InsaneJournal

Who: Katniss and Haymitch
When: Mid-January
Where: Their home
What: Dinner and catching up
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete



Haymitch’s surprise on Christmas Day had gone well and Katniss had been happy to see her mother and sister, they’d all had a lovely day and Haymitch had gotten on well with her mother. He’d been worried she might think he was a strange man with nefarious intentions but it seemed Katniss had explained as much as she could and the woman had been thankful he’d been able to help.

He was thankful too, Katniss had helped him a number of times and when he felt his resolve wain thoughts of letting her down stopped him. He’d gotten them takeaway on the way home and entering their home he called out, “You home?”

Katniss had her head buried in books and paperwork. Ever since the New Year, she had been focused on working on a business plan. She’d taken a short online course in basic bookkeeping over the past few weeks and she had plans to meet with an acquaintance who was a full time accountant who could take her through some more. Initial funding seemed to be the first hurdle she needed to get over.

Hearing Haymitch’s voice come up to her room, she lifted her head and called out. “Yeah, I’m up here.”

Leaving the takeaway bag on the table he headed up the stairs knocking on her door before popping his head around. “Hey, I got take out for dinner. Chinese food” he told her, “You at a place where you can stop or you want me to keep it warm in the oven?”

“No, I’m good,” Katniss told him with a little smile. “I could use the break to be honest,” she admitted, looking at her watch and seeing the time. “Wow, didn’t realise I’d been up here that long,” she raised her eyebrows in surprise as she stood to follow him back towards the food. “How’s your day been?” she asked as they walked.

“Getting lost in your studies, should I be worried you’re going to go full on nerd?” he teased her a little. “Meh a normal day really. Nothing too exciting. You just been studying?”

“Nerd? Moi? Why sir I feel I should be slighted,” Katniss joked back, feeling quite jovial after their Christmas time. “No, I’m just trying to get my head around starting a business, running costs, accountancy, that sort of thing. It’s damn hard work, I don’t know how you do it,” she said to him, shaking her head as they approached the kitchen.

Haymitch chuckled, “Well I have a team to do it all for me” he told her, though of course he’d done it all himself for years before he’d become that successful. “If you need help you know I don’t mind” he added, reminding her that all she need do was ask.

“Thanks, I think I’d like that,” Katniss smiled, peeking in the bag of food he’d returned with and smelling the wonderful Chinese food it contained. “How did you get started? Was it hard?” she asked curiously, reaching into the bag and pulling out the boxes.

“Actually it was all because of my father” Haymitch didn’t talk about his family much, “After rehab he made me finish my education and start my own company. It was something I was surprisingly good at”

Katniss smiled softly as she listened to him talk about his past. She felt honoured that he trusted her enough to tell him, she knew it was a touchy subject. “And what made you choose PR as a business then?” she asked, starting to remove the lids from the take out tubs.

Haymitch got the plates and cutlery out, “It seemed like an easy way to make money” he said honestly, “I have a good head for business and helping out clueless people was easy enough” As he’d taken on more and more business he’d been able to help out the ones he actually wanted to help for less and give back in a way he hadn’t done to begin with.

“Clueless people?” Katniss looked at him disbelievingly. “Is that what you think of the lady who runs that book store?” she asked jokingly, starting to load up her plate with food.

Chuckling Haymitch shook his head, “Oh no, she’s one of the ones I’m happy to be able to help for cheaper. More like the millionaires who come to me for help when they don’t really need it”

Katniss grinned in return. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell,” she winked at him and put her empty carton back in the now empty bag. “So did your father help you get set up? What you needed to do to be successful?” she asked.

“He helped me. First thing I did was pay him back so I owed him nothing. We have an awkward relationship” which was understating it a lot but they didn’t need to go into it all, “I think having a knack for seeing what people need and the determination to keep trying helped me succeed”

Katniss nodded as he spoke, listening carefully for anything that could help her out. “So basically, keep trying and make sure I’m giving the people what they want,” she surmised. “I think the last part is what I’m going to struggle with. I’m not so good with people,” she admitted with a shy smile.

“Pretty much” Haymitch nodded, “And don’t worry I think you’ll find your way. I’ll help you as much as I can, you know that right? Just ask sweetheart”

Smiling at her mentor, she couldn’t help but be thankful for his support once again. They may not have gotten on to start with in the Dreams, but here he had been unfailing in his help for her from the get go. “Thanks Haymitch, it really means a lot,” she told him genuinely.