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Alby, as the leader of the Glade, has to hold up a "strong" look. So being caught in a relationship with his second-in-command would ruin that look—or at least to him.
That’s why he found himself slipping out of the homestead long after everyone else had gone to sleep.
The Glade was usually quiet at night—save for the grievers’ occasional screams—otherwise, it was silent. No shouting, work, arguments. Just rustling leaves and maybe insects.
Alby followed a familiar path to the Deadheads, hands in his pockets.
“You’re late.” Newt leaned against a tree, arms crossed.
“It was 5 minutes,” Alby muttered.
“Mhm, still late.”
Alby snorted and leaned on the trunk next to him.
For a while they just stood there.
The moonlight filtered through the leaves and branches above them.
A few minutes later, Newt nudged Alby’s shoulder with his own. “You’re making this look suspicious,” Newt commented.
“What?”
“Slipping out every night.”
“Speak for yourself.” Alby said with a roll of his eyes.
Newt shrugged, “Don’t think the green bean is going to follow me. He’s either talking with Chuck or… something.”
“Good,” Alby said.
Newt raised an eyebrow at him, “You worried about getting caught?”
Alby hummed before responding, “No. Not worried.”
“You are.”
“I’m not,” Alby muttered.
“You are,” Newt repeated.
Alby shot him a look.
Newt only grinned in response.
Silence returned, but was broken by Newt, “Funny, isn’t it?”
“What?” Alby questioned.
“Whole Glade would listen to every word you’d say, yet you’re terrified of being caught sneaking out at night.”
“I’m not terrified,” Alby huffed.
“Mhm, sure.”
“Keep talking and I’ll leave,” Alby threatened.
“You’ve threatened that before, and yet you’re still here,” Newt pointed out.
Alby hated that Newt was right, and the smug smile on Newt’s face made it worse. Without thinking he reached over and shoved his shoulder.
Newt laughed, “There he is.”
Alby gave a halfhearted glare towards him, “Shut up.”
Newt looked too please with himself.
“Don’t start.”
“I’m not starting anything.”
“You’re literally grinning,” Alby commented.
“And?”
Alby shook his head.
Newt lowered himself onto the grass, stretching his legs out in front of him.
A second after, Alby sat beside him.
The moon hung above the walls, bathing everything in pale light.
For a while they just traded stories, jumping from one to another.
Eventually Newt caught him staring. "What?" Newt asked.
"Nothing."
"That was something, not nothing."
Alby looked away, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"It’s nice to see you laugh," Alby mumbled.
The grin on Newt’s face softened. "Oh."
Neither of them said anything after that. They didn’t need to. The Glade remained quiet around them, and for the first time all day, neither had somewhere else to be.
The next night, Alby almost didn’t go.
He stood near the edge of the homestead longer than usual, watching the lantern light flicker through the windows where others were already settling in. Someone laughed too loudly at something.
Normal. Loud. Distracting.
Alby’s tightened his jaw and turned away from it.
The Deadheads were darker than usual tonight, the canopy seemed thicker, swallowing most of the moonlight. He moved slower this time, not because he was unsure, but because he kept thinking about Newt the other night.
A twig snapped under his boot.
"That was subtle."
"How are you always here first? I doubt the greenie would have been asleep early."
Newt shrugged, "He’s too busy talking to Chuck, or Minho."
Alby stepped into the clearing then paused.
"You okay?" Alby asked.
"Yeah?"
"You sure?"
"I’m sure." Newt insisted.
Alby didn’t move to go sit next to him, and that made Newt huff.
"I swear I’m fine." Newt said, as if that would fix it.
Alby finally walked over and sat next to him, "You’re quieter."
Newt shot him a look. "You complaining?"
"No."
"Good."
A pause stretched between them.
Newt picked at a loose piece of bark on the log.
Alby shifted closer and hesitated before leaning against him.
Newt froze, “What are you doing?"
"I’m just tired. We could have used this time to sleep instead of sitting over here," Alby pointed out.
Newt just nodded, and wrapped his arm around Alby’s waist. Pulling him closer.