Chapter Text
Sparks drift upward into the dark sky, disappearing among the stars. For a moment, time feels slower, the circle of light feels safe and small compared to the wide darkness beyond the Glade. Newt’s eyes trailed away from the embers and landed on the Greenie’s face, illuminated in the dark. The Greenie was sitting across from Newt, looked dismayed and wary, his eyes darting around for a threat that might come his way. Typical Greenie behavior, really. It was too sad to just witness.
There was idle chatter in the air as Newt got up and walked around the burning flame towards the Greenie. The Greenie spotted him as he approached, his eyes softening minutely. There was almost relief on his face as Newt stopped about a foot away from him.
“Having fun, mate?” Newt crouched down to his level, favoring his right leg as he did. Despite the roaring fire a bit away, the chill in the air made his leg ache.
The Greenie scoffed, “Yeah, a total blast.”
Newt chuckled as he lowered himself to the ground next to the kid. He slipped for a second, landing a bit harder than intended. He bumped against the Greenie before settling close. Their shoulders were touching as Newt relaxed. He considered moving away before the Greenie untensed and all but leaned into it.
Newt turned to the Greenie, "Remember your name yet?”
The Greenie’s brows furrowed and his mouth opened to speak, when an apple struck the side of his head. Newt snapped his head over to where it came from and saw Gally standing there with a fiendish grin on his face. “Watch it!” Newt called as Gally scurried away.
He turned back to the Greenie with an apology on his tongue when a sudden shout was made.
“Thomas! I remember! My name is Thomas!”
Newt’s eyes widened before softening as he looked at the Greenie. He stuck out his hand, “Thomas, nice to meet you, mate.”
Thomas looked down at his hand for a second as he stuck out his own to meet it. Their hands clasped in a firm handshake, and Newt almost sensed electricity on his fingertips as they met.
They looked at each other for a moment. Thomas’s eyes darted down to his lips as he began to lean in. His lids become heavy as his face approaches Newt’s. Newt hesitates for a moment until he leans in as well. Their faces are centimeters apart, and Newt can feel Thomas’s breath as they connect and-
But that isn’t how it really went, was it?
Newt jolted awake with a gasp and a sharp sensation in his chest. He heaved as he doubled over with coughing. His mind vaguely registered a knife with dried blood on it a couple feet away as he gulped the air down into his lungs. Newt closed his eyes as he shuddered through exhales. His breaths finally came and went steadily as he cracked his eyes open against the scorching sun.
Where was he?