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grundyscribblingTitle: Someone's In The Kitchen
Author: Grundy
Rating: FR13
Crossover: Hunger Games
Summary: Haymitch has questions for his new neighbors.
Word Count: 650
Note: Oops, I missed a couple days of cross-posting. Sorry!
Haymitch showed up around midnight.
Dawn could have said it was a surprise, but she’d have been lying and they all knew it.
“The good liquor hasn’t even arrived yet,” she told him by way of greeting.
“Shame,” he snorted. “That last stuff the good doc sent was very nice. But not why I’m here. Guessing you two turning up ain’t a sign we’re all living happily ever after.”
Dawn glanced at Spike.
Abernathy was smart. The problem was not knowing how far she could trust him. Though she supposed that when it came to the safety of his family – and that’s what Katniss and Peeta were now, even if Katniss hadn’t quite figured that part out – he took no chances.
He’d gotten two Tributes through the Games twice, after all. And through a war to boot.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Spike grinned. “More like we’re a form of insurance for that happily ever after.”
“Girl’s head is getting better. Don’t think she’ll need you all that much longer. And definitely not enough to make you ruralize,” Haymitch observed.
“That wasn’t the kind of insurance he meant,” Dawn said, gesturing for him to take a seat.
The kitchen table wasn’t usually her first choice to talk shop, but better here than the living room. Both kids – should either of them happen to be awake and feeling sociable, or even curious – were more likely to try the front door first.
Dawn had already swept the house for bugs. Both the technological and the magical kind.
“So we are still in trouble,” Haymitch said glumly.
“Told you he would get it,” Spike grinned.
“There are some people who wouldn’t mind it if you continued to live in interesting times,” Dawn said slowly.
“Also, a few who wouldn’t mind it if you didn’t continue to live,” Spike added drily.
“And you two are insurance how exactly?” Haymitch asked. “This ain’t an arena. You can’t send in sponsor gifts.”
Spike grinned again – this time with less amusement and more menace, letting his age and experience show.
Dawn had to give Haymitch credit – he concealed his flinch very well. And he didn’t back up. Most men – even most Victors – would have.
“Not my first time at the rodeo, boy,” Spike told him, his voice practically a purr.
Haymitch raised an eyebrow – and a remarkably steady hand.
“He may be a doctor now, but he has other interesting skills,” Dawn said, hoping to defuse the suddenly sky-high tension. “The people who wish you ill will have more trouble getting at you with him around.”
“I think I’m owed more explanation than that,” Haymitch growled.
“And in time you may get it,” Dawn said firmly. “But you of all people should know damn well that when you’re playing a long game, you don’t show all your cards up front.”
That made him pause to think.
Good. She hoped he was wondering just how much she knew about his involvement in the rebellion – and not just the parts that had happened during and after the 74th games. Let him mull it over, and consider that she might be more than just someone who had been an influential sponsor.
That would be enough for tonight.
“Sounds like the Bird could use her head doctor about now,” Spike observed. “Maybe we should have done this sooner.”
Dawn had no idea what he was hearing that she couldn’t, but unfortunately he was unlikely to be wrong about it.
“Warning, Bastard – Bit here is more than capable of taking care of herself. You wouldn’t even be a challenge. So either drink your tea and have a nice chat, or toddle home to call Trinket.”
The kitchen door closed behind him while Haymitch was still spluttering.
Dawn wondered how he planned to finesse an invitation if Katniss was in the middle of a nightmare or a meltdown.
“Tea, Haymitch?” she offered brightly.
Author: Grundy
Rating: FR13
Crossover: Hunger Games
Summary: Haymitch has questions for his new neighbors.
Word Count: 650
Note: Oops, I missed a couple days of cross-posting. Sorry!
Haymitch showed up around midnight.
Dawn could have said it was a surprise, but she’d have been lying and they all knew it.
“The good liquor hasn’t even arrived yet,” she told him by way of greeting.
“Shame,” he snorted. “That last stuff the good doc sent was very nice. But not why I’m here. Guessing you two turning up ain’t a sign we’re all living happily ever after.”
Dawn glanced at Spike.
Abernathy was smart. The problem was not knowing how far she could trust him. Though she supposed that when it came to the safety of his family – and that’s what Katniss and Peeta were now, even if Katniss hadn’t quite figured that part out – he took no chances.
He’d gotten two Tributes through the Games twice, after all. And through a war to boot.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Spike grinned. “More like we’re a form of insurance for that happily ever after.”
“Girl’s head is getting better. Don’t think she’ll need you all that much longer. And definitely not enough to make you ruralize,” Haymitch observed.
“That wasn’t the kind of insurance he meant,” Dawn said, gesturing for him to take a seat.
The kitchen table wasn’t usually her first choice to talk shop, but better here than the living room. Both kids – should either of them happen to be awake and feeling sociable, or even curious – were more likely to try the front door first.
Dawn had already swept the house for bugs. Both the technological and the magical kind.
“So we are still in trouble,” Haymitch said glumly.
“Told you he would get it,” Spike grinned.
“There are some people who wouldn’t mind it if you continued to live in interesting times,” Dawn said slowly.
“Also, a few who wouldn’t mind it if you didn’t continue to live,” Spike added drily.
“And you two are insurance how exactly?” Haymitch asked. “This ain’t an arena. You can’t send in sponsor gifts.”
Spike grinned again – this time with less amusement and more menace, letting his age and experience show.
Dawn had to give Haymitch credit – he concealed his flinch very well. And he didn’t back up. Most men – even most Victors – would have.
“Not my first time at the rodeo, boy,” Spike told him, his voice practically a purr.
Haymitch raised an eyebrow – and a remarkably steady hand.
“He may be a doctor now, but he has other interesting skills,” Dawn said, hoping to defuse the suddenly sky-high tension. “The people who wish you ill will have more trouble getting at you with him around.”
“I think I’m owed more explanation than that,” Haymitch growled.
“And in time you may get it,” Dawn said firmly. “But you of all people should know damn well that when you’re playing a long game, you don’t show all your cards up front.”
That made him pause to think.
Good. She hoped he was wondering just how much she knew about his involvement in the rebellion – and not just the parts that had happened during and after the 74th games. Let him mull it over, and consider that she might be more than just someone who had been an influential sponsor.
That would be enough for tonight.
“Sounds like the Bird could use her head doctor about now,” Spike observed. “Maybe we should have done this sooner.”
Dawn had no idea what he was hearing that she couldn’t, but unfortunately he was unlikely to be wrong about it.
“Warning, Bastard – Bit here is more than capable of taking care of herself. You wouldn’t even be a challenge. So either drink your tea and have a nice chat, or toddle home to call Trinket.”
The kitchen door closed behind him while Haymitch was still spluttering.
Dawn wondered how he planned to finesse an invitation if Katniss was in the middle of a nightmare or a meltdown.
“Tea, Haymitch?” she offered brightly.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-03 02:15 am (UTC)Thank you for this, I dearly love that you came up with two new pieces for this series of stories and I very much hope that continues here and there over time. :)
no subject
Date: 2021-09-07 01:13 am (UTC)I think it's safe to say there will be more - these are what happened when I was out of time and desperate for ideas, so now that I actually have some idea what Dawn and Spike are up to in 12...