Who: Tinkerbell and Haymitch Abernathy When: Mid-October (before the Tink/Anders incident) Where: Tink’s Garage What: Tire Rotation free with an Oil Change! Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
Haymitch had been dealing with a lot of stuff lately so when he’d seen Tink’s latest offer he figured his car could do with a little TLC and headed on over after booking in. Driving up he parked it in the usual spot before heading inside.
“Hey sweetheart” he said in greeting with a smile, “How you doing?”
Tink was under a car when Haymitch came in. She rolled out from under the contraption on her skateboard like roller, and broke into a grin. “Hey, Haymitch!” Today her hair was wrapped up in a scarf and her body clad in a mechanic’s coveralls, making her look like a modern-day, blonde Lucille Ball. She even had a splotch of grease on her nose. For effect. “I’m great. How’re you?”
“Getting by, can’t complain” Or rather he could but wouldn’t. “Still busy huh?” he smiled as he looked around, pleased for her and glad to see she seemed less stressed than the last time he’d been to the garage.
“Still busy.” Tink said, grinning and wiping her hands on a rag. “The promotion with the tire rotation along with the oil changes was a really good one. A little more work for us around here, but I think we’ve made some loyal customers. So that’s good.” She’d hired a couple of new mechanics, and was getting a lot more work around the place. Business was going well.
“I’m glad to hear it” Haymitch said, “You do excellent work so it’s not surprising you have loyal customers. I know I wouldn’t go anywhere else” And he made sure to recommend her to anybody who needed any kind of car help.
Tink broke into a bright smile at the sound of those words. It was like music to her ears. Not just because of the business aspect, but also because she liked doing good things for people. She wanted to make sure all of her friends and loved ones were driving around in safe, reliable cars that wouldn’t break down or clog up the environment. She beamed.
“You’re the best, Haymitch. You wanna cup of coffee? I could definitely go for one.”
“Sure” Haymitch said easily, “I'd love a coffee. You sure I won't be taking up too much of your time?” He’d like to catch up with her but not if it was going to delay her getting things done.
“Nah.” Tink headed into the lobby, assuming that Haymitch would follow her. She had the best coffee in the world in the lobby--wanting to make sure that all of her customers were at ease when they waited for their cars, or whatever. So that meant good coffee, real cream and sugar, that sort of thing. She moved to the Keurig to make the coffee. “You came at a great time, actually.”
“Not usual that I have good timing” Haymitch joked with a smile, “But I’m glad I have today” He followed her easily enough, knowing first hand how good the coffee was. “So how’s everything else going?” he asked her softly.
“Honestly? I have no complaints.” Tink said as she started making the coffee for them. “I mean, there’s this weirdness with Anders… something from his Dreams. He’s sharing his body with this other entity. I don’t really understand it, but like… he’s moved back in. He’s safe and all.” She cleared her throat. “Work is good. My social life is… kinda boring. And how are you?”
“Well that’s good to hear. I’m glad he’s back with you and safe” he nodded, because he’d seen Tink upset about it all so hearing that was better was definitely reassuring. “I can’t say my social life has really ever not been boring but it is what it is. Bailed out the kids from my dreams the other night after they got arrested. That was interesting”
“What happened?” Tink was always interested when the conversation turned to the Dreams. She liked hearing about other people’s, even when it was a little awkward. Her Dreams weren’t so bad. Sometimes people had really shitty ones.
Tink turned around and held out a mug of coffee to Haymitch.
“A good friend of ours passed away and the kids went on a bit of a bender and ended up in a bar fight” he explained, his dreams were of the shitty kind mostly the only light in them were the kids and even that wasn’t a constant.
He took the coffee with a smile and a nod.
“Oh, no, I’m so sorry.” Tink frowned a little as she picked up her own mug. “I’m glad they had you to help them out of a sticky situation,” she offered, and moved over to sit on the comfy sofa in the garage lobby. “I’m always awkward when it comes to condolences… so… yes. Sorry. About your friend’s passing.” Awkward Tink was awkward.
“It’s okay” he told her, trying to ease the awkwardness, “It was unexpected but there is nothing anybody can do. As you say I’m just glad they called me. I want to be there, I feel kind of responsible for them” he admitted.
“We all feel responsible for our loved ones,” Tink said. “But they’re lucky to have someone like you to help look after them.” Just like she was. What would she have done without Haymitch when her wing was slashed? She would have been lost and broken. “Thank you” Haymitch said with a nod and a smile, “I am glad that I’m somebody people will turn to when they need help” It was nice to know he was thought of so well in that regard.
“You absolutely are.” Tink said without hesitation. “I wish I could be that way for someone in the world. I guess my brothers turn to me. And my foster siblings, too?” Now that she was stable with a house and a career, she was pretty far ahead of the rest of her brothers and sisters. Though, one of her brothers was gonna be a dad, so that was kinda trippy.
“And I’m gonna be an aunt soon.” She added, feeling a little shocked and a little numb by that idea.
“I’m sure you are, they know you’re there for them” Haymitch told her before smiling, “An aunt? That must be a good feeling, a little strange maybe?” he guessed.
“Totally weird. He’s not really… I don’t know.” Tink hated saying things like this about her brothers, but she knew she could trust Haymitch not to judge her. “I always sorta thought I would be the first. My brothers aren’t exactly stable.”
“Perhaps this will help to make him more stable, children have a tendency to change things” Haymitch said, “He is lucky enough to have you watching out for him which means he already has a good support system”
“Maybe. Probably. I mean, he and his wife are getting better. My other brother still lives at home with my parents, but like… my oldest brother and his wife are… they’re holding down good jobs and renting a really nice place. So, maybe this is him growing up.” She grinned softly. “I sort of had everything handed to me on a silver platter, didn’t I?”
“Maybe it is” Haymitch nodded before chuckling, “Oh I don’t know. Got a little luckier maybe” he said, “But that’s not such a bad thing. You work hard and you’re making a success of yourself”
“It is a lot of hard work,” Tink said, thoughtfully. She ran her fingers around the paper coffee cup in her hands, and thought they should really get some reusable ones. Porcelain, or something. Plastic? She sighed. “I really should be getting back to it. As much as I’d like to hang out and chat, I’ve got a radiator to replace.”
“Of course, thank you for letting me interrupt your day” he told her with a smile, “We should catch up soon, when you aren’t at work”
“Definitely,” Tink gave him a smile, pulling herself up off the sofa in the lobby. “Send me a text. we’ll do dinner.”
“You got it sweetheart” Haymitch agreed, standing himself, “You have a good day” he said before letting her get back to work.