Ineffable | Newt

15.

The glade was pitch black. The only light came from the moon, illuminating the smoke that rose up from the extinguished fire—the only sign there was life here. Everything else was completely still, with all the patrons fast asleep. Except Newt.

He laid on his back, just like every other night he's been alive. Only a tank top covered his torso, besides the girl who used his upper body as a pillow. They had slept like this a million times, yet somehow this was different.

Newt couldn't tell what it was. The only thing different was that he was awake now. Maybe that was the issue; when he was sleeping, he didn't have to focus on keeping Katie in bed.He didn't get to feel her tighten her grip on him every time a Griever shrieked. He couldn't hear her mumble in her sleep when he was unconscious—a jumble of words strung together clumsily. They tumbled from her lips into incoherent nonsense, and Newt couldn't help but think that she was a big talker before she came to the Glade.

When he was asleep, he couldn't see her small body rising and falling with every breath. He couldn't see her nose scrunch up and then rub against his chest when it was itchy. He couldn't see her when she was relaxed and safe.

His arms wrapped around the small girl, holding her closer to him, just as she had asked him to. It was a shame her beautiful voice was reserved only for communicating her needs, but he was glad he was one of the people special enough to hear it. Katie had the most beautiful voice Newt had ever heard, inside or outside the Glade.

He was especially proud that she had made some progress in socializing, despite the fact that it had been ruined by Jorge.Newt's arms stiffened instinctually, and his jaw clenched at the memory of Katie's bruised and scratched arms. Her dead, stiff body curled up by the icebox, and the spitting repetition of the words, "Leave me alone."

He never wanted to leave her alone after that, but he knew Alby wouldn't approve of it. Instead, he had gone around to every guy who had ever said something mildly inappropriate about Katie and given them a warning. a terrifying warning. One, if they ever harmed her, he would see right through them.

"Newt?" The soft voice of an angel spoke to him.

He looked down at Katie, who had her eyes half open from sleep and her hair in a tangle.Her lips were chapped, and a small line of drool went from her lips to mid-chin, catching and trapping a few strands of hair to her skin. She looked utterly terrible. And in that moment, Newt realized why this night was different from all the other nights he slept with Katie. He realized he loved her. It was a strange sensation, but it felt so right.

"Yes, Love?" Newt's voice paled in comparison to Katie's smooth vocals. Veiled by a thick accent, of which no one knew the origin, and raspy from sleep,

She shivered, tightening her hold on the blond.

Newt simply nodded with a smile. He removed his arms from around her waist and placed them under her armpits, pulling her body up until the top of her head was at his chin. Then, placing his left arm on her lower back, he turned sideways onto his right side, sliding a giggling Katie into the spot beside him. He held the girl close, his other arm slipping under the pillow while his left pulled the thin blanket closer and tighter around her.

"Better?" He asked, returning his left hand to his own side.

Katie pouted, her hair finally freed from her face, and she grabbed Newt's hand to place it back around her. She pulled herself up flush against the tall boy and sighed in content, tangling her legs with his own. Newt could feel her soft breaths against his neck, and combined with her pulling her body right up against his, he knew he was in trouble. His eyes widened softly, but he couldn't just peel the girl off of him in order to stop the rush of blood.

"Katie." Newt spoke.

She hummed, and Newt felt the small vibration.

He silently cursed himself for having such corrupt thoughts about such an innocent girl.

"What do you think of me?" It was the first thought that popped into his head. He just wanted to distract himself.

Katie didn't remove herself from Newt's body like he had hoped; instead, she stayed perfectly still and quiet. He could feel her chest pushing against his as she breathed.

"I told you." She spoke softly.

"I—I know," Newt stuttered involuntarily. "I forgot."

Silence.

"You make me feel safe, just like Minho and Fry." Katie stated.

Newt hummed and tried to gently untangle his legs from her, but she kept them together.

"What makes me different from Minho and Fry, then?"

"Minho's goofy; so is Fry."

"So the only difference is that I'm not goofy like them?" Newt raised an eyebrow, looking down at the girl resting on him. He could only see the top of her head, but he felt her hum.

"They don't hold me." She stated.

"Is that all you think of me?" Newt couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Of course it was nice that he made her feel safe, but was the only real difference that he held her when she asked?

"I like being with you." Katie didn't seem fazed by Newt's question, but he could tell she was running out of energy to speak. "When you leave, I feel bad, and I want to be with you again." "I don't feel that with the others."

Newt's ear perked up; he had never heard Katie say this. He was curious what else she thought of her; perhaps she felt the same strange attraction to him that he did.

"Oh?" I hope Katie will take this as a prompt to continue. However, when she just stayed silent, he spoke again. "I like being with you too; I hated how I wasn't there when Jorge was."

Katie visibly tensed, clutching onto Newt with her hands. She was very sensitive about the topic; everyone knew that, but in order to tell her how he feels, he needed to bring it up.

Katie let out a small whimper, signalling that she was finished talking. Newt didn't stop, though.

"I like you, Katie; you're wonderful."

Katie didn't answer though; her clutch was still tight around Newt. But Newt sighed internally as he knew he had gone too far. After all, talking was bad.