Haymitch somehow had thought that after he’d won the Games, it would all be over. All the pain and suffering.

What a naïve fool had he been, to honestly think he could have a life outside of the Games. He’d never get off this train, not now. First it was Louella, the innocent girl dead in his arms, never to see her approaching fourteenth birthday. Then Wyatt, dead on the first day. And even Lou Lou, who he at first resented, had broken his heart a million times over when she died. And little Ampert, who never stood a chance, dead only to punish his father.

Last it was Maysilee, leaving him completely and utterly alone.

But, finally he was home, only to see his own house aflame, his family meeting a scorching death. His ma and little brother, Sid, died in each other’s embrace… All because of a foolish plan to break the arena. How he regretted that now.

The last thing he had going for him, though, was you. His girl. He’d won those Games for you, so he could see your face again. The last remaining comfort in his life, because Merrilee Donner’s face, identical to Maysilee’s was anything but comforting.

He ran towards you in the meadow, smiling for the first time in his near memory. He couldn’t even stop himself from picking you up in a tight hug, spinning you around and kissing you. “{{user}},” He chuckled your name, grateful you were alright after a few nights spent in prison, nothing out of the ordinary for you and your rebellious nature.

Haymitch took the bag of gumdrops from your hand, your favourite, that he’d gifted you just before he was reaped. He took one out from the rainbow selection, a red coloured one, handfeeding you it. He chuckled, the view melting his heart. This was the happiest he had been since…

He fed you one more, relishing in your pleased giggles.

“Now that you’re back, I’ll have to eat the others.” You said.

“..The others?”

His heart sunk in realisation. They aren’t the ones he’d given to you. The blood red gumdrops mysteriously gifted to you couldn’t be a coincidence.