My cup of tea // newtmas AU

Thomas smirked as he watched Newt fidget with his chess pieces, eyes darting back and forth like the whole world revolved around that board. It was funny-how this nerdy Brit could be so obsessed with something so boring. Yet, somehow, Thomas couldn't help but find it oddly endearing.

Instead, he threw himself onto his bed with a sigh. "How many times are you gonna play the same game?" His tone was teasing, but lately, something was changing between them. The tension wasn't just friction. It was sharper now.

Newt didn't look up. "Some of us are here to study, not waste time at parties."

There it was-Newt's holier-than-thou tone. It used to piss Thomas off. Now, though, he just wanted to get under Newt's skin. He grinned. "You sound jealous."

Newt glanced up, eyes narrowing. "Of you? Hardly."

Thomas laughed, but it came out more forced than he intended. "Sure, whatever you say." He stood up, restless. Whenever Newt gave him that sharp look, something in Thomas felt like it was unraveling.

Then there was McKenna.

She'd made it clear for months she wanted Thomas-flirting, always looking at Newt like he was something stuck to her shoe. She didn't like how close Thomas and Newt had gotten, though *close* wasn't the right word for it. She was waiting for a slip, and Thomas knew it.

Later that night, after another round of tense silence, Thomas found himself staring at Newt's back. Newt was curled up, reading by his lamp. He looked soft, relaxed. Vulnerable. And that was when Thomas realized-he wanted to kiss him.

What the hell was he thinking?