We're a Team

"E veryone has their reservations, naturally. You being from the coal district. But I said, and this was very clever of me, I said, 'Well, if you put enough pressure on coal, it turns to pearls!'" indepdendent effie trinket crossovers welcome written by gina

[drinkupsweetheart]

Just that short amount of time, the contact he’d been needing but didn’t realise it — was enough to dash away most of the bleak thoughts and make him smile into the peppering of kisses amidst the first.

“Only if you make that a promise, sweetheart,” he finally said with a last, lingering kiss at the corner of Effie’s mouth. Pulling away was the hardest thing he’d have to do just after giving up alcohol in this place. “Just — remind me that we’ve got a helluva lot of unfinished business after this damn meeting, all right?”

His hand dropped and quickly squeezed Effie’s before stepping back. The space between them didn’t seem as strained as before.

Haymitch turned without a word, leading the way; though the occasional look back over his shoulder and ghost of a smile let her know that he wasn’t forgetting their encounter any time soon.

[ofcoalandpearls]

“Will I really need to remind you? Your memory for these things is far better than mine, I’m sure,” she teased. If she’d known kissing him would relieve the tension so much, she’d have tried it long ago. She was sure she wouldn’t be able to focus completely on this meeting, but she would simply have to put him out of her mind. “We’ll see where we end up.”

[drinkupsweetheart]

Eyes wide and searching, his hands gripped tighter before sliding to Effie’s back. This wasn’t… they couldn’t do this, could they? But emotion was a difficult thing to overcome.

Shutting his eyes, Haymitch gave in to the kiss, silently wishing he could stay in this space and ignore everything else.

[ofcoalandpearls]

All thoughts of the outside world left Effie’s mind the instant she felt him return the kiss. She tightened her hold on him and deepened it; her tongue met his, and she was a goner, surrendered completely to this feeling. It felt almost like she’d just taken several shots of 100 proof whiskey, and it couldn’t be blamed on him - he’d been dry for ages. Either way, though, it was intoxicating. 

“Haymitch,” she murmured between kisses, the memory of where they were currently supposed to be coming back to her. She didn’t want to care about her responsibilities, but she had to. “Any way we can--resume this later?” 

[drinkupsweetheart]

His incredulous look was aimed right at her forehead, as though he could burn his disbelief into her brain because…

She was talking about this now?

“What the hell are you going on about, woman? Having fun at your expense? Are you KIDDING ME?” And while raising his voice probably wasn’t the smartest move, neither was boxing her in against the dip of a corridor where pipes ran in and out like a living animal’s blood vessels.

“How about the shit YOU put me through, huh?” Both hands gripped her arms — light enough not to hurt, but firm enough to make his point infinitely clear. She drove him insane on a good day, yet to think of the feelings of regret, anger, concern, and other unnameable things that ran through him when he thought she was left for dead in the Capitol —

“Don’t ever fucking do that to me again.” A split second later, he was pulling her into his chest and trying hard not to shake.

From emotion or withdrawal, he wasn’t quite sure. At least he was distracted.

[ofcoalandpearls]

“Haymitch, what--” She wasn’t sure what he was referring to, until he demanded her not to do it again, and suddenly, he was holding her, and she knew. He cared about her. He hadn’t wanted her to be left behind. She held on to him tightly, in an attempt to reassure him. “I’m here,” she said softly, “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” Quickly, before she lost the nerve, she pulled him closer and pressed her lips to his.

[drinkupsweetheart]

He started to shake his head, stopping when she didn’t continue. Like her words were there for him to respond to.

“Effie, say something. Anything. Just talk, okay?” He shut his eyes and took a steadying breath as he settled his back against the nearest bulkhead. Deep breaths in, out. No giving in to the panic that wanted to swarm him. Maybe he wasn’t quite ready to leave the drunk tank just yet.

Or maybe he’d never be ready.

[ofcoalandpearls]

“I--” She had no idea where to begin. For once, she was at a loss for words, unsure what he wanted...so she decided to run with that. “I never know what you want from me,” she began. “I can never tell if you’re pleased or upset that I was brought here. Half the time, I’m sure you’re just having fun at my expense, and then you look at me, or say something, and I’m baffled all over again.” She stopped her rant and sighed heavily. He’d probably have a good laugh about this later on. That Effie and her melodramatics. What a silly woman. “Why do you do this to me?” She almost didn’t mean to say it aloud, but there it was, nonetheless; the question she’d been asking herself for years.

[drinkupsweetheart]

He could go on like this forever if the chance were offered. Maybe he didn’t know it now, but that was something he really wanted. A simple, straightforward schedule. Routine. People next to you whom you could count on, who you knew.

“Good, ‘cause Coin’s a hormonal fucking —” he paused, smirking down at her in anticipation of the ‘Manners, Haymitch!’ he’d oddly come to rely on to keep him on track. His fingers flexed against the harsh grey jumpsuit as he pulled her closer when a rush of 13 residents crowded around them to pass through the next corridor. The sudden confined feeling made him shut his eyes and his breathing quickened, Effie’s nearness the only thing keeping him tethered to the world.

Suddenly, Coin and everything else left his thoughts. The only thing remaining was a deafening silence and the quickly emptying corridor, his hand still frozen at the back of Effie’s coveralls.

If only he could handle it as well as her.

[ofcoalandpearls]

She very nearly did chide him about his manners, until she remembered that he’d only make fun of her for it and not pay her comment any mind, as per usual. “What are you--” They were almost too close for comfort--or, at least, her own comfort. The last thing she needed now was to give him another reason or opportunity to torment her. 

“We should keep moving,” she said, making no actual effort to do so. Moving would mean the loss of his touch, the loss of his temporary closeness, and as confused and crazy as he made her feel, she wanted the fleeting moment to last just a bit longer. 

[drinkupsweetheart]

Nothing about 13 felt like the Capitol, or even 12. In many ways Haymitch was glad for that one small comfort. This was a new place to start over and make a difference.

But at the same time, he missed the little things probably as much as Effie: colours, space, free choices, all the alcohol he could soak up. This was good, though. He had to remind himself many times in a day, but he could do this. They both could.

“It’s nothin’ special, just a propo the kid’s gotta look good for. You up to it Ef?” The nickname slipped free of his notice — but that meant he was feeling secure enough to talk freely with her. That was a good starting point.

Not once did his hand leave her back.

[ofcoalandpearls]

“I can handle it,” she insisted, wondering why he was suddenly so concerned and protective over her. He could go so easily from tormenting her to--well, tormenting her in a different way. Sometimes she imagined he really thought of them as a team. Other times, it seemed he saw her as nothing but a joke. There were moments when it felt like they were growing closer, and the next, he felt a million miles away. 

She had no idea if or how much he truly cared about her, and sometimes, it made her feel lonelier than she could bear. Even this gesture, the hand pressed to her back, was fleeting. There was no telling when the switch would flip again, no knowing when he’d pull it away, only to act as though he’d never rested it there in the first place. 

[drinkupsweetheart]

He’d scoff at her thought if he could hear it. Always trust Effie to want to look like the belle of the ball, even in the middle of a war.

“Just a word of advice. Plutarch said Coin ain’t in any disposition to negotiate with the kid’s moods. So let me do the talking, all right?” His hand naturally found itself at the small of her back as he led them out and into the drab grey corridors of 13.

Old habits die hard.

[ofcoalandpearls]

Before leaving, she grabbed her sunglasses. At least they were something. Something to hide how drab she looked (and felt). 

She was about to make a quip about his manners, or lack thereof, when she felt his hand on her back. The comment never left her mouth. Instead, she walked with him in silence. It was preferable to arguing, at least.

[drinkupsweetheart]

Shaking his head at her, he lifted a hand but let it just hover before he could touch her shoulder.

“See you down there,” he murmured as though it were some confession; something he didn’t want to say because what would happen then? He’d leave and… what?

“Effie, hurry up and I’ll walk with you down there.”

There, that felt better.

[ofcoalandpearls]

Eyes bright, chins up, smiles on. She’d said it herself, and she couldn’t very well not follow her own advice--even if she didn’t particularly want to. “Fine, let’s go, then,” she said as pleasantly as possible, giving up any hope that she could look anywhere near presentable at the moment.

[drinkupsweetheart]

Here we go again, he thought to himself. Aloud, he said:

“Yeah, you know, you’re right. I just love mocking you every chance I get. It’s so therapeutic.

“That hair. Effie, it’s awful. How do you live with yourself.”

The longer he went, the more his feet guided him forward until they were practically nose-to-nose. Typical of their conversations. Start out like usual and then escalate to… whatever this was.

[ofcoalandpearls]

“That was needless,” she said sadly, too distracted by the comment to pick up on his sardonic tone. “I already know it’s awful, thank you very much.” She wasn’t a terribly self-conscious woman with many things, but her hair was certainly a weak point. “Go on, then, and tell Katniss I’ll be right there.” She may have been distracted, but she didn’t fail to realize how close he was to her. He was making it difficult to breathe, and she wasn’t certain why.

[drinkupsweetheart]

Effie certainly knew how to provoke the urge to roll his eyes more than once in less than two minutes.

“You’ve got a knack for annoyin’ people with your speculation. How about you be a good girl and come along without a fuss just once, huh?” Haymitch asked as he pushed off the bed and stood to (im)patiently await her cooperation, hand itching to pull her along whether she wanted to go or not.

[ofcoalandpearls]

“I will--as soon as you admit that you wanted to see me.” She crossed her arms stubbornly - she could be every bit as stubborn as he was, after all - and smirked, in her best impression of him. “For what purpose, I can only guess. Probably to mock me. But still, here you are.” 

[drinkupsweetheart]

A brow shot up at the serious tone Effie was throwing at him.

“Excuse me, did I hear right? I know damn well there’s a revolution going on — spent a good portion of my drunk time plannin’ for it.” But no, not here, not now. Their arguments needed to taper off for long enough that they could have a REAL conversation.

“Look, I ain’t here for chit chat, so if you’re gonna complain, do it on your own time. Plutarch wants you down in Command to get Katniss ready.”

Naturally he wasn’t just going to un-invade her space. Haymitch still sat atop her bed and waited for her next move with a strange sense of anticipation.

[ofcoalandpearls]

“Well, why didn’t you just say so?” If it was about Katniss, she supposed she’d tolerate his brutish behavior. For now. “No, really--why didn’t you? And why did you come all the way here just to tell me something anyone could have told me? Either you’re bored and desperately needed someone to bother, or you wanted to see me--and I don’t think they allow you to be bored here.”

[drinkupsweetheart]

This smirk was most definitely real.

“I was about to say that Plutarch sent for you, but I guess maybe I’ll sit my sober ass down for a spell and watch you stew. How’s life without the stilettos treatin’ ya?”

And just like that, Haymitch drew the door closed behind him, passing by her within a hairsbreadth and landing on the edge of the standard issue bed with an elegant thud.

[ofcoalandpearls]

Effie glared at him as he spoke, and even more intensely as he plopped himself down on her bed. “What exactly do you think you’re doing? Barging in here without being invited is one thing--I expect that sort of behavior from you, even sober, but now you’re just antagonizing me on purpose. Honestly, I’m busy, Haymitch. If you haven’t noticed, there’s a revolution going on, here, and I’m not just talking about the war. Go on and find yourself someone else to torment.”

[drinkupsweetheart]

Drying up was not the dream life he’d envisioned upon arriving in 13. A whole damn month later, his hand was still s h a k y when he tried to open a door at times.

Like now.

Her voice was what triggered it. But he pulled himself together and plastered on a smile he hoped like hell Effie would see through.

“Well lookit this: the princess still thinks she rules the castle. Welcome to real life, sweetheart. Might wanna tidy up a bit, though,” Haymitch added with a wave of his hand around her spartan room. Sarcasm always served him well.

[ofcoalandpearls]

She may have liked him better sober, but he was still as big a pain as ever. “Don’t you dare lecture me about real life. You’ve only just begun learning to live it yourself, mister sobriety.” If he was going to sass her, she was going to dish it right back. After all, he was the one who’d intruded upon her, completely uninvited and unannounced. “And I wouldn’t call you an authority on tidiness, either.”

[ofcoalandpearls]

“Haymitch Abernathy, did I or did I not ask you to stay out of this room?” she demanded incredulously, knowing full well that she’d certainly insisted he (and everyone else, for that matter) stay away while she was in this state; no makeup, no wig, hair askew--it was ghastly. 

[affinityforsecrets-archive-blog]

     Though he’s not the warmest      person in the welcome wagon,      he is far more tolerable than      some of the others. The smile      she offers is matched and he      pulls out a seat for her.

          “I had the same feeling— then           then they gave me my schedule.           You’ll get the hang of things in           no time. And it’s good to have           friends to sit with.”

[ofcoalandpearls]

"Friends," she repeated, almost disbelieving of his use of such a word. "I've never had many of  those outside the Capitol."

       And could she really call         them her true friends?        They were everything she        had been, everything she        no longer wanted to be.

[ofcoalandpearls]

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Take me out of this place I'm in Break me out of this shell-like  c a s e  I'm in Underneath the  s k i n  there's a human Buried deep  w i t h i n  there's a human And despite everything I'm still human                              ...but I think I'm dying here

[affinityforsecrets-archive-blog]

     He’s surprised to see the escort      from Twelve so… normal. It was      a welcomed look, if the victor was      honest with himself. Moving closer,      groggy from his morphling, an      unabashed look would roam over      the Capitol woman, lips pursed and      brows raised slightly.

          “Well, for starters, nobody calls           themselves ‘one’.”

[ofcoalandpearls]

That elicited a smile from the - f o r m e r - escort.  "I suppose not.  I'm just not sure how to  be useful around here. Apart from attempting to coach Katniss--well, that's a feat in itself, as you know, but--I simply feel out of place."