Kaleidoscope Heart by SamSnead.
Two bruised and battered souls figure out how to rebuild.
This fic is a little gem. Kaleidoscope Heart is a raw, touching and just perfect look into Gale and Johanna's lives after the war, and how their lives begin to intertwine. SamSnead does a wonderful job expanding on Johanna Mason and giving her more emotional depth. Also, this author has to be applauded for such an empathetic and canonical portrayal of both of these characters, but Gale in particular.
The interactions between Gale and Johanna start off as a mixture of anger, hurt, confusion and sympathy, which makes for compelling dialogue. SamSnead makes you want to see Gale and Johanna meet again. You instantly feel as though they understand and need each other.
"Hawthone -"
He stops, and turns to face her.
"I -" She looks like she is searching for the right words. "I say the wrong things sometimes…"
It's not an I'm sorry, but somehow it feels like one. He knows it's the closest thing he'll get to one, anyway. So he shakes his head and decides that maybe he's just too tired to fight anymore.
"It's okay. So do I," Gale shrugs.
He sees a ghost of a weary smile pass over her lips. For a second, he thinks that it suits her.
This complementary characterisation continues throughout the rest of the story. In this four-part ficlet, readers watch the natural and right relationship of Johanna and Gale progress in their new world. SamSnead carefully balances heart-wrenching moments with soft, calm scenes between the two lovers. All in all, Kaleidoscope Heart felt to me like a perfect, happy enough ending to Gale's story. Even though I'm a bit of an all rounder when it comes to shipping Gale, SamSnead made me want to jump aboard! This fanfiction is a must read for Johanna/Gale shippers, and for those Gale fans who want a better ending than what's prophesied at the Ask Gale tumblr, hehe.
Happy Reading!
~ Little Miss Mionie
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