Chapter Text
His first week had passed, and Thomas was no closer to unlocking his supposed power. Ms. Paige had taken it upon herself to help him try to channel his power, but nothing seemed to be working. Thomas had given up on trying to achieve his potential. He would rather just give up, go home, and try to be a normal teenager. Hell, he had been one for eighteen years already.
Harriet had talked with Thomas last night, trying to tell him it was okay that he didn’t find it yet. She explained that when she got to the school, it took her two months before she was able to teleport, and another three to teleport where she chose, not randomly. The talk made him feel a bit better, but he was still lacking confidence.
He had come home early from his session today, Ms. Paige sensing his frustration - and ‘a frustrated mind will not help in bringing out his gift’ - so he wasn’t expecting anyone to be back yet. He opened the front door and heard music coming from inside the house. It was a piano. There was one in the living room, but Thomas didn’t know that any of his housemates could play. He just thought that it was for the decor.
He peered his head through the doorway and it took him by surprise. It wasn’t one of his housemates playing that gorgeous melody. It was the same person who was on his mind constantly.
Newt had his eyes closed and he let his hands wander across the keys with minimal effort. He must have known this piece for years because he had yet to open his eyes. He seemed to be in his own little world, getting lost in the music. Thomas envied him. What he would give if he was able to have such focus and get lost in something.
When Newt had finished, Thomas applauded him - especially since his hands hadn’t fallen off after playing like that - causing the blonde to startle. “Jesus, Tommy!”
“Sorry,” Thomas chuckled, walking over to him. “I didn’t know you could play.”
“Yeah, since I was six. Mum insisted.” There was slight annoyance in his voice, but his smile betrayed him. He must have been close to his parents. He probably missed them a lot, like Thomas missed his.
Thomas sat down next to him on the small bench and looked at the piano. There was no sheet music there. “You played that from memory?”
“Yeah, it’s one of my favorites. ‘I Give Up’ by Elijah Bossenbroek. Known it for about five years, and I never get tired of playing it.”
“Could you play some more?”
Newt seemed to be surprised by this. “Really? You - you want me to play for you?”
“Yeah, I do. Why? Do you not want to?”
“I’d love too, actually. It’s just...I haven’t played for anyone in a long time. I just assumed no one really wanted to hear it,” Newt said sadly. “Not even Sonya.”
Really? Newt’s - girlfriend? Or girl he liked? - didn’t want to hear him play? Do they not realize how talented he is!? “Well then, they’re stupid.”
Then Newt smiled, that perfect smile of his. If someone were an outsider, this probably looked like some cheesy romance movie that girls from his high school flocked to see with their significant other. And boy, did Thomas wish it was. He would like nothing more to kiss the smiling boy in front of him.
A half hour went by, Thomas listening intently as Newt poured his soul out into the music. Some of it Thomas recognizes before, as they were probably well-known classical pieces. Others were probably some Newt just had learn to love over his many years of playing. Newt even grabbed Thomas’s hand and moved his fingers along the keys so Thomas could play, but the brunette was too busy trying not to blush because of how close they were and that Newt was holding his hand.
After that, the two had a small lunch in the kitchen together. Nothing fancy. Everyone loves macaroni and cheese anyway. Since Thomas was done for the day, and apparently Newt was too, they decided to go for a walk on the grounds. The place was huge, and Thomas still hadn’t seen all of it.
Newt brought him passed the library - Ava still said he wasn’t allowed access until his power was discovered - then to the tennis court, not to play though. Gally was there, who Thomas exchanged a couple of words with, but it was clear Gally still wasn’t fond of him. Truthfully, Thomas didn’t care. Finally, Newt brought him to the roof of the main building. “Are we allowed up here?” Thomas asked.
“No, but don’t be a twat about it.”
Thomas was about make a joke back but he was silenced by the view in front of him. From here, he could see Glade City in all its glory. The sky was like a canvas, filled with reds, pinks and oranges. Lights from the skyscrapers were illuminating in the distance. Even a couple of birds were seen flying by. It was so peaceful. “Wow.”
“Nice right?” Newt teased. “Alby and I come up here to meditate and stuff sometimes. I figured, maybe the training rooms and the gardens weren’t the proper place for you to focus on your power. Maybe seeing the sky, y’know, thinking about air? It might help,” Newt finished, nervousness laced in his voice. “I know it sounds stupid - ”
“No, it doesn’t,” Thomas said, sincerely grateful Newt was his friend. Maybe a change of scenery would do him some good. Newt smiled, the slight tension he built up leaving his body.
So Thomas moved closer to the edge of the rooftop, looking out into the distance. He took a few deep breaths, closed his eyes, and began to focus on his inner self. Ava suggested thinking that he were on a cloud in the sky, breathing in the cold refreshing air.
Find it.
Channel it.
Focus on it.
He put his arms forward, in the position Ava had show him.
Breathe.
Focus.
He would be patient. He waited. And waited and waited.
Then he felt something strange in his hands. Something was circulating in his palm. He could feel it. Slowly, he moved his hands around, trying to see if he was doing it. There was only one way to tell.
He opened his eyes and looked for something to blow the air at. Nothing was up here, except Newt. The blonde had gone to meditating on the other side of the roof during the time. Carefully, Thomas pointed his hands in the direction of the blonde and, using the motions he remembered from Ava, attempted to push the air towards him. “Newt, tell me if you feel this.”
Thomas could feel the air moving through his body, through his palms. He was doing it, he was definitely doing it!
“Feel what Tom-”
The blonde’s hair and clothes started to sway, and his face was one of surprise and amusement. “Tommy, did you just bend air?!”
“I...I think so!” Thomas cheered.
“Do it again!”
Thomas repeated the process over once again, and just like before, he had successfully done it. “Holy shit Newt! I did it! I found my power!”
“You did it Tommy!”
The two ran towards each other and embraced one another, Thomas spun Newt around in the air, both of them laughing like idiots. “I’m so proud of you,” Newt said as Thomas began to put him down.
“I couldn’t have done it without you Newt.”
They still had their arms on one another. They were still wearing their goofy smiles. They were panting from laughing so hard. They’re faces were probably only a couple of inches apart. Thomas could feel Newt’s breath against his mouth. Everything about this moment was pure bliss, and a part of Thomas wished he could stay this way forever.
“Let’s go tell everyone!” Newt said, pulling Thomas by the hand towards the door leading to the stairwell.
“No way!”
“About time!”
“Way to go greenie!”
Everyone back at the house was thrilled for him, and Thomas couldn’t be more grateful that these were his new friends. Sure, he had friends back home, but this was different. Here they all had something in common, something that made them different from the rest of the world. They would always have a special bond with each other. Thomas was just lucky that he got the most awesome ones as his friends.
“This calls for a celebration!” Minho yelled. “We’re going out to eat! Everyone be ready in ten minutes!”
Everyone hurried to their rooms to get ready, Teresa quickly hugging Thomas before going to hers, and Thomas was waiting for everyone to come back down. “Tommy?”
“Yeah Newt?” he replied, turning to face the blonde behind him.
“I actually have to get back,” Newt said in a low voice.
“What? Do you really have to?” Thomas didn’t want Newt to leave, not now. This night was supposed to be perfect, and it would only be that way with Newt there.
“Yeah, I was supposed to be back a few minutes ago actually. But go out, have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah? Oh and could you tell Sonya to call me later?”
“Yeah,” Thomas said sadly, and slightly annoyed that Newt would be calling Sonya later and not him.
The two hugged once again, Thomas probably squeezing a bit tighter than he should have, but he didn’t want to let Newt go. “I’m proud of you Tommy,” Newt whispered.
“Thanks Newt.”
The blonde withdrew from their embrace and walked out the door. Thomas still went out to celebrate with others, but it was safe to say that he didn’t enjoy himself as much as he’d like to.
Ava was thrilled to hear the good news about Thomas. In fact, she allowed him to skip his classes for the day - he only had one anyway - so he could practice it more with her. They were now in one of the more secure rooms where abilities were tested in order not to harm anyone. There was no furniture, except for a chair, and only one window in which people could look in on. Other than that, it was just matted floors and walls. The only two in the room were Thomas and Ava. Newt, Teresa, and Aris were on the other side, watching Thomas and here for moral support.
“Okay Thomas, do the same steps you did as last time,” Ava said. “Knock the chair over.”
And Thomas did with ease. Finding your ability to air bend was hard, but once you unlocked it, mastering it wasn’t too difficult compared to other powers. Ava said it’s possible to master it within a few months of constant training.
“Well done Thomas. I’m very proud of your progress.”
“Thank you Ms. Paige,” Thomas said. “Does this mean I can go to the library now?”
“Starting next week, yes.”
A few more days was better than not at all. He’ll take it. “Okay thanks. How often do I train?”
“Every day Thomas. We’ll meet here everyday at the same time. The more you practice, the quicker you will master it. You can go now. Tomorrow, we will learn more techniques.”
“Okay, cool.”
Mary was finishing up cleaning the kitchen after dinner. Vince was resting on the sofa watching television while Chuck was finishing up his homework upstairs. It was a bit quieter with Thomas gone, now that Chuck didn’t have someone to create chaos with. Mary missed her son deeply, but she knew it wouldn’t be forever.
The phone rang, and Mary walked over to answer it. “Hello?”
“Mary? It’s Ava.”
Her heart dropped. That meant bad news. Mary had told Ava to get in touch with her if anything went wrong or if what her and Vince suspected was true. “What is it?”
“You were right about Thomas, Mary.”
Of course they were. They’ve known since he was born, but they just didn’t want to believe it. Especially with the danger that comes with it. “How’s he been doing?”
“He fits in well with the others. As far as his powers, he’s unlocked airbending already. It’s only a matter of time before he figures it out. Would you like me to tell him?”
“How soon do we have to tell him?”
“Within the next couple of months, but the sooner the better, before he starts to discover it on his own. He’ll freak out and it will only make things worse.”
Mary sighed. “Okay, Vince and I will talk to about it. We should be the ones to tell him.” They probably should have told him a long time ago, but even then, she couldn’t tell him the whole truth. “Probably when we take him home for Thanksgiving. ”
“Good. I think that would be best. I’ll still keep his access to our resources locked as you asked and keep you updated on his progress.”
Mary said goodbye, and hung up the phone. She walked over to Vince and he looked up when he heard her enter. “What is it?”
“Thomas. We’re going to have to tell him the truth. All of it.”