Haymitch sighed as he looked at the bottle of alcohol, after he dried it in the 13th district he had not drink it again, although every day it was more difficult for him to resist that temptation; especially now that it would be the last day he was in the Capitol or good in what was left of it, and he was due to leave with Katniss for the 12th district tomorrow morning, being her legal guardian.
"Are you sure about this, Haymitch?" asked Heavensbee.
"And what do you want me to do? " Leave her alone in the capitol, and have her executed or worse?" He said in an annoyed tone.
"Paylor wouldn't do that, but the truth is you´re right, she'll be better off in District 12" He take a pause" What will you do with Effie? "
Haymitch avoided being uncomfortable with that question" What do I mean, what will I do with her? You told me that she had immunity and there was no risk to her, that she'll be fine" he said this in a warning tone.
"Yes, and I keep it Paylor assured her immunity, you shouldn't worry about that, but I mean well, I thought you´re together—He said.
At this last comment Haymitch coughed uncomfortably" What made you think that stupid idea? "
"Oh please Haymitch, why did you make him take her to the 13th district, convince Coin that she was not a spy, nor was there any danger because she was from the Capitol and that she would join us even though she caused me trouble, when she refused to use the uniform as it was, and refusing to do the tasks of the 13th district, and all that because she was on your list of important people, and then you made me get his immunity with Paylor" He said it ironically
"For the memory, I also helped get immunity towards her, however, you were more useful since you were closer to Coin and now to Paylor"
"That's not the point. Why don't you answer the question I asked you, are you with Effie or not? "
Haymitch got annoyed and frowned. "What do you care?" "He blurt out" It's none of your business what I do or don't do with my life and that includes Effie"
Heavensbee was silent for a while, then he licked his lips before saying this since he didn't know how Haymitch would react—There will be a dance to raise funds in the presidential mansion, important people will come from the other districts, the main rebels, and capitols that don't they lost everything—Haymitch looked at him when saying this since he was one of the main characters in the rebellion and had not received such an invitation, not that it really mattered to him, however it seemed strange to him so he let Plutarch know .
"I'm one of the main rebels, however, I'm not included in that," he said while looking at him suspiciously, already having an idea of what he would hear next.
"Yes, but you're still too much of a rebel," he said, "And don't get me wrong, but you sided with the rebels and Coin to destroy Snow, and no one really believes that you didn't know Katniss's movement at the time you killed Coin, which is why you're not that acceptable to the people who will attend and funds are needed," He mutter this last.
Haymitch wasn't surprised, and he really didn't want to be in a nest of hypocrites, which is what he was going to find —However, I wasn't invited and I couldn't even go because I'll be in 12, plus I'm banished from being able to leave until Katniss no longer has legal problems, I doubt you're going to speed up that process, why are you mentioning it to me? "
Heavensbee was really regretting bringing up the idea, but it was too late to regret it—Because I want to ask Effie out as a date, but I didn't want any trouble with you—
Haymitch ignored the jealousy he felt, since he and Effie are nothing more than friends who spent a few nights together, they had known each other for 13 years and had sex a few times, more in recent years, but they don't have feelings other than friendship.
"Well, you should ask her that, not me, don't you think? "He ask ironically while he avoided getting up and hitting Heavensbee, although it could be because he was angry that he didn't tell him about the move to bomb the capitol circle and the children there, and now he wants to invite his Effie.
"Well thanks, then take care Haymitch, have a good trip" he said goodbye.
Haymitch followed suit, wishing he didn't have a drink right now because he was definitely looking forward to it.
At night Effie arrived at the room she had in the Capitol
"Hello, Haymitch," Effie said as she entered.
"Princess, I thought you didn't want to see me anymore since you finally got rid of me" Haymitch said with a smile, although it was totally false
Effie smiled" Yes, it was time to not have to act like your babysitter, and take care that you were not going to die from swallowing your vomit when you were too drunk"
Haymitch made a disgusted face. "You know, I'm really sorry about that, and for throwing up on you at those times."
Effie sighed. "Look when you finally leave, you're polite, I finally managed to teach you manners," she said with a little smile.
Haymitch really smiled this time. "You taught me so much more, honey," he said the last part with a seductive tone.
Effie smiled flirtatiously as she walked closer. "So, like what?" I whisper this last
Haymitch moved closer as he looked at Effie's lips, which he syndicated one last time, then they wouldn't be together, they never really were.
"This," he murmured before kissing her, as always each kiss they had was an explosive, passionate kiss, however, this one had felt almost like the time he kissed her before leaving for the games arena to rescue Katniss and the others. Besides, he didn't know if he was going to survive, or if they were going to see each other again, this felt even worse like a goodbye because they both knew it would be.
Haymtich began to feel a salty taste in the kiss, and when he stopped he realized that they were Effie's tears, he stopped and held her face with one hand" What's wrong sweetheart? " he told her as he wiped away her tears.
"I don't want you to go Haymitch," she said, "I know Katniss needs you, and Peeta needs me here while he finishes his rehab until he's ready to go to twelve."
Haymitch sighed he couldn't deal with this, he wasn't good at dealing with feelings, he couldn't love anyone, every time he loved someone he ended up dead like his mother, his brother and his girlfriend, Finnick, Chaff, or hurt as it turned out. Katniss, Peeta, Jo, etc… He has a long list of names because he shouldn't get romantically involved with anyone, and he doesn't want to add Effie to that list.
"Honey, you know that ours was only an adventure at night when our demons were too much for ourselves and we sought comfort in each other, don't miss me Effie, you don't really want me in your life" he mentioned this as he walked away from her, I needed space and a fucking drink right now
"You really think that, you really think that! Haymitch I told you we were a team, I went to District 13 for you, I joined the rebellion for you, you know I didn't care about that, I did care about Peete, Katniss and you, my family" she murmured this last
Haymitch swallowed hard as he began to feel anxious, he couldn't deal with this" You know I care about you dear, you're a good friend" and when he said this last thing and seeing how Effie made a face that quickly changed to a fake smile, a smile that he had seen her use too many times when she was uncomfortable and pretended everything was fine.
"So I'm just that for you, a good friend," she said as she wiped away the last tears. "Take care of Katniss, Haymitch," was the last thing she mentioned as she closed the door.
"Shit," Haymitch cursed, shaking his head because he could never do anything right, and how life was too testing for him to tempt him to drink while trying to stay sober.
Trying to sleep, he replayed the whole conversation with Heavensbee about Effie, and the jealousy grew stronger again, imagining that soon he would be gone and Effie would be completely free for Plutarch, and then she repeated her conversation with Effie and cursed herself again that he hated doing it crying, he felt a discomfort in his chest and his throat closed every time he saw Effie's tears and it had been very few times.
He knew the feelings that Effie had for him, she mentioned them to him the last night before leaving for the rescue mission, however, he can't accept reciprocating it, he can't lose her, he can't lose someone he loves again.
"I really am an idiot," he said. The next morning before leaving with Katniss, he went to look for Effie at her apartment, when she opened the door, and saw that it was his attempt to close it, but he got in the way.
"Listen sweetheart, let me talk Princess" he begs, Effie pushed aside for me to enter her apartment—I'm an idiot and you know it very well, and I can't handle feelings, I can't even talk about them or mention them, but no, you're not a good friend to me, you're…Effie you're…Fuck why I can't say it—he growl annoyed
Effie giggled, to which Haymitch sighed quietly. "Sure, make fun of me, Princess," he said with a smile.
"Listen I have to go, Katniss needs me, and you know the kids come first," he resumed his attempted statement. "But when Peeta can come home, he's not the only one I'll be waiting for," he said as she took her hand.
Effie smiled goofily" I love you too Haymitch" her smile widened when she saw the face Haymitch made, she leaned closer and kissed his on the cheek" I'll be there"
Haymitch smiled and suddenly remembered about Plutarch. "By the way, if Plutarch asks you to go to a dance or go out, you say no," he said as he scratched the back of his neck in discomfort.
Effie frowned. "Why would he ask me out, and how do you know that?" she asked.
Haymitch wished he had held his tongue" Maybe he mentioned it to me, because he thought we were together" Effie frowned again" And we are, that's why you have to tell him no"
Effie sighed. "Come on, I'll go drop you off and say goodbye to Katniss."
After hugging Katniss and wishing her to really start living her life now that she's free, Haymitch leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Don't be a stranger," he told her.
Effie smiled at him" Take care Haymitch, I'll see you later" she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"I'll be waiting for you, princess, for you and the child," he told her as he left.
Effie wiped the tear from her eye as she watched him leave with Katniss, but Peeta needed her and when he was okay, they would travel home to meet with the team, her family.