3

Gale timed it perfectly.

He arrived at the Village right as the sky was bleeding an orange sunset, knowing that if she followed her regular schedule, Katniss wouldn't go out on patrol for another thirty minutes.

There was no way he was letting himself get sidelined, not after the day he had. Thank fuck for Sejanus' willingness to listen to him bitch and rage about the History teacher because fuck knew Madge didn't want to hear it anymore. They had fought at lunch, over insipid radishes, and the fight had left an awful taste in his mouth. She had accused him of being jealous and that wasn't it. Not at all. And she shouldn't have looked so hurt when she had said that because it wasn't true. He was just worried for his best friend.

And he wasn't going to let her asshole of a Watcher keep him from helping her because of some bullshit made-up reason.

Gale could handle himself in a fight and otherwise, that was what he told himself firmly as he passed through the rusty gates – and maybe he did hold his breath a little because he hated the knowledge there was a magic thingy around that place but he didn't let his determination waver as he marched to Abernathy's house.

"I did not know you were coming tonight."

The voice startled him just as he walked down the teacher's driveway – and was torn by the urge to either stroke or kick the bike parked there because on one hand he hated anything Abernathy loved but on the other that bike was amazing and he was dying to take it for a spin. He spun around in the direction of the voice, his hand flying to the hunting knife he had sheathed at his belt before leaving – message received, he would make sure to have different weapons stashed on him from now on.

The woman was on the other side of the street, wrapped in a plushy looking pink blanket, sitting on the steps that led to her front door. Sounds carried at night, naturally, he knew that better than anyone, and the Village was always particularly silent but she hadn't spoken up for her words to be so loud, he was sure of it, and that was creepy. Then again, he had thought Effie Trinket was creepy from the very start.

Without really knowing why he was bothering, he retraced his own steps so he was close enough he wouldn't have to shout to be heard. He nodded at the unlit cigarette she was twirling between two shaking fingers. "Those things will kill you."

The witch snorted. "They will have to get in line." The brief amusement quickly vanished from her face and, suddenly, she simply looked exhausted. It was hard to remember to be afraid of her and her unnatural powers when she looked this… washed out. "Do they know you are coming, Gale? Because things are a little tense right now and I would not poke the bear, if you understand my meaning."

The bear was Abernathy, he figured.

He didn't need the warning and he didn't appreciate her meddling.

"You lost your lighter or something?" he challenged instead, gesturing at the cigarette. What was she even doing outside, in the cold, toying with a cigarette but not smoking it? He wouldn't have put it past her to be out there spying just in case he tried to get to Katniss.

She wedged the cigarette between her lips and snapped her fingers right under it. She did it three times and then put the cigarette away with a sigh. "Or something."

Magic, he figured. She used to be able to light it with magic and now she couldn't. He repressed a shudder at the memory of the fireballs she had been able to conjure so easily… Creepy. The whole thing was creepy.

"Okay." he deadpanned, glancing behind her at the lit windows. He spotted a shadow moving upstairs behind the curtains. "How's Mellark today?"

Trinket's face softened and she bestowed a small smile upon him. "We walked down to the fountain. It is the first time we wandered out of the house. Well, you know what I mean."

She meant out of her or Abernathy's house because it seemed like everyone was behaving like they just had one big home separated by a street.

He tried not to let it show that he didn't think walking down a few streets and back was a huge improvement.

"Great." he said, out of a lack of something else to offer. "Get better, then. See you."

"Oh, I am coming with you…" she hummed, hauling herself up by gripping the porch's railing.

He expected more chatter as they crossed the streets but she seemed to be all out of words and energy. He had to slow down his pace considerably because she moved at the speed of a neurasthenic snail. He didn't bother knocking before pushing Abernathy's front door. He headed straight to the library because that was the most likely place to find anyone in that house nowadays.

He wasn't disappointed.

Abernathy was sitting on a chair, half slumped on the table as if he was drunk, while Katniss moved around, organizing weapons for that night's patrol. The man sat up a little straighter when they walked in, his grey eyes darting past him and to the woman behind him. There was no confusing the yearning on his face, in Gale's opinion.

"You're okay, sweetheart?" the Watcher asked, his words slurring together so much Gale thought he had drunk something after all.

"Are you?" the witch retorted in a dry sarcastic tone that was rare coming from her.

Abernathy snorted as if it was a funny question but rubbed his eyes. "Holding on."

"Barely." Katniss interjected with an unhappy look in her Watcher's direction. "I still say we move to plan B."

"What's plan B?" Gale frowned, pretending he didn't care that everyone was now looking at him.

"Move the wards on just the houses instead of the whole Village." Katniss explained and then pursed her lips. "What are you doing here?"

"Patrol." he answered with a hint of defiance.

Abernathy scoffed. "You wanted to train, you should have come by after school."

"I don't need to train." Gale snapped. "I've got my bow. I've got a knife. I can handle myself."

The man rolled his eyes. "Look, boy, I'm too tired to do this. Let me put it in terms you're gonna understand: you get yourself in danger, my Slayer has to take risks to save your ass. I'm not down for that."

"She doesn't need to take risks because I can handle myself." he insisted.

Abernathy glared at him. "I would so love to be the one to do this…" His grey eyes traveled to Katniss, lingered, and then darted to the witch who was leaning against the back of a chair, clutching her ridiculous pink blanket to her chest, burrowing into it as if she was freezing. "You're up for it?"

The question was soft, hesitant, perhaps even a little apologetic.

She was the only one he talked to in that tone, Gale mused, and that was telling.

"Please." Trinket scoffed. "I could do it in my sleep. Are we sure it's a good idea though?"

"No." Abernathy answered. "But that's the only one I've got to make him understand."

"What are you two talking about?" Katniss asked, clearly annoyed to be left out of the conversation.

"Simple." The Watcher shrugged. "If he can take Effie in a fight, he can go on patrol."

Katniss winced and Gale whole-heartedly agreed with the sentiment.

"I don't hit women." he protested.

"That is your first mistake, then." Trinket sighed, unwrapping the pink blanket from around her shoulders to lovingly drape it on the back of the chair. "There are plenty of vampire women or female demons."

"That's different." He scowled. "You can barely stand anyway."

"And she's still gonna kick you flat on your ass." Abernathy predicted.

Gale's scowl hardened. He glanced at Katniss but she didn't intervene to save her precious witch. He wanted to be allowed to go on patrol with her, that was the thing. They needed him, no matter what Abernathy claimed.

He eyed the witch again, promising himself he would try not to hurt her no matter how much he disliked her. She looked so frail and fragile… She had lost a lot of weight during her stint in hell. He was pretty sure he could break a bone without even meaning to.

He shouldered off his bow and quiver to drop them on the table while she stood there, looking both tired and bored. Quick and fast, he told himself. He moved to grab her with both arms, planning to just… restrain her.

She was swifter on her feet than he expected though. His arms closed on air. She got behind him so fast he suspected magic but before he could turn to face her – and up his game to match her duplicity – the flat of her slipper-clad foot hit the back of his knee. His leg buckled, he reached out for a chair to keep his balance up but another kick to the side sent him down. Before he could think about rolling on himself to get out of range, her foot was on his neck, right under his chin. He wrapped his hands around her ankle, intending to pull and make her fall – courtesy be damned – but, as if she knew perfectly what he was planning, she added more pressure, making him choke and abandon the attempt before he even tried it.

He couldn't breathe.

He barely had time to panic before she took her foot off his throat and retreated a few steps. Abernathy was up now and he pushed a chair behind her so she could sit. She was pale and a bit sweaty but she was also grinning.

Grinning at his humiliation.

Gale didn't even dare glance at Katniss as he shot off the floor, rubbing his throat, refusing to admit his knee and his side smarted.

"Not too bad, was it?" Trinket beamed. "Perhaps I am not so useless after all…"

"Yeah, well… It's easy fish." Abernathy rebuked without heat. "Let's not try our luck with a vampire just yet, alright, sweetheart?"

The witch rolled her eyes.

Gale was seething. Easy fish. "That's unfair."

"Why?" Abernathy challenged. "Cause you underestimated her? Cause she's small and cute and you didn't think she could do you serious harm? Looks can be deceiving, boy." He shook his head. "Now, you come train with us, you won't be able to beat her or me for a few years but you can probably land a couple of hits before going down. You ask me, it's better than ending up flat on the floor but, hey, you think I'm such a joke I'm sure you know better…"

Gale's face was burning.

"That's enough, Haymitch." Katniss snapped.

Katniss coming to his defense should have been a balm on his wounds but it was like salt rubbing on it the wrong way instead. It was the last straw of his humiliation.

Abernathy had orchestrated it all, he was sure. The man had baited him and Gale had stupidly done exactly what the Watcher wanted and now… Now he couldn't look Katniss in the eyes because…

The witch was tiny and looked like a strong wind could blow her over and yet she had…

"Skill will take you a long way." Trinket offered in a soothing voice, as if, again, she knew exactly what he was thinking. And maybe she did. Maybe the whole powerlessness thing was just an act to better take advantage. "I have been training since I was thirteen. You should not feel bad…"

"I don't feel bad." he spat, glaring at the woman. "You used some spell or something. You're a cheater. You're just doing what he tells you to do like a lovesick puppy." He pointed an accusing finger at Abernathy, forgetting that he had vowed to stay calm and avoid confrontations, that Katniss had been clear that she didn't want… But he wanted her to see. "You hate that I have some influence on Katniss. You hate it. You want to control her and…"

"Shut the fuck up!" Katniss snarled. Suddenly, she was standing in front of him. He only understood why when he realized he had been taking menacing steps toward the Watcher. Her grey eyes were cold and tired, maybe a little sad, but not surprised. "Get out, Gale."

"You can't think…" he insisted.

"I think if you want to come on patrol, you should show up after school to train." she cut him off. "The offer stands. But if you choose to show up, you need to let this thing you have against Haymitch go."

"I don't need…" he argued.

"Effie beat you in three seconds flat." she interrupted again. "Even Prim lasts longer. Granted, she showed up at training…"

The slap might have been metaphorical but it stung all the same.

Gale stormed out of the house, cursing himself once he passed the gates when he realized he had forgotten his bow and his quiver. There was no way he was going back though. No way.

A huge part of him wanted to go out and hunt something evil to kill just to prove a point. He could already taste the satisfaction if he came back with a severed demon head and tossed it at Abernathy's and Katniss' feet. Yeah, he was tempted to do just that…

His brain, however, told him that it was a stupid idea, no matter how satisfying the reward would be. Abernathy was incompetent but his insistence that nobody should go anywhere without backup was sound.

Even now, alone on that dusty road after dark, Gale felt exposed.

The smart thing to do would probably be to hurry home and hope he wouldn't meet any trouble on the way because he didn't have a stake or anything that might stop a vampire.

But he was too keyed up to go home and he didn't want to sit in the room he shared with his little brothers all night, wondering if Katniss was alright.

He buried his hands in his pockets as he walked, to fight the biting cold. His fingers brushed his phone and it gave him an idea. Without another moment of hesitation, he switched directions, heading into town instead of the trailer park. He fumbled with his contacts, his first choice was Madge but the memory of their fight earlier still stung just as much as the one of his recent humiliation so he gave it a wide berth. No, he was furious and he wanted to vent. He scrolled down to the S and selected Sejanus' name.

"Hey man…" he said when the other teenager picked up the phone. "I'm going out. Want to come?"

I'm picturing the heat I'm going to take for having Effie kick his ass... good thing it's a bit chilly outside lmao. So... What do you think is going to happen now? Let me know your thoughts!