Prompt: Haymitch and Effie hear Katniss and Peeta talking about their relationship.
The deadly realisation.
Effie and Haymitch were bickering again. Not bickering, fighting. Insults thrown left, right and centre with Katniss and Peeta unable to do anything but watch, frozen as ice and utterly helpless
"You're so lazy Haymitch! The children-" Effie started. It inevitably always ended up with the two recent victors. Peeta had noticed, they were Effie's 'go to' for everything. He never said anything, but he could tell Katniss was getting annoyed. From both, the prospect of still being thought of as a child, and also the fact Effie always blamed them when their arguments were between the escort and mentor.
"-are now adults!" Haymitch corrected for the umpteenth time. "It's not my fault your schedule is ridiculous and hard to stick to! There are no rests. We. Are. Tired. Do you not understand Trinket?!"
He was right, Katniss had to agree with him. They were in district 5 at the moment and still going. The victory tour wasn't going too well in Katniss' opinion, but they still had 5 districts and the capitol to restore president Snow's faith.
"Well I can certainly keep to the schedule! It's not all that hard to follow- really Haymitch!" Effie.
"Do this, do that! Stop nagging me Trinket, I don't need it- you're not my mother! I'm capable of doing it myself!" Haymitch.
"Evidently not, seeing as you're so drunk all the time!" Effie.
"Sorry, I don't remember actually being drunk throughout this tour- does anyone else?" Haymitch. He looked at the wide-eyed couple staring opposite with such anger, they could do nothing but shake their heads.
"Wipe that smirk off your face Haymitch! We still have 5 districts to go and-" Effie.
"We know! You've told us so many times!" Haymitch.
"Well, I am the only person who can get us anywhere on time! You don't have to be so rude!" Effie.
As the arguments went on, Katniss and Peeta did what they normally did, snuck off into one of their rooms- Katniss' this time- and spoke quietly. Primarily hushed whispers about the tour and "was it enough?!". However this time, Peeta seemed desperate to talk about their other half of the 'team'.
"So what about Haymitch and Effie?" Peeta asked once they had sat down.
"What about them?" Peeta resisted an eye-roll. Katniss was never really an observer. Of the wood and hunting, of course; but not people, it was never about people with Katniss.
"How they feel about each other,"
"Hatred?"
"No,"
"Loathing?"
"No,"
"Repulsion?"
"Katniss!" Peeta shook his head. "Do you honestly not see it?"
"See what?!" Katniss stared cooly at him, she was sick of this guessing game. She had had enough games for a lifetime, and more.
"I think, they're being really flirty with each other..."
Katniss burst into laughter. Although Peeta loved seeing a smile on her face, it was for the wrong reason.
"What?" Peeta asked.
"Please tell me you're joking, they despise each other!" Katniss was still giggling.
"Nope, they always look at each other for far too long. In the heat of an argument or just across the table, I'll often see Haymitch staring at Effie." Peeta said.
"But never Effie staring at Haymitch..." Katniss replied. "Sorry to destroy your dream,"
"She looks at him at the parties in the districts."
"How do you know?"
"I see her," Peeta smiled suddenly then laughed, "I remember I went up to her once, I think it was district 8, and she jumped out of her skin when I spoke to her- she was too busy watching Haymitch," he laughed again.
Katniss shrugged. "That doesn't really prove anything. She could've been making sure he wasn't drinking too much,"
"Hmm, I think they're doing something..." Peeta thought aloud, more to himself than Katniss.
"Like what?" She shuddered at the images in her mind. Ew, those two were like parents to her.
Peeta just grinned back at a cringing Katniss.
/
"Just because you think-"
"Shut up Princess, the lovebirds have gone," Haymitch placed a finger on Effie's lips- earning a gasp of surprise and a the a glare of disgust.
"That's so rude Haymitch!"
"Oh! Sorry! I wasn't aware I looked like I give a fuck," Haymitch said sarcastically. "Katniss and Peeta have left,"
Effie looked around for a moment and then slackened her shoulders. "Oh,"
Haymitch then turned around and started walking out of the room.
"Where are you going? I wasn't aware we had finished!" Effie shouted.
"To find them, and apologise for our appalling behaviour," Haymitch mocked Effie's accent on the last part.
Effie stood considering for a moment. It was well mannered to say sorry, and this argument didn't seem to be going anywhere so...
"I'm coming with you!"
"Brilliant," Haymitch rolled his eyes as he walked down the corridor, the sound of heels quickly gaining on him.
/
Haymitch and Effie (once she had caught up) stopped upon arriving at Katniss' door. Haymitch pressed an ear up against the varnished wood, and listened carefully to the hushed voices on the other side.
"What can you hear?!" Effie said worrisome. "Are they saying how awfully dreadful we are?!"
Haymitch turned around.
"Well I'm not too sure yet princess. Maybe I could hear if you could not speak for a moment?" He said sarcastically, a mocking smile on his face. Effie cast her eyes down and folded her arms over her heaving chest. Her breasts were seemingly trying to escape from her restricting corset and Haymitch found it hard to focus after his eyes were drawn there.
"Get on with it then," Effie glared at him. He had no idea if she's noticed his wandering eyes but he didn't really care.
"-of course they are!"
"Peeta you're being ridiculous!"
"I'm not! They have flirtatious banter..."
"They hate each other. Effie-"
Haymitch's eyes grew wide. They were talking about Effie. He looked at her.
"What's the matter?" She asked.
"They're talking about us," Haymitch whispered and pointed to the door.
She furrowed her eyebrows.
"What are they saying?" She mouthed, now not wanting the other victors to hear her.
"Something about us having 'flirty banter'" Haymitch whispered.
Effie snorted and Haymitch couldn't help but laugh. It was so unlike Effie.
She then pointed to her ear, and then the door- mouthing 'listen more' to him. Once again, he pressed his ear to the door.
"They have feelings for each other!"
"Yes, strong dislike!"
"No, I think they might strong like! If you know what I mean.."
"I know what you mean, Peeta, I just don't see it,"
Haymitch snapped away from the wood like it was scolding. Effie looked up from her bracelet.
"What?"
"They... They think we like each other,"
"Well we work together don't we?"
"They mean like, like," he gulped. "You know..."
He watched her face change from confusion to realisation and she gasped. "Ohhhh!" She put her hand to her mouth. Haymitch nodded. Effie's face suddenly grew hot and red.
"Well. We can tell them the truth tomorrow. I'm just going to my room. I shall see you tomorrow," Effie quickly power-walked down to the end of the hall. She opened her door and slammed it shut.
Haymitch chuckled, of course he knew Effie used to have a crush on him. Portia had told him of her childhood love. But as he thought of Effie's features and non-robotic emotions he couldn't help but think there was some sort of spark.