Kayleyroxs444: I'm so glad you liked it! :D

This one-shot is actually a glimpse into the backstory of my new story Power. Power is a (slow) Gadge story about a different more capable Madge. The story is basically about her leadership and eventually about her trying to compete with Gale. It's a pretty complicated story. Please check it out!

But for now... here is a glimpse at what was (Darius and Madge).

"You're not trying hard enough," Darius sighed and stepped away, dropping the boxing gloves. Madge pulled her hair out of the ponytail and shook her head, letting the long blonde curls fall back around her shoulders.

"I am," Madge said unconvincingly, pulling on a curl, "okay- so I'm not," she edited, rolling her eyes, "but it's not my fault."

"It's not?" Darius laughed, and shook his head, "Then whose is it?" He wondered.

"Yours!" She squealed.

"Me?" Darius asked, surprised, "why are you blaming me?"

"So you're going to play dumb now?" She asked him and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Look, I'd rather not talk about it." He said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Rather not… talk about it?" Madge squeaked, "You regret it?"

"No," he sighed, "no I don't… I just…"

"Just what?" She wondered, "Just want to pretend it never happened?"

"I don't want this to ruin our friendship." Madge let her arms fall to her side, in defeat.

"D, I…"

"Don't say it; Madge- just let it go."

"I don't want to let it go!" She yelled, "I just want to be with you."

"You do?" He asked, incredulously.

"You can't just kiss me like that and expect me not to feel something," she growled.

"It's just about the kiss?" He asked.

Madge shook her head, "no," she admitted, "I've wanted you from the beginning."

"You started this for Gale Hawthorne," he shot back, an eyebrow rising in challenge.

"Not romantically- just competitively," she reminded, "I just want his arrogance to catch up with him someday," she continued, "when he sees me win the Hunger Games without batting an eyelash."

Darius laughed, "You really don't like him, do you?" He asked.

"Can't stand him," Madge growled playfully, "he's just a pompous ass," she laughed, Darius looked ready to defend him, "don't try to deny it!"

"Sounds like you have a crush, Princess," he winked.

"Stop!" She giggled. They let the mood mellow for a moment, both taking deep calming breaths. Madge set her hand on Darius' bicep, grabbing his attention, "how could I not want you?" She asked him quietly, "how could you even think I wouldn't want you?"

"I'm a Peacekeeper, Madge, I'm not good company." He placed his hand on top of hers.

"You're also my trainer," she said and moved closer, looking up at him.

"What does that mean?" He asked her.

"It means you get to see a side of me no one has ever seen before, a side that I choose to keep a secret," she smiled, "a side I reserve for only you."

Darius' hand left hers and met her warm cheek, "Madge I don't want to force you into anything."

"You're not," she practically whispered. They stared at each other for a moment, searching each other's eyes in search of answers and confirmation. "Kiss me," Madge pleaded.

"Only if you agree to be mine," he whispered in her ear. His lips brushed the lobe, briefly pressing on the small diamond in her ear. Madge's breath caught in her throat and she pressed herself into him.

"I agree," she moaned softly.

"Say it like you mean it," he smiled into her jaw and nipped at the skin.

"I agree," she said louder and more confident.

"That's more like it," he muttered and moved his lips across her skin. Her other hand moved to his chest as she tried to move even closer to his warm.

"Madge!" They broke apart, chests heaving in anticipation.

Madge cleared her voice, "yes, Father?" She called up the stairs.

"Dinner in twenty minutes, finish up and freshen up."

"I will," she answered. She heard the door thud closed and she turned back to Darius. His eyes were bright with mischief and his lips were smashed together barely containing laughter. "Don't," she warned.

"Same time tomorrow?" He asked casually, and picked the gloves off the floor.

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked.

"Home," he said, trying to hold back a cheeky smile. Madge shook her head and turned, giving him a perfected rounded kick to knock the gloves out of his hand. "Now you're trying too hard," he smirked, "I'm going to play a little hard to get," he told her, once again bowing to pick up the gloves. Madge huffed, moving her hair out of her face, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I thought it was supposed to be me playing hard to get," she asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"The rules can change," he bartered, "now run along and put on a dress for Daddy."

"Darius," she scowled but giggled nonetheless, "get out of here before I round you in the face."

"Oh that'll be the day," he winked and dodged her responding punch, grabbing up her hand. He pressed his lips to her knuckles and glanced up. "Until tomorrow." The promise hung in the air as he left the room.

"Tomorrow," Madge whispered under her breath.

Review, request, and check out Power.

Erin