Prompt: Hey after seeing this gifset from the MJ Premiere with Woody and Liz being cute af and how he helped her up the stairs and all that jazz, could you write a chapter for HADS out of it with Haymitch and Effie being in these roles at a party or something? It would be the death of me.

Red Carpet

"I want to go home." Haymitch complained in what was unmistakably a whine.

If Effie hadn't been so busy smiling and waving at the crowd, she would have cringed. Red carpets weren't Haymitch's thing, she knew that, but red carpets were necessary. Being seen was part of the Games and if they wanted sponsors…

Red carpets were tedious affairs. Stepping out of the slick black limo was the easy part, then there was greeting the journalists and then signing autographs and taking pictures, waving and smiling at the crowd for endless minutes while waiting for the other celebrities to arrive…

"Behave." she hissed. "Smile."

"Or what?" he grumbled, shuffling his feet as a staff attendant signaled them to wait for their turn to approach the crowd. Ten's team was touring the square for now, dealing with the fans.

It was cold. That was another part of red carpets she didn't particularly enjoy: staying outside for a long period of time in the wind in a dress that was lacy, light and short wasn't exactly pleasant.

"Or you won't get anything out of me tonight." she warned.

"Who says I want anything from you?" he scoffed before rolling his eyes. "Want my jacket? Your teeth are chattering so hard it's giving me a headache." She was actually tempted to accept but she refused with a shake of her head. His jacket would ruin her outfit. It made him chuckle. "Suit yourself. Don't come complaining tomorrow when you've got a running nose."

"See, that is your problem." she declared. "You act like a gentleman and then your ruin it with inane comments."

The man from the staff signaled them they could approach the crowd and they moved as one without even thinking about it. His hand automatically rested at the small of her back as they neared their fans.

"I play nice, what do I get?" he whispered in her ear before they reached the people herded behind the safety barriers.

"Play nice and find out." she challenged, sauntering away with a bright smile but not without letting her hand trail down his arm.

Signing papers and taking pictures, exchanging with the fans might be one of her favorite things. She loved being told those people loved her, she loved being told she was their favorite escort or that she was the most beautiful woman in Panem – which made Haymitch laugh and prompted a bickering match that delighted everyone in hearing range.

Eventually they reached the end of the carpet and Effie winced at the sight of the stairs they would have to climb.

"Could always take off your heels." he taunted, hopping the first three steps just to spite her.

"You think you are a funny man, Haymitch, but you are truly not." she snapped, jutting her chin high in the air and keeping her smile firmly on. Her eyes were glaring at him though.

She wasn't as quick as he had been to tackle those stairs. The steps were steep, her heels were high and her dress short. She didn't intend to be the girl who fell down the stairs for every talk show to mock the rest of the year – and there was one every season. He kept taunting her for a few more steps and then he grew bored of that game – or, more likely, he remembered she had promised him some fun if he behaved – either way, she was glad for the hand that suddenly appeared in front of her and she grabbed it eagerly.

With his help, they reached the top twice as fast as she would have by herself. They turned once at the summit to pose for the mandatory picture, trying to follow the directions of the photographers who all shouted for their attention.

"I hate this." he grumbled, as one of them requested a hug.

"Humor them." She swallowed back a sigh and wrapped her arms around his waist, smiling for the numerous flashes.

"I humored them." he retorted. "You better be real nice to me later, sweetheart."

"There is still a party to go through, Haymitch." she reminded him, as they were finally freed from the red carpet and allowed inside. "Don't drink too much, talk to a few sponsors with me, and we will see."

He waited until they were inside the building, in the hall leading to the party, out of sight, to shamefully grope her. "You're lucky that dress is actually hot."

"Naturally." she chuckled, batting his hand away. "I am lucky to be willing to sleep with you."

If he perceived her irony, he didn't let on.