Even though the interviews were supposed to be easy, Prim couldn't help feeling a bit anxious over the whole process. Since becoming a tribute, too many people that she didn't know had gotten far too involved in her life—commenting as if she was a close friend, ignoring her personal space, trying to buy a spare moment with her—it was maddening. Haymitch's suggestion about revealing her relationship with Gale on national television was something that the blonde didn't agree with at all, but her reasons for secrecy had nothing to do with the concerns that Katniss had raised. If she had to go into the arena and lose pieces of herself, Prim didn't think keeping one thing between her and Gale was asking too much. She didn't want the Capitol fawning over them, she didn't want to take Katniss and Peeta's place as star-crossed lovers.
“I don't want them knowing everything about me,” Prim said, looking reluctantly from Haymitch, who was left to rub his sore ankle, and then to Gale. If he wanted to tell the world about them, he could, but Prim was hesitant to mention their relationship just because it would lead to freebies in the arena; she was under the impression they had already procured enough sponsors.
Had Katniss been anyone else, even Johanna, Haymitch would have hit her back. “I've been doing this a long time,” he said, watching Prim carefully. Although he didn't want to put a damper on the mood, Prim and Gale and even Katniss needed to remember that their lives no longer belonged to them. Until whatever Peeta's plan consisted of came through, every tribute was the property of the Capitol, and that meant being an open book. Whether it was forced or given up freely, the citizens of the Capitol would devour personal details and having another love story to latch onto and throw money at could only help them once the Games began. “You have to give the people what they want.” If Haymitch knew Caesar, which he did, the man already planned to ask questions about love and dating.
“They're targets anyway. We all are,” Haymitch said, eyes now back on Katniss and slightly narrowed. “Every time he saves her, every time she wraps one of his cuts in a leaf, or they kiss, someone out there is going to want to send them something.” If the four of them stuck together the way Haymitch wanted, each gift would be for the group.
“I don't need saving.”
Sighing, Haymitch ran a hand through his hair. “Be realistic here, would you?” Although Prim had been improving greatly since coming to the Capitol, Haymitch still saw her as the weakest link. Not only was she still Katniss's biggest concern, but she was Gale's as well, and in a way, that made Prim his priority as well. Unfortunately, the conversation seemed to be moving on, and Haymitch's opportunity to really drive a point home had been missed. He supposed it was up to Peeta to tell them what they should and shouldn't discuss, but at least one former Victor and mentor planned on going with his gut.
There were distinct advantages to getting along as a district and being able to move as one unit throughout the games. If Peeta didn't have a plan, Haymitch would have been more reluctant to get close to anyone, ultimately not wanting a repeat of what had gone on during the last Quarter Quell. Still, he was surprised to hear Katniss singing his praises, especially after she had just given him a swift kick in the ankle just for talking strategy. Whether she was upset with him or not for bringing up the obvious didn't matter—not when it came to staying alive as comfortably as they possibly could.
“The roof is the only upside to the penthouse,” Haymitch agreed. Both as a tribute and a mentor, Haymitch had gone up there plenty of times. It was the perfect spot for a person to collect their thoughts, to calm down and tell themselves that everything was going to be okay until they actually believed it. When Haymitch had first come to the Capitol, he had thought of throwing himself off a few times, just going for it and jumping; he would have found out about the force field much sooner then. His thoughts returned to the present as Gale personally thanked him, and Haymitch was sure that his face read as a mixture of confusion and warning. Just as he thought, Katniss hadn't taken kindly to being talked about as if she wasn't there.
Thankfully, she didn't seem to stay angry for long, but Haymitch was unsure of what to do when she looped her arm with his. Normally, he would have pulled away, but it was nice to have her close. If Prim and Gale hadn't figured out what was going on by now, then they really weren't looking hard enough. “I've never had a tribute live, so,” he shrugged, finally answering Gale as he looked back to Katniss. She was special—not because she lived, but because she had forced him to live with her. “I did what I could. Same went for Peeta.” Even if Haymitch wasn't in love with Katniss, he still would have done anything for her.
“You, on the other hand,” he went on, looking rather serious as his eyes settled on Gale. He could have said something horrible, ruined the mood and stalked off to his room, but the younger man was trying. “You're okay.” That was all Haymitch could manage, and all of his other compliments to Gale centered around his ability to swing a sword and not kill himself while doing it.
If okay was the best that Haymitch could do, Prim thought that Gale should consider himself lucky. She laughed softly, looking back at him with the same look he had given her. “Just okay,” she repeated, unable to resist teasing Gale a little. “I can't believe the games are so close,” Prim said after they had all agreed to go up to the roof after interviews. Although she knew that the Games had been looming in the distance from day one, it felt strange to be so close to the arena. She had gotten used to this existence in the Capitol, a limbo of sorts full of training and small parties, dinners with Effie and nights with Gale. Another change to suffer through was slightly unsettling.
