Who: Katniss and Haymitch What: The Games Where: Their back garden When: Night of 14th February 2016 Rating: PTSD/Worry Status: Complete
Katniss pulled herself away from her studies for a little while when she heard the rain start on the window. Remembering she had some washing hanging out to dry, she rushed downstairs with a basket under her arm and headed out the back door, intending on only being out for a minute tops. Ducking her head and hiding under her raised arm, she jogged over to to the washing line and started to pull clothes off their pegs and dropped them in the basket.
After the first couple of shirts she’d pulled off the line, she realised that something about them felt odd. They weren’t wet like rain had fallen on them, but they were...slick. Pausing with a shirt in her hands, she looked down at the white material and saw it was quickly becoming drenched. With blood.
Instinctively looking up, she held her hand out under the raining liquid. As if doing so would change what the substance was. Flashbacks to her Dreams; of jungle and waves and lightning.
She didn’t realise she was screaming until she heard Haymitch next to her.
Haymitch had known about the rain only thanks to Peeta’s text, but since Katniss was in her room studying he hadn’t wanted to disturb and upset her. He figured he’d talk to her calmly when he called her down for dinner later.
However everything went out of his head when he heard her screaming outside and he rushed to her side. “Katniss, hey sweetheart it’s okay” he said cupping her face, “It’s okay, just look at me we’re going inside now come on” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steered her inside the house.
He wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing out there but her clothing was covered as was her hair and skin.
Katniss was shaking as Haymitch guided her back inside. “Oh my god, Haymitch! It’s Snow! He’s here! He’s turned the city into an arena! God! Haymitch I can’t do it for real! I can’t…we can’t go through that again! We have to get everyone together and leave! Please Haymitch! We have to go! Please!” she babbled frantically, turning to him and clutching at his shirt, pleading with him to get out of here.
“Hey, hey calm down” Haymitch said, stroking her hair as he held her, “Snow is not here. This is just dream shit coming to haunt us because this place is fucked up” He tried to calm her down, “Come on, let’s get you upstairs so we can get you all cleaned up okay. I promise I will not let anything happen to you, I need you to trust me sweetheart”
“How is it going to be ok?” Katniss demanded, pulling away from him to look up at his face but still clutching his shirt. “The Games are here! We have to get out before Snow finds us! We can’t let him find them; mom, Prim, Gale, Peeta, the girls! Help me get them out! Please!” she begged him. She hadn’t realised she was crying, the tears simply blended with the blood trickling down from her hair.
“No Katniss they aren’t here. Yes weird arena shit is happening but there is no Snow here. You hear me, he isn’t here. We’re safe. I will keep you safe” Haymitch gripped her shoulders making her look at him.
Katniss looked up at him with wide eyes, bright with tears. A few shuddering breaths later, she swallowed and gave a tiny nod, trying to pull herself together. “Ok...ok,” she said shakily. “We can get through this,” she closed her eyes and dropped her chin while she got herself somewhat under control. “I need to text the others, see if they’re alright,” she said, still shaking before she looked up at him. “Have you heard from any of them?”
“Of course we can. We can get through anything” Haymitch said, moving a hand to her cheek. “Yeah Peeta sent a text a little earlier. I was hoping to catch you when you left the room before you saw the rain” he said smiling a little rueful smile. Next time he knew not to wait. “Everybody is freaked out but okay”
Katniss sighed and closed her eyes in relief, sagging against his hold. “Thank you Haymitch. I can always rely on you,” she managed managed a wan smile at him. “I'm going to go check my phone,” she stood up on her own and let go of his shirt, wiping her cheeks and looking at the liquid in her fingers. “And a shower.”