The Maze Runner Imagines

Newt [40]

A/N: haaaaha sorry for lack of updates :( online school really be out here like wham I'm here to take all your time 

He'd been watching her a little closer the past few days out of worry. Y/N had been running hard and working late nights in the maproom. She was eating and sleeping far less than she needed. Newt saw it as his job to look out for his friends, even when they didn't want him to. He knew what it was like to find yourself fighting a strong current in your own mind. All he wanted was to prevent anyone else from feeling that same hopelessness he once had.

Today, when Y/N returned, Newt caught sight of the girl while tying up some vines. His body froze as he stopped working, watching her intently. This evening, she stopped the second her feet touched the Glade. With hands on her knees, doubled over, she sucked in deep breaths but never seemed to recover the air she needed. When she straightened up, she looked dizzy and disoriented, almost as if when she took her next step, she'd topple over. That was when he knew something had to change. The way she was living right now couldn't go on forever.

"Hey Fry," Newt approached the cook once everyone else had grabbed their meals. "You wouldn't be able to spare a couple apples, would you?"

The cook raised his nose at Newt. People were always trying to steal apples or come up with excuses for why they needed them. Which was fair, because apples were just about the best food here. However, they couldn't just be dished out in handfuls. They had to make them last. "Why do you want them?"

Newt shifted his weight awkwardly. He looked to Frypan, away, and then back again. "It's Y/N. She hasn't been eating and somebody needs to do something—"

"Say no more," Frypan already had the apples at the ready and put them in Newt's hands. "Look after her, alright?"

Smiling kindly, Newt nodded. "I will."

With that, Newt set off in search of Y/N. Not that it would be hard because she'd probably be hunkered away in the maproom staring at the same pieces of paper she had been for the past week or so. Minho had brought up a level of concern for Y/N with Newt a little while ago, but he couldn't get to her. So, he left it. Newt, however, wasn't going to let her negligence for her own health and safety slide any longer.

Newt had a plan. It wasn't exactly a great plan, but it was better than doing nothing. Alby was in on it too and had given him reluctant permission. All he hoped was that he could pull it off.

The boy knocked at the maproom door. He heard some shuffling from around inside and then a quiet 'yeah?'

He entered. Sure enough, there was Y/N. She looked drained of all life. When she looked up to catch his gaze, her eyes were hazy. Not only was she hungry and sleep deprived, she was dehydrated beyond belief too.

"Sorry to bother you, Y/N." Newt apologized shyly. "But, uh, I was wondering if I could get your help with a job in the homestead?"

Knowing Y/N, even if she were tired, she wouldn't turn down a friend asking for help. For extra leverage, he held up the apples. "If you help, there might just be an apple involved."

Y/N smiled slightly. "Yeah! Let's go." She got up slowly and used the table for balance as she walked toward him.

Their walk across the Glade was slow. Newt normally walked at a reduced pace because of his limp, but this was something Y/N would never do. It was like her legs were iron rods and she was moving a mountain with each step.

"So, what do you need help with?" Y/N asked as they got closer to the homestead.

Newt panicked slightly. He didn't even come up with a fake story to get her inside. "Ah, the window frame is starting to fall apart and the bugs are getting inside. I just need an extra set of hands."

"Ah, okay." She smiled and then once again went silent. "Thanks for asking me to help, I needed a break."

"I think you need more than just a small break, love." Newt admitted and Y/N only shrugged in response. To avoid giving himself away, he didn't say anything more.

Alby watched the two enter the homestead and nodded at Newt as they walked past. The trod up the stairs and into Newts room. Y/N went straight for the window and within seconds was turning around with a confused look on her face. When she did, Alby and Newt were stood in the doorway with arms crossed.

"Uh...the window is fine?" She furrowed her brows. "What's going on?"

Alby shift his weight so he lean against the doorframe. "You're working too hard. Keep going like this and you're going to get hurt or sick. So, we decided you need a few days rest away from the maproom and maze. A real break."

Y/N scoffed. "I do not—I just—it's been hot out. And I found a new section so I need to—"

"I don't want to hear it." Alby cut her off. "This isn't healthy and we're not letting you back in the maze until you're rested."

"You're gonna lock me in a room?" She questioned.

Alby shrugged. "Until we know you honestly are going to step away from being a runner for a few days, yeah. Newt will be the judge of whether you can go out or not."

Y/N wasn't going to fight it. She knew she'd dove a little too deep this past couple weeks.

"Ok," She sighed. "I'll take a few days off."

Newt smiled happily and Alby nodded, moving away from the doorframe. "I'll have Frypan send up some food and water. See you two tomorrow."

Y/N sighed once Alby left and sat down on the edge of the bed. Hunched over, she tried to untie her shoelaces but her hands were weak and shaky. Newt noticed and ambled over cautiously.

"Here," He reached down and gently swiped Y/N's hands away. "I got it."

Y/N admit defeat and let Newt help her. "Thanks," She muttered.

Eventually, Newt was able to get up and sit beside her. "I'll admit, you've done a real good job hiding this for as long as you have. That doesn't make it okay, though."

"I know," Y/N whispered apologetically. "We're just so close to finding a way out."

"And we're grateful for everything you've done." Newt grabbed her hand and held it tight. "But finding a way out is useless if you don't make it out of the maze with us safely."

Y/N stared at Newt and something swelled in her eyes he couldn't quite place. "Ok." She nod in understanding. The girl had gone a long time—well, for as long as she could remember, not really caring what happened to herself. Newt had just changed her mind. As much as she still wanted to find a way out, she also wanted to be with her friends when they did finally leave.