Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.

Continuation of Chapters 144 and 150!

He wanted her to see everything.

The Dauntless compound wasn't great. In fact, it was dark and damp and gave Madge the creeps. But he still wanted her to see everything. He took her to the chasm and she held on for dear life as she peered over the edge. He walked her through the cafeteria where a few people gave them a second glance but in the end no one said anything. They went by Katniss's work and said hello. It wasn't a soothing place like the Amity compound but Madge could understand why he was proud to call it home.

"What's that?" Madge asked as they strolled by a crowded area. Gale turned and looked up at the sign, smiling.

"That's the tattoo parlor," he said. "Want to go in?"

She hesitated but then smiled, too. "Sure."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd. "See her?" Gale asked pointing to a woman with vines tattooed to her head. "That's Cressida. She did my back." Madge adored Gale's back tattoo, though she never really got a good look at it. That would change tonight, but the glimpses she's gotten she's loved. It was intricate and dark. A fire for Dauntless but also like the fire he has inside of him. Smaller symbols were around it. "C'mon, let's go say hi."

"Gale..."

"Come on," he laughed. They moved to the girl who looked up and grinned when she saw them. "Hey Cressida."

"Gale!" she cheered. "Back for another?" She gestured to her tattoo station. "I'm off the clock but I'm always open for you."

He looked sheepish. Madge cocked an eyebrow. "No," he answered. "Just wanted to introduce Madge to the mastermind behind my back."

Cressida stretched out her hand and shook Madge's with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Madge," Cressida said. "Gale never brings people here. You must be something special." She winked at her, and Madge blushed. Gale awkwardly cleared his throat. "How about you? You want a tat? First ones on the house."

"Oh, I don't know," Madge shook her head. "I don't have any."

"What Dauntless member doesn't have a tattoo?" Cressida wondered, not really asking. "I got my first one during initiation. These babies came later," she said, gesturing to her head. "What do you say?"

"We were just stopping in," Gale tried again, but Madge stepped forward.

"Okay." Gale cocked an eyebrow at her. "Sure. Yes. I'll take one if it's on the house." Cressida grinned. "I've got to decide, though. Which one."

"Sure thing," Cressida nodded. "I could sketch you something, if you'd like."

Madge thought about this for a moment. Gale was still stiff beside her. "Do you know the Mockingjay symbol?" Madge wondered. If Cressida did Gale's back she must've done the Divergent symbol, and the Mockingjay symbol was just as risky. Gale drew himself up taller. "The bird?"

Cressida let out a light laugh. "You sure know how to pick 'em, Hawthorne," she said to Gale. "Yeah, I know it."

"Something... wispy?" Madge didn't know how to phrase it. "Like... dissolving. Sort of." Cressida pulled out her sketchbook with a grin. "Does that make sense?"

"I think so. Let me draw up a few. See if I've got what you're thinking."

"Okay," Madge nodded. She grabbed Gale's hand. "Call us back when you're ready." Gale and Madge moved to the benches in the back of the shop where others were waiting. He pulled her down close to him, wrapping his arm around her waist and nuzzling into her neck. "What?" she laughed.

His lips moved across her collarbone. "I can't believe you're getting a tattoo," he murmured. She turned and their noses brushed. "Where do you want it?" She gestured to her hip. "Mm. Perfect spot." She rolled her eyes at him. "I didn't know you were a Mockingjay supporter."

"It's just as risky to talk about as Divergent is," she murmured. "My mom had a twin sister," Madge told him quietly. "She died when she was younger because she was at a protest."

"Destruction of the factions," Gale said. "They shot everyone on sight at those things."

"I know. And it wasn't about destruction of the factions, it was about the unfairness in the faction systems and the separations between them." She wrung her hands on her black t-shirt and Gale nuzzled back into her neck. "Things such as the Factionless having rights," she said softly. "Or marriage between the factions..."

He lifted his head. "That was an argument of the Mockingjays?"

"Is an argument," Madge corrected.

"They're still around?"

"Mm-hm." Madge's mom never gave up on the idea, especially after her sister died. "It was all I was thinking about today when we were telling your mom about us." Madge never had much to do with it but Peeta snuck away to the meetings sometimes. They were infinitely secret, held outside the fence. People from all factions went. It was about equality even though the factions were different. Enough of the "faction before blood" nonsense. They wanted to dismantle the rule that you couldn't see your family if you switched factions, they wanted to stop splitting everyone up in classes at school. No more of this nonsense. "We should go to a meeting sometime," she whispered.

"Of course I'd go," Gale nodded. He tugged her closer again by the waist and once again dropped down, his lips back to her neck. "I'd go anywhere with you." Madge's heart started to pound in her chest and he smiled against her skin. "I can feel your heartbeat," he said softly. "Nervous about the tattoo?"

"No," she shook her head. Madge turned to face him and he lifted him head. "I just, love you."

He stared at her a moment, his lips parting but no words coming out. Before he figured out what to say Cressida called her back. "I've got something!" Madge smiled softly at Gale and his lips curved upwards too, his gray eyes brighter than before. He followed Madge as she stood and made her way back to Cressida's station, his heart racing in his chest as well. "So," Cressida laid out a few of her sketches and Madge's eyes immediately landed on one. "Like any of them?"

"This one," Madge said, picking out the Mockingjay in flight. Its tail dissolved into fragments, making it look like it was flying. The curves were incredible, the detail not over the top and yet still beautiful. "I love it!"

"Awesome," Cressida grinned. "Let's get you up here." Madge climbed into the seat and lifted her shirt, pushing down her pants on her hip so Cressida could get the machine on. "My parents were Mockingjay supporters," she told her quietly. "They both got murdered. Anyone finds you with this tattoo you're on that list."

"I know," Madge responded. Cressida pressed the inker onto her skin and Madge tensed up. Gale grabbed one of her hands. "I think I'm on that list of a lot of reasons," she admitted breathily. Gale stroked her knuckles before lifting her hand and pressing a kiss to it. Cressida ran the machine and Madge groaned, clenching her teeth together tightly and gripping Gale's hand as tight as she could.

"Almost over," Cressida told her. Soon enough Cressida was pulling the machine off of her and smiling wickedly. "Looks nice," she said.

"Wow," Madge exhaled. Gale grinned as Cressida wiped away some blood. "It does look nice." Gale offered to tell Madge all about keeping the tattoo clean so they could get out of there quicker. "Thank you so much," Madge said, and Cressida bowed gracefully. "I love it."

"As you should," Cressida smiled.

Gale helped Madge down from the chair and they strolled out of the parlor together, waving over their shoulders at Cressida. He reached down and grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together, before pulling her down the hallway. She looked up at him with bright eyes before asking, "Where to now?"

"My place."

She felt her heartbeat pick up. The implications that came with going back to Gale's place were something she wanted, but slightly feared. She loved him, more than anyone or anything, but he was more experienced than she, more eager and ready in more ways than one.

They made it to his apartment and he slid the key into the lock before shoulder his way inside. Madge followed after him, her eyes darting around. For a home in Dauntless it was bright, there was light filling every corner. It was clean, too, and smelled like the woods somehow. There was a kitchenette and what must've constituted as a living room and his bed was out in the open, a loft apartment. There was one little room, and it was a bathroom.

He let her explore as he searched for the tattoo cleaning kit he stored somewhere forever ago. Finally she settles on the couch and he pulls the kit out from the bathroom. Gale kneels down before her and she lifts her shirt and wiggles her jeans down again. He peels off the padding Cressida had put on and Madge winces a little.

"Sorry. It hurts."

"S'okay," Gale murmured. He grabbed a cleanser wipe and dabbed it across her skin, forcing her to wince again. "Sorry. Should've told you it would sting." Madge clenched her teeth as he continued working. "Almost done," he whispered. After he'd finished wiping her new tattoo he changed the padding and pressed it onto her side. As she was adjusting the cover of her tattoo and Gale was putting away the supplies he said, "I love you too, you know."

Madge redirected her eyes to him and he looked up from what he'd been fiddling with. There was a bit of worry on his face but his eyes were bright. He lifted himself from his knees so he was standing and Madge followed him with her eyes. Gale extended his hand to her and pulled her up so she was standing as well.

"What are we going to do?" she whispered. Gale reached down and cupped her cheeks, his callused hands comforting on her skin.

"The only thing we can," he answered. "We're going to join the Mockingjays." Her jaw dropped slightly but before she could say anything he dipped down, skimming his lips over hers. "I know the risks," he breathed. Her hands grabbed his shirt, bunching the fabric together. "I don't care. I'll do anything." He kissed her again and she sprung onto her toes to deepen it as best she could. Soon enough they were stumbling, pushing and pulling with their kisses, trying to get more and more from one another. Gale bent down and lifted Madge into his arms, urging her to wrap her legs around his hips.

Their lips didn't part as he carried her to his bed and then he laid her down gently. Her golden hair fanned out across the comforter and her legs tightened around him. Her hands were frantic trying to get his shirt off, suddenly desperately needing to touch him. Gale helped, tearing his shirt the rest of the way off so she could run her hands over his chest. He groaned into her mouth and pulled away abruptly.

"Gale," she pleaded. His hands were slowly teasing her shirt up her chest. She'd been unsure just minutes before but now more than anything, she wanted this. She wanted him. "Please."

"Please what?" he murmured. She did what he had, pulling her shirt up and over her head, tossing it to the side. He exhaled deeply, his eyes scanning her body. "Fucking hell," he groaned. He bent down and kissed up her stomach. Neither of them ever thought they'd have moments like this together and he was going to make sure they savored it. "I love you," he whispered against her clavicle. Her hands were clutching his shoulders and her breath caught in her throat. "We're going to figure this out."

And being in the Dauntless compound made her feel brave. So she believed him.