Warning: These one-shots feature heavy subjects, including alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide and torture... so far. Now adding: depression, cheating, heartbreak, underage, implied prostitution, suicidal thoughts, someone having acid thrown on them, smut, implied rape/non-con, self-harm. 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: Short, awfully written chapter because the cold has given me the sniffles and a mean headache.
Song: She Lit A Fire by Lord Huron
I have been trying to find her
Want to give what I got, she lit a fire
But now she's in my every thought
"We're going home, sweetheart," Haymitch mutters. It would be towards Katniss if she were awake, but they'd sedated her after the trial so that they could put the tracking device in her, and hadn't bothered to wake her up in fear she'd go rampant. The device was one of the conditions of her release - she'd spend at least 5 years in District 12 to serve her sentence, considering she'd committed treason. The tracking device was to make sure that didn't change - and it had been injected in a way that it'd dissolve after the five year system was up. It was an easy let off, despite the implications of it.
Implications being that they didn't need the broken pieces that were left of the Mockingjay - they'd used her well until it ran dry and abandoned her. They didn't need Katniss Everdeen anymore.
Part of the sentencing also meant she needed someone to look after her, to make sure that she followed the outlines of her sentencing properly. Originally, they'd planned to send Peeta back for that task - killing two birds with one stone, quite literally, considering his brain had been damaged beyond repair as well. But in the end, after much reasoning and arguing on Haymitch's part, the council had decided that Haymitch would be more fit for the assignment. Considering he was just a drunkard, and he didn't have much use in the Capitol anyways.
And until they could arrange for Hovercraft to be cleared for takeoff and District 12 fit for living, Katniss would remain sedated and Haymitch would remain vigil by her bedside - only leaving to head back to his well 'furnished' apartment to refill his flask and maybe change clothing.
"Mr. Abernathy," a young girl's voice says, snapping him from his reverie. Haymitch looks up to wisps of fiery red hair and a pair of wide green eyes. This nurse honestly couldn't be older than the age of fifteen, one of the youngest they'd sent in so far. Maybe they'd realized he wouldn't have apathy for the older ones that dared bother him. "I brought your breakfast from the Cafeteria... and some coffee."
Haymitch snorts. Heavensbee had a variety of nurses sending him breakfast, lunch and dinner at all times - despite the fact that all he needed to coat his stomach was the flask in his coat pocket. He let the man worry, however - it's not like the Gamemaker himself was pestering him. And other than Katniss' vitals being checked hourly, the nurses coming in with food, and the officials daily check-ins to make sure Katniss was still in the hospital and still had her tracker in, he was generally left unbothered.
"Set it down with the rest," he mutters distractedly, waving his hand in dismissal.
"Actually, Dr. Aurelius asked me to make sure that you eat something. And drink something other than liquor," the nurse says, adding the last part meekly.
"Look kid-"
"Mr. Abernathy, if you don't mind," she says, cutting him off. "I mean, I know you don't really care about my little opinion. But, you won't do her any good if you're not alive to look after her."
"And you can't live without at least some nourishment and something besides your alcohol. Just a spoonful of eggs and some toast, yes? And then I'll leave you be. I promise on it."
"Hand me the tray," Haymitch sighs. The girl has a point - Katniss needed him, but more importantly, she needed him alive. He would serve no use if he was pushing up daises, and he couldn't keep living without taking at least some care of himself.
Katniss needed him, and if it meant that he had to actually try for himself so that he could be there for her, that's exactly what he'd do.
When last I saw her she was dancing all alone
Perhaps my chance was then, I'll never know
I'll search the world until there's no place left to go
And if she leaves it, I will follow, yes, I will follow