imperfect fit ; an everlark au based off of 'the selection' series

s e v e n t y - o n e

It's only a few hours later when Gale knocks on my door. My maids merely curtsy and exit, knowing without instruction that whatever we will say needs to be private.

"How are you feeling?"

"Not too bad," I say. "My arm throbs a bit and I have a headache, but otherwise I'm fine."

He shakes his head. "I shouldn't have let you go."

I pat the space beside me on the bed. "Come sit." He hesitates a bit. In my mind now, he's past suspicion. Peeta and my maids know we communicate, and he'd led us out of the palace last night. Where is the risk? He must be thinking the same thing, because he finally sits, choosing to keep a respectable distance just in case. "I'm a part of this, Gale. I couldn't have stayed behind. And there's nothing wrong with me. I honestly owe that to you. You saved me last night.:

"If I hadn't been fast enough, or if Peeta hadn't gotten you over than wall, you'd be prisoner somewhere right now. I almost let you die. I almost let Peeta die." He shakes his head. "Do you know what would have happened to Boggs and me if you two hadn't made it back? Do you know what-" He pauses, seeming to hold back tears. "Do you know what would have happened to me if we hadn't found you?"

Gale looks at me, into me. The pain in his eyes is clear. "But you did. You saved me, you protected me, and you got me help. You were amazing." I put my hand on Gale's back, running it up and down, truing to comfort him.

"I'm just realizing, Katniss, that no matter what happens . . . there will all always be a string tying you to me. I'll never not worry about you. I'll never not care about what you do. You'll always be something to me."

I take my hand and lace it through his arm, resting my head on his shoulder. "I know what you mean."

We stay like that for a while. and I guess Gale is doing the same thing I am: replaying everything. All the moments that make us who we are.

"Katniss, I need to say something." I lift my head, and Gale turns to face me, holding me gently by the arms. "When I told you I will always love you, I meant it. And I . . . I . . ." He can't manage to get the words out, and to be honest, I'm grateful. Yes, I'm tied to him, but we're not that couple at the rock anymore.

"You and me both. And there's so much to think about."

He nods. "Look, Katniss, we can't do that again. Don't tell Peeta I'll help him with something risky, and don't expect me to sneak you anywhere."

"I'm not sure it was worth it anyway. I can't imagine Peeta would want to go again."

"Good." He stands, them picks up my hand and kisses it. "My lady," he says, his voice teasing.

I smile and squeeze his hand a little. And he does the same back. As we holds hand, my grip tightening more every second, I realize that soon I need to let go. I need to really let go.

I look into Gale's eyes, and I can feel the tears threatening to come. How do I say goodbye to you?

He runs his thumb over the back of my hand and places it on my lap. He bends and kisses my hair. "Take it easy. I'll come check on you tomorrow."

-

After the quick tug of my ear at dinner, Peeta knows I will be waiting for him tonight. I sit in front of my mirror, wishing the minutes will move faster. Stacy brushes the length of my hair, calmly humming to herself. I vaguely recognize the tune as something my dad would hum in the woods.

Peeta's light knock pulls me from my thoughts, and Stacy answers the door.

"Good evening," Peeta says to Stacy as he enters, and she curtsies in response.