A/N: Hello again. I should remind you the plot isn't in this chapter yet. We'll see hints of it in the next one or so but it really comes around later. However here and there you will see a change from the books. It's a slight divergence for HG and then a huge one for CF I hope you enjoy this as well and thank everyone for the support so far.
After an invigorating round in the shower that required her to wash again once they were done, the two went out into the kitchen for breakfast him in a pair of pants and her in another of his shirts. He looked at the fruits all scattered on the counter and smirked. "Someone break in just to scatter food on the counter?" He teased good-naturedly as he looked back at her making her huff at his cocky face.
"It's hardly my fault! You screamed I was worried." She pouted at him with a slight glare making him laugh and walk over to her kissing her lightly on the lips. Normally he would be careful and worried but bathrooms and kitchens weren't bugged because of interference from the assortment of appliances and aerosol in both places and Beetee had built him a noise scrambler for his room. He always turned it on before he slept because he hated giving the capitol the satisfaction of knowing the affect they'd had on him. They probably did anyway, but he could at least pretend.
"I screamed because I smelled like grass." He countered making her roll her eyes.
"Flowers are not grass Haymitch." She said sounding annoyed but the smirk on her face betrayed her.
He smirked and shook his head. "Sorry, scented weeds." He shot in response and tickled her sides making her squeal and bat at his hands.
"Stop that! We're having breakfast. We're already behind schedule!" She chided wiggling her finger at him.
He smirked and leaned in kissing her neck to distract her. "Also not my fault." He said innocently, though it really was.
"Oh no, you're completely innocent. You were just the one that demanded a second round." She said her head tilting to give him more space and holding back a moan as his hands went from her sides to rest on her hips pulling her closer.
"You were the one that needed a second shower." He reminded with a chuckle. "And you could have said no." He added as he sucked a bit harder on her skin deciding he might enjoy her having a mark to match his.
She huffed and pushed him back. "Food." She reminded picking up an apple and taking a bite. "Then we have to go talk to some potential sponsors and of course meets with the other mentors to try and arrange alliances. I think we might have some luck with Districts 11 and 6 if we sell it right." She said remembering business as he pouted like a 5 year old being told he couldn't have a cookie and picked up a banana and pealing it.
"Yeah, yeah." He huffed getting it open and looking at her mischievously. "Hey you want a bite?" He asked offering her the top and she looked at him suspiciously but nodded leaning forward wrapping her lips around the tip and slowly taking a bite waiting for whatever the catch was and surprised when he didn't seem to do anything but watch her intently as she pulled back. "You should eat these more often Princess." He said with dark eyes and she looked at him confused for a moment until she realized he was referring to the phallic resemblance people often said bananas had which made her blush and push his shoulder.
"You're incorrigible!" She exclaimed feigning offense.
"I got good reason to be." He smirked looking her over. "You really are beautiful without the decorations." He complimented seriously making her blush deeper and look down, flattered.
"Thank you." She said looking up at him through her eyelashes with a small smile then cleared her throat standing straighter. "Now we both have to go get ready. Be out here in one hour." She said firmly and he stood ramrod straight and threw her a mocking salute making her roll her eyes and huff.
He took her waist and kissed her one last time and smiled madly. "See you in an hour." He said smiling down at her and stealing her apple taking a bite as she made an affronted noise and he gave it back.
"And do try to behave." She huffed to him rolling her eyes and untangling form his arms slowly with a smile on her face pecking his cheek.
"I always do." He said with a wink and smacked her ass playfully making her squeak in shock and glare as he laughed eating his banana and watching her walk away.
In her room looking in her mirror Effie was almost sad to put on her armor. She had never been one to much care for her normal face and hair but the way Haymitch had looked at her was so sweet. Putting on her clothes meant that their time alone was at an end and she would have to face the world and she knew they should for their tributes, but she didn't want to for herself. She was worried that going out into the world meant they would fall back into habit. He would start drinking and pull back into himself and she would flutter about oblivious to the world and get lost in the disguise. That he would see her like this and remember that he hated her and she would lose what she'd just gotten, which shouldn't matter to her, but it did. She hadn't gotten Haymitch Abernathy out of her system; she'd gotten him into it in the most unalienable way possible. She couldn't imagine being with another man now, not after that. She sighed and picked up the brush and powder in front of her and started applying it. No use in wasting the day when two lives rested on their shoulders. An hour later Effie had her make up perfectly applied and her ensemble was flawless down to the sky high heels and silk gloves. She waited and waited some more and ten minutes passed. The man had much less to do than she did he should have been early! He usually didn't put any effort into his appearance at all! So where was he? She huffed and walked to his room opening the door to find him sitting there doing absolutely nothing.
"I knew you only ran late to annoy me." She accused crossing her arms over her chest and giving him the look.
He looked up surprised and smirked. "Not true! I am usually genuinely too drunk to be on time. This time I was just thinking." He said walking over to her with a self-assured smirk.
"Well think later we've got sponsors to meet!" She chirped. He smiled and shook his head and she could see the underlying feeling. She knew she looked different than the woman she'd been last night. She had on her capitol mask, the one that had kept her safe for 10 years now. He walked up to her and looked her right in the eyes and for a moment she thought his icy grey eyes might look into her depths, and it made her insides squirm and her skin prick with the memory of his hands on her and the itch to feel it again. He was looking into her and seeing the one piece of her that could never change. Deep in her eyes, no matter what was on them, his Effie was still inside if you looked for her.
After a moment he smirked like he knew exactly what he had made her feel, though he was smirking at his assurance she was still there, and blinked to break the gaze a bit. "Lead the way, Princess." She coughed and nodded and started to walk out the door him behind her every step his eyes glued directly to her ass with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
The courtyard was rife with people talking to escorts and mentors. There were people from all Districts around; many of the Victors spent a lot of time during the games at the capitol. The duo walked into a room full of possible sponsors talking to Districts 1-11 and scanned for faces trying to make a plan and get in early bets. Effie's eyes were on the people, Haymitch's were on the bar. "Those two over there look like they might work." She said pointing to a woman with purple curls and a gold circlet with green stripes painted on her skin to match her dress and a man in head to toe neon orange fur.
"Yeah good idea. I'll go get a drink and meet you over there." He said in a tone that said he was clearly appeasing her. She shot him a glare. Of course he was going to get a drink. She was a fool to think she could keep him sober! She was a fool to think it changed anything at all between them. Sex was sex, it didn't have to mean anything. But it had. It had meant something to her. He looked over at her and knocked her shoulder in a way that could have looked like an accident to anyone else. "Cheer up Princess. What is it you always say?" He reminded though he sounded as though he honestly couldn't remember.
"Eyes bright, chins up, smiles on." She chirped brightly to him in her normal, higher pitched, happy go lucky, airy, Capitol accent.
"That's my girl. Now go stake our claim." He said and walked over to the bar as she headed for the two Capitol people.
It had been a long and interesting night for him. He went to sleep of his own accord, a rarity in itself, and ended up having dreams about his games, which wasn't so rare. Every year was the same. He would sleep and that year's tributes would be the people he had killed or seen die. It was awful; it was what drove him to drink in the first place. Suddenly waking up to a half-naked blonde woman in his room whom, while rather stunning, he did not know was not exactly and expected thing. Not to mention that woman turned out to be Effie. Over the years he had started to see another side to Effie, one did not spend as much time with someone as he did with her and not see other parts of them. He didn't know how many years it had been, too many probably. Either way he had seen her laugh, he had seen her cry, he had seen her be an idiot, and he had seen her be the most intelligent person in the world. There were days he wasn't sure he knew which Effie was the real one. He admitted some of the less outrageous outfits had made him see her physically but it was her mind that fascinated him.
Effie Trinket was a strange woman. She didn't exactly fit the stereotype of your average Capitol ditz as he expected her to. There were days when he was more sober than she thought he was, that he would see her doing something surprising and out of character. Nothing big, just something that showed that she wasn't a drone that enjoyed luxury and never thought beyond herself and her schedules. The year he held her and watched her cry had been a tipping point for him. Her wig had tipped to the side and he had seen a wisp of blonde hair and her eye makeup had faded so he could see some of her real skin. It reminded him, for the first time in a long time, that the Capitol fashion she was always in that made her resemble a clown, was not the real woman. It wasn't tattooed on, it came off. It changed. It reminded him that she wore a mask and he didn't actually know what was under it.
Last night, seeing her free from all of that, was a shock to him. Yes he had started to think softly of her from time to time, but he had not expected her appearance to be as beautiful as her mind could be. His heart nearly stopped when she dropped that dress. He still had to contain himself just thinking about it.
Haymitch huffed and shook his head. It wasn't safe to have those thoughts out here. It wasn't safe to have them at all. He knew sex was just sex here. She probably did it trying to shut his screams up. No, he meant nothing to her, though the night had been nice. It was good to see that side of her. He knew she could be sassy and sharp and quick witted. But the seductive, flirty part was hidden pretty deep. He wondered how many more layers he had to discover and for a moment he thought he honestly wouldn't mind digging.
He ordered a drink, picking a rather weak from of his usual all brand of spirits and saw Chaff walking over. He nodded to Haymitch as he ordered one for himself. "You and Effie seem close today." Chaff observed making Haymitch's eyes shoot up.
"What do you mean?" He asked confused.
"Normally you do everything in your power to annoy the living hell out of the woman and today you seem so… close." Chaff responded looking around the room not at his friend. Their voices were lower than the din and they were watching the people around to be sure no one was eaves dropping. One could always trust the Capitol to be listening. "Something to share with the class?"
"Nope. I don't know, Maybe we're just… having an off day." He said feigning ignorance and cursing himself for letting it show so much. He couldn't slip like that.
Chaff leaned in closer to his friend and lowered his voice more. "Just be careful, don't forget they aren't our friends. They're the Capitol, the enemy, no matter how much time they spend with us. We're just entertainment to them." He reminded darkly. Haymitch let his eyes stray over to Effie watching her talk and laugh with the two possible sponsors. Her eyes strayed to him for just a moment but in that moment it changed slightly, it was different. Haymitch had always thought the same way about Escorts, but now he was wondering if maybe, just maybe, Effie wasn't the same as the others. He shook his head and pushed the thoughts away taking his drink.
"Yeah." He said gruffly and walked away to the group.
The rest of the day was mostly a blur to him. It was watching Effie do her song and dance with people as he sat back quietly watching. Each one said they'd think about it, but they both knew what that meant. He watched her with the people chattering about clothes and trends and the excitement of the games and it was all so contrasting. His mind started to fog as he thought and slowly the drinks got stronger and went down faster as he tried to analyze her and just confused himself. She had been a totally different person last night and this morning! Not just the way she looked. Her eyes were deeper and different, her smile was different and the way she talked, while still the same accent and cadence, was deeper and less airy. She had been more substantial, held more weight, been less… Capitol.
Staring at her all day and watching her with her people it hit him just how much he did not belong there and with her, how very different they were and how much of a mistake the night before had been. The entire day Effie had felt Haymitch's eyes on her, watched as his drinks got stronger and his attention span got shorter. Her heart sank with every polite denial and conversation. One person had even walked straight from saying perhaps to her, over to the district 1 mentor and handed him a check. She wished she could reach out to Haymitch, pull him from his fog and beg him to stand with her, to give her hope. There was none though, and he was not that man, and she could not let them see the change between them. If she showed anyone the change she knew something would happen to one or both of them, she wasn't a fool.
By the end of it all they were exhausted, confused, and aggravated in a way. He was teetering between very drunk and slightly sober, and she was hungry and starting to get nauseous from the rank stench of alcohol pouring off him. She could take a small whiff of the pointedly sweet smell but the amount that exuded from him was unbearable at this point. They walked to the elevator and she sighed, leaning back against the bar and shifting her weight between her feet, her head resting against the glass, and eyes closed. He looked over at her and swallowed back the urge to touch her, to kiss her exposed neck. He was angry at her, aggravated at the capitol woman for tricking him into bed with her. Obviously he had been too sober to think clearly but now he was drunk enough to see what it had been, a sham.
"That was a very long day! I think one or two looked promising though!" She said trying to keep her spirits up so she didn't have to go back and see two children that were facing death. This was so much easier when they were older, though it was never truly easy.
"Yeah, right." He scoffed at her with an edge of anger in his voice.
She looked at him her eyes squinted in curiosity and her face on the verge of anger "I am trying to keep my spirits up! We have two children in there to try and keep happy for a few days! It is the least we can do!" she said just as snippy as he was at the end of the day and not much feeling like keeping her manners with him when her feet hurt as much as they did in that moment. These had to be the least comfortable heels she owned, though they were very cute.
"The least we could do would be to let 'em go!" He slurred back his voice raising.
"Well I don't have that power do you? Hum? Do you want to go down and tell the peace keepers they can go home we're just going to cancel the games and send them home because you want to?" She countered angrily.
He grunted but didn't respond and she huffed angrily at him just in time for the doors to the penthouse to open. She walked in trying not to stomp like a child in her anger and he slunk in after her with just as much attitude. Upon seeing the tributes she pushed away her anger at Haymitch choosing to be happy to try and keep them brighter. Haymitch on the other hand fell into his chair in the living room and looking pouty.
"How was training?" She asked like a mother to her children coming home from school. "Learn any new skills? Make any allies?" She asked brightly to the two as though she was talking about homework and gossip and not their lives being at stake. In that instant she almost hated herself for it, but she knew it was her job. Keep the children as close to happy as she could and put on a pretty face for the Capitol.
"Emma has a crush on a career!" Micah teased his fellow tribute making her blush profusely.
"I do not!" She squeaked.
"Do too you watched him all day and kept giggling when he talked to you!" He shot back like and older brother. Moments like these hurt her the most. She looked to Haymitch who downed the last of his glass and waved to an Avox for more and she hated him for it. The way he could just tune them out, and not care while she was watching her heart break.
"Well he did look very handsome from what I saw. He's a good choice." She said smiling at Emma. "Why don't we have some dinner hum? I'm sure you're hungry after a long day!" she offered. She remembered the first day Micah and Emma had been here. They both looked at Haymitch and Effie like they would slit their throats themselves. It had shaken her to the core, it always did. She explained the amenities they had and Micah had started to brood while Emma, the younger of the two, stared in awe at the bright colors and pretty dresses. Effie even let her try on one of her wigs. The little girl had liked that.
"Yeah I'm starving." Micah said with a big nod. Micah had taken much longer to brighten up. Effie had sat down and talked to him, chastising him on the importance of manners and not putting his feet on the table when he had brooded to her asking what it mattered if he was just going to die anyway. She had wanted to break down apologizing to the boy right then. He had the same grey eyes of Haymitch with black hair but paler skin. She knew if he'd grown up he'd have been a handsome man, he would never be that to the world, but he would grow in Effie's heart. They all did. Every face for the last 10 years. They were all there, growing every year and yet frozen in time. She imagined all the experiences they should have had even when it broke her heart and she tried very hard not to. Effie had told him about enjoying himself and not thinking about the end but the journey. It was nonsense and would make no difference in the end, but the boy had warmed to her and the situation and that was all she wanted, to make his last days brighter.
Emma looked at him laughing "Bet I can eat more than you!" She said challengingly her red curls glinting in the light with her green eyes bright.
"You're on!" Micah said running to his plate and both of them filling their plates full to the brim. That was part of what she loved most about the young ones: How easily they were made happy and how much they could see the light and good for all the darkness. It was also what she hated most in them, as she watched the light fade from their eyes as the promise of more was stolen away.
"Haymitch are you eating?" She asked looking at him slouched on his armchair looking sulky and sullen.
He waved his hand at her "Yeah yeah, be right in." He said and she huffed at him and flounced away trying not to let his passive motions hurt her. Something had changed and she didn't like the change one bit. She needed to see what was wrong, but not in front of the tributes that wouldn't do at all.
Effie walked in and sat at the right of the head of the table, the head was reserved for Haymitch should he choose to appear. She smiled and listened intently to the two's stories about her day, Emma most defiantly had a crush on Mr. Silver Kignsman, the male tribute from District 1 and Effie had a sneaking suspicion Micah had his own little budding attraction to someone in the games from the way he blushed and glared every so often. Eventually Haymitch stumbled in taking his seat and filling his plate smelling even worse than when she'd left him.
"Effie?" Micah asked making her look away from Haymitch back to him and putting on her best smile to dazzle him.
"Yes Micah dear? " She asked sweetly.
Micah looked down at the plate of food before him and then took a bite and she nodded to him encouragingly and Emma elbowed him whispering 'go'. "If I win the games, when I turn 18… will you marry me?" He asked sweetly. So sweetly she almost wanted to cry. The boy that had come in with so much anger and pain and fear was now sitting there sweetly dreaming of a future. She sniffed slightly trying to hold back her tears unsure what to say. Haymitch however felt a rage building in his stomach. He couldn't explain it but just because he didn't want to be tricked by Effie, didn't mean anyone else could have her. "It's just. You're really pretty, even without your wig and you're really nice… so… will you?" he asked and Emma giggled next to him making him Blush even more. Effie smirked, realizing Micah had been the open door last night.
Haymitch glared at the boy and grumbled out a "Don't do it kid." Making Effie shoot him a glare to cover over how much his little jibe hurt her.
"Haymitch! Manners!" She chided the drunk. "Of course I will Micah. So you must win for me hum?" She encouraged brightly making him smile and nod. Everyone at the table knew he wouldn't win, but it never hurt to give him some hope to look forward to and dream of. Haymitch's eyes shot to hers and his nostrils flared and he stood up without warning making Effie and Emma jump in surprise and Micah glare at him for being so rude to Effie. Effie and Haymitch looked at each other the gazes heated and a charge of anger and hurt running through both of them before Haymitch turned away. "Where are you going?" She chastised with her question.
"U'm Not hungry." He slurred back grumpily and stalked off towards his room. She made an affronted noise and turned back to her tributes; entertaining them through dinner until both were too tired and she told them to go to bed.
After the tributes were in bed and sleeping Effie walked to her room thoroughly washing the makeup off her face as the day ran through her head. Haymitch and his drinking and barking and grumping and pouting. If she didn't know any better she would say he was more of a child then Micah and Emma, which he probably was! He had been impossible all day and worst of all was that it hurt. It was so confusing after the way they had started the day with jokes and kisses and so much more. It had seemed perfect, she didn't know what changed. It hadn't even been after putting on her capitol mask, it had been while they talked to the sponsors. She tried to think of what she's said to encourage such behavior but nothing came to mind. Once she was out of her makeup and clothes she looked down at her feet hissing as she pulled her shoes off. She had several blisters that had popped during the day and a few places where her skin had scraped away bleeding. It was her job to be in top fashion, to put on a beautiful appearance to bring in sponsors. She supposed it wasn't an art if you didn't bleed for it.
She rinsed off her feet with a towel and put on some bandages not even bothering with the healing balm she knew was under her sink. She could deal with a little pain here and there and it was far from the worst she'd ever had. At least the knives hadn't come back into fashion. A dress made of daggers and shoes with actual knife points for the heel were not good for the state of her body but she had looked very dangerous and had kind of liked it even if she had come away with rather worrying gashes all over her legs and arms and one on her hip that she'd nearly had to go to the hospital for. She opened her door wearing his shirt from this morning and peeked out of her door. No one was around, it was too early for him to be asleep but once they went to their rooms the Avoxes usually left.
Effie stepped out of her room into the hall walking on quiet feet and staying in the shadows. She knew about the cameras just like anyone else and if she got spotted going into Haymitch's room twice in a row only half dressed and not coming out until morning she would be in trouble and so would he. Even if tonight they were more likely to argue than anything else. She opened the door and he was facing away from her and staring at the programmable wall screen that was not turned on.
"Go away Sweetheart, I'm not in the mood." He grumped at her not moving a muscle.
She walked around the bed to look at his profile seeing a tumbler full of some sort of blue liquid. The room, however, was not as permeated by the smell as she expected and the glass looked to be the same one he had stormed off with at dinner. "Well too bad because we obviously need to talk if you're going to act like this." She pushed.
"I always act like this." He shot back.
"No you don't. You aren't the most accommodating person in the world, I admit, but you don't always act like this! Something is wrong." She shot back angrily and pushing.
"You wanna know what's wrong? Fine." He said standing and reeling around to her. "I'll tell you what's wrong. I get used enough by the Capitol and so will those kids! We don't need you usin' us fer entertainment and laughin' at us when we're down." He growled his shoulders hunched and the glass from his hand now on the table though she hadn't seen him do it. For the first time in her life she was genuinely afraid of Haymitch Abernathy. She had felt him nearly kill her once, she knew he was a dangerous man, but until that moment she never expected he could actually hurt her. This second though he looked ready to pounce and tear her apart.
"I've never…" She started but he jumped in too quickly.
"You never thought I'd figure it out? Well I did! And you can go back to yer room. I'm not playin' yer game tonight so you can go deal with yer problems yourself like everyone else!" He yelled at her and it dawned on her what he though. The fact that he could even expect she was using him like that, after all the years they'd known each other and all the respect she thought they had for each other, as she certainly had it for him, he thought she would do that to him? That thought boiled in her stomach like fire and she straightened walking straight up to him and looking him right in the eyes standing less than a foot from him and very much inside the proper personal space allotted to a person by basic societal decency. But if Haymitch wasn't going to be decent he wasn't going to get a mannered decency!
"Now you listen here Haymitch Abernathy." She said in a dangerous tone. He started to open his mouth but she stuck up a finger and silenced him with a look that made her look even more dangerous than he did. He knew she could be, that was the secret of this one Capitol woman, most were too stupid or caught up in their world to be dangerous but Effie was different even if she didn't let on. "I will have you know that I have never used or laughed at you or any of our Tributes. I have loved every single one of them and I have mourned their loss and I will keep mourning them until I die! You were the one person I had with me, you never seemed to go through it the same but I knew you felt it! I knew it hurt you too and that helped. You were the only other person in the world who understood and I could never laugh at you and there were moments were I hated you for being able to go into your bottle and pretend the world wasn't waiting out here to destroy one life after another but there were times when I loved you for being there, even if it was just physically. For 10 years you were the only person who lived anything like my pain and yes yours was much worse but you nearly understood and I needed you every time and you were there and now you're accusing me of using you and it's simply not true because I care for you and I haven't stopped caring for you and I haven't been able to even look at another man in 3 years simply because he isn't you and can't measure up and it's infuriating because you're a District drunk and I should hate you but I can't imagine that being any father from the truth even if you are an insensitive asshole with no manners a majority of the time!" She ranted at him to the point he wasn't sure if she had even taken a breath.
She had leaned forward with every sentence, every emphasized word. They were practically nose to nose then her glaring up at him with fire in her eyes and he glaring down at her with a cooler, icier version that seemed to spark the closer they got. Their faces were barley a centimeter apart even though, bare foot her nose was about even with his chin. Suddenly his hand was on her neck pulling her forward and his lips were on hers and his tongue was in her mouth and she was clawing at him to bring him closer. Nothing in this was sweet or slow or playful. It was hard and fast and angry and full of fire. She clawed at his shirt pulling it open and undoing the buttons with shaky hands and he grabbed her hips pulling them close. She jumped up wrapping her legs around his waist and he held her easily as though she weighed nothing. Somehow his shirt fell off her shoulders and she got his pants down and his shirt off him and her nails scraped over her skin and his fingers held her hips in a bruising grip. She pulled back from his lips and the battle between their tongues, both of them panting and undone.
She looked down into his eyes for a second and kissed him more lightly and he looked up at her like a broken man. His eyes screamed that he needed her, that he was broken and afraid and angry at the world and he needed her to help him. She lowered her mouth and kissed his jaw with a light nip on the skin there that seemed to break the moment and bring back the intensity. They tumbled to his bed clawing and ripping away the last pieces of clothing his hands running over her sides and grabbing her as she ground up against him. Her nails going down his back in scratches and leaving welts and grabbing his ass pulling him down harder and making him moan.
Effie was nipping down his jaw and neck and pulled back when his hand pushed up her side to her breast kneading it and pinching the nipple pulling on it. Her hands tangled in his hair her nails scratching his scalp trying to pull his mouth to hers but he denied her instead going to her breast and taking it between his teeth sucking it and nipping the skin around it lightly his hand sneaking to her entrance and plunging in shocking her and making her gasp as her back arched up. He chuckled and the sound would have pissed her off to no end if his fingers hadn't been pumping in and out of her and flexing to push her walls in the most fantastic ways that was driving her quickly to insanity while his sucking on her breast and the way his shockingly talented tongue flicked and licked and teased stole her words and turned them to breathy pants with just enough sound to be related to a whimper.
It didn't take long for him to get impatient and press his thumb to her clit as he worked her making her shout out as her body tensed in pleasure and she fell back panting with his cock stabbing into her stomach insistently asking for attention. She started to move down to deal with it for him when he pulled her back up with a grunt. "Nutuh." He said intently bringing the hand soaked in her juices to his lips and sucking it off as she watched. He was thorough and it was a bit more of a turn on than she expected it to be. She pulled his hand from his mouth and attacked his mouth with hers flipping them over so she was on top this time. He tried to roll them again but it was her turn. She planted herself and pulled back looking into his eyes.
"Nutuh." She repeated to him with a challenging smirk making him chuckled and shake his head.
"Whatever you say, Princess." He grumbled to her folding his hands behind his head and lounging back like he didn't have a care in the world. She glared at his blasé attitude and got a devious idea. His hands were busy, so she would take care of herself for him. Sure she was wet enough to take him in, but not near close enough for what he would be content with from what she'd seen last night and this morning. She looked down at him with the mischievous smirk he was so happy to use on her and he looked back with a curious challenge. She took that as permission and rested her back against his demanding member and ran a hand up her own body cupping her breast in a show for him as she kneaded herself and pinched the tip her eyes locking to his. His eyes instantly went hungry but he didn't move. He watched enjoying himself if the insistent pulse on her back was any indication. She ground her hips against him as she did so making him hiss the smirk off his face and she ran her other hand up and down her stomach using the nail to tease herself. He reached up to grab her but she hit his hands and pulled away.
"Patience." She chided her tone deep and throaty from the attention she was giving herself and the anticipation of having him in her and the look in his eyes that shot right to her core filled with anger and heat and lust and impatience and desire.
"I'm not much good at that one sweetheart. What was that you told me? Better work fast?" He quoted last night and she laughed at him until he bucked up and she moaned. She decided it might be ok now, after all she could torture him more later or something. She lifted herself onto her knees and took him in hand lining them up and lowering onto him and he grit his teeth not to moan too loudly and she hummed happily her muscles stretching and constricting in an interesting dance to accommodate him. His hands went to her hips and this time she let them as she rose up and lowered down again deeper with each stroke. There weren't words. There was plenty of panting and moaning as she moved over him but their mouths never moved. They stared at each other. Him watching her body and her watching his reactions. As she drew closer and closer to the edge she leaned over him changing the angle and kissing his lips as he hit a place deep inside of her making her entire body wrack with the most amazing pleasure. She pulled back to breath as her eyes closed and her body tensed. He couldn't hold himself back anymore once he felt her climax and let go, gushing his seed into her and panting both trying to be quieter than last night. They both knew there was danger now and there was plenty to talk about. She collapsed on top of him and wrapped his arms around her.
Effie buried her nose against his neck and it was all quiet for a moment. They both knew they had too much to say but there was nowhere to start. "Please don't marry Micah." Haymitch grumbled first making her laugh slightly and kissing his chest taking a deep breath of his skin.
"I won't. Even if Micah did win the games, he would find someone in his District or someone better than me I'm sure." She said laughing and shaking her head at him. "You were genuinely worried about that? Haymitch I'm over twice his age." She reminded kissing her way up his chin to his lips as his arms wrapped around her when she kissed his lips and he kissed back. This kiss was sated and languid and romantic. All of their rage and anger was gone as was his defenses against her.
"You underestimate yourself, Eff. I live in District 12 and I can honestly say no woman there could compare to you." He said looking up at her and brushing her hair gently from her face trailing his finger down her cheek lovingly. She blushed at his words and shook her head and he watched her in awe. He realized just how many masks she had, just how much of an act most of her behavior was. She was confident and insecure, she was sassy and she was submissive, she was strong and she was accommodating. She was so many things and only he got to see all of them. It made him realize just how stupid he had been watching her all day and taking those actions as proof that she had used him. It wasn't the Capitol woman that was the real Effie, the woman in his arms right now, the sweet and blushing and beautiful and intelligent and fiery woman, was the real Effie. The one who didn't have a mask.
"Will you tell me why you were so distant and angry today?" She asked changing the subject. She needed to know why but he very much did not want to tell her. He huffed and looked away and she brought up her hand making him look at her. "I didn't understand why you were pulling away from me so much. It hurt." She said upset. "Did you really think I would use you like that? Because if so you should know much better and…" He cut her off before she could start rambling.
"Effie. Calm down. Yes I thought that, but not at first. It was watching you all day being a Capitol woman." She started to talk but he quiet her with a quick peck. "I know that's not really you. You got your turn." He reminded and she settled back against his chest to listen to the rumble of his vice and draw senseless patters on his skin with the pad of her finger, something he found very distracting. "You'd be amazed what you are capable of thinking with alcohol… and demons like mine. I started to think it was a trick and you were mocking me because that's how I've been all my life. You tell anyone about this and I will deny it."
"Honestly Haymitch, who will I tell." She huffed at him looking up at him sharply and he laughed and ran a hand through her hair soothing her back down to her resting state.
He shook his head. "But the thing that started it was Chaff noticing." He said and she gasped. He knew she understood the implications of that, how dangerous it would be if anyone knew about them, which made him proud. His princess wasn't dumb, a bit oblivious and obviously blind to herself, but not dumb. "He asked me when we got so close and it worried me." He said his hand coming up to her shoulder rubbing over it gently and enjoying the feel of her skin under his fingers. "We have to be careful. If we even want to keep going with this… no one can know. Not the other mentors, not the other escorts, no one. The Capitol is everywhere and they wouldn't approve of an escort and a mentor in a relationship. We could get in a lot of trouble, you could get hurt and I've lost enough people in my life I won't lose you too." He said firmly shaking his head against the thought and the pain that thought sparked in him. He couldn't imagine losing Effie like he had everyone else in his life. He had tried for a long time not to love her, not to let it affect him, but now it was and he didn't want to let it go, not again.
"I don't want to stop. This is probably the best relationship I've ever had. Hell I don't think I could stop now. If I thought no one measured up before…" She trailed off making him look at her surprised and smirking.
"You liked it then did you." He said with a cocky smile.
She slapped his chest lightly. "Oh Haymitch." She chastised blushing and they both laughed for a moment before she looked up into his eyes. "I like you." She said emphasizing with a kiss to the lips and turned from innocent to deep and romantic, sharing their emotions to each other through actions. Haymitch had never been good at words.
He grunted his thanks to wave it off a bit so she wouldn't see it affect him. "Then we need rules, or at least a plan. I'm sure you know the Penthouse is bugged." He said.
"Of course." She said and he felt a surge of pride. He suspected she did but it was good to know it was true.
"So we have to be careful with being seen. What we say in my room is alright. Beetee built me something a few years back. I didn't like letting them know that they had gotten to me." He said. She took every pearl of information to heart. It was rare for Haymitch to share anything with anyone yet here he was telling her some of his deepest details. She was the only constant in his life though, the only person close to him since he was a teen. It was different for them. "Anywhere else though we have to be careful and I can't keep it on all the time. Only at night or they start to notice. Bedrooms aren't visually bugged, and bathrooms and kitchens aren't at all so we're safe there. Outside of the penthouse nothing can have changed, hell outside of this room nothing can have changed. We still have to behave the same way we always have." He said and making her laugh and he looked down confused.
"It may only have been a day but from what I see the only difference in our relationship is that we're now having sex and sometimes I can get you to actually put the bottle down and talk to me." She informed with a smile making him laugh too. They stood a little closer, laughed a little louder, stared a little longer. Hell they had worked together for long enough maybe he finally told her something about him. No other escort had only one mentor, no other mentor worked so closely with their escort so often. It was almost guaranteed they'd make friends with each other, even a little bit. They couldn't be extremely close in public but perhaps if she still yelled at him, and he still antagonized her, maybe they didn't have to make all that many bans.
He nodded to her. "Just… be careful. The more they know the more they can hurt you." He said darkly.
"Us. The more they know the more they can hurt us. You're not alone anymore." She said with a gentle firmness. She wouldn't let him think like that, not anymore. He looked at her and kissed her in thanks and she lay back on him looking at the still full glass of alcohol. "I'm sure this will cause a fight, and I almost don't want to say it because of that, but I wish you didn't drink so often." She commented carefully with hesitation rife in her voice.
He sighed and looked at the glass. "If I drink less, will you wear less make up when you can. You look strange with unnaturally white skin." He said looking at her. He liked seeing some of his real Effie mixed into the Capitol's copy of her.
She laughed and nodded. "Alright, I can do that." She said and suddenly shivered feeling the cold that their previous activities had staved off. Body head alone could only do so much. He looked at her skin seeing gooseflesh all over her arms and moved down to get the blankets they had kicked to the bottom of the bed at some point when he spotted her feet all bandaged and some of them had small patches of blood showing.
"Eff, what happened to your feet?" He asked staring at them with fear in his voice. She looked up at him confused.
"What do you mean?" She asked not feeling anything wrong with them.
"Why have they got bandages on them? It looks like someone took a whip to 'em." He said darkly not looking at her and going a bit closer.
She looked down and saw her bandages; she'd forgotten the rest of her body distracting her from a few popped blisters. "Oh it's nothing. High Heels do that sometimes. Hardly the worst damage I've had from my wardrobe. You should have seen the season when broken glass was the absolute peak of fashion. Oh God or the knives. I won't land in the hospital for a few popped blisters." She assured trying to appease him but the look on his face didn't look very appeased.
"You went to the hospital?!" He growled at her making her eyes grow big and she backed down a bit.
"No! Not really. I was close but some salve and some water and rest cleared it right up. The fashion ended quickly. It's my job to be at the height of Fashion fads Haymitch. It's required for me as an escort!" She reminded gently but making it clear she was not moving in this.
"God the Capitol is made of idiots! I can't believe you wore Knives and broken glass!" He growled to her trying to keep his voice down not to be heard in the halls.
"Would you be nice!" she started searching for something in her mind to calm him down at least but he interrupted her not listening at all.
"No! You could have gotten seriously hurt! What happens if one of these stupid fads hurts you so badly you…" He stopped abruptly fear in his gaze and she sighed moving closer to her and putting her hand on his cheek.
"I'll be careful with the fashion. Only be up on the cutting edge when the edge doesn't actually cut. Perhaps one day avoiding it I'll start the newest fad myself." She said trying to appease him and spin it better to make him relax. "Will that fix it for you?"
He sighed and huffed out a chuckle. "Yeah. Sounds good Princess." She said with a small smile but got slightly more serious as he looked up at her again. "Just don't go leaving me ya hear?" He said hugging her to him and kissing her neck before burrowing his face there.
"Same goes for you." She said gently sad at the thought it was even possible as she tangled a hand in his hair. "Now let's sleep." She suggested taking the blankets and pushing him to lie down so she could go back to using him as a pillow and together they curled up and went to sleep. Their night was peaceful and left them hoping to meet a brighter morning together.