Patchwork

by Fanfic Allergy

A series of short unrelated ficlets based on a theme set with 50 prompts. In this is everything from side stories to our major fics, to soulmates, to alternate retellings, to character studies. Each chapter is complete and separate. The chapter listing will tell you which characters are featured. Parings are indicated by an "and" symbol.

30. Sharpest Sting (Haymitch, Hazelle)

Disclaimer: The Hunger Games Trilogy is property of Suzanne Collins. This is a parody fanwork by fans for fans. No money was made off of the creation of this fanwork.

Sharpest Sting
by FanficAllergy & RoseFyre

oOo

Theme: 25: Honeybee
Words: 219
Summary: Haymitch has felt her sting many times. But none is more painful than the last.

oOo

He used to call her honeybee. Because even though she flitted from boy to boy, you had to be careful of her tongue: her sting. Hazelle knew just the right thing to say to cause the greatest harm or embarrassment. And she used it to great effect on those she felt deserved her wrath.

Haymitch knew that sting well. He'd felt it many times; the price he paid for dating her younger sister, Myrtle.

Myrtle was everything Hazelle was not. Sweet. Delicate. Demure. Why she condescended to date him, Haymitch never knew. But he thanked his lucky stars every minute of every day that he had with her.

Until his luck ran out.

The fire haunts him. Still. Always. The flames engulfing the building, turning into a towering inferno. The sound of wood collapsing into dust. The scent of burning wood and burning flesh with just a hint of rose. A message.

A warning.

At the funeral, he feels the honeybee's sting once again. The sharp crack. The palm against his cheek.

And the words.

"You killed her!"

He doesn't try to deny it.

"You should have died in the Games."

He doesn't deny that either.

That night, he buys his first bottle of white liquor. It tastes like death burning down his throat. He welcomes it.

oOo

AN:
Written: 3/6/18
Revised: 3/12/18

More randomization!

The tense change was intentional - from past to present.

Hazelle has very little personality in canon. We know she exists, Katniss respects her, and she picked herself up and kept working after her husband died. That's...about it. And Gale has to get his personality from someone.

You can get more information about our original writing here:

Website: RoseLarkPublishing

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