mgowriter's note: Reference: pages 189-192 of Catching Fire.
Chapter 7: When the Masks Come Off
Effie sits silently at the vanity in her room. The woman in the mirror that stares back at her is dressed in a gradient of purples, from the lavender hat to the lilac earrings, to the violet dress and deep plum heels. The gold wig that she wears adds the perfect touch of warmth to the outfit, but she feels less than cheerful.
The chime for dinner sounds through the speakers, then repeats itself after a few minutes. She doesn't hear any footsteps outside, in the narrow hallway of the train. She doesn't blame them; there could never have been a happy ending to the reaping.
The short tune plays for the third time, and Effie knows that it's up to her to round everyone up. She sighs, forces a smile, and holds it until it reaches her eyes. There, better. This is your job, she thinks to herself. We're still a team. We need to keep morale up.
Katniss' room is the closest one to Effie's. She knocks on the door gently, and is surprised with a quick response. Peeta is next, and with his help, they're able to get Haymitch to come to the table. Despite the circumstances, it's nice to have everyone together. After everything they've been through the past year, the others feel more like a family to her rather than their separate roles of escort, mentor, and tributes.
The meal is magnificent and delicious, but no one takes more than a few bites of each course. Peeta is gracious enough to engage in small talk, but Haymitch and Katniss remain silent in their thoughts. When it's evident that no one is interested in the chocolate custard dessert, Effie suggests they watch the recap of the reapings.
They settle down in front of the television just as the anthem begins to play. Like the ceremony in District 12, the reapings of the other districts have been cut short this year. The faces on the screen go by quickly. Andrina and Agro from District One, Brutus from Two, Finnick and Mags from Four, Cecilia from Eight, and finally, Seeder and Chaff from Eleven.
Effie looks at Haymitch when Chaff's name is called. She knows that Chaff served somewhat as a mentor for Haymitch the year he won, when there were no mentors yet from District 12. Although the two men mostly joke and drink in front of the cameras, she knows their friendship runs much deeper than that.
Haymitch remains motionless on the couch. The only sign of his anger is in the tenseness of his muscles as he clenches his jaws. His fists are closed, arms strained, shoulders stiff, but he hides all of it well. He is the first to leave after the program is over, without a word to the rest of them.
Effie stays for a few more minutes before she bids Peeta and Katniss goodnight. She walks toward the other side of the train, and eventually finds herself outside a familiar metal door. She hesitates for a moment, but finally decides on two knocks, followed by two more.
. . .
Haymitch opens the door, knowing that it's her. He holds a bottle of liquor loosely in one hand. A mixture of sadness and defeat consumes his demeanor. She doesn't know what to expect; certainly not this. The resolute persona that he has held up through dinner is gone.
Haymitch sits heavily on the bed. He looks exhausted. His hands rub at his face a couple of times and run through his hair before he looks up at her.
"I don't think I'm going to be the best company right now."
Effie positions herself next to him. It's been a trying day, and the exhaustion that she's been able to stave off is returning at full force.
"That makes two of us," she says.
Haymitch looks over at her and attempts a grin. He takes a swig out of the bottle.
"The perfect couple, huh?"
His comment gets her to chuckle, and uncharacteristically, she takes the bottle from his hand. She drinks long and deep from the small opening, feeling the burn down her throat. Effie coughs as she hands the bottle back.
"That tastes horrible," she says with a grimace.
"You get used to it," Haymich replies, taking another drink himself.
"I thought you quit."
"There's always an exception," he says, the sadness returning to his voice.
After a moment's hesitation, Haymitch takes off the jacket he's wearing and tosses it onto the floor. He looks at Effie. For a second his gray eyes flash brighter, reflecting an internal debate. He sets the bottle down, and begins to unbutton his shirt. Effie's raises her eyebrows.
"Sleep with me tonight," he says, as the shirt slips off and his bare chest is revealed. It's neither an order nor a request, but merely something that is the natural progression of their circumstance; something that is established as soon as the words come out of his mouth.
"Okay," says Effie softly, because she knows she won't be able to sleep if she is alone tonight. She takes off her own suit jacket and stiletto heels. Haymitch is undoing his belt when she disappears into the bathroom. She places her hands on the sink and stares at the reflection. It doesn't seem right. She turns on the water and scrubs the layers of makeup off her face. Her hat and golden wig come off next. There, better.
The lights in the bedroom are set on the dimmest setting when Effie returns. Her eyes take some time to adjust as she finishes undressing. Haymitch is already in bed, but she can feel his gaze on her. She slips in under the covers, and he opens himself up so she can curl up next to him. They fit together nicely. He smells heavily of liquor, but it's such a familiar scent that it comforts her. The warmth of his body radiates into her skin, and she finally lets herself relax.
"Hmm," Haymitch mumbles, already half way to slumber.
"What?" Effie asks.
"A beautiful woman in my bed, and all we do is sleep. I'm never going to hear the end of this."
She smiles in the darkness. Her lips search for his and they end in a deep kiss.
"It'll be our secret," she whispers.
Haymitch mumbles something else, but his words are so heavily laced with sleep that they're incoherent. She nestles herself a little closer and they're both asleep in seconds. The dreams that come are of the future and its uncertainties, but there are no nightmares, no screams in the night.