A Battle With Hope (Newtmas)

Chapter 13

'Oh no. Nuh-uh!' Thomas and Newt flew apart instantly at hearing the voice. Newt spun around to find Minho standing metres away, half hidden behind a tree, both hands over his eyes. 'Uh. You guys done yet?' Newt scowled at him in response. 'Yes you shank, open your bloody eyes.' Minho didn't move. 'Uh. No thank you. I don't think I want to see any more of that.' Newt closed the few metres distance between them, ripping Minho's hands away from his face. Minho looked up at his friend, eyes wide in shock. 'Is there something you'd like to say?' Newt asked expectantly, looking down at his friend. Minho looked over Newt's shoulder to see Thomas smile sheepishly at him. 'You guys?' he asked. Newt shrugged his shoulders, a small smile playing on his lips. 'I guess.' Minho looked lost for a minute, looking back and forth between the two teens before him, before finally letting out a large laugh. 'You guys?!' he laughed breathlessly, unable to stop. His laughter soon became infectious and Newt found himself laughing along while Thomas looked on bewildered.

Newt, still laughing, punched Minho lightly on the arm while Minho doubled over laughing. 'Who would have known? You, into other shanks.' He said, catching his breath. 'Hey.' Newt warned, his humorous expression turning stony. Minho held up his hands in innocence and began to back away. 'Look, I hope you two don't mind, but I'm going to need to go and bang my head again a couple of rocks to get that image out of my head.' Newt took a menacing step towards him as Thomas scowled. Minho picked up his pace, spinning around and walking quickly away from the deadheads. Just when they thought he had gone, Thomas and Newt heard his voice calling back over his shoulder, 'Just make sure you use protection or something! Stay safe!' followed by another bout of Minho's infectious giggling. Newt growled, but by now Minho was long gone.

Newt turned his attention back to Thomas who was looking sceptically after Minho. 'Hey,' Newt said softly, grasping Thomas' chin and turning his head to face him. 'Don't worry about him. He's a bloody shank, but he's a good friend. He's not going to tell anyone. At least, I don't think he will.' He rubbed Thomas' jaw with his thumb and ducked down to press a light kiss again Thomas' lips, but Thomas still looked unsure. Newt sighed and grabbed Thomas' hand. 'Come on then Tommy, you've gotta get to bed. Another big day of running tomorrow.' This made Thomas smile, as though he'd forgotten the possibility of finding an escape route. Newt smiled in return, lacing his fingers through Thomas' and pulling him along.

The two boys walked, their hands swinging between them and the only sound was their footsteps crunching through dead leaves. Newt snuck a glance at Thomas striding along beside him. His heart thumped loudly as he noticed the silly grin Thomas was wearing as he looked ahead. Newt turned away and continued to walk, trying to hide a small grin himself.

As they walked hand in hand they were covered by the dark sky, but as they approached the homestead Newt reluctantly let go of Thomas' hand, giving it a final squeeze. Thomas squeezed back before letting go. The two reached the homestead where they stopped outside. They stood apart, not wanting to draw any attention from the fellow Glader's still milling around. 'Minho and I sleep out in the gardens, if you're ever interested?' Newt offered. Thomas flashed him a smile. 'Thanks, maybe I will one night, but tonight I told Chuck I'd catch up with him.' He nodded his head towards the homestead. Newt nodded. 'Okay, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow when you get back? Stay safe okay Tommy.' Newt finished his goodbye with a manly cough, feeling uncomfortable with this level of intimacy. Thomas promised he'd be careful and turned to enter the structure.

Newt made his way to the gardens, another day done and dusted in the Glade. He sighed, finally feeling like maybe there was something worth getting out of this bloody maze for. Thomas. Newt reached Minho's still figure and he aimed a kick at his side. 'I know you're not asleep you shank.' He said loudly. Minho groaned, clutching his side and opened one eye. 'What gave me away?' Newt shook his head good naturedly and lay back next to Minho. Newt took a breath, about to speak before Minho all but shouted at him. 'Oh no, nuh-uh! We're not doing this?' Newt cocked his head sideways to look at his friend. 'Doing what?' Minho sat up and crossed his arms like a petulant child. 'We are not having a heart to heart. I don't care about you and Thomas but I don't want to hear it.'
'Bu-' Newt started but Minho cut him off by throwing his hands up and stuffing his fingers in his ears, yelling nonsense loudly. Newt sighed heavily and flipped Minho the finger. Minho took his fingers out of his ears cautiously and slowly lowered his arms. 'Okay.' Newt gave in, 'No talking about it.' Minho gave a satisfied smile and Newt shook his head lightly, both boys lowering themselves back down into the grass.

Newt was thankful Minho didn't have an issue with him and Thomas, it was strange enough for Newt that he liked another boy, let alone having people know about it. He felt immense relief pulse through him as he lay there beside his best friend and he closed his eyes to the beautiful, star-filled sky and awaited sleep to come.

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Both boys were awakened sooner than they could have expected. Like days before, neither boy could tell what had awoken them and they looked at each other confused. Newt sat still and glanced around the dark gardens before making out a noise in the clear night air. He jumped up immediately, Minho a second later, both suddenly realising what that noise was. They set off at a run, panic coursing through Newt as he ran towards the yelling and screaming of his fellow Gladers.

As the boys drew closer to the screaming, they saw a sight that nearly caused Newt to double over and be sick. For a moment both boys stopped, taking in the sight. The homestead that both boys had come to know as the heart of the Glade was alight. Newt watched on as flames licked at the sides of the building and various Glader's scrambled in every direction. Newt looked away shocked as he saw a boy on the second floor preparing to jump from a window, a room alight behind him. Newt glanced sideways at Minho, taking in the look of horror that he was sure was mirrored on his own face. Both boys started towards the homestead, before Newt stopped in his tracks. He felt his heart stop and looked at Minho with a horrified expression. His mouth went dry but he did his best to croak out two words. 'Thomas. Alby.'