mgowriter's note: This was inspired by page 245 of Catching Fire. I tried very hard to keep the rating under M, but there is nudity in this chapter. You've been warned! Now, please enjoy :)

Chapter 9: From Steam to Fire

He knocks quietly at the door, in four quick raps. He's slept all of two hours the previous night, and has been pacing his room since well before dawn. Thinking about his conversation with Chaff the first night they arrived at the Capitol, about the Game, and the plan. About the secret meetings in the Victor's lounge, with the video cameras blocked and looped. Beetee's doing. About everything that has the potential to go wrong. They've been at the Capitol for five days, and for five nights he's been agonizing over this decision. But now it's made, and there's no turning back. He hopes it's the right one.

Effie opens the door and her expression relays her surprise. Haymitch is not an early riser. She's never seen him up at this hour, much less fully dressed for the day.

"Good morning," she says, as she tightens the white silk robe around her body. She feels slightly self-conscious, not having had time to put her makeup on.

"Morning," he replies, letting himself in.

"I was just writing a note for Katniss and Peeta. I didn't get to tell them last night about cancelling the coaching lessons today."

"They'll appreciate it," says Haymitch. He doesn't offer anything more.

Effie gives him a quizzical look. She senses his hesitation, but doesn't comment. Instead, she rings for the girl Avox.

She feels Haymitch's eyes on her as she gives the Avox instructions to deliver the note. When she turns to meet his gaze, they are filled with an uneasy intensity.

"Is everything okay?" she asks.

He nods, but remains silent.

"You're thinking about last night, aren't you? Peeta's painting and Katniss' stunt with her knot tying…" she trails off, because she still hasn't been able to reconcile the events herself. No district in the history of the Hunger Games has ever received training scores of 12 for both of their tributes. It's a clear directive from the Gamekeepers. Katniss and Peeta will be the targets this year.

Without replying, Haymitch crosses the room and takes her hand in his. His hold is gentle but firm. She questions him with her eyes, but his in turn only reply, follow me. He leads her into the spacious bathroom, where colorful mosaics line the walls and they step on golden tiles. A lavish sink and vanity line the nearest wall, while a wide, clear-glass shower in the symmetrical shape of a hexagon stands in the middle of the room.

Haymitch turns a small dial near the glass. Music streams in from hidden speakers, instrumental and flowing. He increases the volume until it fills the room. Steam vents at the floor of the shower are activated next, and the temperature immediately begins to rise. Haymitch looks at Effie. With the final push of a button, the showerhead from above comes to life, its flow simulating rain.

. . .

They stand just a few feet apart. The hot steam envelops the rest of the room. The walls fade away into the mist until the space between them is the only one that exists. Haymitch begins to undress himself, slowly, piece by piece, until the last article of clothing comes off and he's standing naked in front of her.

His eyes have never left her face. He places a hand at the collar of Effie's robe. It slides down the fluid silk, and stops at the delicate belt. He unties it with ease. Effie lets the robe glide down onto the floor. She's wearing nothing underneath.

. . .

She trembles as the hot water droplets hit her skin, raising involuntary goosebumps. His hand reaches for her arm, traces a delicate line to the middle of her chest, and ventures downward until it wraps around her body to pull her closer. Small rivulets of water run down his face, his blinking eyelashes and day-old stubble. She watches the water trail seep onto his chest, his arms, downward still, and feels a desire that she isn't sure she wants to control.

Effie is the first to push her lips into his. They are just as she remembers, warm, wet, soft and firm all at once. The tempo of the music rises, but not enough to match the beating of her heart. It feels good to be under the pounding water, kissing and unable to breathe. She welcomes the sensation of desperation that comes with the absence of air. Her lungs begin to burn, but she continues the kiss. He responds with short, jagged kisses that are desperate in his own way. She can feel it in the way his hands roam over her body, distracted in some areas and meticulous in others. He's searching for something.

Effie presses her body closer to his, so that the majority of their skin is touching. She feels the strength of his hands holding her up, and finally lets go to breathe. His tongue is in her mouth before she can take a full breath, playing with her now, kissing lightly and passionately in the same movement. When they finally separate and she looks into his eyes, she realizes that what she's searching for has been in front of her all this time.

Panting, Haymitch brushes a strand of wet, blond hair from her face. Her lips are cherry-red from rubbing against his stubble; striking against her unblinking blue eyes. He can't help but think he's staring at the most beautiful face, the most beautiful creature in the world.

"Haymitch—" she says.

"Shh…" he whispers in her ear. He allows himself one more lingering kiss, slowly this time, waiting for it to come to a natural end, before leaning back from her.

"I need to tell you something," he says softly.

She tilts her head in question, sensing the seriousness in his tone. "What is it?"

He lowers his head, and sighs, pushing the doubts out of his mind. The decision has been made. He must carry it through.

"There is a rebellion happening against the Capitol, right now, as we speak, and I'm a part of it."

Effie talks an involuntary step back. "What?"

"I'm a part of it," Haymitch says again, "and that means…you are, too."

Effie shakes her head. Suddenly the steam is around them has become stifling and the music playing is too loud. "Haymitch, you're not making any sense."

"Something is going to happen during the Game," he says, closing the space between them. "When they find out I'm one of the people behind it…they'll come after you."

She takes a moment to assimilate the information. When she looks up, she knows that this is not a joke, nor a lie, because he wouldn't look as sick as she feels.

"When they come, don't resist." He speaks with urgency now, his words almost blurring together. "They'll question you, but you know nothing that can hurt me. Tell them everything you know. Tell them that I came onto you at first and I used you. They won't do anything to you if you don't know anything."

Effie feels the breath being choked out of her. She reaches for the button to turn off the steam but Haymitch stops her. "Don't," he says. "They could be watching."

The realization hits her instantly. Of course. The shower, the music, the steam. They're the perfect guards against hidden cameras or recording devices. No one would be able to make out their conversation through the scatter. They would only see two forbidden lovers, enjoying a secret shower.

"There are people in the Capitol who are on our side." Haymitch continues. "They can help you if you get into trouble. They can hide you."

Effie shakes her head. "Was this all a lie? The shower, getting me in here?"

"No, no, I—" He doesn't allow himself to finish the thought. "Effie, you have to listen to me. This is important. There are people who can help you if you run into trouble."

"Where are you going to be?" she asks.

"I can't tell you that."

"Why? So they won't be able to torture it out of me?" The voice that comes out of her mouth is too monotonous, and upon hearing it, she wonders if she's going into shock.

"No," Haymitch says forcefully. He raises both hands to her face. "If I thought they were going to torture you, I'd take you with me, as dangerous as it's going to be. You're going to be safer in the Capitol."

"Are you going to die?"

"No," Haymitch says again. "I'm not. I'm going to try very hard not to. And when the end comes, if we succeed, I'm going to come for you. I promise. I love you, Effie Trinket."

She inhales sharply, as if his words have a physical presence. The gravity of the situation breaks the invisible threshold that has been holding her together and buries itself inside her. The thought of losing him is the only one that her consciousness will allow. She squeezes her eyes shut to force the horrible images out of her mind, but they continue to repeat, and in every one, Haymitch is dead.

"It's okay," Haymitch say. He's holding her now, whispering calming words into her ear. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be okay. We'll both be okay."

The hot tears from her eyes mix with the water droplets that fall from above. Although the steam still surrounds them, the only warmth that she feels is from his body.

"The last time that there was a rebellion against the Capitol, thousands of people died."

"I know," Haymitch says softly.

"And for those that rebelled, everyone was punished. The Dark Days. The Hunger Games…"

"I know," he says again.

"The Capitol has all the weapons, all the power. You can't win, Haymitch. You can't kill yourself trying to prove something—"

"I have to try," says Haymitch. "They're killing children, Effie. Not just the tributes in the Games, but children at home, who don't know where their next meal will come from, who go to sleep hungry every night. They killed my family. Everyone I've ever loved is dead, and now that I have you, I'm more terrified than ever. Because if we let them stay in power, they'll come and take you away from me one day. I have to try, because if I don't, we'll have already lost, and I can't lose you. Not now, not ever."