ᵒⁿᵉ 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 ⁿᵉʷᵗᵐᵃˢ ᵃᵘ (ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ)

a new kind of pain

When Thomas woke, his whole body ached. He tried to push words out of his lips but only a groan came out. Newt woke with a start. He had fallen asleep, his hand in Thomas's hair. 

"Tommy!" He says. "Are you okay?"

Thomas pushes himself upright. "Fine." He says through gritted teeth, every movement hurting. 

Newt looks at him, eyebrows furrowed at the clear lie. "You don't look fine." He says.

Thomas meets his gaze. "Don't worry about me." He says, breathing heavily. 

Newt rolls his eyes. "Get up, shuck-face." He says. "If you're so fine."

Thomas bites his lip. "Do I have to?"

"No!" Newt says. "That's my bloody point!"

Newt sighs. He moves to sit next to him. 

"Maybe I should go talk to him." Newt says.

"Please don't." Thomas says. 

"It'll just be a talk. Nothing more." Newt says defensively. 

"If that's really all you do, then be my guest." Thomas says. "But I highly doubt that." 

Newt nods. "Mhm. Alright, be right back."

Newt climbs out of bed. He walks out of the room and down the hall. He knocks on Janson's door. 

"Come in!" Janson calls.

Newt throws open the door. 

"Ah," He says. "Of course."

"Listen," Newt says. "Thomas told me...Thomas told me not to yell at you or hurt you. So I'm just going to talk."

Janson gestures at a chair across from his desk. Newt sits, gripping the armrests tightly.  

"What is it?" Janson asks. 

"I need you," He takes a deep breath. "I need you to tell me what you did to him. What you put inside of him." 

Janson sighs, nodding. He folds his hands. "I see."

"Can you do that?" Newt asks, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Please?" Janson opens his mouth. "Just..." Newt says, putting a hand up. "Remember that I can make you tell me. I'd like to do this the easy way, though."

Janson looks at him. "Newt, if you try anything, I'll bring Paige in here. And you don't want that."

Newt grabs the armrests tighter. "I need to know." He says, his voice shaking slightly. 

"I'll tell you." Janson says. "But you have to know there's nothing you can do."

Newt swallows hard. "Tell me."

"We injected something in him that will suck him of his power." Janson says. "It...it could kill him and it will make him very weak for who knows how long. But someday, he will go back to normal. Just powerless."

Newt stands, placing his hands flat on Janson's desk, eyes full of rage. "Wh-why? What...why?"

"We can't let him just be free, Newt." Janson says. "Not with those powers."

"IT'S NOT UP TO YOU!" He shouts. "IT'S NOT UP TO YOU! YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHO GETS WHICH POWERS! YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE!"

Janson looks at him cooly. "I hate to have to say this, but it is."

Newt clenches his fists. "There is a way to fix him, Janson." Newt says. "I know there is. And I'm going to figure it out."

"No." He says. "There isn't. Now, please leave my office."

Newt looks at him, turns on his heel and leaves, running back to Thomas.

He closes the door slowly. "Tommy?" He whispers. "Tommy, how are you feeling?"

Thomas looks at him. "What did you do?" He asks raspily.

"Nothing, love." He says, kissing him softly. "Don't worry."

"I always have to worry with you." He says.

Newt smiles slightly. "It's okay. But listen, I have to go. You just stay here, okay?"

"Where are you going?" Thomas asks. "Why can't I come?"

"You aren't in any shape to come with me." He says. "I'll be back soon. I'll only be gone until nightfall."

"But you'll have to go tomorrow too, won't you?" Thomas asks and Newt realizes his eyes aren't as bright.

"Yes. Maybe. I don't know." He says. "Just stay here and rest. Minho and I can handle it."

Thomas nods, closing his eyes. "But only because I'm tired."

Newt sighs and walks out the door. He walks out to the courtyard.

"Minho!" He says, walking over to the boy. "I need your help!"

Minho stands up. "With what?" He asks.

Newt explains, slightly fearful. Minho nods. 

"Okay." He says. "So, you have no idea what could possibly save him, correct?"

"Yeah..." Newt says. "Not my brightest plan."

Minho sighs. "I shouldn't expect any less."

"But I think Janson's going to try to stop me." Newt says. "If there is really is a solution, then he will."

Minho nods. "Yeah." 

"We need to take care of him." Newt says.

"Newt, we aren't killing him." Minho says, exasperated.

"That's not what I meant!" He cries. "I meant we have to deal with him! Killing him isn't a good idea. Not yet, anyway."

Minho nods. "Yeah, that's my point."

Newt nods too. "Okay, okay..."

Minho puts a hand on his shoulder. "We can save him, Newt. He'll be fine."

"I know." Newt says quietly. 

"But you don't." Minho says. "You don't look like it, anyway."

Newt sighs. "We have to save him, Min."

"I know." Minho says. "We will."

Newt smiles at his friend. "You know, you're probably the best person ever."

"Oh, I know." Minho says, hugging him. "But come on, we have work to do."

A/N: Omg I updated!! So sorry for the long gap. My brain just doesn't want to write. It's not being nice to me right now. But yeah! :)