One day my friend The Lone Clapper and I, who have very different opinions on The Hunger Games, challenged each other to write a oneshot persuading the reader whether they should be on Team Gale or Team Peeta. My oneshot is supposed to persuade you why you should be on Team Gale. I hope it does. This is a spoiler for Mockingjay, just warning you. Please review!

DISCLAMER: I do not own The Hunger Games Trilogy, unfortunately.

Broken

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am thirty-six years old. Peeta Mellark is my husband. We have two children. My children, my husband and I live in District Thirteen. I am sort of starting to regret it now.

My mantra that I created when I was seventeen thrums itself into my skull as I sit rolled up in fetal position on my side of the bed, my hair wet and soapy because of the bath I tool beforehand. But what makes me regret it? I realize that Gale still exists in District Two after fifteen flying years with Peeta.

I remember Gale now. I remember how much he loathed the Capitol, and the world we lived in. I remember our last conversation before the Reaping, and when I was launched, because of Prim, for life with Peeta, then a simple baker's boy. I remember Gale not wanting to watch the Games, and for me not to as well. Technically, I did that. I was in the Games, but that didn't mean I didn't watch it back home like every year before and cried at the cruelty and savagery of it all. I know that Gale didn't watch the Games when I was in them, and I know that other people would be offended by that, but all Gale wanted to do was defy the Capitol like the rest of us.

Maybe he already knew I would be safe that time.

What did I gain from losing Peeta? A pretty wedding dress? For once, approval from the Capitol? Children and motherhood?

I remember again with a pang how I drew one arrow in the quiver with a thirst to kill Snow, but shooting Coin, and in a way, killing Snow as well. I realize that the Capitol has secretly defied me and Peeta.

They're just too wise not to laugh about it yet.

When I was sixteen, the Capitol arranged for me to marry Peeta, and suddenly he was the father of my unborn child, too. We rebelled against it. Too many people's lived were gone. Too many lives still healing. Too many lives that will never be healed.

And now I realize that it was for nothing. I still married Peeta. I still had kids with him. This is exactly what the Capitol wanted for us.

All those lives were for nothing. Cinna. The tributes. Prim.

Prim. PRIM. PRIM. My grief for her and anger for Gale was for absolutely nothing.

Gale. Gale took care of Prim when I was launched into the Games. Gale hunted for his and my family, by making all those perfect snares with nimble and strong fingers. He kept us alive. He couldn't have controlled Prim's death, nobody could at the time, even though I wish I could have. I know my star-crossed love for Peeta was for survival, but it must have hurt Gale so much.

I think back to when I shot Coin. Guards pulled me away, including Peeta. I screamed for Gale to protect me. I still hate Peeta for that.

And the time after hell broke loose when I wandered into the forest to our meeting place. Me and Gale's. I remember missing his warm body next to mine. Why did it anger me when I was told he got a job in District Two? Was I jealous that he was successful at an early age? Why did I just assume that he was kissing some other girl?

Maybe he didn't. Maybe he's lonely, and waiting for an impossible opportunity to see me again. Maybe he misses me so much he's broken.