she has not really looked properly, Euphemia Coin seems to be the only female Capitol up in the elite viewing platform. When Euphemia Coin was explaining the training sessions back in her lessons on the train, she had said that the viewing platform was a place for the Gamemakers, Victors and elite sponsors only. She had not mentioned escorts. But as Haymitch kept telling her, Euphemia Coin was very good at her job.

Hannah finds Haymitch's face and he looks angry. She obviously didn't miss enough. ... She couldn't help, it was all just so exciting and fun. She will remember to make more mistakes after lunch.

As she follows the line of tributes filtering out of the gymnasium, she hears pig noises behind her.

Turning around she sees it is the Careers making those noises at Pig Boy.

Hannah had quite forgotten about him.

She laughs with the Careers because it is funny and she also has that opinion of him.

But when she sees the hurt look on Pig Boy's face, she suddenly feels cold.

One of the smaller boys, the male tribute from District 2, walks over to Pig Boy, she thinks maybe to hit him, but he just leans in close to the boy and whispers something to him that makes Pig Boy's face even more hurt.

"Hannah".

Hannah hears Euphemia Coin's voice and turns.

Just like that the coldness leaves her and she is filled with warmth as Euphemia Coin smiles, waving at her.

She looks for Haymitch but can't see him with her. When she looks back up at the elite viewing platform, she sees there is a lot of Capitols around him, all trying to talk to him. For once, his eyes are not on her.

Hannah doesn't like the way that the Capitol with the orange hair has his hand on her father's shoulder.

"Hannah", Euphemia Coin calls her again and this time Hannah listens and walks over to her.

Euphemia Coin's claws rub Hannah's shoulders. "You were simply wonderful, Darling. You are all anyone is talking about", she rests a soft hand on Hannah's cheek. "I am so proud of you".

Hannah smiles widely, feeling her cheeks go hot.

"We must be quick, I have a surprise for you", she says, her voice suddenly changing to something more urgent as she moves her claws to wrap around Hannah's wrist.

"But Atala said it was time for lunch", Hannah says, not really resisting because a surprise does interest her but so does food.

"You will get your food, Mademoiselle Hannah, you do not have to worry about that. We are just going somewhere more special, because you are a very special girl. But we must be quick, so we can get you back in time", and starts to walk with her.

"You mean without the other tributes?"

"Precisely, my special, clever girl".

Hannah smiles again at the woman's nice words, but then she stops.

"Hannah?" Euphemia Coin asks, and her happy voice has gone, it sounds more like a warning.

Hannah bites her lip as she thinks of Pig Boy.

She doesn't know why, but the thought of leaving him alone with those Careers...

Not that she stopped them before. Neither will she probably stop them if they do it again. This was the Games after all and he probably wasn't going to make it past the Cornucopia. But that was then not now. And as her moth- as Euphemia Coin had said, even though it is only for a little while, this time should be enjoyed.

"Could we please take the boy with us, please?" Hannah asks, but doesn't dare bring her gaze from the floor.

"What boy?" Euphemia Coin asks and she kneels to below Hannah's eyesight, so she has to look deep into her eyes.

Hannah moves her eyes away from her. "The boy from my District", she says in a small voice, ashamed that she feels worry for him. She doesn't know if she would have asked Haymitch. He would have told her off, called her weak and that she needed to toughen up. But Euphemia Coin saved Mr Rabbit for her, she remembers her pets' names.

"We can if you want. But why?"

"The Careers were being mean to him. They might be mean to him again. Maybe even hurt him".

"Well that would be against the rules and they would be punished. There are cameras everywhere, Darling. So you see, there is absolutely no reason to worry about him", Euphemia Coin's soft hand strokes her face again.

"Please", she says, "Mother".

~xXx~

Arturoes

Hannah looks at the tower of plated food in front of her with absolute adoration. Of all the meals the Capitols ate, Afternoon Tea was her favourite. After having it twice whilst on the train, Hannah had missed it yesterday, and with training not finishing until five, she thought it was something that she probably wouldn't be having again.

"Hannah, your mother tells me this is your favourite meal".

Hannah nods politely at Euphemia Coin's mate sat to the right of her. It is taking everything within her to not just attack the food in front of her.

"Well eat", the woman laughs. "Please the both of you".

Hannah looks over her stacked plates of food to Pig Boy opposite her, who has an identical tower of food in front of him and looks just as she feels. His eyes make contact with hers and they share a small smile with each other. Warmth filling Hannah, glad that she asked Euphemia Coin to bring him along too, that he can enjoy this before he dies. As round as he is, Hannah is certain nothing so delicious, beautiful and intricate has ever been seen in District 12.

"Thank-you Madame Coin", she remembers.

"Thank-you Madame Coin", Pig Boy.

"Just remember not to eat too fast", Euphemia Coin's hand taps her cheek. "Remember small bites".

Back on the train, Euphemia Coin had instructed that you must always start from the bottom up, the savoury and then the sweet. Hannah eyes the small figurines on the top plate hungrily. There is a small tea pot, a cup, a bear, a sandwich and a slice of cake, but the attendant who served the food explained that everything on the top plate were in fact edible little cakes.

"I have to say Hannah, I am very proud that you thought to bring your friend along with you. That was very kind, considerate and humble. A very lady like thing to do. It makes me feel very ashamed that I didn't think about it myself. You're quite the little thing aren't you? Just like your mother".

The last bit, the woman's black eyes flick to Euphemia Coin before falling back to Hannah. Euphemia Coin says to always look someone in the eye when they are talking to you, or when you are talking to them.

Hannah nods and smiles politely again at the woman, thinking how this boy is not her friend, she would quite happily gut him in the arena if she thought he would be any competition. That she is nothing like Euphemia Coin. She wonders whether this woman knows that Euphemia Coin is tricking her and thinking about becoming her father's mate again. Or maybe it is Euphemia Coin tricking her father...?

Hannah finds she prefers to concentrate on the delicious food she is trying to eat as slowly as she can.

'Small bites, chew thoroughly and swallow. Not only will you be helping your body with the digestion process but it will help you keep your figure'.

At first she thought that Madame Coin's black eyes were scary, but now she's looked at them more, she finds them to be beautiful. Like a stag's or doe's eyes, or the forest sky at night.

Hannah is about to turn back to pick up another finger sandwich when her eyes catch something silver on the cuffs of the woman's shirt. It's almost hidden by the woman's jacket but it's the pin that the hunter woman gave her.

"My pin", and Hannah goes to reach it, before remembering her pin was gold. "Sorry", Hannah apologises quickly, her cheeks heating up. That was definitely rude. "I thought it was the pin given to me by...", Hannah trails off. She had completely forgotten about it, she thinks the last time she saw it was when Hunter Woman gave it to her.

"My mockingjay pin?" Madame Coin asks and takes it off, offering it to Hannah.

Hannah shakes her head, no. "I wouldn't want to get it dirty", and Hannah watches the woman put it in her jacket pocket. She's dressed in mens clothes again. You never saw that in District 12, men wore mens' clothes and women wore womens' clothes. When Euphemia Coin said she had her surprise for her, this was not what she imagined.

After collecting Pig Boy, Euphemia Coin had put a hat on Hannah's and Pig Boy's head which both said District 12. Then she walked them through the building, outside into the warm sunshine, where they were suddenly surrounded by lots of voices calling out hers and Euphemia Coin's names, but noone touched them like before. Then they were in a cool transport, Hannah touched the seats realising that she was in a car. She had never been in one of those before.

They were in there for what seemed to be a few seconds before it stopped and they got out and went into a building that said 'Arturoes' and although there was lots of tables of chairs, it was empty of people except for Euphemia Coin's mate and two stacked plates of food. On seeing her again, one of the first things Hannah did was to see whether she had a butterfly collar on again. She did.

"Haymitch says I'm a mockingjay", and she doesn't know why she says it because Haymitch had also said no mockingjays.

"You are", Madame Coin says and Hannah nods. "But I wonder if you know what that means?" she asks, and Hannah looks up at her curiously.

"Alma, Darling", Euphemia Coin speaks and Hannah turns her head to look at her because there is fear in her voice. "We've-", she starts and then stops, before lowering her head, her gaze in her lap.

"Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire", Madame Coin speaks again and Hannah turns her attention back to the black eyed woman. "But of course being from District 12, you know all about her".

Katniss Everdeen?

Wasn't Katniss the name her father called Hunter Woman?

"She is everyone's favourite Victor at the moment. And after your magnificent display of archery today, they are calling you Katniss version two. What do you think about that?" And she waited for Hannah's response.

Hannah resisted the urge to shrug because according to Euphemia Coin, that was rude. "She's a much better shot than me", she says truthfully. "and Haymitch says she is soft in the head, but not like Finnick Odair's woman".

"You've seen Katniss shoot?" Euphemia Coin suddenly interrupts.

Hannah nods at her and Euphemia Coin frowns.

"Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are the star crossed lovers of District 12", Pig Boy speaks. "Their love for each other is so great, they would rather die with each other than be apart. Katniss Everdeen is the greatest Victor that ever lived because she is kind, she didn't let the Games change who she was, and made everyone remember what was important. But most importantly because she bought home my Uncle Peeta", and Pig Boy's face goes very red and he looks to the ground."At least, that it what my father told me".

"You're very correct", Madame Coin praises Pig Boy, and Hannah glowers at him. That he would get the praise and also because he knew something about the Games she did not.

"That's not true! My father is the greatest Victor who ever lived. He survived 47 other people to win", Hannah says back, standing up incase the boy decided to challenge her.

But he doesn't, he remains quiet, so Hannah sits back down.

"I think we need to be going", Euphemia Coin speaks, her happy Capitol voice back. "I will get them to box the rest up for the both of you. If you'll excuse me, I just need to check my appearance", and she gets up.

"It's right, Hannah, that you should think that your father is the greatest Victor. It's right for a daughter to think that of her father and defend him, and he is indeed a very great man".

Hannah lifts her head at the woman's last words to see that she is smiling at her.

Hannah smiles back.

"Now I don't want to lie to you, Hannah", she says leaning in, her voice going serious. "Effie and Haymitch want to keep certain things from you to protect you, but I can see that you are a very smart girl who shouldn't be treated like a baby". She waits.

Hannah nods.

After two attendants leave with the food, Madame Coin leans in even closer. "Katniss Everdeen, the Mockingjay, is important to the whole of Panem because she represents the rebellion against the power of the Capitol"

Hannah's eyes open wide, rebellion against the Capitol?!

"She represents the unification of the districts. The Capitol try to divide us by having us compete against each other, but I'm sure you'll agree, we're the same", and at her words she lays Hannah's palm in her own. "She represents a Panem where everyone is free. Where you wouldn't have to hide in the woods away all alone because your parents fear for your safety. Like many things in the Capitol, the Games are old and barbaric and change is needed. Isn't that right?" She asks, but she directs the question to Pig Boy.

Hannah looks over to Pig Boy who nods seriously.

"Im afraid, Alma, my love", Euphemia Coin's loud shoes return, "we must be going. Can't have them back late, they will have my head", she laughs.

"Of course, My Love. Hannah", Madame Coin addresses her again, her hand slipping from underneath Hannah's.

Hannah looks up and sees that the woman has a produced a full bag from behind her chair. "These are some gifts I have for you. I trust you will share some of the toys with your friend and I hope to see you again tomorrow for lunch", she moves her gaze back to Euphemia Coin.

"What do you say, Hannah?" Euphemia Coin.

"Thank-you very much, and I look forward to meeting you again tomorrow too".

After that Euphemia Coin places the hats back low on their faces and escorts them back outside where there are even more people shouting and calling their names, and even though no one touches them, Hannah keeps her bag tightly close to her. What did she say it was full of? Gifts? She wasn't quite sure what that meant.

As Euphemia Coin was helping her in the car, Hannah hears Madam Coin's voice and turns to look for her. She sees that she is talking to one of the people.

"...step-daughter... Capitol child who shouldn't be in the Games", she then turns to look at Hannah and smiles.

Hannah was going to smile back, but the door had already been closed.

~xXx~

"Don't cause a scene". That's what Euphemia Coin says to her father when he meets them at the Training Centre entrance, and he looked positively enraged. Hannah had said 'hello' but either he didn't hear her or he was angry at her too. "I have ten minutes to get them back, shout at me afterwards".

"I told you not to leave my side", he says grabbing her and walking ahead with her. He is walking too fast for her because Euphemia Coin keeps tripping over, but Haymitch doesn't let her fall.

"I told you where I was".

"Yes, after you took them".

"And I am going to return them back in more than enough time. The only one that has a problem here Haymitch is you".

"You're going to end up with a head on a spike", he whispers, but not quiet enough that Hannah can't hear.

"Now you're being over the top", Euphemia Coin laughs in her over the top Capitol way.

"Oh yeah, say that to Seneca Crane", he says and Euphemia Coin stops abruptly and pulls herself out of Haymitch's grasp, before taking Hannah's and Pig Boy's hands and walking off away them.

Hannah looks over her shoulder to see her father kicking the air in anger.

~xXx~

Penthouse Apartment

It was late in the evening. Dinner was over, everyone was out of the Penthouse Apartment except Hannah, Pig Boy, the Avoxes and Euphemia Coin. Hannah had been lying awake in bed thinking about Madam Coin's words when Euphemia Coin had collected her and taken her through to the living room, where Madam Coin's gifts had been piled on the small table. Euphemia Coin put one of the boxes in Hannah's hands and told her to open them before seating herself on the settee.

When Hannah had reminded Euphemia Coin that Madam Coin had said she was to share the gifts with the boy, Euphemia Coin returned with him. He was also dressed in his pyjamas. They were the same colour and type as hers.

Hannah smiled at him when he smiled and sat down next to her. She passed him the gift box in her hand, before going to take another one for herself.

Again, Hannah was not quite sure what she expected to be inside these gifts, but there had been a plastic sword, helmet and shield in one. She had looked at Euphemia Coin in confusion because the items wouldn't hurt or protect her against anyone.

Euphemia Coin had said they were for playing pretend. Hannah passed them to Pig Boy because he seemed to no more about 'toys' having already shown her how to 'blow bubbles'. She liked the pretend oversized butterfly wings, which Euphemia Coin had helped her put on. She was not impressed with the 'face paints' until Euphemia Coin had made Pig Boy's face into a leopard's one, and she asked to have hers done the same too. Then Euphemia Coin taught them how to play one of the board games and she had forgotten about the rest of the gifts.

When Pig Boy falls on the floor again, Hannah triumphantly shouts how she won again, before helping the boy up so they can play again.

"Again", she says to Euphemia Coin, but the woman shakes her head, no, already starting to put the board game away.

"I said that would be the last one, it's bed time. You have a full day ahead of you tomorrow. Lots more exciting places to visit. We can all go to another restaurant tomorrow for lunch, would you like that? Maybe we could even go somewhere in the evening after dinner? The theatre perhaps? Oh, there are so many places I want to show you, my darlings", Euphemia Coin continues to talk away as she puts away the game and the mess that they've made. She pauses to stroke Hannah's cheek. "Come on, Darling, lift that frown and I'll let you both open the rest of the gifts".

The rest of the gifts were fancy clothes, which Euphemia Coin already decided she could change into for lunch tomorrow, and more games, which made Hannah even more annoyed that she wouldn't be able to play with them until tomorrow.

~xXx~

"Did you like your gifts?" Euphemia Coin asks as she is 'tucking' Hannah into bed.

"Yes", Hannah answers truthfully.

"Well, there is a whole room of them waiting for you when you win your Games", she strokes her cheek and places a kiss there too.

Hannah's body spasms, not expecting it.

Euphemia Coin looks away, getting up from the bed.

She's still wearing the butterfly dress.

"Where is this room?" Hannah asks.

"In my apartment. It's ready for you for when you win your Games", she turns back round to Hannah and smiles at her.

"But I will be going back with Haymitch to District 12 when I win my Games".

"Well, when you are in the Capitol mentoring you might visit".

Hannah nods slowly, thinking about it.

Her thoughts are interrupted however by the loud knocking on her door.

Euphemia Coin rushes faster than Hannah would think she would be able to in the shoes she's wearing to answer the door.

"What is the meaning of this? These are private living quarters, you have no right-"

"Orders from President Snow, we are to escort you to his mansion immediately".

"Very well, I will need ten minutes to get ready", she says before shutting the door.

Turning around, Euphemia Coin looks as though she is going to cry, but she instead rests her hand on her forehead, and looks around the room for something.

Hannah sits up to see if she can help find whatever it is she might be looking for.

"I'm looking for my bag, Darling, I need my-", but she stops mid sentence rushing to sit at the end of Hannah's bed and starts playing with her watch.

It starts ringing like a telephone and Hannah moves completely out of the bed to get a better look.

Loud music comes through, loud voices and then her father's voice talks over it.

Hannah smiles triumphantly at Euphemia Coin. It must be an even smarter smart watch. But, Euphemia Coin looks like she is about to cry.

"Haymitch", her voice is a low cry and Hannah wonders what it is that has gotten her so upset. All she has to do is go visit President Snow, surely being a Games Escort, she sees him all the time.

'What's happened?' And Haymitch sounds terrified too.

"There are Peacekeepers here to escort me to see President Snow".

'Did they say why?'

"No, but I need you to come back to be with Hannah. I only have ten minutes to get ready".

'I'll leave now but it's going to take me at least thirty minutes to get back. Do you think you can stall them for that long?'

"No. They seem persistent"

'Peacekeepers tend to be when you break the law, Effie'

"Well they've timed in perfectly with the live streaming finishing for the night".

'Shit, I should have anticipated this. Everyone who would have helped us is here at the party. Like you should be. Fuck Effie!' Haymitch voice shouts loudly through the watch and Hannah jumps.

"I'm sorry, Haymitch".

'Take Hannah with you'.

"What?!" Euphemia Coin stands. "No! Why would-".

'-They won't do anything to you if you take Hannah and the boy with you. Hannah ain't who I'm worrying about at the moment. Is Hannah with you now?"

"Yes", Hannah says before Euphemia Coin can answer and Euphemia Coin walks away from her.

"I am not taking her with me, don't be redic-".

'-I promise you, they're not going to hurt her. They need their District 12 female tribute. Listen to me carefully, Sweetheart, she is not the one who is replaceable. Hannah", he calls.

"Yes".

'You make sure you stay with your mother. Don't let them take you away from her. Don't let them hurt her. Protect her. Do you understand?"

"Yes", Hannah says.

'I'll see you both when you get back. You're going to be fine, Sweetheart'.

Both Hannah and Euphemia say OK and then Haymitch's voice and the loud music stops.

Hannah takes hold of Euphemia Coin's non-watch hand. "Why would they try to hurt you? You're a Capitol".

~xXx~

Car

Euphemia Coin still hasn't answered Hannah's question. After Haymitch, she called Madam Coin, who said the same thing as Haymitch, except she also told Euphemia Coin 'to make the encounter as light as frivolous as possible'.

Whatever that meant.

'Play it dumb. You thought he wanted to meet Hannah and remember, Effie, it is an honour he wants to meet your daughter. Dress her like a Capitol child, you never know maybe he'll say she doesn't need to fight'.

But Hannah wanted to fight. She wanted to be a Hunger Games Victor. It's what she has been training so hard for. That and to live freely with Haymitch for the rest of her days is all she ever wanted. But now she is dressed in the different pyjamas Madam Coin bought her which have butterflies on it, she has her fairy wings on and her hair's loose; she's currently very far from looking like the Third Quarter Quell Victor.

Sat in the car, Hannah still has Euphemia Coin's hand in hers. Whereas before it was hot and sweaty, it is now cool like the car's temperature. They have been in the car for maybe twenty minutes now. Pig Boy had fallen asleep ten minutes ago, his head was now on Euphemia Coin's lap, which she keeps stroking. To be honest, Hannah is also finding it very difficult not to fall asleep. It's something about this car. But she told her father that she would protect Euphemia Coin, and she can't do that if she falls asleep.

The car slows down and there is a lot of flashing lights coming from the window. Although Euphemia Coin had firstly spoken badly of the paparazzi, when they left for lunch, she told Hannah that sometimes they could be your friend and instructed both her and Pig Boy to keep their heads down but to also smile just in case.

Hannah wondered if they were their friends this time?

Euphemia Coin breathed out a sigh of relief and she quickly took her hand off Pig Boy's face and went to press a button by the car door. Nothing happened. Euphemia Coin turned her body to try the button on Hannah's door but nothing happened again. Hannah tried the door handle, but it didn't work. Euphemia Coin tried hers but it didn't work either.

Euphemia Coin's sucks in a breath and her hand starts to get hot again.

~xXx~

President Snow's Mansion

Euphemia Coin got into an argument again with one of the Peacekeepers when they said that Hannah and Pig Boy had to stay in the car, despite that being the condition for her brining them in the first place. Euphemia Coin threatened that she would scream so loud she would give the paparazzi back at the gate something to write about.

The Peacekeeper agreed but looked as though she wanted to kill Euphemia Coin. She then led them through the very large house - the mansion. Euphemia Coin had told Hannah that when she won her Games, this is where they would have the very big victory party, and everyone would be there just to see her.

"I believe you know the way to his private chambers", the Peacekeeper said after she had lead them through many rooms.

"I do not actually", Euphemia Coin answered crossly. "I do not like what you are implying".

The Peacekeeper then lead them through more rooms, until she knocked on one of the doors.

"You may enter".

Hannah recognised the voice as President Snow's.

Euphemia Coin gripped Hannah's hand harder as she walked through the door.

"President Snow", her mother greeted.

President Snow had his back to them but when he turned he had a smile on his face. "How lovely of you to come at visit at this late hour, and I see you've brought your tributes".

Hannah smiled as he looked at them, thinking that he was the oldest man that she had ever seen in her life. His hair was whiter than hers and his beard was so big, a bird could mistake it for a nest. But his clothes were normal and she liked the rose that he wore on his jacket.

"Well, it is truly an honour that you would wish to meet, Hannah, my daughter, in person, and I couldn't leave the boy, Hannah has become so attached to him you see".

"Won't you please sit".

Euphemia Coin sat them all on the settee in the corner.

"Don't worry, I won't keep you all long. Just a few short words", he smiled and then his smile disappeared and he looked very serious as he focussed on Euphemia Coin, who gripped Hannah's hand again. "I need you to play the Games by the rules, Miss Trinket".

Hannah felt before she saw, Euphemia Coin lower her head. She then brought Hannah's and hers locked hands on to her lap and started rubbing her thumb against it.

"I have to say", President Snow continues and Euphemia Coin raises her head again. "I am surprised I am having to explain this to you. I thought if either of you, it would be Abernathy", and Hannah shifts her gaze at the mention of her name. "Your daughter, Miss Trinket, is the female tribute of District 12. Nothing anyone does will change that. From your indiscretion, to you pulling out her name, it was you Miss Trinket who brought her here. Play by the rules or those odds will not be in either of your favours. Do we have an understanding?" President Snow pauses.

Euphemia Coin nods, and then stands, making Hannah stand too.

President Snow stands also and nods.

Euphemia Coin starts to walk them out.

"Coincidentally, Miss Trinket", and Euphemia Coin stops their walk but doesn't turn. "It is an extremely great disappointment to me that a Capitol child would find its way as a District tribute in the Games. Such a headache you have caused for not only myself, but for our beloved city. As I'm sure your lover has told you, these are incredibly hard times when the status quo of our beautiful Capitol that has nurtured us is in jeopardy".

The Peacekeeper from before then opens the door and makes eye contact with Euphemia Coin before looking over her to President Snow.

"Thank-you for bringing your daughter to meet me, Miss Trinket. She is lovely, just like her mother, and I hope I will be seeing her again in the future. Jethro, won't you please escort Miss Trinket and the District 12 tributes back to the Training Centre, and make sure you use the normal entrance, so everyone can see, no harm has come to them".

~xXx~

When they returned to the Training Centre, there were a lot of people outside waiting for them. Euphemia Coin told Hannah to hide herself from the cameras and pretend that she was asleep until they returned to the Penthouse Apartment. Hannah had only just heard the elevator door open to their floor when she felt her father's smell locked around her. She moved her face from her mother's neck, to see Haymitch pressing hard kisses on Euphemia Coin's face.

"They might have turned the cameras back on", Euphemia Coin says in a low whisper.

Her father places his lips on her mother one more time before he pulls away and takes Pig Boy. "Let's get you to bed", he says.

Hannah hadn't really been asleep when she feels Haymitch wrap his body around her but she pretended to be, fearing if she let him know she was awake, he would leave her again.

She heard the bedroom door softly open, before the bed shifted as another person joined them in bed.

"What did he want with you?" her father asks into her hair.

"A warning, that I wasn't playing my part of the Games well, and that nothing was going to stop Hannah from being in the Games".

"Well, you tried. You were stupid enough to think it might work, but it was good you tried, Sweetheart".

"He said it was my fault Hannah ended up in the Games. I have to play by the rules or the odds will not be in our favour".

Hannah feels Haymitch cling on to her harder. "Well you better start fucking doing that, Coin, and stop putting my daughter at risk".

"He also mentioned something about your involvement in the imbalance of the status quo of the Capitol. What could he mean by that, Haymitch?"

Hannah feels Haymitch still and stop breathing. Then, Haymitch's embrace is ripped from her and Hannah has to do her best effort to not make a noise and still pretend to be asleep.

"What does he mean by that?"

"I don't know".

Hannah hears loud rustling.

"I told you after Katniss' Victory Tour to stop whatever it was you were doing and keep a low profile, so what does he mean by that?" Euphemia Coin's voice getting louder and angrier.

Hannah thinks they might be fighting. A hand ends up being slapped against her back and by the size of it, it is Euphemia Coin's but it stops whatever they are doing.

"I'm not nearly as dumb as I pretend to be", Euphemia Coin's voice is a whisper now. "I see all the looks you exchange with certain people, nevermind your display at the dinner table last night. With all the extra Peacekeeper presence even here in the Capitol, anyone with eyes can see that something is happening. And whatever it is, they're on to you, and they've take it out on our daughter, so don't be so free to just point the finger at me".

The silence that followed after stretched for so long that Hannah almost did fall asleep.

"I think President Snow is going to trial me as a traitor to the Capitol. I just need to make it until Hannah finishes her Games".

"I'm not going to let that happen, Sweetheart".

Euphemia Coin snorts.

"I'll blow up this whole place before I let them do that to you".

"He's not happy with us, Haymitch".

"Tell me something I don't know. I'm not best happy with him".

"I mean us, us. We have to be more careful when we're in public. He referred to you as my lover".

Now Haymitch snorts.

"Your lover? You're sure he was talking about me? Not your wife? Or one of your countless lovers I'm sure you're hiding from her? There is no us, Effie"

"There is an us, Haymitch", and she hisses this. "We have a daughter, and there have been many other affairs over the years, so if there is anyone I'm hiding, it's you", her voice getting angry again. "Our relationship", she continues after another long pause, her voice calmer. "However you feel to classify it, is illegal in the eyes of Capitol law. I don't know what's going to happen to all of us after the Games".

"Nothing's going to happen to us, Effie".

"No, don't touch me. I'm angry at you. And this is precisely what I'm talking about you're always touching me. You're like a dog peeing over his favourite tree trunk".

"We're going to be fine. Hannah's going to win the Games and we'll go back to District 12, and after the Victory Tour is over, you and your whole damn precious city can forget the indiscretion of young, naive Effie Trinket. You can finally retire and become full-time Euphemia Coin, your wife's precious prize as she continues her conquering of the Capitol. You'll only have to see Hannah once every five or more years, and even then you don't have to, you could avoid the Games all together, forget that she ever existed. Forget that we sent the boy's nephew back in box".

Hannah listens to it all, but she is so tired it mostly goes through one ear and out the other. She is happy when her father wraps her back in his arms. He keeps them like this for a while until he moves them both around and pulls Euphemia Coin into their embrace.

"I'm sorry", he whispers.

"I'm sorry too".

"You're more than a tree trunk".

"I love you too".

AN:/ Another favourite. I hope people are enjoying it as much as I am. Until next update!