Chapter 12: Falling Down
The dagger was wrenched from my hands and then the shouting commenced, voices coming from every direction. I think I heard Effie…and Kall. Haymitch? Where was Haymitch? The blood was obscuring my vision. I couldn't see. I was pulled backwards, and I heard a scream.
"Stop! Just stop!" Plutarch Heavensbee. I knew that voice. The shouting stopped and I recognised the calloused hands on my arms. "Haymitch, take the girl to medical. Effie and Kallisto, escort them so they don't get lost" Plutarch instructed. Warm hands guided me through the doorway and then the questions began.
"What were you thinking?" Effie asked in a panic.
"That'll scar, Blue" Kallisto sighed.
"I'm not worth it, Willow" Haymitch breathed, and I spun on my heel, wrenching my arms free of both Haymitch and Kall.
"Don't say that" I snapped, "don't ever say that" I hissed. Haymitch looked anxious, and frustrated.
"I'm not" he insisted, and I slapped him, leaving a smudge of my blood on his cheek. He looked at me in confusion as he held his cheek.
"I love you, Haymitch. Now lets go to medical and get my face stitched up so we can go home" I snapped. Turning to follow Kall and Effie towards the medical ward.
My face felt like it was on fire, but Snow had told the staff there not to give me any pain relief. Once Haymitch and I were dropped off at Victor's Village, Haymitch led me into his house and sat me on the couch.
"Wait here, Will" he told me, then ran upstairs. When he returned with a familiar bag, I stood up to protest.
"No. I'm not leaving" I insisted. Haymitch pulled me against his chest and rested his chin on top of my head.
"Shh" he cooed, "just for a little while" he promised.
"But-"
"We let him think he's won, but he won't have someone stationed here forever. Once they leave, you come stay over here or I go to your place. Just make sure you choose which house it is. If the Peacekeeper tries to force you into one, tell them you choose a different one. It might have cameras. We need to be careful about this" Haymitch explained. I never wanted him to release me, because the moment he did, I knew we wouldn't be able to touch again for a while.
"Don't drink" I pleaded, "we've worked too hard for you to fall back into old habits" I reminded him. He pulled back, still holding my arms.
"No more hurting yourself, Blue" he returned, his hand coming to rest on the stitches that were holding my cheek together. I nodded.
"I had to. I couldn't-"
"I would rather rip my heart from my chest that see you sold off" Haymitch hissed sharply, then kissed my forehead.
"Let's go, lovebirds" the Peacekeeper snapped, stepping forward and reaching for me.
"Touch me, and I'll cut your arm off" I warned, slapping his hand from midair. I accepted my bag when Haymitch handed it to me and led the Peacekeeper outside.
"Stupid girl" he growled, grabbing a handful of my hair and shoving me face first into the pavement, aggravating my cheek. I cried out at the rush of pain, quickly getting to my hands and knees as I heard Haymitch call out for me.
"Don't" I pleaded to Haymitch. He couldn't interfere, it would only cause more problems. This was my own fault, my own temper. The Peacekeeper kicked me in the ribs, I gasped as I felt one break. I had to lose this fight, I had to just lay there and take it or risk Haymitch being hurt.
"Stop!" Haymitch begged, still in the doorway to his house. I could see the pain, the fury written there. He was on the verge of stepping in.
"Do what you think you have to, big boy" I mumbled at the Peacekeeper, who was glaring down at me. I could taste blood in my mouth from my cheek re-splitting. The Peacekeeper looked between me and Haymitch and smirked.
"Oh, I will" he said, grabbing my leg and shoving me on my back. He raised his gun at Haymitch and smiled. "You had a taste yet?" he taunted. My heart dropped to my stomach when I realised what he was planning. A beating I could handle, but this? No, that was not happening. I kicked out and got to my knees as Haymitch stepped forward, intending to interfere. Once I was on my knees, I reared back a fist and punched the Peacekeeper in the groin. He doubled over in pain and I saw Haymitch flinch.
"No" I growled as the Peacekeeper dropped in front of me. "I'm not your little plaything" I snapped, getting to my feet and standing over him. I kicked the heel of my shoe into his groin again for good measure. "If you ever try to rape me, I'll slit your throat from ear to ear and smile as you choke on your own blood" I warned, grabbing my bag and looking to Haymitch to ensure he was safe. He looked both impressed and horrified.
"Blue…"
"I'm okay. Promise" I said, forcing a smile and choosing the house directly beside his to make my home.
Weeks went by, and the Peacekeepers remained close by, blocking communication between Haymitch and I. It was hard, not seeing him every day. Not falling asleep in his arms. I heard his nightmares return, and there was nothing I could do to help him. I couldn't support him. That hurt more than anything else; knowing that we were each other's support system and now we were prevented from seeing each other. Peacekeepers would follow us whenever we went outside, and so I slowly stopped going, fearing that a Peacekeeper would attack me on my morning jog. So I started working out inside to keep myself fit, and I slept with my ring dagger under my pillow. It was hard to sleep when every night I would heard Haymitch calling out. It wasn't fair that the Capitol was doing this to him, to us. I should be free to love whoever I wish.
With a sigh, I rolled over in bed, sitting up with a start when I felt someone watching me.
"Shh, Blue. It's me" Haymitch said in a soft whisper. I crawled from the bed and rushed over to him, almost knocking him off his feet when I hugged him. He chuckled as I breathed in his scent.
"I missed you" I cried, holding his tighter. I feared this was a dream, that I would wake up and still be alone in my room.
"I missed you more" he smiled against my temple. My cheek had taken about three months to heal completely, and now it was the horrid scar I'd hoped it would become. But this was Haymitch's first time seeing the scar, he gently ran his finger over it as he pulled away to study my face. "Does it hurt?" he asked. I shook my head, my cheek hadn't hurt nearly as much as being separated from him.
"How did you get here unseen?" I asked, excited and nervous.
"The Peacekeepers left just after sundown. We're alone again" he smiled. I slid from his arms to look out the window, checking that we were safe. Sure enough, there was nobody out there. The street was quiet, the lamps giving off little light as the flames burned. I turned back to Haymitch and wrapped my arms around him, my lips touching his for the first time in four months. Haymitch held me tightly against him as his lips captured mine in a kiss that made me feel like I was finally alive again.
That night I feel asleep curled up against Haymitch and had the best sleep in months. When I woke up alone, I peered out the window to check for Peacekeepers, but the coast was clear. I grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair at the desk and made my way downstairs to see Haymitch burning his fingers as he grabbed toast from the toaster.
"Careful" I warned, making him jump.
"I was fully intending to bring you breakfast in bed" he smiled, putting jam on the slice of toast and then sliding the plate to me across the dining table. I picked up the toast and took a bite before smiling at the sweetness of the jam.
"You don't have to spoil me, I already love you" I reminded him. He put bread in the toaster and then turned to me.
"I know, but I like spoiling you" he smiled, then kissed my cheek before turning to the steaming kettle. "White tea with a splash of honey, right?" he confirmed, remembering my tea order. I nodded. We ate in peace and then curled up on the couch to watch a movie and then headed outside for a sparring session. Things were finally going back to normal. Our routine only had to change one thing; no more jogging together, we couldn't be caught by the Peacekeepers.
Author's Note: This isn't my favourite chapter, it's a bit of a filler chapter. But it needed to happen to show how much power the Capitol holds over the Victors. None of this was wanted by Willow and Haymitch, they are just wanting to like their lives without losing anyone else.
Also, it is most likely there will be no update tomorrow as tomorrow is my birthday, and I'll be doing some party prep before dinner. I might be able to squeeze in another chapter before work today, but no promises.