Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
There are only two reasons Gale agreed to his friend's request. The first is that they survived the war together and he can't say that about many people. The second is that he has to go to the office in question anyway, and he doesn't suppose it would hurt putting in a nice word for his friend.
"She's the spunky blonde," his friend, Max, had said. "Works the front desk. All you need to do is ask for me. She'll call my office and I'll wait a bit before saying you can come back. You can just talk me up in the meantime, you know."
"Sure," Gale nodded. "Just don't take forever. Your list of specialties is low."
And now here Gale is, marching into Max's office building in the middle of the day to drop off some papers for some project he's part of.
District 2 is a huge place. He's kept in touch with his war buddies but it's not often he goes to where they work now. Most of the time they just meet up for beers at the bar or go over to someone's house to watch some sporting event on the television. He's never even been in this part of the District before, and for a moment he's not even sure he's in the right place.
Suddenly he spots the name on the wall, Maxwell Fredis, and Gale is filled with a bubble of relief.
When he marches up to the front counter he finds it empty. Gale casts a glance around the waiting room, finding that empty as well. Almost irritated he rings the bell on the desk. He's going to have to tell Max that his spunky blonde is crap at her job.
"Hello?" he calls into the room. "Anyone home?"
"One second!" a muffled voice calls back. "I'll be right with you!"
Gale lets out a deep breath and strides over to the waiting area, easing himself into one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs. He's also going to have to tell Max that he needs a better interior designer.
Not even a full minute passes before Gale watches a blonde strolling out of the backroom. In her hands are a few boxes, obscuring her view of him and his of her. She teeters a bit.
"I've already paged back to Mr. Fredis," her voice calls out. "Shouldn't be more than a few minutes."
"Sure," Gale mutters. He leaps to his feet. "Do you need help? You look as though you're going to fall ov—"
As he speaks the girl trips, sending the boxes all over the ground, their contests spilling out as well. Having the concept of respect and courtesy drilled into his head from joining the Mockingjay Army, he doesn't even hesitate to fall to the ground alongside her and help her clean her things.
"I'm such a klutz," the girl sighs, scooping a boatload of papers into her hands. "Max always tells me not to carry so many boxes at one time and I do it anyway."
"It's alright," Gale shrugs. He readjusts the boxes so they're all top up. "I'm sure he doesn't mind. Really considerate guy, you know?"
"Oh, I know," the blonde says. Her and Gale reach for the same lid at the same time and end up with their hands brushing. Gale pulls back immediately and lifts his gaze, ready to apologize, when he's frozen. Her bright blue eyes meet his and suddenly it's as though he's lost the ability to breathe entirely. "Gale?" she chokes.
He can't even get out her name before he lunges across the space between them, pulling her face into his hands and crashing his lips against hers. Madge Undersee. Madge Undersee is alive.
Their lips collide in a frenzy of emotion, her mouth eagerly responding to his. The two of them collapse backwards onto the mess she created but neither seem to mind. Her hands snake up into his hair, gripping him tightly and holding Gale as close to her as she possibly can.
When they part for air she lets out breathless laugh. Gale tugs her into his arms, crushing her body against his.
"Shit," he pants. Madge continues to laugh against him, her chest shaking slightly as her eyes fill with tears. "I thought you were dead," he breathes. "The hell are you doing in District 2?"
"Looking for you," she whimpers. Her fingers curl on his chest and Gale releases his grip a bit so he can drop his forehead to hers. Her hand lifts to his cheek and her thumb rubs at his skin. "A small group of us got out of the District after the bombing. People under debris and whatnot." Gale nods, his entire being focused on the girl in front of him. "Made it to District 6 where they healed us all up. We were there until the war ended."
"And you didn't try to contact me?" he growl.
Madge springs forwards and kisses him again. "Of course I tried," she forces out. Gale drops down again, too enthralled to have her lips on his again. "You practically disappeared. Your own family doesn't even have your address, Gale, they just know that you're in 2."
His shoulders lift slightly. Being a well-known general from the war has caused him to fall into hiding a bit, he doesn't need his address out there for just anyone to find.
Suddenly there's a beeping and Madge's face deflates. "What's that?" Gale asks.
"Mr. Fredis will see you now," she sighs. Madge stretches and links her arms around his neck. "I'll get your number when you come back out, right?"
"Course," Gale grins. He drops his mouth down to hers again, groaning as she nibbles on his bottom lip. "Shit," he pulls away suddenly. "I told Max I'd talk him up."
The beep rings out again and Madge frowns, forcing herself away from Gale to silence it. "Talk him up?"
"Shit," Gale drags his hands through his hair. "Shit." He came here to put in a good word for his friend, not to steal his girl. "Shit."
"Stop cursing you know I don't like it," Madge scolds him. Gale's heart flutters in his chest. Madge is alive. His Madge. "What's the big deal, Gale?"
"Max likes you," Gale groans.
"Oh, I know that," Madge waves her hand. She crosses the room and links her fingers through Gale's belt loops. "He's asked me on about a dozen dates. Sweetheart, really, just…" Madge releases one of her hands and traces her fingers up Gale's chest. "Just not for me." Gale grins again. "Let him down easy for me, yeah? And don't take too long."
"Never," Gale murmurs. He drops down to kiss her. "Never again."
Madge smirks and nudges him toward the Max's office. "Now go before he gets suspicious."
Gale hesitantly leaves her, glancing over his shoulder more than once just to make sure that she's really there. When he makes it to Max's office the man nearly springs forward, eager to talk to his friend.
"What'd she say?" Max questions. "Anything? She's a firecracker, isn't she?"
"Max," Gale cuts off his friend. "I don't think I can help you."
His friend groans, reaching forward and scratching at his forehead. "Thought you'd say something like that. She keeps on telling me there's some other guy, you know?" He pauses. "Maybe I'll have better luck with the girl down the hall. You think?"
Gale chuckles. "Yeah." As long as it's not Madge, Gale's sure Max has a better chance. "Go for it."