Chapter 8

Madge watched the first instalment of the Games from the square with Gale's family. Rory seemed rather okay with her, treating her as a friend, though Gale's mother and little sister didn't seem to like her. The other brother, Vick, didn't seem to know how to react. He sat beside Rory and generally avoided Madge, though he seemed shy more than anything else.

The pair parted ways after watching the tributes settle in for their first night. So many people had died already. People her age. Madge's hands shook. That idea again; the district was too broken to be fixed. Maybe the district concept was too broken. Too raw. She wouldn't be able to play the piano that night, not with how distracted she was in her own head. Brett and her drank tea together in the garden and prepared a stew for dinner, though Madge didn't eat much of it.

The next day was more or less the same, though this time when the screen darkened after the Capitol insignia curled on it, "Madge?"

"Yeah?"

Gale hesitated. "Come to mine for a bit."

Madge looked at him, though he was purposefully looking away. "Okay. Now?"

Gale nodded, and the pair hung back as Gale's family walked ahead of them. Gale slid an arm around Madge's waist, and though a little uncomfortable at first she didn't brush him away.

"You've seemed a little lost," Gale leant down and muttered into Madge's ear as they entered the Seam. "Have you been okay?"

"Yeah. You look tired."

Gale pulled back a little and Madge saw a rueful smile. "Hunting for two families. A little tiring."

Madge proposed to do more than just buy bread for the two families; internally though, she knew a lot about pride, especially amongst those who had little else.

"Have you been sleeping?"

"No. You?"

"Not really." Madge looked up at Gale. "Funny thing, this."

"What do you mean?"

Madge giggled. "All of this. It's ridiculous." And she laughed a little louder, in a way that her father would chide her for. Unladylike. Loud.

Gale rubbed his brow. "Yeah, a little."

Gale's family dispersed as soon as they reached his house. Gale lead her in without hesitation, straight to the room he shared with Rory and Vic. Thankfully the pair weren't in there.

He slumped on his bed, head in his hands. "I feel like…my head's gonna explode. You feel it too, right?"

Madge took a seat beside him and crossed her legs, facing his body. She placed her hand on his thigh. "I think you need a nap."

He laughed airily. "Yeah, so do I. There's just…it's so hard…to close your eyes sometimes. Y'know?"

"Yeah." She sighed. "I do." They were quiet. Madge ran her fingers through his thick, black hair. Gale lifted his head and looked at her.

"Sometimes…I think I'm so lucky. Because…" Gale hesitated. "You won't take this the wrong way?"

"No." Madge's curiosity outweighed the alternatives.

"I look at you and…I'm glad we're in this together." Madge's hand slipped down to cup his cheek and turn his face towards her. He laughed a little, closed his eyes… "Things are easier when you're here. Even though I can't give you what I'm supposed to – you're, you're, you're here." Gale stopped. "Sorry. I'm just really tired." He pressed his face into her shoulder, breath puffing over her neck as she ran her nails over his scalp…

And he was asleep. Just like that. Madge hugged his head closer and held him until there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said.

Gale didn't stir. Rory walked in and blushed, "Sorry," he said, and then slapped his hands over his mouth for talking too loud, and then winced at the noise his actions made.

Madge smiled a little. "Can you help me lay him down?" she whispered.

Rory had insisted he walked Madge back home and had dragged his younger brother, Vick, with him. Gale was still asleep, and by the way Rory acted it was a miracle. They tip-toed around him so as not to disturb him, but they needn't bother: Gale was dead to the world.

The walk to the merchant side of town was an accumulation of taking 'short cuts' between houses and saying hello to fellow residents (at least for Vick and Rory, who seemed to know everyone). Madge lead the two to her house – the biggest house in the area, amongst those in Victor's Village.

"Wow," Vick said, looking up at the building. "You live here?"

Rory pulled Vick back to his side as Madge unlocked the front door, and though Madge couldn't see him, Rory was silently berating his younger brother with a threatening look.

Madge held the door open once she'd walked in. "Well, aren't you going to come in?"

Madge could see Rory's clear hesitation, though she ignored it. She took off her shoes and walked further into her house, and after a moment heard Rory and Vick do the same.

"Brett," she quickly hissed to the man in the kitchen, "What's for dinner?"

"Chicken," he said in a tone mirroring hers. "Why, what's the problem?"

Rory and Vick came in the doorway – both were looking around, clear awe on their faces. Madge felt a little embarrassed, and…they were kids. They deserved more than holey shoes and recycled clothes.

"Do you guys want a quick tour while Brett fixes us a snack? Brett, don't we have some leftover chicken or something?"

Brett was quick to catch on. "Yes, of course, Miss Madge. It'll be ready in ten minutes."

"Perfect." Madge looked at him meaningfully, "And thank you."

She led the boys to the living room.

"He calls you Miss Madge," Vick said in awe. Rory was looking at the couches and the room in general while Vick walked up to one, running his fingers over the material.

"I suppose he does," Madge said with a smile. "Upstairs?"

They were equally in awe of upstairs.

"Madge?" she heard the weak sound from her mother's bedroom as they walked past it.

Upon opening the door, Madge saw her mother laid out under the sheets, blonde-grey hair tied in a braid. The covers were up to her shoulders, nothing visible.

"Oh," Madge's mother croaked. "Who are these two handsome boys? Closer, come closer."

The boys shuffled closer as Madge hung back. Her mother was clearly still lost in a haze of morphling; she grabbed Vick's chin between two shaking fingers and pulled it closer to her face so she could see him better. The pair looked uncomfortable, but…

"What a bright age. So tell me – cough – what is it you do these days, huh?"

"I – " Vick looked to his brother for encouragement, "I go to school."

"Oh yes? And I bet you're mighty smart at school. Top of the class, huh?" Madge's mother coughed again. "Madge – where's my purse?"

Madge hustled through her drawers while she addressed Rory.

"And you, you look after your little brother?"

"Um – I try to, Miss."

Madge's mother looked frighteningly pale. Madge handed her the coin purse.

"Good boy. Good boy. Madge is engaged to your older brother, isn't she? Gale. He has two lovely brothers. I have to give him a talking-to. Make sure he's looking after you boys properly. You look after your mother well, yes?"

There wasn't much to say to that, and Madge's mother started coughing then as well. She rejected the bottle of water Madge thrust in her direction and struggled to take money out of her purse while laying down; first took out a silver coin, before dropping it back into the purse with frustration. It was only when she found two matching golden coins that she retired the purse to Madge and held them out in a quivering hand to the boys.

"Miss, we can't," Rory said, looking uncomfortable. "But thank you."

"Don't disrespect an ill lady. You've been raised well, but my arm's getting tired."

Rory and Vick took them hesitatingly. "Thank you," Vick said.

"Yes – um, thank you, Miss."

"Call me Auntie, if you'd like. And I expect you boys to come back. I have – cough – a whole garden…to show you."

The trio left once the boys had promised to come back.

"Um…" Rory looked at the coin in his hand. "I think – you should take these." He tried to hand it back to Madge.

"Don't be silly. Now come on, I think Brett should be done by now."

After eating a handsome chicken sandwich and a handful of apple slices each, Madge walked the boys out. "Thank you for walking me here," she told them.

"I – um, thank you for the tour and the food. And – can you thank Miss for the money?" Rory blushed.

"Yes, of course."

Vick smiled toothily at Madge. "Bye. And thank you!"

She waved the pair off until they were no longer visible in the distance.

"So," Brett said, coming up behind her with a smile. "What should I cook for our dinner?"

A/N: i was thinking of adding more to this but damnnnn the ending just felt so cute to me when i reread it?

also i adore madge's mother now, reminds me of my grandma with kids lol. plus im glad she's better to vick/rory than gale's mother is to madge. just sayin'. i got so tired of the arranged marriage stories between madge and gale when the mum (and especially posy, for some reason posy MUST be obsessed with madge) adore madge. i just think that maybe hazelle would blame madge for the situation and that posy would be too young to do anything but follow her only female role model.

(also sorry, tried putting this up a few weeks ago but the internet crashed like 3 times then i gave up and forgot and now here we are! with a new boyo! sorry for the smol romance, hopefully more soon but as we know neither of them really love each other (yeet). thank u for the support and comments, plz comment more bc im a thirsty hoe. love u all

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