Their tributes had died, as they tended to do but this time Effie just couldn't let it go, it was his fault they were dead, she had tried, tried so hard to keep them alive and she was angry, she had kicked up a storm "This is your fault Haymitch, you didn't mentor them they had a chance." She yelled standing up in anger "They didn't! They never fucking have a chance, you just can't get it through that thick skull of yours." He yelled standing too so he was on her level "You never do anything, they were promising this year Haymitch, I did everything I could Haymitch, I was killing myself trying to get them sponsors and you did nothing." She shouted in frustration "No one asked you to did it Princess, ain't my fault you're a prostitute." He said bitterly, that was a low blow she thought but she was so angry she didn't care. "Honestly Haymitch, you say there is no point, but how can their be when you won by pure luck!" She yelled and as soon as it had left her lips she knew she shouldn't have said it.
He had grabbed her by the throat, too quick for her to fight him off, you didn't anger a victor, unless you wanted to get killed. She stared him in the eyes trying to look like she was fine, but she was terrified, in truth she was going to a scary place, he knew what this would do to her, he knew it was a weakness because she had came home only three nights ago with a red handprint on her throat after a meeting with a sponsor, he didn't care though, how dare she bring up his games? She pushed against him she couldn't breathe and it wasn't because of his hand, she could feel the sponsor on top of her it wasn't him anymore and when he wouldn't let go she looked at him with a mixture of fear and pleading, she just wanted him to let go so she could run to her room, cry then pretend nothing was wrong.
But he didn't let go "You never fucking talk about my games, got it Trinket?" He said, he didn't sound like him himself he sounded like a man that she should be afraid of, and she was so she shook her head frantically "I won't." She whispered and he let go of her throat letting her collapse on the floor not even looking back before storming out.
Haymitch went down to have a drink with Chaff, and gradually the shame of what he had just done began to set in. "What's up with you?" He asked noticing something was off "Fought with Trinket." He said downing his drink "Oh please, what did you do? Tell her she was a brat." Haymitch would never have a serious fight with Effie, or so he thought. "I choked her, well not really, I grabbed her throat." He said with a sigh "It can't be that bad."
"It was, she said I was lucky to win my games and I snapped and just grabbed her throat." He said feeling guilty "What's so bad about that? Long as you didn't squeeze." Chaff said not caring much for the escort "Look you can't tell anyone this… she came home a few nights ago with a busted lip and a handprint round her neck, she'd been "entertaining" a game maker, and I know what the capitol is like, I know he raped her, and I just wrapped my hand around her throat when I knew it would trigger her." He said and he put his head on the table in defeat "Fuck, that's bad, do you think she'll forgive you?" He asked "I don't know."
They drank themselves into oblivion that night and they were put in the drunk tank, Effie was called, like always to come and get him she had dragged herself off of the floor removed her messed up makeup and pulled her blonde curls back into a ponytail, she had already removed her corset and didn't feel like putting it back on so she slipped into a short black skirt with a black turtleneck and heels. She marched down to the drunk tank, eyes red and from crying but despite her more casual appearance she still looked presentable. "Hello, I'm here for my victor, and if his friend from 11 is here I'll take him too." She said to the peacekeeper "Sure you want to take them love? They're pretty messed up, you can leave them here to sober up for a few more hours." He said and she sighed "unfortunately I'll take them now." She said and he gave her a sympathetic smile, the peacekeepers had grown fond of her and had started to feel sorry for her due to the amount of times she'd had to take him home. "I'm really not supposed do this love but I feel bad for you been stuck with those two, do you need a hand getting them upstairs?" He asked and he could see her eyes light up with gratitude "That would be amazing if you could." And so the man helped her upstairs with the two victors then returned to his post, Effie was still left to get Haymitch into bed, tucking him in them kissing his cheek, she had regretted what she said earlier "I'm sorry." She whispered into the darkness then left falling into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning Haymitch got up to see Effie was already awake and dressed "Princess." He said from behind her and she jumped "Haymitch, you startled me." She said softly and he came to sit down beside her, I'm sorry for last night princess." He said holding out his hand "So am I." She said taking it "I'll never do anything like that again I promise Effie, I know you were…" she cut him off "I wasn't." She lied, as if there was something to be ashamed of "Effie lying about it doesn't change the fact it happened." He said and she looked away "I'm sorry about what I said, I never should have brought up your games, I know that's why you got so mad." She said, he didn't like people bringing up his games or how he won "My win was anything but lucky Effie, my family and my girl were killed." He said and she felt bad for even bringing it up she knew his family was a touchy subject and his first love, she knew she shouldn't resent a dead girl, but she was the reason Haymitch would never love her. "So are we okay?" Haymitch said awkwardly and Effie lay her head on his shoulder, kissing his cheek "Yes we're okay."