Work Text:
Lover
Where do you live?
In the sky?
In the clouds?
In the ocean?
And if I ever see you again
my love
All I'm ever gonna do
Is sending shivers down that spine of yours.
Newt finds Tommy sitting at the beach, legs pulled up to his chest and cheek leaned on his knees.
He's watching the sunset.
Newt takes him in, drinks in his image, the memory fragile after months and months of being apart and also still as fresh as if they’ve only met yesterday. Back when Tommy was nothing but a scared little greenie and not yet the thief that stole away his heart in record time. Falling in love with Thomas caught Newt by a storm but he doesn’t regret one day of loving the whirlwind of a boy entering the Glade with a bang, immediately running and coming to a full stop by tripping all over himself. It was such a suiting first impression because that is exactly who Tommy is. Headstrong and impulsive, brilliant with his brain, fast with his legs but chaotic and doomed to a fault. Muscular runner’s thighs, athletic build, unruly dark hair and chocolate eyes so deep Newt can’t count the times he lost himself in them. Newt loves all of Thomas. And by the grace of the sun, the moon and the stars, Thomas loves him back.
On the worst day of Newt’s life, the one starting with the night where he thought he lost Alby, Minho and Thomas all at once to the Maze, Thomas looked at Newt in the council hall, with nothing but trust and fire in his eyes. Newt felt a rush of hope surge through him and suddenly flowers grew in Newt’s chest. Thomas would bring change, to their lives, to their fate and to the ever present longing in Newt’s heart.
That moment he won’t ever forget, no matter the horrors of the Maze and the Scorch, the pain of grieving his friends or losing himself to the Flare. He’ll always remember the moment of Thomas looking at him like that, laying all his trust in Newt. And Newt knew. He knew that he’d follow him anywhere.
And he did. Look at him now, he fucking did. First he followed him out of the Maze, then through the Scorch. He kept up with Thomas and his million stupid-brave plans in order to save Minho, stayed by his side when they traveled to the Last City and broke into WICKED headquarters. Briefly it looked like Newt would lead their shared path for once, and he maybe did. For a couple of hours. Newt died on the cold concrete floor of a burning city, in the arms of his love. He still had wanted to tell Thomas so much, tell him he loved him and that Thomas would never lose him, because as long as Thomas kept his memory alive in his heart, Newt would be with him. He didn’t come further than his lover’s name, breathing it for one last time, before the light left him for good. He still remembers his relief. He didn’t kill Tommy in his flaring rage, but instead buried that knife deep into his own chest. He saved Tommy. All was well.
But then, Newt had found himself stuck in a world between the living in the dead and Thomas - he hadn’t been there. Newt reunited with his sister and they finally got to spend some time together as siblings at last, finding closure to their traumatic past. Newt learned that Thomas passed away. He never made it to the Safe Haven alive and instead moved on to the afterlife immediately.
He doesn’t want to begin to imagine Tommy’s despair over arriving there alone, without Newt. Newt might have died first, but he was kept in the world between, as a ghost by his sister’s side, until Lizzie was ready to let him go. He loved the time they got together, watching her heal and grow hopeful again. He watched his friends getting back up on their feet, starting over with their lives. He was there when the settlement was built, and saw the love grow between Gally and Brenda, along with their baby, the first to be born at Safe Haven. He was present at Lizzie and Harriet’s wedding, even walked his sister down the aisle.
It had all been special and filled him with hope and happiness but all along, he missed Thomas like crazy. Newt’s soul was still with the living, but his heart had moved on to the afterlife already.
And now he is finally here, he made the passage to the afterlife and as soon as his eyes adjusted to the light, they landed on the beach and a lone figure by the water.
Newt knew, he had been so sure, that Thomas would absolutely love Safe Haven, the endless beach and its freedom to run and run for miles, the long stretched horizon with its seagulls and sunsets and sunrises, the sound of the waves and the smell of salt and coconuts. They had talked about it, at night in the tent they shared when they were with the Right Arm. Talked of the future awaiting them, their lives together, safe from all harm and terror, just them and their loved ones, far away from everything.
Newt had caressed Thomas’ naked back, had run his fingers over the sticky skin, still heated from their lovemaking and had curled his fingers in Thomas damp curls. Those moments between them, tucked away together, safe from the horrors out there - no heat, no fear, no loneliness, had been the sweetest of Newt’s life so far. Their kisses melted the knot of cold dread in Newt’s belly. Thomas’ laugh cleared away his worries from his mind. The look in his eyes when they moved together, hands tangled and legs wrapped around each other, their foreheads touching and the two boys breathing heavily in tandem - it catapulted Newt into a sense of feeling safe and sheltered. Everything with Thomas was warm and so sweet. Most days Newt couldn’t believe that he got to have this, have Thomas by his side, always have his back and his steady burning passion, the searching hands that always found Newt’s. Thomas’ fingers, skillful bastard that he was, teasing and tearing sighs and moans and cries of happiness from Newt’s lips. Of course Thomas was naturally talented at everything Newt and also at physical intimacy. As far as they know Newt had been Thomas’ first but Thomas had been enthusiastic about all of it, every kiss, every touch, every new sensation and he learned fast.
Thomas also had a curious mind and a mouth without a filter. When Thomas first turned up at the Glade it had annoyed Newt a lot and he wished he could shut the younger boy up, stop his stream of questions. With time and getting to know Thomas better, he had grown to love all the crazy coming from Tommy, his tales, his ideas, his jokes. He was beautiful inside and out, driven, crazy, brave, attentive, stupid and smart equally, funny, a great lay and a loyal friend. Newt hated being corny but he wouldn’t lie and deny that Tommy was the boy of his dreams.
It pains Newt that he couldn’t have been there when Thomas came to the beach for the first time in the afterlife. That he couldn’t have witnessed the curious expression of Thomas leaning his head back to take in the seagulls swirling beneath the clouds and the wind kissing his cheeks. He wanted to be there when Thomas dipped his toes into the sea for the first time and wanted to watch how the waves would embrace Tommy’s body when he first went swimming. Newt longed for being there with him when he let the sun dry his skin on the beach, peppering his body with kisses and holding his hand for as long as they wanted, until the sun set and the stars emerged and a new day began.
Newt had missed Thomas at every bonfire at Safe Haven, he had missed him when he heard his friends whispering their goodnights to each other and longed for his smile when he watched another sunrise at the beach.
But now he’s here, he’s finally here and he won’t spend another moment without his love by his side.
Newt walks up to Thomas’ curled up body by the shore. Thomas doesn’t hear him approaching, the waves steady come and go the lullaby to his loneliness. His eyes are closed. Newt crouches down next to him, then slowly, carefully leans against the boy he had loved for so long.
Thomas sighs and leans his head on Newt’s shoulder. His eyes are still closed but he takes a deep breath, hiding his face in Newt’s neck.
Familiar arms sneak around Newt’s waist and Newt’s heart is full, finally full again. He reaches around Tommy’s shoulder and pulls him closer to him, presses a kiss on Thomas’ temple.
“Where were you? I’ve been waiting for you,” Tommy says quietly, after a while.
“Got held up for a moment. But I’m here now, Tommy. I’ll never leave you again, I promise.”
“That’s good. I missed you. Can’t wait to show you everything,” Thomas sighs happily.
“We have all the time in the world now.”
“And I’ll love you for all of it,” Thomas said. “I’m glad you’re here now.”
“I love you too and I missed you more than you can imagine,” Newt whispers. “We’ll stay as long as we want.”
“Yes we can stay forever. We’re home.”
Home.