Hello :) SORRY for the long break in so long, I've had exams and then went through a period of being utterly unmotivated. But here we have my second fic! I hope you like it, if you do please leave a review to tell me. And if not, leave a review to tell me what I can do to improve. Thank you for your support with my first fic, I was so surprised with the amount of hits it got, and it inspired me to write more. I'm also looking for a beta, so please PM me if you're interested.
...
Katniss pulled at her clothes, straightening her shirt as she walked, twisting a lock of hair around her index finger nervously and scanning the room for someone she knew. Hundreds of capitol citizens, victors and their families were all gathered here, awaiting the all-important decision.
Tonight, President Snow would decide if there was to be any more Hunger Games. Although she had been in the great hall before, today it was different; it felt like the whole world was here. The walls were lined with bodies, though their voices couldn't be heard above the buzz of the music. She hated being alone in a room like this.
Recognising his scruffy blonde hair, she gravitated towards Haymitch. After several attempts at trying to part the crowds politely, she rolled her eyes and pushed past a group of particularly snotty looking Capitol women, earning her a few disapproving looks.
Upon her arrival, Haymitch greeted her with a smile, placing a hand on the small of her back in comfort, knowing how nervous she must be. It was going to be a long night. Citizens of the capitol were never ones to pass up on the opportunity of a party and this was no exception, it would be hours before the final result was announced.
Partly to take her mind off it and partly because he was already drunk, Haymitch took Katniss' hand and lead her onto the dance floor, despite her protests. He spun her under his arm on the way, chuckling at her awkward clumsiness. For someone so quick on her feet in combat, she really was a terrible dancer, although the high heels that felt so alien to her in comparison to the worn leather of her hunting boots didn't help her dexterity.
He chuckled as she tripped over her own feet, grabbing his arm to steady herself before taking a swipe at his arm, half angrily, half playful. Either way, he rubbed the spot where has had struck him and looked down at her pretending to be hurt.
She rolled her eyes at him, knowing he was much stronger than her, and however hard she had hit him, she was certain her hand was more likely to be injured than any part of Haymitch. In the moment that she was distracted, he burst out into song, horrifically out of tune and equally loud, with dramatic dance moves punctuating the end of each verse.
Though he would normally have been embarrassed, given the number of people that were watching him, Haymitch was far too bemused by the look on Katniss's face. She tried to ignore him, though her efforts were unsuccessful as he followed her every move, holding onto her hand as she attempted to walk away.
As hard as she tried to resist him, Katniss found herself dancing along with Haymitch; this was the best opportunity to have fun she'd had in a long time, and it would probably be the last in equally long. The long orange skirt flared around her as she spun, throwing her head back in laughter, an action that felt surprisingly strange to her.
She relished in the feeling, and when Haymitch took hold of both of her hands, this time she didn't protest, she danced along with him, similarly terribly. He looked down at the seventeen-year-old girl, at the way their hands were entwined, the look of ease on her face, and although he had always known she wasn't ugly, this was the first time he'd appreciated how pretty she really was.
A light covering of freckles splattered her nose, crinkled in laughter, and her grey eyes showed youthfulness he had long lost himself. All the while, Katniss was blissfully unaware of the number of eyes on the pair of them, and how odd they must have looked together.
The victors of the fiftieth and seventy-fourth Hunger Games, both from the Seam in District 12, in a room full of people in lavish Capitol attire. They looked positively plain in comparison. This was the first time Katniss had seen her mentor in respectable clothing, a light grey suit fitted perfectly to his muscular frame, and she had to admit that he scrubbed up impeccably well.
She smiled up at him and he squeezed her tiny hand in response, keeping hold of it as he lead her back over to where the other victors were standing, awaiting Snows announcement.
As the nerves began to bubble in her stomach, Katniss found herself unwilling to let go of his hand, in desperate need for both physical and emotional connection. He briefly dropped her hand and placed his arm around her skinny shoulders, pulling her against him as she laced her fingers back with his, her right arm held defensively across her chest.
In the newfound silence of the room Katniss was certain she could hear her own heart beating, much faster than usual. Haymitch perched on the end on the window ledge and pulled Katniss to stand between his legs, keeping hold of her hand.
And then they waited. In moments like this it feels like time moves in reverse, or stops, or slows down at the very least. President Snow was waiting too, playing with his audience, feeding off their fear and excitement.
And in that moment the silence was broken, his voice booming out over the megaphone, sharp and heartless. Before his sentence had reached its conclusion his voice was overshadowed by the uproar from the crowds. A break in the composure of the Capitol citizens was finally shown, their disgust was evident.
For seventy-four years, the Hunger Games have provided them with guaranteed entertainment and parties, what on earth were they going to do with their spare time now there were to be no more?
Unable to believe their ears, Katniss and Haymitch's mouths fell open simultaneously, and it was only when her knees fell weak below her that Katniss realised she had dropped Haymitch's hand in shock. After the initial shock came an overwhelming feeling of happiness, a raised heartbeat once more, this time out of joy.
An impossibly large smile spread across Katniss's face, her cheeks flushed red as she turned to face Haymitch who she found looking equally elated. Looking down at the beautiful girl before him Haymitch stepped down from the ledge, and at what felt like an agonisingly slow pace wrapped his arms around her waist.
She pulled her arms from between them and snaked her hands to meet at the back of his neck. Without caring that they were in a room full of people, or that this moment would probably be broadcast across the whole of Panem, Haymitch picked her up and as she wrapped her legs around his waist, they kissed.
Her mouth was soft against his, but her kiss was strong and filled with emotion. He let her take control; amazed by her reaction and how physically dominating she was for such a shy girl. Too soon, she pulled away.
As they rearranged their position to something slightly more socially acceptable, they noticed the stares. Almost every pair of eyes was on them, and the ones that weren't were fixed on the huge television screens next to the stage, the cameras magnifying their kiss. What had they done?
...
It is rated M for a reason, so the more reviews I get the quicker I'll post chapter two which contains said smut ;)