Chapter Text
Gally was about to head to his room when he saw a lone figure stood by the edge of the ship, overlooking the calm sea.
It was everyone’s second night on Vince’s boat after escaping the last city and Gally was exhausted, but he found himself approaching the person.
He already knew who it was. Stretching his arms out, he stood beside Minho and leant on the railing, staring out across the moonlit water.
“Why aren’t you asleep?” Minho huffed, hugging himself to block out the cold.
Gally shrugged in response, “Could ask you the same question.”
They stood in silence for a while, listening to the ocean lap against the side of the vessel, and Gally had to fight back the urge to start a random conversation.
“You can talk if you want to. I’ll listen.” Minho murmured. Gally smiled to himself. Despite not seeing each other in approximately a year, they still knew each other very well.
“Are you sure?” Gally looked up at the stars above them. He saw Minho nod in the corner of his eye and began, “How are you feeling?”
Gally started off small, he wasn’t great at communicating with others but he was trying his best to improve.
“Alright.” Minho said bluntly.
Gally glanced at him, “You don’t need to try and fool me with that tough guy bravado anymore.”
He watched as Minho’s shoulders slumped slightly, “I’m…I’m alright.” He repeated, but it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself rather than Gally.
Gally kept quiet, a signal for Minho to just be honest and keep talking, “Fine. I’m scared. Scared for Thomas, scared for the future, scared-“
He cut himself off and Gally could tell that he was struggling. A cold expression hardened over Minho’s face and Gally was worried the boy would go silent again.
Instead, Minho just flicked his gaze around nervously, “Is this real?”
“…Yeah. Yes it is, Minho.” Gally frowned and ran a hand through his buzzed hair.
Minho nodded slowly, as if trying to absorb and process the information. “Okay,” he said quietly, “I believe you.”
Minho added a touch of emphasis onto the ‘you’ and Gally wasn’t sure how to feel about it. The main emotion that came to him however was a sense of relief.
It was obvious that people such as Thomas and Brenda still had their doubts in him, and he wasn’t too bothered by it, but to know that Minho trusted him made the world seem brighter again.
Gally yawned and turned away from the edge of the ship, leaning back and scanning Minho’s face carefully. “I’m heading to bed now, you should too.”
“Sure.”
Gally remained still for a moment, staring at the side of Minho’s head. After a few seconds, he sighed and patted Minho’s shoulder before leaving.
They arrived at the safe haven early in the morning and Gally busied himself with unloading supplies and doing safety checks.
He had been hauling around some crates for a while when he felt a pair of eyes watching him. Strangely, he didn’t feel nervous and a smile crept onto his lips.
“Are you gonna help or just stay there staring at me?” He set down the crate he was holding and turned to see Minho a few metres away, sat down on some wooden pallets.
“I would but, alas, the med-jacks said I’m not allowed to do any hard labour for at least a week and a bit.”
“Poor you.” Gally rolled his eyes and went back to his work.
Minho didn’t move from his position and once Gally finished, he looked back at him again with a fake scowl, “Do you need something?”
“No.” Minho looked at him blankly.
Gally stood up straight and ambled over to him, “Whatever. We’re the last ones on board, c’mon.”
He nodded towards the ladder down and stared backing away. Minho followed him with an air of reluctance, “I don’t know if I’m ready to see this place.” He muttered.
Gally swung down a few steps down the ladder and smiled up at Minho. “Just take it like an adventure then. It’ll be fine, we’ll make do and be okay.”
Once on the safe haven shore, the boys took a moment just to marvel at their new home. “Better than you imagined?” Gally grinned, planting his hands in his hips.
Minho smiled faintly and echoed his words, “Better than I imagined.”
That day, Vince gave everyone time to settle down and get used to their new home.
Frypan and Brenda were talking together, Vince and Jorge were occupied and Thomas was out cold, nestled away in a medical hut, so Gally found himself walking along the coast with Minho.
“I never thought I’d get to see the sea.” Gally peered out at the endless blue expanse, “I know we’ve just been on a boat for a while, but it feels different when you’re on a beach.”
“Copy that.” Minho stuffed his hands into his pockets and let the shallow water lap around his boots.
“I can hold your shoes for you if you want to wade in.” Gally offered.
Minho seemed to hesitate but gave Gally a small, appreciative smile, “Why not.” He unbuckled his boots, handed them to Gally, and took a few steps in.
He forgot to roll up his trousers so the cold water dampened them, but he didn’t care. The sensation of the water around his ankles, the salty breeze whipping his hair, the sound of distant gulls, this is what freedom felt like.
Gally watched Minho’s back with a newfound fondness. He was glad to see Minho relaxed. The boy had never been so easygoing, well, ever before.
Gally found himself partly to blame for that and regretted his actions in the Glade, but that was the past now, he couldn’t change what he did.
All that mattered now is the fact they are here, underneath the warm sun, on a golden beach, together.