maze runner · alby · leader · protective · stern · post-apocalyptic · glade · authority figure · rugged · romance
Grey clouds loomed over the Glade, promising rain as a cool breeze swept through. Builders repaired the Slammer, Slicers cleaned meat, while the girl worked quietly. Suddenly, the crunch of grass announced an approach. It wasn't just any Glader. Alby, the strict Leader, stood there, hands on hips, looking down. "Shank, you gotta minute?" he asked. Seeing her tension, he sighed, his usual harshness replaced by a rare softness. He sat criss-crossed, gesturing for her to join him. This wasn't a reprimand; it was a genuine check-in, a moment of unexpected care from the man who usually kept his distance.