A/N: I've been planning to start a series of Gadge one-shots. This scene was inspired by the Gadge week happening on tumblr. Thanks to Belle453 for her beta.
"Uh-huh," Madge mumbles, looking vacantly at the woman across from her. Friday night, and here she is having to play hostess for another visitor from the Capitol, here to interview the Victors' families for reactions to the Victory Tour. Thankfully, the cameraman has already gone to his room for the night, so Madge only has to entertain the reporter. "Don't worry, hon. I'll interview you, too," the woman says. "Wouldn't that be a thrill? The audience would love to hear from Katniss' best friend, too." Madge keeps the smile plastered across her face and agrees. She hates this; she just wants to be a normal teenager. Tomorrow she'll be spending the whole day at the interview set, "helping out."
Two days ago the house felt big and empty. She had gotten used to spending time with Katniss after the games, trying to help her find a talent. Now Katniss and Peeta have left for the Victory Tour and until the crew from the Capitol arrived, she had been on her own again. Yesterday she visited Prim, in the big house in the Victor's Village. Prim was busy though, helping her mom distribute herbal medicines and extra food to people they know from the Seam.
At least hosting Cressida and Pollux will keep her busy for a few days. She doesn't have anyone else to visit. The Mellark boys are busier than ever, covering for Peeta's absence. Gale has a job in the mines and a family to take care of. She never thought she'd miss his snide comments but now she imagines what he would say to see her alone in her big house. She takes care of her mom, but her mom sleeps a lot. She helps out around the house, but mostly she looks for news from the other districts. The broadcasts of the Victory Tour are already different than usual, and not because there are two Victors. Madge can tell it's more controlled than usual. Things are happening in the districts. They hardly ever show the crowds in the footage. Her father's kept better guard of his study than usual.
Cressida is here to get reactions from Katniss and Peeta's families. Madge is left to play hostess, again. Come Saturday morning, she leads Cressida and Pollux to the lit interview set arranged in a spare room of the Justice Building. The Everdeens are first on the interview schedule. Madge tries to give Prim a pep talk while Pollux sets up a few stationary cameras, then hoists another to his shoulder. Then the reporter calls Prim over, and Madge watches as Prim is interviewed. She is impressed by how well Prim holds together with the reporter.
Before Madge knows it, it's her turn. She doesn't even realize the Hawthornes are there watching her until she does a fake shake of her head at the "wonder" of Katniss and Peeta's tour. She catches impassive gray eyes and almost falters. Instead she turns back to the reporter and raves about how jealous she is of her friends the victors. Still she has lost her focus. She feels her face heat up and blames the camera's glaring lights. She rattles off praise for Katniss' fashion designs as if they actually exist. She belatedly remembers to praise Peeta's art, which truly deserves it.
She refuses to turn her head again; she refuses to look in the Hawthornes' direction. She doesn't want to see the judgment she is sure shows on his face. Finally the interview is over. Cressida is delighted. "That was great, Madge," she enthuses. "The audience will just eat this up!"
Madge looks at the floor ahead of her as she walks off the set, hoping not to have to face anyone for a while. With the camera and reporter behind her, she can let the fake smile fall from her face. Gale's siblings jostle past her to take their places. She still thinks of them as little kids, but one of them is almost as tall as her. They are too skinny, and it hurts her just to think of them going hungry.
She's supposed to be here all day, so she finds a spot off to the side to watch the rest of the interviews. After the Hawthornes, they'll bring in Peeta's family.
On the interview set, Hazelle Hawthorne wrangles her young children onto the couch. Gale isn't with his family. The reporter must have decided to interview him separately. Madge isn't really surprised. They tried to single him out for interviews during the games, too.
She's about to look around for him when she hears his voice behind her. "How do you do it?" he mutters under his breath. At first she's not sure he means her. She looks around, but there's no one else. Her stomach twists as she wonders if he believes her act. Then he adds, "How do you convince them you're on their side? I'll be lucky to get out of here without smashing those cameras."
She laughs nervously, letting out the breath she didn't know she was holding. Stepping to the side she steels herself and turns to look at him. His eyes are trained on his family; their interview has begun. His concern for them shows in his face and rigid posture. She doesn't have an answer about her act for the Capitolites - she's been doing it so long, it's almost automatic. Instead she just answers his comment about the cameras. "Better not. They'd probably dock your pay," she says drily.
Gale rolls his eyes, and then glances toward her. "That's the last thing I need," he grumbles.
Madge thinks for a second about Cressida. The reporter isn't quite like most that are sent to 12. She's pushy, but less inclined to follow silly gossip. Katniss and Peeta are being presented as a couple, which means Gale's interview should just be another pretty face in the broadcast unless he says something inflammatory. " Be boring. Just tell the Capitol what they want to hear," she suggests. "Give her what she expects and she'll leave you alone."
"Guess I can try that. At least I get a day above ground in return," he comments.
It's while she's watching his interview that she comes up with her explanation. She wishes she'd thought of it before, to tell Gale why she's so good at faking it for the Capitol cameras. Gale, she thinks, keeps his family safe by hunting. She keeps her family safe by smiling. She repeats the idea to herself, as if it means something. Maybe they aren't total opposites after all.
During his interview Gale is laconic, and maybe a little sullen, but his vague enthusiasm for the Victory Tour will be enough for a sound-bite. When the interview is over, he looks around for his family. They're waiting by the door; Rory and Vick kick a worn soccer ball back and forth between them. As he scans the room, Gale catches Madge's eye and gives her a slight nod. He hesitates mid-step and angles toward her.
"Nothing better to do on a Saturday?" he asks, eyebrows raised.
She smiles unhappily. "One of the joys of being the Mayor's daughter. I'm here to serve."
He grimaces. "Sorry..." he says sympathetically before turning away.
She shrugs, knowing it's useless but happy he cared enough to ask before leaving to meet his family.
To be continued ...