Gale digs into his pocket for about the fifteenth time that day to look at his pocket watch. He finds it overly ironic that the day he's most impatient to get home the damn thing breaks, leaving him stuck in a void of 11:49 AM for the rest of the day.
Thankfully as he shoves the old brass thing back into his coat the whistle rings and releases the miners from their shift. As Gale dumps his coal from his bucket into the cart he knows he should thinking about things other than his watch, but he doesn't want to.
Gale would rather focus on the little things at the moment than what he'll be doing when he gets home.
Besides, the watch was his father's. He should fix it but he doesn't have the time, nor the money. It's practically antique. In fact, the watch is one of the only things that actually gets him through the day. It's pure proof that the clock is actually moving, that the earth is rotating. That he won't be stuck in the mines forever.
But Gale is now stuck at 11:49 with his dead father's watch and an ancient picture of his family from when Posy couldn't even say his name and…
"Gale," Thom places his hand on his shoulder, pulling him back to the present. "You're out of it today, man."
"Sorry," he says back. "My dad's watch broke today," he forces out, unable to hit the real topic that's lurking in the back of my mind.
"Yeah, I know," Thom nods and removes his shoulder. "You pulled it out every twenty minutes or so." Gale rolls his eyes and takes his spot on the elevator, looking for Rory who's hanging back and speaking with a few of his friends as they wait for the next lift up. It's strange to think of his life going on without Gale. "I somehow doubt this is the problem, however."
Thom elbows his way past the other miners and takes a spot next to Gale. It's now or never, eh? "I'm telling my family about Madge tonight," Gale says quietly. It's not as though he cares if the other miners overhears he'd just rather not receive the taunting right now.
Thom rolls his eyes at his friend though a smile tugs at his features. He likes to act like he doesn't like Madge when it's clear they have some sort of friendship, whether it is spoken or not. "One," Thom holds up a finger. "Vick already knows. That's one out of three right there. Two," another finger, "your mom is going to start screaming like you two are engaged or something."
"Will not," Gale grunts. Though the more he thinks about it the more possible it seems to be.
"And three," Thom holds up three fingers. "Posy loves her. You said so yourself."
Yet Gale is still iffy. They reach the top of the mines and Gale sucks in a deep breath of semi-fresh air. He thanks his friend before starting off to his home, thought of Madge on his mind.
When he reaches his house he can hear Posy yammering inside about something that doesn't make sense. Something about what Tabitha did at school today and how hopscotch isn't as fun as it used to be all of a sudden because of it. Gale splashes some water on his face from the rain basin in attempt to cool himself off, though it's not hot outside at all.
He's been with Madge for a while now, it seems. One of his longest relationships ever, and it's only been a few months. His family already knows her. Already likes her. Why is this stressing him out so much? Perhaps it's the knot in his stomach that tells him something isn't going to go well.
Gale finally makes it inside, just in time for dinner too. His mother scolds him, per usual, and makes him change into something that isn't so filthy. Posy continues to blabber on about hopscotch and Tabitha. Vick yawns as though he hasn't slept in ages.
When he sits at the table he nods along with what Posy says. "…and she picked up my stupid rock and chucked it outside the schoolyard fence! I had to spend most of free time looking for another rock big enough to mark my spot on the hopscotch board!"
"What a brat," Gale feigns a sigh. "Thankfully you're not as shallow as that, right Pose?"
The small girl's eyes widen and she nods instant. "Right, Gale." His eyebrows lift as Posy finally changes the subject. "I have a test tomorrow," she proclaims loudly. "And I'm going to ace it."
"I'll bet that you won't!" Vick counters. "A silver coin."
"Fine," Posy shrugs. "More money in my pocket!"
"Oh, enough," Hazelle shushes her children. "I don't condone betting at the dinner table!" Yet still, Posy reaches across the table to Vick and the two shake hands. Gale's mother sighs and throws her head back. "I'm raising miscreants," she says, though she's smiling.
"Don't worry Mom," Posy shakes her head, "I already made a bet with Miss Undersee that if I get the highest grade in the class she'll give me a new piece to work on."
Hazelle gasps, "Madge said that?" Posy nods and sends her hair toppling in every direction. "We must be rubbing off on her more than I thought," she says, her eyes shifting over to Gale. Vick snorts. Gale rolls his eyes. "Speaking of Madge, how is she?"
"She's fine," Gale says without even meaning to. He knows the question was directed toward Posy.
The little girl frowns and asks, "How would you know?"
Again, Vick snorts.
"I… saw her… the other day…" Gale says weakly. Bad transition. This was not how this was supposed to go. "We, uh, talked for a bit."
"I didn't know you two were such good friends," Hazelle responds slowly, her eyebrows curiously high on her forehead. Despite her age Gale's mother is most definitely not an idiot. He's sure Hazelle probably already knows what's been going on between the two, but because she's such a damn good mother she wouldn't say anything until he did. Does. Right now.
Goddammit.
"Actually," Gale lowers his spoon and his voice at the same time. Just say it. "We're dating," he says. Silence hangs in the air after that, a heavy one that renders him unable to breathe. "For a few months," Gale continues. He should stop talking but he can't. All he can register is the smirk that Vick wears and the amusement in his mother's eyes and the extreme amount of betrayal that Posy has plastered on her face. "We've just kept quiet about it."
Before he can say anything else Posy chucks her silverware down on the table and marches from the dining area over to her bedroom. She slams the door so loudly Gale cringes, dropping his head into his hands.
"You should've expected that," Hazelle says softly. "You just dropped a bomb."
Gale grunts, "I thought she'd be happy?" At least a little bit. Shouldn't Posy be happy for him? His mother goes to get Posy but Gale beats her to it. "Let me talk to her."
"That's probably not the best idea," Vick says, still wearing his smirk. But Gale ignores him and races after his sister.
Thankfully the lock on the bedroom that Posy shares with their mother is broken, and has been for some time. Though Posy clearly sits against the door and tries to keep it shut, Gale's much stronger than her and gets it open in a jiffy.
"Just go away," Posy grumbles once Gale's in the room. He shuts the door behind him and sinks to the floor next to her, considering she hasn't bothered to move at all.
"Posy—"
"No, Gale," she growls, lifting her head to face him. It's clear that she's fighting off tears but he won't say anything. "A few months? You've been seeing Miss Undersee for a few months." Gale nods once as his sister shoves at his chest. "You kept it a secret from me! You lied to me!"
"I did it to protect you," he groans. "Posy if you would just let me—"
"No!" she nearly shouts. "This isn't about me it's about you! It's always been about you, Gale! Save me the story because I don't want to hear it!" Gale rests his head backwards on the door as she continues to ramble on. "First Rory, then Vick, now you! It's like none of you even care about me anymore!"
"Posy," Gale finally cuts her off for good. "What the hell are you talking about?"
She sniffles and looks up at her older brother. "Rory got married and left," Posy says quietly. "And Vick's never home because of Lily. And now you…" she trails off and shakes her head. "And I'm still here. I haven't seen Rory in weeks, it feels like."
"I'm not going anywhere Posy," Gale says sternly. "Just because I'm seeing someone doesn't mean I care any less about you." She shrugs halfheartedly and Gale throws his arm over her shoulder. "You will always, always, be my favorite girl. No matter what." Gale presses a kiss to her temple and sighs. "I thought you'd be happy for me. For a while you kept pushing me towards her, you know."
"I know," she mumbles. "I thought it would've been great then. You two dating. You were dating a witch and Miss Undersee's so nice and she fit in so well with our family."
"But now she doesn't? Now she's not nice?"
"No she still does and she's still nice," Posy says. "But she was my teacher first. You hated her. Now she's going to spend all this time with you instead of with me. And you're going to spend all this time with her instead of with me."
"That's not true, Posy." Gale squeezes her shoulder and sighs. Rory had always been the one who was good talking to Posy, not Gale. "You called me selfish earlier but do you hear yourself right now?" Gale groans after he says that, knowing it sounded awful. "You're my sister," he says. "And I love you. I will always love you, Posy. If you honestly, seriously want me to pick between you and her, I'm picking you."
Posy lifts her eyes and blinks a few times. "You'd do that?"
"Yes," Gale says weakly. He wouldn't like it very much, but his family always comes first. "I would."
She suddenly frowns and drops her gaze. "What kind of monster do you think I am, Gale? I'm not gonna make you pick!" Gale laughs, a bubble of relief pops in his chest. Posy finally smiles, though it's small and soft. "If she makes you happy, there's no way I'm going to ruin that for you. The last girl that made you happy was the spawn of President Snow."
"But if you're not happy…"
"Who said I wasn't happy?" Gale tries not to roll his eyes. He'll never understand the thought process of girls. Any girl. Ever. "Just don't hurt her. And don't let her hurt you. And you can't forget about me, either."
"Course, Pose." He ruffles her hair and she swats him away. Gale can't help but wonder when she turned into a miniature version of their mother.
Gale cannot, for the life of him, figure out why Katniss is having her birthday celebrated at noon on a Sunday. He could be, no, he should be out in the woods right about now. Teaching Vick some more. Gathering some berries. Shooting some rabbits.
And yet, here he is, at something called a brunch in Katniss' home.
Though all of Gale's family was invited it's clear that people grow up and no longer need everyone there. Posy insisted that she couldn't go because she had to study for that test. And Vick's excuse was the woods. Hazelle had laundry and more laundry and more laundry.
But Rory's here, alongside Prim.
And so is Madge. Next to Gale at the table, holding his hand out of view from the others. Not as though it matters much anymore, though.
Mellark, er, Peeta rambles on and on about things that don't matter, keeping conversation alive at the table. Katniss looks bored. Chances are she had nothing to do with this get together in the first place. She even shoots Gale an apologetic look. More than once. A few other people are here. Townies. Gale can recognize Delly Cartwright due to her yellowish hair. There's a boy next to her who Gale has seen before but can't put a name to the face, though he's sure it's been said at least a few times.
Small party. The fewer the better, Gale supposes.
More than once Gale can feel people watching him talk to Madge. Whether it be Katniss or the stranger whose name he's yet to learn, their eyes always return to Gale and Madge. Of course she pointedly ignores it, involving herself in conversation with everyone else as though she's oblivious when Gale knows that she isn't.
And that guy, the one whose name Gale can't remember, is constantly staring at her. Studying her. Her hair and her smile and her nose and her cheeks. Gale makes an effort to glare at him.
Instead of a birthday cake, Peeta has made birthday muffins. Katniss tries not to blush when he brings them out and Gale can't help but wonder when his best friend turned into such a softie. When he feels Madge's hand in his he almost laughs to himself. Times change, he supposes.
Gale feels out of place most of the brunch, considering he doesn't even know why a brunch exists in the first place. Madge gets him to eat some French toast and she laughs at the expression he makes when he swallows.
"What?"
Madge laughs and cuts another piece for him. "You look so sour! Gale, French toast is sweet it's covered in sugar."
"Too much sugar," he makes another face as she lifts the fork to his mouth, shoving another piece in. "And it's sticky. Who likes syrup anyway?"
"Everyone," Rory calls from across the table, wrinkling his nose at his older brother. "It tastes good."
"Well then please," Gale turns back to Madge and gestures to Rory. "Feed my baby brother instead." Madge rolls her eyes with a smile and takes a bite of the treat. Maybe Gale just feels rotten because he's having fancy food when his family isn't. Vick and Posy and his mom.
No matter what the reason, he feels like something is wrong. And maybe it's that nameless stranger.
Madge volunteers for her and Gale to do the dishes, and despite his protests she eventually coaxes him into the kitchen after her. Gale stacks all the dishes and gets his hands covered in syrup. He decides that he hates the stuff. Gale tosses the dishes into the warm sink of bubbly water that Madge has conjured.
"I don't understand why you had to volunteer for us to do dishes," he grumbles. Gale flicks on the sink and rinses his hands until they're no longer sticky. "Katniss is a Victor, can't she pay someone to do this?"
"Oh hush," Madge swats him with a dish towel. "Would you rather it be just us in here alone," her blue eyes find his. "Or us out there surrounded by everyone else." His eyebrows lift high on his forehead. Though he'll never understand a woman's through process he can't say he doesn't enjoy it sometimes. She hands him the towel. "You dry."
"I'll wash," he says, tapping his hip against hers to push her out of the way of the sink.
"If you wish to play with sticky syrup," Madge says, grabbing the towel from his hands and scooting over, "then be my guest."
His eyes widen and he reaches for the towel again but she tightens her grip. "Undersee," he growls, but a smile slips onto her face. Gale bends down and moves his hands to her hips. His lips graze over hers and as she eases with his touch Gale snatches the towel from her.
She frowns when he pulls away, a laugh lighting up his face. "You're a tease," she tells him, returning to the sponge in the sink. Gale chuckles as she gets to work. Since it takes her so long to scrape all of the syrup from each plate he nestles himself behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as she cleans.
Gale presses kisses down her neck despite the fact that she tries to squirm away. He had to sit through that awful breakfast, no wait, brunch, and keep his hands off of her the entire time. Sure the syrup was sweet but Madge is much sweeter. She laughs and fidgets, threatening to splash him if he doesn't stop.
"Too bad we're at Katniss' house," he whispers before pressing a kiss to her ear. Gale can feel her cheeks heat up. "Because there are so many other things I'd rather do." He continues down her neck, across her collarbone. Gale can feel her slowing in her work, turning to face him so their lips can meet again…
Suddenly a voice calls out from over their shoulders and causes them both to spin around quickly. "Everything alright in here?"
Despite the authoritative tone of the man, the one whose name Gale can't remember, Gale tightens his grip around her waist and a smile spreads across his face. "Fine," Gale says back.
"Need any help cleaning the, er, dishes?"
Gale smirks and kisses Madge's temple. "I think we're alright," Gale tells him. The amount of victory in his voice is palpable. "Thanks for your concern, though."
The stranger's eyes narrow in his direction, sharp and piercing. If Gale didn't know any better he'd think that this man with green eyes who's staring back at them is annoyed that the cleaning isn't getting done. But Gale does know better. And the look this man is giving him is hatred. Jealously. Bitter distaste.
Eventually he excuses himself and Madge returns to the dishes. "Who was that?" Gale asks, annoyed that they're not like they had been moments before he walked in. Lips on skin.
"Jace," Madge says back. "Jace Morin. He said his name like 9 times, Gale, were you even listening?" Gale hums into her neck and she laughs. "Why?"
"He looked like he wanted to kill me," he shrugs.
"He doesn't like you," she says back, spinning around and forcing a dish into his hands so he can dry it. Gale accepts the dish and steps away from Madge, toweling the plate so it's no longer wet. "Or the fact that I'm seeing you."
"Unrequited love?" he teases.
Madge rolls her eyes. "He's with Delly."
"Ah," Gale nods. "Is that why he kept his eyes on you the entire break-er, brunch?"
"That's not true," Madge says, her voice dropping.
"Is so."
"Gale," she thrusts another plate in his direction. "Jace and I dated once but we're past that. And I'm not even speaking with him because he's a vulgar prick who…"
"You two dated?"
"It was a while ago," she says quickly. Gale doesn't take the plate from her, instead he stares as she holds it up. Madge turns to face him and sighs. "What, Gale?"
"Nothing," he shrugs, eventually taking the place. "We just haven't talked about that stuff yet so I'm processing."
"What, our past relationships?" Madge frowns and turns back to the sink. "It's never been a big deal. You know that I've dated people. I know that you've dated people. Why do we need to talk about it?"
"Because he looked like he wanted to kill me," Gale says again. "Which tells me that something probably happened between you two and…" Gale trails off as Madge sighs again. She continues to scrape at the plate in front of her but won't lift her gaze. "Are you going to tell me? Or—"
"There's nothing to tell you," she insists. "He isn't important to me and the fact that you act like he is, is making me angry!"
Madge turns to face him and Gale holds up his hands. "If you say there's nothing then there's nothing."
"Thank you," she huffs. "He's supposed to be my best friend," Madge grumbles, more to herself than to him. "But it turns out he's just an asshole that cares about no one but himself and…"
"Madge," Gale sets the towel down on the counter and starts toward her. He approaches her like he'd approach a wounded animal. He'd never tell her that though. Especially not now when she's fuming. And he's never seen her like this before. Super angry. Expect for maybe that one night in the bar. "He was your not-husband," Gale says. Madge finally looks up toward him, annoyance plastered on her features. "Wasn't he?"
"Gale," she groans, clearly unable to find any words. When he reaches her he peels the sponge and half scraped plate from her hands and lets them slide back into the sink. He laces his fingers with her damp ones and pulls her so she'll face him.
"I trust you," he murmurs. "But I know how guys think. So I don't trust him." Madge wrinkles her nose so Gale leans down to kiss it. She lets out a breathy laugh when he pulls away and then Gale lowers himself down to her mouth. His hands slip from hers and one latches around her waist, the other cupping her cheek.
Madge leans backwards against the counter and drags him with her. Just as Gale decides to scoop her up set her down so she's sitting, she turns her face so his lips end up on her cheek. He growls but she laughs. "We have dishes to clean, Gale." Still his lips attack her face, running over her cheeks and her forehead and her nose. "Gale!" she laughs and finally swats him away.
"You're no fun," he grumbles, reaching for the dish towel again. Gale makes note of the obvious pink to her cheeks. But considering his mouth isn't doing what it'd like to be doing her changes the subject. "I told Posy about us," he says. Madge lifts her eyebrows, clearly telling him to continue. "Oh, do I have a story for you."
A/N: Happy New Year! Tried to squeeze in a bit of fluff toward the end. Jace is trouble, uh-oh. Madge and Posy talk next chapter. Uhhh what else. Predict how you think it'll go? I love you all!