Chapter Text
93 days. 93 days they've been at the safe haven. 93 days of constant nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and constantly being on edge just waiting for something to happen yet nothing comes.
Thomas has been feeling weird since Theresa died but he doesn't know how to explain it nor does he really want to find out. He grieves her but something isn't right. He feels vastly guilty for not grabbing her, for just letting her go not saving her. He knows they couldn't have done much more to save her but he still aches in his chest thinking about it.
He's been spending lots of time with Newt recently, they don't have to necessarily talk they can just be. Newt has also been hit with immense pain causing Thomas to become worried about him knowing his past, he makes sure to hold onto him extra tight. He looks lost and out of thought, almost just a shell of a body which makes Thomas's heart break like nothing else. They've been rooming together as it's best for both of them being so close.
Minho has been keeping busy like always. It feels like he's running away from something but Thomas doesn't know what it is. Still he keeps his bright self alive even amongst everything that happened.
It's been strange coming into the safe haven after everything, after all the loss and heartbreak but he's slowly learning to move past it to live for everyone who couldn't.
But before he could think of anything else he hears a voice from the bed next to his. "Night Tommy."
They have their daily evening good night talk.
Thomas replies "Good night Newt."
If he's being honest there's so much more he wants to say. He wants to tell Newt he loves rooming with him, just hearing his voice makes him feel better and so much more but he knows that it's stupid that he shouldn't say all that about just a friend.
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Thomas wakes up earlier than normal the following morning. He stretches and wakes up slowly. Eventually he decides to go out to the beach that's just a minute walk away. He looks at Newt before he leaves. He's sleeping. He looks peaceful, finally. He hasn't seen Newt fully like that since they were in the glade.
He walks down and sits on the beach watching the sun rise and fall onto his face. He loves the sun, the way it shines on your face and washes over you.
He's enjoying the light warm up his face closing his eyes letting it seep deep into him when he hears footsteps against the soggy sand. He opened his eyes slowly and blinking a couple times to get his eyesight back to normal when he sees Newt. He's got a baggy brown henley shirt on that's obviously been worn many a time. His golden hair shimmers in the sunlight, the tips dropping into his eyes. The stark line that he has between his eyebrows looks less distressed than normal which makes Thomas happy.
Newt may not be back to normal but he looks better today.
He looks gorgeous.
Newt sits down slowly making sure not to put his leg in a weird position and hurt it more. It's always more stiff in the mornings. He just sits there for a second absorbing the light and curling his hands in the sand. Thomas loves this just sitting next to Newt in the sun and not worrying about anything.
Soon Newt begins talking "Hey Tommy, you woke up early?"
"Yeah been struggling to stay asleep for long." Newt knows there's more to that than just not being able to stay asleep but he doesn't push.
Newt gives it a moment before speaking "Yeah I get it mate."
For a moment everythings quiet but not in the awkward way when you don't know what else to say just in a way where you don't need to say anything else, you can just let the silence hang in the air and think.
But Thomas slowly gets rip of the silence "You know what you remind me of?"
Newt looks at him contently wanting to hear what he has to say. He blinks once insinuating for Thomas to carry on talking.
"You remind me of the sun. You bring joy to everyone like light from the sun. Your golden hair" he begins to reach his hands into Newt's shimmering locks.
"Even when something bad happens and the darkness spills over the sun still comes up everyday, yes there may be clouds covering it but it's still there, even if you can't see it." Thomas begins to feel like he's said too much but he keeps himself grounded.
Newt looks back at him for a few seconds just adsorbing this information. Slowly the right side of his mouth curls up. Thomas feels a flood of relief.
"Thank you Tommy, that was really thoughtful." Newt looks at him with his big brown rounded eyes. Thomas stares back. For a couple seconds they just stay like that looking at eachother exploring one another's face.
Finally Thomas looks away first though he can tell Newt's still looking at him.
For a while longer they sit there watching the sun rise higher and higher. They talk here and there but they enjoy the silent company.
Eventually the sun reaches that point where they normally wake up.
"Ok should we go now? The sun is up now so everyone's probably waking up now." Thomas says though he wants to stay outside here with Newt forever.
"Yeah let's go" Newt replies.
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Around half an hour later almost everyone is up and in the eating area. It has fairy lights strung across the wooden pillars. They all sit on logs and on the ground, talking and joking around. There's a fire and kitchen supplies for Frypan and the rest of the cooks. Frypan, Gally, Newt and Thomas generally sit all together, they have a set up of three logs facing eachother in the circle that they all sit at.
Newt and Thomas walk over to the eating area together. They walk close brushing elbows every now and then. They see their group all sitting on the logs and walk over, Frypan passes them their food and gives them each a warm smile. Thomas and Newt sit down next to eachother elbows still touching every now and then. They munch on their toast and eggs for a while and talk about quite literally anything. This group could talk about the weather and still end up laughing and joking around. This is what you get when most of them don't remember life without eachother.
Thomas loves this. Just getting to sit all together enjoying life finally. It feels like their healing slowly, the pain and worry is still there but it's not as head on now.
When Thomas first came to the safe haven he was worried everyone would split up and grow apart but it's the opposite. They all came together in their time of need which Thomas is thankful for. Even if they don't talk about every depressed feeling and thought they stay together.
As the group one by one finishes their food they all venture out to do their jobs. Frypan is a cook so he gets started on collecting stuff for everyone's lunch, Newt begins his gardening, today collecting wild garlic, Gally works to make sure everyone is in the right place working and not lost and lastly Minho and Thomas are seekers. Seekers roam the vast areas around looking for other life and supplies they could need.
Thomas begins packing his gear, a knife, a gun, leather straps for packing supplies. Minho is next to him doing the same.
"Hey Thomas?"
"Yeah, what's going on?" Thomas asks a little bit worried.
"Just make sure to be careful this time, we might have found people." Minho is almost never this weary which worries Thomas but no matter how scared he is he needs to help.
Thomas responds by nodding quickly.
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"Water?" Minho asks.
"Yeah sure"
Minho passes Thomas the water with a slightly worried look on his face. Just as Thomas stops drinking he notices Minho's distorted face.
"Hey Minho what's up you seem different?"
"Yeah I'm fine I'm just- Worried about Newt. I've known him for basically how long I can remember and... I'm-I'm worried we're gonna lose him." Minho's voice hitches a little and a repressed sob escapes his mouth before he can even register it. "I just. I know his past, I was there when it happened I can't go through another loss. Especially if it's one of my best friends." Minho's face tells it all. He's scared.
Thomas knows there's nothing else he can say because he's been anxious about this constantly for months. So instead of trying to come up with a shit comforting talk he just pulls Minho into a hug wrapping his arms around him. He hearing the soft sobs that Minho tries to hide escape his mouth. Thomas tries to act comforting but he can't help but let a few tears and sobs escape him too.
They stay like that for a couple seconds just feeling eachother's comfort through a difficult time. They've been through so much together that they just get eachother. They understand eachother's emotions and feelings and try to help one another as much as possible.
They break apart after their long embrace and wipe away their tears.
"Listen I'm scared to but there's not much we can do but let's just make sure he feels loved by us ok?" Thomas says trying to make the fucked up situation better.
Minho nods and then starts running to catch up with the group which then Thomas shortly follows after.
They just walk all together for a while, have a snack and water break half way through until they've reached land they haven't been to before.
"Ok guys grab your guns and keep them in your hands at all times, be on alert because anyone could be out here and they could have bad intentions and stay close." Jorge shouts getting the attention of all the seekers.
Thomas reaches for his gun and they begin to move. Everything that their doing sounds dramatic but it's a dangerous place here.
About half an hour later Minho says "Wait Thomas listen. What's that?"
Thomas stops in his tracks and tells the others to as well. There's what sounds like an engine. Thomas feels like he's been hit by a truck of dread that washes over him. What if it's a helicopter someone looking for them. What if there was more people trying to get something from them. His legs start to feel weary being to shake as well as his arms. His eyesight soon starts to go black in spots, they pile up one by one until he can see anymore. His whole body tingles. A rush of heat travels up him, he feels ill. He begins to fall to the ground passing out.
When he wakes he sees Elvis above him a fellow seeker who he has grown to become friends with. He looks worried yelling Thomas and cursing under his breath. Slowly his vision clears up and he opens his eyes blinking a couple times to adjust to the sudden light. He stills feels weird. His arms and legs are still tingling like needles but it's not quite as bad anymore.
"Hi" he says having no idea what the hell else to say.
Elvis sighs in relief.
To Thomas's left is Minho who seemed to have the same reaction but he seems alright now.
"Don't worry guys it was just a truck with people in it, it wasn't anything else." Elvis says to calm their nerves down.
"Holy shit, you found people?!" Thomas says clearly excited.
"Yeah I mean I stayed with you guys while everyone else checked them out and so I think their chill as I don't hear any gun shots."
Quickly Thomas stands up as he's too eager to see who these people are not caring about his light headedness. Soon after Elvis and Minho follow. They quickly pick up pace beaming about what this could mean.
They start catching up to everyone. They see a rusted truck with teal paint peeling off and inside are four guys. Their strong, really strong. They seem about twenty with about shoulder length hair that flows in the wind. They have masks on in case of sand Thomas is guessing.
Thomas, Minho and Elvis all approach the group now. They seem to be talking about the truck guys coming to live in the safe haven. The guys seem pretty nice and not crazy which does help.
Around half an hour later they've made a deal. The four guys, Theo, Simon, James and Mitchell will come live at the safe haven. Their not sure what jobs they will have yet but he's sure they will find some soon enough.
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The group all reach the safe haven and introduce the other four guys to where everything is. Thomas ventured off to his room though. He couldn't deal with more stuff today.
It's darker now, the sky is blue and the sun is peaking through the horizon slightly.
Once he reaches the room he turns the fairy lights on illuminating the room in a warm yellow wash of light. Newt sits on his bed just chilling. He was probably having a nap before Thomas came. Newt noticed the sudden change in lighting and looked up to see Thomas. Newts eyes are wide and look exhausted but also beautiful.
"Hey Thomas, you found anything?" Newt asks eagerly
Thomas walks to sit on his bed to look at Newt better.
"Yeah actually we found four guys in a truck believe it or not. We've been looking for other life for ages and we finally found them. The other guys took them for a tour and now I think their in med to make sure they aren't sick or something."
"Bloody hell Thomas that's crazy I was worried there wasn't anyone out there!" Newt seems excited but it's never quite the same as it used to be. It feels like he's always dreading something and no matter how happy he is in the moment the immense sadness will always peak through.
After they talk about the trip for half an hour they just end up reading for a little bit before dinner starts.
"Hey Newt I think we need to go to get dinner now."
"Shit yeah it's getting kind of late."
They start walking towards the eating area. It's always Thomas's favourite place at night. The atmosphere is laced with whimsy.
They come and sit down by their normal place. Frypan again got them their food before they came.
"Hey guys come sit down" Frypan grabs their food passing it over to them. "You guys were pretty late today."
"Yeah me and Tommy were reading like grandmas." Newt says keeping the vibes high no matter how he's really feeling.
"Reading's so overrated." Gally says not getting the hype of reading.
Newt and Thomas open they're mouths looking offended. This causes a whole fifteen minute argument about wether reading is good or bad.
"It's amazing because you can just escape into the amazing imaginary world-" Newt expresses before Gally cuts him off
"Why would I wanna live in an imaginary world when real life is right here?"
Minho is sick of this conversation so he butts in shouting. "Everybody just shut up and let's talk about something actually worth talking about!"
After a few seconds of awkward silence Thomas decides to talk. "I forgot to tell you guys but we found four people while seeking today!"
"Are you kidding me, you let me and newt talk about reading while we could have been talking about this?!" Gally yells clearly still annoyed from the reading situation.
"Yeah actually we did find some guys. They were in this weird rusty teal truck and we brought them over here actually. I think their still in medical but I'm sure their coming soon." Minho says not expecting the four guys to come right after.
They all walk together expect Theo's infront. Theo looks confident and fearless. He has long black shiny hair that reaches his shoulders. His features are sharp. He walks around looking like he owns the place when in reality he's only been here for a couple hours. He's followed by Simon, James and Mitchell who look similar but a mix of blonde and brown hair instead with less fierce features. As the group walks Thomas notices they're walking towards them. Theo does a hard arsed wave and begins talking no matter how much Thomas doesn't want to hear him.
"Hey guys, how are you lot?" He doesn't let them answer before he starts talking again. "is it the cook frypan?" He starts pointing at everyone checking to see if he knows them from what others have said. "Your food was good thanks. Then Minho right? I saw you when everyone got us, as well as you Thomas. Then you." He points at Newt with a smug look on his face. "Aren't you the queer?"