A/N: Thanks for alerts, favorites and reviews. They really do keep my enthusiasm to keep writing strong.
AU. Not related to last drabble. I will return to that one in the future I promise.
No beta so all my mistakes.
"She should be here soon," Ryllan said as he took a swig of white liquor.
Gale shook his head and turned back to Thom and Bristol. Ryllan liked to lure innocent Town girls to the slag heap. Gale might have frequented the slag heap, but he never tricked anyone into going with him.
"Two bottles of Ripper's finest says you don't get a kiss," one of his friends said.
"Two bottles and I say I get more than that." Ryllan laughed and lowered his voice, but not so low that Gale and his friends couldn't still overhear. "I'll bring back her panties."
Laughter roared from the mostly drunken group.
"Pigs," Bristol growled. "Let's get out of here."
"I agree," Thom said picking up their bottle of Ripper's finest. "The company down here has really deteriorated recently."
Gale nodded and they moved further into the woods. The cool night air and bright moonlight made him feel relaxed for the first time in weeks. Training Katniss and Peeta, avoiding Thread and healing from his whipping took up all his free time, which was only late Saturday nights and Sunday. The rest of his life was the mines.
They hadn't moved too far when they heard Ryllan's enthusiastic voice say, "Hello, beautiful. I was afraid you wouldn't come." The girl spoke so softly no one could hear her response, but Ryllan laughed. "The music doesn't start until later. Why don't you have a seat with us and have a drink?"
"I'm going home," Bristol said as she dumped her drink and turned toward the campfire.
Thom looked at Gale. "We've been working for six twelve-hour days. Sleep is better than listening to those assholes ruin some girl."
"Agreed." Gale's family was asleep, so he could have some peace and quiet on the couch.
As they neared the fire, Gale saw the back of a blonde girl with Ryllan's arm around her shoulders. She was tiny, barely coming up to Ryllan's chin. Her hair was pulled into a fancy braid like the ones Prim always wore. Gale moved closer, noting the girl was standing as stiff as a tree while Ryllan kept tugging her closer.
Anger coursed through Gale. He saw Prim often, since she came to check on his lashes every week, and thought of her as another younger sister to protect. The thought of a scum like Ryllan rubbing against her or any innocent girl made him sick.
"Ryllan!" Gale growled. The little wisp of a girl next to him jumped and turned toward Gale. Bright blue eyes met his and a look of surprise caused her eyes to widen.
"Hawthorne," the younger boy slurred. "Get your own pretty girl." He laughed and turned toward his friends.
Gale's fist clenched. "I'm talking to you!" he bellowed. As Ryllan turned, Gale's fist flew. The crack and scream of pain were simultaneous. Blood spewed from Ryllan's broken nose.
Bristol laughed and strolled over to the fallen teen. "I'd stay down if I were you." The young man screamed again, holding his nose to stop the stream of blood.
"Anybody else want a piece of me?" Gale growled. Anger coursed through him, as well as relief. If they hadn't come back… Gale couldn't conceive of it and fury took over. He lifted his boot and stomped on Ryllan's free hand. Another scream pierced the air.
"What the hell, man?" one of Ryllan's cohorts cried.
"If you ever even look in her direction again, I'll tear your eyes out. Got it!" He released the hand and turned to the beautiful blonde before anyone could respond. His voice dropped and he let his relief show. "Let's get out of here."
"Why did you punch him?" Madge asked her voice full of shock.
"Because he only invited you here to lure you to the slag heap," Gale explained. He took her arm with his hand and motioned for her to walk with him.
"He said there was music," she replied.
"Don't you have enough music at your house? Katniss said you play piano."
"I do, but I love the sound of Seam music, especially fiddles and guitars." Madge looked up at him, her eyes sad. "I also thought…" Her voice trailed off. She tried tugging her arm free, but Gale didn't want to let her go.
"Thom and I can play music for you, Madge," Bristol said, stepping up on her other side.
"I didn't think you had much free time since you have to work in the mines so much." Madge looked from Bristol to Thom. "I also don't know where you live."
"How do you two know each other?"
"We met…" Bristol stopped and caught Gale's eye before continuing. "A couple months ago."
Realization dawned on Gale, Thom and Bristol must have seen what Madge did for him. His hand let go of Madge's arm to settle on the small of her back. He nodded, a smile spreading across his face.
"Is that something you'd like, Madge?"
"Yes." she smiled. "I'd love ot."
"Lead the way, Bristol," Gale said, nodding to his friend.
"Maybe you'll get a real treat and hear Gale sing," Thom said, laughter filling his voice.
"That would be a torture," Bristol replied.
"I promise I won't sing." He smiled and felt truly happy for the first time in a long time. His life had been a living hell since Katniss was Reaped. Besides the physical beating he received at Thread's hands and the emotional tempest Katniss put him through; it was amazing he knew what happiness felt like.
"You really want me to come with you?" Madge asked, her voice so uncertain that it ripped into Gale's heart.
"Of course," he reassured.
"Thank you for defending my honor," Madge said softly as they made their way to Bristol's house.
"Anytime." Gale kept his hand on Madge's back to help her from slipping on the icy roadway. Or that's what he told himself. "It's the least I could do for you."
Madge stopped and looked up at him. She barely brushed his shoulder. Her petite, delicate appearance made every protective bone in his body come to life.
"Do you know?" she whispered.
"That you risked your life to bring me morphling?" He replied causing her to gasp. "Yeah. My mother's not good with secrets like that."
Madge's mouth was open and her eyes wide. Her hands were twisting so much that Gale reached for them to keep her from hurting herself. "I will never be able to repay you. I only stayed away because I felt ridiculous saying, thanks. It wasn't enough. That you – a relative stranger – would risk your life in a blizzard to save a criminal…" He smiled. "I still can't believe it."
"What happened to you was beyond cruel. It was…" Her voice broke.
Gale let go of her hands and pulled her against him. Her hands slid around his waist and he rested his head on hers. The smell of flowers in her hair took him away from the smoking, smelly Seam street they stood on. "I hope you didn't see it." She nodded and a muffled sob came from her.
He pushed her back and lifted her chin with his fingers. His gloves had no tips on them for tying snares. He was glad of that fact so he could feel her skin. His eyes closed as he savored the soft texture under his callused fingers. When they opened, he saw tears reflected by the moonlight on her cheeks. His own personal angel crying for his pain. "I don't deserve your concern."
"But you do," Madge said, her voice stronger. She swiped her eyes with one of her hands. "You are self-less, strong and brave. There's nothing you wouldn't do for your family or friends." Her eyes dropped as did the other hand that was around his waist. "We should go. You don't want to be caught out after dark with me. Thread wouldn't believe we were friends."
"I'm not afraid of him and I really wish we could be friends." Gale wanted to say more, but he didn't know if Madge would believe him. Everyone in District 12 knew he and Katniss were close, but few knew that Gale already let go of the dream of her and him together. She needed the healing that Peeta gave her much more than Gale's anger.
"I'd really like that." Madge's smile shone into Gale's heart like a raging inferno.
"Me too." Without any thought, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. They were softer than her skin and tasted of chocolate. He pulled back before Madge could respond. His body acted without his mind being in control and it scared him.
"D-do you kiss all your friends?" Madge said so softly he could barely hear her.
He wanted to say something flip, but he couldn't. He stared into the bluest eyes he'd ever seen and smiled. "Only the really, really special ones."
A/N: I know a lot of these scenarios have happened in other stories, but that's what fan fiction is about. We each have our own take on a similar theme.
I was in the mood for Gale to slug someone and this idea came to my head. Obviously, the "I love you" conversation with Katniss never happened.