Prompt: Hi sorry to bother again , would you do the fic What Haymitch goes every morning to a bad cafeteria just because he likes to look at waitress blonde with blue eyes? you would do ?

One Of Those Days

Finnick dropped on the empty seat next to him with affected nonchalance and Haymitch rolled his eyes at his exuberance. He shifted closer to the dinner's window, the frayed leather of the booth seat creaking under him.

He glared at Johanna who was sitting across the table. "Don't even try to make that joke."

The young woman traced a line in front of her mouth, miming a zip being shut but her eyes kept sparkling in mischief.

"Why are we here again?" Finnick sighed as a hello, glancing over the – admittedly decrepit – dinner. "You know there are places with actual good food in this town, right?"

"I've got a feeling we're not here for the food." Chaff snorted, his gaze a little too knowing. And too amused.

Haymitch grumbled and strained his neck to get a glimpse of the counter behind Finnick. It only took him a second to catch the waitress' eyes. Very blue eyes. Very appealing. Just like the woman who owned them.

Too bad she was such a harpy.

Still, he couldn't stop himself from tracking her progress as she walked from behind the counter. The uniform was probably as old as the dinner itself, a faded yellow dress with a ridiculous white apron that was really short. Not that he was complaining. Her legs went on forever. Literally forever. Usually, by the time he was done letting his gaze slide down them to see what pair of flimsy heels she had on that day – she always managed to find more and more ridiculous shoes – he had been conspicuous enough that she was already staring back at him with an eyebrow lifted to let him know she had caught him. Being caught was half the fun. She clearly didn't mind.

"Are you ready to order?" she asked with her brightest smile, directing her question to the table at large and very much ignoring him.

"Yeah, but in some place where I won't get sick for two days because of the food." Johanna snickered, elbowing Chaff. "You reckon it's actual rat in their soup? Cause it's worse than MREs and that's saying something."

Haymitch didn't like being reminded of their days in the army and he cleared his throat, bringing the waitress' attention on him. "Same as usual."

The bright polite smile got a small edge to it. "No surprise there. Will you ever step outside of the your comfort zone, Haymitch?"

He had once, when he had joined the army, and all he had to show for his troubles was a dead family and nightmares that kept him awake at night.

"So you're saying I should try the rat?" he mocked.

She pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side, eyes narrowed in irritation.

Fuck but that infuriated look was hot.

Finnick was now grinning like the cat who got the cream. "How are you today, Effie?"

She immediately softened when she turned to address the young man. It had only taken Finnick one visit to the dinner to charm her. Not that it was surprising. Finnick Odair could charm the pants off anybody.

"Very well." she smiled. "And yourself?"

"Always good when I see you." the boy replied smoothly with one of those looks that had women giggling over three continents.

And, sure enough, Effie blushed and chuckled, looking down at her notepad.

"You're being rude, boy." Chaff joked, going on despite Haymitch's glaring. "You don't flirt with a buddy's girl. Not done."

"Chaff." Haymitch growled.

"Haymitch." his best friend answered, mirth in his tone.

"Shut up." he snapped.

Chaff mimed an insolent salute.

Effie didn't look pleased. She crossed her arms in front of her chest in a position that Haymitch had learned weeks ago meant trouble – serious trouble, not the arguing that could pass as foreplay. "What have you been telling your friends, Haymitch?"

"Nothing." he denied immediately because it was the truth.

Not that there was a lot to tell anyway.

So what if he came in there twice or three times a week just because he enjoyed fighting with her over a cup of awful coffee.

"I certainly hope so." she hissed. "Because whatever fantasy you are entertaining…"

Jo rolled her eyes, resting her head on her hand, looking bored. "You're telling me he hasn't fucked you yet?"

Effie's ire switched targets really fast. "You should mind your language. A lady should never swear."

"I look like a lady to you?" Johanna sneered, drumming the fingers of her free hand on the edge of the table. "Can we get a move on already? I came 'cause I was promised booze and fun."

"Come on, Jo…" Finnick chuckled. "We're trying to help Haymitch out here. The sooner he gets over himself and asks Effie out, the quicker we get back to eating in dinners that serve food that hasn't expired two months ago."

Despite everything, Haymitch couldn't help but notice Effie didn't rush to defend the food quality.

"Just shut your mouth, the lot of you." he grumbled, fishing his flask out of the pocket of his jacket. He took a healthy gulp and almost regretted it when he caught sight of the waitress' disappointed pout. He may have said that he would try to cut down a little last time. He rolled his eyes, embarrassed for no good reason. "Sorry about that, sweetheart. Look, just bring the usual, yeah?"

She hesitated a second and then nodded, scribbling down the order on her notepad before leaving.

The others laughed it off and soon the conversation moved on but Haymitch couldn't stop himself from glancing at her from time to time, watching her attend to other customers.

The woman was a mystery and he had never been able to resist a good mystery. How did a girl like her ended up in a place like this? She was fascinating. And very good at eluding questions. Almost as good as he was.

The food was disgusting and they barely touched it, in a hurry to move on to the bar down the street. Finnick was in the middle of a story about Annie and Haymitch waved the group off, silently telling them to go ahead while he took care of the bill. He left a generous tip – as always.

He had caught her approach in the corner of his eye so he wasn't surprised when she leaned against the booth to his left.

"You could, you know." she hummed almost distractedly, as if taken up a conversation that had just gotten interrupted. "Ask me out."

"I don't do dates." he shrugged.

"What do you do, then?" she asked, amusement clear in her voice.

"One-night-stands?" he snorted, looking up at her with a challenging smirk. "Somehow, I'm sensing that's not your scene."

Her grin was equally challenging and when she walked away, it was with an accentuated sway of her hips. "You might be surprised."

He watched her leave and then exited the dinner, shaking his head.

One of those days, he was going to cave and make the first move.

One of those days.