By the looks of it, Alby had already been by the Med Jack Hut. As Gally and Eve approached, Jeff and Clint appeared in the doorway. Eve felt her face grow hot and she averted her eyes, refusing to look up as the four crossed paths. Clint nodded to Gally as he passed by, but Gally bullied past without a word. Jeff put his hand on Eve's shoulder and she jumped. He smiled, his eyes soft and squeezed her shoulder.
"Don't worry, you'll be alright, I promise,"
He seemed so calm, with no judgement in his comforting gaze. Eve watched them as they walked toward the hammocks, blowing out a breath before stepping into the hut. The whole scene felt hazy and dreamlike. Was this really about to happen? Was she truly about to give her body up to Gally? She was shivering, no longer from the cold, but fear.
Gally was ahead of her, seeming to have lost his discomfort. He turned on his heel to sit down on the sickbed, the one behind the small curtain. He breathed out through his nose, a controlled noise, and looked up at Eve. His eyes were expressionless and she stopped at the door, her heart skipping a beat.
This was it, it was going to happen.
Gally heaved a deep sigh and leaned down to undo his boots. Eve slid along the wall into the room, seeking the stability of the hut wall. Leaning against it, she fought to stop the shaking in her legs. She squeezed her eyes shut as she imagined what would come next. It would be painful, in more ways than one. Gally was not going to look out for her, he was upset and angry. This could very well be one of the worst nights of her life.
She opened her eyes, trying to calm down. This was for the good of the Glade. She had to keep that in mind.
Gally was just pulling off his second boot. He sat back up, his elbows propped upon his knees. He frowned and rubbed his hands together.
"Let's get this over with," His voice sounded dull.
His words pounded themselves into Eve's head and her heart began to beat again. Was he really feeling…bored? This had been his idea! Why did he sound so... disappointed all of a sudden? Eve let her breath out slowly, suddenly feeling spiteful.
"This was your idea, Gally," Her voice was level, but there was no mistaking the force behind it.
Gally raised his eyes without moving his head. He almost looked indifferent.
"Yes, it was. But I didn't think you'd choose me,"
"It was your idea! Didn't you have yourself in mind the whole time?" Eve fought to keep her voice quiet.
Gally raised an eyebrow, almost sarcastically.
"Why would I do that?"
Eve closed her eyes, breathing in and out slowly.
"You're… impossible,"
The blonde bristled, sitting up straight. Eve spoke before he could respond.
"Why did you insist on it so stubbornly if you weren't going to do it yourself?"
Gally could sense her frustration.
"I never expected you to pick me. But, now that you have, what's it to you?"
"That's not what you really think," Eve narrowed. Gally scowled, shifting his weight further onto the bed.
"Why would I say it if I didn't shucking mean it?"
Eve was growing tired of his sidestepping.
"Why can't you tell me what you're really thinking? You've hated me from the beginning! You have to force yourself to speak to me like a normal human being. I've done everything you've asked and more, but I'm still not good enough for you! Why can't you just tell me what you really think of me?!"
Gally stood up slowly, processing. In the hut, he looked even taller and Eve felt like a shrimp in comparison. He took a step closer, his eyes like flint, staring her down.
"If you thought I hated you, then why did you pick me?"
Eve pressed herself into the wall, drowning in his shadow.
"What else was I supposed to do? I couldn't pick Alby, because he's already a father to the Glade. Newt doesn't need his attention split, what if something happened to Alby?" Eve was shaking, becoming fierce. "You were the only other choice I had!"
"So you admit it! You didn't want to pick me! Why are you making such a big deal about it when you hate me?" Gally was nearly on top of her now and Eve had no more room to back up. She skirted around him, keeping a safe distance.
Gally only stared, stalking her with his dark eyes.
"It was your idea, you were the logical choice!" Eve stayed away from the wall, not wanting to be cornered again.
"So what is the problem? I'm the logical choice!" Gally turned around to face her, crossing his arms over his chest. Eve groaned, pressing her hands against her temples.
"Why is it so hard for you to speak your mind? Stop masking it with your big muscles and bitter exterior! You have a heart, don't you?"
Gally's eyes glimmered in the dim light.
"You can't expect me to believe you picked me because I'm the logical choice. You're not telling the truth! You're just as bad as I am!"
Eve shut her eyes, she couldn't look at him anymore.
"I'm telling you, you were the logical choice! I had to pick you!"
"Had to?" Gally emphasized the words. "What about Fry Pan? You work with him! Winston? I've seen you two together, I'm surprised you haven't done anything. Hell, you talk to Jeff more than Clint does. You chose me for a reason, why?!"
"It was your idea!"
The blonde moved in closer.
"How can you demand me to speak my mind, when you can't speak yours! You picked me, so that's that!"
Eve was feeling drained. All the internal back and forth had sapped her of her strength. Gally was only making it worse.
She opened her eyes, tired tears spilling over. Gally rolled his eyes, throwing up his hands.
"So what, you're going to cry now? What will that do?"
Eve glared at him.
"Why did you bring all this up anyway? If the idea of being with me was so revolting, why did you suggest trying it?"
Gally bent down, pointing to nothing in particular.
"I was thinking of the future! I was thinking of the Glade! You were never supposed to pick me. You avoid me like the plague!"
Eve's eyes flared.
"How can I do that when I spend every day with you? I can't get away from you! You're the closest person I have here,"
Gally shook his head, anger forcing him to continue.
"You don't sit by me, you don't talk to me! You avoid me whenever you can outside of the project! How am I your number one when you can't stand being around me?"
"You're not exactly the easiest person to talk to!" Eve was just jabbing at him now, but Gally didn't care.
"Neither is Ben! Have you ever tried to talk to him? Yes, you have!"
Eve shook her head, beginning to wish she had never brought any of this up.
"You're not the same! It's not the same with you!"
Gally shook his head, unbelieving.
"Why?! Why am I so different? What makes me so horrible that you can't bring yourself to associate yourself with me after hours?"
Eve sniffed, helpless.
"I can't… I can't tell you. You wouldn't understand,"
"Why?" Gally did not catch on to the change in her voice. She didn't respond and Gally stepped away and watched her. After a minute, his anger dissipating, he sighed heavily.
"Why?" His voice was quiet now.
Eve shook her head.
"I can't…. you… deep down, you regret me,"
Gally kept staring at her.
"No, I don't,"
Eve met his gaze, her eyes shining.
"Then why can't you tell me what you really think of me?"
The question stumped Gally, uncertain as to what he could say. He walked back to the bed, sitting down with a thud, his head in his hands. Eve watched him but said nothing.
Silence sat between them. Gally was wrestling, fighting with himself as he tried to find an answer. He finally met her gaze.
"I'll tell you what I really think of you if you tell me why you picked me," If he was going to open up, so was she. There was nothing free in the Glade.
Eve took a deep breath, her anger gone. She turned her face away, wiped at a stray tear, avoiding Gally's look. He sat waiting, determined not to get angry again.
"I want to sit with you, to talk to you like I talk to Winston and Jeff," Eve was not looking at him. "But I couldn't shake the feeling that you despised me. I was a change in the Maze and I know how much you hate change. With this idea, this idea that I may be part of the puzzle, I finally felt like I was going to be of use to you. I wanted… I wanted it to be you. I thought it was the only way I could stand up to your expectations," Her voice was a breath and Gally almost didn't catch the last few words. But the impact of them was inescapable. He sat back, shocked by her vulnerability.
Eve looked back at him, her turn to wait. He stood up, needing a moment to think. He wasn't exactly sure what he thought of her. He had regretted her at the beginning, of course, she had been a change, something different. But she had been useful and she had grown as normal as any other Glader to him.
But different.
It wasn't a bad feeling, but it was still new and he was not accustomed to it. All the times he had seen her talking to Jeff, Newt or Winston, laughing and enjoying their company. It had driven him crazy, he could see it now. He had not been able to admit it to himself, much less anyone else. He walked, slowly, up to Eve, being careful not to crowd her.
"I don't hate you," His voice was rough. "You were different, a girl among so many boys, it didn't make sense. I hated the change, the idea that something was different. But I didn't hate you,"
Eve cocked her head; Gally continued.
"I didn't want to accept you, it felt like they had won. They were throwing a curveball at us and we just had to accept it. But you did all you could, accomplishing more than a lot of us could say. This plan, this idea, the option, it was my idea because I was afraid. I was afraid this was it, that we would be here forever in the Maze. I couldn't bear the thought of us all dying here, to prove what? What was it all going to accomplish? This was the only way… I thought I could cope with it. It made sense that this was your purpose, the reason they had sent you up, it made sense! It felt so good for something to finally make sense. I know I can't prove it, but it's painful. Not being able to know anything for certain. I couldn't just let it go. I didn't think it was going to be me, I really didn't,"
Eve could not take her eyes off him.
This Gally, standing before her, was a different Gally. He was speaking from his heart, not with his muscles or with his head. This was the real Gally, the one who had a soul.
He grunted gently and looked her in the eyes.
"I don't hate you… I don't think I could. I'm… sorry. I've been such a shank,"
Eve smiled, briefly, as she met his eyes.
"I wish I had known. You always seemed so repulsed. I'm sorry, I was blind,"
Gally nodded, sniffing gently before looking away, his hands on his hips. Eve spoke up, suddenly curious.
"So why - ?" She didn't get much further.
Gally seemed to be done talking. He closed the distance between them easily, Taking her face in his hands. He pressed his lips against hers, too aggressively at first. Eve's gentle cry was muffled as Gally leaned down to her, softening his kiss as he adjusted. Eve melted into his touch, revelling in the warmth of his frame around her. Gally ran his fingers down her face, neck, shoulders, finally wrapping her up in between his arms, pressing her close to his chest. Eve's small hands grazed against his neck, apprehensive at first.
It surprised Gally how soon she moulded into frame, every inch of her moving to attach herself to him.
Gally, his heart racing from the feeling of Eve on him, hoisted her into the air. He held her above him, a hand under her hips and another wrapped around her back. Eve wrapped her legs around his chest, falling into the position naturally. Gally turned, walked back to the bed and leaned forward to lay Eve down. He hovered over her, one knee on the bed and one on the floor, arched over her like a lion at his kill.
Despite never having been together like this, human instinct seemed to be taking over. The two of them had never so much as embraced before, but now their lips were searching, seeking and grabbing for each other. Basic needs and desires were overpowering, drowning out all other emotions.
Gally broke off their kiss, his knee still on the bed, panting heavily. Eve watched him as he peeled off his shirt, already sweating from the passion. He leaned back in, captivating her lips again, unwilling to be parted unnecessarily. Eve's eyes had alighted once she saw his bare chest and squirmed delightedly underneath him, running her fingers over his chest, abdomen and around to his back. His skin was slick, but so was hers.
Gally leaned away from her, his hand on her shirt.
"Can I?" His voice was hoarse.
Eve nodded without hesitation, gripping the top of Gally's pants. He moaned and pulled her shirt off gently. His lips went back to hers and his hand stretched over her bare chest. His fingers were hesitant, but he did not miss an inch. Eve arched her back into him and she shifted further onto the bed. Gally followed her, climbing over her. He kept his weight off of her, careful not to pull her hair.
Eve, barely registering normal thought in the throes, could not believe how gentle he was being. She had imagined him to be rushed and rough.
Gally paused, his lips grazing her.
"Eve?" He used her name. It was the first time since she had arrived that he had. She smiled, a sincerely happy curve on her lips. Her chest rose and fell, pressing into Gally's as he leaned over her.
"Yes, Gally?"
Gally lifted his head, searching her eyes.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Eve nodded, her eyes glowing in the dim light.
"I'm ready,"
His eyes penetrated hers, looking over her face as if confirming that she was truly ready. Finally, he seemed satisfied and leaned back down to kiss her. As he kissed her, he reached behind him, grasping for the unfolded blanket on the bed. He took hold of it and pulled it over them, resting completely overtop of her.
They came together then, for the Glade and themselves. The chill of the evening was lost on them as they soaked up each other's warmth. Once they had finished, they fell asleep in each other's arms.
It had not been perfect nor had it been easy. But they had given each other a gift of sweet escape. If only for a few moments.