ᵒⁿᵉ 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 ⁿᵉʷᵗᵐᵃˢ ᵃᵘ (ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ)

fresh pain

Newt wakes, his arms as a pillow on the side of Thomas's bed. He pushes himself up. Thomas is still asleep. 

He stands up and kisses Thomas's forehead.

"Tommy." He whispers. "Tommy, wake up."

Thomas stirs. "Newt?"

"Yeah." Newt says. "Wake up."

Thomas sits up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. 

"How are you feeling?" Newt asks, concerned. 

"Great." Thomas says, getting up but when he stands, he immediately falls to his knees, clutching his chest. "Nope." He says. "Not great."

Newt kneels beside him. "Get back in bed."

"No." Thomas says. "I have to learn to suck it up if I want to keep using my power."

"Maybe I can manipulate your brain so you don't feel the pain." Newt suggests. "Maybe."

"No." Thomas says. "Don't. I can take it. Besides, you won't always be here."

"What do you mean?" Newt asks. "Why not?"

Thomas looks at him. "Why would you be?"

"Because," Newt says. "I care about you."

Thomas smiles slightly, but it kind of looks like a grimace. "I care about you too." He says.

Newt's eyes flicker briefly to Thomas's lips. "Tommy, I-"

Then, the door opens. It's Minho.

"Where were you two?" He asks. Then he sees them on the ground. "Wait, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Thomas says. He tries to stand again but falls against Newt, who stood too. Newt wraps his arms around him.

"His ability makes his chest hurt." Newt says. "Really badly."

"No." Thomas says. "It barely hurts. I can walk."

"Clearly not." Minho says. 

"No, I can." Thomas says through gritted teeth. 

Newt pulls him closer. "But don't." 

Thomas is touched by Newt's acts. He wraps his arms around his neck. Minho rolls his eyes.

"You two are exhausting." He says, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

They both look at him. Minho shakes his head. 

"Whatever." He says. "I'm gonna go. I'll make some excuses for you two but you might want to get out here ASAP."

Newt nods. "Okay."

Minho nods too. "Alright." And he leaves. 

"I really am fine." Thomas says.

"Oh yeah?" Newt asks, looking down at him. 

Thomas tries to straighten but falls to his knees, wincing. Newt sits down with him and puts a hand in his hair.

"Idiot." He says. 

"I'm not an idiot!" Thomas defends. "OW!" 

"You're cute," Newt says. "But you are."

Thomas scowls but his chest warms. 

"Can you walk at all?" Newt asks sympathetically. 

Thomas stands shakily, breathing heavily. He takes a step but his right foot slips out from under him and his shoulder hits the wall.