Casually, I make my way over the fence, dead hare in hand attempting to head to the Hawthorne's, this should make up for that. Still mum will be pleased especially with the herbs I found, Prim will be happy I found some medical herbs at that or at least I think they are, I hope so anyway, heh…eh.
"Hey…" Surprised, I jolt up at the voice my blue greys widening when Gale approaches, my blues narrowing when noting his worn features, coal black smears stains all over his features.
"Oh hey…" Awkwardly, I feel my thumb brush over my bow, my grip tightening it was fortunate Gale stayed by my side and only let me go when I was calm, so mum and Prim didn't have to worry.
"Are you…are you okay?" Gently, Gale questions me making me furrow my brow at the question.
"Yes apologies that you had to see me like that." Strictly, I nod my head, a part of me embarrassed having broken down before them both in public I thought I had gotten better, I thought I was better it would seem I still have much to adapt to.
"You don't need to apologise…" Gale tells me placing his hand on my shoulder as I note the faint marks of coal black on my shoulder.
"I should, I had thought I had gotten better it seems I have become lax in my exposure training." Regretful, I whisper scowling, feeling a bitter wave of irritation flow through me eating away at the disappointment coiled around my stomach like some mangled-up ball of yarn.
"Exposure?" Confused, Gale furrows his brow.
"The more I do something the more normal it will be." Easily, I conclude.
"So, hunting…" Gale gathers.
"Indeed, I refuse to lose my skill of hunting to the games." Resolute, I state the fact my stern blue greys meeting his stunned grey blues, a small smirk of his lips. I note the strange look he gives me, staring at me making me scowl back at him, perplexed by this sudden silent moment.
"I'm sorry for surprising you like that I didn't mean to bring back any memories…" Finally, Gale snaps out of his thoughts after having to wave my hand in his face, finding the moment unnerving as he shyly stares down at his hands, fidgeting.
"It was the shock, how is Rory? I must have scared him." Concerned, I furrow my brow at the poor boy, he had no idea it would happen, I must have petrified him.
"He was more worried for you." Gale confesses to me glancing to the side.
"Still for me to show that side of me to someone so young…I should apologise." Ashamed, I reason crossing my arms over my chest, scowling at the memory.
"There's no need to. The games effected everyone even you…is there anything I can do?" Gale questions me making me furrow my brow.
"Do?" Curious, I quirk my head to the side at the thought.
"Like if you have one of those episodes again what can I do to help you?" Earnestly, he offers making me frown.
"Bring me the nearest liquor." Bluntly, I shrug.
"I'm being serious!" Sternly, he snaps at me frustration laced in his tone making me sigh tiredly.
"Oh well I was partially right." Sheepishly, I shrug not quite sure what to say, the sharp burn always brought me back to reality or the vomiting…eh give or take.
"What do you mean?" Gale demands from me.
"When I was recovering if I had one of the episodes, they would pour water over me, it woke me up and stopped me from sleeping…." I recall my time in the hospital, strapped screaming, oh those were the days…
"Will that isn't healthy." Sternly, Gale snaps at me making me turn to him.
"It worked I mean I'm right here." I shrug not quite sure how to answer it. It was terrifying sure, but it helped, it made me recover enough to go out in public and tend to my fans.
"There has to be a better way than that." Desperate, Gale reasons.
"Most techniques I have worked on are things only I can do." I shrug, I never really had to need anyone for me to deal with it.
"Like the netting…" Gale recalls.
"Bingo." I confirm nodding my head.
"I just…I want to help you Will. I hated feeling so helpless just watching you freak out, break down it…please if there's anything I can do to help…" Softly, he takes my hand in his, my fingertips brushing against the rough grains of coal.
"I…I don't know. I'm sorry, I mean you've been down the mines, again haven't you?" I attempt to explain only to scowl as he hunches over a bit, using his hand to cover the coughing fit only making my eyes narrow.
"I just got back…Weakly, he smiles at me, a tight one making me scowl at the idiot.
"And you didn't think of resting!? Frustrated, I scold the moron, we are right in front of his house.
"I was waiting for you…" Softly, he smiles making me gawk at the idiot.
"You could have waited by resting!" Annoyed, I correct the moron.
"And miss you? I know what you do when I sleep, you say hi, give food, play with Posy and the others then when I wake up, they talk all about it. I just wanted to make sure you're alright." Tiredly, he tells me.
"Gale I am perfectly fine it's you, you should be worrying about…" I try to explain to the idiot, I'm fine always have been always will I just have these lapses that I need to keep a sharper eye on.
"Well if it makes you feel better throughout my shift, I just kept thinking about yesterday helped me mine some coal I promise you…" Cheekily, he smirks.
"What do you mean?" Perplexed, I furrow my brow.
"I want to help you Will that feeling of helplessness of doing nothing while you suffered, I hated it, I hated myself as selfish as it sounds…" Honestly, he confesses to me leaning on me as I feel his arm drape over my shoulder.
"Right…I suppose you talking to me helped." I offer not quite sure what to say.
"It did?" Surprised, he raises a brow optimistically while I feel my features heat up making me scowl at the ass.
"I suppose so. What did you do for Katniss?" I question him noting his grimace.
"I just stood there like an idea I tried talking to her but…" Ashamed, he answers.
"Sometimes you can't reach people no matter how hard you try…" I tell him making his eyes widen from my words.
"Yeah…" Weakly, he whispers my eyes widening when his voice begins to falter, beginning to…
"Gale…are you…? GALE!" Panicked, I cry out to the idiot, feeling tears beginning to form fearful as I grasp hold of him firmly, steadying him only to squeak, staggering, stumbling a bit due to his sheer size.
"Can't…breath…" Hollowly, he whispers.
"Idiot you should have gone home to rest. Come on!" Sternly, I guide him over to the Hawthorne's my eyes widening when I place him down as they tend to him only just as I am about to leave, to feel myself being tugged back. Sharply, I turn looking down at his shaking sooty hand bawled into my shirt, making my eyes soften feeling his grip tighten, his eyes closed. Lost, I turn to Hazelle smiling softly at me as I nod, taking a seat by his side, refusing to leave him as he rests.