Warning: These one-shots feature heavy subjects, including alcoholism, drug abuse, and torture... so far. Now adding: depression, cheating, heartbreak and underage. I'll add more as the story wears on, just in case.
Disclaimer: Credit goes to HannahSongla for the story idea. Please go check out her Hayniss story similar to this - Sweetheart. Credit goes to Suzanne Collins for the verse and the characters. I don't really own anything but the text of these one-shots. And no, that doesn't mean the song lyrics or the playlist. Enjoy c:
AN: I don't know why this song made me think of Katniss in the 2nd Quell, and I don't know why it turned out the way it did. But for some reason, I couldn't capture the angst of what it would have been like. So... just a warning, it's a comedy... kind of.
Song: Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons
Bleeding Out
Oh you told me to hold on
But innocence is gone
And what was right is wrong
The reaping the Second Quarter Quell approaches much too quickly for Katniss Everdeen. One moment she's filling out the forms for that years birthday certificate - another slip put in a bowl, a small slip of paper confirming her age, and a small bar of chocolate that she gave to her sister - and the next she's helping her sister into a dress that Mr. Hawthorne had sewn for her. This year it was twice the number of tributes, meaning twice the number of potential threats. Twice the possibility of her older brother, Oak, being reaped and twice the possibilities of her little sister, Primrose being reaped. Those were the only two - besides all her brother's and her sister's friends, but she only extended her prayers to them - that she actually worried herself over. To hell with her being reaped - Katniss has long since accepted that fact one day, it may come down to her - whether it's Katniss that's reaped or she has to volunteer for Prim. And she's prepared to jump in front of a thousand bullets to protect those she loves.
Not that it matters really, her very rebellious father was adamant that none of them take tesserae, no matter what happens. They could be nibbling on their last slice of bread and he would refuse any of his children offering to go and retrieve tesserae. Not completely because he fears their name being put into the bowl more and increasing their chances of getting chosen, but mostly because he insists that's what the Capitol wants for them to do. For the poor to go crawling to the Justice Building when they haven't eaten - to feel empowered by their poverty. And her father will have none of it - he refuses to follow the systems laws, even though he only breaks the ones everyone can overlook for the sake of his family.
On the morning of the reaping, while Katniss is braiding her sister's hair and her mother is ironing her dress, Oak's best friend - not to mention what seemed to be Panem's biggest flirt - shows up with his throwing knives strapped tightly to his belt and a deer slain on the dirt beside him. Haymitch Abernathy was one of the few in a small group of poachers - the Abernathy family only recently joining the Hawthorne's and the Everdeen's because his father died in a mine explosion when he was sixteen and somebody had to pay the bills. The eighteen-year-old had taken over the role of sole provider to his fifteen-year-old brother Ashton and his widowed mother, one day when he was seventeen, following his best friend under the fence and never looking back. Mr. Everdeen had been more than happy to take the estranged boy under his wing, and after a year of hunting, Haymitch was almost as good as Oak and even Katniss at hunting.
"Morning, Oaf," Haymitch greets Oak, before waving hello to Prim who waves shyly back. Oak - who had opened the door - rolls his eyes. Haymitch had a real soft spot for kids, even though he would never openly admit it. "Rari and I went hunting last night 'cause we couldn't sleep and we picked off two deer. You want it?" Oak nods and steps aside, helping Haymitch lift the dear and carry it into the kitchen without questions. Although Katniss wonders how the hell they found a deer, and why they were hunting in the middle of the night, she too bites her tongue. In the Seam, you don't ask questions when someone offers food.
"Looks like you pulled a good line," Katniss notes, staring at the squirrels and rabbits on his belt that hang from the hilts of his knives. She leaves Prim and helps Haymitch and Oak get the deer on the table. Immediately her mother rises and sets to the job of getting it skinned, cleaned, and put on ice before it can spoil. Katniss can hear her sister's sudden sniveling as her mother whips out a knife - every time Primrose saw a dead animal, she freaked out. But when they actually started cleaning it to make it something edible, she absolutely bawled. Part of the reason she was vegan - which Katniss thought was stupid, considering they just didn't have the money for her little sister to be picky.
"I don't even know how we found these deer, sweetheart. They were wandering around in the woods like they were looking for somethin'," Haymitch shrugs, shoving his hands in his pocket. The sound of his half-endearment, half-sarcastic snip, makes her ears twitch. She hated to love that stupid nickname he'd given her. Katniss looks up to tell him off about it and notices a small brand running up his forearm - it seems to be a number. Squinting, Katniss realizes that the numbers '86400' are engraved into his arm. Immediately gears start spinning in her head - what did those numbers mean and why were the burned into his arm?
"What happened to you?" she asks, gesturing to the numbers. The brand itself seems swollen and aggravated - as if after it had been branded into him, he had continued touching it or playing with the skin. Haymitch shrugs again and yanks his sleeve down over it, covering the angry red mark. Maybe that's why it was irritated - he was covering it with the itchy fabric of his hunting outfit instead of letting it breathe. Oak eyes him curiously but says nothing.
"It's nothing," Haymitch says doggedly, shaking his head so that his dark bangs fall into his eyes. Katniss clucks her tongue, moving to stand next to him. Despite his efforts, she manages to yank the sleeve up and examine it further. Cautiously, she runs the pad of her index finger over it, feeling the swollen and throbbing skin under her finger. Haymitch hisses and snatches his arm away, glaring at her like she'd done a personal offense.
"It's going to get infected, that nothing," she says with a shrug. "You take it to Aster to get it checked out yet?" Oak's ears perk at the mention of Aster and Katniss internally laughs. Her brother had confessed his love to the apothecary's daughter three years prior, and they'd been one of the strongest young couples in the entire District. It wasn't just puppy love either - he was full on, head over heels in love with her, and she for him. Whenever anyone spoke of her, he swooned.
"Nah. But I will, darlin'. Always nice to know that a pretty girl cares about me," he drawls. Katniss rolls her eyes, not pressing him any further on the subject. If he was planning on doing anything with those numbers, she'd find out at a later date. The day of the Reaping was not a day to go around snooping in other people's business. Besides, it must be extremely important if Haymitch didn't tell Oak. Oak told her everything and had diarrhea of the mouth - if Haymitch had told him, then Oak would have definitely told her.
Haymitch sticks around for a few more minutes, teasing Oak, flirting mercilessly with Katniss and cooing over Prim. He doesn't accept payment for the venison from Mr. or Mrs. Everdeen, making his escape when they begin to offer him money. Debt was a big thing in the Seam - a sense of owing was almost worse than the sense of dread that accompanied the reaping. Katniss was almost positive that her father would find a way to repay Haymitch. But then again, she also had a feeling Haymitch didn't accept the money because he felt he owed one of the Everdeen's.
Katniss, Prim and Oak each head down to the reaping at different times. Oak runs to catch up with Haymitch and the Hawthorne boy, Rari. They usually have a sort of pre-reaping ceremony thing between them and the other girls their age. Katniss was never invited and she never asked to go. Prim demands to go walk with Ashton and Rari's little siblings Elvira and Priani. Like their older brothers, those kids were as thick as thieves and also like their older brother's, they usually got into trouble. But of course, Prim is allowed to go run and be with her friends. Katniss walks with her parents - not having friends her age and her brother's friends not having any siblings that she could walk or hang out with. She doesn't quite mind - her father and mother are like children, cracking dark humor jokes and teasing Katniss about Haymitch. It's almost like walking with kids her age.
Even though the siblings part, Primrose still finds Katniss - despite the fact she must stand with the twelve-year-olds - and clings to her desperately for comfort. Priani and Elvira aren't twelve yet, so they run off to their father to be with him and send their prayers to Rari. But Primrose clings to Katniss' hand and Katniss doesn't make her let go - her good reputation with the Peacekeepers allowing them to overlook the misstep. Hazelle, Rari's girl, hugs Prim and talks to her about idle things, attempting to take the girl's mind off the reaping. On stage, their escort Juel Bricatta teeters on stage in 12-inch heels and a dress so short that it shows off too much of her sickly orange skin. It's the usual ramble about the honor of the Games, about how years ago a few weak minded rebels attempting to ruin the system and blah blah blah. Katniss presses her hand over her sisters ears, not wanting Prim to hear the Capitol fed bullshit. Prim knew better, but she didn't want to take any chances when it came to her sister's innocence.
"And now, ladies first!" Juel calls, teetering to the female reaping ball and removing two slips with her claw-like nails. Throughout the crowd, there's a sharp intake of breath. Everyone is counting their lucky stars and gripping their rabbit's feet, praying desperately that their sisters, mothers, or - if they're a girl - they themselves are not reaped. Especially since the chances this year are doubled and there's so many in the crowd with too much tesserae.
"Maysilee Donner!" Juel announces, placing her hands over her eyes to look out into the crowd. Out of the eighteen's section steps a beautiful blonde, with fierce blue eyes that say she won't go down without a fight. Beside her, Hazelle whimpers and clutches Prim. Maysilee was one of the 'Sweetshop Twins', and the best friend to Aster. Everyone she met adored her, she had a heart of pure gold. And she always knew how to make everyone laugh. It would be a shame to see her go but - as awful as it sounds - it was better her than Prim or Katniss herself.
"Primrose Everdeen!" Shit. I spoke too soon. Katniss' eyes flutter closed at the sound of her sister's name, cursing hell and back for her terrible luck and timing. Oh bloody hell, of all the slips in that stupid bowl - of all the people Juel could have called, she picks the one 12-year-old girl with only one single slip in the entire damned thing. Prim doesn't say word, but her feet push her forward and she begins the walk up the stage just as Peacekeepers begin pushing through the twelve years in search of her. Gritting her teeth, Katniss hands Prim off to Hazelle and pushes into the aisle, waving her arms for attention. Everyone turns to look at her - everyone knows that Katniss isn't Prim, so why the hell was she in the aisle?
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" she calls, when the Peacekeepers go to seize her sister, who they've found with her face buried into Hazelle's stomach. "I volunteer." There's murmuring in the crowd as parents and reaping candidates alike speak amongst themselves, sending nervous glances to each other and then staring at Katniss as if she'd lost her damned mind. No one has ever volunteered in District 12 - no one. It's unspoken of - who would offer up their lives in favor of another? Who would dare make a statement like that for kicks? Why would anyone leave their families behind to run off and die?
"Katniss no!" Oak screams, pushing against the ropes at the eighteen-year section, his face red with anger and his grey eyes wide with shock. Katniss ignores him, taking a deep breath. She can hear her brother screaming for Rari - or Haymitch - to let him go, and Prim wailing and kicking in Hazelle's arms as she runs off to take the girl to her parents. Katniss squeezes her eyes shut against the tears and climbs the steps to the stage to stand next to Maysilee, who gives her a tiny smile and grabs her hand.
"Very well then! Name, my lovely?" Juel asks, tilting the microphone towards Katniss' mouth. She gapes like a fish for a moment, opening and closing her mouth before clearing her throat. Don't make yourself look like a fool. Don't let them think they've gotten the best of you.
"Katniss Everdeen," she says, finding Oak's weeping face in the crowd. Haymitch and Rari both are restricting him, their arms wrapped around his to keep him from murdering every Peacekeeper in the square. He gives a slight shake of his head, almost as if pleading for her not to do this. Katniss raises her eyebrow, asking, would you rather it be Prim? He doesn't get the message, just keeps shaking his head.
"Was that your sister? Oh, how cruel of you! Stealing the glory from under her nose! I must applaud, I must applaud," Juel cooes, pinching Katniss' cheeks. Katniss is tempted to punch her in the face, but a gentle squeeze from Maysilee's hand prevents her from doing so. She would save her murderous tendencies for the arena, then. Juel beams at Katniss and turns on her heel to face the crowd, smiling widely as if she'd just been given a brand new wig. "Now let's see that same spirit from the boys, yes? Oh, what an exciting day in District 12!"
Their escort grins at the cameras deliberately and teeters over to the reaping ball where she removes two slips. Katniss can only pray that Oak's name is not on one of them. Please not Oak Everdeen, please not Oak Everdeen, please not Oak Everdeen. Anyone in this entire square except Oak Everdeen.
"Haymitch Abernathy!" Katniss can't help it - she curses. Loudly. Juel glares at her, chiding her under her breath about how ladies shouldn't curse. Katniss ignores her, finding Haymitch's eyes. He nods slightly to her and releases her brother, before stepping into the aisle. As soon as the cameras are on him, Haymitch cracks a smile and laughs - no, he actually laughs - and saunters up the stage as if attempting to get another wide-eyed Merchant girl into his bed. Jovially, Haymitch waves to Katniss, his smirk never faltering.
"Hey sweetheart. Looks like we're in this together, eh?" he asks, leaning on Juel casually. She pushes the boy off and he raises his hands in defense. The crowd stares at him as if he's lost his mind - gone crazy. In the thirteen year section, Ashton is wailing loudly and his mother is being restrained by peacekeepers. But he's up on stage, smiling and laughing as if he were a Career. It takes a lot for Katniss to suppress a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. Maysilee doesn't try to hide her amusement, she reaches over and nudges Haymitch with a small, sad, smile. Katniss can picture the Capitol commentators eating it up - "Those Twelve folk sure are strange people, aren't they Lucius?" "Oh indeed, Invictus! Indeed, they are strange people!" - and her eyes twinkle. Haymitch is trying to give District 12 a name - he knows he's going to die, he full well knows it. But like Maysilee and Katniss, he's refusing to go out without making a name of himself. Haymitch Abernathy, the boy who spat in the face of death.
"Ah, yes. And for the second boy. Lewis Nuance!" Juel calls, when the crowd's attention is focused too much on their volunteer and their laughing lunatic. A solemn hush quiets in the boys section, sisters, mothers and fathers holding their breath in as they realize who's chosen. Lewis is fourteen, but he looks like he's eight. And he only has one leg - the other is a wooden prosthetic made by one of the District elders. Story was that he lost his leg after twisting the bone out when he was seven while doing cartwheels. The real story was that he'd been hunting with his mother and a wild dog had gotten to him. Lewis was pretty shy, and he kept his face down most times. Compared to the giant personalities standing on stage, he was just another face in the sky.
But Lewis surprises them all by removing his prosthesis and hopping on stage - in attempt to meet Katniss, Haymitch and Maysilee's big show of getting reaped. Haymitch outright guffaws, slapping the boy on the back when he's made it onto stage. Maysilee ruffles the sandy locks of his hair and Katniss grins crookedly.
When it comes time for them to shake hands, they wrap each other into a group hug - the first time ever in the history of the Games that tributes attempted to appear as a team.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, your tributes for the 50th Hunger Games! Haymitch Abernathy, Maysilee Donner, Katniss Everdeen and Lewis Nuance!"
Cause I'm bleeding out
So if the last thing that I do
Is bring you down
I'll bleed out for you