She looked at him and nodded, but he could tell there was something she wanted to say as she dropped her shirt once more. "What is it sweetheart?"
She shook her head before answering him quietly. "Nothing important, just being vain." He raised his eyebrows at her, a wordless gesture to continue, and she fidgeted. When he continued looking at her expectantly, she reluctantly continued. "I've just never thought of myself as being attractive, never really cared. Looks don't catch fresh meat, you know? So hearing it is strange. I guess I don't really believe it."
His eyebrows rose even more, and he couldn't help the disbelieving chuckle that escaped him. "You honestly don't believe me?"
Her answer was blunt and to the point, and he couldn't help but be struck by the similarities between the two of them. "Not really, no."
As she was still seated on his knees, having never left his lap when they awoke, only shifting farther back on his legs, it was simple to move her. Leaning back slightly, he looped one arm around her waist and pulled her back against him until his erection was unmistakable beneath her. Her cheeks burned red once more, and he couldn't help but chuckle, suppressing a groan as it jostled her against him. "Believe me yet sweetheart?"
She seemed to recover quickly, though, and laughed at him. "I believe you Haymitch. I promise." He couldn't quite believe his ears when she giggled - actually giggled - at him.
He growled once more before tapping her hip with his hand. "Now off, before there's only one way to fix this." He couldn't quite believe what he had said and done in the last ten minutes, and couldn't help but blush slightly, thinking of how forward he'd been with her.
He couldn't figure out why she was grinning in such a sly way, until she obeyed him and got off his lap, rolling her little butt against him in a manner that was obviously deliberate. This time he did groan, and there was nothing he could do to keep it from escaping, making him blush crimson when it did.
She laughed again before sobering slightly, kneeling on the couch briefly, and cupping the side of his face with her hand, looking him in the eye. "Thank you, Haymitch. I needed that." She smiled at him once more, a warm, genuine smile, and was gone. Wearily, he got up from the couch and made his way to the bathroom, far beyond the help of even the coldest shower.
It was as she was dressing for breakfast that a knock came at her door. "Just a moment," she said loudly, buttoning her shirt. After she was finished dressing, she went to the door and opened it, slightly surprised to find Haymitch in front of her. She stepped aside, letting him in. She was pretty sure she knew what he was going to say.
"I just wanted to apologize for how I behaved earlier. It was inappropriate and I wasn't thinking straight." He looked truly ashamed, and she felt bad for him.
She walked up to him and hugged him. "I'm not upset with you Haymitch, don't worry. I'm actually glad for it."
He looked at her incredulously. "And why exactly would you be happy about me coming on to you?"
"Because you're never that open with anyone, and it means a lot to me when you let your guard down for me." Her words were completely sincere, and for a moment he forgot to breathe. Her words were completely true, of course. He never let his guard down around anyone but her. But to have such kindness given to him was strange.
"Well, while I'm being this open, I want you to know something." She looked at him, seeming slightly nervous, and he wondered briefly if she'd figured him out. She'd caught him with his walls down, and he couldn't seem to get them back up properly. He didn't quite know how to say what he wanted to, because he normally never let such things pass his lips. "You aren't just sex appeal Katniss," he said finally. "You're a beautiful woman."
She smiled widely at him, and pulled him back to her for another tight hug. "Thank you Haymitch. I know it's hard for you to be so open, and it means a lot to me." He nodded silently, not sure what to say, and pulled back slowly. He had just turned for the door when her hand caught his wrist, and he turned back to her. "Are we still staying together?"
He couldn't help the shocked expression that crossed his face. "You still want to?" He asked in surprise.
"Of course Haymitch. Knowing you want me doesn't bother me; I know you wouldn't ever hurt me."
He shuddered at the mental image. "God no, Katniss, that didn't even cross my mind. I thought it would disgust you."
She laughed again, and it made some of the tension in his body fade. "No, Haymitch, not at all. Actually you're..." it was her turn to blush once more, and her eyes trailed down his body and back up once more. She opened her mouth and tried again. "You're a good looking man, Haymitch. Truly."
He couldn't help grinning at her, happy that she wasn't upset with him. "Well thanks, sweetheart. Even if I do think you might need your eyes checked." She laughed with him this time.
"Well if that's the case, I'll keep them how they are," she said amidst chuckles. "Time for breakfast Haymitch?" She asked a minute later, after their laughter had subsided.
