Author's Note: Hello my fabulous readers! The fluffiness continues!
On another note: On my Bio page I have added….something (no not a poll) let's call it an idea. Let me know what you think!
Thanks to my reviewers: HL, Pandora, E-W-Dragon, JB and Sea Otter you guys rock!
Chapter 17
Training the Heart
I get to Haymitch's and its mid day, when I enter it's to a clean house thanks to Mrs. Hawthorne. When I close the door Katniss races to me worry etching her face.
"He's fine" I reply, "he just needs to rest, I'll be keeping my eye on him"
It seems to reassure her. Though I have to say a small part of me is going back for the company of someone my own age, and somewhat same temperament.
I shove those thoughts aside for fear they will distract but they creep up here and there when the lull of them jabbering away about this and that has allowed my brain to shift to neutral.
"Earth to Ariana" I hear Haymitch say, "you gonna comment or not?"
"What?" I look chastised and a blush forms
"Peeta was just saying we can't be sure of anything until the launch so what should we focus on?" he looks at me and smirks.
"Well" I think about it, "we can rule out certain environments due to what we know, we have to think 'what would make a good game?' so any extreme climates wouldn't be good, dying of thirst, exposure or freezing to death are not spectacular"
"How can you be so cold about this?" Katniss finally asks after a few beats of them thinking this over, "I mean people you know are going into this thing friends of yours could die"
I sigh and grab the bridge of my nose, "look Katniss, I do care, it's just…for me? Right now? Is making sure you guys get the best head start I can manage that is priority. I'm not being cold because I don't care kiddo, it's just I know everyone else is doing like we are. Even Eleven and Ten I am sure are training up, probably even choosing who is going. So that's why I am thinking of this objectively."
"You just seem to not care about it" she says
"Y'know what she was doin' when she found out? She called her district got two of her fellow victors to volunteer, to help you two" Haymitch points at her
"Haymitch!" I snap at him with a short shake of my head
Katniss looks at me, her eyes calculating, "you….did that?"
Again I sigh; this is not a good day, "yes"
"Why?" she asks
"You tell me?" I ask her, "let that hamster on its wheel for a spell"
I get up and walk out, with a curt "nose in the books"
I sit outside on the porch, Tracer and Tracker could very well die in the games this year if Plutarch can't get them out. Tracer has a newborn son! Yet she agreed to enter the games, she promised to protect them if both end up entering. I cover my face, Castiel was right I do inspire something in people, the ability to do the right thing despite how difficult it will be. Why else would Tracer do something like that?!
"Hey kiddo" I hear and Haymitch sits beside me, "Katniss takes some getting used to"
"A snake takes some getting used to, she's like a wild cat being washed" I grumble, "and she knows just what to say to annoy the hell outta me"
He chuckles, "welcome to my world, she wanted to start a rebellion within Twelve y'know"
I have to laugh at that, he gives me a look to shush. "does she even know her district? It's gonna take a bit more than a voice calling for reform"
"Think she understands that?" he tilts his head, "you were off in dreamland before, what's spinning in that head of yours"
"Last I checked Haymitch you weren't my mentor" I look at him, again that look, Tracker could not pull off this 'don't joke with me' look, I sigh, "put me in an environment I can suss out how to thrive in it, tell me a problem and I can solve it in time…but put me in a situation that I haven't had much experience with…."
"What situation is that?"
I groan, "come on Haymitch you're not that dim!"
"I just want to hear you say it kid" he teases, "I'm no expert, but these things eventually work their way out, right time right place I guess"
"Why are matters of the heart so complicated?" I cover my face, "I barely know him and he just looks at me and I see….I don't know….like a missing part made flesh…"
"Quite the wordsmith" Haymitch says, "look Ariana, let it be for now, focus on getting the kids and I thru this training stuff…get your mind off 'matters of the heart'"
I nod and we go back inside.