REQUEST: Could you write a gally one? Like newt and Minho are super flirting with me and gally gets all jealous and then he like pulls me away and confesses his feeling for me and then like fluff?
The sun is hot, the ground is hard, and you’re really starting to get fed up. Alby gave you that whole “do your part” speech, and you’re doing your best. Scout’s honour. You’d be doing even better if two morons weren’t falling over themselves in an attempt to distract you. Wiping sweat from your forehead, you lean on your shovel and glare at Newt and Minho, both of whom have abandoned their gardening tools.
“Come on mate,” Newt says, continuing the conversation that’s been going on for the past half an hour, “you look like a real green thumb, Greenie. No pun intended.” His smile is sharp and cheeky, but you roll your eyes, unmoved.
“If being a gardener means doing all the work while you stand around,” you reply, “I think I’ll pass, thanks.”
He puts on a hurt look, but before Newt can respond Minho pushes in. “Don’t listen to this shank, he’s had one too many tea leaves. Give it a few more weeks and you’re sure as hell gonna be cut out as a runner. All it needs is a little more effort.”
That’s a good one. “Like the effort you’re putting in right now?”
Your withering challenge makes him glance speculatively at the hoe he’s set aside, but eventually the Asian shrugs. “Shovelling klunk ain’t my job, anyways. Not my fault the gardeners have fallen behind.”
Coloring rapidly, Newt turns on him. “Like bloody hell it isn’t! You’re the one that set the field on fire!” He spins to you, hands open in supplication. “Toni, are you hearing this? You were there, set this shuck back on his trolley!”
You snort, turn back to the field you’re supposed to be prepping, only to stop short when you realize Gally is staring at you. He’s the other Glader assigned to this job – a nice group of four – and, unlike the other two, he’s barely said anything at all, which is unusual, seeing as you two have had your fair share of personal conversations in the past few weeks. In fact, as they day’s worn on he’s been getting more and more quiet. But honestly, he’s been pulling his weight in the hoeing section and you flush, thinking he must be judging you for slacking off. Ducking your head, you get back to work.
Only to pause again, seconds later, when a large shadow casts you into the shade. A scowl is half on your face – if it’s Minho again! – but it fades when you realize it’s actually Gally. You pull back, eyebrow raising in inquiry, and are about to say something when you notice that Gally’s jaw is set tight, his pale face unusually red.
His voice is also a bit weird, low and hurried. “I need to talk to you for a minute.”
Automatically you glance over your shoulder. Both Minho and Newt were back to pretending to work, but they’ve stopped now, staring at you. You make a face at them, turn back to Gally. “Yeah, sure,” you say, moving a little bit away from the other two.
Minho shouts, “Oooh, careful Toni! Gally’s kinda looking like he’s gone and got stung! Or maybe it’s heatstroke!”
You look in time to see Newt smack Minho across the shoulder, but Gally’s got your wrist in a light grip, is tugging you insistently further away, and you go, happy enough to follow him into the shade of the nearby forest. Your eyes go to his face, but he’s not looking at you, his gaze set on the ground while his jaw clenches and loosens in a repetitive motion. He really is quite red, and you wonder if maybe Minho was right, if he’s got sunstroke and just didn’t want to admit it; that’s about the only reason you can think of why he’d pull you away.
Your guess is totally off. Gally finally blurts out, “Would you? Wanna be a runner or a gardener, I mean?”
“What’s it to you?” You can’t help the snarky question, more and more curious about why he cares at all. You’ve had your run of almost all the duties – builder, medjack, slicer and the rest – and, honestly, Gally was probably the most fun to work with. You were kinda hoping he might ask you to join the builders, but, heart sinking, you wonder if maybe he’s about to tell you you’re not cut out for it?
He lets out an impatient huff at the demand. “I just – I wanted to know.” You don’t look impressed, and his hand comes up to run through his short hair in one agitated motion. “We match people with their skills, alright? But it’s also important to know what a Greenie wants, we think about that too. As the head of the builders, I’m supposed to ask.”
You think that’s probably a bunch of bull; Minho and Newt have been trying to persuade you, but neither they nor any of the other heads have asked what you actually want. Eyes narrowing slightly, you decide that you’re not letting him off easy. “Really? None of the other guys have asked which group I wanna go with. Why’s that?”
Gally throws up his hands, obviously exasperated. “Look, I wanted – I was hoping you’d want to join the builders, okay? Are you happy now?”
Heart skipping a beat, you break eye contact, struggling to contain your excitement. At first, it’s just because hell yeah you’d like to be a builder, but he doesn’t say anything else, and it gets you to thinking. Thinking about his choice of words. About the way he’s pulled you aside to say them. Heat starts to spread out at the back of your neck, and you look up – way up – to meet his hazel eyes. Before you can say anything, he cuts you off.
“This isn’t some big deal, okay? But I wanted to let you know that…” By now, Gally’s freckles are fully overwhelmed by his flush, and he’s leaning down, a bit closer to you, seeming to struggle for the right words. “These past few weeks? They’ve been… kinda cool. Greenies are usually useless, but you’ve actually been doing stuff. That’s… kinda amazing. I just wanted you to know that,” he finished, a wry, almost pained smile pulling at his lips.
Your answering smile is softly mocking, covering up the way your throat’s gone suddenly dry. “Well now I know Minho was telling it true – you have got heatstroke!”
For one second you think he might get angry – his brow pulls together, grin fading a bit – but suddenly Gally relaxes, lets out a quiet laugh. “Who knows? Maybe Minho is right; there’s a first time for everything.” Mouth turning up into sharp lines of amusement, he reaches out, catches your wrist again. “Y’know, for a Greenie you’re not really very respectful.”
“Sorry sir, they didn’t teach me good manners in Glade Kindergarten.” You move closer, gently disengaging your wrist and slowly putting your hand against his chest. “Seriously though, Gally – yeah, I’d like to be in the builders. I’d like to be in the builders… with you.”
The way his serious face lights up makes it clear that you haven’t been getting the wrong signals, and if that isn’t convincing enough, his arms sweeping around your shoulders pretty much seal the deal. When he pulls you closer, you’re far from resisting, pressing your forehead into the warm hollow of his neck as he rests his chin on your head. For the first time since riding up in the Box, you’re feeling… secure. Anchored. Like you haven’t just been chucked into a riddle with seemingly no solutions.
Gally makes a soft sound of satisfaction in the back of his throat and you pull away just enough to look up, still encircled by his arms. His grin is back, even wider than before, and when you quirk your eyebrow at him, he laughs. “Hey Toni,” he begins with a mischievous look, “can I be the one to tell Newt and Minho which group you’re joining?”
Well that was fun to write. Hope you enjoy it!
I am still taking requests.
