What Mentors Do

by bennieren

Haymitch Abernathy is the only mentor 12 has had for 25 years. When two new "dead ones" are reaped in the 74th, he knows his job for the rebellion is to make them as memorable as possible. They turn out to be pretty good at making themselves memorable all on their own. This is The Hunger Games series from Haymitch's POV. *Mature*

5. Fire is the Symbol

**Present Day**

He specifically asks Effie for the tributes' names again, so he will stop thinking about them as the "dead ones". The next time he sees Peeta and Katniss is at dinner. Cinna had been at him again, making a lot of remarks about his "escort" the whole time, so he guessed the cat was out of the bag on that one. But when Effie caught sight of him, all groomed for a nice, Capitol dinner, the teasing felt worth it. She positively beams, and they and the stylists are talking about the weather and the Center. These rooms are always bugged, and the two Avox slaves stand in close attendance. They're required to hand in written reports of everything anyone says or does while they're in the room. Haymitch can't see why a known enemy of the Capitol is anymore trustworthy without a tongue, but he's given up trying to understand what the Capitol does.

There was an uncomfortable moment when the girl tribute, Katniss, he reminds himself, recognized one of the Avox. Peeta covered smoothly, Haymitch noticed. Interesting. He tried not to react, knowing there could very well be cameras, but he filed away the information that Peeta was good under pressure for later consideration.

Dinner and dessert finished, Haymitch instructs the kids to go to sleep.

"So, fire is going to be the symbol, huh?"

Cinna smiles sarcastically. "Too on the nose for you, Haymitch?"

Haymitch holds up his hands in mock surrender. "It was a hit. You might have a sponsor on board for one of those kids and they haven't even interviewed yet."

Cinna, mollified, nods his head. Portia is watching this exchange with an anxious look. Keep up, girl! They can't be friendly here. Haymitch is complimenting Cinna as much as he can without raising suspicion.

"We'll keep working 12 as a team. I'll have them train together, eat together. They might even become allies, but we'll have to consider that carefully."

The stylists and Effie nod.

"These two seem sharp," says Effie cheerily. "I feel like something special might happen this year!"

Cinna sends a silent eyebrow message to Haymitch, and says, "We should get going." He stands and holds out a hand to Portia to help her up from the sofa. "Haymitch, walk me out, I have an interview costume idea I want to run by you."

Cinna's had every outfit planned for months, and only needs to alter the costumes to fit Katniss. Still, Haymitch follows Cinna and Portia out of the apartment and to the elevator.

"You're looking good, Abernathy," whispers Cinna, once they're in the elevator. Portia stands close to the doors, and he and Cinna are standing close together at the back of the elevator.

Haymitch rubs his chin. "Thanks, I have a good stylist."

"Don't forget it."

They're quiet, but Cinna steps very close, and slips his hand into Haymitch's under their coats, gives his hand a squeeze. In a normal tone of voice he says, "I'm going to make our kids stars," he says, before the elevator comes to a halt. "I know it."

Haymitch smiles at him. He has no doubt Cinna will make them a sensation in the Capitol, that they'll be the most famous tributes before they go into the arena. The best he can hope for now is that they'll make the Capitol feel something about these kids before they die.

Cinna sees all this in his face, squeezes his hand once more, and lets it go. The elevator doors open and Portia turns around to smile and wave goodbye. Cinna steps forward to walk next to her and loops his arm through hers as they exit the elevator.

Haymitch pushes 12 and rockets back up to the top. He takes the stairs to the roof and waits for Finnick in the garden.