Katniss Everdeen

I've been having the same nightmare...

Because if that little bastard hadn’t volunteered, I’d be dead by now. Finally. It’d sure be better than the shitty hand I’ve been dealt after our joyful little revolution. Turns out I’m still a slave to the Capitol. Except the Capitol is now represented by one person who happens to go by the name of Trinket. Why the hell did I agree to marry a woman who won’t let me drink and adds salt to the wound by also refusing to fuck me? I mean, what’s the point in us not having sex? It’s not like we haven’t done it before. It’s not even that big a deal. Jeez.

[Katniss blinked awkwardly, staying silent for a moment since she was unsure of what exactly to say on the subject of Haymitch's sexual frustration.] You'd rather be dead than celibate for a while? Didn't you tell me that sex was terrifying? 

I've been having the same nightmare...

I'm not sure that I trust any kind of medication that they're giving out. As for therapy... I don't even pay attention to the therapist I have now. [Katniss shrugged and shoved her hands in her pocket.]

I've been having the same nightmare...

[Haymitch scoffed at nothing in particular, then sighed.] I really hate Peeta.

[Katniss raised an eyebrow.] ...Why do you hate Peeta?

I've been having the same nightmare...

[Katniss smiled weakly.] I don't think a knife or a bottle would help. At least not in a good way. 

I've been having the same nightmare...

I've been having the same nightmare...

Haymitch

Oh… Yeah. Uh… Guess I forgot to mention that sooner? I don’t wanna, though. I wasn’t gonna give in on that, but I kinda got forced into a job with Paylor and it makes sense to be there. Not gonna be there forever though. And I’ll come back all the time. I don’t care where she does or doesn’t wanna live. I wanna live in 12, and I’m damn well gonna. With or without her. If the crazy woman wants kids outta me, we’re sure as hell not staying in the Capitol for that. I don’t want kids. Ever. Had enough of you two as it is.

Moving to the Capitol and working for them. How on earth did you start working for Paylor? [There was a small part of Katniss that was afraid that as soon as Haymitch moved to the Capitol, she wouldn't see much of him from then on, but she kept that voice quiet and instead just tried to be happy for her mentor and the changes that were happening in his life. She grinned a little at the thought of Haymitch running after his own children.] We weren't that bad. 

Haymitch

Believe me, kid, I didn’t see it coming either. [He grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.] She’s not having anything big. The usual District 12 wedding. If she’s making me live in the damn Capitol, she can keep the wedding small and at home. No stupid Capitol crap.

Oh, you're moving to the Capitol? Guess that makes sense. Effie wouldn't want to live here. At least it won't be big. 

Haymitch

Okay. Uh… Well keep in mind there’s a backstory; a history behind all this. And it’s not just a quick thing. It’s taken a while to come around. It’s taken a while for me to… Uh… [He paused and took a deep breath, then blurted out the next sentence quickly.] Me and Effie are together and we’re gonna get hitched. [The words all practically merged into one, and he stared at her for a second, waiting for a reaction, before faltering and feeling the need to explain himself.] I mean, we’ve always been a little bit… y’know… weird. And she said she loves me and I… same to her… And she wanted to get married. She said she’d always wanted to get married. I wasn’t gonna, but she was all sad and crying, and eventually we just… well, she kissed me and I thought I was kinda too old for a girlfriend. She’s always felt like my wife. And I just… said it. Asked her. So… yeah. [He cleared his throat awkwardly and made a point to look anywhere but at Katniss.]

[Katniss' eyes widened. Haymitch was getting married, and getting married to Effie at that, though if anyone could put up with the old mentor in marriage it would be her.] I, uh, I'm really happy for you, Haymitch. I didn't see this coming in the slightest, but I'm happy for you. [A small grin broke out over her features.] You know there's a good chance that Effie is going to turn it into a huge wedding, right?

You could have. [She countered, though she wasn't sure. Even when he had just been hijacked he still didn't seem to avoid her.. though then he was actively trying to kill her. Her smile brightened a bit, whether it was at the fact that he remembered or that he'd just brought her cheesebuns, she didn't know... but she was thankful.] Thank you, Peeta. I'm.. kind of surprised you remembered, to be honest. [She took the plate from his hands and moved to the side, allowing him to enter her house if he wanted to.]

Haymitch

Well, your mom was my doctor. That’s the only reason I’m doing what she told me to do. They’ve got me on medication for the withdrawal but it just makes me… weird. I don’t like it. Anyway, enough about that. I’ve got something to tell you. Big thing.

Big thing, huh? Well alright, let's hear it.

Haymitch

Fine. I guess. Got my cast off, thank God. It was annoying the hell outta me. But now I’ve gotta do these weird exercise things. They said I’ve gotta build the strength up again. And I want a drink. I want a lot of drink.

Good. That you're healing, not that you want a drink, though that's just normal. I remember my mom telling some kid to do things like that when she had to set his arm... though the Doctors in four probably have better advice.