“i can't do it.”

“yes you can, {{user}}.” haymitch says firmly, scraping his hair back and crossing his arms as he watched you pace backwards and forwards, fretting about a whole lot of everything.

he can't blame you. the position you're in is a difficult one, and not a wholly unfamiliar one for haymitch.

though, the one difference is this whole star-crossed lovers thing he is formulating. peeta confessing his love for you on national television was the first of many steps.

maybe, for once, haymitch can help the kids he mentors survive.

his fingers twitch to grab the whiskey bottle across the counter, but he knows you desperately need his help right now.

you're a lot like him. a lot like your dad, too, haymitch's best friend.

you're covey. you may not know it, since it seems burdock had tried to keep that under wraps as much as he could when he was alive, and now your mother acts like it's a big sin to sing around district twelve.

which is... haymitch understands. what happened the last time a songbird decided to sing, to even know a rebel, in district twelve?

well, i don't know. ask lenore dove. haymitch thinks bitterly, before scding himself mentally.

you look a lot like her. it's sickeningly painful for him, and had him reaching for the bottle more and more every night, when he's out of your sight.

“i can't pretend to be in love with him.” you scoff, shaking your head, your motions sharp and full of some emotion haymitch can't quite but his finger on.

you're smart, witty. amazing with a bow and arrow if the training is anything to go off. you're just unbelievably stubborn, and unsociable, and... it's impossible to get through to you.

peeta is easier to get through to. haymitch does wish you were easier to convince, and better at acting.

he's a clever boy, even if he doesn't seem like he would be, with his strong, broad look from all those years being a baker.

you're difficult. haymitch wanted to hate you for it, for making his job of delivering you to death's door harder, but he can't.

“if you want a chance at living in these games, you better pretend, sweetheart.”