Prompt: I love the dynamic you write between Effie and her parents and how she usually uses the friends with benefits thing/sex with aymitch for comfort afterwards! I was wondering if you could do something where they're a bit more established and she goes to him actually showing that she's upset?

Kiss It Better

Haymitch made the whiskey twirl in his glass, watching the amber liquid changing hues in the sunlight.

The penthouse was silent and he was bored to death. He had no idea where Effie was, she had been gone when he had gotten up and since Twelve was already out of the Games, chances were he wouldn't be needed until later that night when his escort would insist on dragging him to whatever party they were supposed to attend.

It was a little after noon and he had just woken up. He hadn't slept well at all the previous night. He had woken up twice drenched in cold sweat and had tried to drink the memories of the nightmare away. All he had to boost for it now was a huge hangover and a weariness that went down to his bones. He figured it would help if he could find the strength to order some actual food from the Avoxes. Whiskey was all well and good but he couldn't live on that alone unfortunately.

Or maybe he could go to the mentor lounge and find someone to have lunch with. Eleven's boy was still alive so that ruled Chaff out but there might be another bored lonely victor around… He dismissed the idea as soon as it arose. He had a small headache and he wasn't up for conversation, not with someone who didn't know him inside and out and would require him to actually do more than grunt his answers anyway.

All in all, he was glad the elevator chimed in the surrounding silence.

"That's you, sweetheart?" he called out, more hopeful than was probably necessary. He really needed to get a hold on that. Sex was all well and good as long as it didn't develop into something more. And while Chaff and Finnick might have been having a field day mocking him about having feelings… He was uncomfortable looking too closely at the whole thing. When Effie Trinket was concerned, he denied everything. It was safer.

The clicking of heels answered his question. Effie strutted in the living-room in a horrible ball of blue and purple fabric that immediately prompted him to make a face. Her wig was styled in an intricate equally puffy mess of braids and she was wearing so much make-up she looked as if she had fallen in a can of paint.

He opened his mouth to comment on her ugly appearance and promptly closed it again when he noticed her pursed lips and the dejected look on her face. It was hard to tell under the make-up but he could see it. Besides, her steps were lacking their usual spring.

"You truly need to stop wandering around like this." she commented flatly, giving him a once over. "It is unhygienic, not to mention improper."

He rolled his eyes. It wasn't like anyone cared. Avoxes knew to make themselves scarce in his presence and she was the only one who would come and go from and to the penthouse at random so… Really, who cared if he walked around naked? He slept in the nude and he didn't always remember to get dressed before leaving his room. So what? He lived alone for practically ten to eleven months a year, a little less if he got roped into visiting the city for the duration of the Tour… Nobody was ever around to complain in Twelve. And it wasn't like she had any reason to protest when they shared an apartment.

It wasn't the first time they had that particular argument either but there was something to the flatness of her tone that prevented him from pursuing that familiar line of banter.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Because something was clearly wrong. She usually got a lot more angry when she caught his naked ass on the leather of the living-room's couch.

She tossed her purse on an armchair without the poise or the care she always showed. She was avoiding his inquisitive gaze but he didn't need to meet her eyes to realize they were shiny.

He frowned, placing the glass of whiskey on the couch's armrest to give the situation his whole attention. "You're upset. What happened?"

She looked up in surprise, clearly not having expected the protective growl in his voice. He could have kicked himself in the ass for being so transparent. He was slipping. He could feel himself slipping. And he couldn't allow that to happen. He couldn't… The clever thing would have been to make some sort of mocking remark and flee.

But he couldn't.

Not when she looked that bad.

"Nothing, really." she sighed, snatching the glass from the armrest and downing its content with a small face of disgust. "This is awful. I will never understand why you insist on drinking it."

"And yet you keep stealing my booze." he snorted, coiling his fingers around her wrist, above the numerous silver bangles, and giving a little tug. "Right before lunch too. Not like you." She didn't even try to resist the pull. She just flopped on his lap, looking entirely miserable as she stared at the bottom of the empty glass. He plucked it from her hand. "What's up? Aside from the obvious…"

Her pursed lips turned into a small pout of amusement that didn't survive for very long. "That innuendo would have been much more effective if you had actually been hard."

"Just wriggle a little. That should take care of things." he winked.

She snorted and leaned against his chest, resting her head on his shoulder. She reeked of that expensive pungent perfume he hated. He liked her sweeter ones much better. He knew that perfume though. It was the one bottle she had told him he couldn't touch upon pain of death – and she had been serious too. It was rare, didn't come cheap and it was reserved for big occasions… Or meetings with her mother.

It wasn't really hard to put two and two together after that.

"What did the harpy say now?" he sighed. For a woman he had never met, Elindra Trinket had a gift for hitting on his last nerve. Every time she was mentioned, Effie seemed to shrink on herself.

"Which one?" she asked, distractedly playing with the silver bangles around her wrists.

"You tell me." he prompted, poking her in the side.

She batted his finger away but didn't protest when he encircled her waist with his arms.

"I did not have the best morning." she admitted. "I had brunch with my mother and then we bumped into Viola. It was not exactly a pleasant combination."

"I bet." he scowled, tightening his hold on her. She completely relaxed against him and he was torn between feeling panicked about the casual cuddling and being happy she just seemed to feel better.

"I thought you would offer to kiss my bruised ego better…" she hummed after a few minutes of silence.

There was a familiar playful edge to her voice and he smirked despite himself. That was one of the things he loved about Effie, she never stayed gloomy for long, she always strived to feel as cheerful as she could and while it often frustrated him, he also could recognize it for the show of strength it was – and he didn't love love it, of course, it was just… something he liked.

"It's probably a good thing you've got a big one… Can't be hurt too much." he teased.

"Are you implying I am arrogant?" she huffed but it was more for show than because of true irritation.

"Not implying anything." he retorted, earning himself a slap on the chest that stung a lot more because of the absence of fabric. Her fingers lingered in a caress. "See, now you're not complaining about me already being naked…"

"I still maintain you parade around naked in the misguided hope I won't be able to help myself and that I will jump on you." she accused.

"Not my fault you've got no self-control." he shrugged, his fingers running on her back in search of the zipper that would get her rid of this monstrosity she called a dress. "So… Where should I kiss you to make that bruised ego better, sweetheart?"

She guided his hand to her right side where he could feel the neat line of little buttons under his fingertips. That wouldn't do. Too long. He would have to rip the dress off once she would be distracted enough. Good riddance as far as he was concerned.

"Between my legs, I would say." she nodded very seriously.

"Really?" he chuckled, pressing his lips against her throat. "You're sure that's where your ego is?"

"Well, that is where I am throbbing for you…" she grinned.

He pushed her on the couch and spread her legs wide, forgetting all about getting that puffy dress off her. All in good times.

She laughed when he grumbled about panties being in the way but she didn't try to stop him when he tore them in two.

"Now…" he breathed against her inner thigh. "Let's kiss it all better, yeah?"