flaunt your growth | newtmas au

εννέα

The three had been trudging their way south for about three hours, Brenda in front and Thomas and Newt close behind, their shoulders brushing as they stepped. The group figured that it was best to be silent until daylight when they'd be able to see better. The streetlights along the road near the camp didn't provide enough light to see ten feet away and the night was unsettlingly quiet. There were no cars. No animals. No bugs chirping. To say they were on guard was an understatement. Brenda had her arms outstretched and ready in case she needed to teleport them fast. Thomas had his hand gripping his sword that was sheathed on his belt. (If anyone walked by them and saw the group, they'd be a little deterred by visible weapons. Maybe Brenda, too, but not as much.) Newt was staring at his hands, hoping his powers were controlled enough to protect them. Yes, he had learned how to shoot ivy from a simple thought, and he could totally impale anyone that came into contact with them. Yes, he could summon walls and trap people in thorns. But what if it wasn't enough? What if Thomas got hurt?
Or Brenda.
But mostly Thomas.

Am I a shit person for thinking that?

As if the brunette read his mind, he spoke up,
"I know what you're thinking, Newt. I may not have crazy powers like you and Bren, but I can sure handle my own in a fight. Athena's also a goddess of war and strategy, you know. Don't worry about me."
Newt smiled softly at his warm tone. Of course he knew Thomas could handle anything. He was just paranoid, scared that he'd be caught off guard or overpowered. Newt would never forgive himself if he couldn't save him.
"I know, Tommy. I know you can-"
Newt's train of thought stopped when he slightly bumped into Brenda, who had her hands outstretched in front of them. The street lights ahead were flickering like mad. She raised one finger to motion for them to wait as she made her way forward slowly. Her footsteps were as muffled as she could possibly make them.
Newt was terrified. It was not even a half day of walking and there was already a threat. They had to make it all the way to Virginia! Thomas sensed his fear and grabbed his hand tightly as he unsheathed his sword with the other. Newt somehow smiled at that and outstretched his own other hand in preparation for attack.
"We'll be okay, Newt," Thomas whispered so quietly that the other could barely hear. His reassuring words were almost cut off by the deafening roar in front of them which made Newt jump and tighten his grip on the other's hand.
Brenda was only a few feet in front, but the boys could barely make out her warning glance.
"Newt, might be a good time to use your powers."
Newt nodded as he saw the monster appear through the strobe. Thomas felt himself grit his teeth at the realization. It was an echidna.
Before the creature had a chance to attack, Newt managed to shoot the vines he had learned to manipulate so long ago into its chest. It yelped, withering to its knees as the vines "spread", creating a larger wound. Newt's expression held pure fury. All he imagined was that thing hurting Tommy.

Nothing hurts him. I vow that on my life.

Even when it was reduced to dust, the vines kept growing, now sprouting and creating cracks in the road. It was like Newt couldn't see that the monster had disintegrated. It scared Thomas, his expression scared Thomas, and he had to grab his other arm lightly to snap him out. Brenda watched the whole ordeal with shock, unaware of Newt's true abilities. Chiron was right. That boy was powerful.
Newt dropped his gaze at the road and gasped for air. He almost fell over completely, but Thomas caught him, looking deeply into his eyes to see if he was okay. Newt definitely wasn't okay.

The group walked in silence for the rest of the night along the same road. When the sun began to come up, they stopped to take a break. Newt volunteered to take first watch so the other two could sleep, which Thomas firmly refused, but he gave up when he noticed himself yawn and Brenda fast asleep against a tree.
"What happened, Newt," yawn, "we need to talk about that."
"Later, Tommy, later,"
They both nodded in agreement as Thomas yawned again.
"Hey Newt?"
"Yes Tommy?"
"Can I sleep next to you?"
"Of course."
Thomas settled himself so he was curled next to Newt on the ground. The blonde sat crisscrossing on the other side of the tree Brenda leaned against with the brunette he loved with his head on his lap like a cat. It felt domestic in a weird way, like if they weren't on a quest and in constant danger. Newt imagined them in their own apartment in New York City, sitting on a couch in front of a beautiful view, Thomas sitting similar to this but actually on top of him completely, like they were meant to always be in such close proximity of each other. The image made him smile like an idiot as he dreamt up three little dogs to be sleeping on their beds beside the two on the couch. He then imagined Thomas waking up just to kiss him lightly and then fall back into slumber. That's when Newt would ruffle his beautiful hair lovingly and the boy would stir in his lap.

One day we'll be that happy, Tommy, I promise.

Newt managed to not drift off to the beautiful story he'd created in his head.

Thomas woke up before Brenda. He didn't even realize he was now fully in Newt's lap, his brain still groggy and not functioning. He even managed to straddle the blonde, who simply blushed furiously as Thomas wrapped his arms around his neck and dug his face into his slightly sweaty shirt. Newt knew if Brenda saw them like this, she'd get the complete wrong idea, but quite frankly, he didn't give a shuck, especially when Thomas slightly moved his hips to meet his own in attempt to get more comfortable. That brought a furious blush to Newt's cheeks, but he tried to cover it before either of them woke up completely. Of course it didn't work fast enough and the brunette was lifting his head again to meet the other's eyes.
"Hey,"
Thomas yawned and leant his head on Newt's shoulder, his breath fanning on his neck.
Not helping my situation, Tommy.
"Hey Tommy,"
Newt looked down at the ground, trying to think of absolutely anything but the boy on top of him to avoid anything awkward. Thomas took notice of his "discomfort" (although Newt definitely wouldn't call it that) and began to shift himself off of him. That meant their groins rubbed together again on accident, and both the boys' faces were plastered in a blush. Gaining confidence, Newt kept his hands on Thomas' hips to keep him still (and on top of him). Thomas looked down at him adoringly, understanding that he was okay with this, and just before he began to lean in, they noticed Brenda stir and lift her head. There wasn't enough time to move without it being even more awkward, so Newt just squeezed the brunette's hips, and just as their eyes met again, Brenda regained composure.
"Are you two finally fucking?"
Both the boys stopped trying to move away and laughed awkwardly at her remark. Newt was blushing so hard that Brenda was worried that maybe he wasn't breathing. Thomas just went along with it, being too smart to argue when they were in a position like this.
"Not yet," he muttered under his breath, but Newt heard him and slapped his chest lightly.
"Only if you're lucky, Tommy boy,"
And Thomas prayed ridiculously hard to Athena and all the gods of Olympus for a strike of luck.