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waywardandwestward · 6 years

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Let Me Be Your Shelter

Chapter 2 (Updated)

Gally x OFC

Warning(s): Never enough editing, Not beta-read.

When you lose someone, you try to remember the last time you saw them. And most of the time it’s a blurry memory, because at that time you had no idea it would be the last.“ - Hedonist Poet

A/N: Hello friends, enjoy chapter two! I’m still having some issues with adding links and having the post show up in the tags. For now I’m going to reblog this post an hour after the upload with a link to the Masterlist and Chapter One, so check out the notes to find those!). If you have have any, questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to let me know!

Day 1: Rules and Regulations

Gally's words had been kind, if not comforting. But they hadn't stopped me from trying to run away again. I had attempted to escape at least six other times that afternoon while most of the boys continued to fight over my fate. My fate, as if I had no choice in the matter.

After the second or third breakaway, Gally had officially been put on guard duty. He was bigger than most of the other boys, and by the time I had gotten to my sixth escape attempt, he was able to tie me arms down against a tree in the middle of the woods, or "The Deadheads", as I had heard him call it.

The wind whistled and a sunset flamed through the trees. The Deadheads were quiet compared to the overwhelming shouts that came from the campfire the rest of the boys were holding.

"Now," Gally said letting out a frustrated puff of air. His stance was wide and his arms were crossed. "Are we ready to start acting like civilized human beings instead of running away every three seconds?"

"Civilized? You're the one who tied me to a tree!" I defended struggling with the ropes around my wrists. "And I'm not the one living out the middle of nowhere. Is that what your calling civilized?"

"Hey!" Gally snapped. He took a step closer. "Alby's worked hard to keep us all together and healthy. We might be forced to stay here, but this is our home. The least you could do is show a little respect."

I froze for a second, relaxing into my restraints. "What do you mean forced? There are four different exits out there. Pick one and get out of here."

"It's not that simple," he said. "The maze won't let us leave."

"Maze?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you all day, Greenie. But, you keep running away."

"Well it's gonna be a little hard to run away now," I retorted trying to wave my trapped arms in the air. "So, explain."

Gally stared, flummoxed by the force in my voice. "Do you hear that?" he asked A low, rumbling growl shifted the air and vibrated the ground beneath our feet. "Those exits out there are closing. It happens everyday just before nightfall. Once they close... you'll really start to hear things...." He paused. "Loud screeches, clicks, scratches..."

"What is it?" I asked hesitantly.

"We're not sure exactly," he said. "We think part of it is the the walls moving, changing itself. That's why we call it a maze, it's impossible to find your way through. But there's something living out their too.

"What?" I asked.

"No one's ever seen one. But, according to Alby three guys have died because of that maze," he explained with a pained expression on his face. "I witnessed one myself." He paused again, swallowing deeply and clenching his jaw. "It was pretty obvious by his screams that there's something else out there."

The silence between every sentence had me hooked on his speech, but it also drove me mad. As it turned out, I wasn't very good with silence. "Aren't you at all curious if there's a way out?" I asked. "There has to be. I mean it's a maze, which means it's a puzzle, right? There has to be-"

"We can't risk losing anyone else," he replied firmly. Perhaps I had touched a nerve.

I'm not sure where the thought came from and I almost didn't want to pry, but it just slipped out. "The boy you saw go into the maze. Were you close?"

I had definitely touched a nerve. "I don't talk about it with other Gladers," he forced through his mouth.

"I'm not a Glader, I'm a Greenie."

His face softened and he rolled his eyes. There was a small, but sad smile that cracked his armor. "Maybe another time," he said. "So now that you know why you can't leave... are you gonna run away again?"

I bit lip slightly, and shook my head no.

"Okay, then," he sighed. He pulled a knife out of his pocket and ran it through the rope.

"Josephine," I breathed out the minute his hand touched mine and my writs felt felt relief from the binds.

"What?" Gally raised an eyebrow.

"My name-it's Josephine," I said it again, but the word didn't quite taste right.

"Josephine?"

"No," I said. "I mean yes, but- could you call me Jo?"

Jo. That name felt right.

"Jo," he tested the sound of my name on his own tongue. "Okay Jo, then I have something we need to do. Follow me." He began heading in the direction of the Glade.

"Where are we going exactly?" I asked, my feet dragging though the long blades of grass.

"It's time for your initiation, Jo," he smirked. "Come on, keep up!"

Neither of us made it much farther, however. "Gally!" A voice rang out. "Greenie!" Newt was running up to us from behind. Gally and I both stopped in our tracks and turned to face him. "You sort everything out?" He asked Gally.

I didn't allow the boy next me to answer before I said, "For now."

Newt nodded in understanding but the way he avoided eye contact made him seem less than comfortable, "Well, okay then. Listen, Gally and... Greenie-

"Her name is Jo," Gally corrected him.

I could see Newt had raised an eyebrow at me, and I just nodded with a smile. "Alright, Gally and-and Jo," Newt corrected. "Alby's called a meeting."

"Can't it wait ten minutes?" Gally asked. "I was gonna show Jo The Wall."

"You can show it to her later," Newt said. "Right now we have some things we have to work out." Newt then turned around and headed back towards the fire.

"Gee, by 'things' do you think he could have possibly meant me?" I asked rhetorically.

Gally gave an apologetic grin. "Come on."

The moon had officially risen. As Alby settled everyone down, I sat twiddling my fingers between Gally and Newt. Zart, another glader with striking blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and a square jaw, calmed down the fire.

When the group finally quieted, all eyes went towards me.

"Look it's no secret that things are different," Alby addressed to the group. "There are seven of us now. Which means pretty soon we're gonna start needing more resources."

"The box is still sending up supplies," Mikey, the fifth Glader who was sitting directly across from me replied. He was attractive looking with dark, curly hair and a chiseled face. He had ears that just slightly too big for his head. "Do you really think that's our biggest problem right now?" He glanced over at me. Mikey's judgmental glare was immediately off putting.

"I think what Alby is trying to say is after what happened yesterday, things could be changing," Although he tried to be more discreet, I could see Newt's eyes flicker over at me as well. "Things are changing. And it's better to be prepared for it."

"How do you suggest we do that?" the sixth and final Glader, Bach, who sat hunched over next to Mikey, responded. Bach was the oldest of the group, or at least he looked the oldest. Much like Gally, his face held a stern glance on nearly all occasions.

"Newt, Gally, and I talked it over last night," Alby said. I turned my head to both of them, almost as if I was trying to read their minds to see what Alby was going to say next.

"Wait, you didn't think to include us in this little conversation?" Mikey folded his arms over his chest. He was clearly angry, and to be honest, I didn't blame him. The look on Bach's long face made it clear he felt the same.

"You were already asleep. And that's why we're talking about it now," Alby defended himself. "The point I've been trying to make, is that I think we all need to take a little more responsibility. Who knows how many more kids are gonna come up in that box. Boys or girls. We need to be able to take care of them, and ourselves."

"Look we already elected you leader," Mikey said aggressively. "What more do you want?"

"It's like Alby said, we need to take more responsibility. We need ground rules," Gally replied. "That way everyone feels safe here."

"They're right," Zart spoke up. "I mean, it would certainly make me feel safer."

"Alright. Well then, rule one," Alby stated. "Everyone does their part. No slackers. We can't just sit around all day and do nothing, there's too much at stake here."

"We should all take up a job," Zart agreed. "Maybe I could work in the garden. You know, making sure there's enough food for everyone."

Newt raised his hand, "All in favor?" The rest of us raised our hands.

"We need shelter too," Bach said. "The ceiling Mikey built- it's falling apart. We need something better."

"Gally's the strongest," Newt offered. Looking over at him. "And he did make that hammock forest for us to sleep in."

It took a minute for Gally to respond, but eventually he shrugged and said, "I guess I could do that."

"All in favor?" Everyone raised their hand. "Alright, Gally's our Builder."

"What about you, Greenie?" Mikey turned to look at me with the cheesiest grin I had ever seen spread across his face. "What can you do?"

"Her name is Jo," both Newt and Gally exclaimed almost too proudly.

Slightly embarrassed by their declaration, I simply waved awkwardly. "Yeah, hi."

"Well?" Mikey pressed.

Truth be told, there was only one thing I wanted to do, and I knew at least one of them wouldn't be on board. But, I spoke my truth anyway. "Well, I was thinking maybe we should have someone go out and map the maze during the-"

"No," Alby's answer was brief and direct.

"Did you pay attention to anything I said, Greenie?" Gally barked and shook his head in his hands before looking back up at me. He looked me directly in the eye with that same gaze that had me terrified so much on our first meeting. "It's not worth the risk," he gritted through his teeth.

Looks like I'm back to Greenie, I thought bitterly to myself. I wasn't going to let his stare-down faze me. "It's my life. I'll decide if it's worth risking."

Gally's eyebrows lowered."That's not how this works."

"Who the hell are you to-?"

"Gally's right," Alby said.

My lips pierced in concentration waiting for Gally to look away. "So, what? I don't even get a say?"

"Of course you do," I heard Newt's voice behind me. "You get a vote. We can call for one as soon as one of you decides who's won this pissing contest." It was then that Gally and I realized how immature we were being. We both looked down, a bit ashamed of our behavior, "All in favor?"

Bach and I were the only two to raise our hands. I almost let out a sigh of disappointment, but I chose not to waste my breath. I knew exactly how that vote was going to go down.

"Seriously?" Mikey whispered to Bach.

"The girl's right. The Maze is safe during the day, as far as we know. And we all wanna find a way out of here, right? If she wants to risk her life trying to save our asses, I say let her do it."

Zart spoke up as well. "Bach's got a poi-"

Gally immediately cut him off. "We already voted. Majority rules." He looked over at me again probably with a frown, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of looking up. I just stared down at a broken twig on the ground, and then threw it briskly into the fire.

"How about for now, you help Gally as a builder. He's not gonna be able to build an entire homestead on his own," Alby suggested.

I almost laughed at the proposal. I moved my eyes to meet Alby's just so he could see how pissed off I was. "I am not working with that shank." Shank was a term I had heard Zart calling Mikey earlier on that day. I didn't really know what it meant, but I knew it was an insult. Clearly so did Gally. He was about to defend himself, but Alby jumped in before he could.

"Let's move on. We can assign everyone else's roles when we're finished."

"So what's rule number two then?" Zart inquired.

"Never harm another Glader. Trust is the most important thing here," Alby stated. "Without trust, we'll start turning on each other, and we'll all be dead within a month."

"I like that," Newt said. "I think it'll make some of us feel a little safer. Right, Jo?"

"That depends, Newt," I replied, my eyes focused on the fire. "What happens if you break the rule?"

"I think we should all get a vote on that too," Mikey jumped in.

"How about we all vote on whether or not they're guilty; you know, whether they should actually be punished or not," Bach suggested. "And then Alby can decide on the punishment."

"I could build a jail," Gally offered up, speaking for the first time since our argument. "We could lock em up for a few days. Maybe without food... If it's really bad we could banish them to the maze." He had merely mumbled the last part of what he had said, but it was clear enough to make everyone in the circle shift in their seat.

"Again, I think maybe we should let Alby decide."

"I'll take that into consideration, Gally," Alby replied with hesitance. "A jail cell sounds like a pretty good idea though." Gally nodded.

"Are we all in favor of rule number two?" Newt asked. We raised our hands unanimously.

"Two rules seems pretty good," Mikey sighed, clearly growing tired of the conversation. He was just about to get out of his seat, but someone stopped him.

"One more," Gally spoke up again. "Number three: Never go outside the Glade."

There was a silence, a small moment where we all looked around at each other, knowing that this rule, would mean being trapped in within these walls indefinitely. "All in favor?" I was the only one who didn't raise their hand. Bach looked at me and shrugged. "Sorry, Greenie," he mouthed.

"These are the rules that we'll live by," Alby said. "We save the right to change them, but the vote must be unanimous. Now, to assigning the rest of your positions..." Alby's voice began to blur. I stood up, overwhelmed once again. I was alone once again.

"Where are you going?" Newt asked quietly.

"I just need a minute." The second I turned around, tears began to fall from my eyes.

Gally was wrong. I was still alone.

#gally #tmr #tmr gally #will poulter #gally x ofc #gally x reader #the maze runner #gally x jo #jo #fanfic #fanfiction #lmbys #tmr fanfic

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emdythewriter · 5 years

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Let me be your shield | chapter three (Elriel)

When they got back Azriel helped Elain carry her bags into the kitchen and put away what she would use another time. Keeping most of the fruit on the counter and some veggies as well. She pulled out a cutting board in one of the island drawers, washed the fruits she needed to cut up and set to work.

“I’ll be getting out of your hair, call if you need anything,” her bodyguard said she was content with letting him go. He was almost at the door when Elain changed her mind and decided she wanted him to stay after all. She knew Lucien might not like it giving his previous notions about Azriel, but this was her bodyguard not his. Elain wanted Azriel to be her friend, someone she could rely on for more than just protecting her.

“Do you want to stay?” she asked and he paused with his hand resting on the door knob. “I mean you don’t have to of course, but if you wanted to help, that would be nice.” Azriel smiled at her as she rambled and she couldn’t stop a smile of her own. Elain hadn’t felt this happy in awhile but spending the day with Azriel reminded her of those times when she smiled and laughed effortlessly.

“What are we making?” Azriel asked as he waltzed back into the kitchen coming up to stand next to her.

“I’m starting with the fruit salad,” Elain explained as she took out her first strawberry to cut. “You could wash the blueberries off for me and the other fruits,” she said pointing to where she had unpacked them all.

“Are you planning to use them all?” Azriel asked as he headed for the sink, taking the containers of fruit with him.

“Probably, I like a variety in my fruit salads. I also like to mix it up each time. Lucien thinks I’m funny that way but I’d say I’m different.” Elain was smiling as she chopped the green part of the strawberry off before slicing it in half, and then in half again.

“You are truly unique,” Azriel commented chuckling softly as he set the container of grapes on the counter next to her. “How long have you been with Lucien?” He wasn’t totally sure why he asked the question, maybe just because she mentioned the man he had met the other night, but he had a feeling it was something else. Something deeper.

“Not long close to a year if not a little more,” Elain answered as she pulled one of her larger sized bowels out and scrapped the chopped up strawberries into it. She grabbed the washed blueberries and poured the small container in as well. Then she took the thing of grapes and starting cutting the spherical fruits in half.

“How long have you been living together?” Azriel asked next and Elain grew curious on why he decided to start asking all these questions inquiring on her relationship. She’d figure she roll with it if only to keep a conversation, and would only answer the ones she felt comfortable with. She doubted Azriel would cross lines like that but she still kept her guard up.

“He moved in a few months ago,” she answered as he finished washing the last of the fruit.

“Sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable,” Azriel said coming to place the other fruits on the island. He grabbed his own cutting board and knife and began to help her with the rest of the salad. “I just wasn’t told much about him so I guess I’m just trying to learn. It’s instinct really.”

“Oh,” Elain said feeling slightly guilty for almost putting those walls up shutting someone out she was starting to consider a friend. “It’s fine and thank you for the clarification.” She smiled up at him before plucking a few more grapes off a stem.

“Elain if I ever ask you or say something to you that crosses a line don’t hesitate to let me know,” Azriel said turning his whole body to face her completely. She read the sincerity in his eyes, the guilt that he might have already crossed one of those lines or tiptoed on it.

“You can ask me anything as long as you allow me to do the same,” That seemed to startle her new bodyguard. The expression on his face was surprise as if no one had ever explicitly said they wanted to get to know him. Elain began to wonder if Azriel had someone in his life, someone like Lucien.

“Alright as long as it’s not about my job. I can’t answer questions like that.”

“Deal.” They both smiled at the other and continued to work in silence. It was a few minutes before the questions started to eat at her, before she felt like she had to know. “Azriel do you have a girlfriend or partner?” She had set the knife aside so she could brush the grapes into the bowl. At the same time he brushed the pineapple he had just finished cutting the last of. As Elain moved to put the remaining grapes in the fridge Azriel began to answer.

“I haven’t been in a relationship for a while, a few years even,” he answered pausing to collect his thoughts before going on. “I was in love with someone for a long time and she never reciprocated those feelings. I eventually met someone else and decided to go out with her. In the end I couldn’t love her the way I did the other woman and so she left.”

Azriel wasn’t facing her as he finished the story, he couldn’t. When he told his friends about the relationship, specifically why it ended he had been met with silence. For awhile after that he felt like everyone was walking on eggshells around him and Azriel had never hated anything more. He didn’t want that to happen with Elain, but he felt safer telling her about his ex-girlfriend and he couldn’t understand why.

“I’m sorry,” Elain said watching her bodyguard intently. He had this cage around him like he was ashamed for even trying to get over this woman, which she knew was why he dated his ex. She had done something similar. “I know how you feel.”

Azriel looked at her then, hazel eyes meeting a golden brown. He looked like he wanted to shake his head and deny the fact she knew his feelings. At the same time he also looked like he wanted to wrap her up tightly and pray that she didn’t know what he was going through.

“I was engaged once,” Elain said beginning to tell him the story that had been on the cover of every gossip site for weeks. “We were going to get married at the end of the year until he found out about Lucien. We never did anything I was always completely faithful Greysen, my ex-fiance. He went crazy with jealousy when he saw me hanging out with Lucien who was working on a project at my dad’s studio at the time, and he cancelled the wedding. The media blew up of course and my father’s publicist and Lucien’s decided the best course of action was to pair the two of us together. That’s how we started and we were never supposed to confirm anything but eventually it turned into a real thing.”

“Do you really want to be with Lucien then?” Azriel asked once she finished her story. The fruit salad completely forgotten at this point as they moved to sit at the bar stools.

“Yes,” Elain said without hesitation but he could sense another meaning behind her words. He didn’t press her though, rather he waited to see if she would elaborate. “But I think I started the relationship in order to cope with the heartbreak from losing Greysen. I also think I stay because I don’t want to feel alone like I did after either.”

“That’s a sad way to live.” Though Azriel knew he wasn’t one to talk. In the past couple of years since his last relationship he had practically isolated himself. The most experience he had as of late was a string of one night stands which came to a halt when he accepted this job.

“You’re right but it’s also safe,” Elain shrugged and Azriel hated the way she sounded. There was so much sadness and longing for something better, something more. Yet it seemed like she was stuck in one place and was content with staying there. He wasn’t though. Earlier at the farmer’s market Azriel had seen a bright light in her, a light that should never be snuffed out and that’s what her relationship was doing to her. Lucien may be a great guy but he wasn’t the guy for Elain, he wasn’t the guy she could love and be happy with at the same time.

“I’ve tried safe and it didn’t work out,” Azriel told her speaking on his own quest to get over a love he would never have. “It always comes back to bite you in the ass.”

“Well when that day comes at least I’ll have you,” Elain smiled at him and he couldn’t stop a smile of his own despite the nature of their discussion. No matter what was going around him seeing her smile always made him do the same. He could be thrown into a war zone and still he would smile if she was.

“How about we finish this salad?” Azriel said wanting to change the mood and get back to a lighter subject. “What else do you need?”

“Honey and cinnamon,” Elain said before getting and rushing into her pantry to pull out the two ingredients. He watched his client as she measured the amount she needed of the two items. Pouring them in she mixed it all together, put a lid on top of the bowl and set it on a shelf in the fridge.

Azriel watched as she moved effortlessly through the kitchen. Next Elain grabbed the vegetables they would use for dinner. She spread the asparagus out on a pan and seasoned them before preheating the oven and setting the pan on the top shelf. Lastly she got out the potatoes and started to cut them into squares to be put into another pan atop the stove. She cooked them as she seasoned them with a new spice.

He couldn’t remove his eyes from her. Watching her cook was something else, and he didn’t understand what it was making him feel. The whole time Elain had a bright smile on her face and Azriel knew she loved cooking. It was nice getting to know her without even talking, he was learning so much about her by just simply watching her work.

For instance she had licked her fingers clean of honey before washing them, but she hated the feel of oil on her skin. When she had greased the pan for the potatoes, and spilled a little on her fingers she had cringed before rushing to wash her hands again. She also didn’t like to get too close to the stove as she stirred the potatoes around, afraid of the oil splashing up at her. Elain didn’t wear and apron but yet she had managed to stay clean, telling Azriel that she had done this many times before. He didn’t even know he was smiling until she turned around and caught him as she dried her hands for the thousandth time.

“What?” Elain asked him softly as she hung the rag back in its place.

“It’s just funny to watch you cook,” Azriel shrugged and she gave him a confused look. He chuckled lightly at her expression before elaborating. “Did you know you scrunch your nose as you stir the pan.” he pointed the potatoes still cooking on the stove behind her.

“No,” Elain said sheepishly looking down at her nails like they were the most interesting thing in the world.

“It’s cute,” Azriel said leaning back in his chair. Elain blushed slightly before turning back to the stove she turned it on low just as the oven went off, announcing it had reached the temperature she set it to.

“It smells good in here,” Lucien said entering the kitchen from the side where the door to the garage was. He came over to Elain’s side and kissed her cheek lightly, his hair tickling her ear. “Why are you so red?”

“Just the heat from cooking the potatoes,” Elain excused though her and Azriel both knew she was still flustered from his comment. She didn’t know why it had such an effect on her. Lucien had called her cute plenty of times and she had never blushed this hard, not even when he complimented her on her beauty.

“I’m going to get the burgers started before everyone starts to arrive,” Lucien announced holding up the grocery bag he had brought in. Neither Azriel nor Elain had noticed he was carrying the bag, too distracted by each other.

“Sounds great,” she smiled at her boyfriend who pecked her lips this time before heading to the backyard and starting the grill up.

“Want any help getting set up?” Azriel said standing from his chair and feeling suddenly lazy.

“You know how to set the table?” Elain teased. Az smiled at her for what felt like the millionth time since they had entered this kitchen.

“Elle I’m the best at setting the table,” he smirked before grabbing the plates from the cabinet she directed him too.

Outside Lucien was setting patties on the grill he had just fired up, and had a clear shot through the glass doors into the kitchen. He watched as Azriel laughed and talked with his client, his girlfriend, Elain. He hadn’t seen her look so happy in years, not since Greysen.

She had never shared more than the barest of a fake smile with him, had only ever forced a laugh. It was nearly impossible for Lucien to get any real emotion out of Elain. Azriel seemed to have no problem with the task though.

The man had only been in their lives for a day and already he was doing more, accomplishing more than Lucien had in over a year. Granted it was harder for him seeing as he was the reason Elain had lost the man she loved, he would never blame her for resenting him in that way. Still he thought he was getting somewhere with her in these last few months.

Elain had been more open with him, more forward and he loved watching her break out of her shell. Yet he was now watching her be that free with her bodyguard, and her bodyguard was doing more than Lucien ever would be able to. Azriel Mystic was breaking down Elain Archeron’s walls.

Lucien felt his blood start to boil.

Tag list:

@maastrash @mis-lil-red @poisonous00 @ifangirlninja @nightcourtstarlight @sleeping-and-books @liquifyme @azriels-forgotten-shadow @allaboutthosegenes @azrielismycinnamonrollprimary @court-of-fuck-me-daddy @bookdork6 @fireheart-of-your-dreams @schmlip-scribble @but-she-was-aelin-galathynius @erinmau @cc-psm

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