Title: Expected - part eight
Author: slacker_d
Crossover: Hunger Games (movie verse)/Avengers (movie verse)
Pairing/Characters: Katniss, Haymitch Abernathy, Peeta Mellark
Summary: As the daughter of Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton, Katniss has no choice but to avenge their murders. Now it's just a matter of figuring out who she can trust.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Word Count: ~2,195
Spoilers: both movies.
Warnings: Character death.

Part Eight

She's still not sure why she's here. Even though she didn't come unprepared, Katniss is nonetheless still surprised to find herself standing in front of Haymitch's office door.

Or maybe what's more surprising is how quickly Haymitch became someone she considers a mentor. After all, she doesn't usually trust that easily.

It must be because they're kindred spirits or something. Despite thinking it, Katniss still scoffs. It was Peeta that said it and Katniss had immediately dismissed it as ridiculous. She doesn't believe in that sort of thing, after all.

However, having been alone and isolated, Katniss is starting to think that Peeta may have had a point. She hadn't realized how often she'd sought out Haymitch for advice. It's disconcerting.

But now she feels like she's at a point of no return. Just because avenging her parents death has been her focus for the last few months, that doesn't mean that she's fully committed. And she's not entirely sure why.

Everyone she could talk to at home is too close to the situation. She needs an outside opinion; one that she trusts. This only leaves Haymitch.

She tightens her grip on the paper bag in her left hand. She figures a peace offering of excellent single malt would be enough to ensure he talks to her. She raises her hand and knocks.

A moment later, she's beckoned inside. She slowly opens the door and sticks her head inside.

"Well, look who's decided to grace us with her presence."

Katniss grins. "I missed you too, old man."

"What brings you by?" Haymitch raises an eyebrow. "Just in the neighborhood?"

She shakes her head. "I need some advice and didn't know where else to go."

"I didn't realize guidance counselor was part of my job description."

Katniss holds up the alcohol filled paper bag. "And I brought this as payment. Or a peace offering. However you want to see it."

Haymitch looks practically predatoril, as if he knows what's in the bag. "And what do we have here."

Katniss opens the paper bag and pulls out the cardboard tube. "Glenlivet. Aged eighteen years. I would've gotten the twenty-five year old one, but I didn't want to be the youngest in the room."

Haymitch chuckles. "I'd ask how you were able to purchase it, being so underage, but let's be honest. I don't really care. Hand it over."

She pries off the plastic lid and pulls the bottle out. Passing it to Haymitch, he takes it reverently, carefully setting the bottle on his desk.

"Jeez, it's just Scotch."

"An excellent, well aged single malt Scotch. And it's been a long time since a pretty girl bought me a drink." He holds up his hand. "And no, despite how that sounded, I was not flirting with you, darling. But if I tell this story later, I might be."

Katniss rolls her eyes. "Ha ha. The door's closed, so get out the glasses."

"Oh, you're drinking too?"

"It's the only thing that helps me deal with being in your presence too long."

"Big words coming from someone who sought me out."

"Just pour the damn drinks, old man."

…

"No offense, sweetheart, but how do I know you're not just fucking with me?"

Katniss takes a sip of the water bottle she brought with to keep her from getting completely smashed. "I suppose you don't. But why would I?"

"That is an excellent question." Haymitch pours himself more scotch. "To which I don't have an answer. But stranger shit has happened."

She can't help, but sigh. "The fact that I'm confiding in you isn't enough to convince you?"

"Not really."

"So once again, I ask, why would I make it up?"

Haymitch shrugs. Couldn't say. You're an odd duck."

"Odd duck?" Katniss raises an eyebrow.

"Would you prefer plucky giraffe?" Haymitch's mirth doesn't last. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because." She pushes her glass forward and Haymitch adds two more fingers of scotch. "Because I trust you… and I don't know, I wanted some advice."

"About what? Sounds like you have tons of intel and your very own eccentric billionaire to strategize with."

"Because Tony is unpredictable at best and always has his own agenda."

"So what? All this help he's been giving you is to serve his own agenda? Is it different than yours?"

"I don't know. I doubt it. But they've all been keeping things from me for years, even Tony. I just…"

Haymitch's smirk is back. "I'm starting to think it's just because you missed me."

That is part of it. But how can she explain that being alone with Haymitch is so much better than being back home surrounded by her parents' friends as a support system. And that while they mean well, it isn't what Katniss needs at the moment. "I'd never admit that out loud."

Haymitch's smirk grows.

"I just… I've never killed anyone."

"That's a good thing."

Katniss nods, distracted. "And self defense is one thing, but this will be meticulously planned out and even if it's in the name of retribution, I just don't know."

"You're scared."

"What? No."

Haymitch chuckles. "Nothing to be ashamed about, darling. Taking another human being's life is a big deal, for whatever the reason. The fact that you're aware of that is a good sign."

Katniss looks skeptical. "Of what?"

"That you're aware of gravity of what you're undertaking. If you go into it with a light hearted attitude, it's possible you'll falter when there's no time to flinch."

Her skepticism has risen. "All right."

"And avenging your parents' deaths isn't necessarily your job, Katniss."

"Since I'm their only child, I think it is, Haymitch."

"Shouldn't the agency they used to work for be the ones to do it?"

Katniss sighs, looking at her lap where she's holding her now empty glass. "I may not have had the best relationship with them, but I know they'd be disappointed if it wasn't me—she'd be disappointed if it wasn't me."

Haymitch raises an eyebrow at her.

"No, I don't want to talk about it."

"If not with me, then who?" He sips more of the scotch and Katniss can see the liquor is starting to take effect. "You just admitted I'm the only one you truly trust."

"I have no intention of ever discussing my mother. With you or anyone."

Haymitch shakes his head in mild disgust. "Well, then do you have a plan for dealing with Snow?"

Grateful for the subject change, Katniss shakes her head. "Not exactly. I know I have to get close, get in his face, so he knows that it's me who's responsible. I'm just trying to figure out if it has to be a long term commitment of infiltrating his ranks or something quick, where I sneak into his bedroom and do it in the middle of the night."

"The security at his house is probably impenetrable."

"Nothing is impenetrable. But I agree; it will be very, very difficult."

"So you're really going to try?"

Katniss nods and places her glass back on the desk. She slides it towards Haymitch and he smirks. He adds another two fingers of scotch to her glass before filling his halfway. She takes a slow sip before speaking. "Any advice?"

"Don't think of him as human. He is a target. Your sole focus should be success. So simply think of him as a target and that's it. Once the act is actually done, they'll be all sort of emotions to deal with, but don't worry about that. Just focus on getting in, finding your target and getting out."

Katniss nods again; it sounds like sound advice.

"I gotta admit, I never would have guessed that your parents are super heroes when I first met you."

Katniss snorts. "No one does. Super heroes are bigger than life and knowing that two of them are married and have a surly teenager waiting at home for them is a shock to most."

"Maybe one day you can introduce me to the other super heroes you know."

"We'll see."

…

Katniss spends a few more hours with Haymitch, mostly to try and sober up. Perhaps drinking scotch in the middle of the day on an empty stomach isn't the best idea. She has a long drive in front of her and so she decides that food should be next on the agenda.

She lets out a groan when she approaches her car and finds Peeta leaning against it.

She waves awkwardly, offering a hesitant smile, trying to seem not too drunk. "Hey."

He doesn't return the smile. "So you're back."

"Not quite."

"Just stopped by for a visit?"

"Something like that."

"I do not understand what you see in him."

"Well, I don't understand what you see in me, so I guess that makes us even."

It's the first time that Katniss has acknowledged Peeta's crush out loud and it takes him by surprise. Katniss watches as his expression goes from shock to embarrassment to hurt.

"You weren't going to let me know you were here. Were you?"

Katniss shakes her head. "I just figured after how we left things, you wouldn't want to see me." Which isn't a lie.

"You're not very good at friendship. Are you?"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Peeta doesn't reply. He just crosses his arms across his chest and stares at Katniss.

After a moment, she lets her gaze drop. "Yeah, okay, so maybe you have a point. Listen. I need some food. Do you have time?"

Katniss catches a moment of surprise on Peeta's face at the question before he nods.

…

They end up at the all night diner a few blocks away. Katniss is surprised that Peeta hasn't said anything about her state of sobriety. Usually that would be something he'd rant about, but now, he just sits quietly in the passenger seat and stares out the window.

It's been a few months and a lot has changed, so Katniss knows she shouldn't be expecting Peeta to have remained exactly the same, but she can't help but long for the familiarity. Everything in her life is changing and it'd be nice if at least one thing didn't.

At the diner, they sit in a corner booth and both order without looking at the menu. When the waitress leaves them alone, Katniss looks up to find Peeta looking everywhere but her.

"How are things?"

Peeta lets out a chuckle that sounds more like scoffing. "They're fine. You?"

"I'm surviving."

"Didn't think I'd ever see you again."

Katniss shrugs. "I, uh…"

Her lack of response causes them to lapse into silence, which they stay in until the waitress returns with their orders.

It isn't until Katniss has taken several bites of her club sandwich that Peeta speaks.

"So is this gonna be a regular thing?"

"Is what going to be a regular thing?"

"You just stopping by for a visit?"

Katniss shakes her head. "Of course not. Driving across the country is… well, it's a lot."

Peeta nods. "And yet, here you are."

The resentment in Peeta's voice is almost physically painful. "A moment of weakness."

He lets out a strangled laugh, as Katniss tries to explain.

"I really don't… It just…happened. I got in my car and suddenly realized that I had been driving for hours and heading in this direction."

"Why do I find that so hard to believe?"

Because it was a lie, but Katniss wasn't going to admit that. "I don't know what you want from me Peeta."

"You're really bad at friendship."

She barely reins in her temper. "You mentioned that earlier."

"I'm sorry, Katniss, but you are. I mean, I know we didn't part on the best terms, but I haven't heard from you since."

Katniss resents the implication. "Phone works both ways."

"Like you would've responded."

Katniss shrugs. "I might've. Eventually."

"Well excuse me, if I'm not just sitting around waiting for you to contact me."

"I never said you were."

The rest of the meal is spent in silence as they both eat quickly, wanting to escape.

When the waitress brings the check, Katniss snatches it before Peeta can make a move. She stands and leaves cash on the table, assuming Peeta will follow her. He does.

Outside, they sit in Katniss's car, but she doesn't turn it on.

"So now what?"

"Well, since I have to be at work in-"

"I didn't mean literally at this moment."

"Oh."

Katniss turns slightly to face him. "Look Peeta. I, uh… miss you."

"Thanks. Though it'd be more believable if you could say that without looking and sounding so pained."

"Sorry. I'm not good with-"

"Sentiment. Yeah, I know."

The silence that follows quickly becomes uncomfortable, so Katniss starts her car and heads back towards Peeta's job on campus.

She pulls up to the curb and Peeta opens his door, still quiet. He turns and looks at her sadly. "Have a nice life."

"Peeta…"

He doesn't reply, just slips out of the car and slams the door shut

Katniss calls after him, but he continues to stalk away.