So basically this story is going to be about how Katniss starts to see the sense in her and Gale becoming a couple and she begins to connect all the little hints from Gale previous to the Games and starts to appreciate all he's done for her and will do in the future... so yeah, enjoy.
~xoxo k~
The crack of the whip is as undeniable as the cry for help following it. No matter Peeta's protests, I do not stay quiet, I do not stay still. "Peeta, what the hell is going on?" I basically writhe back and forth, going up on my tiptoes and looking over people's heads and shoulders. There is another metallic snap and a gut wrenching plea.
"Katniss, go home." Peeta ordered me, looking highly distressed from his perch on a turned over crate. I shake my head defiantly. He sighed and it made me drop my attitude. "Katniss, it'd be best if you went home." I scrutinized his sincerity; after all, Peeta only ever does things for my benefit, but the way his expression was guarded and the way he seemed to be ready to hold me back from approaching the scene any further, piqued my interest.
I nodded, not actually about to follow his instruction. Snap! His head shot up to the front of the tight crowd and he winced. While distracted I took off, weaving my way through the crowd ignoring the bad butterfly feelings arising in my stomach and ignoring the ominous comments people were making.
"She's only going to make things worse for him."
"What are you doing here girl? Trying to get him killed?!"
"She isn't going to take this well."
The anxiety could not have built up any quicker and by the time I broke through the front of the mob my heart was pounding in my ears and all the blood was rushing to my head. I felt like my world was starting to sway… and I guess it could be the fact that I just had an unhealthy surge of adrenaline or it could be the sight in front of me.
"Gale." A sob escaped my lips. "Oh my god." And I ran forward towards him. Gale, tied to the post, his back covered in dark burgundy blood, pooling around him, head sagged, whimpering. I ran forward to comfort him, to protect him, to be there for him.
But I didn't take in to account the peacekeeper already coiling back the whip for another lash. Hot, white, searing pain flashed through my vision. And it just added to my dizziness. "Get out of the way!" The man ordered. I stumbled, my hand flying to my face, a frown already glued to my expression. The pain wouldn't cease so it took me a minute to gather my bearings.
"No." I said as strong as I could, once the pain subsided to a manageable throb. To me I sounded strong, but I wasn't sure if my voice was louder than a whisper. I was basically in shock.
Seeing my best friend, on the verge of death brought me to tears. I didn't know how long he had been here, facing punishment. And even if our last conversation hadn't ended on the best of terms, I still cared about him and I wasn't going to let any irresponsible thing—whether it being something he did or something others did to him—hurt him. "I'll tie you up too." The peacekeeper threatened. "Beat you forty times. Back off!"
"You back off!" I fought back, bringing my hand down from my cheek. He growled and took an aggressive step forward. I turned my back to him and began to comfort Gale. He was mumbling quietly and his breathing was labored. "Gale." I cried, hands reaching out towards his back unsurely. "Gale, it's okay. You're going to be okay." I touched his shoulder gingerly and he roared in pain. I shot backwards, not enjoying the sound of his anguish. A tear left my eye.
I felt myself get ripped away from Gale's side and I cried out. "You interrupted his punishment for committing a federal offense. I ought to whip you too." His voice was mildly calmer and I looked back to where he had been standing. In his place was Peeta, standing solemnly and sad, looking down at me and Gale with genuine pity.
Had Peeta brought sense to this obviously new peacekeeper who was not at all maintaining the peace? I brought my hand up to wipe the tears from my eyes. I felt Gale's blood smear on my face the way there.
"Peacekeeper Thread," Peeta said from the side, voice loud and strong. "…this man meant no harm, and no harm should come to him. I suggest you scatter this crowd and let us be on our way." Peeta was authoritative and ordering and Thread seemed to get the vibe. He moved me to the side and cleared his throat announcing to the crowd:
"You all are under curfew, get out of the streets and be in your houses by eight. If anyone dares step out of line they will be shot on sight immediately!" I looked at the man with disgust taking on my features and he saw my face. "You better clean up this mess and get him out of here." His voice was low and predatory.
"Yes sir." I agreed gratefully and clambered over my own feet to get back to Gale. "Gale?" I tried. No response. "Gale? Gale, are you awake?" My nose started stinging alerting me that I was about to start crying all over again. "Gale, please." I begged. "Stay with us Gale." I felt other hands come to help me untie him because I obviously was a useless wreck. The people helping were people I knew from the Hob. I could tell Sae's grandmotherly hands resting upon my shoulders were ones of condolence and not pity.
"Sweetie, he'll make it. He's a fighter." I nodded weakly. "He'll fight for you."
"Sae, what happened?" I asked, rubbing my eyes and looking up at her. She cooed at me and pulled me up off the ground.
"Gale brought a turkey to Cray's house." She started. I raised an eyebrow and she understood my question. "It's not Cray's house anymore." She said with sadness lacing her voice. "Poor boy, so unsuspecting… Thread didn't even give him time to explain himself. Got thirty lashes in before Darius stepped in. Another ten before you got there."
Sae was speaking so fast, and I couldn't keep up. More to myself than for her I repeated: "Cray's gone, Thread is the new head peacekeeper, Gale showed him the turkey and it wasn't Cray? It was Thread?"
"Mmhmm." Sae nodded. "You go take him back to your mom, get him fixed up." She tutted and then looked at me solemnly. "I'm so sorry sweetie." She gave me a pat on the back and turned me around to where multiple Hob men were carrying Gale towards Victor's Village.
I followed behind, wallowing with pain and shock. If Gale didn't survive this—I couldn't even finish the thought. Oh Gale, how could I let this happen? Gale needed to fight through the pain. He had to be okay. It was just a bit of whipping. Oh hell, Katniss! My brain scolded me. Just a bit of whipping? The man was almost beaten to death out there. Guilt flashed through me and I looked up at his lifeless body being carried up the porch steps. At least you saved him. I reminded myself weakly. God, I was so pathetic and useless. A sob bubbled up through my throat and escaped my lips unexpectedly, and I whipped my head around to see if anybody heard.
As soon as we burst through the door, my mom was bustling with authority. She was clearing the island in the kitchen, getting out strips of linen, sanitary wipes and meds. "Mom." I said trying to catch her attention.
She scuttled past me pushing her hair back from her forehead.
"Mom." I called out again, more urgently this time. "Mom?" I repeated, even louder. She shot out another order at Peeta who stood beside Prim with a worried expression. "Mom!" I finally shouted.
Everyone paused and looked over at me. "What now Katniss?" She sounded impatient.
I need to talk to you. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
She sighed and put her hands on her hips in a tired manner. "I need everybody out of here." I stuck my hand up in protest. "Even you Katniss." And then she got back to work. "Prim, you know what to do?" Prim nodded.
As everyone cleared, Peeta and Haymitch decided to stay behind. "Peeta, can you go get Hazel for me?" I whispered, not trusting my voice to remain steady any louder. He nodded and kissed my forehead. I couldn't keep eye contact with Peeta while Gale was in the room.
I shouldn't have even suggested running away. I knew it was stupid and of course, only Gale was the one who would show me the sense in staying. But it's hard to see my actions reciprocating negatively across Panem. I don't want to be the cause of hundreds of deaths. Some part of me knows that I'm still stuck in this game, that I'm still a piece to be played with… and I just don't know how important I am to win. I look up at the ceiling, the stinging of tears burning my eyes. I take a deep breath and try not to think about Snow or anything else of that evil. But gosh, I want to leave the district so bad.
I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to try a life in the safety of our woods. I wasn't kidding Gale around when I told him that I thought that my feelings could be different if it were different circumstances. If we were to leave, we could stay at the cabin. We knew it was abundant in animals and plants, there was a source of fresh water and Twill and Bonnie said that it was on the way to District 13.
District 13. The possibility of freedom there couldn't be more bittersweet. How was I to trust what they were saying? How could I get the Hawthorne's and mom and Prim there without any government official noticing? The Capitol was obsessed with Prim and our new cousins. Would Gale be up to the trip if he knew that there was something out there?
You see, I learned a little something during our stop at the Capitol. Plutarch Heavensbee, the new head game-maker, told me as we were dancing with his sweaty hands on my hips that District 13 was alive and flourishing getting ready to take down the Capitol at just the right moment. He had whispered in my ear right before his watch lit up bright gold that he would be waiting for that moment, watching me. Then he had left for a meeting. "Keep this little talk on the down low darling." And he walked away before the song had even ended.
"Arrrgghh." Gale gurgled out, catching my full attention. Prim had injected him with a morphling needle. Brought back to the present so immediately I started choking on sobs watching him wince and grit his teeth in immense pain. "Hurts… so… bad." He spat out, a bead of sweat appearing at the top of his brow.
I hopped off my perch and jumped to his body, ignoring the numbness of my ankles from sitting cross legged so long, hands cradling his head gently. "Where does it hurt Gale?" I inquired anxiously, eyes searching for the source of his pain.
Gale's eyes fluttered open and my breath was caught in my throat. "Everywhere Catnip." He answered.
This was my entire fault. If I hadn't been stubborn in the woods this wouldn't have happened. If I could've advocated my feelings better this wouldn't have happened. "Gale, oh my god, I'm so sorry." I wailed, clutching the forearm that was resting near his head.
"Me too."
I quickly grabbed a chair from nearby and sat down on it, grabbing his arm again. I brushed my thumbs back and forth against his arm and let the tears drip down my face.
I don't know how long I spent staring at his face, but when I snapped out of it I was the only one in the room. I didn't even know if Hazel had come in. I loosened my tight grip on Gale's forearm and put my head against it instead, my face inches away from his unconscious one. While he was sleeping I got to enjoy the view of him the way I normally never got to.
I admired the angles of his cheekbones, the way his jaw kept clenching and unclenching, and his long, dark eyelashes resting against his cheek. I brought my hand up to his dark hair which was shorter than I had last saw. Even though he had cut it—probably for convenience in the mines—it was still long enough for me to wrap my fingers around and hold tightly. Gale was really handsome.
And the more I thought about why I wasn't okay with just casting off Gale and fully devoting my attention to Peeta, the more I realized that I never let Gale leave easy or give up on me because I didn't want him to leave and never want anything to do with me. I may not have realized before, but subconsciously I must have been warding off girls from school, subconsciously tagging him along because I wanted him there, because I probably needed him here. I needed Gale.
Yes at first he was a just a hunting partner but he became a friend, and then a confidant and now there is no word to describe what he is to me. All I actually know and can voice in words is that he's more to me than any other human being on this planet.
I think back to eight or so months ago when I was over at his house and he was out in the backyard with Rory and Vick messing around. Hazel had just handed me a mug of tea and sat down in front of me at the kitchen table. "You know what I've noticed Katniss?" She asked.
"Hmm?" I was still watching Gale interacting with his siblings. Whenever I saw him with them I would realize how amazing a father he would be. I was going to be envious of the lucky girl who ended up with him.
"Katniss." She called and I tore my gaze away from the scene.
"Yeah?"
"Do you know what I've been noticing?" She had repeated.
"What?"
"You and Gale have a connection most couples don't even have." My eyes had widened. Oh god, not this conversation again. I had thought, but not very seriously. As much as I hate to admit, I actually really liked hearing what other people thought about me and Gale. It was really interesting hearing how people thought my life was going to be. I had let her continue. "I think if you two were ever to explore that direction, you both would be extremely happy."
"I think so too." I had let it slip out. I seriously wanted to wipe that smirk off of Hazel's face.
Hazel had been on to something back then… and I guess I'm finally starting to realize that she's right. Gale and I would make a great couple. And suddenly… I started humming.
"Catnip?" I looked straight into those impossibly light blue eyes and smiled.
"Gale." My voice was inviting and strangely gooey.
"Catnip? Are you okay?" His voice was concerned and I laughed loudly with a huge smile on my face and tears glistening in my eyes. I didn't even realize I had been crying.
"You're the one who's been dead to the world for hours and you're asking me if I'm okay?" I laughed again. This is why I love him. I added easily. But then I realized I had thought that so easily when I few minutes ago I was barely thinking about him and just thinking about Snow and District 13. "I'm fine Gale, I'm completely fine." But unfortunately my voice cracked on his name. He struggled to move and I tried to keep him still. "Don't move Gale." I ordered him. "Let the medicine set."
He didn't try to get up anymore but he brought his other arm around to stroke my cheek. "I don't think you're fine." He said in a small voice.
"You're not either." I pointed out.
He nodded. "But I'm fine physically."
"What?" He was not in good condition. His back was literally a slab of meat. I was surprised he was even talking right now. The pain had to have been unbearable.
"Emotionally, I'm actually unsettled."
"What do you mean?" I reached out and stroked his chin. What the hell Katniss? I asked myself while enjoying the rough feel of his stubble. It seemed that Gale is also questioning my motives but somehow pleased by it.
"Are you also on morphling right now?" He mused with a laugh and I shook my head placing my hand down gently on his arm where my head was laying. "I mean that I found out that you knew I loved you, but I still don't know if you love me."
My high spirit immediately ceases. "Oh." I sigh. "That."
"I just need clarification Katniss." ... And he sounds so tired as he says it, that I have to tell him to take it easy.
"Gale you need to get better as fast as possible. We can talk about this later when you have more energy. You should rest."
"We can't talk about this later. It's a pressing issue and I won't be able to sleep without an answer." I stop and chew my lip thoughtfully. I can't answer him tonight, even though I've had my epiphany I still don't have an actual coherent answer about how I feel for him. I want to tell him how much I care about him. That I do love him but this just isn't the right moment, it isn't the right setting.
His gaze focuses on my lips and he sucks in his breath. "Gale," I start almost warning.
"Please Katniss." He begs looking back into my eyes again. "It sucks not knowing." He says with an underlying tone of anger.
"When I said 'I know' it was because," I stopped.
"Kat," He gritted his teeth again. "I love you."
"I was in shock. I've always known that you've loved me; it was just entirely different hearing you say it out loud. I love you too you know?"
The smile that broke through his face was the most brilliant thing I had ever seen. "I know." And I smiled too.
The hand that was resting against my cheek cupped around the back of my head and he brought me closer to him. A little awkwardly he brought my lips down to his and pressed them gently against his. "That was sweet." I noted with a small bit lipped grin.
He chuckled. He sounded so much better than a few minutes ago and after relishing the kiss I now started relishing his health… and the fact that I'm the one who's making him heal so much faster. "It was sweet," he agreed. "… but the next one is going to be so much better."
I put my head back down next to his and just gazed into his eyes because I didn't want to admit that I was actually looking forward to that next time.
