Maze girl

✧༺ 13. Newt ༻∞

The fire had burned low, embers crackling softly in the quiet night, casting flickering shadows across the Glade. I could feel Rune shift beside me, her body leaning a little closer as the cool night air settled in. I gave her a gentle squeeze, a silent message that it might be time to head in. The others were still talking and laughing in small groups, their voices quieter now, tired after the long day, but I couldn’t keep my focus on any of it. All I could think about was her—Rune—sitting here next to me.

I turned my head just enough to glance down at her. The light from the dying fire softened her face, made her look almost ethereal, the usual lines of worry gone. Her hair glowed in the dim light, and I couldn’t help but feel a pull in my chest every time I looked at her. It wasn’t the first time it hit me like this—how much she meant to me—but it still caught me off guard, made me feel like I was seeing her for the first time all over again.

Rune must’ve felt me looking because she smiled, her lips curving gently, that quiet kind of smile she gave when she was at peace. That smile was rare in a place like this. We didn’t get many moments like this—moments where everything seemed still and calm, where the Maze didn’t feel like it was pressing down on us from every side. But here, in the quiet of the Glade with the bonfire fading and her sitting beside me, it was easy to pretend for a little while.

“Ready to call it a night?” Rune’s voice was soft, barely above a whisper, like she didn’t want to disturb the peace around us.

I nodded, though a part of me wanted to stay here a little longer, to savor this feeling of normalcy. But I knew we both needed rest. Tomorrow was another day, and with the Maze always waiting, we’d need every ounce of energy we could get. Still, the idea of heading back, of being alone with Rune in the quiet of our shared room, wasn’t something I minded.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice matching hers in its quietness. “Let’s head in.”

We stood up together, the cool air immediately wrapping around us as we left the warmth of the fire behind. Without even thinking about it, I slipped my hand to the small of her back, guiding her as we started walking toward the Homestead. The Glade was so different at night—calmer, quieter—but also somehow more vulnerable. The dark had a way of creeping in, making everything feel more fragile. But having Rune beside me, feeling the soft weight of her against my side, it made it all feel less daunting.

I noticed her shiver slightly, her arms crossing over her chest to ward off the chill. Without thinking, I shrugged off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders. It was instinctual at this point, looking out for her, making sure she was okay. That’s just how it was with us.

Rune glanced up at me, her eyes catching the faint light as she smiled again. “Thanks,” she said softly, pulling the jacket tighter around herself. It was too big on her, but I liked seeing her in it. She looked... I don’t know. Like she belonged, like we belonged.

We didn’t say much on the walk back to the Homestead. We didn’t need to. There was something about the quiet between us that was comforting, not awkward. It was like we both knew what the other was thinking without having to say it. That’s how it had always been with Rune. Even before we were... whatever this was. Together. She had this way of understanding me, of knowing what I needed without me having to explain it. And in a place like the Glade, where words sometimes felt too heavy, that kind of connection was everything.

When we reached the Homestead, I opened the door for her, watching as she stepped inside. The air in here was warmer, but still held that faint, earthy smell that clung to everything. Rune headed down the hallway toward our room, and I lingered for just a moment, watching her go. I didn’t know what it was about her tonight—maybe it was the way the firelight had softened everything, or the way she’d leaned into me so naturally—but something in me felt... different. Lighter. Less weighed down by everything that usually clouded my thoughts.

I followed her down the hallway, the soft thud of our footsteps the only sound. When I entered the room, Rune was already starting to change, slipping my jacket off her shoulders and folding it neatly before placing it on the chair in the corner. She didn’t rush, her movements slow and methodical as she unbuttoned her shirt. She wasn’t in any hurry. Neither of us were.

I watched her for a moment, my eyes tracing the line of her back as she moved. There was something so natural, so easy, about the way she went through these motions, like we’d been doing this forever. And I guess, in a way, we had. We’d been through so much together that nothing about this felt strange anymore. But tonight, watching her, I felt something stir in me. It wasn’t just the way she looked—though that was part of it. Rune was beautiful, even if she didn’t think of herself that way. It was more than that. It was the way she made me feel grounded, like as long as she was here, nothing else could touch me. Like the Maze, the danger, the uncertainty—it all felt further away when she was beside me.

I tugged my shirt over my head, tossing it onto the chair, then undid my belt and let my pants fall to the floor. I didn’t think too much about it anymore—changing in front of each other had become routine by now—but tonight I was more aware of her, of the way she moved, the way she caught my eye with that soft smile before pulling her hair free of its tie. There was something about it, about the intimacy of it all, that made my heart race a little faster.

Once we were both changed—me in my usual worn shirt and pants, and Rune in one of those oversized shirts she liked to sleep in—we crawled into bed, pulling the blankets up over us. The bed wasn’t big, but we didn’t need much space. I lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the exhaustion of the day settle into my bones. But as soon as Rune shifted beside me, her body curling toward mine, I felt all the tension ease away.

She rolled over, draping her arm across my chest, and I turned my head to look at her. Her face was close, her hair spilling over the pillow in soft waves. She smiled, that gentle, knowing smile she always gave when it was just the two of us. God, she was beautiful. Not in the way that made people stop and stare, but in the quiet way that made my chest ache. It was the kind of beauty that wasn’t just about how she looked—it was in the way she made me feel, like I could breathe easier when she was around.

I lifted my hand, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You alright?” I asked, my voice low.

Rune nodded, her eyes half-closed, content. “Yeah,” she whispered. “Just... glad to be here. With you.”

Her words hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting, and I felt my throat tighten. It wasn’t just what she said—it was the way she said it, with that vulnerability, that honesty, that always seemed to catch me off guard. It reminded me that no matter what, we had each other. Even in this place, even with everything else we faced, we had this.

“I’m glad you’re here too,” I murmured, my hand cupping her cheek. I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, feeling her relax even more against me. She sighed, her breath warm against my skin, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The Maze, the Glade, the uncertainty of tomorrow—it all disappeared, leaving just us.

I love her.

The thought hit me like it always did—sudden, sharp, undeniable. I’d known it for a while now, this feeling that kept growing inside me, but I never let myself dwell on it for too long. Loving someone here, in a place like this, felt dangerous. Like putting your heart on the line when everything could be taken from you in an instant. But I couldn’t help it. Every time I looked at her, every time she smiled at me like that, it felt like I was falling all over again.

I didn’t know if I’d ever tell her. Saying it out loud made it real, and real things had a way of getting broken in the Glade. But in moments like this, when the world outside our room felt so far away, I let myself feel it. Just for a little while.

Rune shifted again, her head resting against my shoulder, her breath steady and soft. I let my hand rest on her back, my fingers tracing lazy circles there. I could feel the rise and fall of her chest, the rhythm of her breathing, and it was the most comforting thing in the world. It reminded me that for tonight, at least, we were okay. We were together.

I stared up at the ceiling, listening to the quiet of the night, feeling the warmth of her against me. And for the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. Not the kind of peace that came from knowing everything was going to be alright—because I didn’t know that. None of us did. But the kind of peace that came from knowing that right now.