Spring began to blossom slowly giving long rays of warm sunlight, clear skies, and most importantly, plenty of game in the woods. It was the moment where the harshness of winter was lifted and life seemed easier. But like everything in the district, the looming reaping held a choaking grip on everyone. This year, Prim, Rory and Katniss were all the reaping bowl. With Katniss' 2nd to last reaping approaching, her odds were becoming increasingly high, a point that Gale couldn't find in himself to overlook.
It was the Sunday before the reaping and the two couldn't find it in themselves to hunt. Normally, Katniss would be frustrated they lost a whole day of hunting, but today she couldn't seem to care. They were both too lost in their own thoughts to pick up a conversation, but somehow Katniss had wiggled herself into Gale's side, her legs held tightly against her chest, and his arm lying around her comfortably. At some point, Gale pulled Katniss closer to her, and pressed a lingering kiss on the top of her head. She couldn't find it in herself to pull away.
The sun began to slowly descend behind the mountain, and the two made an unspoken agreement to head home. They were a few yards before the fence line when Gale stopped abruptly. Before Katniss could think of what was happening, Gale had captured her face in his hands and brought his lips softly to her own, and suddenly everything stopped for the briefest of moments. Her mind hadn't had the chance to catch up to the shock when Gale pulled away.
"I'm sorry," He began while still holding her face, and mind, captive in his worn hands, "I had to do that at least once."
His eyes searched for something in hers, and as if he didn't see what he had hoped, allowed his hands to fall and continued walking to the fence.
"Gale-" Katniss half whispered turning towards his retreating back. He halted, and half turned to face her. Pain, hope and something else Katniss couldn't recognize held his features.
"Why?" She whispered.
"Because I'm terrified you're going to be reaped and I never took the chance to tell you how much I love you." Gale responded quietly. In response, Katniss quivering hands touched her lips, now burning from his touch. It was an odd feeling, the sensation that creeped into her mind, as without control of her own body, took two strides to meet Gale. And for a few moments she tried to search his eyes.
"Kiss me." She commanded so quietly he wasn't sure if he had heard it. He obeyed, and tucking one finger under her chin, lifted her lips to meet his. Instantly, a heat Katniss had never experienced before filled her body as if this kiss from Gale was something she had awaited her whole life for. He held her lips for a moment, and softly, as if not to scare her away, he began moving against her, asking to deepen the kiss. She opened to him gladly, reaching up to clutch his jacket in her hands in attempts to keep herself grounded. Too quickly, Gale pulled away and rested his forehead on hers.
"I love you, Katniss Everdeen." Gale whispered; his voice thick with emotion. Katniss, struggling to think clearly, lost her internal battle with desire and found herself crashing her lips to Gale's. The action took Gale by surprise, and he gladly took over fueling her fire with his own heated blaze. Katniss stumbled backwards and found herself pushed against a tree giving her grounding. Her arms now around his neck held him closer, and kept her upright as she did not trust her own legs to stand properly. Suddenly her mind began to catch up to her actions and she pulled away sharply.
"I don't want to do anything to damage our relationship." Katniss blurted. Gale's coal grey eyes, now thick with desire, something that registered in Katniss as being very very different from the lust that Cray had held, smiled brightly at her.
"Nothing can change our partnership." He promised.
"I don't want to have kids."
"I know."
"I don't want to lose you."
"You can't."
Katniss took a second and blushed slightly between the tree and Gale's body, before shyly looking at her hunting partner, "You promise?"
"Promise." Gale nodded solemnly. Katniss took another moment to consider this new idea before nodding, and crashing her lips to Gale's once again. She never thought she wanted Gale in this way, but now that she was pushed against a tree, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, his overworked hands gripping her close to him, and their lips tangled in a dance of fire and passion, she realized while she had no idea what this was, this just felt – right.
After a blissful eternity, the two broke apart, Katniss still resting on his hips, their foreheads resting on each other while they each tried to catch their breaths.
"You don't have to say it back, or do anything with this," Gale began, "But I will never be able to live a day without loving you, in whatever way you need me. I don't want to push that onto you because I know you don't want the rest of that deal, but I do you want you to consider it. It has always been you and I against the world, and I never want that to end."
Katniss nodded her understanding while searching for the best words to reply.
"I'm not good with words," Katniss began making Gale chuckle against her. Her stomach immediately swooped in joy and she realized while she's never felt this, she wanted more. "And I'm not good with relationships and things, but I think I really like kissing you." Her confession earned her a deep blush on her end, a broad smile from Gale, and a soft kiss.
"I could kiss you everyday and that wouldn't be enough." Gale returned.
"Who knew you were such a romantic." Katniss teased rolling her eyes at the cheesy line.
"I think everyone but you, Catnip."
And suddenly, all the pieces fell in line for Katniss. It was like Gale saying 'Catnip' shot electricity through her telling her exactly what she already knew: She is his, he is hers, and anything else is unthinkable.