Of Sponsors and Monsters

Of course, it could have ended worse. They could have said goodbye to Peeta with a cannon. And I'm thankful he's alive. But the shock runs deep. Only slowly does the knowledge seep through. Peeta is alive.

Relieved, I release the congested air from my lungs. "His leg ..." The rest of the sentence gets stuck in my throat. Haymitch doesn't say a word as we watch as Peeta struggles to his feet, only to drop to his knees again.

"They'll figure it out," he murmurs as the group finally continues on their way along the force field. He gives me a sideways glance.

It's only now that I suddenly remember the sponsor we were just talking to. My head snaps around and I spot her a few feet away. She's watching us. When she meets my gaze, she smiles smugly. "I just made the decision to play it safe and cooperate with District One," she says, taking a step toward me. I feel Haymitch turn in her direction behind me when he hears her voice.

I wait for her to leave, instead she stands in front of us and looks us over. The mocking smile widens. My stomach jumps. I gritt my teeth and square my shoulders in anticipation, because something tells me this isn't all.

"Good luck with the limp," she finally says, and I freak out completely.

I really don't know what got into me as I lunge towards her. Blind anger makes people weak because they act without thinking. The nerves are raw. The smallest spark is enough to detonate the bomb.

"How dare you" I hiss angrily. I can't believe she would allow herself to talk about Peeta like that. Peeta the sweet boy who is such a wonderful person. Who's the last person on earth to deserve such a comment.

Haymitch takes a step forward and quickly grabs my arm before I can even start to do anything stupid. His tight grip is probably the only thing keeping me from going for her throat. And my father wouldn't like that at all.

Sighing, I close my eyes and stop struggling against his grip. He's a lot stronger than me anyway. Then suddenly his lips are at my ear. "Careful, sweetheart." His voice doesn't sound angry, more like a warning. I open my eyes and turn to face him. The sponsor has disappeared into the crowd. "Some will think you're fond of them."

"Of course I'm fond of them, they are my protégés," I hiss back and wriggle out of his grip in anger. "You're acting like it's a bad thing."

Haymitch shakes his head imperceptibly, and his features harden. "Not I, but them. Think before you speak."

And all of a sudden, I understand what he was trying to tell me. Don't side with the outsiders. "Never mind," I mumble and shrug.

Before he can reply, Serena Glisson, well respected sponsor, approaches us. It is said that she is very difficult to convince, but once on board she would spend a fortune. Her interest lies in Katniss, but as expected, she's still undecided about sponsoring us. Together, we sit down at one of the tables and have something to drink brought to us. We present her the same number we've used with some other sponsors before. Especially her talent for archery seems to get Mrs. Glisson.

"I'm really, really impressed with how confident she is with the bow," she says, adjusting the gold chain in her décolleté with her hand. "Like she's been doing it her whole life."

Haymitch and I exchange a look and I bite my lip to keep from smiling. "And that's not all, she can survive for weeks in the wild," says Haymitch, patting Mrs. Glisson's hand. "She can cook game without fire, definitely a hot favorite to win."

Glisson smiles meaningfully, nods, and then leans back in her chair. Her eyes roam the vast room as if surveying the people passing us. I know immediately that Haymitch doesn't have her full attention yet, so I lean over the table as if I'm going to tell her a secret. "We have Finnick Odair as an ally, and even Districts One and Two have lost to them at the Cornucopia. If I were you, I wouldn't hesitate long before someone else takes your place. We have a number of people who'd love to bet on Katniss."

The smile widens and she nods again. Haymitch frowns but doesn't move to add anything. Actually, we would now be at the point where the sponsor either decides to sponsor or not. My eyes dart back and forth between the two.

"What about the boy?" Mrs. Glisson suddenly asks, looking at me with wide eyes. Her blue wig doesn't fit the atmosphere. Too cold in contrast to all the red around us.

I give her a friendly smile and continue. "Peeta, of course, where Katniss is he'll be. He's very strong and can withstand quite a bit of physical strength." I gently nudge Haymitch under the table with my foot for further clarification, since he's the mentor and knows the area best.

But Haymitch makes no move to say anything. I nudge him again, harder this time, and give him a look. He shakes his head almost imperceptibly. I don't understand what got into him now. He promised to help Peeta. He owes it to him. I don't understand his problem. With a silent sigh, I turn fully back to Serena Glisson, wondering what else I could tell her.

But before I can reply, she speaks. "Sounds like they'll be only available together." The smile doesn't leave her face. Maybe she's even interested in both?

I don't know exactly what Serena Glisson's net worth is, but it's often said to be huge. It would help Katniss and Peeta immensely. I nod with a bright smile and look at Haymitch, who is squinting at her. "Would you like something else to drink?" I ask him sweetly, but he hears the sharpness in my tone. He shakes his head and puts on his poker face. I don't understand him. Why is he so pessimistic? We are about to bring another sponsor on board and he refuses any kind of communication.

"However ... I'm really not sure how Katniss will be able to stand up to the other tributes on her own," Mrs. Glisson suddenly says, and I hear Haymitch grit his teeth. "The alliance with Odair will not last forever. So what? If it's her own survival at stake and no longer Peeta, what will she choose?"

I'm so surprised by this rapid change of subject that I stare at her in bewilderment for a moment. Hoping Haymitch will finally open his goddamn mouth. "She'll do what she has to do to survive," I say, sounding as unconvinced as I feel.

Mrs. Glisson shakes her head slightly, still smiling. "Are you sure about that, Miss Trinket?" She then turns to Haymitch with an even broader smile. "Why are you so quiet all of a sudden? You know that this would actually be your part of the job. I'm amazed at how much support you get from this lovely lady." Haymitch opens his mouth to reply, but the sponsor doesn't give him time. "Excuse me." Before either of us can say anything, she's already on her feet with another smile and gone.

Next to me, Haymitch sighs. I feel the need to hit him. A wave of disappointment washes over me. We have many sponsors, but none of them could have matched Serena Glisson. She's one of the few really rich faces among the sponsors we considered.

"Thank you for your active support," I murmur, and I can hear how dejected I sound.

"She wouldn't have given us anything anyway," Haymitch replies without looking at me.

"You couldn't have known that," I hiss angrily and turn to face him. His gray eyes avoid me. "What was the issue? Was it that you want sponsors for Katniss instead of helping Peeta?"

Haymitch's brows furrow and he presses his lips together. The hand still resting on the table clenches into a fist and he sighs again. "You accuse me of being prejudiced? You have no idea, dammit." His voice gets louder.

"Tell me Haymitch, if I have no idea, how did I manage to get you all the sponsorships while you were consulting with Four's mentor?" If he can do better, let him do it alone.

I don't expect an answer from him because we both already know the answer. He just looks up at me in silence as I get up to go and get something stronger to drink. Sitting in that dress is hard, but getting up is hell. But if you want to be beautiful, you have to suffer.

I don't get far before he grabs my forearm. A shudder runs through me. "She already bet for Two." He finally looks at me. The colorful light reflects in his eyes. Stunned, I freeze for a moment, letting the words run through my head.

"She ... she's already sponsored Two?" Haymitch nods and lets go of me. I stagger back a step and straighten my dress. "How do you know?"

"She distracted us and bought her tributes time to get water while Katniss and the others are still looking," he growls annoyed, standing up.

I turn to the screen and see Katniss and Finnick scanning the nearby area. He must see the realization on my face because he motions me to follow him as he picks his way through the crowd. We get to the team of 4 just in time to see Enobaria and Brutus take a parachute. Anger wells up in me as I think about how easily I got distracted while 2's mentor was sending them a sponsor gift. I watch in silence as Haymitch leans over a projection of the arena with the others. We're in the strategy room of District 4. I wonder why we moved all the business to their room.

"Are they supposed to chop down the trees with an ax to get to the water, or what?" I hear Haymitch say and see him shake his head.

"Too noticeable and laborious," Four's mentor agrees, as if he's really considered it. He must be a slightly older victor because I don't recognize him.

"What did they send Brutus and Enobaria?" Silently, our eyes wander to the television that every strategy room has. Brutus deploys the parachute. The device that lies inside is long and thin. Made of fine metal. I can't do anything with it. I've never seen anything like it.

But it only takes Haymitch a second to recognize it. "A spigot." Frantically he turns around. "Of course. Simple but effective."

They choose the right spigot and I hand him the notepad with the amounts and names of the sponsors who have already donated. We had a lot, but the spigot seems to have been expensive. We watch in silence as the parachute lands in front of Katniss and sigh when they don't understand what it's about.

"Damn, it can't be that hard to figure out what that is," Haymitch snaps at the screen. "Use your brain, girl!"

We are waiting. Katniss holds the spigot in her hands and gently runs her fingers over the surface. Suddenly her face lights up. "A spigot!" A small smile creeps onto my face, but it's only when the four of them gather around the tree, drinking one after the other and making relieved noises, that the tension in my body disappears.

"There we go," Haymitch murmurs next to me, and I see the faintest hint of a smile on his face. His eyes meet mine, but I can't look away. My cheeks are getting hot and I hope he doesn't see it.

Then I finally look down. "I apologize. I shouldn't have let her distract me like that," I say quietly, but in a way that he can still understand.

I still look down and see Haymitch's shoes slowly carrying him towards me. Then he touches my forearm lightly. I look up. "You were just doing your job," he says. "As do we all. And it went well."

He gives me a small smirk. When I return it this time, the pain stays away.

oOo

"But she was right about one thing," I remark a little later, when we're back in the middle of the sponsors' lounge and sip our champagne glasses.

Haymitch gives me a questioning look. "This lovely lady is really helping you," I say, unable to suppress a grin.

Haymitch smirks and leans away from me, eyebrows raised at me for a moment. Then he leans back in and says, "It's called teamwork."

I really have to get used to the fact that we're not just District 12 anymore, we're the District 12. People are always approaching and talking to us. I like it. It's nice to finally be noticed and appreciated by people.

"Euphemia." My father's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. So he hasn't forgotten me. I give him a big smile and let him pull me into a gentle hug. My mother would have commented at that moment that it's not proper to fall into each other's arms like that in public. Family or not is irrelevant. My father and I have a slightly different interpretation of her rules. At least as long as she's not present or won't be able to see us on TV.

"You spoke well," I say, smiling, taking a step back. He gives me an acknowledging nod.

"Then the odds were in my favor. You know I don't like making big speeches, especially not in front of so many people. But you can't avoid that at a Jubilee, especially as chief executive!" He laughs and straightens his suit.

"Why didn't you tell me about this project? Do you know how humiliated I felt when Alastair had to tell me this is your building?" I give him a mock offended look, but my eyes light up.

Father gently pats my shoulder and scratches the back of his head in embarrassment. "You know how busy I am," he explains evasively, grabbing a champagne glass from an Avox's tray. "We have long been obliged to keep it secret. And towards the end, there just never was an opportunity to tell you. I'm surprised your mother was able to hold back this news." A small smile plays on his lips. Then his curious gaze wanders over the glass to Haymitch. "Wouldn't you like to introduce me to the man at your side?"

I turn to Haymitch, who is eyeing us suspiciously, and nod quickly. I grab his arm and pull him towards my father. "Haymitch Abernathy, victor of the fiftieth Hunger Games," I introduce Haymitch to my father before turning to Haymitch with a gentle smile. "Haymitch, this is my father."

Realization flashes in Haymitch's eyes, his whole demeanor changing in a second. He stands up straight and takes the hand my father is offering him. "Marcus Trinket. I hope you treat my daughter with respect, Haymitch, I'll keep an eye on you."

"I ... of course, Sir," Haymitch stammers, obviously thrown off course.

"Father, we're colleagues!" But my father's already grinning while Haymitch nods dead serious. I have to grin at the sight of him. Well, let him scare him.

We talk about this and that. My father is generally more casual than my mother, especially in her absence. He explains that mother and Aurelia couldn't come because they're having a party at home to open the Games. "That's probably why I won't be going home today," he says. He doesn't particularly like parties, unlike the rest of the family. Unfortunately he doesn't have much time. People are hot for his building and want to talk to him.

"Your father is very different from what I imagined him to be," Haymitch admits after my father excused himself.

I walk next to him and smile slightly. "I can imagine that." That thought leads me back to our meeting with my mother and my face darkens at the realization how he must have gotten to that conclusion.

Then we split up and go hunting for sponsors again. "And this time you're really trying to recruit someone for us instead of standing at the bar," I order, then turn on my heel.

It doesn't take long before I can engage a sponsor in conversation. He sits a little apart from the action at a table and watches the huge screen. As I sit down next to him, his face lights up.

I introduce myself as District 12's escort and he congratulates me on our success over the past year. We quickly find a topic of conversation and it's easy to see that he's more interested in Katniss than Peeta. But that doesn't matter, since the two form an alliance anyway. After half an hour I have him so far that he agrees to my sum. I let him transfer the money via tablet and give my thanks to him before I bid him goodbye.

As I make my way through the crowd, I spot Haymitch trudging past the bar. I look at him with raised eyebrows. He just shrugs and turns when I grin at him triumphantly. I knew he wouldn't be able to do it without me!

However, the next few sponsors turn out to be more difficult. It takes me a lot of effort and a fair bit of persuasion to convince two of them to sponsor Katniss and Peeta. Another cancels. Overall I'm still happy with my performance as I take a breather and sit down at one of the tables.

"May I sit with you?" The unfamiliar voice makes me look up. A man is standing a few feet away from my table. His hair is dyed dark green, and he wears a white suit with dark green details. He smiles and points to the empty place next to me.

I nod and move a little to make room for him. From the way he looks at the screen, he must also be a sponsor.

"My name is Celestin Astra," he introduces himself, kissing the back of my palm. I have to smile and want to introduce myself when he silences me with a shake of his head. "You don't need to introduce yourself. I know you. Effie Trinket of District Twelve. I didn't sit down here with you for nothing."

"I'm glad," I say and give him a twisted smile.

"You look exceedingly well, Miss Trinket, has anyone told you that today?"

I have to shake my head internally. These men always come with the same compliments. I give him another smile. "Thank you, very kind of you."

Mr. Astra buys me a drink and I ask him if he's interested in the District 12 tributes. He nods, smiles and moves a little closer to me. A little, but I notice it anyway.

"Of course I'd love to sponsor your district," he tells me, eyeing me playfully. "But there's no hurry. I'd like to learn more about you."

I know this trick. They are all the same. Sponsors with too much money who think they can have fun with a woman here without being observed. It wouldn't be the first time I've experienced something like this. "I'm sorry to have to contradict you, but I'm not here for my enjoyment, but to find sponsors for my tributes," I reply distanced and hope that he accepts the rebuff.

He's a stubborn one. "Lucky me that I also want to sponsor your district!" His hands bridge the last gap between us and find my back. I flinch the faintest, but he seems too engrossed to notice.

I remain silent for a moment and can't believe how inappropriate he is behaving. Astra's hand remains on my back, probably testing whether I'll let him have his way or not. And I let him, even if I resist it. He's a sponsor. Anything that benefits Katniss and Peeta is a step forward. And I will easily endure this for the two of them. After all, it's my job.

Mr. Astra leans towards me. His lips inches from my face. "You really are a very lovely woman," he whispers. Then his hands start to wander. Unbelievable. I don't understand how he can't be ashamed.

It takes all my strength to sit still, not move, and smile broadly at him. "Shall we move on to Katniss and Peeta now?"

He nods and leans forward even further. His left hand has wrapped itself around my back from behind and wanders over my thigh. I want to move a little to the side, but neither he nor my damn dress gives me that alternative. He's definitely going too far and he knows it. These are the sort of men who take advantage of women's silence. I'd like to push him away and let everyone in the room air my thoughts. I wouldn't have dared back in time, nowadays I do.

That's when I notice Haymitch leaning against the bar, staring at us like a hawk. He doesn't seem to notice my gaze at first. His face is contorted with anger and suddenly I'm afraid he'll come over and yank him off me. Our eyes meet. He raises his eyebrows. Do you need help? I shake my head.

Then I turn to Celestin Astra, lean towards him and whisper in his ear: "Look, aren't you ashamed to touch a lady like that? You know, I could embarrass you right here, right now, in front of all these people for doing this, so you certainly wouldn't dare set foot in here again. Do we understand each other?" I pull away and move away from him, smiling warmly at his reaction.

Mr. Astra pulls his hands back faster than I can speak and gives me a pale nod. I laugh, stand up and pat his shoulder. To be honest I patted him a little too hard to call it a pat. I walk over to Haymitch without another glance.

Haymitch comes towards me. "You alright?" he immediately asks and observes Celestin, who is following with his eyes. When he meets Haymitch's gaze, he quickly looks away. Haymitch still looks furious.

I nod and grab his arm to make him turn away from Astra. I pull him with me to the bar. "I know how to handle such situations," I say and order the first cocktail I find on the menu.

"It was different back then," he replies a little more calmly and leans against the bar, albeit in such a way that he's facing me. "You want me to kick his ass for you?" From the way Haymitch is looking at me, I wouldn't put it past him. His blue suit still fits perfectly, but his hair is a bit tangled.

I give him a genuine smile and take a sip of my cocktail before answering. "No, I think I scared him enough already." I laugh at the thought of Astra's face.

-

Hi!

Maybe you noticed that Effie and Haymitch often mention their shared past - not directly but they brush the topic again and again. This part of their past will be revealed in a separate fanfiction, which I've already written completely in German, but not translated yet. After this one is finished, I'll start uploading the new one.But more hints will be dropped in this fanfic! :)

What are your thoughts about this chapter?

See you in 2 weeks

Skyllen