Vengeful

Effie and Haymitch stood in the vast halls of the Remake Center, where the Opening Ceremony of this year's Hunger Games would start in a few minutes. Twelve wagons were lined up one behind the other and the first tributes were already present. Elowen and Ramon were still with their stylists. Time was running out and that was really bothering Effie.

"Where are they?" she murmured quietly to herself. She hadn't exchanged a word with Haymitch since the conversation on the terrace. He didn't know if she was angry, but he didn't feel like talking anyway. "There are no delays anticipated in the schedule."

Haymitch found it funny watching her tap her right foot on the ground in that dark red monstrosity that was supposed to be a boot. Effie had clutched the clipboard to her chest almost like a life preserver. She placed so much emphasis on punctuality. He sighed.

The wait was over when he spotted the two of them in the crowd, running briskly towards them. Their concerned faces said it all, he didn't even need to let his eyes wander down their bodies to know that District 12 would be the laughingstock like every year. Effie had also spotted the tributes and he could literally see how the blow hit her. It really wasn't good.

Elowen wore a form-fitting body suit covered in orange and red sequins. Her hair shimmered in a yellowish neon tone. Ramon next to her had been dressed in a vintage miner's outfit. His physique could save a little, but overall, they both looked pretty ridiculous.

Apparently, this hadn't escaped the notice of the two either. "I'm supposed to represent a fire," Elowen blurted out, her green eyes on the verge of tears. "My stylist said I looked authentic. I was on the verge of smashing the hairspray can into his face!"

Ramon next to her was raging. "How the hell am I supposed to get sponsors in an outfit like that?!" The artery on his neck throbbed with anger.

Haymitch glanced sideways at Effie, but her face had turned into a landscape of ice, and she seemed to be absent. What did she expect? Tributes in striking and attention-grabbing outfits? However, they would not lack for attention ... Just not for reasons she had imagined.

When Haymitch realized that Effie wasn't going to say anything, he surprisingly spoke up. "What did you expect? Just because you're in the Capitol now doesn't mean you're no longer from District Twelve." Ramon's face darkened further. "Go out there and try to make the best of it."

Ramon rushed past them and jumped onto the car. The tension surrounding the boy was so intense it could have been cut into pieces.

Effie slowly came out of her state of shock and looked Elowen up and down. "I apologize." There was genuine regret in her voice and Haymitch wondered why she was apologizing now. "Always smile and wave, do not forget that."

They left the tributes at their wagon and made their way to the upper tiers to get an overview of the remaining tributes.

"I cannot believe these people are called stylists!" raged Effie. She was furious. "They are there to make our tributes look good, not like ..." She probably couldn't think of a word that would describe what she wanted to say without sounding inappropriate. It made him grin.

"Do you mean shit?" Haymitch looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Haymitch, honestly, do you always have to be so vulgar?"

He laughed loudly and found himself, in the next moment, feeling better because of her. "You have to admit, they looked really like shit."

When she realized he was teasing her, a small smile appeared on her lips. "Maybe," she finally admitted and looked at him. "But they cannot help it."

"See, it wasn't that hard to admit," Haymitch grinned.

"If your talk ever rubs off on me, I will kill you myself."

Effie Trinket was a petite person, shorter than him with a slim figure. She would never be able to do anything against him and her threat only made things more amusing. "Of course, sweetheart. I'm already dreading that day."

Effie giggled quietly to herself, and hearing Effie Trinket giggle made him grin, something he wanted to punish himself for the next moment. The two of them were actually joking around and teasing each other like they'd known each other forever. He really needed a drink ...

Chaff came in handy. "Haymitch, buddy." His oldest friend among the ranks of the victors emerged from the crowd before them. He had probably been looking out for Haymitch already.

They exchanged a brief handshake, then Chaff was already peering past him to Effie, who was watching him suspiciously. "Congratulations. There's no better way to say it. You've finally got rid of the old dragon." His voice sounded rough; he had probably already drunk a lot. The grin on his lips was wide and inviting.

"Really, talking about someone like that is really inacceptable," Effie remarked pointedly. Haymitch and Chaff ignored her.

"About time, the woman has always been ugly," Haymitch grinned and nodded at the bottle in Chaff's hand. "I need one too."

Chaff looked at him indignantly, raising the bottle in warning. "Oh, so you didn't want to introduce the new one to me?"

Chaff could be really impossible at times, though mostly quite amusing — making jokes about the Capitols, rubbing their manners in their faces, always ready to embarrass them for his own entertainment. A glance at his friend's poorly concealed smirk was all the confirmation he needed. Haymitch sighed. "Effie," he said almost theatrically, knowing exactly what would follow next. "This is Chaff, District Eleven. Chaff, this is Effie Trinket."

"Effie, then." Chaff's grin grew even wider. "Pretty hot." Then he pressed a kiss to her lips. Haymitch only rolled his eyes.

Effie took two steps back and widened her eyes in shock. "What in the world," she gasped disgusted. "What inappropriate behavior! And no Haymitch, you won't drink now, the Ceremony begins." She grabbed Haymitch's wrist and tried to pull him away from Chaff with all her strength. Haymitch and Chaff only laughed uproariously.

Effie's patience seemed to have reached its limit. More than that. The expression on her face seemed almost taken aback. More like she was about to kill someone. "Come on Effie, it was just a joke."

"If he does that again, I swear there will be consequences!" Her voice sounded dangerous, accompanied by an almost imperceptible tremor, but Haymitch wasn't fooled. He was a victor, she couldn't harm him in the slightest.

"Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. He was tired of enduring her constant outbursts about manners and proper behavior. To his satisfaction, she actually kept quiet, albeit not without giving him one final murderous glare. Yet, he couldn't help but notice traces of embarrassment under the layers of makeup.

"Keep her out of your games for now," he therefore muttered to Chaff before following Effie. A gleaming smile was his friend's only response.

The first carriage was already rolling across the long square as Haymitch came to a stop near a huge monitor next to Effie. The crowds, whether on the square below or up here on the balconies, began to cheer. Haymitch felt the uncomfortable knot in his stomach. What these people did to children. It was disgusting. The image of his own Opening Ceremony was still as vivid in his mind as if it had been yesterday. And yet, it had been fourteen years ago.

Fourteen years. Actually, an eternity. And yet the years had passed by Haymitch. He had come out of the arena a dead man. Fourteen years ago. His family, his girl, dead for fourteen years already. He felt the lump in his throat. His hands automatically clenched into fists, and he wanted to look away. But there was no way to look away in moments like this. These children deserved every respect. This right here was inhumane. And that was why his mind craved a drink so badly.

Beside him, Effie stared intently at what was happening down there on the square. She was Capitol. She was in favor of this, he could suddenly see it in her eyes. Haymitch took an abrupt step backwards. He wanted to scream out loud. But instead, he turned on his heel and fled. Away from them, away from her.

His feet almost automatically carried him to Chaff. Without a word he sank down next to him, and Chaff didn't comment as Haymitch downed the drinks glass by glass. Chaff was his best friend, he had known him since his first year as a mentor. Thirteen years had already passed since then. Chaff knew him better than anyone. They understood each other without words, and he always knew when something was wrong with Haymitch.

Therefore, Chaff gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder and elicited a laugh before reaching past Haymitch to the counter. He knew Haymitch didn't care for pity. "Hey, save me some!"

Now, after a few drinks, Haymitch's heart began to calm down and he knew that Effie would be angry that he had just left. But his foggy brain didn't care. She was Capitol, she was supposed to handle things herself.

oOo

When Effie eventually tracked down Haymitch, the Opening Ceremony had long since ended. Most people had left their seats, and Haymitch and Chaff were the only ones still sitting at the roofless bar. The click of her high heels preceded her, like a warning to brace himself. Seconds later, she appeared on his left, towering over him, and glared at him with such fury in her stormy blue eyes that he almost expected to be struck by lightning. She had pressed her lips together, as if it would help her restrain her temper, but it was clear as day on her features. Haymitch disappearing before their tributes had even rolled out onto the square had clearly not pleased her.

"Haymitch Abernathy," Effie's voice shrilled as she came to a stop next to the two victors, her voice straining several octaves too high. "What in Panem's name do you think you are doing here?"

A sigh seemed to pass through the two victors as if Effie's arrival heralded the end of their drinking spree. The question should have been directed at her; after all, she worked for Snow, not him. Haymitch turned on his chair and nearly lost his balance. He felt Chaff's hand grip his upper arm and pull him back onto the chair. He must have had a bit too much to drink if even Chaff had to hold him steady. He opened his mouth to respond to his escort, but not a word escaped his throat. It was as if he had forgotten how to speak amidst the liquor haze.

"What is wrong with him?" he heard Effie say from a distance.

"Well, what do you think, doll?" Chaff's voice came gruffly, and Haymitch wondered why she wasn't talking to him. He couldn't see the floor beneath his feet, not a good sign. What was she even doing here? He had just joined Chaff. Time seemed to slow down and then suddenly speed up too fast. Was the Ceremony already over?

"And how am I supposed to get him up to the penthouse now?" Her voice sounded slightly hysterical, which naturally brought a grin to Haymitch's face.

Chaff clinked his glass and shrugged. "He'll manage, wouldn't be the first time."

The walk to the Training Center wasn't long. Maybe just a few hundred meters. Haymitch protested Effie's attempts to help him and did his best to walk as straight as possible. They were halfway to the Training Center, and Effie was at her wit's end. "I cannot believe it. You were standing right next to me, and the next second, you were just gone!" When he didn't respond, she sighed. "But talking to you now will not do any good anyway."

"I couldn't bear it any longer," burst out Haymitch, and he wished he could take the words back as he balanced on the asphalt. Something in him wanted to tell Effie the truth, to wake her up. He couldn't bear to find her halfway acceptable, even though she was, by all accounts, Capitol. She made an effort with the tributes, and for that, he respected her. Enough not to want to watch her become a hardcore-Capitol over the years. If she wasn't already.

But when Effie lifted her head in surprise and her questioning eyes met his, Haymitch's mouth opened again as if on its own. Everything was spinning, and he wondered if she even understood his gibberish. "No matter what we do, they'll die. They were presented like animals down there, as if they weren't human beings. They're children." He turned his head away, not wanting to see her face.

"It's the Hunger Games, Haymitch," she answered, suddenly in an inconspicuous voice.

"And what if they were your children?"

Effie had no answer to that. Instead, she nervously pressed her lips together, and he knew she would think about it. If the person she had shown him over the past three days was true to reality, she would take it to heart.

Upon arriving at the Training Center, they waited for the elevator, and after a long silence, Effie spoke up. "Do you think I enjoy preparing the children for their possible deaths?"

Haymitch took his time before answering that. Yes, you were looking forward to this task before you were confronted with reality in District 12. "You're Capitol," he said. "And the Capitol loves to see us suffer." The elevator arrived and Haymitch got on.

oOo

Effie was momentarily frozen in place. A sense of unease crept into her stomach. His words almost broke her heart. The Capitol loves to see us suffer. The tortured look in his eyes, despite the thick haze of liquor, spoke volumes. Effie barely knew Haymitch, having met him for the first time just a few days ago, yet she couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to protect him. From his tormentors, from those who had subjected him to this. Whatever this meant, because she had no idea. Perhaps it was just one of those delusions that drunks sometimes conjured up when they were too far from reality. But she had never seen Haymitch like this. So vulnerable. He had always seemed incredibly rigid and distant to her. Always on guard, careful not to reveal his emotions. The way he spoke about the Capitol, he must harbor great resentment against it. Even though she couldn't for the life of her say why.

For a moment she wondered if he had been different before. But she dismissed the thought. What was she supposed to do? He blamed the Capitol for his suffering, and in some ways, Effie could understand it. He had been in the Hunger Games and had to kill people, even though he had been rewarded for his victory. A reward so great that it was ... worth it? Worth it to kill? The thought had something ... bizarre about it, even though it actually corresponded to the truth.

The silence until the elevator reached the penthouse was almost eerie. When the doors opened, she followed Haymitch without making any further attempt to help him. Haymitch seemed to be able to walk halfway straight again, he turned to her and gave her a quick look. Then he disappeared in the direction of his room.

Elowen and Ramon had already withdrawn to get ready for dinner in a few hours. Effie used the free time to read through some important documents. She was sitting at the large dining table in the living room and had just read through the final documents for the interviews when she heard footsteps coming from the hallway. She lifted her head absentmindedly, still bent over the folder at the table.

At first, she thought it was Haymitch's footsteps, but when she turned around, she saw Ramon standing in the archway. Something in his eyes sparkled and his features were hard. He took up the entire door.

"Good afternoon, Ramon. Can I assist you with anything?" Effie didn't want to start a conversation with the boy, but it was part of her duties as an escort to take care of him.

Ramon just looked at her without giving an answer, but he strolled through the room towards the bar. Effie pursed her lips, as he was clearly too young to turn to alcohol. In fact, it was even illegal. However, he didn't seem to care as he leaned over the bar and retrieved a dark green glass bottle.

"It will be almost an hour until dinner is served," she remarked instead, glancing briefly at the clock. She felt uncomfortable leaving him out of her sight.

As soon as Ramon's fingers closed around the bottle neck, his black pupils snapped back to her. The deliberate emptiness she found there sent shivers down her spine. He looked like a predator, setting his sights on his prey, ready to tear it apart at the slightest opportunity. Suddenly, Effie found herself remembering stories from other escorts whose tributes had not hesitated to try to kill them. It didn't happen often, but of course, it wasn't impossible. Some tributes simply couldn't cope with the fate chosen for them.

Something almost dangerous gleamed in his eyes, and Effie had no idea what made him tick. He had already threatened them, and he didn't look like the kind of person who just made empty threats. Still, she didn't see it coming. Only Ramon's flailing arm made her flinch. The glass bottle whizzed centimeters past her face and shattered into thousands of shards on the wall. A brown liquid ran down the wall and formed a pool.

A startled gasp escaped Effie's lips and she nearly jumped out of her chair as she turned to face him. A few seconds had passed and yet he was already rushing towards her. In his eyes, nothing but pure hatred. What had gotten into him?

Effie's hands pressed into the edge of the table and with a jerk she ran along the table, putting an obstacle between herself and her tributes thirsty for revenge. Was it actually revenge? She knew he was angry about his brother, but that anger was more directed at Haymitch.

"Ramon," she said warningly, wondering how she could stay so calm.

"Don't worry," Ramon remarked, leaning across the table and giving her a sneer. "I don't intend to kill you."

Effie's eyes widened in alarm. She was much smaller than him. A boy like him could break her neck in seconds. She had seen it dozens of times in the Games. Only now, they suddenly felt much more real than they had just moments ago, when they were only scenarios in her head or on television.

"I'll just make sure you remember these Hunger Games," he continued.

"Why are you doing this?" she heard herself ask with a steady voice. She didn't understand how she managed to keep it so calm. "I haven't done anything to you."

Ramon smiled and there was something crazy in that smile. It made the hairs on the back of Effie's neck stand up. "You Capitols always think it's all about you, don't you?" he mocked and his grip on the edge of the table tightened. His white knuckles stood out clearly. "I have nothing against you, I couldn't care less about you. It's about all of you."

Effie opened her mouth but didn't know how to respond. She didn't understand what he was trying to tell her. "See," Ramon hissed, his voice trembling, throwing his arm up. Effie flinched, but when she saw that he had only extended his finger toward her, she cursed her fear. "You don't even understand how fucked up this system is! You just accept it all, watch children being executed every year and keep sipping the champagne we have to make!"

"And why exactly are you attacking me then? Hardly to discuss politics with me," Effie asked evasively. She thought of Haymitch and the hints he had made to her. Only he had chosen his words carefully and didn't trumpet them as directly as Ramon did. But maybe that was exactly what she needed, because she felt the sudden shame coming over her. She didn't even know what she was ashamed of. Was there anything at all to be ashamed of?

"I just want to show that I see through all of you," Ramon hissed. His eyes blazed with anger and his expression was twisted into a compulsive mask. "I want to remind you all of your guilt. If I die in this goddamn arena, I want you to remember that you are responsible. Just like you are responsible for the rest of the suffering in the other Districts!"

"But," Effie began, but she realized that arguing would not sway the boy from his course. She could apologize to him, and he wouldn't let her go. A voice in her head whispered to ignore his words and stop thinking about them. This boy was crazy, clearly out of his mind. Everyone was solely responsible for their own fate. But another, quieter voice whispered that he wasn't wrong and that she wouldn't be able to look away forever. Wherever that voice suddenly came from.

"Let me go," Effie finally said. Her voice was quiet, just barely reaching his ears, and yet it was strong. "You will never get away with this. I will notify the Peacekeepers immediately."

A malicious laugh escaped Ramon and he looked at her almost contentedly. Then he leaned over the table and Effie almost jumped backwards. Her palms were shaking. She had to show him that she was superior to him. As she stepped around the table and toward him, she stared at him with an emotionless look in her eyes. Ramon looked down at her. "I am warning you. I am warning you only once. You are treading on very thin ice. If you so much as harm a hair on me, you will be punished severely."

Ramon grabbed the arm she had held out to him to make her small appearance a little more impressive. She pressed her lips together as he squeezed her ankle but didn't say a word. " That's exactly what I mean. In your arrogance, you think you're worth more than any of us. So the Capitol wants to threaten me now?"

"I–" Did she mean to threaten him?

"Let her go." A twitch ran through Ramon's arm. His eyes moved away from her. Effie turned to the door and gasped. She didn't even know she had been holding her breath. Haymitch's voice sounded angry, and his face was frozen in a grim mask. He was standing at full height in the doorway. He looked threatening. He looked like a victor.

oOo

Haymitch had just been looking for more liquor when he caught wind of the heated conversation between Effie and Ramon. But what he encountered in the living room was even more unexpected: a raging Ramon, only held back by a table from tearing Effie's head off. Effie, who was smaller and thinner than Ramon. Defenseless. But what struck Haymitch more was the concentrated, hollow look in her eyes. The adrenaline that had overridden all the panic. An expression that instantly catapulted him back into the arena.

Before Ramon could even move, Haymitch had lunged forward and pulled him away from her. Effie took a step back as soon as Ramon released his grip on her. While the boy staggered back a few meters, Haymitch positioned himself in front of Effie and approached Ramon dangerously quickly. He wasn't sure exactly what he intended to do. Striking him down would only make him angrier, and that wouldn't help anyone. Haymitch had his hands clenched into fists but remained standing in front of Ramon, just looking at him. He had only wanted to intimidate him. That's why he wasn't prepared for Ramon's reaction.

Haymitch had good reflexes and yet he had never been physically attacked by one of his tributes, so he hadn't expected Ramon's freak out. The boy lunged at him and shoved his hands forcefully into his chest. Haymitch stumbled backwards and stared at Ramon, who was looking at him with menacing eyes. "You're incapable of anything! No wonder my brother died. This is all your fault. District Twelve is so screwed!"

Ramon's action snapped Effie out of her trance and instead of jumping to the side out of fear, the young woman almost jumped in front of Ramon and stared up at him. "Enough! I'm so tired of putting up with your inappropriate behavior one second longer! You've been walking around since day one like an arrogant boy who hasn't managed to reach maturity. You may be angry, you've every right to be. But you've no right in the world to use violence against your mentor, or me. Do you realize that if we report this, they could immediately punish you?"

Ramon walked past her, his lips pressed firmly together, obviously pretending not to hear her. Haymitch's eyes nearly popped out of his head as Effie – whose temper was evidently boiling over from her shock – firmly grabbed his wrist, just as he had done to her. That finally made the boy look up. Haymitch took a step toward the two of them, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "You accuse us of being responsible for your brother's death. But who was in the arena, us or your brother? It's entirely your brother's fault that he's dead now. He just wasn't good enough."

She didn't see the blow coming, but Haymitch did. Ramon punched her in the face with full force and the next second she was on the ground. For a moment, Haymitch just stood there, undecided whether to punch Ramon or rush to Effie's aid. A growl left his throat as he stood in Ramon's way. "Get lost."

Ramon disappeared without another word.

Haymitch knelt next to the slumped woman and gently touched her back. Effie flinched, but when she realized it was Haymitch she visibly relaxed. She raised her head and pressed a hand to her mouth. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Hey, sweetheart, stop crying," Haymitch said and pulled her into a hug without thinking about it.

-

What do you think about the chapter? Please let me know! :)

I'm changing my upload-day. From now on, I'll update on Thursdays. Let's see how it goes!

Skyllen