Work Text:
When he validated his ticket on the automatic machine, Newt wondered why it was so hot on the bus. Well, probably because he'd previously vegetated for fifteen minutes at the bus stop in the cold. After getting rid of his scarf, he stood next to the window, switched on a new song in his headphones and clung to the nearest bar as the bus restarted.
As taking the bus was not the most exciting activity of the week, Newt just let his eyes wander at the strangers around. There was a woman with a stroller trying to occupy her other child next to her. A man in a suit sitting further away looked like he was finishing a tiring day at work. Three middle school students were talking in more or less low voices while passing each other a packet of candy. Nothing particularly interesting, but it was at least a little distracting.
Looking to his left, his eyes were drawn to the young man sitting almost next to him, headphones on, his head bowed over a book. Newt thought he had a nice pair of glasses. The frames were connected to delicate gold chains, and a few small flowers and a charm that resembled a teapot had been added and swayed slightly to the rhythm of the vehicle's movements.
Newt's eyes shifted slightly to the right and immediately noticed white marks on the skin of his forearm protruding from his fleece. Shit. Newt looked away in a fraction of a second.
His eyes focused on the cars outside the bus. But he had this urge, perhaps a little unhealthy, to take another look. Just to be sure. Was this what he thought it was?
Trying to be as discreet and natural as possible, he looked again at the stranger, who was still absorbed in his book.
Yes, they were definitely self-harm scars. Newt felt a little odd about this.
Several thoughts occurred to him.
I've been there too.
I hope you're okay.
They look deeper than mine.
The young man turned a page in his book, and Newt refocused on the cars outside.
Two stations passed, and he thought again about the glasses. He didn't often see such pretty ones. He suddenly felt the urge to compliment him. He knew nothing about him. Maybe he’d had a bad day. Would he like that? If it were him, it would. But maybe he didn't want to be disturbed in his reading? It was stressful, people were stressful. Newt bit his lower lip, inwardly debating what to do.
No, he had to do it. If he didn't, he was going to regret it. He knew it.
Finally, after two more stations where Newt hoped every second that the young man wouldn't press the button to get off at the next one, Newt opened his backpack, tore a piece of paper from a notepad and scribbled on it.
Hi,
Just to tell you that I think your glasses are super pretty and original, especially the little charms ^^
Have a nice day!
With the piece of paper in his palm, he waited anxiously for his stop. Three stations to go. The other next to him hadn't moved.
When he pressed the button, Newt's heart was racing.
Seconds before the bus stopped, he summoned up all the courage he could and turned to the young man, gently tapping his shoulder.
His gaze lifted to his; he had pretty eyes.
"Yes?" The stranger asked, shifting his headset from one of his ears.
"For you," Newt replied, trying to smile and placing the paper folded in half on top of his half-open book.
Then, without asking and before the other could read the note or even answer him, Newt headed for the exit, past the door, and on his way, heart still pounding.
Everything was okay. Maybe it was awkward, but nevermind.
Besides, if the other guy thought it was weird, it didn't matter. At worst, it would give him an anecdote to tell his friends about the time some weirdo on the bus complimented his glasses.
He could handle that eventuality, he was never going to see him again anyway.
Right?
—
Newt didn't take this bus every day, just once a week in fact, when he went to a retirement home. There, he was helping to organize events with an organization focused on combating the isolation of elderly people.
The following Thursday, when he got on the bus and instinctively scanned around him, his eyes met those of a young man wearing a pair of glasses with ch- Shit.
He froze in the center aisle of the bus, maintaining eye contact with the stranger. Fortunately, no one pushed him over.
The other seemed to recognize him as he smiled slightly. And he didn't look surprised, it was almost as if he was... glad to see him?
The man took a piece of paper out of his pocket and walked towards him. When he reached him, he handed it to him, and Newt instinctively took it.
What was going on? It wasn't at all planned.
He unfolded the paper, while the other was still beside him.
I'm writing this message in the hope of being able to give it to you one day. Thank you so much for your note, it made my day.
"My name's Thomas, by the way." The stranger who now had a name said to him as he raised his head. He was really pretty.
"Newt. You changed the charms." He pointed to the glasses. "They also look nice." He tried not to speak too loudly, he knew it was really annoying when people spoke loudly on public transport.
"Thank you, I've got quite a collection. I don't get compliments on them very often."
"We should though. Maybe people are just intimidated."
"Do you do that a lot... complimenting people with little papers. Because that's pretty rare too."
"I usually try to do it in person. But like..." Newt felt his cheeks flush a little. "I didn't want to bother you. And you were a bit intimidating I admit."
"Oh..." Thomas drew in a nervous breath. "You... what stop do you get off at?"
"Botanic Garden. You?"
"White Cross." He paused for a second, then: "Is it appropriate for me to offer to exchange phone numbers? Even though we don't know each other?"
"You don’t have social media?" Newt asked, a little surprised. Not that it was wrong, just that he wasn't used to people asking like that.
"No, I don't have any."
Newt wondered why, but didn't ask. "Then, go for the phone number."
"Awesome."
Thomas took out his phone and Newt dictated the number. Before his eyes, he sent him a message.
from: 06 45 52 67 91
hi :)
hi :)
"So… I really don't think the bus is the best place to talk. Is it okay if I put on my headphones and walk away for the rest of the way?"
Thomas was definitely unpredictable.
"Yeah, no problem, I get it."
"Thanks. I will... I'll text you, soon." Thomas smiled and his glasses were really distracting when he looked at him. Then he put the headphones that had been around his neck back on his ears and walked away from Newt.
Thomas gave him a little wave as Newt got off at his stop, and he returned the gesture.
As he watched the bus go away, Newt allowed himself a few seconds of break to process what had just happened.
—
from: Thomas
soooo... what do you do for a living?
(sorry don't know how to communicate with people)
haha that's fine, nice to hear from you again
i'm a student in social work
third year, and i really enjoy it!
what about you?
wow that's really cool :o nice vocation
i study physics, and i'm in second year
thank you!
i volunteer at an old people's home next to my classes. that's why i take the bus :)
great!
i wish i could do it but uni has been taking over my life this year :/
last year I still managed to help out at an animal shelter, but I had to stop... I miss it!
ah gee, I hope you'll be able to find some time soon...
then, dogs or cats ?
dogs!
oh no, wrong answer! i think it's going to be a dealbreaker, sorry thomas...
:(
you're breaking up with me before we've even started dating...
Newt blushed a little as he received the message. Was he flirting with him? It took him a little by surprise.
I mean, he didn't want to assume Thomas’ sexual orientation, but to be completely honest, he thought the likelihood of a straight guy being far enough away from toxic masculinity or heteronormativity to wear glasses with fancy little charms was pretty low. Newt wasn't saying they didn't exist, just... he wouldn't have bet on them.
haha no ok I'll reconsider my position
(i was joking btw, im not making assumptions)
that's fine, don’t worry
great, you seem really nice anyway, it’s nice you were in this bus last week
the universe does things well
but now I must leave you, I'm going to make something to eat
ok, see you!
—
The universe did things so well that Thomas happened to be a lovely person with whom he got on very well. They discovered that they shared a passion for cinema, so they had an inexhaustible topic of discussion.
Newt wasn't the best at making friends, so the situation excited him greatly, and he felt little sparks of happiness every time he received a notification in the name of "Tommy" or spotted him on the bus. As if by magic, Thomas was always on his Thursday bus, so they could sit next to each other and chat in hushed tones.
Within a month, Newt had started sending him random photos whenever he saw a dog on the street and had time to photograph it. Thomas did the same with cats. Thomas wasn't from the same city as he was, so he started looking at the plates of parked cars, and when he saw one registered in his native region, he'd send a photo too.
—
It took a month and a half for Newt to work up the courage to suggest by message the idea of seeing each other outside their weekly bus ride.
hi tommy
would you like to meet up sometime irl
i mean off the bus
yeah i'd love to!
i'm available all this weekend
except Saturday morning
what would you like to do?
well, I was thinking we could go and see a film :)
and then we can go for something to eat or a drink
sounds very nice!
who chooses the movie?
it's easier if we have a call, can i?
Incoming call from: Tommy
Accept - Decline
—
The film was good, it was a comedy and the two of them were good enough audiences to have a good laugh.
Thomas started rambling as soon as they emerged from the dark room, obviously excited by the analysis of the film's underlying social commentary .
As they chatted, the two set their sights on a nearby café - it was starting to rain anyway, so they weren't going to walk twenty minutes to find one. Fortunately, it wasn't too crowded, and they chose a quiet corner.
"You want a beer? Oh, they've got hot wine too." Newt asked, as he was looking at the menu.
"Hum, I don't... drink alcohol." Thomas suddenly looked nervous.
"Oh, ok, no problem." Newt gave him a reassuring smile. "Then I'll take a hot chocolate. You?"
"The same I think."
"Look, they got crêpes and waffles. Want some?"
"Nutella crêpe. I love nutella."
"I'll have a sugar waffle."
When their order arrived, Newt realized that Thomas's crêpe was better than his waffle, so he swiped him a little more than expected in their food exchange. In compensation, Thomas demanded a part of the chantilly on top of his hot chocolate. He happily shared.
—
For some strange reason, this building didn't allow residents to unlock the front door from home, so Newt waited for Thomas to come down from the fourth floor to open it for him. He was a little nervous, it was his first time going to his house.
Even though he had come down the stairs, Thomas pointed directly in the direction of the elevator. Of course he'd already noticed his limping leg and the grimaces he sometimes made as they walked together. Newt appreciated that he didn't mention it, and he didn't either. He rushed into the elevator first; he wasn't going to try to act tough going up four flights of stairs. It wasn't worth it.
Inside the apartment, a young man, Thomas's roommate, was sat at the kitchen table, his eyes frowning at his computer.
"This is my best friend, Minho." The two greeted each other. "I'll show you around, it's not very big."
Thomas showed him the small bathroom, the kitchen, and allowed him into his single room.
"Wow, you have a lot of plants!" Newt remarked at the sight of the various pots on the floor, the desk and the windowsill.
"I know, and this one here," he pointed to a cactus on the wooden desk, "it's my favorite. He's called Cactus."
"Do you name all your plants?"
"I wish. But Minho won't let me because he says I get too attached to plants afterwards and get too sad when they die. Cactus is an exception because, you know, it's difficult to kill a cactus."
"Oh wow, I love that."
"Anyway, we can go watch a movie on the big screen in the living room if you want, Minho can go to his room."
"Alright, I'll see if there's anything interesting." Newt headed for the small living room.
"Nice, I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be there in two minutes."
As Newt sat on the couch looking for an interesting movie to watch, Minho approached him.
"Newt?"
"Yeah?"
"Listen. I don't know what your intentions are towards Thomas, but you'd better be careful. Look, he's been taking the bus late for weeks just so he can see you for fifteen minutes. If you hurt him, you'll have to deal with me, and I'm not kidding."
Newt blinked, taken aback by the unexpected information and the threat.
"Oh. Hum, don't worry, everything’s fine."
"I hope so." Minho tapped him on the shoulder in warning before heading for his room, laptop in hand.
Thomas returned shortly afterwards, and slumped onto the sofa next to Newt.
"So, did you find anything?"
"Not really, here, you can have your pick."
"Alright." Thomas grabbed the remote and began scrolling through the movies. Newt wondered if it was true that he was catching his bus late just for him. He didn't dare ask.
—
For the second time, it was Newt who came to open his door for Thomas. It was 7:45 p.m., and the plan was to watch a movie -it really was one of their favorite activities, and for Thomas to stay over tonight.
"It's warm in your apartment today, isn't it?" Thomas asked only a few minutes after he entered.
"Well, I took a shower, and cooked not long ago so that warmed the room up. I can open the window if you like."
“No, no, it would be too cold later when we want to sleep.”
Newt shrugged, grabbing a second pillow from a shelf so Thomas wouldn't be leaning against the hard wall.
Tonight's film was a dramatic comedy, and Newt had left his small bedside lamp on because he found it more pleasant not to be in complete darkness. After more than fifteen minutes, he could feel Thomas beside him stirring a little, discreetly trying to peel his clothes off his skin to get some fresh air. Newt said nothing at first, then finally intervened.
"You can take off your sweater if you're too hot, you know?"
"Yeah I know..." He looked a little embarrassed.
"If it's because of your scars, I know and I really don't care." Newt ventured in a slightly softer voice. He didn't know if it was a good idea to mention the subject now, or even to mention it at all, but he didn't want Thomas to feel embarrassed, or to think he couldn't be himself in his company.
"Wha- How do you know?" Thomas asked as he turned to him, opening his eyes wider.
"I saw some on the bus the first day." Newt confessed. They were staring straight into each other's eyes now. He could see he'd unsettled his friend, who seemed hesitant to answer. "I've got some myself, that's fine." Newt finally clarified in total improvisation.
"Oh." Thomas finally said.
"I won't judge you, I would never."
"I...I don't want you to be uncomfortable, even more not that you said that."
“I promised I’m not. You’re obviously too hot, I can even turn off the little light if you want.”
After a few more moments of hesitation, Thomas finally took off his sweater. Beyond the left sleeve, almost his entire arm was dotted with white scars.
“Better?” Newt asked.
“Yeah, definitely less warm.” He looked visibly relieved.
“Nice. And if at any time you wanna talk about it, you can.”
“Maybe not now.”
“No problem.”
“Thanks. That goes for you too.”
"That’s nice, thank you."
Newt's hand moved across the bed, and Thomas' fingers intertwined with his.
Finally, lying in the near darkness of Newt's double bed at past one in the morning had the perk of loosening tongues.
“So yeah, long story short, my stepfather was… an alcoholic and when he was drunk he could become... quite violent. Guess I just had trouble dealing with the situation in a healthy way.” Thomas stopped. “It was… difficult, yeah. Minho has been my friend since elementary school, and he has always been there to support me. He was kind of the only thing that kept me from sinking. That’s why he’s a little,” he gestured with one hand, “protective of me. But I'm better now.”
“I’m glad you are. And yeah Minho kind of threatened me the first time I went to your place.”
“Shit, I told him not to do this…That’s embarrassing. Anyway, what about you, if you feel comfortable sharing of course.”
“It was… mainly to punish myself. Somehow. I just don’t want to go into details because… yeah I’m better now but still… not completely over it.”
“I’m sure you’re doing your best, and that’s the most important.”
“Hum, trying my best.”
“Are you sure it was okay during the movie? And you can be honest.”
Newt bit his lip nervously. “It’s… complicated. It can make me think about… it of course but, I feel like I can manage it. It’s okay. And I don’t want you to be ashamed of them.”
“You have to promise to tell me if it becomes too hard. I am over it, I can hide it, but you need to protect yourself.”
“Okay. I will tell you, I promise.”
"Would a hug be nice right now?" Thomas finally offered after a few seconds of silence.
“It would be perfect.”
—
"Who have you been talking to since earlier?" Alby asked Newt as they both sat at a table outside the university cafeteria building.
"Thomas. I think I already mentioned him before, right?" Newt replied, putting down his phone to take another bite of his pasta salad.
"Yeah you did. So, have there been any new developments? Like, are you in a relationship or something?"
"What, no. But yeah, we kissed once. A few times."
"Oh my god. So like..."
"No! No no no, just kiss." He frowned a little, pasta having suddenly become very interesting to him.
"Alright." His friend held up his hands as if defending himself from any assumption. "Just kiss. But let me know when this... thing goes further." Alby made a suggestive wave with his eyebrows before laughing and taking a sip of water.
Newt simply shrugged as a response.
To be completely honest, Newt didn't think his relationship with Thomas would go this way. It didn't seem like either of them really wanted it to. He didn't have the biggest libido, and anyway, he didn't see Thomas that way. And for his part, Thomas had a little asexual flag in the pencil cup on his bedroom desk, so that seemed to solve the problem.
—
Newt liked when he hung out with Thomas and Thomas suddenly kissed him on the cheek or lips. He also liked to hear rambling about how annoying Minho was because he'd hung a little bell on his glasses that very morning and he hadn't understood where the noise was coming from and had been tripping around for several hours. He liked it when Thomas sent vocals at 1 a.m. to give him a several-minute review of the film he'd just finished. He loved to see his eyes sparkle when he bought him one of his favorite pastries to make a snack during university revision sessions for two, or when he came home on his bus on Thursday.
Besides, after confirmation from the main interested party, who had turned as red as a tomato as if confessing a crime, yes, Thomas did catch a late bus on purpose so he could see him. The first time, he was really just late.
"Newt? Newt?" A foreign voice reached his ears.
"Hmm?"
"Earth to Newt, you're daydreaming." Thomas passed a hand in front of his face to wake him up.
"Oh yeah sorry, I was just thinking." He blinked back into the present.
"About what?"
"About you,” he replied promptly.
"Oh." Thomas's eyes widened and he smirked. "Didn't know I could be that distracting when I'm studying."
"Your very existence is distracting. If only the people in my group were efficient in their work, I wouldn't have to get behind them again. If it were up to me, we'd be cuddling instead right now."
The tip of Thomas's pencil landed on his head. "Stop complaining and get to work. We'll have time for cuddling later."
Newt plunged back into the powerpoint he was trying to make presentable (who had put such incompetents in his group seriously?) and Thomas to his incomprehensible calculations of molecular reactions.
Minho was back at the apartment twenty-five minutes later. Luckily for Newt, Thomas' best friend had stopped giving him suspicious glances every time they saw each other in the apartment.
The two were now on Thomas' bed, a shared blanket on their laps, each reading a book in pleasant silence.
"Thomas?" Newt suddenly broke said silence.
"Hmm?"
"I bought you a present."
"What? But uh, what's the occasion..." Thomas frowned.
"No occasion. Spontaneous gift. Don't worry, it wasn't very expensive."
"I hope so, I don't want you spending your money on me. You're already buying me pastries."
"It's my pleasure, and really it wasn't expensive at all."
Newt pulled a small tin box from his pocket, which Thomas opened. Out came a small silver fish charm and another cat's head.
"I just saw it in a sort of antique store yesterday." Newt resumed. "Your birthday's too long away, if I had to keep it at home, I'd have lost them somewhere."
"I recognize your sneaky cat propaganda there. Thank you very much tho, it’s like… super cute. Can you hang one on each side for me?"
"Sure, glad you like it."
Newt grabbed the little charms and fumbled to install them in the right places on the chains of Thomas' glasses.
"There you go!"
"Does it look good?" Thomas asked, moving his head slightly from right to left to see if it made any noise.
"Really good."
"Amazing, I trust you." Thomas was beaming now and placed a light kiss on his lips. "I'm resuming my reading, there's literally a plot twist going on right now."
Thomas’ bookmark was the note Newt had written to him complimenting his glasses on the bus, and it made him smile every time he saw it protruding from one of his books.
Minho's voice came from the kitchen half an hour later as Thomas had abandoned his book and rested his head on Newt's left leg.
"Dinner's ready, lovebirds. Get your ass over here."
"We're not a couple!" Thomas replied, speaking loudly through the wall as he rose to his feet.
"Yeah whatever you are. Come here while it's still hot."
"Are you staying here tonight?" Minho asked Newt after they'd sat down and as he helped himself to a slice of the tofu and vegetable rice he'd prepared.
"Uh no, I'm going to go home, I've got stuff to do at the flat." He retrieved the large spoon to help himself.
"Alright. I mentioned to a friend the volunteer work you were doing at the retirement home and they asked me if I could put you in touch because they would be interested in volunteering with that kind of association. Would you be okay with that?"
"Yes, of course! We're always looking for more volunteers. What's their name?"
"Brenda. I'll give them your number then, thanks."
"No problem. Also, the food is delicious."
"Thanks, that's my mom's recipe. Anyway, Thomas?"
Thomas immediately looked up from his plate, his spoon still in his mouth. "Hum?"
"I like your new glasses charms."
"Thanks, it's a present from Newt actually."
Minho's eyes went from Thomas to Newt, then from Newt to Thomas. "You're cute together."
The two gave each other a knowing look before doing a fist bump over the table.
"Yeah, we know."