"Do I even want to see the tabloids?" Effie asked Haymitch, sitting down next to her, sighing with exasperation.
"Honey, you never want to see the tabloids." Haymitch said, taking another swig of his cup. Effie bit her lip, Haymitch never drinks this early unless something was bothering him. She decided not to push the subject, concluding it was about Darcy one way or another.
"Darcy Taylor, Blood Masks and Bruises- The New Trend." Johanna threw the paper at Haymitch. He groaned with annoyance.
"These Capitol columnists can kiss my ass." Haymitch commented as he threw the paper on the ground, coating it with the remains of his cup.
"If only you could do that to the other thousands of copies that were handed out today." Effie remarked, enraged.
"TayLord- Princess of District 12!" Johanna exclaimed, pulling out once another magazine with Darcy on the cover. "Miss Taylor, a Misstery?" Johanna continued, earning groans from the other victors. "Darcy Taylor, The Girl Who Cried and cried and cried."
"Yeah I just read that article." Cato said closing the door behind him. "How is she?"
"Critical condition. I don't know how longer she can last, she's a magnet to bruises and trouble." Haymitch answered.
"So what are you going to do with her interview tomorrow?" Cato asked, hoping that the subject of her interview with Caesar Flickerman wasn't forgotten. Much to his dismay, it was.
Effie cursed, "I completely forgot! This is going to be a disaster! Darcy is a walking travesty."
"Where is she?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"In her room." Johanna replied, flipping through a nearby magazine.
"Could you go check on her?" Effie asked politely, knowing what her answer would be.
"Fine." she obliged, making her way to Darcy's room.
"Knock, knock." she said once she opened the door.
"You're very intruding, you know?" Darcy told her.
"Trust me hun, I know." Johanna remarked, "Could you put that out? Haymitch could probably smell it from the lounge, thinking you started a fire."
"He's too drunk to notice." Darcy said, but put out her cigarette. Johanna let out a small laugh, "That's probably true, but Effie has a very on point nose."
"Just like everyone else in the Captiol, sticking their pointy noses in other people's business." Darcy stated, making Johanna laugh.
"Well you seem to be in a good mood, want to join us out in the lounge?" she inquired.
"And who would want that?" she laughed, lighting up another cigarette.
"True, true. I just think they'd want to see how you're doing, instead of making me do checkups. Seriously, I'm not your baby sitter." she laughed.
"Fine. But if Cato's there," she trailed off, knowing Johanna got the picture.
"Tell that to someone who cares." Johanna turned around, a smirk playing on her lips, excited to see Darcy's reaction to an uninvited Cato.
"Darcy! Darling, how have you been?" Effie bombarded, grabbing Darcy into a hug.
"Well I have eight stitches on my face, how do you think I've been?" sarcasm lacing her tongue.
"Princess, I don't even think Cinna can fix that up." Haymitch pointed towards her face.
"Obviously you're not a. a stylist, or b. a girl. Have you ever heard of foundation? Tinted moisturizer? Powder? Concealer?" Darcy listed, counting each product off with a single finger.
"Sometimes I regret having you victor." Haymitch said, annoyed with both her tone and attitude.
"Well because I am victor, I would like you to get the hell out of my penthouse." Darcy demanded, her piercing blue eyes meeting Cato's icy ones.
"Being a Victor doesn't mean you have the right to kick someone out of a penthouse-" he started.
"I think I do. Now either get the hell out or suffer the consequences." she threatened.
Effie, Johanna, and Haymitch watched their banter.
"Hey, hey! Save the cat fight for the litter box." Finnick interrupted.
"Where's Annie?" Johanna asked. Finnick and Annie are always tied at the hip. Always.
"She's too scared to come back here ever since they found a body in Darcy's room. How are you?" Finnick asked, giving Darcy a hug.
"I was so perfect until, well until this happened." venom dripped from her fangs as she bit Cato's pride.
"I'm so sick of your-" Cato started, once again to be interrupted by Darcy.
"Oh I'm sorry, are you upset? Are you upset because I'm not crawling at your feet? Are you upset District 2? Are you going to go cry to President Snow that innocent, little Darcy Taylor is being mean?" Darcy taunted. Cato let out a huff before he replied, "District 12 trying to be all big and mighty. It's quite funny how you're presumed as so innocent-"
"Finnick would know so much about masks, now wouldn't he?" Darcy turned her attention towards Finnick.
"Yep, I'm all yours. Costumes and all, I can hook you up." he laughed.
"You look like a horse when you laugh down your nose like that." she insulted.
Finnick turned away, hurt by her comment.
In the corner, Johanna was doubled over in laughter, her choppy brown hair covering her face.
"Darcy, you don't have to be so rude-"
"Why? Cause it's not polite? Cause it's not ladylike? Well I don't think dry humping District 11's escort is very polite nor ladylike." she sneered.
Effie blushed in embarrassment and decided to keep silent for the rest of the evening. She ignored the gaped mouths and stares of the surrounding victors.
"I'm not blind sweetie, I have eyes. And I spy with my little eyes a poor little girl throwing herself at every guy that walks by." she insulted once again, causing tears to fall from her ghostly white skin.
"I'm going for a walk. I wouldn't follow me if I were you. Wouldn't want anyone to get lost." Darcy spoke up, closing the bright red door from behind her. She pulled out a cigarette to light up.
Once she took a step outside, she breathed in the smoke and exhaled everything else.
Back in the penthouse, there was tension among the victors once Effie had left for her room, bawling.
To lighten the mood, Johanna grabbed Haymitch's hand pulling both of their ligaments over their heads then proceeded to sing We Are The Champions.
"What?" Finnick laughed. Fake, obviously.
"Haymitch and I are the only ones who weren't insulted. That is a victory. Then again, baby victor wouldn't dare say anything to me." Johanna hummed.
"Lucky you." Cato scowled. "You know what? I'm sick of her. All she does is insult me."
"Then fight back you wimp." Johanna giggled.
Cato sighed, it wasn't that simple. It wasn't simple at all. Cato liked to assume that this was just an act or her way of coping, but deep down inside, he knew it wasn't. This was Darcy defending herself. She has got so much love in her heart. But the thought of letting it out, showing her cards, scares her to death.
Just like Johanna.
Cato smiled to himself.
Johanna and Finnick were family. They trusted each other, loved each other. Finnick was Johanna's way of coping, helping her and guiding her. They helped each other until Annie came along. Finnick did the same for her. Haymitch had no one so he turned to alcohol.
All Darcy needs is someone, and Cato smiled at the thought.
He could save Darcy, he be her hero.
But Darcy wasn't a damsel in distress.
She was a goner.
