Prompt by starrful

Phoena Kontos

The train whistle blew in the background, the faint choo-choo of the train making his already exhausted brain go to overdrive. The war was over, but he had lost Katniss in the midst. District 12 was no home to him anymore, the people blaming him for their losses. He had merely done what he did best. Make a trap to provide for your family, make a trap to help the revolution; it all seemed to be the same.

"Hawthorne?" He turned around, recognizing his own name. It was the name he was called in the war, and the name he'd always go by. The person addressing him was rather tall, though not quite as tall as him. She had light brown skin, and her hair had been chopped to a length even Johanna would deem short. Her green eyes were shocking, the only part of her not average.

"Excuse my manners, sir," she'd started, brushing some nonexistent dirt off of her clipboard. "But my name is Phoena Kontos and I was assigned by President Paylor to be your personal assistant in,"

He had cut her off there; annoyed the president had assigned him an assistant with such a pompous accent. He had simply grabbed his bags, abandoning his relaxing seat and called a cab to take him to some sort of pre-organized apartment for him. The Vinette Compound, 12th building, room 2312.

~/~

"Mr. Hawthorne! Mr. Hawthorne!" He yanked the door open just to stop her incessant yelling that surely his neighbors had heard.

"What?" he asked. He ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. This girl had already gotten on his nerves one time too many. Besides that, the very fact she had hunted him down to his apartment ticked him off. He narrowed his eyes at her, hoping she'd get to her point.

"Hawthorne, as your personal assistant, I will be escorting you to every place you need to go in this town until President Paylor gives orders otherwise," Phoena propped her glasses higher up on her nose. Oh, how this angered him! It burned, watching her act all high class.

He grunted, inviting her into the apartment. Might as well get it over with, he thought. She beamed, pinning her fiery red hair back. The end of her brown hair had been dyed red, once again reminding him of a Capitol woman. Everything about her seemed to be like the selfish Capitol ladies, from her name to her clothes to her hair.

"You have an appointment tomorrow with President Paylor, she's thinking of hiring you to…" He cut her off again here.

"Listen, Kontos, I know this is your job and all, but I can handle it."

~/~

He had no idea what he was doing here. He was absolutely swarmed at work, and Kontos was no help ever since their late night conversation. It had been a month, and Kontos avoided him like the plague. She had given him her address, telling him to visit her should he need help.

His ego just wouldn't allow it.

~/~

He knocked on her door, a mahogany one. She responded almost immediately, as if she had nothing better to do.

"Well, Mr. Hawthorne, it always is an honor," she laughed, welcoming him into her apartment. She sat down, sipping lightly at her tea.

"Let's cut to the chase, Kontos. I need an assistant at my job; you're being called in for work tomorrow. Be there at 9:00 sharp," he ordered before turning on his heel and leaving.

~/~

A year had passed, and the memory of the war was far more faint. Gale had opened his own business, alongside Phoena. Hawthorne & Kontos, Co., a company for making repairs to all throughout Panem. Phoena made a good partner when she wasn't being prestigious or bratty.

"Kontos, we have a meeting in 12. You're going to have to take this one, I'm going down to 4," he said, handing her the briefcase.

"Why don't you ever go down to 12 yourself?" she asked, taking the briefcase from him.

He turned on her immediately, slapping the hovercraft tickets from her hand. He stormed out from the office immediately.

~/~

"I can't believe this! You just don't see it, do you?" she screamed, throwing the papers at him. They scattered all over, covering the office floor. He looked up, his new glasses still perched on his nose.

"See what?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I love you."

Well, this is an OC story obviously. I actually like Phoena as a character, maybe she'll appear later.