Archive of Our Own

He was the only one I truly had to be scared for.

I worried about people getting hurt. People... dying. Of course. But almost all deaths were caused by the maze. And my circle, my friends. None of them were runners. Three were gardners, two were builders like me. They stayed in the Glade. They never stepped foot in the maze.

I, of course, worried for the runners. They were all my acquaintances, all people I knew. But they're deaths wouldn't destroy me.

Not until him.

"MINHO!" I screamed my voice raw, thrashing against the arms around my waist— Gally's, no doubt— trying to run to him, to help him, to do something.

Why was no one helping him?

Minho struggled, grunting and yelling as he dragged Alby towards the maze door. He must be hurt.

"Leave him Minho!" Someone yelled.

Minho could never leave Alby in the maze. Injured, dead, or worse. He'd never abandon him.

So why were we abandoning him?

I clawed, punched, and scratched at the arms holding me, resigned to care about the damage later. Right now, Minho needed help, and no one else was moving. The walls rumbled and scratched their way closed, inching closer seemingly faster and faster.

I could only become more frantic in my escape attempts.

They were almost closed. He wouldn't make it. Minho... Minho wouldn't—

"Thomas!!" One of the boys yelled as Thomas— our newest greenie— sprinted through the closing doors.

With one last, loud, victorious ck-thunk... The Maze devoured them whole.

I was... on my knees? Why? Did I fall? But they didnt hurt... Did Gally drop me? No, he'd never...

Minho...

I probably fell. Just too... gone to feel the pain.

Minho's... He's...

My vision felt wrong. Blurry. I was hot. Someone was holding me.

He cant...

I felt sick.

Shivering. I couldn't stop shivering.

My whole body was overtaken by violent, torturous shivers. I couldn't stop them.

Minho's smile...

The tears wouldn't end either. Even when I ran out of water to spill from my eyes, they wouldn't stop.

Minho's beautiful laugh....

My stomach wouldn't settle either. Emptying itself over and over.

Minho's caring words....

I couldn't do this. I couldn't handle this.

"Love, please. It's getting cold out here."

How does one cope with something like this? Something so all consuming it tears you from the inside out.

"Is that...? I'll fetch you something warm to drink. Something easy on the stomach. And a blanket. But I will be right back okay?"

Was he really....?

The weight on my shoulders gained a pound. Fingers on my chin. I shied away from them.

They weren't his.

"Please. You need to drink something."

I just wanted Minho.

My Minho...

"The blanket will only keep you so warm, little bee."

Little Bee.... Newt always loved to call me that.

"Please drink some. You dont have to drink much. Just a bit."

The hand tried again. Newt's hand. I didn't fight him.

"There you go. Good job." His voice swelled with relief and pride combined as warmth flooded my mouth. The sensation was... disgusting.

I felt sick again.

"No, no, no! It's okay, it's okay." Circles on my back.

Newt.... was a good friend.

The void abandoned me, throwing me from its comforts into so much pain.

Despite Newt's ever continuing efforts, nothing stayed in my stomach for long and any water gained wouldn't stay for long.

I could barely feel my throat anymore. Could barely hear my own anguished screams. Barely felt my hands scrape, hit, and bleed against the dirt ground.

I barely felt it as Newt pulled me into his arms. Barely heard him as he shushed the rampaging emotions in my mind, bursting through my screams.

The last three hours were... A blur. A bracket of nothing.

But now Gally was here. Holding me tight in his arms, rocking us.

Why was everything so heavy?

"What are we going to do when.... if he doesn't come through those doors tomorrow?" Everything came flooding back. "Shit."

I sobbed into Gally's arms. Thrashing and hitting them as I was overwhelmed by my emotions.

Minho....

Minho..!

"Please, sweetheart. You'll make yourself sick staying out in this cold." Newt... Ever caring Newt.

"No.... I can't leave him." I shook my head. Newt bent closer.

"Please."

"I'm not leaving him!" I sobbed.

I wouldn't leave him. Not until it was certain. Not until we knew.

Neither Gally or Newt left my side for longer than a handful of seconds or minutes at a time.

They took turns bundling up next to me and making sure I was at a satisfactory temperature. Anytime I jostled the blanket off of me, it was back on within moments thanks to them.

They were my best friends.... Them and... Chuck.

"Are they okay?" A sniffling Chuck asked.

The silence was his answer.

"Can I sit next to you?" He asked. Oh. He was stood in front of me.

I can't bring myself to answer.

"They seem okay with touch right now. They've been jumpy though, so just. Warn them first." Gally answered for me.

"Okay..." Chuck sat beside me. "I'm gonna hug you okay?" Chuck waited for an answer that would never come. Gally beside me nodded. Chuck slowly tucked himself into my side.

It was... comforting.

I was exhausted but sleep wouldn't come. Not until I saw Minho alive or dead with my own eyes.

Gladers slowly but surely joined our trio around the door, most coming and lightly touching my head or shoulder.

My friends sat close to me, not wanting to disturb the sleeping Chuck in my lap.

I couldn't say a word to them. Or to anyone. Words just... couldn't connect together anymore.

I needed to know. I needed to see him.

I needed Minho.

I couldn't stop shaking. I could hardly breathe.

Newt sat in front of me, holding my shoulders and guiding my breathing.

Chuck and Gally sat nearby, their protective, worried eyes never leaving me.

We would know soon.

I didn't want to know anymore.

I stood in front of the wall. Waiting; impatient and terrified.

My heart jumped out of my throat when they began to rumble, scrape, and creak. I was steps away from hyperventilating as they opened ever so slowly.

As soon as I could see through the crack...

"No." I cried, the tears streaming down my face. They weren't there. "No, no, please. Please, Minho!" I yelled into the maze, hearing my own voice bounce back at me.

The doors were wide enough to walk through now.

"Minho!" I screamed into the maze. "Dont you dare fucking leave me!" I cursed, my voice raw and unreachable as it cracked and fought against me. "You are not leaving me!" I screamed again through my sobs.

I heard someone gasp behind me, my head shot up and I saw them. I saw all three of them.

My feet realized it was him before I could. By the time I processed that it was him an unconscious Alby was pushed into Thomas's arms, and I was cradled strongly in Minho's.

"You're alive," I sobbed, "Oh my god you're actually alive."

He held me tighter, adjusting his grasp to  support my weight as I clung desperately to him.

Someone else came to help Thomas with Alby. The muttered curses convinced me that it was Gally.

But I hardly cared. I just took in Minho's scent. I wanted to shower him with love, but my exhaustion was absolute. I could hardly lift a finger let alone move my head to kiss him.

When we were inside the Glade, Minho collapsed to the ground, still holding me tight. If anything, he only pulled me closer then.

We didn't say anything for a long time.

"I was so scared." I finally said, my voice cracking through my tears. He nodded hard, agreeing. "I– I've never felt anything like that." I said, shoulders beginning to shake as I cried harder, he nodded and I heard him sniffle. I held him tighter. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." He said shakily, through barely contained tears.

Finally, I managed the strength to lift my head and kiss him. He kissed back instantly. It was full of love and relief as we both processed that he was really here. He was safe. He came back.

I finally smiled and started crying again as I put my face back in his shoulder.

"You're back. You're okay." I had to kiss him again. So I did. Again and again. Finally, my soul was returning to me. Minho was home.

After each kiss, I saw a bit more life come into his face. Eventually, when I began kissing every inch of his face, he even laughed. His cute laugh, the giddy one reserved for me.

I cupped his face in my hands and admired his face, dedicating every feature to memory.

"I love you so much." He leaned forward and kissed me hard.

"I love you so much." He reciprocated before pecking my lips again.

"Alright. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm certain neither of you slept last night." Newt interrupted, leaning beside us and placing a hand on Minho's shoulder. "And you definitely earned a days rest."

"But–"

"No. Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow. Unless its food, then don't worry about that, I'll get Fry to make you something the moment you wake up, alright?" Minho sighed but nodded.

Newt turned to me. "Alright?" I nodded. I was far too exhausted to argue against getting some sleep. I looked to Minho, though.

"Can I come sleep with you?" I asked quietly. I didn't want to be away from him. Not then, not ever again. And I couldn't reasonably request the latter, so I really hoped he'd allow the former.

"I thought that was implied?" Minho tiredly asked, smirking. I smiled and leaned against him.

"I don't think I can stand." I warned. Minho laid back, pulling me down with him as he grunted.

"That's alright. I can't either." We both laughed a bit, gaining a few sighs. But, Newt put the blanket over us.

"I'll be back in two hours and I'm making you both move to one of your beds. I don't care whose, but the sun will be shining over here by noon and I wont have you out here for it. Good that?" Newt fretted.

"Yes, Mom." Minho and I replied in sync, smiling at each other before curling up for our pre-sleep nap.

Newt didn't bother replying, he simply sighed before heading back towards the homestead, resigned to showing Minho his gratitude for his life another time.

Minho and I sat and admired each other for a few short minutes as we slowly began to drift off together, knowing that Newt would have one hell of a time trying to wake us up after the night we had.

Minho lightly brushed a hand through my hair and I felt a familiar tickle of a stem, leaves, and petals as his hand trailed behind my ear, leaving his gift behind before following the curve of my jaw.

"I love you so much. I'm so sorry for scaring you last night. I promise to abandon Alby next time." The last sentence was lighthearted, but I could still feel the weight of his emotions.

I drifted to sleep, holding my boyfriend tight as we laid in the grass after the most traumatic twelve hours we've knowingly experienced. Him, especially.