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Newt is the one who looks after everyone. It’s his—self opposed—job to keep an eye on everything and most importantly everyone. However, ever since the first day that Greenie arrived breaking his neck in curiosity of the maze; Newt has been a little more individually focussed.
It’s not Newt's fault the kid just has no self preservation. He wants to get out of the maze. Get everyone out. And for the love of god Tommy thinks it’s his job to do that.
He’s not even sure Thomas is aware of what he’s doing. A bit like he’s subconsciously drawn to saving everyone without actually having to think about it.
It’s incredible.
It’s also bloody, shucking stupid.
Ever since Tommy became a runner Newt’s anxiety has been on another level. He trusts Minho to look out for himself because he has been a runner for a very long time and actually has some somethin’ in his noggin. But Tommy is different. He doesn’t look or think about himself, like ever. He’s always looking at others and it’s surroundings. Thomas worries about Newt. He worries about Minho. He worries about Chuck. He worries about all the gladers; maybe even Gally. But does the stupid shank take a second to reflect on himself?
No.
Again, idiot
But maybe Newt kinda loves that selfless part of him as well. But he wouldn’t admit it.
He knows that Minho looks out for him when they go out in the maze everyday, because Minho is aware of Thomas’s recklessness.
Once the dumb shank even passed out (because he didn’t have enough to eat or drink for the day) in the map room.
You could imagine how Newt reacted to that.
Thomas was terrified of not drinking water ever since.
Speaking of the map room, Thomas spends all of his time in there, (when not in the maze). Minho stays back too. But he still sleeps every night and looks after himself. The keeper of the runners usually makes an excuse to force Thomas to take a break and rest for a bit by saying “we want you at your best condition to run that maze” with a smack to the shoulder. And sometimes he even listens to Minho. Well, Minho doesn’t exactly take no for an answer. Newt knows Minho worries about him. And it brings comfort knowing that there is someone keeping an eye on him when he can’t because of all his other responsibilities. But Thomas rarely does what he’s told. It’s just not him.
But life in the Glade is hard. And it’s getting harder. There’s this girl that won’t bloody wake up. The box isn’t going back down—which means no more food. We have to get out of this shuckin maze more than ever.
Thomas’s hope has planted a spark in everyone, especially Minho. The runner used to run just to maintain order but now, he runs because he thinks they can do this. To be honest; Alby, Minho and Newt lost hope a while ago—of course they would still tell everyone different. But Thomas is adamant they will get out.
Alby has been different ever since the changing and Newt’s stepped up. It’s hard to be in charge, yet it comes so naturally.
He is tired. It was a huge day and he had a bunch of people arguing instead of working—which Newt blames Gally for because he keeps on blaming everything on Thomas. He has to keep everyone calm and tell them that they aren't going to die of starvation. But to be honest, Newt is stressed. Will they survive much longer? Are Tommy and Minho actually going to find a way out?
He runs a hand down his face. All this responsibility is getting to be a lot for him. It is late, probably around midnight; thankfully all the gladers are rather quiet other than the gentle snore of a couple of the builders and Chuck, that kid could shuckin’ snore like there’s no tomorrow.
He turns to see Minho already in his hammock in the Homestead. Newt looks straight ahead, eyelids drooping without consent. When he sees the glint of a light in the corner of his right eye before it closes he finds himself up again. The Map Room. Tommy. Has he found anything yet?
He gets up manoeuvring past the sleeping bodies in the direction of the small hut.
Tommy is there. Lit up by the lantern on the table. Looking down intently at a bunch of paper that had a messy but prominent scrawl covering them with numbers and directions. His back turned from Newt. He doesn’t even notice Newt is there and just stands there in the doorway watching him. Tommy is staring intently at one piece that he just wrote down analysing his own interpretations of the maze, as if there is something he isn’t seeing. A moment later he throws his pen across the room and deflates into the chair.
“Hey,” Newt says, walking over to Tommy.
The voice startles Tommy and he unintentionally jumps.
“Oh, hi Newt.” With a forced smile. It’s cute that he still tries for him. Newt gets a good look at him.
Tommy looks terrible, his eyes are bloodshot with the darkest bags underneath them Newt has seen in a very long time. His pale complexion contrasts with the circles and red dimmed eyes.
He looks as if seeing Newt has suddenly brought him back into the present and notices how dark it is outside. Newt’s brow furrows and he tilts his head to the side.
“You alright, shank?”
“Yeah. What are you doing up? It’s pretty late.” Tommy looks confused and worried for him.
Seriously Tommy, you're worried about me? Of course you are.
“Asking you the very same thing.” He supplies disappointed, looking down at him like he does when Chuck takes a prank too far.
“What? It’s not like I have a whole glade to run. Are you ok?”
Newt rolls his eyes dismissing him. Huffs a forced laugh, then sighs.
“I’m shuckin fine. You? Not so much.”
Thomas cuts him off.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
That’s it. Newt pulls a chair over next to him and wraps an arm around his shoulders and the other gently directs Tommy’s face towards him, staring intently at him so Tommy can’t look away.
“Tommy, you look bloody awful. When was the last time you, y’know slept?” Newt’s eyes hover around his face.
Tommy’s big brown eyes never lie. Newt knows this. He holds his gaze.
Tommy looks a little nervous. “Not that long ago.”
“When?”
Ain’t that the question?
“Uhhhh, yesterday?” He says with a slight hint of question at the end. Then he swallows a little more sure of himself. “Yeah, I remember now, I was out like a log last night.” He smiles lightly then nods his head firmly.
“Mhmm, ok. That’s funny because Min told me you both pulled an all-nighter yesterday.”
For a moment Thomas thinks he can recover from this, but then his face drops when he recognises his chances.
“That pain in my a-“ he mutters before getting cut off.
“Alright Tommy, that’s enough” Newt purposefully pushes all the papers away and covers the model of the maze up. Gently pulling Tommy up by the arm, “You need sleep, now. ” He says in his commanding tone.
“Can’t. ‘Ave stuff to do” he slurs, waving Newt off and plopping back down, reaching out for the papers.
Newt thinks ahead and stands in the way. “Quick get up now. Last chance.” Tommy looks slightly betrayed, his best friend commanding him around. He struggles to stand up again from weariness. So Newt wraps Tommy’s arm around his shoulder and walks out of the map room with Tommy in tow.
“Erre’ we goin?” He blinks. Newt just ignores him. As they head out to where Newt was sleeping before, a little away from everyone else. He gently lowers Tommy onto his bedding—who looks like he could pass out any second.
“I’ll be back” he momentarily leaves to get himself a new sleeping bag. Once he returns he pulls up the blanket at his best friend's feet up to the dazed Tommy’s, shoulders and lies down himself.Thomas is lying back clearly stressed. He shouldn’t be here. He should be finding a way out of the maze. He needs to save everyone. Otherwise they will die. He balls his hands into fists trying to calm himself and let the guilt slide off but it won’t.
Of course Newt sees this.
“Everything’s going to be alright, Tommy.” He wraps Tommy up pulling him closer, “We’ll all be fine.” He reacts with the touch inching closer to Newt, his friend. Newt pushes his head into his neck and rubs his back. Tommy’s mind relaxes with Newt’s body heat, the panic simmering back down. Did he really seem that broken? But then Thomas feels the wetness on his face and realises he had been crying. He blushes in embarrassment, thankfully it’s too dark for Newt to see. He quickly wipes his tears off his face; returning to Newt’s shoulder. However, Newt doesn’t make him feel ashamed, he just hugs him tighter. How can one person make everything seem alright, when it clearly isn’t?
“You don’t actually believe that.” Tommy says, matter of fact.
“I do.” Newt’s a much better liar than Tommy but he still doesn’t believe him entirely. However, the words still seem to relax him a bit and Tommy’s fists unclench. “Go to sleep, Tommy” Newt whispers the order softly.
“Shouldn’t”
“Yes, you should. I’m asking you to.”
Newt reaches over where Thomas is lying on him and grabs his hand rubbing his thumb over his knuckle.
Tommy’s breaths even out and Newt can tell he’s going to be out for a while with the lack of sleep he’s been getting.
Newt smiles at the sleeping figure. His sleeping figure. They don’t really talk about being together. It’s kind of just a mutual connection between both. Neither of them have time for a labelled relationship.
But, this?
This is good anyway.
And when they’re out of this shuckin’ place things will be even better.
But this…
This is still good.