I’M WRITING! I’M FINALLY WORKING ON SWAN UPON LEDA. I’M ACTUALLY MAKING SOME DECENT PROGRESS! Someone cheer. I’ve barely touched this thing since the last upload I’ve written over 2k just today alone usually when I go without touching something for this long it means the fic is deadzo. Someone tell me they’re proud. I’M DOING GREAT! (Someone please tell me I’m doing great I desperately need affirmations & attention)
And yes, as always, because I can never seem to help myself, HERE’S A (very long awaited) SNIPPET!!!
Spoilers for ch 7 - you can go find ch 6 in my pinned! <3
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On a sober day, Haymitch arrives with a tiny ratty teddy bear. He pauses and fiddles with it for a moment before he says anything to her.
“This was my brother’s.” He swallows. And then he sets it on the kitchen counter next to Katniss as she tries to make a sandwich that will satisfy her raging taste buds. “I want you guys to have it.” He says softly.
She pauses, and looks at him. This isn’t the first, nor the second time, that he’s brought something of sentimental value for the baby. But the other times Katniss is pretty sure he was at least tipsy. She can tell by the clarity in his eyes that this was a completely sober decision. And it seems to have unsettled him slightly.
“Are you…sure?” She asks gently.
He swallows again, and nods. And then tries to produce a smile. “As long as that little booger doesn’t tear it up, yeah.”
Katniss returns the smile. “Thank you, Haymitch.”
He gives a curt nod, and then turns to go.
“Wait.” Katniss says.
When he turns back she feels like there’s a lump in her throat. She’s not entirely sure why she stopped him. But she realizes she wants to say it to him, that he probably needs to hear it. To know that she understands what it’s like to lose a sibling, someone close to you. Knows how hard it would be to gift their belongings to someone else. To give away what little physical evidence you still have of their existence, what still exists to show that they loved and were loved.
This time she’s the one to swallow before she speaks. “I’m…I’m proud of you, Haymitch.” She says softly.
It feels strange giving her mentor praise, especially when their usual dynamic is always teasing one another and poking at tender spots in each other's armor. Not to try and crack the other, but as a— what Katniss now realizes isn’t so healthy— way to show each other where they still need to toughen up. And as a twisted act of solidarity, that they both can acknowledge that they know the other still has wounds and hurts. It’s an understanding of sorts. An odd one, but it works for them. They’re never sincere like this. When it’s serious it’s always deadpan and to the point, more of a salt coating than a sugar one, making it sting a little more— as if they’re only playing it up— that way it’s easier to brush off and pretend it doesn’t hurt that much. It’s what they’ve always done. And Katniss feels like she might be breaking it.
She says the rest anyways.
“I- I think they would be proud of you too. I know- I know this means a lot-“
“I’m gonna stop you right there sweetheart.” He holds up a hand. “Just- that’s enough.”
It’s a quite brisk brush off, almost rude in the way he nearly snaps it. But Katniss knows the reality is that being sincere with him hurts a little too much to handle, and that’s why he reacts this way.
And then he surprises her. He decides to break their usual dance as well.
He steps forward and crushes her in a tight hug. He smells like smoke and sawdust and dirt. But it’s Haymitch. She hugs back, acutely aware that the last time they did this was over six years ago, just before the quell. She’d been the one in tears then.
“Thank you.” He says quietly into the top of her hair, voice both soft and gruff in the same breath.
When he pulls back he does his best to hide the tear, making to wipe it like his eye was itchy. She doesn’t point it out.
“Outta go finish that crib Peeta started. Make me a sandwich too, would ya? I’m starving.” He quips like their moment never happened.
She rolls her eyes.
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holidays are so so hard,,,, dad is here, cigarette smoke fills the house, im forced to relocate to my sisters' room while he's here, my second uncle and his family are staying here too and the ground floor is all taken up, i cant even distract myself with playing the sims bc i gotta be available always and playing a good host, we're supposed to go out tomorrow to visit more family and my fucking clothes havent arrived yet,,,,, AND im so fucking depressed, but its all in the back of my mind only pushing at me randomly while someone's speaking to me or something,,,,,
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