Wanted to post once more before Christmas! Enjoy this rather short chapter- I really enjoyed it because I love how logical and gentle Cinna can be! I know you're all anxious for answers and we are getting closer!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! xoxox
Haymitch knocked at the door and tapped his foot as he waited. It opened just a crack and he held up several thick files.
"Was hoping I could talk to Cinna."
"Sure. Come in." Chase held the door open wider and closed it behind him. Cinna was sitting at the desk, sketching something. He stood when Haymitch entered the room.
"I take it that things didn't go as well as you hoped?"
"Violet was angry, of course, I mean I expected that. But she… got me thinking." Cinna raised a brow. Haymitch sighed and tossed the files onto the bed.
"Finnick warned me before he left that maybe I should leave all of this alone. Violet basically told me the same thing. I'm not trying to play Detective here for the hell of it! I just want to-"
"Make the truth known," Cinna said, his tone gentle. "And I don't fault you for it. You want answers and you want to know why your best friend was killed."
"I know why he was killed. He was the leader of the rebellion." He glanced at Chase, who had settled on the bed and was flipping through the papers.
"What would you like me to say, Haymitch?"
"Say that I'm doing right. That you know I'm not doing this to hurt anybody."
"Have you thought about how Katniss will react when you tell her everything?"
"Of course I have," he said impatiently. "It's why I stopped myself from blurting out the whole thing. I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to cause any problems."
"Have you considered that this may cause real problems in their marriage?"
"It's not the boy's fault, she'll understand that-"
"You want me to be the voice of reason here, and tell you to go ahead with it. Bring everything out into the open. I can't do that, Haymitch. Whether I agree with you or not doesn't matter. What matters is what will be left when the pieces are put into place. How this will affect relationships." Haymitch huffed and hung his head. Chase whistled and shook his head.
"This is some deep stuff. You're sure Peeta doesn't know any of this?"
"Pretty sure. The files were in a box in his office, and somehow survived the damage. The contract between his mother and Snow was tucked into a file about the bakery. Best I can figure is that Snow threatened the Mellarks with closing down the bakery. There's a big file just about Peeta in there."
"She sold her son for a building?" Chase's expression was one of utmost disgust.
"I want to talk to her about it. Give her a chance to explain. It's the only way I can string this all together."
"Haymitch," Chase said tentatively as he tossed the file aside. "I get why you're doing this. I think it's great that you want to help Peeta get his memory back. But we don't even know… I mean, how can we be certain that she will bring him home? You might be destroying lives for no reason." Haymitch was silent.
"Is there any way to do the experiment without telling everything," Cinna asked, his hands fidgeting in his lap as if they were itching to be sketching again.
"You said they need a blood relative. You have his parents and two brothers. Why do you need to involve her?"
"It was her idea! She came to me with it, said something about girls' genetics and being a half sister, better for the blood transfusions, I don't understand any of it! The girl is a medical genius. After all of this is over, I'd like to see her in the Capitol discovering cures for diseases and such. Anyways, I trust her judgement."
"So, wait, she knows?" Chase sounded surprised.
"I think she's known for awhile. Or suspected. She came to me for answers and I could only tell her speculations. So to answer your question, Cinna, no, I don't think they will do the experiments unless they are absolutely sure."
"Is the matter of Ash Everdeen's death of great importance then? Does Violet really need to know the details of the betrayal?"
"I'm fairly certain it wasn't actually Margaret's fault, but again, that's why I want to talk to her."
"So you're admitting that this isn't really all for everyone else's benefit. You want answers. You want to know what happened, once and for all. The truth benefits you." Haymitch mouthed wordlessly.
"Now wait a minute-"
"I'm not judging you," Cinna said quickly, raising his hand. "I just want you to stop pretending that this is JUST to help Peeta. Curiosity is a natural thing in humans. As is vengeance. Could it be that you wish for Margaret Mellark to be humiliated and ostracized because of her actions?"
"She does that to herself! Her own sons can't stand to be around her anymore. And Bran stays with her out of duty, not love."
"That's not really our business," Cinna lowered his head for a moment. "Just ask yourself if these experiments can be done without someone getting hurt. Is this worth it? Clearly you are affected by Finnick's and Violet's words, or you wouldn't have come to me with doubts." Haymitch rolled his eyes and made to grab the files.
"It's all connected!"
"So you've said. But perhaps you should line the papers up and see if you can skip several steps and still have the same end results."
"Capitol people bug the hell out of me." Cinna handed him the files and gave him a sad smile.
"Just think about what I've said, Haymitch. You can talk to Margaret Mellark but perhaps hold off on showing everything to Katniss for now. If she brings Peeta home, then maybe you can tell them together as you explain the medical procedures."
"Or have his sister explain it," he muttered.
"As you said, that's speculation. Don't go starting rumors. This isn't the Capitol. I'll help in whatever way I can. But make sure you have the puzzle completed before you go showing everyone your handiwork. There's nothing worse than a puzzle with a single missing piece. It can drive someone to insanity." Haymitch merely shook his head before he opened the door and slammed it shut behind him. Cinna sighed and Chase moved to the side, flinging his arm out. Cinna smiled and curled up beside his husband. Their fingers intertwined and their rings clinked together.
"I'm glad Coin let us have a private ceremony," Chase said, pulling Cinna's hand to his lips. His mouth hovered over Cinna's ring.
"Me too," Cinna smiled in return, curling his fingers over Chase's cheek. Despite the fact they came from the Capitol, they'd wanted no frivolity for their wedding. Cinna smiled when he remembered Katniss's angry expression when she'd found out but he knew she was happy for them. Too long had they been stuck to expectations and traditions. Here, they could do as they wanted. To be free.
"Do you think Haymitch will heed your advice? He's such a hothead." Cinna chuckled softly and shrugged.
"I think that's over 20 years of watching his tributes dying on television. He's definitely got some rage and that's the whole reason he got involved with the rebellion. But I think his heart is in the right place. He wants to help Peeta. And he looks at Katniss as a daughter. Let's just hope he does the right thing."
"You said whether you agree with him on this or not doesn't matter. But I'm curious… DO you agree with him?" Cinna was silent as he traced patterns over the back of Chase's hand.
Haymitch passed the room several times. He'd go to the door, raise his hand, then lower it and walk away. Only to return a second later, muttering to himself and gripping the files under his arm. He raised his hand again and huffed.
"Damn it," he swore as he lowered his hand and turned away. When he heard the door open behind him, he spun around. Bran looked surprised and opened the door wider.
"Haymitch, is everything alright? They're not back already, are they?" When Haymitch had told Bran about Katniss going to 2 to rescue Peeta, the baker had openly wept. Haymitch felt sympathy towards the man, knowing how much Bran loved his son. The son he had only just gotten back, just to lose him again. It wasn't fair.
None of this was fair, he scoffed to himself.
"No, no, they only just left a few hours ago. I uh, was hoping to speak to your wife." Bran's brow raised in surprise. Margaret appeared at the door, her arms crossed over her chest.
"What on earth do you have to say to me, Abernathy?"
"Margaret," Bran whispered, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Actually, uh… maybe we should talk in private." Margaret glanced at her husband and lowered her arms.
"I don't think so."
"But-"
"Look," she said impatiently. "I confessed to… some things, and he knows my transgressions. I don't imagine you could know something he doesn't at this point." Haymitch swallowed nervously and gripped the files with a white fist. Bran eyed the papers and cleared his throat.
"I know what she did… to the Everdeens," he said quietly. "I've promised her I won't judge her for any of it."
"I don't expect the same from Everdeen's best friend," Margaret said sharply. "In fact, I'm surprised you haven't sold me out. You knew what happened, didn't you? You've always known."
"I've had my suspicions for a long time. It took a few years to put everything together. And I just found this file on Peeta in the rubble of the Justice Building. I wasn't going to sell you out, Margaret, but I'd like to clear some things up. It could help Peeta when he returns."
"How are my past mistakes going to help him?"
"Not so much your mistakes…" he said, looking pointedly at Bran. The baker frowned as he sank into a chair.
"Maybe you should tell us what you know, Haymitch." Haymitch nodded as he opened the file.
"OK. First thing first. Who betrayed Ash to the Capitol?"
