Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
A knock on Madge's backdoor pulls her from the piano. She quickly scurries through the hall and into the kitchen, pulling open the door in a rush.
Gale Hawthorne stands on the other side, a basket of strawberries in one hand while the other is shoved in his back pocket.
Madge blinks a few times, processing the fact that he's in front of her. "Gale," she forces out. "I didn't know you'd be coming." She throws a glance over her shoulder to make sure no one's around and then digs for the golden coins she owes him. "You haven't brought berries in weeks."
"The fence," is all he says. It must be off again. He must be desperate to get money in anyway that he can. "I only need half because—" Madge ignores his instructions and gives him the full pay that he'd usually split with Katniss. She doesn't need to be reminded that her friend is in the Games again. "Thanks," he grunts as she takes the basket from him.
As Gale goes to leave Madge throws the basket on the counter and rushes out the door. He must hear the commotion because he pauses before he reaches the stairs, turning around to face her. Madge pulls the door shut before saying anything.
"I need to tell you something," she blurts out. Gale lifts his eyebrows in confusion at the outburst of the normally quiet girl. She lunges forward and wraps her arms around his neck, causing him to pause again.
"Undersee, what the hell are you—"
"They'll bomb us," she whispers fiercely. "Hold me closer." Gale does as she instructs and she lets out another breath, savoring his firm hold around her. "I heard them talking," she tell him quietly. "I wasn't supposed to be listening but I—I heard them say they'll bomb us."
Gale's voice drops to a husky level and his breath skirts across her skin. "When?"
"I don't know. It'll only happen if the tributes act out." He pulls her closer and Madge rests her forehead against his chest. "It'll send a message. That's what they said, that it'll send a message."
"And you know for sure? You didn't hear it wrong?"
"Gale," she leans back a moment to look into his eyes. "I'm not dim. I wouldn't tell you if I didn't know what I heard." Madge's eyes threaten to fill with tears and she drops her gaze. "Someone needed to know," she murmurs as her hands fall from around him. "I figured that you'd make off best with the information."
Gale's face remains a mask of cold indifference as his arms fall as well. "What about you?" Madge lifts her shoulders weakly and finally looks back up. His hand reaches up to lightly trace her cheek and Madge closes her eyes at his touch.
"Nothing might even happen," she chokes. Gale pulls his hand away as if he's been burned once she opens her eyes, and he shoves it back into his pocket. "It's all up to them in the Arena."
He nods once, searching her eyes one last time. "Let's hope they're compliant," he says gruffly. That's the true confliction, wanting them to break the rules yet knowing what will happen if they do. "Stay safe, Madge."
As he starts down her porch Madge finds herself wanting to say more. "If something does happen," she begins, but as he turns to face her again she can't finish. She meets his stormy grey eyes and forces a smile. "Never mind."
Gale nods once and then spins around again, marching from the Undersee's backyard for the last time. She should've said goodbye.