Coming Out Swinging (Thomas x Reader)

Part 2

It had been much harder to become a runner than Thomas had anticipated. Everyone he spoke to about it thought that he was crazy. It was only after surviving the night in the maze that anyone took him seriously.

It was easier now he had Minho on side.

Thomas hadn't been allowed back in the maze since that night, but at least he was finally a runner.

He leaned over a table full of maps, doing his best to commit them all to memory. Minho had told him explicitly that he wouldn't be setting foot in the structure until he knew it like the back of his hand. It was a long and frustrating task but Thomas was finally becoming familiar with the different routes.

Minho entered the map room, panting slightly covered in sweat. Thomas made sure to kept quiet while he set about drawing his daily route, searching for something different. Eventually he stretched upwards, satisfied that there was no change.

"How's it going Greenie?"

Thomas grimaced, his nickname still standing after everything he'd done over the last few days. He was so full of questions but had to keep himself under control. Right now, he had to prove his worth.

"Try me."

"Not yet shank. Few more days at least."

Thomas prepares to complain about it but Minho cuts him off.

"Don't bother. It's the way things are done around here. It was hard enough getting them to make you a runner in the first place slinthead. You have to follow the rules around here."

"Fine."

There is a pause between them while Thomas shifts among the older maps and while Minho compares his own map to another.

"Why don't they come into the Glade?"

"Who?"

"The grievers." Thomas internally shuddered at the thought. The fact that he had come so close to them a few nights ago made him realise just how dangerous this place was, the doors were open all day - what was to stop them from coming in and killing everyone?

Minho shrugs noncommittally.

"They never have. They're usually out too deep in the maze during the day. Mostly come out at night y'know? It almost happened once, one got to the 2nd turn before the door. (Y/N) went to play griever bait and sent it off in another direction. Could'a been nasty."

"She did what?" Thomas' eyebrows shot up in concern, questions flooding his mind.

"She took off into the maze, after running all day. Went right past the sucker so it went after her. Must'a lost it in the maze then doubled back. Don't ask me how she managed it I have no idea."

"And she was okay?"

"Of course not. You know how fast they go. She was half-dead - made it back in time by the skin of her teeth. Spent a few days in the med-jacks after that. It messed her up for a while."

"Once she was back on her feet she got herself a week in the slammer for her troubles."

"She stopped a griever coming in and she was punished?"

Minho slaps the back of Thomas' head. "The rules Greenie. The shuck rules! Alby told her not to go in there but she did anyway. Breaking rules always gets you punishment. It's the way we keep order here. Almost wrung her neck myself."

Minho opens his mouth to continue but quickly closes it as the door swings open. (Y/N) stumbles in. Thomas can see she looks tired and her skin glistens with sweat. Her eyes flick over to the both before hunching over the table to draw her map.