Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Today is like yesterday. And yesterday was like the day before. Gray. Bland. Boring. Training, again and again. Nothing new. More gray.
But she is not gray. Though her clothes match his, she is more than gray. She's black and blue and golden.
Gale sees her almost at once; she stands out among the sea of clones. She keeps her eyes on the ground, never lifting her head to glance around. Her actions are small, she does nothing to attract attention to herself, and yet she is all Gale sees.
He's on his feet moving toward her before he realizes what's happening. His figure hulks over hers. She's always been short, but right now she just looks small.
"Madge," he chokes out. His head shakes as the girl looks up. Yes, it's her. Her eyes are bright even though everything else seems dim. Gale yanks her into his arms without hesitation, holding her tightly against him.
"Gale," she squeaks, "careful."
Black and blue. Bruises. He drops his arms instantly, terrified that he's hurt her. She smiles up at him, adding to the colors District 13. White. It's tiny, maybe even forced, but it's still a smile.
He pulls her away from the crowd and lowers himself to a seat on the bench. She joins him. He wants her to explain right away. He wanted to hear her voice, to verify that she's actually here in the midst of gray and nothingness.
"What happened?" Gale asks her.
"Second string of survivors," Madge tells him. "From 12." His hand grips hers. Gale wants more. "There was a group of us still in the District," she finally says. Madge's voice wavers as she adds, "Not everyone under the debris died."
Her eyes linger on where their hands are linked. Gale's never been one for physical contact, especially not with the mayor's daughter. But relief has bubbled in his chest at the sight of her. He will not let her go. Not this time.
"If I had known—"
"Don't," she shakes her head. "There were only a few of us. Seventeen, then sixteen." Gale rubs his thumb over the back of her hand. "Then fifteen."
"Madge," he tries. Gale's heart is sinking in his chest leaving him with guilt and pain. He had promised to get her out. He thought she was gone. "I'm sorry," Gale finally says.
Her shoulders lift. "You didn't have any reason to go back in the District," Madge says. "I don't blame you."
The stay in silence for a moment, just sitting, before he tugs her into his arms again. Gale's gentle this time, holding her as close as he can without hurting her. Madge rests her cheek against his chest and sighs, and the entire action fills Gale with new breath.
District 13 is gray. It is cold and damp and unchanging. But Madge Undersee is not. And now, neither is Gale.
A/N: Request!