Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
It was strange enough for the people of District 13 to wear clothes that weren't gray, but to throw a masquerade ball seemed completely out of the question. However, the Capitol has fallen, and Madge supposes that everyone is feeling a bit more upbeat than normal.
She almost feels home again, twirling around in some fancy dress. It reminds her of when her father would host Capitol citizens and every day became a day to dress up. Madge spins around and around with whoever will dance with her, allowing herself to fill with happiness. The war is over. They've won.
Madge twirls right into the arms of someone who she almost recognizes immediately.
"Pretty dress," he murmurs, his hands linking around her back. Ah, so he knows who she is too.
"Nice uniform," she says back. He smirks. The simple black mask on his face can't hide that Gale Hawthorne is the holding her lightly. "You know," Madge whispers, "you're awfully tall."
"Maybe you're just awfully short," Gale responds.
"And in that uniform you stick out like a sore thumb."
"Says the girl dancing around as if she owns the place."
"And your hair…" Madge trails off. "It's getting a bit too long. I think you need a haircut."
Gale grins and tightens his hold on her hips. "Here I am trying to be gentlemanly and you just harass me. I'm wounded, Undersee." Madge laughs as their dancing slows, changing with the music. "You're practically the only blonde in the entire room."
"Am not," she huffs.
"Are too," Gale says. He lifts his hand and twirls his fingers through her curls. She's glad she wore her hair down.
Madge rests her cheek against his chest and lets him hold her. "I'm glad you came back, Gale," she says. "Not just to 13, but in general." If possible, his hold on her is stronger. "For a while I was scared that you wouldn't."
"What, miss this dumb masquerade ball and the opportunity to dance with the one and only Madge Undersee?" he asks. "Not a chance." Gale continues to curl his fingers through his hair. "This whole thing is ridiculous," he murmurs.
"I think it's fun," Madge says back. "Mysterious."
"I knew who you were the second I saw you," Gale tells her. Madge peeks up at him carefully. "That's not mysterious at all." He releases her hold on her and reaches for her mask. "If your overly extravagant mask wasn't a giveaway I don't know what was."
"If your hulking figure didn't give you away then—"
"Madge," he cuts her off lightly. "Can we stop that? It's been going on for too long."
"Stop what?" she asks. Gale reaches up and fiddles with her mask. "What are you doing?"
"It hides your eyes," he tells her. Slowly, Gale lifts the mask from her face. "I like your eyes."
"Gale," she tries again, but he ignores her. Gale drops the mask on the floor next to them. "I spent a long time making that," she tells him breathily. Her voice is stuck in her throat.
"I'll get you another one," he murmurs. Gale lowers himself down a bit, their noses brushing.
"Wait," Madge stops him. She reaches up and pulls his mask off as well. He grins. "Okay."
Gale presses his lips to her softly, cradling her cheeks in his hands. "This whole thing is stupid," he whispers. Gale kisses her again. "I don't think any of the soldiers wanted a masquerade ball."
Madge's fingers clutch at his shirt. "Want to leave, then?" Gale tips his head into a nod, but before pulling her from the dance floor he drops his mouth to hers. "Come on, soldier," she laughs, tugging him backward. "You've got a lot of explaining to do."
A/N: Request! Cute idea