Moves and Countermoves: Hannah
Chapter 9: Training Day: Three
Friday 4th July
The Capitol
Euphemia Coin's hand catches the top of Hannah's head as she tries to wriggle down the narrow gap between her parents. The tips of the woman's nails digging into her scalp. "Hannah?" The woman's claws retract instantly. "Where are you going?" Her voice sounds like she is still asleep. "Do you need to use the bathroom? Night lights on. Come out this way". The bed covers behind Euphemia Coin are then pulled back, and Hannah climbs over her.
With the low lighting, Hannah easily finds her way to the bathroom. Closing the door, she bites her lip as she is welcomed by a dark room. She feels around the wall not knowing where the light switch is. At home, it's fine to move in the darkness because she has mapped where everything is. But here ...
"Lights on", she tries, and is happy to see that room lights up brilliantly.
She looks over the room enraptured.
"Shower on", and the water starts to spurt out. It had never occurred to her that everything might be voice recognition as well as manual. Excitedly, she orders the taps to turn on and the toilet to flush.
Curiosity satisfied, she is about to turn off the taps manually when the bathroom door opens and Haymitch stands in the entrance, eyes all squinty and fighting to stay open. He looks as though he is still asleep too. "Shorty", he grumbles. "What are you doing?"
"Getting ready".
"It's too early".
"She said I could play my games before breakfast".
Haymitch turns the light switch off and the room goes back into darkness. "Back to bed, now", he orders roughly.
She turns off the taps and follows Haymitch out.
He collapses back into the bed, pulling most of the bed cover tight around him.
Euphemia Coin is sat up further away from him, nearer the other side of the bed and she calls Hannah over with her finger; lifting up what is left of the bed covers around her so Hannah can join her.
"Come closer", she whispers when Hannah settles on the edge.
Hannah does, but with caution incase she too is angry. The woman's nails are too long not to be cautious.
When Hannah is close enough, Euphemia Coin pulls her across her chest like mothers do with their small babies.
Feeling uncomfortable, Hannah tries to push out of her hold, but Euphemia Coin just holds her tighter and starts to rock her.
So Hannah squirms until her head is lying against the woman's shoulder instead.
Their eyes make contact in the dim lighting and Euphemia Coin taps Hannah's nose. "It wasn't enough the game you played last night after I specifically told you had to wait until morning?"
Hannah tries to look innocent, but the woman is smiling anyway. Chuckling, she kisses Hannah's forehead twice.
"I won", Hannah says glumly, because really that was what had been important. She succumbs to relaxing into the woman, who wraps her in another tight embrace. "Please", Hannah lifts her head up to look the woman in the eye, "you promised".
"I don't know if I did promise. And if I did, it was on the agreement that you stayed in bed", she taps her nose. "Besides, it's too early Hannah. Look. It's not even six in the morning", she says fiddling with her smart watch. Hannah watches her movements, still so enraptured by the clever machinery. "Look", and Hannah peers to watch what she's doing. "I've set the alarm for eight, which will still give you a full hour before breakfast. That's more than enough time"
"But-", she starts and stops when she hears Haymitch breathe out loudly in annoyance.
She huddles in closer to Euphemia Coin understanding the warning and seeking protection.
"You need to sleep, Darling", Euphemia Coin's voice even quieter. "Nobody will be awake anyway. Not even the Avoxes".
It was like she stole her retort right from her mouth.
"Today is a big, big, day and you need as much energy as possible, My Love", she continues. "It's your last day to practice, and don't forget you have your Private Session as well after training. You have to prove to those Sponsors that you're worth betting on, which you are". She strokes Hannah's face, giving it another firm kiss. "But you can't do that if you're half asleep. OK?"
Hannah nods solemnly. She hadn't forgot any of those things. She didn't need more sleep, she was awake.
"You're such a beautiful girl", she hums. "You look so much like-"
"-you", Hannah finishes, bored, "I know". She has little cares for beauty. Weren't they just talking about how important of a day it was? Beauty just makes you nice to look at. It didn't provide food for you. It didn't provide water or friendship for you. It didn't mean you could hunt or you could fight. Or you knew how to tie a knot or survive in the wild. It didn't give you a family, a mother and father to live with. At least not for her. Why was it so important to her that she was beautiful? She felt like asking the woman this. Would she not want her if she was ugly? Would have she drowned her in a lake?
Haymitch had said that to her once. She still remembers his words clear as the day. The sights, the sounds, the smell. It is forever living live in her memory.
'I should have just drowned you in the lake. Would have caused us both a lot less pain'.
She had run away back to her house with eyes full of tears threatening to fall.
He had come for her three days later. When she had asked if he had come to drown her, he grabbed her by her ankle, pulling her out from where she was hiding. He then wrapped her in a blanket and carried her all the way to his house in Victor's Village; the sky was dark and his arms were sturdy.
When they were inside his large house, he showed her where she could wash and when he told her to get out of the bath because she was turning into a prune, there had been new clothes for her to put on and stew that he had made for them both. They ate on his bed, and warm from a hot bath and stew, Haymitch read her one of his books.
'If you win your Games, I promise, this is what it will be like everyday for the rest of your life', he whispered just as she was falling asleep, and ruffled her hair. He carried her back to her little house in the woods before the sun came up.
"I was going to say your father", Euphemia Coin.
Hannah looks up at the woman, not having expected her to say that.
Hannah shakes her head, no. She looks nothing like Haymitch. They in fact look like opposites.
"You do", trailing a finger down Hannah's nose. "I would know. I've known Haymitch a long time. I know every edge and curve", she says, resting a hand over Hannah's heart. "You have his beautiful heart too".
Hannah can't help but secretly smile to herself at this.
"I thought you were so sweet to involve the Avox girl in your game", she whispers, placing a small kiss on the top of her ear.
"Effie", Haymitch growls, warning in his voice.
"It was", she whispers into Hannah's ear very quietly, before pulling away. "Now, let us sleep. Some of us only got in not even a few hours ago".
"I'm not tired".
"Hannah", Haymitch, and Hannah turns her head to stick her tongue out at him because no one but her would know.
"Then think about what talent you're going to do in your Private Sessions, and you can tell us all at breakfast", she says lowering them back into the bed. So that Hannah is again nestled in-between them. She then leans over Hannah and pulls on Haymitch until they're back in their cuddle.
"Haymitch has already decided I'm doing javelin like Enorbaria Meycrednen. OW!" She exclaims when she feels his teeth sink into the back of her neck, admittedly, not hard at all. She leans closer into Euphemia Coin. "Haymitch bit me", she complains, hoping that the woman will claw him with her nails.
Haymitch lightly kisses the back of her neck. "I didn't actually bite. I just ghosted my teeth on her to try and get her to shut up so I can sleep before I have to be awake again for the next 19 hours", and he brings her and Euphemia Coin further into his embrace.
Euphemia Coin starts stroking Hannah's nose. "Why don't you tell me about one of your happiest days? Tell me the story how you found Silver and Buffo", she whispers.
"Or tell her the time you bought down that doe", Haymitch also whispers.
~xXx~
She must have fallen back to sleep, because when Euphemia Coin's alarm wakes her up, Hannah shoots under the bed without the delicacy she tried before. When she returns back into the bedroom, it is only Haymitch - still asleep, and her training clothes laid out on the other half of bed ready for her. She dresses quickly and goes into the living room to set out the game.
But when she enters, she finds the male stylist sat on the settee watching the people talk on the screen.
He pats the space next to him.
Hannah doesn't mind the male stylist. He doesn't ask her many questions or speak in a too annoying voice. She also doesn't find him just smiling whilst staring at her like the female stylist always does.
"You're up early".
"Euphemia Coin said I was allowed to play games", she says almost authoritatively incase he tells her she has to do something else.
"Well, in that case, I will help you set it up", he says getting up to set up the interactive game. It wasn't the game she had in mind to play but only because she did not know how to set it up. "I was just watching the news. They were talking about Katniss and her score of eleven that she got in her Private Sessions. They-".
Hannah frowns, "- No one has gotten higher than a ten for their Private Sessions", she interrupts matter of factly.
'Katniss did. She impressed the judges so much with her archery skills".
Hannah shifts irritably. If that was true, why hadn't her father told her? "Well, then it was idiotic to make herself a target", she concludes.
But she wanted to get an eleven.
No, she wanted to get twelve.
The highest score anyone could and had ever received.
The male stylist hands her one of the game sticks. As he does he leans in and whispers, "I have to say, you including the Avox in your game was one of the nicest things I've seen since Katniss' games. I'm very proud to be on your team. I'm betting on you".
Hannah looks up into the man's brown eyes and sees truth. Even though she's certain that it is a rule that you can't bet on your own team.
"Not just for these Games, but for all the amazing things I know you're going to do afterwards. You're the change, Hannah".
Change?
Afterwards?
Afterwards was spending the rest of her days with Haymitch in District 12, eating and reading books together.
"I'm not going to let these Games change me", she repeats her new mantra. What amazing changes does this male stylist expect her to do? Bring home more Victors for District 12 with her amazing mentoring skills? She doesn't think she will be very good at all the talking Haymitch has to do up in the special viewing area, and making people like her has never been one of her strong points. But she could train them how to fight she guesses. How to find water, tie knots and look for food that won't kill them.
"I know you're not", he leans in and whispers. "You're going to change the Games. Katniss planted the seed, you're going to help make it grow. Help change Panem".
"A Panem where everyone is free?" Remembering what Madam Coin told her.
The male stylist nods and Hannah eyes him curiously, wondering why similar words that came out of Madam Coin's and Pig Boy's mouth are coming out of his.
"Now", he raises his eyes. Hannah raises hers too but doesn't see anything. When she looks back at him, he places a finger to his lip. "The cameras will be coming on soon. Let's play", he says standing up.
"Have you thought about allies?" He asks in between game rounds.
"Haymitch says I don't need allies. They will only slow me down".
"It's always good to have allies in case you get into trouble and need help", he says in the next break.
"I won't get into trouble", she says matter of factly.
"I'm sure you won't", he agrees.
"Did Katniss Everdeen have allies?" She asks. She had been thinking about it through their last game.
He opens his mouth but gets cuts off by Euphemia Coin entering the living room.
"Good morning", he sort of bows his body.
"Good morning, Cinna", she sings, smiling widely, but Hannah can see something dangerous in her eyes. "Thank-you for keeping Hannah entertained whilst I got ready".
"Well, we haven't really said much have we? Just played", he says, turning to Hannah.
Hannah thinks back to what Madam Coin said about Haymitch and Euphemia Coin not wanting her to know about Katniss Everdeen and her Games, and nods. "I've won every time!" She says instead.
"Do you care?" The male stylist asks Euphemia Coin.
Euphemia Coin shakes her head, no. "I wouldn't know where to start. Besides", and she lifts up the load in her arms, "I have lots of work to keep me busy before breakfast", she sings, moving to sit herself perfectly on the settee behind her and spreading out everything she had in her arms all over the 'coffee table'. Then she pauses to look at her smart watch, "the cameras will be coming on soon".
~xXx~
Euphemia Coin quietly worked behind them with her tablet and some papers, until the female stylist entered the room. Then the work was done in a quiet hum that frequently went into loud, excited talk. When Pig Boy joined them, Euphemia Coin straightened out his clothes and hair before giving him a cuddle.
Theodore.
Theo.
When Euphemia Coin had finished fussing over him, Hannah went to pass him her control so he could play, but then the male stylist gave him his instead and joined the other two Capitols. Every time there was a break in the game and Hannah would look behind her to see what Euphemia Coin was doing, she would always stop to look up and give her a smile.
Haymitch joined them just as breakfast was being served.
"One thing you never fail to be on time for", Euphemia Coin smiles as he rests his hands on Pig Boy's shoulders before sitting.
"Well, I actually eat the food unlike you who just stares at it like it will enter you via osmosis".
They glared and then ignored each other for the rest of breakfast.
Whilst Hannah ate the food that Euphemia Coin put on her plate, she considered what had been told to her about Katniss Everdeen. About her obtaining an eleven from her Private Sessions. It was true she had an expert shot, but an eleven! Pig Boy had said that she was the greatest Victor that ever lived and Madam Coin had agreed, and said that lots of other people also agreed. And what about allies? Did she use allies? Hannah hadn't spoken to any other tribute except Pig Boy, and he wouldn't be useful at all as an ally.
Haymitch had told her last night to not let the Games change you.
Pig Boy had said that Katniss Everdeen hadn't let the Games change her.
But the male stylist said that she was going to be the change.
So what exactly was that change she should be avoiding? And what change should she be embracing?
Not to become difficult? Not to become what Haymitch termed 'a spoilt brat'?
'Remember you're from District 12'.
What is special about District 12?
The greatest Victors Panem has ever seen?
Coal?
Snake Woman had been standing in the corner of the room but she now walks over to start to clear the table. Hannah had noticed earlier that the District 12 Peacekeeper was not present.
"You're hurt", Hannah says, because she notices what might be a bruise on Snake Woman's arm, where part of her shirt sleeve has risen. "She has medicine that can fix it", she points to Euphemia Coin.
"I have a name, Hannah. It is rude to talk about someone in the third person when they are present, and, it is extremely rude to point your finger".
Hannah ignores her because the Snake Woman has retracted her hand and pulls down on her sleeve. But it makes the rest of her sleeve baggy and Hannah can see that the bruise goes further up her arm. Hannah doesn't know what possess her to do it, perhaps it is because the woman is so close to her, perhaps she can just feel that something is wrong.
Hannah slowly lifts the sleeve to expose more bruising going further up her forearm.
But she doesn't think it is a bruise any longer, it looks and smells like dried blood.
Just how far up her arm did it go?
"Did you cut yourself on something?" Euphemia Coin's claws suddenly encase Hannah's elbow, abruptly stopping her hand from revealing more. "Let me help you with it", standing and unlatching herself from Hannah, she takes Snake Woman by the sleeve. "How very clumsy of you. Really, I am glad I saw it after I finished my breakfast", her high pitched Capitol voice can be heard as she escorts them both out the room.
After a few moments staring at their wake, Hannah looks over at Haymitch who is frowning back at her like she did something wrong...
"I'll help you get ready, Hannah", the female stylist says, but Hannah slips out her seat.
~xXx~
Opening the door to Euphemia Coin's bedroom, Hannah finds the escort staring into the mirror.
"Where is she?"
"Where is who?" Euphemia Coin sings without looking away from what she is doing, but Hannah can hear the shower going, and starts to walk towards the bathroom door. "She is just having a shower. Hannah?" Questioning clear in Euphemia Coin voice as she obviously figures out Hannah's intent. "It is of the upmost rudeness to walk in on someone who you are not properly acquainted with whilst they're showering. Hannah, don't go in-"
Euphemia Coin catches Hannah by her waist but it is too late, Hannah's hand is already on the door handle and she opens it to see the Snake Woman showering.
She turns to look at Hannah and frowns.
Hannah follows the length of her body to the tiles on the floor which is covered in red. Despite the sweet smell coming from the shower, Hannah can clearly detect the undertone smell it is trying to cover up.
Blood.
The door closes in front of Hannah's eyes and she can feel Euphemia Coin's claws turn her around.
She looks angry, and maybe-
Hannah can't finish the thought as she feels her head and eyes roll back.
~xXx~
"She must never know, she will-"
Hannah opens her eyes, hearing Euphemia Coin's voice.
Then she recognises the make up Euphemia Coin had put on her face today.
Her familiar blue eyes move to look at her, full of water and worry.
She hugs Hannah tight in her arms. "You're OK Hannah. You just fainted is all", her hand massages the back of her head. "How do you feel? Here, sniff these again", and Hannah has no choice but to sniff whatever was put in front of her nose.
It smelt rancid and sent a burst of energy through her.
"We don't have long, Sweetheart. You cannot be late for your last day of training. Now, stand up", she orders, and Hannah slowly climbs out of the woman's embrace, still not sure what exactly happened.
She fainted?
The blood had reminded her of her Sae and she had fainted.
The bedroom door opens and Haymitch walks in and Hannah has an urge to run into his arms, but Euphemia Coin's hand is gripped around hers.
"What happened?" Haymitch asks, his voice showing that he's knows something is wrong.
"She fainted".
"She what?" Haymitch marches over and takes Hannah by the shoulders.
"I think she saw the blood and fainted".
"Still think it's sweet, Sweetheart", Haymitch snarls at Euphemia Coin.
"Where is Daruis?" He turns addressing someone else, and it is then Hannah realises the Snake Woman is also in the room with a fluffy white towel wrapped around her.
"Haymitch, now is not the time, we only have ten minutes before she needs to be in the gynasium. Give her to me now"
But Haymitch doesn't release his grip on her. Instead he rests his forehead against hers. "You're really starting to worry me, Kid. Fainting again at the sight of blood".
"It won't happen again", she promises.
"It can't", he lifts his forehead off of hers, his silver moon eyes looking deep into hers. "And no more smiling and playing with Avoxes. You have to understand that in the Capitol's eyes, they are traitors. By smiling and playing with the Avoxes, you are showing them you are traitorous too, and you can't be doing that or else the odds will not be in your favour in the arena. Do you understand?" He shakes her slightly. "You see what they do to their own people who they think are traitors. If they see you as a danger, they will make sure you die in that arena".
She feels Euphemia Coin snatch her out of Haymitch's hold. She holds Hannah tight against her body.
But instead of shock or tears, Hannah simply purses her lips. Suddenly, understanding starting to connect in her brain as to what Pig Boy, Madam Coin and, although he seems to be contradicting it now, what Haymitch, have all been trying to tell her. "I will continue to smile at the Avoxes and play with them Papa, because I am not going to let these Games change me", and she takes her eyes off of Haymitch, smiles at Snake Woman who smiles back with a sort of bow, before looking up at Euphemia Coin and offering the woman her hand. "I'm ready".
If she doesn't let the Capitol change the way she sees Avoxes, maybe it will make the Capitol change the way they see Avoxes? That could be what the male stylist meant.
"Hannah", Haymitch. "I need you back home with me in District 12, alive. I can't send you back with me in a box", his voice going quiet and sad sounding. "I need you to play your Games by the rules".
"But then I would be being dishonest", she bites her bottom lip, not knowing quite what she's feeling or what she's saying. "I think if I played them not being honest then that would be worse than dying. I don't know if that makes sense, or if I'm saying it right, but that's what I feel".
Haymitch lets her go after that and Euphemia Coin immediately escorts her and Pig Boy to the gymnasium. When they have their shoes and watches on, Euphemia Coin tells Pig Boy to go on ahead while she does Hannah's hair.
"What happened to the female Avox?" She whispers, not certain about listening devices but she has to know.
"She cut herself is all. She was too busy to care for it properly", she answers.
Hannah turns to look her. She hadn't paused or hesitated in her answer and her eyes looked like she was telling the truth.
"Where is Darius?"
Euphemia Coin turns Hannah's head forward again and resumes plaiting her hair. "He got transferred to another position. His talents were being wasted doing basic domestics. Now, for what it's worth, Hannah. I also need you to come out alive. Perhaps... perhaps you feel I have no right to ask you this, but I also need you to play the Games by the rules. If you don't come out alive, I will die of a broken heart".
~xXx~
Hannah had a headache all the way through the first half of the training session, but she doesn't think it affected her performance. She had all sorts of thoughts going through her, thoughts she had never felt before. Her brain was working overtime and she felt like she had aged ten years in that one minute back in Euphemia Coin's bedroom. She was beginning to think of the Games outside of her and Haymitch, and what it meant to be a tribute from District 12.
In the lunch break she asks Pig Boy to tell her everything he knows about Katniss Everdeen - the Mockingjay, the Girl on Fire - and her Games. She continues quizzing him into the second half of the session. After she feels she can't ask him any more questions, she wishes more than anything she had her Mockingjay pin with her. She looks up to look for Haymitch for the first time that day and he is frowning down at her confused.
She waves and smiles.
He and the other Sponsors around him all wave back; their smiles going from one ear to the other.
~xXx~
"What are you going to do for your talent?" Hannah asks Pig Boy whilst they are waiting in the District 12's private 'cubicle' to do their Private Session.
Pig Boy shrugs. "I guess I'll see what's there. Hopefully it won't just be weapons and weights. What are you going to do?"
"Archery", Hannah smiles.
"Like Katniss?" Pig Boy smiles and Hannah nods, happy that she has pleased him.
"Perhaps they will have something similar to that interactive game we play. You will be good at that", Hannah tries to be encouraging.
"I don't think they will", he says, looking down at his shoes. They are dangling from the bench. Hannah's legs are dangling too, but her short height is her only disadvantage. She will be able to out run and out fight anyone of the other components.
"What did your uncle do for his talent?"
"He threw weights. He got an eight. He is not like me".
Hannah can see that he is getting upset again and she takes his hand in hers. "You don't have to worry", she says. "I'm going to protect you. Like Katniss Everdeen protected your uncle".
Pig Boy looks up at her in hope and then shakes his head, no. "I will only slow you down".
"We're a team. We stick together. Just don't tell Haymitch", she says as an after thought. "Or Euphemia Coin", she remembers her saying that any tribute who wasn't her was an enemy. "He doesn't want me to have any allies".
"OK", he says, and his head lowers again.
"I'm sure he didn't mean you. He likes you, and he loves District 12, and we are a team".
Pig Boy smiles at her genuinely.
"Who are your parents? I can tell that you're a Merchant. At school most people thought I was a Merchant, but I'm not". She looks over him quizzically, "I don't remember seeing you at school, though? I was only there for a little time but I'm very good at remembering faces. In fact, I don't think I've seen you at all".
Pig Boy stares at her the whole time she talks.
"What's the matter?" She asks, wondering if she has something up her nose.
"Nothing", he shakes his head. "My father was a baker's son but now he works in an office, and my mother stays at home and looks after me with my grandmother, and sometimes my aunt when she's not at school. I'm - I was home schooled, that's why you never saw me at school".
"You went to school at home?" She asks deducing that's what 'home schooled' meant.
He nodded.
"Why? I mean I guess I was home schooled too but that was because Haymitch wanted me to be a secret and so he could spend all the time training me to win my Games. But why do you have to be a secret?"
"I'm not a secret. My grandfather is the mayor of District 12, and as the next bloodline male in the family, I was supposed to be the next mayor, so I had to have special schooling".
"Oh", she says not really understanding. "So you're going to be District 12's next mayor?" She smiles.
"I was".
"You will be", she says defiantly. If Katniss Everdeen can do it, she can do it too. "Listen, two people won last year, why can't two people win again this year?"
"I don't think that will happen again. I overheard the adults saying that they got into a lot of trouble because of it. It's probably why we are both here. Because both our names were not supposed to be in the reaping bowl. I am supposed to be exempt because I'm the future mayor of District 12, and you said yourself, you are supposed to be secret. It was a way to punish Mr Abernathy and Mrs Coin, and hurt Uncle Peeta".
Hannah scrunched her nose as she thought about it. Did that make sense? "Is that what your father told you?"
"No", he shrugs. "No one told me. It's just what I thought".
"You're really smart", she observes, and Pig Boy goes red at the compliment.
"Theodore Mellark", a voice interrupts them and it's Atala. "You're up".
Hannah gives his hand one final squeeze.
~xXx~
The wait between Pig Boy being taken and Atala coming to tell her it was her time seemed like forever. The floor seemed to be wet and she had to walk carefully. Haymitch was no longer in the viewing area, it was just a small amount of men. It was also a real bow and arrow and they had a mannequin as a target.
Hannah shot every arrow in the centre and when she finished, everyone in the viewing area clapped.
She curtsied like Euphemia Coin had taught her and then left.
~xXx~
"I specifically told you to use the javelin!"
"All I saw were the bow and arrows", Hannah sort of lies, she wasn't looking for anything else. But, how did he know she did archery when the Private Sessions were supposed to be private?
"What does it matter now, Haymitch?" Euphemia Coin sighs at him. She is doing Hannah's hair in her room in front of the mirror. Haymitch is standing next to her, looming over Hannah with his fists clenched in his anger.
"It matters plenty", he diverts his anger from Hannah to Euphemia Coin, but the woman doesn't flinch. She instead smiles at Hannah sweetly through the mirror.
Hannah considers that this is most likely because Haymitch has been angry at her so many times, it no longer affects her; and thinks back to when she first saw her parents together and how physically violent they were with each other.
Euphemia Coin says - except when Hannah is competing in her Games - you must always be kind and polite to and about people. Treat them how you want to be treated. Even if you do not like them. Even if they are your worst enemy. Being physically violent is strictly prohibited, unless it is to defend yourself from an attack and there is no one else around capable to help you.
Haymitch says he loves Euphemia Coin but he is physically violent to her. He is angry almost all the time around her, and he says mean things to her.
Similarly, Euphemia Coin says that she loves Haymitch but she is married to someone else. She says mean things to and about him, and she started hitting him first that time after visiting President Snow.
It was true Haymitch was always angry, but he was especially at Euphemia Coin.
And Euphemia Coin only seems to be angry at Haymitch.
"I know, but it's been done", and Hannah winces as Euphemia Coin pulls particularly hard on her head. She does pause her brushing however to apologise and place a kiss on her hair.
Haymitch goes to open his mouth again.
"-If you keep fighting her", Euphemia Coin interrupts, "she is only going to listen less. The less she listens, the less we are able to protect her. She doesn't understand, Haymitch", putting the hairbrush down.
"What's not to understand?!" He flares like a fire and Euphemia Coin closes her eyes. "If I tell her to do something, she should do it. I am her mentor!"
Hannah jumps a little, and Euphemia Coin must feel it because she smiles at her again, placing her hands on the top of her head and smoothing it down her hair until she puts her arms around her in tight a hug.
Maybe Haymitch's anger does affect her and she is just really good at hiding it?
"You better start listening to me now", Haymitch turns his anger back to Hannah, "or I promise you, there will be hell to pay!" And he jabbed Hannah's shoulder harshly with each word until Euphemia Coin flicked it away.
"She doesn't understand and it is not her fault", Euphemia Coin says, taking her arms off Hannah and placing them on Haymitch's chest. She opens a few of his shirt buttons and slides her hand inside, rubbing his heart.
He falls silent, stilling, then he sort of deflates. But his anger hasn't left him, it is not being vented loudly through his nostrils. His eyes dart between Euphemia Coin's hand on his heart and her face, before throwing his head up to the ceiling.
"You told her to do it but did you tell her why", Euphemia Coin says when his breathing starts to normalise.
"She doesn't need to be worrying about the crap", he mumbles, the anger and fight having seemingly left him completely.
Euphemia Coin is also the only person Hannah knows that dares touch her father when he is this angry. The only person that pacifies him.
"And I agree, but she is intelligent and you have raised her to think for herself".
He brings his head back down to look at the woman. "She's never questioned my orders before", he grumbles.
They get lost staring into each others' eyes. Conversing in a silent language Hannah will never learn to understand.
All Hannah has wanted to do since she saw Haymitch was ask him about Katniss Everdeen and how he helped her bring two Victors home. She had felt amazing and confident after her Private Sessions, she had been practically bursting to ask him. But, when he eventually returned to the Penthouse Apartment, she had been met with his fury, and hadn't had an opportunity to say anything other than the answers to his angry questions.
On the train he had said no allies. He had sounded very serious about that. But that was then. He likes Pig Boy now. Just like she likes Pig Boy now and doesn't want to see him return to District 12 in a box. She wants him to become the District 12 Mayor like he is being trained to be.
"When was the last time you had a drink?" Euphemia Coin asks Haymitch. Her hand has moved from his shirt to his forehead, although she has left the undone buttons open and now some of the skin on his chest is exposed.
Haymitch hits her hand away, his anger returning. "I do not drink as much as your fucking city likes to think I do", he snarls.
"I know, Mitch. I wasn't suggesting that at all".
Haymitch goes to open his mouth, but Euphemia Coin holds the same hand he hit off him to his lips. "-I was merely suggesting you have one because you are on edge and you need to calm down", her voice rising slightly, warning, for a change in her voice. "The live results are in fifteen minutes. There isn't time for anything else. One day, Haymitch. Let's make it count".
Haymitch nods eventually and then walks towards the bedroom door.
"Papa", Hannah says, not wanting the cameras to see with his buttons undone.
Haymitch stills and after a few seconds, turns around to face her.
"Your buttons are still undone", she says.
Haymitch looks down to his open chest and starts to button them back up.
Hannah gets off her chair and hugs him because it did make her heart hurt that her behaviour has made him angry again. "I'm sorry, Papa I didn't listen to you".
He rubs the back of her head before leaving.
~xXx~
Hannah wrinkles her nose at the Capitol clothes Euphemia Coin laid out for her to wear. They were another one of Madam Coin's gifts.
"I don't want to wear Capitol clothes", she says, raising her chin high in defiance. She was the one that said she was intelligent and could think for herself.
Something unreadable to Hannah crosses Euphemia Coin's face, but it's only for a second. "Well, what do you suggest to wear, my Sweet?" Her voice overly high pitched and Capitol. "The clothes you arrived in were filthy, most likely full of lice, and so have been burnt. Unless you plan to go out there naked?"
Hannah feels that Euphemia Coin is being quite rough as she dresses her. She keeps trying to make eye contact with the woman to show her dissatisfaction but Euphemia Coin only looks her in the eyes when she has straightened and pulled Hannah's hair, clothes, body and shoes until they are all exactly how she wants it.
"Now, Hannah", Euphemia Coin breathes, and Hannah could hear the treble in the woman's voice. "I know this is your first Games and I know it is all very exciting. But, this is my fourteenth and Haymitch's twenty fifth. We will make sure you win these Games. However, it is imperative that from now on you listen and do everything we tell you to do".
"-But I do!" She blurts out, because she does! She has dutifully listened to and followed all her rules. She has listened to everything Haymitch ever told her to do ... well mostly... maybe once or twice she hasn't listened to him, but that's not fair! Not listening once or twice doesn't mean she doesn't listen! Hannah scowls deeply. "I was only thinking for myself because I am intelligent", she mumbles Euphemia Coin's words back at her
Euphemia Coin makes a noise that when Hannah looks up, realises is a laugh. It cracks her Capitol mask. "Well, in that case, you tell me. If it was my first Games and I wanted to win them. Is it more intelligent to listen to someone who hasn't won a Games at all, or listen to the advise of two people who have between them thirty nine Games experience?"
The scowl deepened on Hannah's face. She had her again. In less than five minutes. First with the clothes and now with this.
Euphemia Coin raises her eyebrows, indicating that she wants an answer.
Hannah deflates, sitting on the bed next to Euphemia Coin. "All I want to do is to bring Pig Boy home too. Like me, his name wasn't supposed to be in the Reaping bowl. It's not fair if he was to die when he wasn't even supposed to be here in the first place", Hannah speaks to her lap. "And I thought if I was like Katniss Everdeen, maybe I could bring Pig Boy home, like she did with Pig Boy's uncle", she mumbles the truth. Again, maybe Euphemia Coin would understand? She is not like Haymitch. She's different. She's soft, she remembers her pets' name, and she did save Mr Rabbit for her.
"If you are talking about Theodore, calling him by that moniker is extremely rude and insulting", Euphemia Coin snaps, and Hannah instantly goes red in shame and embarrassment. "I sincerely hope you do not call him that to his face. You will desist and apologise instantly".
Hannah nods dutifully. She didn't mean to be rude and insulting, even if perhaps it is a little true.
"Where did you hear that?" Euphemia Coin asks.
"I didn't hear it, it's just what he reminded me of when I first saw him. I didn't mean to be rude. But I haven't said it out loud". She didn't think. "Just you now", she mumbles.
"I'm talking about what you said about the Reaping".
"Oh", and Hannah struggles to think of what to say, she doesn't want to get Pig Boy - Theodore, into trouble. "One of the tributes told us at lunch", her cheeks flaming in her lie. She didn't dare look at the woman.
"Which one?"
Hannah goes to shrug, before she remembers that it is rude, and stops because she doesn't want to be in anymore trouble. "I don't know. She had dark hair", she says, remembering the District 11 girl who was looking at her that time in the lunch room.
There is a loud knock on the door, Haymitch's voice filters through but Hannah can't make out what he is saying.
"We must go", Euphemia Coin sighs, standing up. Hannah watches her smooth her frilly dress before offering Hannah her hand.
"Will you be able to do it again?" Hannah asks, not moving.
"Do what again?"
"Bring two of us home?" Looking up into the woman's eyes.
Euphemia Coin lowers her eyes and Hannah just knows what her next words are going to be...
"- Please?" Hannah asks, trying to look as earnest and innocent as possible.
"I don't think they will allow that to happen again. It was unprecedented, and to be honest, it was just as much Katniss as everyone else. She loves him. She wanted to bring Peeta home".
"I'll listen to every word that you say", Hannah promises quickly. "I'll wear fancy Capitol costumes and follow all your rules. Please. He is supposed to be District 12's Mayor and..." She trails off.
"Is he your friend, Hannah?"
Hannah shrugs. She had Haymitch, her Sae and her pets. But not a real human friend her own age.
"Alright", Euphemia Coin says.
"Do you promise?" Hannah asks. She would make sure she got the woman to promise this time.
"I promise", Euphemia Coin says, looking back at Hannah earnestly. Her hand strokes her face, "but, you must listen to everything Haymitch and I say. No arguments".
Hannah nods fiercely.
~xXx~
Both Hannah and Pig Boy got a twelve.
To say Hannah was shocked when she heard Pig Boy's result was an understatement, but she thought she hid it very well. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found out she also got a twelve and hugged her Papa tight. Then Euphemia Coin flapped around like a bird fluttering it's large wings and got everyone together to play a boardgame. She paired Hannah with Haymitch, and Hannah quickly forgot about the boy and his twelve and instead enjoyed sitting in her father's lap, his warmth and laughter washing all over her. When the Snake Woman entered the room with large brown boxes that were still warm - 'pizzas' - Hannah thought it was the best food she ever tasted. She laughed as she watched her father try to force Euphemia Coin to eat a 'slice' instead of the leaves she was eating in her much smaller brown box, a 'salad'. It looked like the food she fed Silver.
Euphemia Coin and Pig Boy won and everyone but Hannah laughed.
~xXx~
Hannah plays with the hanging jewellery around Euphemia Coin's neck as the woman kisses her goodnight. She has changed her clothes and face, and smells overly sweet. Haymitch sat the other side of the Hannah, he has also had changed his clothes and smells overly sweet.
He gives Hannah a kiss on her forehead, making Hannah smile.
Her parents then give each other a kiss before Euphemia Coin lays down, her head next to Hannah's.
It was confusing how they went from being angry at each other to kissing. It wasn't just when there was or wasn't a camera or someone else watching them.
"We're so proud of you, Darling. For staying so strong and focussed with everything you've had to deal with this last week", she kisses Hannah's cheek. "You are simply perfect".
Haymitch leans a hand over and rests it on Euphemia Coin's stomach. "We have to go, we're already cutting it fine".
"Try to sleep, My Love".
They leave Hannah feeling wide awake with a movie that is playing on a screen in the middle of her room. Euphemia Coin said it was, 'a movie I used to love watching when I was younger'. Hannah didn't always understand what was going on and it was mostly very confusing and unbelievable, but she liked the man in black who loved and saved the princess. She liked the man with the sword that 'avenges' his father too - until he got himself killed.
When it finishes, she asks the screen to turn off. Euphemia Coin said that she had another fun day planned for them, so she had to make sure she got lots of sleep so she could enjoy it properly.
~xXx~
Like usual, Hannah feels Euphemia Coin enter her bed. She smells freshly clean and holds her tight, placing small kisses on her forehead. She falls back to sleep instantly.
When she feels Haymitch enter the bed, he lacks the grace that he usually does and he smells of all sorts of smells. The bottle for sure. Everything, but him.
"It's a clock", he whispers, his voice coming from across the other side of Euphemia Coin.
Hannah starts to open her eyes. She is surprised when she feels some light against them. Was it that early or had Haymitch turned on the lights?
"Effie, Effie".
Hannah can feel Haymitch shake the woman and by extension her, not caring they are both sleeping.
Euphemia Coin sits up sharply, taking Hannah with her. Hannah's heart and eyes fly awake in the suddenness of it.
"It's a clock", Haymitch repeats, louder.
The light isn't strong enough that Hannah can make more than a silhouette of her father.
"It's a clock", he repeats again.
Euphemia Coin lays Hannah back down, not realising that she is in fact awake.
"Haymitch, what hap-".
"It's a clock, Effie".
"What happened? Did she ... hurt you? We can go to the Games Clinic..."
Hurt!?
All the hairs on Hannah stand on end like pins going into her body.
Who hurt her father?
She would kill them.
She would rip their throats out.
Hannah can feel Euphemia Coin start to get out of the bed. Should she go with them? If someone hurt her father, she would need to protect them.
"Effie, you're not listening to me, it's a clock!"
"What's a clock? You're not mak-"
"-The arena. It's a clock! Each, each hour for each, each Games since the last Quarter Quell". Haymitch stumbles so much over his words, Hannah has to lift her head up to hear better. "Each section is a designated hour and is a different Games year". Haymitch's voice gets even quieter and Hannah turns so that she is facing them; they still seem not to notice she is awake. "One in the morning, it's the 51st. Two in the morning it's the 52nd and so on and so on. It's a clock!"
Euphemia Coin's silhouette becomes one with Haymitch's.
She's kissing him, loudly.
Like in the movie.
It makes Hannah's stomach feel all twist and she lowers herself back down into the bed and shuffles further away them, turning her back.
"Who was it that told you? Was it-"
"-I'll tell you when it's safe. I need to tell, Hannah-"
"-No, let her sleep. You can tell her in the morning".
Hannah feels the bed rise.
"Where are we going?"
"You need a shower, and I want to make sure you're not hurt", she whispers.
"I'm fine. I just need to slee-"
"No", Euphemia Coin says sharply, shocking Hannah enough to jump. "You need to have a shower", her voice soft again. "We'll have one together".
"Together?" He laughs, snorting like a pig. "Sweetheart, I'm done entertaining Capitols for tonight... Besides, I'm still feeling the affects of your magical pills. They do their fucking job. I feel I could jump from the roof and not feel a thing. I'm surprised I even found my way back here".
"That's because you will always find your way back to me. We always find our way back to each other. We always will". Hannah feels the colour leave her again when she realises that she is kissing him again. "I will make you forget. Whatever it is she did to you. I promise".
"No, I don't want your pity".
"Mitch, this is not pity, and you know it".
They kiss more.
"You're not my keeper", Haymitch whispers. "You're not responsible for me".
"Does that mean you're not responsible for me either?" Euphemia Coin's sounds angry. " ... You are mine and I am yours", soft. "No matter what any law says. No matter what we may say to each other".
Hannah counts to 120 after they leave her bedroom. She tries Haymitch's door first. It opens but inside is black and silent. She can't hear sleeping or showering. She then tries Euphemia Coin's room, but she finds the door locked.
Euphemia Coin's door has always been unlocked.
Hannah puts her ear to the door but doesn't hear anything. Stepping away, she fiddles with her pyjama top before inspecting the isolated hallway. She was surprised not to find the Snake Lady outside her room, keeping guard. Maybe Haymitch and Euphemia Coin were in another room? Or maybe they have gone back out. To the Games Clinic?
She tries the lock again. It is still locked.
It wouldn't be locked if there were not people inside...?
But, why would they lock the door and shut her out?
She was supposed to be the only thing the two of them cared about.
Instead of going back into her own bedroom, Hannah makes her way to Pig Boy's bedroom.
The Snake Lady is not there either.
"What's the matter?" Pig Boy asks when she's huddled next to him back to back. "Do you want to play a game?"
"I feel sick. I'm going to sleep now". Closing her eyes. She just wants to sleep. Sleep and forget.
But she can't.
"What's it like to live with your parents?"
"Wonderful", he answers eventually, his voice sounding sad.
Wonderful.
"And do they like each other?"
"They love each other".
"They belong to each other?"
"They're married, so I guess".
"Do they ever fight each other?"
"Never".
"Say mean words to each other?"
"No".
"And do they love you?"
"Yes".
"Do they say nice things to you?"
"Always".
"Have they ever ... left you?" She asks quietly.
"Never. I left them to come here".
Hannah sighs. "Are we friends?" Even more timid. Instantly wishing she hadn't asked.
"If you want to be?"
"Do you have lots of friends in District 12?"
Being the Mayor's grandson, she bet he was really popular.
"Not really. My mother arranges playdates, but they are always mean to me once there are no adults in the room".
Hannah turns around to face him.
"No one will be mean to you when you return a Victor".
"I guess they might not".
"I told Euphemia Coin that I wanted to bring you home like Katniss Everdeen did with your uncle and she promised to me she would make it happen".
Pig Boy was silent.
"Aren't you happy about that?" Hannah asks, annoyed by his lack of enthusiasm. Doesn't he know she doesn't have to save him.
"That would be wonderful if she could, but I don't-"
"- She promised she would, so she will. That's her special talent, didn't you know? Making people love her so they do exactly what she says. My father says everyone loves her".
"She is very nice".
Hannah scrunches up her nose. "She's alright, I guess... She has her uses", she resolves. "Besides both Euphemia Coin and my father have thirty nine years of Games experience, so they are the best".
Pig Boy nods.
"She said that your uncle and Katniss Everdeen are in love. Is that true?"
"That's what everyone says".
She was still certain that Katniss Everdeen belonged to the Hunter Man. But then Euphemia Coin said she and Haymitch belonged to each other when she is married to Madam Coin. She said she and Hannah belonged to each other, but before last week, she doesn't remember ever seeing or hearing her voice.
"They are supposed to be getting married this year!" Pig Boy interrupts her thoughts excitedly, and it is the first time in their conversation that Pig Boy sounds happy. "Uncle Peeta said that if the wedding wasn't going to be in the Capitol and in District 12 instead, then I would have been the page boy"
"What's a wedding and a page boy? Someone who turns the pages at the wedding?" She attempts a logical guess.
"A wedding is like a Toasting but much more fancy. It's like a party, with lots of food, games, dancing and a lot of guests who give you gifts".
Hannah liked the sound of that. The food and games especially. "And what does a page boy do?"
"I would walk behind Katniss, carrying her dress".
"I guess that sounds exciting".
It did not.
"Do you think if the wedding was in District 12, I could be something in the wedding?"
"You could be a flower girl with Katniss' sister, Primrose", he suggests excitedly. "You would walk in front of Katniss and throw flowers".
She could do that. There were many flowers in the meadow, just as long as it wasn't in winter.
"Do you think you would get married?" She asks.
"If I survive the Games-"
"-Which, I have already told you, you will. You and I, together".
"Then yes, I guess I would".
"Who would you marry?"
"I don't know? Hopefully someone I love. Like how my father loves my mother".
"Do you think you would like to marry me? If you loved me".
"Yes".
"That would mean, I would be the Mayor's wife", and Hannah smiles, liking the idea of that. "I think I love you, because I want to save you like Katniss Everdeen saved your uncle", Hannah yawns.
All the talking is making her sleepy again.
"I think I'm going to try and sleep again. Euphemia Coin said she has a fun day planned for us tomorrow and we ought to get lots of sleep". She turns to face away from him again.
"OK, Goodnight, Hannah".
"Goodnight, Theodore".
"You can call me Teddy if you want, that's what my family calls me".
A few minutes of silence and on the beginning of falling asleep again she remembers to ask. "Teddy? What did you do for your talent?"
"I painted, Rue", he replies sleepily.
Rue was the girl from District 11 Pig Boy said Katniss Everdeen allied with and tried to save. When she died, Katniss Everdeen held her in her arms and sang to her the Meadow Song, decorating her body with wildflowers. Katniss Everdeen didn't have to ally with her, and it wasn't about repaying a debt, she had wanted to make the Games comforting to Rue because she was frightened. If Rue hadn't have died, Pig Boy says Katniss Everdeen probably would have killed herself so that Rue would win. Katniss Everdeen didn't have to sing and cry for Rue when she died, she didn't have to decorate her body with wildflowers. She could have killed her on sight. Rue didn't have to help Katniss in the first place, she could have killed her on sight. But they didn't, because they didn't want the Games to change them.
"It must have been a really good painting", she mumbles.
"Not really", he mumbles back.
AN:/ Long chapter, I wrote it about a month a go, but knew I wanted to re-write one scene. Finally happy with it. Until next update :)
