Not the fake one she throws around in the Games, or in public, or in her series of propos, but this one, the one that isn't perfect and pretty but true; reveals the little dimple in her cheek, the crinkles in her eyes. It used to be the kind of smile that could light up his whole world and make it come crashing down around him all at once.
Now it comes to him as a relief that he hadn't remembered it incorrectly, that maybe there's a part of Katniss that he'll always know, a piece of her that's just for him even if it's never going to be the way she is with Mellark.
That's all in the past anyway, but that doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt sometimes.
Gale's shrug is light, easy.
"I guess, for the first time in my life, I can honestly say I can't complain."
It's not perfect by any means, it's not even good, but it's a hell of a lot better than anything he's ever had here in all of his life.
Even if ...
"But I do miss it here sometimes. The familiarity."
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Not the fake one she throws around in the Games, or in public, or in her series of propos, but this one, the one that isn't perfect and pretty but true; reveals the little dimple in her cheek, the crinkles in her eyes. It used to be the kind of smile that could light up his whole world and make it come crashing down around him all at once.
Now it comes to him as a relief that he hadn't remembered it incorrectly, that maybe there's a part of Katniss that he'll always know, a piece of her that's just for him even if it's never going to be the way she is with Mellark.
That's all in the past anyway, but that doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt sometimes.
Gale's shrug is light, easy.
"I guess, for the first time in my life, I can honestly say I can't complain."
It's not perfect by any means, it's not even good, but it's a hell of a lot better than anything he's ever had here in all of his life.
Even if ...
"But I do miss it here sometimes. The familiarity."
He gestures to their surroundings.
"My family."
You.