fic; unlove (gale/kattnis, gale/johanna, gale/annie)
title: unlove
fandom: the hunger games
rating: R (for sexual content)
summary: he pretends that it helps and that he's no longer in love with katniss everdeen.
1. BROOKE
Brooke. Her name is Brooke and Gale isn't sure how come he remembers when he can't even recall how he got home. He's already drunk and going in for more by the time she comes over to join him at the bar. Even though his senses are dulled he's still a hunter with killer observation skills so he doesn't go oblivious to her swinging hips and sultry smile. She's got long blonde hair tumbling down her back like beach waves. Her eyes are the same color of the water and, cliché as it might sound, he feels like he might drown if he looks too long. A grim voice inside his head reminds him that drowning would be pretty nice right now.
"You're Gale Hawthorne," the blonde informs him (as if he's not aware) in a raspy voice that doesn't quite fit her look. "I've seen you on TV."
This isn't the first time a stranger knows who Gale is. Had it been in the past he would have gone suspicious, maybe even paranoid, but now that everything is fine and dandy in the world he has no need to be. Besides, people tend to remember the face of someone who helps bring down a tyrannic government.
"Yes ... I am," he tells her and swiftly finished off whats left in his glass.
She introduces herself. Tells a lame joke. He fakes a laugh. They've only been talking for five minutes when she presses her lips against his.
They're different than what he's used to (different than Katniss). They're smooth, full and his tongue inspects them carefully while she presses her body up against his. She tastes, smells and feels different too. But different is good, Gale reminds himself. Different means moving on and forgetting about the past. And right now that's exactly what he needs to do.
So without his lips living hers they stumble outside into the alley behind the bar. He pushes her up against the hard stone wall and fucks her hard and fast until he can't even remember who she's so different from.
2. ANNIE
Gale doesn't know what it is about Annie, but there's something. After Finnick Odair's funeral she's a crying mess and in a hurried attempt to get away from Katniss and Peeta (together, holding hands, together) he offers to take care of her. He tries to make her go inside but she refuses. Instead she takes his big hand in her small and Gale lets her pull him along without asking where they're goign.
They end up by the ocean. Gale doesn't question why. She's from District 4 after all and they're all about the water. Annie falls to the ground, her eyes still red and blotchy and tears still spilling down her cheeks. Gale isn't sure what to do. His hands are stuffed into his pockets and he's not really sure where to look. What do you say to someone whose true love and father of unborn child has died? Nothing will make that better.
"You can sit down if you'd like to," Annie's voice sounds surprisingly alright for someone who has just spent hours crying. Gale hesitates for a moment but then he takes a seat next to her.
They sit there silently for a while, watching the waves crash against the cliffs and the sun reflect against the crystal clear blue. Its a beautiful sight, Gale muses, although he would enjoy it much more if it weren't for ... life.
"I'm sorry for your loss Gale," he looks up in surprise wondering why she would be apologizing to him when they just came from her husbands funeral. "I'm talking about Katniss. I know you love her, I can tell from the way you look at her. I'm sorry she didn't chose you." Gale isn't sure whether he likes the bluntness or not. It certainly stings, having it thrown in his face that way, but the corners of his lips still twitch. She's a strange little thing, Annie Cresta.
"Yeah, me too" is all he says and when she puts her hand over his he doesn't even stiffen.
3. JOHANNA
They meet by coincidence. He's working with Beetee and she's - well, she doesn't tell him exactly what she's doing - and they decide to have a drink. She wants to catch up and Gale never says no to alcohol these days.
The two of them weren't exactly close during the rebellion. He was too focused on Katniss and training to pay attention to the former Tribute. He gets the feeling that the Johanna is incredibly lonely and would have asked Plutarch Heavensbee to catch up just to have someone to talk to.
They eat, drink, talk and after a while Gale comes to realize that he actually enjoys the company of the feisty, snarky young woman. She makes fun of him, pokes him in the ribs and throws everything that's bad about his life in his face. For some reason he doesn't even mind. Instead Gale lets her make it up to him that night with wet, sloppy kisses and loud, intense fucking.
~~~
Gale gets drunk and fucks beautiful blondes. He lets Annie put her head on his shoulder he cries. Then he goes home to Johanna who calls him out on everything he does and then suggest they make love in the shower. He does all of it and pretends that it helps and that he's no longer in love with Katniss Everdeen. But its a god damn lie and he's starting to fear it'll never be true.