Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Of all the people in District 13 to share a hospital room with, Gale gets stuck with Mayor Undersee.
"Mr. Undersee, Gale," the man says, shaking his head. "For the love of God, I'm not a mayor anymore." The old man, Mr. Undersee, is propped up in the hospital bed beside Gale's. He's been sick for a while now. The loss of his wife during the District 12 bombings, the stress from the bombings in general, and being trapped under burning debris for an extended period of time, has left Mr. Undersee on perpetual bed rest. "In fact, call me Leon."
Okay, honestly, Mr. Undersee isn't the problem. He's a cool guy. He tells dumb jokes and has a kind smile. He likes to listen to Gale talk about his missions. He likes to listen to Gale talk about anything, actually. Of all the people Gale's gotten the pleasure to know in District 13 Mr. Undersee isn't half bad. But along with Mr. Undersee comes…
"Madgey!" Mr. Undersee calls. The blonde strolls into the room with a smile and a fake flower from one of the shops. Gale looks at her but says nothing, and her eyes flicker to him for a moment too, narrowing in slight confusion. "I'm so glad that you're here."
"I come every day, Dad," she says with a laugh.
"I'm aware. Look, you remember Gale," he says, gesturing to the boy on the bed beside him. Madge's eyes lift to him again and she smiles.
"Yes, Daddy, I remember Gale."
"He sold us strawberries!"
"I know, Daddy."
"He went and got himself shot!" he says. Madge lowers herself into a chair beside her father and looks at Gale across the room. He lifts his shoulder. "He was telling me all about it, Pumpkin. So there they were, out in the middle of District 8, when all of a sudden they started getting fired at!" Madge's eyes are still on Gale, studying the thick white gauze around his head. "A bullet grazed his temple. He could die, probably."
"They put me on bed rest for a week," Gale corrects lightly. "I have a concussion. I'm fine."
"He could die any second," Leon says again.
After a bit of awkward laughter Madge turns to Gale, "I'm glad you're okay," she says. Gale tips his head at her. And then she returns to her father. "I got you this. They reminded me of the ones we planted when I was little." Leon accepts the flower and frowns, picking at the fake green stem. "I know that it's plastic," she says as her lips turn downward. "But it's not like they let me above ground to pick flowers. Or even in the manmade meadow. And this one won't die when you forget to water it." He smiles kindly at his daughter, reaching out and grabbing her hand. She shyly pushes her hair back with her freehand. "Do you like it?"
"I love it, Sweetheart," he smiles.
Madge's eyes nervously flick up to Gale and then back down to her dad. "Well I should be going. I'm on break, I shouldn't even be here." Madge stands again before bending down to kiss her father's cheek. "I'll be back tonight. Love you, Daddy."
"Love you, Madgey," he echoes, smiling thoughtfully at his daughter. He holds the flower in his hand, something blue with long petals. "She's wonderful, she is," Leon says, more to himself rather than Gale. "In here to see me every day, I worry that she hasn't got a life of her own." With a sad smile Mr. Undersee lowers the flower. "Pardon my ramblings. I don't have many people to talk to about Madge."
"I don't mind," Gale says honestly.
Most of the people who talk to him are all about the military and missions and war and it can be draining. Though Madge Undersee isn't his desired topic of interest it sure beats talking about ten different kinds of guns for an hour.
"She just…" Leon sighs, looking up at the ceiling. "Madge just cares for other people so greatly. I don't remember the last time she put herself above anyone, and life like that can be draining. I don't think she's even been on a date since we've gotten to District 13. She's twenty one years old; I just want her to be happy."
A little awkwardly Gale says, "Making other people makes her happy."
Mr. Undersee smiles. "I guess you're right."
Gale learns a lot about Madge Undersee over the course of his bed rest. Between the sporadic visits from his family and friends, Mr. Undersee talks a lot about his daughter.
Apparently back when they were in District 12 there had been a lot of talk about her marrying the eldest Mellark boy, Taftan, and she supported it because she thought it would make her mother happy. Madge went in the woods a few times with Katniss, attempted to learn how to shoot a bow. Madge likes to write her own piano music and she absolutely hates not having a piano all to herself here. When she was younger she would set all of her dolls around a table and have a tea party because she didn't have friends that would do it with her. She liked watching the stars, though she clearly can't do that here in District 13.
"She's a singer, too," Mr. Undersee told Gale at one point. "Not a voice that would knock the socks off of people but it's absolutely beautiful nonetheless. She used to sing lullabies to her mom when she was out on morphling, but we all knew she couldn't hear them."
The more Gale learns about Madge the guiltier he feels having misjudged her all this time. Back in 12 his hatred for her stemmed from the fact that her entire being represented the Capitol, and he hated the Capitol more than anything. He's still learning that she couldn't control that and it was misplaced anger. And even then he didn't like her because he thought the way she acted was all a ruse, when it turns out she really is as kind as everyone claims she is.
"Doesn't have a mean bone in her body," Mr. Undersee admits with a laugh. "Sometimes she gets angry and it all builds up and then she explodes, but she apologizes for it right after and always feels bad. Now that doesn't mean she doesn't hold her ground. God forbid I overstep with her. She puts me in my place. But mean? Never."
And the more he learns about Madge the more he looks at her in a different light every time she steps into the room. Her eyes light up when she sees her father, the forced smile she wears for the nurses transforms into a genuine one. He stops trying to hate everything about her and realizes he adores the freckles across her nose that come from spending too much time in front of the sun lamp. He realizes that while there is no real sun down here, her golden hair reminds him of the daytime, her blue eyes of the sky.
She comes in late one night after her father has fallen asleep, sighing in the doorway when she realizes she's late.
Madge looks toward Gale. "He's not angry, is he?"
Gale shakes his head, "No, he said, and I quote: 'Maybe she's on a date!'" Madge smiles and steps into the room, over to her father. "Were you?"
"On a date?" she echoes. "No. Peeta relapsed and they wanted me to talk to him." Gale dips his head, his eyebrows furrowing. "He's okay now," she says. "He wasn't violent, just very… loud." Gale sighs, sinking backwards onto the bed. She strolls away from her father and over to Gale. "How are you?"
"Me?"
Madge frowns, then smiles, "Yes? You're the only one besides me awake in the room."
Gale reaches up and taps the tape. "Alive." Her smile sinks a little. "I get headaches but I'm okay. I just hate being cooped up in here."
"Well I'm sure my dad loves the company," she says. "He hardly ever shares a room with anyone, this side is usually empty." Madge glances over her shoulder at him. "I can't visit him as often as I'd like, and I know he's probably talking your ear off, so thanks. For being a sport."
Gale can't help but laugh a little. "Your dad's pretty cool, you know."
Madge smiles, "Yeah. I know. Don't tell him that though, it'll go straight to his head." Gale chuckles again as Madge takes a step backwards. "Well I should be going. I've got to look over some lesson plans for class tomorrow." Gale dips his head and she smiles again. "Goodnight, Gale."
He lets her go without saying it back.
The next morning Mr. Undersee is unexpectedly chipper. He smiles more often, thanks the nurses more so than usual for all their work, and whistles the time away.
"You alright, sir?" Gale asks.
"Ah, of course," he nods. "I've just been thinking." Gale motions forward, prompting him further. "Madgey hasn't been on a date in a while but it's not because there's something wrong with her, it's because she hasn't found the right guy."
"Oh?"
"They're all wrong for her here," Mr. Undersee carries on. Gale expects him to say something about how Gale would be perfect but Leon surprises him and avoids that subject completely. "She needs someone… someone who knows who she is and doesn't try to change her. Someone proud to make her theirs."
The day goes on with Mr. Undersee describing a flurry of things as to why Madge is such a wonderful person to date. She never wants to take things fast, in fact she prefers them slow. No rushing into things. And she wants kids, a big family someday. You know who else has a big family? Gale, and he's wanted one of his own all his life. He's pretty sure he mentioned that to Leon in the midst of their conversations. Speaking of conversations, Madge loves to listen. She's a great listener, especially if the person she's listening to will listen to her when she needs it. She's a patient person. A kind woman. Incredibly sweet. Always tries to look for the best in people and in situations.
"Sir," Gale cuts Leon off sometime in the early evening. "Are you talking your daughter up to me?"
"Nonsense!" he shouts back. "She's capable of finding her own boyfriend. Besides, she needs someone who makes the first move all on their own."
Hint, hint.
After saying goodbye to Leon, Gale is finally leaving his hospital room. As he's exiting, returning to the district for the first time in forever it feels, he runs smack dab into, of course, Madge Undersee. He places his hands on her shoulders to steady her and she blushes profusely.
"I forgot how tall you were," she blurts, pressing her hands to her face. Gale chuckles as she rights herself. "So you're leaving, then?"
"All healed up. Got to get back to work."
Madge nods, brushing her bangs from her face. "Well, I'm glad you're okay, Gale."
"Thanks," he smiles. Before she can dip around him to get to her father he stops her. "Wait, Madge." She pauses, looking at him with bright blue eyes. "You want to go on a date?" Madge blinks at him a few times before he adds, "With me?"
Again her cheeks turn red. "I didn't think that you liked me," she says with a strangled voice. "You never did back in 12."
"Well we're not in 12 anymore," Gale murmurs. "We're different people. And I do like you. I wouldn't ask you on a date if I didn't."
Her eyes meet his and she laughs a little. "Did my dad put you up to this?"
Gale laughs, too. "Not entirely. I'm pretty sure he was hinting at it dramatically but I, uh," he scratches the back of his neck nervously. "I'd like to take you out, regardless of your father's wishes or wants." He'd like to give it a try, look at Madge Undersee through a new perspective. "What do you say?"
Madge dips her head, "Sure. I'd like that." Their eyes meet and Gale feels lighter. "Tomorrow?"
"Is eight o'clock okay?"
"Definitely," she nods. Gale nods and sidesteps so she can get by. "See you then." He makes it to the end of the medical wing before realizing he left his meds on his side table. Quickly turning around Gale makes it to his old room just in time to hear Mr. Undersee laughing loudly. "Daddy, please, it's not funny!"
"You're right, it's not funny, Madgey, it's fantastic. Gale is such a great boy, I've loved talking to him this week, and I saw how he looked at you when you'd come in I couldn't help myself and—" Gale knocks lightly on the doorframe and they both turn to see him. Madge once again turns a shade of red so deep Gale can feel it too. "Gale!"
"Leon," he smiles. "Madge." She lifts her hand to cover her mouth but Gale doesn't let it get awkward. "I just came by to get my medicine. I forgot it."
"Forgot it," Leon repeats. "Sure."
"Daddy," Madge murmurs under her breath.
Gale picks up the bottle and shakes it a few times before sliding it into his pocket. "All set. I'll see you tomorrow?" he asks Madge.
"Eight o'clock," she says softly, nodding her head.
"Can't wait," he grins. Gale waves goodbye one last time before leaving the room for good.
As he walks away he hears Mr. Undersee say, "I told you that he liked you!"