Trust

Effie and Haymitch spent the next day mainly with Elowen. Unlike yesterday, however, the two didn't share the time with the girl, but rather coached her more or less together. Which meant nothing other than that Effie continued to give her advice on proper etiquette in the Capitol and told her what facial expressions and gestures should be, while Haymitch sat slumped on the sofa and drank slowly from his silver flask.

Now and then, when it was relevant to the topic, he would throw in something helpful. His main focus was actually on the topics of conversation for the interview and giving her tips on how best to answer questions that were specific to the situation. But since they had already done most of the work yesterday, today was just a matter of putting the finishing touches on it. And he didn't have to compete with Effie for time. As if he would ever have done otherwise ...

After yesterday's events, which had almost escalated, Ramon had not shown up today. The Peacekeepers had offered to take the boy to Effie, but she had politely declined. She wanted to leave him in peace. It was his second last day in freedom. And since he had not been particularly cooperative yesterday, she did not believe that she would be able to make much progress with him today. Ramon was as ready for the interview as he could be. There was nothing more Effie could do for him.

Time was passing them by far too quickly and as the day drew to a close, Effie felt like she could have taught Elowen a thousand more things. Nevertheless, she knew that other things had to be prioritized first and so she sent the girl to bed earlier than on previous days. She needed to be well rested for the interview.

The next morning, the tributes were picked up separately by their prep teams. They were immediately driven to the TV studio to meet the stylists and get ready for their big moment on stage. The escorts and mentors weren't expected to arrive until late afternoon, just before the actual interviews began. This gave Effie plenty of time to follow her usual routine and get ready later.

Effie had been pleasantly surprised when Haymitch showed up for breakfast. Since their arrival in the Capitol, he had skipped this meal more often than he had attended it. She had already sat at the table, looking down at the little food on her plate and wondering how she was going to eat it. Every nerve in her body seemed to be tingling, she was so nervous. Excited about how the children's interviews would go tonight. Effie hadn't slept a wink last night. And now her body was punishing her for it. The headache was already coming on and she had already drunk so much coffee in the short time she had been in the dining room that her fingers could hardly hold the cup in her hand without shaking from the caffeine.

The young victor noticed her tension even before he had settled into the chair opposite her. He grimaced and sighed theatrically when he heard the impatient patter of her foot on the floor. A few strands of blond hair fell over his forehead as he leaned over the table towards her, grinning.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Haymitch asked teasingly, nodding to the Avox who placed a large, steaming plate in front of him.

Every time he thanked one of them, Effie couldn't help but get annoyed. There was a reason Avoxes couldn't speak: they were supposed to be as unassuming as possible. But by thanking them for their service, even if it was just a simple nod, Haymitch put them at the center of the action. That wasn't the point of their job.

A thousand thoughts were racing through Effie's head. All night long, she had been going through all the possible scenarios for today. She wanted to be prepared for any possible unpleasantness. When she met Haymitch's expectant gaze, it was her turn to sigh. "I am worried about Elowen's performance tonight. There is so much more I could have taught her. We should not have spent so much time on all the details of etiquette. While behavior is important, the audience is more interested in the content. We should have focused more on her talents."

Haymitch rolled his eyes and Effie watched him mix a golden-brown liquid from his hip flask into the coffee. "Good old first-year enthusiasm," he muttered listlessly and shrugged. "Honestly, sweetheart, you should worry less. The girl has no talents anyway."

"I should have expected that you would not care about anything again," Effie replied coolly. She narrowed her eyes into slits while scrutinizing him with pursed lips. "But at least there is enough whiskey."

Although Haymitch had more or less shown up on time for breakfast, it didn't change the fact that he looked quite disheveled. He wore an unpressed white shirt with a sleeveless brown vest over it. He must have put the vest on in a hurry, as it was completely crooked and the top two buttons were left undone. His blond, stringy hair looked oily and unkempt, and his uneven beard was in dire need of a shave.

Effie sighed once more. If the people in the Capitol were to get a good impression of District 12's team, Haymitch had to appear presentable by tonight.

"I told you from the beginning that liquor is the only thing that will be important to me during my days here," he replied with another shrug and allowed himself a provocative smile.

He didn't know Effie well enough to understand how she handled such barbs under stress. Therefore, he wasn't prepared for her reaction. "If you could stop acting like a spiteful ignoramus for just one day, my work would be a lot easier," she hissed with such a sharp voice that Haymitch raised his head from his cup in surprise.

In fact, Effie wasn't the type of person who took out her emotions on others. Usually, she kept her problems to herself, without letting the burden on her shoulders show. But the stress of the coming days was so overwhelming that her nerves were on edge. The lack of sleep only worsened her mood.

Haymitch eyed her briefly, then threw her another amused grin. "Relax, it's all going to fall apart anyway. When you look back in a few years, you'll regret putting so much effort into all this." Even as he spoke the words, the thought turned him serious. The smile disappeared from his lips as he watched Effie with his gray eyes. He didn't want to see her cheerful character broken by the Games.

"I hardly think so," Effie replied angrily, meeting his gaze without any fear. Haymitch couldn't help but laugh at that. He admired her for her strength. It was a kind of strength he had never possessed.

When Effie realized that Haymitch was only going to continue to tease her, she forced herself to relax. "I am also afraid that Ramon will not take my advice. He is such a stubborn boy."

Haymitch was about to make a derogatory comment to the boy when the warning glint in Effie's eyes silenced him. "Is that all?" he asked instead.

Effie closed her eyes for a moment, shook her head, and massaged her temples with her thin fingers. Then she listed a dozen other problems that had been bothering her over the past few hours. Haymitch remained silent throughout her story. Towards the end, he no longer bothered to hide the whiskey in the coffee. Instead, he started drinking the alcohol straight from the flask. Effie was so engrossed in her monologue that she didn't even notice.

"And even if none of that happens, the stylists could still ruin our evening. I did not see the dresses for Elowen and Ramon. After my lecture after the Opening Ceremony, they avoided talking to me altogether." Effie stopped speaking and looked at Haymitch with her big blue eyes. She was probably waiting for a reaction from him.

He had the feeling that the young woman was only pretending to be worried. It seemed more than unlikely that she had actually thought about all of this. When Haymitch looked at her more closely, he could see the dark circles under her eyes, but even that could be an act. He had seen Capitol women who had made him believe far more absurd things. Perhaps Effie was longing for a little attention. In District 12, it was difficult to get any kind of recognition. Perhaps she was missing the feeling of being the center of attention.

He just couldn't make sense of Effie. In moments like these, she couldn't be more like the other Capitols, and Haymitch wondered if he had misjudged her completely. But in some moments, he thought he could see behind the facade of Effie Trinket. And what was hidden behind it seemed to differ in some important ways from the dazzling public persona that she mostly pretended to be. Haymitch couldn't – and part of him didn't want to – decide to put her in one of the two boxes. A loud voice, his survival instinct, reminded him that it was better for both of them if Effie was an ordinary Capitol woman.

oOo

Before leaving the dining room, Effie had asked Haymitch once to dress up for the evening. "You represent not only yourself, but your entire District and the tributes," she had told him before turning her back on him. She hoped fervently that he would take her words to heart. Haymitch Abernathy was unpredictable.

The young escort spent the entire afternoon secluded in her room preparing for the interviews. Before she even touched any of the dresses laid out, she went through her schedule three times, checking for any final gaps and bottlenecks that might develop during the evening.

Only then did she turn her attention to her outfit. Effie stared down at the three dresses she had laid out on her bed before breakfast. She clenched her jaw in a gesture of frustration. She already knew exactly how she wanted to look today. The image had crept into her head last night and burned itself onto her retina. It was a stupid image and a childish thought. Nonetheless, it wouldn't let her go. So, she set to work to keep her over-caffeinated hands busy.

The hours passed far too quickly, and Effie was so engrossed in turning every inch of her body into a work of art that time passed by as if in a trance. Haymitch was already waiting for her in the living room. She would probably never get used to the sight of him in a suit.

Haymitch looked like he was from another planet. As if he had come straight from one of the wealthy families in the Capitol's city center. The tailored black suit fit him like a glove. Effie knew he hated it. She didn't even have to look at his face to see. Wearing that suit was exactly what he didn't want to do. She sighed to herself. His washed hair was combed and styled back with gel. He must have cut it because the strands barely reached his ears. His short beard had disappeared, revealing a smooth jawline. He looked like a man straight out of a picture book.

Then he turned around, and his previously gentle features froze. His sparkling gray eyes met hers with such intensity that Effie gasped for a moment. Haymitch said nothing. For a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, he just stared at her.

When he didn't seem to wake up from his immobility, she finally spoke up. "Are you alright?" Her voice was thin as a silk thread and so quiet that Haymitch had to lean forward to hear her.

Effie feared that he wouldn't like her appearance. He had inspired her to wear the floor-length pink dress made of endless layers of tulle. It fell loosely yet elegantly around her body and moved with every step she took. She was fooling herself. As if Haymitch could ever inspire her to wear a particular dress. It was just an excuse her mind used to cover up her fear of his reaction.

She had kept her makeup simple: a subtle eyeshadow, blush, and a matte lipstick — all in the same pink-red tone as her dress. But what must have caught Haymitch's eye was her hair, her real hair. In light blonde waves, it fell over her back. Effie wasn't wearing a wig that could hide anything. A small wreath of cherry blossoms adorned the front of her head.

Although wigs were back in trend this year, real hair was still occasionally worn. She was aware that her mother would shake her head at her choice of accessories, but she didn't care. As long as the general public approved of her outfit, everything was fine.

But now, standing in front of Haymitch and seeing him stare at her with wide eyes, she no longer knew what she had been thinking. You should wear your hair down. You look much better without those silly wigs. It had been a foolish idea to act on something neither she nor he had mentioned for days.

Finally, Haymitch shook his head abruptly and awoke from his immobility. "No ... I mean, everything's fine," he stammered, catching himself.

As he moved his head, she noticed his tie. It was tied completely wrong. Effie rolled her eyes and sighed just as theatrically as he had at breakfast to cover the awkward silence. "Your tie."

She didn't think twice as she approached Haymitch and took the fabric at his neck between her fingers. Effie felt his gaze on her and returned it professionally. Now that she was busy, he was staring at her again. She didn't have to look at him for confirmation, so she ignored him as she untied his tie.

Haymitch shrugged. "Usually, I don't wear it," he replied somewhat belatedly.

"Then why do you today?" asked Effie, only half interested in his reply. Her hands were on the back of his neck, trying to undo his knot with her nails. But he had pulled the fabric so tight that she could hardly get it undone.

Only when Haymitch didn't answer her question did she stop and raise her head. His eyes met hers suddenly. They were much closer than she thought. Almost automatically, Effie thought back to the kiss when she had wrapped her hands around his neck in a similar position. Haymitch didn't move; she was pretty sure he was holding his breath.

"And?" she whispered.

"I don't know," Haymitch admitted, not avoiding her gaze.

They were so close that Effie only had to lean forward to kiss him. Her fingers on his neck began to sweat. She would never be able to untie the knot like that. She sighed softly. Haymitch, noticing her suffering, didn't bat an eyelid as he raised his hands to his neck. His cool fingers brushed against hers for a second. Then he untied the knot for her and pressed the ends of the fabric into her hand. A small grin crept onto his lips, but he didn't move his face an inch from hers. Was he waiting for something?

"Thank you," Effie murmured, tying his tie into the right position with quick movements. She tugged at the bottom of the silk one last time and then straightened the collar of his shirt. "Done."

Before either of them could do anything stupid, Effie took a step back. She was still in his personal space, a step wouldn't change that, but her feet were heavy as lead. A warm current flowed through her body, pinning her in place. Effie raised her eyes to meet his. The warmth of his gaze spread to her body and for a moment she felt weightless.

In a gentle, fluid movement, Haymitch raised his left hand and touched her cheek. His fingers brushed over Effie's skin as light as a feather, and now she was the one holding her breath. Slowly but surely, she lost herself in the liquid silver of his eyes. She pressed her lips together to hold back a sigh.

Haymitch's mouth curved into a gentle smile. "You look good."

Effie had forgotten how to speak properly. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew how a lady should respond to such a compliment. But in that moment, all that was suddenly forgotten. She wasn't even sure she would remember her own name if Haymitch asked her now.

He moved away from her so quickly she could have sworn she was dreaming. Effie blinked several times and took a moment to regain her composure. Without saying another word, she walked past him to the elevators. Her mother would surely have sunk into the ground in disappointment at her lack of manners.

Haymitch followed her in silence. Together they entered the elevator that would take them to the ground floor, where everyone was already waiting for them. They were already behind schedule. As the doors closed and the elevator began to move, Effie replayed the past few minutes in her head.

What was going on between her and Haymitch? Effie barely knew him, he was definitely not her type and most of the time behaved very rudely towards everyone. But in moments like these, she felt like a completely different person was standing in front of her. In fact, she didn't even feel attracted to him. He was an ignorant, aloof and grumpy man and when he spoke, she usually didn't understand the meaning of his words. Haymitch had spoken in riddles from day one. Effie could see that he was suffering. She understood to a certain extent that he blamed the Capitol for it. But that was where her understanding ended.

He offered, a voice whispered in her head. He offered to tell you the truth. Only you didn't want to hear it. No, Effie didn't want to hear it. She shook her head to shake off the thoughts that were giving her uncomfortable goosebumps. Then she turned to Haymitch and found him watching her.

For a moment she wondered what he had seen in her face. She let him distract her again ...

"Please be nice to the reporters," Effie said bluntly. Haymitch's response was a snort. Effie would be happy if he could swallow his arrogance for one evening.

The elevator door opened, and Effie stepped out, followed closely by Haymitch. As soon as they left the Training Center through the large, gateless main entrance, they were caught in a flurry of camera flashes. Reporters rushed toward them. The Peacekeepers had a hard time keeping them at bay.

Effie flashed a radiant smile, which caused Haymitch's expression to darken. Before he could protest, she had already linked her arm with his as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He shot her a dark look, and Effie laughed. Her white teeth gleamed at him, making him forget his initial intention for a split second.

She leaned in with a smile and whispered, "Petunia is going to be incredibly upset about this." As the young escort spoke, the smile on her pink-red lips widened even more.

Haymitch raised an eyebrow in surprise. He glanced around the forecourt of the Training Center. At least fifty reporters were present, wearing the craziest clothes and suits in the most vibrant colors. They reminded him of circus acrobats in their extraordinary costumes, like those he had known from his grandmother's old stories. Half of the reporters were armed with cameras that flashed almost continuously, observing his every move. He didn't bother to hide his disdain for them.

But what exactly were the cameras seeing that made Effie so cheerful? Haymitch turned his head toward Effie, who was waving to the reporters and answering some of their questions. Then he looked down at himself and finally realized it. Effie and he appeared so familiar that she had linked arms with him without any protest from his side. He hadn't allowed Petunia to do that in fourteen years.

A cold shiver ran through Haymitch's body, and he stiffened. Was that what it was all along? Was Effie trying to wrap him around her finger? He had suspected it more than once and now he had proof.

Effie, noticing his sudden stillness, turned to him without dropping her cheerful mask. Haymitch didn't know what she read in his gaze. "Did you really think I was infatuated with her?" she asked, almost amused. "Petunia has a reputation in the scene, but she is not known for her nobility."

Suddenly, Haymitch realized how clever Effie actually was. And what a good actress, too. Up until that moment, he had truly believed that she felt at least some degree of reverence for Petunia. But that was how it was in the Capitol: people lied to each other's faces, put on a good front, and plotted against each other in secret. Because that's exactly what Effie had done. She had used him to get back at Petunia.

After a few final photos, they got into the car. An Avox helped Effie with her long dress, while Haymitch bumped his head on the doorframe of the black vehicle. Effie giggled when she heard him curse. But as soon as the doors closed behind them and the car started moving, the mood changed.

Haymitch became serious, the corners of his mouth turning downward. He hadn't noticed until then that a small smile had graced his lips. An alarm bell began to ring in his head. Something was going terribly wrong here. Usually, he was the one who fooled the Capitol with his dismissive attitude. Today it was Effie who had fooled him.

For several minutes he stared out the tinted window on his right, watching the silver towers, their lights flickering in bright colors and reflecting off the skyscrapers next to them. How he hated this city ...

After much hesitation, he finally managed to form a meaningful sentence out of his thoughts. His tone was composed and calm, although it was simmering beneath the surface. "Are you trying to fool me too?"

Effie turned to him, surprise reflected in her eyes. It took her a few seconds to remember their conversation from earlier. Her mind must have been somewhere else entirely. When she understood, she slowly shook her head. "I respect Petunia," Effie tried to explain. "But that is the way we deal with difficult personalities in the Capitol."

"Am I not one too?" Haymitch asked without hesitation, watching Effie closely. Since his time in the arena, he had become a watchful man. No one played with Haymitch Abernathy, and if they did, they only did it once.

"Sometimes," Effie admitted, smiling gently. "But with you it is different," she then admitted. "You are not from the Capitol. With you I do not have to worry about foul play or secret interests." As she spoke, her voice gradually became quieter, because she realized how wrongly Haymitch could take her words.

"And how do I know you're not just like the others in this city?" he asked instead.

Effie remained silent for a while. Haymitch was already afraid that she wouldn't respond at all when she finally cleared her throat. "I am like the others in this city, Haymitch," she said gently. "But I am different from Petunia, or if you want to put it that way, I am different from the typical Capitol you imagine. I cannot prove it to you, but time will tell. You just have to trust me."

You just have to trust me. It sounded so simple coming from Effie's mouth. For Haymitch, trust was something precious and he already had too little of it to give. Was he ready to trust Effie Trinket?

But she was right about one thing. Time would tell.

-

Sorry for the long silence. I was on vacation and there was just no time to update my stories. I hope you like this chapter. Let me know! :)

Skyllen