Maze Runner: The Subject Experiment

35 ✿ Botanical

A week went by with Thomas continuing to irritate Jemma to the best of his ability. He realised he had missed annoying her. It felt like he had been missing it for ages when they weren't talking.

They'd been together for ages now, she'd assumed they'd have done that by now.

Everything about Newt and Moira suggested they were getting serious. They had been on a couple of 'dates', meaning hanging alone together which was as good as a date got when stuck in a W.I.C.K.E.D. compound. They were always cuddling with arms wrapped around each other in front of their friends.

Of course Jemma and Minho were constantly teasing the pair for their open affection. Minho was always disgusted at the 'lovey dovey rubbish' the two exuded.

Minho was unstoppable. Any chance he had he was making fun of the couple. Jemma on the other hand had to retain the urge to join in in case Newt told Thomas about her feeling for him, as Newt's threatening stares reminded her. This always managed to shut her up. It wasn't that Jemma didn't want anything to happen between Thomas and herself. It was more to do with the fact that she wanted to tell him herself. Maybe Moira was right, maybe she could do it.

Meanwhile work-wise, testing was really picking up pace. It was evident that W.I.C.K.E.D. was planning something big. What made Jemma worry was the constant discussion of the test subjects. It made her think this all had something to do with them. Testing on Newt, Moira, Minho and the others increased dramatically.

It was almost a matter of time before tragedy struck. And then it did. One of the subjects was tested on in an experiment that did not end well. It ended up killing him.

News of the horrible incident spread throughout the complex.

Dr. Paige told Jemma that it was a terrible mistake. A device for neuron alteration in the brain had backfired, causing the patient's brain to shut down completely.

Dr. Paige and A.D. Janson took great care to explain that this sacrifice was necessary for the advancement of science and the discovery of the cure. They convinced the employees that, in the end, one boy's life was a stepping stone to saving millions of others. Once the cure was found these tragedies would be a thing of the past, Dr. Paige assured. Until then, many more sacrifices would have to be made for the world...for the greater good.

Jemma didn't want to believe any of it, but she had to. It was the only way to stay sane, knowing that with every bit of work she completed, W.I.C.K.E.D. was closer to the cure.

...

The subjects were terrified. What if that happened to them? Some tried to avoid testing but were always caught.

Finally, after a day of rigorous testing, the two walked towards A4 - A12 together. After a long time of having to be examined together with the others, this was the first time they'd been alone in a long time.

Moira was pretty much entirely focused on fulfilling her side of Jemma's new deal.

"Newt?" Moira asked.

"Mmm hmm?" he hummed.

"Never mind," she said, immediately regretted almost bringing up the idea of them kissing.

Newt knew exactly what she was thinking. Newt wanted it too. He wanted so badly to kiss her sometimes that the only thing holding him back was his nerves. What if he was never good enough? What if he disappointed her? What if he was a terrible kisser and she dumped him there and then.

Then he thought, what if he never got a chance to kiss her? Life and death was in the balance now, so he swallowed his fear.

"You want to do our side of the deal?" he asked with a shaking voice.

Moira was nervous now too. This was going to finally happen, at last!

All she could do was nod.

"So..." began Newt. "Where do you want your first kiss?"

Moira looked around the shabby walls of the test subjects' sector. Then she remembered the botanical room. It was where W.I.C.K.E.D. kept all the plants that survived the Flare for testing. She grabbed Newt's hand and led him into the room full of green leaves and occasional flowers. The door was always open, seeing as no one wanted to risk entering and contracting the Flare from the plants.

The room smelt strongly of chemicals and it didn't look much nicer than the halls of the subject sector, but it was what they had. After all it's not where you have your first kiss that matters, but who it is with and Moira was the happiest girl in the world at that moment.

"Here?" asked Newt with uncertainty.

"Yep!" confirmed Moira.

"Well, I guess the greenery is nice," commented Newt with a smirk.

There was a pause.

"I'm not sure how to do this," Moira admitted, nervously.

Newt smiled. "Don't worry, I won't judge, if we get it wrong we can try again," he promised. Then he let go of his fear and cupped her cheek in one hand.

"You're beautiful," he whispered shakily, hoping Moira didn't find it too cringy.

Moira blushed like one of the tomatoes nearby. Then she looked up and met his eyes.

He had that look in his eyes, the one you see right before the kiss, the sweet loving eyes that almost plead for it.

She closed her eyes and lent in, hoping she wouldn't miss.

Then she felt their lips connect.

It wasn't exactly what she expected. It was kind of gross if she was being honest - being the germaphobe that she was. But it wasn't her lips she was concerned with but the feeling in her chest.

Newt put his arms around her waist, and just like that, her heart felt like it was about to explode.

She lifted her hands to grab the back of his head and play with his hair.

And that was it, they pulled away, out of breath and faces red.

"I can't believe that was your first kiss," said Newt with a laugh.

"Why?" Moira asked, concerned. "It definitely was, trust me."

Newt laughed. "I do trust you, Moira...it's just that...well...you're a natural," he complimented.

"Oh." Moira didn't quite know what to say. "Thanks?"

"Was I alright?" asked Newt. She could see he was terrified by the answer.

"Of course Newt!" she assured him and he gave her the biggest smile yet.