Have you ever even been to the Seam? he wanted to ask, frowning as Madge shot back at him, deserved or no. He could already his frustration starting to bubble into anger into response to her own. It was different outside of town; how could Madge, the mayor’s daughter, really understand that? Katniss certainly wouldn’t have filled her in.
“Does it matter?” So what if he had, once or twice? Gale had never allowed himself to think something could actually happen between them. They were too different, and there were too many other factors beyond their control - it would be a complete disaster if they tried.
“It doesn’t change anything.”
Even to his own ears, the words sounded cynical. But he couldn’t allow it. Gale had been happy enough just being friends with her; to ask for more was… It would be selfish, it would be destructive, and now that he knew Madge for Madge, he didn’t want to lash out again and hurt her like he used to, but Gale knew himself well enough to know that he would. He would just be wasting her time.
Despite what everyone though, Madge didn't grow up with a silver spoon in her mouth. As Mayor's daughter, she was subject to seeing just how things were in all parts of the District. In the Capitol. Her father, after all, wasn't just the Mayor for the town, but all of District 12. And while that meant little on his front, thanks to Capitol intervention, it still meant knowing everything that goes on in the city. (Well, to an extent.)
Still, with her blonde hair and fair skin, Madge was an easy target for the "privileged Townie" card, and to be fair, she did have a good deal more privilege than most. "It doesn't because you won't let it."
Perhaps that wasn't the most fair thing for her to say. But she was angry now, frustrated even. Not sure what else she should even tell him, she huffed out an annoyed sigh and before she could second guess anything, she brought her hand to his cheek, stood on the very tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips.
Nothing big and dramatic, just a kiss she wanted desperately... one that would hopefully convey just how serious she was. And as soon as it had happened, it now came to a halt. "If you want to leave," she began quietly, "go ahead. I won't stop you."
He was ready to let his anger boil over, to let the injustice between their classes fuel his words, but Madge put a stop to that half a second before he could say anything. The words caught in his throat and Gale froze, brow furrowed in disbelief. It wasn’t anything like the way he’d kissed Katniss, what felt like ages ago - Madge was much calmer, much more resigned to not getting what she had apparently decided she wanted.
He’d been happy enough just being friends, but she was just as frustrating as ever.
Gale sighed and ran his hand through his hair again, taking a step back and averting his eyes as the tension melted from his shoulders. “Nothing I say is going to change your mind, is it?”
Well at least she shut him up. Madge was thankful for that small miracle. Hell, if she'd have known that earlier, she would've kissed him much sooner. It would have saved them a headache. Still, as they parted from the two second kiss she'd planted, he wouldn't meet her eyes.
She crossed her arms in front of her and shook her head, despite him not looking at her. "No. I'm actually very stubborn."
He let out a snort and shook his head, keeping his eyes on the floor before him. This was stupid, Gale told himself, stupid and pointless and it would only lead to someone being hurt, or maybe both of them. This wasn’t why he’d come here, but Madge had a mind of her own.
When had things changed? How could she have gone from a tense business relationship to… to whatever this was supposed to be?
“That’s not something you should be bragging about,” Gale said finally, as he glanced up at the door and debated the merits of leaving and never mentioning this again. If she was really that stubborn, though, she wouldn’t let it go, and he’d seen her determination in other areas. Madge wasn’t joking.
Resigned, he finally turned to her and said, “Just don’t blame me if you regret this later,” and stepped in to kiss her again, lifting one hand to caress her cheek.
"It isn't?" That was news to Madge, really. She was very proud of how stubborn she was, how she could be. Perhaps it would be frowned upon if she used that for more petty reasons, but as that usually wasn't the case, she didn't see any reason to be modest about it. And while she was frustrated that he wouldn't look at her, she made no comment or move to change that.
She expected him to leave. To walk out the door and for no one to be the wiser... Instead, he was pressing his lips back against hers after a terse, but perhaps resigned, warning. She smiled into the kiss, silly as that might be, and pressed closer to him. One hand tentatively moved to rest on his shoulder, to keep herself upright, as the other wrapped behind his neck.
It was startling how much Gale liked kissing her, given all the thought he put into the classes dividing them. He’d never allowed himself to entertain fantasies of falling in love with a girl from town; any other encounters had been through school, business, or… well, physical. Falling in love was one thing, after all, but sex was something else entirely, and he knew very well how some girls swooned over him. He’d never considered Madge, as rocky as their slow climb to friendship had been, would be one of them.
Nothing could really come of this, Gale was sure of it - but he could abandon his thoughts for awhile and live in the moment. It wouldn’t hurt, not if they didn’t get emotionally involved.
He refused to acknowledge that they may already have. It was a problem for another day, and if Madge was to be believed, there would be another day.
With that thought filed away, he focused on the here and now, where a beautiful girl kissed him with fervor and tried to find a way to get even closer. A thought crossed his mind, but Gale didn’t voice it, simply letting his arm snake around her waist instead and tilting his head just so to get a better angle. They fit together pretty well, he thought absently, as the hand on Madge’s cheek found its way into her hair… and he pulled back a moment later, not smiling, but a little more breathless than he had been when this started.
He refused to acknowledge that, too.
“I don’t think your father would appreciate this if he walked in right now,” he said quietly, though he didn’t make a move to leave or step away, his forehead resting against hers as he debated the merits of kissing her again, right here in the middle of the mayor’s entryway where anyone could see. The mayor went easy on those he traded with, illegally or no, but would he be so kind to someone getting so close with his daughter? Gale wasn’t sure, but he was very close to not caring at all.
There was "not getting emotionally involved" and... getting emotionally involved and not acknowledging it. As much as Madge wanted to believe that she could detach herself emotionally from anything and everything as needed, the truth was she was already very much enamored with Gale- for whatever reason. She still wasn't entirely sure of it herself. She used to get so annoyed with the girls in class when they'd swoon over him, giggle to each other about his looks or rumors, so what had changed?
Regardless, it was nice to feel his arm move around her waist, for his other hand to weave into her hair. And if he was breathless when they parted, she didn't notice because she was too breathless herself. When he spoke, she considered it for a moment- it was a miracle that no one had happened upon them yet.
"Probably not," she finally conceded, biting down on her lower lip. Her father wouldn't be home anytime soon, but that wasn't the point. She leaned into and pressed a lingering kiss against his lips again before pulling back just a hair. "Follow me?"
This was either a great idea or.... a very questionable one. Either way- she didn't want to stop this now, and they needed privacy.
The way Madge melted against him for another kiss set his mind reeling, even as he tried to process the situation. No, her father most certainly would not appreciate the illegal hunter from the Seam cozying up to his daughter, and for a second Gale held his breath, expecting her to shoo him out the door. Though there was no denying how that would disappoint him, he wouldn’t have blamed her if she had. They are, after all, from completely different walks of life. Gale had absolutely no expectations of forming something real with her, something that lasted beyond a friendship formed from the mutual benefits of his hunting. It simply wasn’t possible.
And yet, when she spoke again, it was an invitation. The world seemed to freeze, and for a moment he wasn’t sure what to say. Going with her would pose the risk of her father coming home to discover them doing… whatever it was that Madge was planning. Something from her romance novels? he wondered idly, a smile threatening to curl the corners of his mouth as he remembered to breathe.
“Lead the way, Undersee,” Gale told her, with a trace of amusement in his voice. His arm loosened around her, hand dropping to find hers. This was a side of Madge that he hadn’t seen before, and he was intrigued to see what she would do now that she’s made the first move.
To be perfectly honest, she wasn’t entirely sure what her plan was. Take it one step at a time? Madge wasn’t entirely sure what that beginning of a smirk was for, but perhaps she’d like to figure it out. Lead the way. She gave a small smile and nod as she intertwined her fingers with his and turned to do just as he asked, as she suggested. Her mother was asleep, the in-home nurse tending to her in the room. It was easy to sneak past the door- as it was often closed to keep any sounds from bothering her in her sleep.
They wouldn’t bother her if she was in her room- they knew her to be very solitary. If her door was closed, she was reading or studying… There was a balcony he could leave from if her dad got home earlier than anticipated.
She was definitely over-thinking this, she realized, as she tugged him through the hall, pressing a finger to her lips to make sure he remained quiet… As soon as they reached her room, she ushered him in first and closed the door behind her as soon as she was in. Now she was feeling self conscious about this decision- though thankfully her room was perfectly tidy.
With her back against the door, she reached out for his hand again and tugged him closer. “They don’t bother me when my door is closed.”
He followed without question, ignoring the intrigue that flared up in the pit of his stomach as he stepped into the room Madge had directed him toward. His eyebrows shot up as he took in the decor. It was… well, he couldn’t say it wasn’t like he’d imagined it - Gale hardly spent much of his time daydreaming about what her bedroom would look like. Still, it somehow managed to fall somewhere right in-between exactly what he’d have expected for the mayor’s daughter, and a little more low key than he would have thought. The simple color scheme suited her better than the garish pinks he might have imagined, if asked - but the patterns, the ornate furniture and fabrics, all the extra space... those were all right on the money. It was a fitting room for the princess of District Twelve, he’d say.
And tempted though he was, Gale kept his mouth shut as she pulled him back to her, and he could swear she almost looked embarrassed. It was… funny, and he didn’t even try to hide it this time.
“That so, Undersee?” he murmured, a smile playing on his lips. There was so much he could say, but at this very moment, he didn’t want to say any of it. “You must spend a lot of time up here.”
Madge was grateful he chose not to comment on her room- that was her main worry of even bringing him up here. Not what they might get up to, not the fact that her father might come home early, nor the fact that they may get caught- all of that paled in comparison to her worries that he might remark on how her room looks.
"Not like this," she breathed, her own lips curving into a more comfortable smile. But she could start- maybe she'd like to start. She tugged his hand a little more, encouraging him to stay close to her as she looked up at him.
Maybe later, Gale would bring up his opinions of her room. He’d ask why it’s so plain for someone of her stature, despite the decorative furniture and crown molding, or why anyone would need so much space. Maybe he would even tease Madge about the patterns, the lace, that blanket that looked like it could keep someone warm for an entire winter, even outdoors in the snow…
He wouldn’t, however, let himself wonder what she would do without this level of luxury in her life. Maybe Madge wasn’t on quite the same level as the rest of them, but Gale knew how people from town handled leaving it, and it was never good. Entertaining the notion that she might have to leave this simply was not an option, even for daydreams used to distract from the tedium of Seam life. What would be the point, if he knew it wouldn’t end well?
“You mean, you don’t bring all your friends up here?” It’s almost coy, the way he said it, deliberately oblivious. “I must be special.”
'All your friends'- Madge had to stop herself from laughing at the thought. Her only friends were Katniss and Gale- and to some degree, Peeta. She wasn't the best at socializing and kept to herself. Invisible, despite her status as Mayor's daughter. The tease, however, was lighthearted enough and had her smiling despite herself.
'You're the first' she nearly blurted out, the pink of her cheeks betraying any appearance of a calmness she managed to appear. "Just you," she finally managed, her tone low and nearly a whisper as she watched him for a moment. Partly because she was embarrassed of her privilege, she had it better than most of the district, including the Townies. Letting someone see her room... well... he's the first.
“Just me,” he echoes, dragging the words out into a drawl. Those were dangerous words, ones Gale couldn’t afford to put much thought into. It changed nothing, as he’d told himself over and over again already. Whatever it meant to be here now, in Madge Undersee’s bedroom, with that fact sending an odd thrill through him - nothing would change.
The thought was a comfort, as Gale allowed himself to settle into this moment. As Madge watched him, gray eyes took in the color in her cheeks with a slow, amused smile before darting up to meet hers.
“So, tell me,” he said, eyebrows raised slightly as if to challenge her, like he always had before. Madge had always risen to it, so he was counting on her not to let him down. “What should we do up here, now that it’s just us?”
The challenge in his tone, in his eyes, was familiar enough. It was enough to keep her from spending any more time blushing and acting ridiculous- she'd made a bold enough suggestion to get them this far. Madge pushed herself away from the door and smiled up at him, not as bashful as before, but with a little mischief instead.
"Oh," she began in a quiet, sing-song tone. "I'm sure there's homework to catch up on..."
She could tease just as much as he could- even as she let go of his hand and crossed over to sit on her bed, facing Gale. "Or we could pick up where we left off."
Kissing. Of course she meant that... "See where it goes from there."
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“Does it matter?” So what if he had, once or twice? Gale had never allowed himself to think something could actually happen between them. They were too different, and there were too many other factors beyond their control - it would be a complete disaster if they tried.
“It doesn’t change anything.”
Even to his own ears, the words sounded cynical. But he couldn’t allow it. Gale had been happy enough just being friends with her; to ask for more was… It would be selfish, it would be destructive, and now that he knew Madge for Madge, he didn’t want to lash out again and hurt her like he used to, but Gale knew himself well enough to know that he would. He would just be wasting her time.
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Still, with her blonde hair and fair skin, Madge was an easy target for the "privileged Townie" card, and to be fair, she did have a good deal more privilege than most. "It doesn't because you won't let it."
Perhaps that wasn't the most fair thing for her to say. But she was angry now, frustrated even. Not sure what else she should even tell him, she huffed out an annoyed sigh and before she could second guess anything, she brought her hand to his cheek, stood on the very tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips.
Nothing big and dramatic, just a kiss she wanted desperately... one that would hopefully convey just how serious she was. And as soon as it had happened, it now came to a halt. "If you want to leave," she began quietly, "go ahead. I won't stop you."
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He’d been happy enough just being friends, but she was just as frustrating as ever.
Gale sighed and ran his hand through his hair again, taking a step back and averting his eyes as the tension melted from his shoulders. “Nothing I say is going to change your mind, is it?”
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She crossed her arms in front of her and shook her head, despite him not looking at her. "No. I'm actually very stubborn."
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When had things changed? How could she have gone from a tense business relationship to… to whatever this was supposed to be?
“That’s not something you should be bragging about,” Gale said finally, as he glanced up at the door and debated the merits of leaving and never mentioning this again. If she was really that stubborn, though, she wouldn’t let it go, and he’d seen her determination in other areas. Madge wasn’t joking.
Resigned, he finally turned to her and said, “Just don’t blame me if you regret this later,” and stepped in to kiss her again, lifting one hand to caress her cheek.
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She expected him to leave. To walk out the door and for no one to be the wiser... Instead, he was pressing his lips back against hers after a terse, but perhaps resigned, warning. She smiled into the kiss, silly as that might be, and pressed closer to him. One hand tentatively moved to rest on his shoulder, to keep herself upright, as the other wrapped behind his neck.
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Nothing could really come of this, Gale was sure of it - but he could abandon his thoughts for awhile and live in the moment. It wouldn’t hurt, not if they didn’t get emotionally involved.
He refused to acknowledge that they may already have. It was a problem for another day, and if Madge was to be believed, there would be another day.
With that thought filed away, he focused on the here and now, where a beautiful girl kissed him with fervor and tried to find a way to get even closer. A thought crossed his mind, but Gale didn’t voice it, simply letting his arm snake around her waist instead and tilting his head just so to get a better angle. They fit together pretty well, he thought absently, as the hand on Madge’s cheek found its way into her hair… and he pulled back a moment later, not smiling, but a little more breathless than he had been when this started.
He refused to acknowledge that, too.
“I don’t think your father would appreciate this if he walked in right now,” he said quietly, though he didn’t make a move to leave or step away, his forehead resting against hers as he debated the merits of kissing her again, right here in the middle of the mayor’s entryway where anyone could see. The mayor went easy on those he traded with, illegally or no, but would he be so kind to someone getting so close with his daughter? Gale wasn’t sure, but he was very close to not caring at all.
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Regardless, it was nice to feel his arm move around her waist, for his other hand to weave into her hair. And if he was breathless when they parted, she didn't notice because she was too breathless herself. When he spoke, she considered it for a moment- it was a miracle that no one had happened upon them yet.
"Probably not," she finally conceded, biting down on her lower lip. Her father wouldn't be home anytime soon, but that wasn't the point. She leaned into and pressed a lingering kiss against his lips again before pulling back just a hair. "Follow me?"
This was either a great idea or.... a very questionable one. Either way- she didn't want to stop this now, and they needed privacy.
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And yet, when she spoke again, it was an invitation. The world seemed to freeze, and for a moment he wasn’t sure what to say. Going with her would pose the risk of her father coming home to discover them doing… whatever it was that Madge was planning. Something from her romance novels? he wondered idly, a smile threatening to curl the corners of his mouth as he remembered to breathe.
“Lead the way, Undersee,” Gale told her, with a trace of amusement in his voice. His arm loosened around her, hand dropping to find hers. This was a side of Madge that he hadn’t seen before, and he was intrigued to see what she would do now that she’s made the first move.
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They wouldn’t bother her if she was in her room- they knew her to be very solitary. If her door was closed, she was reading or studying… There was a balcony he could leave from if her dad got home earlier than anticipated.
She was definitely over-thinking this, she realized, as she tugged him through the hall, pressing a finger to her lips to make sure he remained quiet… As soon as they reached her room, she ushered him in first and closed the door behind her as soon as she was in. Now she was feeling self conscious about this decision- though thankfully her room was perfectly tidy.
With her back against the door, she reached out for his hand again and tugged him closer. “They don’t bother me when my door is closed.”
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And tempted though he was, Gale kept his mouth shut as she pulled him back to her, and he could swear she almost looked embarrassed. It was… funny, and he didn’t even try to hide it this time.
“That so, Undersee?” he murmured, a smile playing on his lips. There was so much he could say, but at this very moment, he didn’t want to say any of it. “You must spend a lot of time up here.”
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"Not like this," she breathed, her own lips curving into a more comfortable smile. But she could start- maybe she'd like to start. She tugged his hand a little more, encouraging him to stay close to her as she looked up at him.
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He wouldn’t, however, let himself wonder what she would do without this level of luxury in her life. Maybe Madge wasn’t on quite the same level as the rest of them, but Gale knew how people from town handled leaving it, and it was never good. Entertaining the notion that she might have to leave this simply was not an option, even for daydreams used to distract from the tedium of Seam life. What would be the point, if he knew it wouldn’t end well?
“You mean, you don’t bring all your friends up here?” It’s almost coy, the way he said it, deliberately oblivious. “I must be special.”
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'You're the first' she nearly blurted out, the pink of her cheeks betraying any appearance of a calmness she managed to appear. "Just you," she finally managed, her tone low and nearly a whisper as she watched him for a moment. Partly because she was embarrassed of her privilege, she had it better than most of the district, including the Townies. Letting someone see her room... well... he's the first.
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The thought was a comfort, as Gale allowed himself to settle into this moment. As Madge watched him, gray eyes took in the color in her cheeks with a slow, amused smile before darting up to meet hers.
“So, tell me,” he said, eyebrows raised slightly as if to challenge her, like he always had before. Madge had always risen to it, so he was counting on her not to let him down. “What should we do up here, now that it’s just us?”
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"Oh," she began in a quiet, sing-song tone. "I'm sure there's homework to catch up on..."
She could tease just as much as he could- even as she let go of his hand and crossed over to sit on her bed, facing Gale. "Or we could pick up where we left off."
Kissing. Of course she meant that... "See where it goes from there."