A/N: So I thought that it would be really fun to add yet another Gadge oneshot collection to this fandom. It will be easier to update since it isn't part of a whole story so I will probably be more on top of this than my other story. I'm just gonna roll with this and see how it goes.
Gale clenched his jaw tightly after shutting the door to his room angrily. He would skip dinner entirely.
Yet again his two tributes from 12 were killed off within the first week of the games. The guilt was rapidly continuing to consume Gale during his three years as a mentor. He was selected as the male tribute for the 74th Hunger Games, and ever since then, his life had become a drastically more depressing existence.
During the games he wasn't close with the female tribute from his district, but it was still a gut wrenching experience to watch someone get stabbed to death by the careers not even 5 minutes into the games. It wasn't just her face that haunted him though, but the faces of all his fellow tributes as well as the ones he couldn't save as a mentor.
It would be easy for him to take the same path as his own mentor, Haymitch. But unfortunately, his status as the new Finnick Odair prohibited drunk and crazy behavior. It was yet another torture that he had to endure. But in a way, he felt that he deserved it. Why should he get to live happily after so many young and innocent children had to die? This was his punishment for winning the games. Life as a victor, was no victory.
Later that night, Gale made his way to the kitchen, hoping that he could at least get away with a light nightcap at this hour. The loft was silent as he walked down the hallway. Haymitch was no doubt knocked out in his own room after the events of this evening. It was getting to be too much and Gale was exhausted.
When he reached the kitchen he realized that one of the Avoxes was still at work cleaning up the dishes from dinner. Her back was to him and her long blonde hair was sleeked back into a low ponytail, except for a few wisps of hair that Gale could see hanging out. From behind he could tell that she carried herself with a sense of dignity, a rare trait of Capital Avoxes, who were trained to be subordinate.
As he approached the alcohol cabinet he coughed lightly in order to casually make her aware of his presence. He learned early on that he was not supposed to have any direct contact with an Avox, no matter how unfair that may seem, so he reached for the Whiskey and shot glass without sparing her another glance. It was only when he heard the sound of an alarmed gasp followed by shattering that he turned around. His heart skipped a beat and he was completely shocked by the face that greeted him.
"Undersee?" he asked.
Madge Undersee's panicked wide blue eyes stared back.
Now that he saw her, he realized that her long blonde hair should have been a dead giveaway. Back in 12 he had always thought that she was gorgeous, even though she was a townie and the daughter of the mayor. Before being a victor, it was because of those reasons that he never engaged in conversation with her or tried to get to know her better. After winning the games and gaining status in Panem did he realize how truly foolish he had been, to believe that her family sided with the Capitol. They had to keep up appearances, even though they were suffering too.
Standing in the kitchen right then, and staring into Madge's beautiful blue eyes, his heart broke for her. She didn't deserve this life.
Last year there was a terrible uprising in 12. One of the few strings of rebellions that were continuing to pop up throughout the districts. It was believed that the Mayor and his family were executed for their participation in the rebellious crimes. Madge's supposed death was yet another ghost to add to his nightmares. A ghost that now knelt in front of him.
Madge reached down to pick up the broken pieces of the plate that she dropped. Her arms shaking as she avoided eye contact with Gale.
He reached out to grab a shard at the same time that she did and their hands briefly touched before Madge jerked hers back with a hard stare.
"Sorry," he croaked out.
Madge continued to pick up the pieces in silence quickly before both she and Gale dumped everything into the trash. She turned to leave out of the servant quarters but Gale grabbed her quickly by the arm to get her attention.
"Don't go," he pleaded. He was in desperate need of company and a familiar face was helpful, despite the situation. Madge stared back and searched his face before her eyes softened suddenly and she nodded her head.
Gale realized that they couldn't just stand there out in the open, and so he took her up to the roof.
"I am so sorry," he said as soon as they stepped outside. "And not just for this, but for how I've treated you in the past." His voice raw as remorse filled him.
Madge pulled her hand out of his grasp (he hadn't realized he was still tightly holding her hand, a feeling that wasn't at all unpleasant) and she blushed slightly before straightening up and glaring back as if to say, I don't want you're pity.
"Aw shit Madge," he responded with a sigh. "I mean it. God you sound just like me back in the day." He took a breath before continuing. "I was a fool, and I treated you like Trash even though I knew that you were a good person. And I'm sorry that I made your life miserable. But I guess that's what I do now." He added. "I ruin lives Madge." He was starting to ramble desperately, the pressures of the last three years building up quickly. His voice shook as he continued, "I'm a failure Madge. God I'm so sorry. I am so sorry for everything and for this goddamn county." His hands raked through his already disheveled hair as he tried to release all this pain and regret.
Because of this country, he was never going to hear Madge's voice again. He wouldn't hear her respond fiercely to any debate, or stand up to him about her wealth or status like she used to back in 12. He wouldn't hear her passion about democracy and freedom, a dream that she shared with him after the victory tour celebration all those years ago at her big fancy house.
His chest hurt as he developed one more reason to hate the capitol. As if he didn't have enough already.
Suddenly he felt her soft hand come and rest against his cheek, and he looked down into her eyes, round with pain, but open with forgiveness. The tears brimming within were a sign that she forgave him, and was moved by his own passion. She held his stare and ran her thumb against his scruff, the corners of her mouth lifting into a light smile, a comforting embrace in dark times. She couldn't make the years of pain go away, but her presence was the hope that Gale had been searching for.
