A/N: I've had this prompt in my tumblr inbox since October. I apologize for being on a little hiatus from this collection, but I'm back now and can hopefully get through all the prompts I have in pretty good time. Thanks for sticking with me. I love you all.
I have changed my penname, just incase any of you were confused. I was 'A Blazing Mockingjay', but I hate it, so I'm now 'danythedragon' - it's a ASOIAF thing. ;)
Please excuse any typos here. It's 3:15am and I can't promise perfect proof reading skills at this time. I have to post it now cause I'll be busy all day, so I apologize in advance for anything dodgy, and I hope you enjoy. :)
[Special thanks to tumblr user 'hayffieaddicted' for the wedding prompt, and if you want to follow me on tumblr, just search 'floatinginthenightsky'.] xx
"Damn stupid ties!" Haymitch grumbles angrily as he pulls at the knotted mess around his neck. There's frustration clearly showing in his features and the way every muscle in his body seems tensed, ready to snap at any minute.
Peeta smirks, stifling a chuckle as he crosses the room and pulls his mentor's necktie back over the man's head. Haymitch watches, scowling, as the younger man unknots it and easily ties it neatly around his own neck, before reaching up to return it to him.
"There." He smiles. "That's a tie Effie should approve of."
Haymitch grunts his thanks with a quick nod of his head, turning back to the mirror to fidget with the tie uncomfortably.
"I don't know why the damn woman insists on me wearing one. It's not like it makes a difference! Thought it was only the rings that mattered today. For all I care, I could get married naked. As long as I get the ring, right?"
Peeta laughs. "Haymitch, no offence, but you naked isn't something anyone wants to see."
"Well, Effie doesn't com-"
"Whoa! Stop there! Keep it between the two of you, old man." He grins and slaps his mentor on the back in a friendly manner.
Haymitch faces the mirror; a nervous, anxious grimace on his face as he fidgets with his suit.
"God, I hate weddings." He murmurs.
"Then why are you getting married? Honestly, I never saw you as the type."
"Well I'm not, but we walked past a wedding in town and the damn woman wouldn't shut up about the whole thing." He shrugs it off in his usual Haymitch-style. Peeta gives a knowing smirk.
"No… it's not just that. You love her."
"Well I'm marrying her, aren't I?"
"No. You really love her. More than you ever thought you could."
Haymitch shrugs and simply moves to look out of the window, his eyes drifting in the direction of the Justice Building; it's roof just visible over the top of the houses across the street. In just 30 minutes, it's there that he'll finally be calling Effie Trinket – of all people – his wife. His eyes briefly pass over the house directly opposite his – the house belonging to Katniss - where Effie's getting ready. He grins and turns back to Peeta.
"C'mon then, kid. Let's do this."
Staring into the mirror, Effie can't help the smile that's ever present on her face. She never thought she'd get married – not really – and especially not to Haymitch Abernathy. She's always felt like, as much as she dreamed of the perfect, happy family life, her career would always get in the way. She thought she'd never have time. Yet now, here she stands in an elegant, traditional white gown, ready to take the name of the man she's grown to love and give herself to him for all eternity.
Her eyes roam over the dress. It's floor length, and seems to flow, as delicate as water. It reminds her of the way the water swirls and dances around rocks in the streams he's taken her to before, in the trees just outside the fences of District 12. It's not an outrageous dress – not by a long shot – but it's pretty enough to satisfy the slightly tamed Capitol side of her, and she knows it's simple enough for him. He'll like it. She knows he will. She runs her fingers delicately over the lace that's sewn over the bodice, smiling as the light catches the few subtle crystals that are embedded into the fabric. It's the perfect dress.
Her eyes find Katniss in the reflection of the mirror, bustling around the room and seeming to be more nervous than her. If it weren't for the dresses, any onlooker would probably think Katniss was the one to be wed, rather than the calm bride simply admiring her dress in the mirror.
"…prep teams took care of it, cause I don't know the first thing about make up, but I am sorry."
"Hmm?" Effie turns to the girl, only just realizing she's been talking. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was sort of entranced. What were you saying, dear?"
"Oh… I, uh… I was just saying… I'm sorry I couldn't be more help to you., but I don't know anything about makeup or fashion, so I thought I'd leave it to the experts."
"Katniss, darling, you've been a huge help. More than you could ever know. I appreciate you just being here." She takes her former tribute by the hands and smiles warmly, before pulling the girl in for a hug. "Now, Peeta assured me he'll get Haymitch there on time, looking neat. All we have to do is wait until we're called upon."
"Alright. Well, you look nice, Effie." Katniss mumbles, and Effie smiles at the girl's attempt of a compliment.
"Thank you, dear. Let's hope my fiancé agrees."
"Well if he doesn't, he gets a slap." Katniss murmurs.
"Katniss!" Effie scolds. The younger woman smirks in response.
"They're ready for you, Miss Trinket." A voice echoes from the hallway downstairs. Effie grins happily.
"Here we go!"
Haymitch has never been so nervous in his life. At least, he doesn't think he has. Part of him tries to think back to whether or not he was any more nervous in the tube before his Games, but he stops the thought before it can properly occur. Today's not the day for thoughts of the past.
The small group of musicians begin to play the Capitol tune Effie's chosen for the day – one of the only pieces of Capitol music he begrudgingly admits to liking – and Haymitch stands up, knocking his chair askew from the others in his haste. He takes his place, Peeta by his side, and subtly wipes his palms on the fabric of his trousers. His heart races, the speed seeming to build up with the music as the swirling melody swiftly travels towards her cue. In seconds, he'll see her, but it feels like hours to him before she finally rounds the corner into the square.
The music hits a crescendo and Haymitch's heart seems to swell with it. His eyes are fixed on her – on his bride – as she makes her way towards him, her steps matched perfectly with the steady rhythm of the music. For what feels like a lifetime, he's stunned by her appearance – the relatively simple dress; her natural hair simply curled a little and fixed into some fancy, elegant style he doesn't understand, but definitely likes the look of. His eyes see the tiara on her head in place of a veil. He thinks it's fitting, since she's always been his Princess. But now, finally, his eyes come to rest on her face, and he realizes how right Peeta is – he really loves her, and it blows him away how overwhelming this strange emotion is. It's like nothing he's ever felt before, but he realizes, as his eyes lock with hers, that he's felt it for years.
He winks and sends her what's come to be his signature lop-sided smirk, and she responds with a smile that he thinks lights up the room - though he realizes he's probably biased, but so what? He watches every move she makes as she approaches him, and can't fail to notice the way her eyes flicker every so often to the chair that he's knocked out of place. He smirks and raises his eyebrows expectantly as she bites her lip, clearly uncomfortable as she nears the chair. He knows she's going to straighten it up. How could she not? He can't help but laugh when he's proven right. She pauses briefly and quickly moves the chair back to it's original position, rolling her eyes at Haymitch's laughter and the smirks on Katniss an Peeta's faces. As she takes her place opposite Haymitch, she takes a quick glance around the room, seeming to check for any more imperfections before looking back to her expectant fiancé.
"Everything seems to be in order." She murmurs, mostly to herself.
"Does it meet your standards?" Haymitch teases. She looks at him in thought.
"Not quite." She smiles, reaching up to straighten his tie and smoothen down his jacket. "That's better."
Haymitch scoffs and leans forward to kiss her, as he's wanted to from the second he saw her.
"Good, cause if you don't mind, I kinda wanna marry you now."
"Only kind of?" She mock-pouts.
"Alright… I definitely wanna." Haymitch corrects, grinning.
"Good. Then let's not waste any more time!" She proclaims happily.
"This is the one time I'm gonna let you keep me on a schedule, woman." He murmurs, taking her hand and stepping forward with her into their positions for the ceremony.
"When I'm your wife, you'll do as your told." Haymitch opens his mouth to protest, but she quickly kisses his lips – just a peck – in order to silence him. "Be quiet. Marry me."
"Well I can't marry you if I'm being quiet, can I?" He retorts, smirking at his smart remark. She rolls her eyes again, but there's a soft smile on her lips.
"You know what I meant. If you're done being childish… shall we?"
"I guess so." He winks at her, a wide grin on his face.
"Are you ready?" She asks.
"Been ready for this for years, Princess." He replies, and with one last reassuring squeeze of her hand, the ceremony begins.
A:N: I'm leaving it here for now because I don't think I need to go through a whole wedding ceremony. You all know the basics. Vows, speeches, "I do", blah blah. You're not missing anything. If people want me to, I'll do afterwards, so that'd be the party and (because I know what you're all like) the wedding night. So let me know. :)