Maze Runner X Reader - Tumblr Posts - Page 2

It’s all my fault

It’s all my fault (Newt x Reader)

Word Count: 1074 words

Warnings: kissing, violence, injury, mentions of Newt’s incident, blood

Summary: when you break your ankle in the maze, you notice something in Newt’s eyes

the clicking of a griever sounds from behind you and you run as fast as you can away from it. glancing over your shoulder you see the creature crawling after you. you know you can’t run away from it forever.

taking a deep breath you look towards the wall of ivy. you grip a particularly thick one, pull on it and then begin to climb.

the clicking keeps sounding as you climb higher and higher. you climb and climb. that is until your arm slips out of the grip of a string of ivy. you let out a small gasp as you feel your feet slip and tangle in the leaves.

and then you’re falling. you swing on the vines, attached by your ankle before hitting your head hard on the ground, noticing as you did so, the sky darkening. you won’t make it back before the doors close. you won’t make it back at all.

the griever was getting closer. closing your eyes you try and block out the dull ringing in your head.

someone is running towards you, a boy, you think. he gets closer and closer, until your blurred vision can finally make him out.

Minho runs as fast as he can towards you, finally reaching you and grabbing you. he drags you to your feet and hauls you along after him as he runs.

your feet bump along the floor as he keeps dragging you. shouts from a distance, quiet clicking and small grunts from Minho are the only thing you hear.

finally, you turn a corner and see the gladers, crowded around a rapidly closing door. they shout as they spot Minho and you see through your blurred vision, Newt’s face momentarily split into joy then fills with horror as he sees Minho dragging you.

he bounces on the balls of his feet as the two of you stumble towards the group. shouts fight to rise above each other, “hurry!”

“come on, you can do it”

“leave her Minho, save yourself!” you’re almost certain that one was Gally.

then a huge gasp escapes the gladers and you look back to see what had happened. your heart drops into your stomach as you see Newt break free of the crowd and limp as fast as he could towards you.

he reaches you and gently helps Minho carry you. running in a three, you’re arms draped around both Newt and Minho’s shoulders, you race towards the opening.

the loud screeching of the doors closing pierces the air.

Newt unhook your arms from his shoulder and pushes you and Minho in front of him, through the gap. he jumps through after you, only just snatching his leg out the way before it was crushed.

you slump onto the ground and Minho bends down, examining you for any injuries. “I don’t see why you didn’t just leave her Minho.” Gally’s voice murmurs from somewhere behind you.

a loud thump sounds and you turn to see Gally clutching a bleeding nose and Newt, fist splattered with blood and face contorted into a snarl. he moves forwards, and draws his fist back again, “say that again you bloody shank, say it again and see what happens.”

Minho straightens and puts a hand on his shoulder, talking in his ear. Newt shoots a glare at Gally and turns to you, dropping down beside you.

“What happened y/n”

your voice comes out slightly hoarse as you say, “I was being caused by a griever so I climbed the ivy but I fell and hit my head”

you see Newt’s face drain of colour and he looks like he’s going to faint. something is flashing in his eyes, and Minho is looking at his friend anxiously.

he touches his friends arm and Newt grasps at his wrist still looking faint. sucking in a deep breath of forced calm, he looks back at you. you notice his eyes flitting to your ankle.

“y/n, what happened to your ankle”

“My foot got tangled in the ivy as I fell, I think I might have twisted it”

Newt looks at Minho questioningly. Minho looks closer at the ankle, at the sharp bend in it. he holds onto Newts shoulder, takes a breath and says, “y/n, I think it might be broken”

Newt rises to his feet and sprints off towards the wood, stumbling more than usual. Gally looks sniffly after him, muttering darkly.

you look confused at Minho and he sighs, “has Newt never told you how he broke his leg”

you shake your head.

“It was in an accident,” he stresses that word, “similar to yours.” you can tell he is deliberately keeping something out of the story but don’t press him.

“Do I need to see a medjack”

“Their dealing with Ben at the moment and I doubt there is much a medjack can do for you, it’s not bleeding, and we can’t heal it, all I can do is straighten it”

“I saw them do it to Newt’s leg.” he adds at your skeptical look.

after an excruciating few moments, Minho lets you go to ‘rest’, but you have other motives. you limp towards the trees looking for, there.

a boy huddles up against a tree, shaking, either with sobs or shock. you limp closer, calling out his name.

his head jerks towards you and as soon as he notices your ankle, and you limping he rushes towards you, pulling you into a hug.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s my fault, it’s all my fault”

“What are you talking about”

“I said I’d protect you, I promised. I never wanted anyone else, not even Gally, to end up like me.”

you hold his cheeks in your hands, tears streaming down his face and sobs shaking his body. looking into his watery eyes you say, “Newt, I love you how you are, you’re the strongest one of all of us, why would I care if I end up like you”

he opens his mouth to reply but before he can, you pull him into you pressing your lips against his.

you finally break apart and look at him, “understand me?”

“Yeah” he answers quietly.

“Good.”

you pull him back into you, with him kissing you back this time, putting your arms around his neck and him holding your waist. you spin on the spot.

“I love you, you know, I really do”

you smile against his lips, “I know”

Bloody lip

Bloody lip (Newt x Reader)

Word Count: 858 words

Warnings: BLOOD, VIOLENCE (sorry for the caps, just wanna make sure y’all know), kissing, jealousy.

Summary: when Gally find out you and Newt are dating you find him less than happy.

(Tysm to, Anonymous for giving the request for this piece! I’m really grateful, this was very fun to write)

you sit next to your best friend, and he watches you closely, his eyes narrowed. “What?” you ask, annoyed.

“I don’t like the way you’re looking at him.” he jerks his head toward the blond boy, laughing with two others, you had indeed been watching.

“Why”

Gally narrows his eyes, “I don’t like him.”

“You don’t like anyone Gally” you sigh. he grins, “you know me so well.”

“I should hope so.” you stand up, “I’m off to get some food.”

you feel Gally’s eyes on the back of your head as you move meaningfully past the boys.

the blond boy’s eyes meet yours and you flit your eyes to the side. understanding shows in his face and you hear him making an excuse to his friends as you walk off.

you sit on a counter of frypan’s kitchen, waiting for the boy you knew would come. after a moment or two Newt slips through the door, smiling as he sees you. “Hey” he moves towards you.

“How are you”

“Tired.” he sighs a little.

“Too tired to keep meeting me”

he grins, “you know I’ll never be too tired to meet you.”

you share a kiss before Newt clears his throat. “Listen y/n, I think you need to tell Gally about us, he’s pretty much like your brother and he deserves to know”

“Are you kidding, he’d snap you in half.”

Newt laughs quietly, but you keep a serious face, and Newt’s laugh fades.

“Let’s just keep this between us for now, alright.” you say, moving closer to him.

“Bit too late for that now.” you jump away form Newt at the sound of Gally’s voice.

“Oh, Gally, hi” you blush furiously.

Gally’s face is stoney he’s looking at Newt as though he would like to rip him limb from limb.

“Uhm, what are you doing here”

“Don’t act dumb y/n, I’ve been standing here for longer than you think. I’m not stupid, it’s not like I didn’t notice how you both decide to leave at the same time.”

“Listen, Gally.” Newt steps towards him, “me and y/n are just friends, good friends that’s it”

“Oh, Oh” Gally puts his hands on his hips in mock understanding, “Yes, good friends, good friends who kiss each other?”

Newt’s face turns steadily red and he doesn’t answer. “Look, Gally, we didn’t want to tell you because we thought you’d be jealous but me and Newt are dating”

Gally smiles very exaggeratedly and nods making little “oh” sounds. then he grabs Newt, drags him out of the room and throws him into the ground.

you shout in surprise and rush after the pair, seeing Newt trying to get to his feet, wincing in pain. Gally kicks him in the chest, pushing him onto the ground. he kneels beside him and puts his face and inch away form his, “stay away from y/n, you hear me, stay away from her or I’ll break every bone in your body and feed you to a griever.

Newt shrinks away from him, still trying to stand up, but keeping getting pushed down by Gally. “you hear me, blondie.”

Newt shakes his head, “no Gally, you can’t do this”

“Watch me”

he draws back a fist and punches him so hard blood splatters the grass around him. Newt holds his bleeding nose in his hands. you try to rush towards him but you are stopped by Gally’s arm.

“I said you hear me, blondie”

Newt shakes his head again, still looking defiant. Gally swings back his arm again, and punches Newt harder in the face. when he draws back his fist again it’s coated in blood and one of Newts eyes is pressed shut.

“Gally stop”

“I’ll stop when he understands me”

he turned back to Newt, let’s try one more time, “do..you..understand..me……blondie.”

Newt raised his chin in constant defiance, shaking his head and spitting blood out of his mouth onto Gally’s shoe.

Gally draws back his fist again but is stopped before he can punch. he turns to see Thomas holding onto his arm with Minho at his shoulder.

as Gally starts a heated talk with the boys you kneel beside Newt, who’s still cupping his hands over his bleeding lip.

“We need to get you to a medjack.” he nods, letting you help him to his feet. you walk together, seeing the disgusting look Gally throws Newt as you pass.

“Newt,” he looks sideways at you, “thank you, I can’t believe you let yourself get punched to stay with me”

he smiles at you, spitting blood out his mouth before his answers, “of course, I love you, I’m not letting you go for what, a couple scratches and a bruised eye.

“It’s a little more than a couple of scratches but, I appreciate it”

you move towards him and kiss him, not caring when the metallic tang of blood seeps into your mouth.

you don’t know how long you stay there only that the whole time, Gally stares daggers at the two of you, possibly planning the things he would do to Newt next time he got him on his own…

Can’t sleep?

Can’t sleep? (Newt x Reader)

Word Count: 511 words

Warnings: cuddling, this contains descriptions of a condition (insomnia) that I’m definitely not educated in so if I get any facts wrong please let me know.

Summary: you struggle to fall asleep but you know just who to go to.

(Note: this was requested by Anonymous so I hope they and everyone else like it)

(Also sorry this took ages to post, I’ve been making some clay sculptures recently)

you jerk awake for the third time that night. you grumble and turn over. after a couple of seconds you realise there’s no way you are going to get to sleep.

you sigh in frustration and decide to get some fresh air. pushing open your door, you step out of the hut and take a deep breath of cold night air.

standing there, watching the clouds drift slowly across the moon, you look around at the dark huts. there is no movement around the glade, most of the gladers, no doubt, being asleep.

you sit down and put your chin on your knees, watching the wind ripple the grass. you know you need to sleep, but you won’t sleep back in the hammock you had just left.

getting to your feet you start walking along, between the huts.

strolling between the wooden huts you creep past open door where gentle snoring is drifting out into the night.

your eyes fall on a dark hut, slightly apart from the rest. you move towards it, waiting on the threshold for a couple seconds before pushing open the door.

heavy breathing sounds from a dark corner of the room. you take a moment to let your eyes adjust to the dark.

when it does, you see the shadow of a boy, curled in a hammock with his back to the door.

you walk over to it and shake the boy laying in it, whispering as you do, “Newt.”

the slumped shade groans. you shake him again, “Newt.” the boy lifts his head, squinting at you through bleary eyes.

“Tommy?”

“No it’s me”

“Y/n.” he brushes tangled hair out of his eyes and rubs them, “what are you doing here, shouldn’t you be sleeping”

“I can’t”

he smiles at you, pretending to be reluctant though you can tell he less than minds. “Fine.” he pats the hammock beside him and you grin, sitting down next to him. dropping back onto his side, you lay down beside him and he wraps his arms protectively around you, stroking your hair soothingly.

he whispers words into your ear, and you feel your eyelids go heavy, faster than you know they would if you were back in your own hut.

Newt yawns hugely but doesn’t shut his eyes until he hears your breathing steady.

sunlight creates a red glow on your eyelids and you blink open your eyes. Newt is already awake, moving around. he smiles at you when he sees your eyes open, watching him.

“How did you sleep”

you yawn. “No matter how well I sleep I’ll be tired”

he moves to sit next to you. “Do you want to go back to sleep.”

“Minho won’t let me skip running”

Newt waves an airy hand, “I’ll handle Minho. you’re obviously exhausted.”

you nod and curl up, Newt’s sweet, earthy smell still prominent in the hammock.

he lets you hold onto his hand as he speaks quiet compliments to you.

you sigh slightly, close your eyes and drift along with the wave of sleep than washes over you.

Welcome to the scorch

Welcome to the scorch (Newt x Reader)

Word Count: 588 words

Warning: cuddling, mentions of death

Summary: getting through the scorch is less than easy and it leaves you questioning if the ‘safe haven’ is even real.

you cup your hands over your eyes, squinting in the sun. after the storm, you had lost most of the quilts in the strong wind.

therefore the precious few you did have, had been dispersed and shared. the shape of Minho and Thomas’ sheet, bobbing up and down, was visible in front of you.

looking sideways at the boy you were sharing a quilt with, you see Newt’s head jerking sideways to look fixedly ahead.

it was obvious he had just been looking at you or past you. you hitch the white sheet higher into the air, wincing as your aching arms give a particularly painful throb.

with each step, your feet sink into the sand, making you have to kick the annoyingly small grains out of your shoes every few seconds until you accepted that you would never be free of the sand.

the scorch stretches on forever. you have to stop yourself from groaning. how did they even know if the safe haven wasn’t just a sick joke of WICKED’s?

your feet sink deeper into the sand, and as you try and pull them out you fall, face first into the dune.

spitting sand out of your mouth, you raise your head at a worried voice. “Are you alright.”

the blond boy stands above you, one hand extended. you take it and he pulls you to your feet.

“Stupid sand”

he smiles, “welcome to the scorch.” you continue walking after the others.

“so what do you think about this whole safe haven thing.” you look sideways at Newt and he looks back at you.

“Might as well try, it’s either die trying, or sit here and wait to be eaten by cranks.”

you nod. “It just doesn’t feel like it’s gonna be this easy. WICKED put us through hell, and now they’re just going to let us get a cure, this easily.”

“We’re tracking across a desert, we lost many friend in that storm. I wouldn’t call this easy.”

the glaring orange sky starts turning steadily to black and finally Minho stops and turns towards the group.

“Alright everyone, stop here and try and get some sleep.”

several people collapse onto the sand, massaging their aching feet. most huddle together under their quilts as a cold wind starts blowing across the dunes.

you sit down on the sand and wrap the quilt more tightly around you and Newt. lying down, you curl up, trying to keep warm, and get comfortable.

looking over your shoulder, you see the boy do the same. both of you curl under the quilt like a heavy white tent.

you shiver a little as cold air drifts under the folds. turning over you see Newt, knees tucked up to his chin and eyes open, swirling shapes into the sand by his head. he looks up at you and you hold each others gaze.

you slowly start shifting closer together. one second, you have your backs pressed together for warmth. the next, you have your head on Newt’s chest as he has his arms wrapped around you, stroking your hair.

after a moment or two, Newt’s breathing goes heavy. you look up into his face. his eyes are closed. you brush a stray strand of hair that is falling in his slightly open mouth. the heavy breathing of gladers and howl of the wind echo around your small tent like quilt.

you roll knot your side and fall asleep, dreaming of green fields, shadowy indistinct faces and a familiar, smiling, blond framed face…

(Just wanna say, if you wanna put in a request for a maze runner character x reader, that isn’t Newt, you can still request them. I’m happy to giving anything a go)

The Homestead

The Homestead (Newt x Reader)

Word Count: 369 words

Warnings: cuddling, kissing, very cringy and sappy writing from me.

Summary: when you have to sleep in the homestead to be safe from the grievers, you find yourself close to a particular blond boy

(Warning: this is very sappy, viewer discretion is advised)

you lie on the floor of the homestead. the boys small snores and the grievers clicking outside, are the only sounds you hear.

turning over, you see the boy you had talked to only hours before, as you planned to sleep next to each other.

you shiver a little as a draft drifts through the boards of the homestead. drawing one of Newt’s jumpers, that he had insisted on lending you, more tightly around you, you see the blond boys eyes flit open.

you look into those dark eyes, as he reaches out a hand. taking it, you put it up by your cheek, not taking your eyes off his.

he inches closer and you let him until your foreheads are touching. stroking your hand with his thumb, he puts his other hand in your hair.

he twirls it in his fingers gently, moving into you and brushing your nose with his lips. you smile and he returns it.

this time you move in and as you press your lips lightly against his, you feel his mouth turn up into a smile.

you feel your chest flutter as he pulls back and looks at you with warmth in his dark eyes.

you pull him closer and wrap your arms around him. he puts his head next to your ear and breathes, “we’ll be out of here before you know it love”

“I wouldn’t mind staying here for a little longer.” you smile at him and see a wide grin spreading across his face, even in the dark.

you move closer together so you’re pressed up against each other.

and then you’re kissing again, more passionately than you can remember. you hold his arm that wraps around you.

he whispers to you, soft strings all slurring into a warm hum in your head.

you hear an annoyed voice, “can you two lovebirds keep it down, some of us,” Minho stresses the word ‘some’, “are trying to sleep.”

“Sorry” Newt say, but he doesn’t sound at all sorry.

Minho grumbles something about there being a time and a place as he turns over.

you press your forehead against the boys and he closes his eyes, sighing quietly.

“Good night y/n”

“Goodnight”

Deal

Deal (Newt x Reader)

Word Count: 1861 words

Warnings: injury, gore, blood, mentions of self harm

Summary: your worst, most terrifying memory

(I’m back with some 3k+ word fanfics that I’ll be posting soon :3)

if someone were to ask anyone what their scariest memory is, they may say multiple contenders. stormy nights, darkness, death.

but for you, there is no question, no contender.

it was one of those stories that you could only relive when clutched in Newt’s arms, where you were safest. one of those stories that still woke you at night. like most stories, the day started like any other.

you’re running, running alone, which is, granted, not normal for you, but still running as usual.

the reason for you running alone was that the person you would usually run with had gotten the morning off.

it is lonely, but you know that your friend is exhausted. black always seems to be peeking out from under his eyes, and he will often zone out when you’re talking to him.

Newt was probably resting at that moment, you thought as you run, though the last you had seen of him, he seemed to be walking in the opposite direction of the huts.

the sun, previously high in the sky, was now sinking slowly. deciding it would be a good idea to head back, you retrace your steps, trying to remember the turns you took to get where you just were. it was at one of the last turns where you heard it. a pained scream and cry for help, mingled into one horrifying symphony.

straining your ears to recognise the voice, you finally pick out Alby, sounding more worried than you had ever heard him. you start sprinting, rushing forwards and skidding to a halt when you reach the glade. your eyes scanning the area, looking for anything unusual.

the first thing you notice was that everyone seemed to be still, looking towards a point out of your field of vision. frozen, arms suspending unidentifiable objects.

you look over to your right where everyone’s eyes seem to be resting. your heart seems to drop, stopping to rest, somewhere in your stomach. two boys hobble along, arms around each other’s shoulders. one of them is leaning heavily on the other, holding his leg at an awkward angle.

the boy has sandy hair. very familiar sandy hair. “Newt!” you start running towards the pair, the second boy, now he was closer, turning out to be Alby, as you had suspected.

Newt looks up, a pained, slightly confused expression on his face. Alby doesn’t look at you, but pushes past, shouting.

“Medjack, Medjack now!” Clint and another medjack you didn’t know the name of, skid into view.

“What happened.” you bite your lip, looking at the blond boy.

Ably ignores you, pushing people out of the way in his effort to get his friend to the medjacks.

you follow the two, running to keep up with Alby, who is practically carrying Newt. “Get out of the way!” he shouts at a young boy, frozen in place. kicking open the door, Alby lays Newt on a table and the boy crys out in pain.

the medjack’s rummages around, silver instruments and bottles of strange liquids rattling in their arms. Clint approaches Newt, who was letting out small gasps of pain.

he rolls up his trouser leg gently and Newt gives a pained shout. you look down at the leg, your breakfast nearly making a reappearance.

a bloody, mangled, mess, sits where skin once was, sharp bends makes spikes in the previously straight leg.

“hold him down.” Clint puts his hands

on either side of his injured leg. you hold onto Newt’s other leg and Alby pushes his shoulders and arms down.

Newt’s pale face looks up at Clint, like a small child, that had fallen over and scraped their knee. he mouths something nobody can pick out before the medjack bends the leg back into a straight line.

and then Newt made the sound that still haunts your dreams. he screams. not the type of scream you hear in one of those horror movies. a terrible, earsplitting, glass breaking, scream.

the boy starts writhing underneath him, trying to free his other leg from your grasp. the other medjack runs forward and holds down his injured leg so Clint can dab something foul smelling onto it.

he steps back to admire his work. “it won’t heal completely, but this is the best I can do.” Clint picks up a jar and fills a syringe with the contents.

looking at Newt’s arms, he holds one down and jabs the needle into it, pressing down on the pump.

Newts wild thrashes slow, getting more and more tired until he is still.

the medjack sighs and presses a wet towel into you hand, “mop him up, will you.” you nod silently.

Alby has his hands twisted together and he looks more scared than you had ever seen him. he mutters something about finding Minho and hurries from the room.

you drag a chair up beside Newt and begin to gently mop the blood from his leg. you could feel your eyes pricking slightly, as you look into the face of the boy.

you don’t know how long you sat there. an hour, a day, perhaps several weeks. but suddenly Newt’s lips started moving. barley parting, but definitely moving.

a small rasp escapes his mouth, “y/n.” you look down at Newt, who’s lips were moving silently, eyes pressed shut.

“y/n.” he says again.

“yes. yes I’m here.” you hold onto the boy’s hand.

Newt’s eyes flutter open, looking slightly confused. “y/n?”

you nod. and Newt shakes his head.

“no. no. no you can’t be here.”

“what do you-“

“no. I’m dead. you shouldn’t be here.”

you feels your eyes prick with tears. you suck in a breath. “you’re not dead Newt, you’re alive.”

“but, I jumped. I should be dead. why am I not dead?”

your breath catches in your throat as you try to answer. swallowing, you blink away the tears in his eyes.

“you’re alright, you’re safe.”

“no. I can’t be, I don’t want to be. I-“ he stops, still looking confused.

the two of you sit in silence, “I want to be dead.”

you look at him and he blinks at you, a dazed look in his eyes. it was like he didn’t fully recognise you. his eyes were swimming and you could almost see, in your inner eye, the pale boy in front of you, jumping, ending it all.

it was too much. you feel the tears dripping down your cheeks. twisting the blood soaked towel in your hands you bow your head and watch tears fall into you lap.

“why are you crying?”

you wipe at your eyes with a sleeve, looking back into his dark eyes. “you say you want to die. you want to end it. you tried to. but if you ended it,” you take a shaky breath, “I cant-, I don’t want-“ your words fumble over each other in your effort to tell him what you need him to know.

“I can’t do this without you Newt.” you feel his eyes on you and you sigh a little, “I’m sorry, I should be the one comforting you, it’s obvious you need it.”

“Maybe we can comfort each other at the same time.”

he gently pushes himself to a sitting position and pulls you into a hug. you put a head on his shoulder and he does the same on yours. both of you sit there for several minutes, each thinking.

you try to put as much feeling into the hug as you can, for sheer words cannot express the many emotions that bubble inside you.

then, still not speaking, you break apart and you sit back on the chair, drawing it a little closer to the table. you pick up the towel and keep mopping up Newt’s leg.

Clint walks in, “ah good, it’s looking better already. I’ll wrap it up and then you can sleep here for tonight.”

he takes out some tightly wrapped bandages from a drawer and walks towards Newt. he grips your hand as Clint ties the white fabric, gently yet firmly, around the wound.

“it won’t do much to fix the bone, but we can try heal the skin. it’s the best we can do.”

Newt looks up at him and opens his mouth, Clint answers before he can speak however, not meeting his eyes. “no. I’m sorry Newt, but you won’t be able to be a runner anymore.”

you see him nod but can see in his eyes that he has gone numb.

stroking the back of his hand, you watch ad Clint begins walking back to the door, “get him into bed will you y/n, and then let him get some rest. you can go back to your hut after that if you want.”

he pushes open the door and walks into the darkened sky. standing up, you turn to face Newt, “we need to get you into a bed, are you okay to move.”

he nods but as you pull him upright, an arm around your shoulder, you see his already pale face whiten, making his blond hair look odd next to the bright white skin.

you hobble along and when you drop him gently onto the bed, he sighs. tucking the sheets around him, you start to move away, like Clint had told you.

“y/n” he reaches out and arm and holds onto the sleeve of your jumper. you take his hand in yours. “stay. please.”

you nod and begin to drag the chair next to his bed but he pats the bed beside him. gratefully, you climb in beside him and he throws the sheet over both of you, making sure to keep his bandaged leg out of the fabric.

you face each other, foreheads pressed lightly together and hands clasped. both of you look into each others eyes, gentle brown meeting soft (colour of your eyes).

the sky outside the window becomes flecked with stars as the two of you lay there together.

“y/n?”

“yes”

“why are you doing this?”

“doing what?”

“why do you still care about me?”

“because I love you Newt, I love you more than anything, and if you died-“

you can’t finish that sentence. the lump in your throat has returned.

swallowing hard, you force yourself to continue talking. he needs to know.

“if you died, I don’t think I could do it.”

“do what?”

“continue.”

the two of you are silent for another moment. you break the silence, you have to know, “Newt, you won’t try it again?”

he takes a moment to answer, “no.” it’s a flat answer and you’re not fully convinced.

“how am I supposed to know that you won’t?”

he smiles softly, the first one you had seen from him in god knows how long.

“Because, now I have a reason to live.”

“and what exactly is that?”

“to keep you going.”

“that goes both ways.”

you’re smiling now, “let’s make a deal.”

“okay”

“you keep going and I keep going. deal?”

you inch closer to each other noses brushing, then lips brushing.

he puts his lips next your ear and you can hear the small smile in his whispered voice.

“Deal.”

Black Veins

Black Veins (newt x gn!reader)

Word Count: 695 words

Warnings: Spoilers, pretty sure that’s it

Summary: you’ve been distancing yourself after finding out you’re not immune, but you’re less alone than you think.

(Requested by anonymous)

(Check out @PandaPlayz on Pinterest who I got this idea from)

you watch the crowd from a distance, hands clasped in your lap and eyes set on the people talking and laughing together. you blow a stray strand of hair out of your eyes and push yourself to your feet.

with one more glance behind you, you slip out of the door into a hallway with doors on either end. WICKED never failed to disappoint you with needlessly advanced, well everything, you think to yourself as an automatic door slides open the second you approach it.

you walk down the long echoing hallway with doors lining it, looking for the room a WICKED employee in a white suit had shown you to when you arrived. when you are about to reach it, a voice sounds from behind you.

“you seemed in a hurry to get away.”

you don’t even jump. you knew that he would follow you. knew he’d notice you slip away.

“What do you want Newt?” you sigh, turning to face him, arms crossed.

“I want to know why you’ve been keeping away from everyone. you’ve been acting strange.”

“I just, need some time to myself.”

he continues to look concerned and you force a smile and relax against the door, “I’m fine, honestly Newt”

but you could tell he didn’t believe you. you knew he wouldn’t leave until you told him the truth. you sigh again, “Alright, you win. I’m not fine.”

“Well what’s wrong?”

in answer you roll up a leg of your trousers to reveal black veins, snaking up your leg. at first he looks confused and then you see horror cross his face.

“Turns out I’m not immune.” you try to sound casual but your voice is shaking slightly. he opens his arms and you walk into them. pulling you close to him, he whispers, “shh, shh” as you start to sob.

“Newt, I don’t want to be a crank.” you know it sounds childish, but too many emotions are swelling inside you too worry about that now.

“I know, I know, listen” he holds you at arms length and looks you in the eyes. waiting for you to calm yourself, he makes sure the tears have stopped before pulling up a sleeve of his jacket.

you feel your heart fall into your stomach as you see the same dark veins across his arm. he smiles at you, his dark eyes swimming, “if we’re going to be cranks, at least we won’t be alone.”

then your arms are wrapped around each other again. you bury your face in his chest as he does the same in the crook of your neck.

you stand there in the middle of the hall, not even noticing the footsteps making their way towards the two of you.

“What’s going on?” Minho’s voice echoes towards you, sounding worried, which was not usual for him. no doubt seeing Newt cry would be worrying for anyone but you.

next to none of time Newt cries in front of anyone, unless he had his face hidden in your neck.

you break apart, Newt giving you a meaningful look before pulling down his sleeve and turning to face Minho and Thomas. kicking your trouser leg down you stand next to the boy beside you, shoulders pressed together.

“What’s going on?” Minho repeated. you both stand in silence before Newt finally answers. “We were just talking.”

“Mhm. Sad conversation?”

“Is there any relevant topic that isn’t a sad conversation?”

Minho doesn’t answer and Thomas speaks up, “are you sure, you seem a little,” he pauses and watches Newt use a sleeve to wipe the tears from his eyes, “upset.”

“We’re just tired. y/n was just about to go to bed before I stopped for a chat with them.”

“Well if you’re sure.” the two walk away, talking in hushed, worried voices.

Newt turns to face you and puts his hands on your shoulders, looking into your eyes. “Listen, we don’t tell the others until they find out themselves, alright?”

“Alright”

he nods and lets go of your shoulders, he opens his mouth, looking like he wants to say something more before nodding again and walking away after a, “goodnight y/n.”

(I might turn this into a bigger fanfic, lemme know what you think)

(Also, I don’t know whether or not I’ve already mentioned this but I wanted to say, if you wanna request a fic of a maze runner character other than Newt, lemme know and I’ll do my best to deliver)

Paper Boats

Paper Boats (newt x gn!reader)

Word Count: 625 words

Warnings: thoughts of mild violence

Summary: you and Newt are sitting by the river when you are met by an unwelcome guest

you sit near the river, low hanging trees tickling the surface and making ripples in the water. in silence you fold the paper that you and Newt had nicked from the map room only minutes ago. the very boy sits beside you, crafting a paper boat with gentle hands.

a soft sound of running water is the only thing you hear, as you lean your head on his shoulder. you finish up your own little paper boat, and hold it out to show him. he smiles, “I think they’re ready to swim.”

Newt gets to his feet, offering you a hand, you take it, nodding in thanks. you walk along the river for a moment or two before kneeling next to it and setting the two small boats on the water. you look at the boy and he nods, you both let go of the boats and watch them bob steadily down the water.

you grab Newt’s hand and begin to run after the small paper creations. they pick up the pace and you start running backwards, laughing as you see Newt struggling to keep up with you. he laughs too, and speeds up, sprinting, a little jerkily, ahead of you.

you jog alongside him, laughing harder as he grabs both your hands, spinning you around. the two of you collapse onto the grass, laughing hard and watching the little ivory shapes disappear down the river.

leaning your head back on his shoulder, you let out a sigh as you see an angry looking Gally and rather amused looking Alby walking towards you. “Can’t get a moment of peace around here.” Newt mutters as he stands up, yet he doesn’t sound angry.

“Alright?” Alby calls to the two of you, still with that amused expression on his face. “Not bad, you?”

“Would be if this shank hadn’t been ranting at me the whole way here about how the paper in the map room was precious and we can’t live without all of it.”

Gally opens his mouth to say a no doubt insulting retort, but Alby interrupts him. “You wanted to talk to them and for me to come and listen. I’ve already told you what I think, there’s no point ruining these guy’s fun, because of a few bits of paper.

the boy looks angry, no doubt at the fact that another of his attempts to get you and Newt, though mostly the latter, punished for something, had been foiled, as usual, by Alby.

he looks from you to Newt a look in his eyes that clearly said if they were alone Gally would very much have liked to run them through with a machete. Gally stomps away, possibly thinking of more ways to get the two of you framed or at best banished for something.

Alby leans in to talk to you.

“he really thinks that he can get everyone to banish you” (teaser for my next fanfic 🤫)

“was it that obvious that we’d stole paper?” it wasn’t that Newt cared about taking the paper and neither did anyone but Gally for that matter but you knew he wanted to know how to spare the trouble of being interrupted next time.

“Gally’s determined to catch you out for anything, he’s always got an eye on you to make sure he knows if you do anything wrong.”

“That’s a nice thought” you shiver a little.

Alby chuckles and claps his hands together. “Right well I’ll let you two get on with what you were doing before we interrupted.”

you thank him as he walks back in the direction Gally’s piercing gaze was now glaring at you from.

“Some people, eh,” Newt shakes his head as you sit back down on the grass, “honestly.”

Banished

Banished (Newt x Reader) (what a surprise)

Word Count: 862 words

Warnings: I guess mild violence

Summary: you are banished (why? idk I was too lazy to think of a reason, so feel free to come up with your own)

your breath is ragged and rasping as you are dragged towards the circle of boys. ropes bind your wrists, cutting into your skin. Minho holds tight to the twine, keeping your arms stuck behind the back of your head.

you twist around to look at the boy, he keeps his eyes away from yours, looking like he doesn’t know who you are. though this was the common practice when someone was stung. when someone was banished.

“Minho.” you say in a quiet voice, “Minho you don’t understand,”

you know there is no point trying to dissuade any of them but you were, in truth, desperate. there was nothing that awaited you out there but a lonely, long, painful death.

Minho doesn’t answer or look at you, he keeps his eyes fixed forwards as he walks towards the circle.

as you draw nearer, a somber silence presses in on you, the keepers and glader’s faces are filled with either, hostility, a numb stare, or pity.

yet your eyes seek only one. you spot him, as expected, next to the other keepers, knuckles white on the long stick he held and looking just about ready to crumble into a pile of dust right there and then.

Minho drags you into the middle of the circle and pushes you onto your knees, holding your arms above your head and putting the knife up to it.

he cuts the rope and you fall forwards onto the ground. you watch Minho’s boots move in front of you and here a thump as he throws a bag of stuff that you all know won’t do anything to stop a griever eating anyone.

though it was customary. banishing was not exactly enjoyable experience, and if they had to sentence a child to death they at least wanted to try and help them.

if you were stung you were not sent to death. no, you were sent away to protect the others. and you were sure, if your mind were working properly, you would oblige if it meant keeping the others safe.

however, no such same thoughts occurred to you as the deafening sound of the door closing echoes around the entire glade. feeling your already broken mind break even more, you here Ably’s shout above the sound.

“Hold!” the keepers lower their staffs and point them at you, the gladers doing the same with long pointed sticks. there was no way out.

“No, no please.” your son is lost in the shaking wind and rattling of the doors. you get shakily to your feet, looking around at all of the gladers. the people who you thought were your friends.

no, no they were your friends, that small, still sane part of you pipes up, they were trying to protect the others.

“Move in!” Alby’s second shout breaks your train of thought. the keepers start advancing on you, herding you towards the steadily closing doors. you back away looking at the faces of the keepers.

Zart…Frypan, looking like he was attending a funeral…Alby…Gally, whose face was filled with hostility…Winston…and then the boy you most wanted to see.

Newt looked as though he was about to faint, unlike the other he had not made the move yet to close in on you, Alby nudges him and he starts moving forwards, looking as he did so that he regretted every step.

you are right in between the wall, between the glade and the maze. your eyes lock onto Newt’s who dark insides looked both sick with terror and wet with tears.

“Newt.” you say quietly, yet you are sure everybody can hear you, “Newt please. please.” tears run down your face.

your plea gets more desperate as you are shoved further into the maze, “Please!”

you are in the maze now, and the keepers are drawing their staffs back into the glade, watching you gravely.

Newt looks to be fighting some painful internal struggle. only about a metre is left between the two walls.

you look, terrified, at the gladers as the gap closes. a shout rises from the crowd as do several protests. Newt breaks free of the group and sprints towards you.

Alby dives for him and tackles him to the ground, pulling his arms behind his back and trying to stop him from running at you.

“Get off me!” Newt’s shout is lost in the cries of surprise and gasps from the crowd, as he writhes desperately, kicking his friend hard in the leg.

Alby lets go of him, gasping in surprise and pain. Newt sprints towards you again, ignoring the many outcries of, “Newt!”, “stop!”, “she’s not worth it!”

wasn’t that hard to identify who the last voice belonged to. he slams into you, hugging you tightly before turning to look back at the shocked faces, some still trying to figure out what had just happened.

the last thing you see is Thomas, Minho and Alby looked sadly at the two of you, before the large doors slam shut, and you’re lost in the dark.

the two of you stand in the dark, arms wrapped around each other, breathing heavily and taking in what had just happened.

(Preparing some Newtmas fanfics, exciting)

Golden

Golden (newt x gn!reader)

Word Count: 529 (sorry it’s so short)

Warnings: hints at being naked

Summary: the boy told you to wake him at sunrise but you find yourself not wanting to.

the golden light of the sun peers over the gigantic walls, turning the sky a honey colour.

you stand in the doorway of the hut, wondering what to do. Newt had told you last night to wake him if he wasn’t up by sunrise, but the peaceful look on his face made you not want to.

the yellow light of the sun shines onto his face, turning his hair, which was growing fast and covering part of his face, a beautiful golden colour. it rustles with every steady breath giving it a feeling of being alive.

freckles splash his pale face making it look as though small fireflies dance across his cheeks and nose.

his thin pink lips are turned up in a small smile, no doubt he was dreaming of a better place than here.

but that was not the only reason that you do not wish to wake him. he looked so relaxed and content that a soft yellow glow seemed to emanate from him, only another thing that made him look like an angelic, ethereal being.

you walk slowly into the room, not wanted to rouse the sleeping boy, but knowing you have to.

“Newt.” you breathe, half hopping that he won’t wake.

he groans a little and curls further into the hammock.

“Newt.” you move closer to him, brushing hair his from his closed eyelids. his blond eyelashes flutter and he opens them, showing slightly bleary chocolate irises.

“y/n? what are you doing here?” he runs a hand through his hair, unsticking strands of it from his face.

“you told me to wake me up at sunrise.” you roll your eyes, chuckling slightly.

“Yeah well…” he pauses for a moment, “thanks”

you smile, “you better get out of bed.”

he groans again, burying his face in a pillow before resurfacing and swinging his legs over the side of the hammock.

“I’ll leave while you get dressed.”

“I don’t mind if you stay.”

“nice try,” you smirk and kiss him on the cheek, “I’ll be waiting outside.”

after a minute or two, Newt slips out of the hut, looking much less exhausted. the two of you walk across towards the hall where Frypan’s kitchen attached to the hall where the gladers ate.

the golden sky was now splashed with blue, and the sun was higher, sitting serenely on the gigantic walls.

swift footsteps run towards you, and you turn to see Thomas skid to a stop next to the blond boy.

“you two getting breakfast?” he doesn’t wait for an answer, “that’s nice. listen,” he lowers his voice even though there are no other people around, “Alby needs you Newt, he wants all the keepers and well you,” he adds somewhat apologetically, “to meet him in the map room.”

Newt looks back at you and your mouth tilts into a smile, “I think I’ll be alright eating breakfast by myself for once.”

he smiles and follows Thomas towards the map room, leaving you to watch them for a moment before spinning on your heel and making your way towards the large hall. wondering all the way, what Newt would have to tell you when he returned.

(Sorry it’s short and rubbish, I have writers block, whoop whoop 🎉)

And then the world exploded

And then the world exploded (Newt x gn!reader)

Words: 5.4k

Warnings: injury, infection, explosions, mentions of death, blood, violence, mentions of violence, kissing

Summary: Minho has been taken by WICKED and the gladers are trying to rescue him

(50 follower special, whoop whoop 🎉, I luv you all tyy for being here and have an amazing week)

You POV

you follow the boys as they run along a road, looking around nervously. if they were seen by WICKED wouldn’t hesitate to blow them all sky high. you raise your head along the crowd and see Newt herding boy after boy under a moss covered overhang.

when you reach him he says in a worried voice, “is that everyone”

“yes, I’m the last one”

he nods and follows you after the others. the youngest of the boys are being comforted by the others while some had spilt into small groups to talk.

you walk with Newt, peering out around the rock you were hiding behind. you see Newts eyes scanning the area and the sky around it, muttering, “he should be here”

you put a hand on his shoulder and he holds onto your wrist, still scanning.

Thomas joins his friend at his shoulder and starts surveying the barren land between the distance WICKED building and their rocky overhang.

Newt stares, absently kicking the sand with the toe of his boot as he keeps looking into the distance.

you look at Thomas and he looks at you. he is biting his tongue and looking anxious for his friend. he had known Minho for maybe more than two years, and you have no idea what he’d do if his friend didn’t make it back to them.

“There!” Newt’s cry makes you, Thomas and others look up. you see from the distance a figure walking towards them from a distance. even from far away, it is almost certainly Minho. Newt rushes forward only stopped from running right to Minho by Thomas’ arm and quiet words.

the gladers crowd in a semicircle, bunched together watching as Minho stumbles towards them, Newt and Thomas’s faces are filled with glee and you can tell Newt is barley stopping himself from running towards his friend.

everyone keeps looking left and right, he was doing alright so far, it looked like WICKED hadn’t noticed him yet. hadn’t noticed that one of their prisoners had just escaped. the last thing you see is Minho’s face split into a giant grin. and then the world exploded.

you fall to your knees, ears ringing as bombs fall from the sky. smokes snakes around you making you cough and fire rains from above.

you bend your head, covering it with your hands and coughing violently. and then everything was still. a dull ringing fills your head and people are standing up all around you.

you find you’re sighing in relief despite yourself, as you see Newt and Thomas are already on their feet, looking around to where Minho had been a few moments ago.

“Over there.” Thomas points towards a hunched figure, no doubt Minho, shaking with coughs. three shadowy figures holding long sticks with electricity fizzing from the end, approach him from behind.

you don’t think. you weren’t thinking. all you know is that you’re running. running towards the crouched boy.

“No! Y/n!” you glance behind you to see Newt fighting off Thomas who had his arms gripped around his waist, restraining him. “No!”

you turn away from him, Newt’s screams still ringing after you. you race towards Minho and the figures, slamming into one of them and making his teammates turn and raise their weapons.

there is a fizz of electricity and you feel your limbs jerk from under you. a strangled scream escapes your mouth as you fall to the ground.

hands carry you away, another flash of electricity and shout of pain tells you Minho is being carried after you. pain ripples through your body. and then you pass out.

Newt POV

I struggle against Tommy’s grip, fighting as hard as I can to run after them. “No! Y/n!” Thomas grunts with the effort of restraining me and Frypan moves to help, grabbing my arms and pinning them down by my sides.

I see them slam into one of the figures and a flash of light as the others shoot their weapons. a strangled cry, somewhere between a scream and a sob, escapes my mouth and I double my efforts in fighting to free myself.

“Newt stop it”

I ignore him.

“Newt, if you get caught now, we won’t be able to help them”

I stop struggling and Tommy uses the opportunity to drag me away after the other gladers who had taken cover behind the large overhang.

You POV

you blink open your eyes and see Minho leaning on one of the walls of the blinding white room you’re in. “you’re finally awake.” sitting up, you rub your head.

“That was a really stupid thing to do.”

you scoff, “yeah, you’re welcome” he smiles grimly at you.

“When Newt gets his hands on us, he’ll kill both of us.” at the thought of Newt your stomach flips and you fight the urge to be sick. you didnt know whether they were safe or not, if any of them weren’t.

the last time you remember seeing him was him screaming at you to not go while being held back by Thomas.

you spin around and start hitting one of the walls with your fist, hoping you were somewhere near the door that was pretty much invisible. or non existent. but you push that thought away.

Minho is watching you, a tiny smile on his face, “it’s no use, you don’t think I’ve already tried that?”

you press your back against the wall and slide down it. Minho sits beside you, “Listen y/n, I’m grateful for what you did, I really am, but you didn’t have too”

you look at him sadly, “I did though, I couldn’t leave a friend.”

Minho sighs, “this is why Newt gets so worried about you.” you rest your head on your knees, and Minho pats you on the arm.

“I’m sorry y/n.”

“No, it’s alright, it’s true”

“but I’m still sorry”

“it’s not that. I just feel bad that I left him. that I left all of them.”

“you got me though. that was pretty brave of you, even if it was stupid. I’m glad I’m not on my own”

you look sideways at him and smile a little. he smiles back and tucks his knees up to his chin.

Newt POV

I bounce on the balls of my feet, “we need to go get them, we need to go get them”

Tommy puts a hand on my arm, “calm down, it’s alright.”

I push him away, “it’s not bloody alright, what if they’re hurt, what if they hurt them, what if they-”

I cannot finish that sentence but Tommy’s eyes show understanding. “they’re tough, y/n, they can take care of themself.”

I sighs, “I know it’s just” I bite my lip, worry creasing lines into my face.

Thomas pulls me around to face him and hugs me tightly. I find myself hugging back, resting my face on his shoulder.

“y/n’s fine, they’re both fine, they’re troopers, they’ve been through worse.”

You POV

the click of the little hatch on the door makes you jump to your feet. “about time.” Minho scoops up the food and hands you half of it, digging into his own.

you sit cross legged on the floor, silently eating with Minho. “you know you have no manners.”

Minho grins at you through a mouthful of potato and starts stuffing his face so much he looks like a hamster.

you laugh quietly.

“I’m glad I’m not alone in this place. It’d be pretty miserable.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t be alone for long. they’ll get us out”

you scoff.

“Seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised if Newt isn’t pulling out bits of his hair right now. he worries about you, you know”

you put your chin on your knees, not very hungry anymore. you did not want to think about Newt right now, let alone think about the worry you knew he must be experiencing.

Minho puts down his food, “I’m sorry y/n, I’m just trying to keep you from losing hope”

you nod at him, “how did you escape before.”

he grins to himself, pointing to a piece of plaster scraped hastily over a patch of ceiling.

“See that up there, these shanks don’t think we can get up there but I wasn’t keeper of the runners for no reason”

he gets to his feet, walks up to the back wall, takes a breath and sprints as fast as he can at the opposite wall, he jumps on a small foothold you see Minho must have made himself, and pushes off it touching the uneven ceiling with the palm of his hand.

he lands on his feet, and sits back down next to you. “it was probably because I need some fresh air but now they’ve just covered it up and are probably using some kind of fancy technology to blast air in here.”

you sigh, “how on earth are we getting out of this place”

“You’ll see” Minho smiles at you, “the others will be here, they’ll help us”

Newt POV

I feel my leg shaking, having to stop myself biting my nails for the fourth time. Tommy paces behind me, talking with Frypan and a few other gladers.

they are talking about how best to get Minho and y/n out of their prison. Brenda has a vague idea of where they are, but the rest of us are stumped, we just know that they’re in that building.

I get to my feet and walk over to the group. “Have you decided what to do for Minho and y/n yet?”

“Newt,” Tommy starts patiently, “it’s only been five minutes since you last asked that, and we haven’t got much further in figuring out how to get them out”

“Let’s just burst in there”

“Newt they’ll shoot you down within seconds”

I feel my blood boiling with hatred for WICKED, “I’d like to see them try, I’ll snap their necks in half for what they’ve done to all of us”

Tommy puts a hand on my shoulder, “If we start hurting them what do you think they’ll do to y/n and Minho. they have them trapped. won’t be too hard to put a bullet through their brains if we do anything wrong”

I press my mouth into a thin line and take a deep breath, closing my eyes tight before nodding and sitting back down some ways away, watching the WICKED building and imagining many things, most involving piles of Cranks and giant rocks of fire, destroying the whole place.

*

I feel my hopes lift as Thomas beckons all the gladers to gather around him. “I think we have come up with an idea to get Minho and y/n back from WICKED.”

I listen carefully as Thomas explains the plan, “but before we do this, I need to tell you, if anyone breaks from their post,” he fixes me with a serious stare, “this whole thing might not work.”

I raise my head indignantly, “I won’t break from my post, so long as I’m helping actually rescue them.”

Thomas looks at me and I glare back at him. then he sighs and I know he’s given in. “Fine, you can help, but don’t go running off, or attack anyone from WICKED just because they’re passing”

“Alright, alright, I’ll behave myself”

“Good,” Thomas turns to assign posts to the others, as they gather around him.

You POV

you sit in the middle of the room, your back pressed against Minho’s. “So, how long do you think it’ll be before the others get in here.”

“At least we’ll hopefully know if they tried,” you look at him in confusion, “well they’ll be thrown in here, won’t they?”

“Doesn’t seem like WICKED will let us all share a cell.”

Minho doesn’t answer, just kicks one of his legs over the other. “When do you think they’ll bring dinner.”

you laugh, “I thought we were talking about the others rescuing us.”

he shrugs, “I’m hungry.”

you laugh and he laughs too. that’s when the door clicks. both of you scramble to your feet, expecting to see the faces of their friends.

as the rat man steps through, your face falls. “What do you want.” Minho’s voice is harsh and he folds his arms across his chest.

“I’m here to take y/n”

“Mhm, let me think about that, no”

“It’s not your choice, I’ve been sent to take them”

“And why is that?”

“That, is not your concern”

Minho opens his mouth again, but you pat him on the shoulder and step towards the rat man.

he nods at you and gestures for you to step out of the door. you see Minho’s confused and a little anxious face as the door slides close behind you.

two guards flank you and the rat man as you walk down a long hallway. you look around, thinking of the possibility of escape. a guard prods you in the back with his launcher, “don’t even think about it.”

you reach a door and the rat man opens it with the guards shoving you inside. “Make yourself at home, you’ll be here for a while.” the rat man smiles cruelly as he shuts the door on you, leaving you in another, slightly smaller, white room.

Newt POV

I crouch next to Tommy, keeping my eyes on the building. two people sprint towards it, using the overhanging rocks to shield themselves from the view of the cameras that are propped all around the walls of the building.

they run until they are about one hundred meters away from it, and then they raise a hand above their head.

Thomas nods at me, and we and three others run towards them. Funny really, WICKED had so much security, yet they fail to put any cameras under these rocks. or maybe they did and were just toying with us. that was one of the reasons that only me and Tommy were going in.

we run, doubled over to avoid hitting our heads on the rough rocky roof.

Tommy holds out his hand and we stop abruptly. he turns to the boys behind us, “okay, you three, wait here and make sure nobody notices that anyone is going in or out. use a distraction, cover the cameras, just make sure WICKED isn’t focusing on us or Minho and y/n.”

they nod and Tommy moves forwards with me close behind him. we reach a heavy door, when Tommy spins around to face me. “Listen, I know you want to get them out, and we will, but don’t do anything stupid.”

I look defiant but eventually say, “fine.” he nods and ducks under the garage like door, slipping inside.

a long hallway stretches before us. Tommy leads the way down it, peeking around corners before moving.

I breathe quietly into his ear, “where are they?”

he looks around before answering, “Brenda said it was around here somewhere.”

we slip down the hallway, running around corners before Tommy stops so abruptly I slam into him.

I peer around him and see a door. my heart starts racing, and he shoots me a look that says, ‘remember don’t do anything stupid’.

he walks ahead of you, keeping one of his arms stiff as though he is getting ready to hold me back if he has to.

Thomas flattens his palms and starts patting the door, muttering under his breath. no doubt Brenda had told him how to open these mechanical door.

there is a click and a whir, and the door slides open slowly. I’m surprised that people don’t start running towards us, the sound wasn’t exactly quiet.

Minho’s apprehensive face comes into view but it quickly splits into grin as he sees me and Thomas standing on the other side.

he rushes towards us, “I knew it, I knew you’d come. I kept telling y/n.”

“speaking of which where is y/n,” I survey the room, feeling my face grow pale.

Minho looks at me, “the rat man took her. I don’t know where she is.”

Thomas pats me on the arm, and I take a deep breath, though on the inside, my heart is screaming. “Right, we probably don’t have much time before WICKED find out that you’re out of here, so we’d better find y/n, and get out of here”

at the silence that follows I nod and gesture for either Thomas or Minho to lead the way. they share a look of understanding before Thomas moves in front of me.

I follow behind him, being much less careful to be quiet. it was only a matter of time before WICKED was on us anyways.

You POV

you sit, curled in a corner of the room, bored out of your mind. footsteps run past your door and you jump to your feet, pressing your ear up to the door at the sound of mumbling.

“He’s out somehow, the cell’s empty”

“Sounds like his friends have finally come for him”

“Where is security, they should have been stopped”

“They’re over by Denver, taking care of some Cranks”

“That isn’t our problem”

“Well their paying for it and we all know-“

the last bit of the WICKED employee’s sentence was cut of by a loud crunching, and the sound of flesh against flesh.

their friend shouts in surprise but his is cut short too by a thumping sound. “Newt I told you not to do anything stupid,” Thomas’ annoyed voice echoes from near the unfindable door of your cell, “like that.”

you bang your fists on the door, shouting, “Thomas, Newt!” a shout sounds from nearby, “y/n!”

you hear footsteps run towards your door. “Back up Newt, I’ll open it.” you hear a few clicks and whirs and then a hiss as the door slides open slowly.

“Y/n!” Newt grins widely at you and you sprint towards him, throwing yourself at him, wrapping your legs around his waist. you crash your lips onto his the second you two collide.

he stumbles backwards slightly, but keeps his balance, returning your kiss and hugging you back so tightly, you’re sure neither of you can breathe. You finally break apart as Newt says quietly, “Never do that again, you hear me. Never.”

you don’t answer, you can’t promise that.

you raise your head a little and see Thomas and Minho grinning at each other. unfortunately, the moment doesn’t last. at that very moment, alarms blare and red flashing lights dance before your eyes.

“well that’s our cue, let’s get out of here.”

you intertwine your fingers with his and run after the three, down long, narrow corridors. footsteps and shouts sound from behind you.

you glance over your shoulder and hear a clicking sound. armed WICKED guards race towards the group, aiming guns at you.

the bullet flies through the air and hits you in the leg. you cry and feel it jerk out from underneath you.

Newt turns around and bends down next to you, “no, they’re not taking you again.” he sweeps you, bridal style, into his arms and runs with you.

catching up to the others, you see their eyes widen as they see you, still letting out small cries of pain, in Newt’s arms.

Thomas reaches out an arm to help his friend but he waves him away. “Keep going, I’ll take care of y/n, get the others out of the way, it won’t be long before WICKED sends those bombs again.”

Thomas nods, speeds up to run beside Minho, exchanges a few words with him and they both start sprinting away from the two of you, around a corner and out of sight.

a loud metallic creaking reaches your ears. you hear Newt groan quietly. he speeds up, running, or rather hobbling, down the long hallway.

he races around a corner to find a slowly closing garage like door. picking up the pace, you try to block out the footsteps behind you, growing closer.

Newt leans into you, whispering in your ear, “this is going to hurt, it’ll be over soon.” you nod and he touches your nose with his for a moment, before bending down and sending you rolling underneath the door.

you shout in pain as you tumble on your injured leg. as you roll to a stop, you see Newt slide under the door, just before it closes with a crash.

he kneels next to you, gently prising your bloodstained hands off your leg so he can examine it. you see him bite his lip, anger flashing in his eyes.

putting a hand on his, he smiles at you, warmth once more filling his face. yet at the sound of footsteps, both of your heads jerk upwards towards the sound.

Minho and Thomas stand above the two of you, looking grave. “What is it?”

they look at each other, “follow us.” Newt looks back down at you, “are you okay if we stand?”

you take a breath and nod. he puts one of your arms around his shoulders and, as gently as he can, rises with you.

wincing slightly, you lean on him, keeping weight off your leg. the two of you follow Minho and Thomas in silence.

you duck under rocks, bent double. you finally straighten up, expecting to see the gladers, anyone.

but you’re met with a completely different sight. large smoking craters dot the area. boulders have been destroyed, littering the floor with rocky debris.

Newt POV

“looks like WICKED were more aware of what was going on than we thought.”

“I suppose y/n, and me weren’t doing much for them except to get the rest of you in one place. seems like they attacked the others before we got back.”

“Do you think they’re alright” Thomas bites his lip, looking anxious.

“Well there are no bodies but WICKED could have always cleaned up after themselves.” I twist my hands together, worry and hatred for what WICKED had done fighting for dominance.

“They know what they’re doing.”

“That won’t stop them getting blown up.”

Minho sits down with his back against a rock, “so what’s the plan. we can’t stay here. it’s only a matter of time before WICKED blow us up too.”

“We should get moving.” y/n lowers themself steadily onto a rock, “maybe we’ll be able to catch up to the others, and regroup. and if not, at least we’re putting some distance between us and this wretched place.”

“We need to do something about your leg first. I’d clean it, but there’s nothing, but bloody sand around here”

I bend down, looking closely at the bloody fabric of her trousers. I look around me for some sort of bandage, before eventually ripping off a strip of fabric off my jacket and tying it, gently yet tightly around their leg. a small wince slips from their lips and I immediately look up. they have their eyes squeezed shut and their fists clenched.

You POV

“It’s alright love, I’m done now.”

you prise open your eyes slowly, trying hard not to look at the already bloodstained bandage.

“Are you okay y/n.” Minho is looking at you sympathetically.

“Of course they’re not bloody okay. bloody shuck ran their leg through with a bleeding bullet. and when I get my hands on the idiot that did it, I’ll-“

“you won’t do anything to anyone” you pat him gently on the arm.

“We’ll see”, menace edges his voice but the rage has left his face.

“There isn’t much we can do against them.” Thomas is watching Newt closely, “four unarmed teenagers, one of which is injured, against hoards of armed WICKED workers with bergs and launchers. this isn’t a movie, just ‘cause we’re the good guys doesn’t mean we’ll win.”

you sit in silence for a moment, letting Thomas’ words sink in. the truth was, he was right, they didn’t stand a chance against WICKED. it would be a miracle if all of them made it out of this alive. you had already lost so many.

you look around at the boys. if any of them didn’t make it. no, you shake away that thought, it was too unbearable.

besides it wasn’t true, you would make it out, all of you. you’d just have to keep telling yourself it. then maybe you’d believe it.

Newt POV

we keep walking. walking, walking. not sure to where exactly. well I know where, but I don’t know if ‘where’ is even real.

didn’t seem likely that the people that had just dropped bombs on us, and shot y/n in the leg, would just let us into a ‘safe haven’.

I feel I have good reason to be skeptical but I don’t want to mention it to the others. they’ve already got enough worry to burden their minds.

I find myself glancing over at y/n more and more often. I can tell that they’re struggling, though they don’t say anything. their small gasps every few seconds and ever increasingly obvious limp.

they catch me watching them anxiously and tries to smile but it comes out as more of a pained grimace. I move closer to them and offer them a shoulder.

with a small sigh, they lean gratefully into me. burrowing their head in my neck, their short sharp breaths slow gently.

“we need to keep moving love if you’re ready.” I didn’t want to have to say it but Minho and Thomas were getting further and further away.

they look up into my face for a moment, as though they were trying to remember every detail of it. then they nodded.

I let them wrap an arm around my shoulder as we started walking. both of us limped along after Thomas and Minho who looked like they had stopped to wait for the two of us.

You POV

you reach the boys, and see Minho and Thomas watching you closely. “Do you want me to take her Newt.”

you press closer to the boy beside you, and he looks down at you before answering, “I’m alright Tommy, they’re good with me.”

he nods. Newt looks towards Minho, “are we gonna keep moving or are we stopping here?” he cups his hands over his eyes, looking up towards the sun then back at you.

“we can stop here.”

you sigh in relief and sink onto the sand. the sun has already started setting, splashing orange into the blue sky. Newt sits down next to you and you put your head gently in his lap.

he looks down at you, stroking your hair softly. you hear Thomas and Minho laying down out of your field of vision. you close your eyes and feel sleep tugging at you.

a few weak rays of sunlight peek out from the horizon, creeping through your eyelids.

you raise your head to see Newt. dark circles showing prominently under his eyes. looking like he hadn’t slept in ages, still in the same position he was when you fell asleep.

you prop yourself on an elbow. Newt looks down at you then at the boys. “you should try and get some more sleep darling.”

“you can talk.” you retort quietly, “it looks like you didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.”

he doesn’t answer you, pretending he didn’t hear.

“Newt, you need to sleep”

he shakes his head. “Who’s gonna make sure no one from WICKED comes and takes you again in the night”

you shuffle closer to him, and put a hand on his cheek. “don’t worry about me, you need to sleep” he opens his mouth but you put a finger of his lips and drag him down slowly onto the sand.

he lets out a small sigh and, after a few moments, his breathing becomes steady. you run a hand gently through his hair. and smile at the peaceful look on his sleeping face.

Newt POV

I wake with a start, silently cursing myself for falling asleep. propping myself up on my elbow, I start looking around for y/n. my heart starts to race as I look up and down the endless dunes. spinning around frantically, I spot them and feel my heart slow from its, one hundred beats a second.

they smile, “lose something.”

“Not anymore”

“How did you sleep.” they move towards me.

“‘bout as well as I can in a desert with a fear of me or you guys being blown up by a bunch of mad scientists.”

“So pretty bad then”

I yawn hugely in answer. they look over to Tommy and Minho, who are stirring slightly. “I’d tell you to get back to sleep, but Minho will kill us both if he catches anyone sleeping longer than him. the filthy hypocrite.” they add as an afterthought, but I can tell it was a joke.

“speak of the devil”

I turn to see Minho, with bleary eyed Tommy in tow. “Shall we get moving then.” he doesn’t wait for an answer, but drags Tommy after him.

y/n rolls their eyes at me, but the smile on their face is wiped away almost instantly as they start walking. their leg seems to have gotten worse over night. they are limping worse than ever and every step is met with a grimace or small gasp.

I find myself moving closer to them, stiff, as though being ready to catch them at any moment. they seem to notice because their mouth turns into a brave smile and they say, “after this heat, I’ll never complain about the cold again.”

I have to agree with them there. I’m not sure there is a part of me that hasn’t been burned from the sun. not that I’m a stranger to sunburns.

while being both a runner and a trackhoe, I usually found myself in the sun. but this was a whole different level of torture. at this point, I’ve given up trying to wipe the sweat of my forehead.

though if anyone was struggling, it was y/n. it wasn’t that hard to see they were in pain. with both the sand dunes making walking normally impossible, and their leg that looked to be getting worse by the minute, I half expected them to keel over at any moment.

beads of sweat glisten on their forehead, and though it is hot, I’m not sure it’s from the heat. their breath is becoming rasping. yes, none of us have had enough water for quite some time, but, I can’t help worrying.

it wasn’t just me who was getting nervous. Minho and Tommy glance over their shoulder more and more frequently until they are practically walking with their heads facing backwards.

as soon as the sun starts to sink, Minho tells everyone to get some rest. he and Tommy sit on a large rock, tipping sand out of their boots, and shaking emptying bags of water sadly.

I help y/n over to another rock and after making sure they are alright, gently peeled back the makeshift bandage. the little liquid I have left in my body nearly came back up as I look at a swollen, red streaked wound where the bullet had entered their leg.

clearly an infection had set in, no doubt from the little piece of metal buried deep. there was nothing I could do but try to get as much excess blood off the strip of ripped jacket as I could.

You POV

you lean into the boy beside you and he puts an arms around your shoulders. looking up into his face you see worry there and both of you know there is nothing you can do to stop the infection.

the other boys walk over to you, “how is it looking?” Thomas asks Newt.

he doesn’t look at him, but says quietly, “infection.”

“and-“ Minho starts.

“and it means without fancy medication from WICKED there’s nothing we can do. after what’s just happened I don’t think they’ll be all too happy to help us” anger edges his voice now and his grip around you tightens.

you hold onto his hand and he relaxes a little.

“is there anything we can do, anything at all?” Thomas looks at his friend.

Newt pretends not to hear him, under the pretence of binding your leg back up, not that it would do anything but cover up the vomit inducing sight. his head is low, hidden in the shadow of the setting sun.

“Newt-“

“You just need to go easy on it and I’m sure it’ll be fine.” he pointedly ignores Thomas’ question once again.

Thomas opens his mouth again but Newt cuts over him.

“We need to rest.”

“But-“

“Now Tommy.” Minho gives him a stern look, gesturing to Newt’s blank, numb looking face.

all four of you know. you all know that if you don’t get medication, and soon, you’re not going to make it much further. you all know that you’re never going to get said medication. there wasn’t much hope. there never was much hope. but you have to keep going. for your friends. for the gladers. for Newt…

(Might continue this, if y’all like this one 😊)

Maze Runner x Yn

The Maze Runner x Y/N

Me secretly hoping for a part two: 👀👀

a gradum ad lumen - part 1 .

decided to post the first chapter to the Maze Runner fanfic I discussed earlier, I thought it would be a good way to ease back into things after my prolonged absence.  hope you all enjoy, please contact me if you have any specific requests for the series and let me know what you think!  ending is also a bit rushed, because i was super excited to get this posted for you guys, but i already have the second chapter in the works.

___

Word count: 2.1k!

Warnings : general TMR TWS; blood, slight gore, disturbing ideas / images, and depicted injuries.

Pronouns used: they/them – gender-neutral.

Prompt(s) used: “Who knows.  Maybe we’ve actually made it out of this hellhole after all.”

Pairing: TMR x GN!Reader.

A/N: just one; i imagined reader had a slight british accent when writing this, but feel free to think otherwise!!  this is also open to any skin tones, body sizes, etc.  i believe in inclusion to the fullest, and plan to make a few fanfics w/ a practising muslim reader in the future; lmk if you have any ideas! 

___

Staying out in the Maze was likely a dumb idea, especially with the ever-present thought of the fact that the Doors were bound to close at any minute pounding at the back of your head.

Nevertheless, your eyes were fixated on the sight in front of you, hands on your hips as e/c irises took in the thick vines that were rooted into the cracks lining the stone floor and stretched as far as the eye could see up the surrounding walls.  Your hand reached up to thread through h/c coloured tresses, thoughts bumbling about your head in an analytical manner. 

E/c coloured eyes moved after the beetle-blade, the metal, bug-like machine chittering as its red-light flicked across the wall it was scampering along before pausing.  Almost as though it sensed your presence, the thing’s head turned to you, camera staring right back at you as it focused on the stationary Glader.  You took a challenging stride toward it, surprised by the fact that it didn’t even move, the step bearing an experimental trial as well as it encouraged them onward.  You were quick to take advantage of the situation, leaping after the machine and closing the few metres of distance between you and the beetle blade in the process.  

Unfortunately, the sudden movement on your end had sent the beetle-blade shooting further along the wall, bee-lining it straight for a crack in the stone that it would just barely manage to fit into.  However, after months of trying to catch one of the blasted things, you’d come to learn a trick or two.  You kicked off the ground, clearly determined to finally get your hands on one of the rutting machines even if it meant having to risk the slight detour from heading back to the Glade.  

You swiftly scaled among the vines, arm shooting above head as your fingertips came to wrap around one of its legs just as the machine made to disappear.  Triumph shot through you as you were about to yank the thing back and disarm it, focused solely on the task at hand when a swift shout that consisted purely of  your name halted everything and sent them tumbling backwards when your single-handed grip on the vines jerked loose in surprise.

Your ankle, however, was more reluctant to follow, remaining  entangled amongst the vines, a sharp jerk sending jolts of pain through your leg the minute your back slammed against the hard, unforgiving floor.  The pain flared, your vision swaying as your eyes flicked to the shoes of the now approaching figure, clearly not pleased with the situation in the slightest as a frustrated and slightly pained groan drew past your lips.  Your thoughts of irritated agony echoed the emotion vividly as you practically felt  the bruises forming along your ankle, only to be interrupted by the same person who had caused you to lose your balance in the first place, a teasing lilt now lacing the newcomer’s voice, which you could easily pinpoint as Minho, 

“Man, I knew you liked me, but I didn’t realise you’d be throwing yourself at my feet the minute you heard me.  Not that I can blame you, I am pretty hot,”  Came his playful words, causing you to set your  jaw in an exasperated grimace before snapping a response. 

“Slim it, before it’s your ankle getting broken, shank,”  You growled, accent heavy and thick in their unpleasant predicament.  You took note of the airy laugh their running partner allowed to bubble past him before crouching beside you and gently unwinding the shrubbery the held them captive, leaving you to wince as your leg dropped to the floor alongside your other leg with a harsh ‘thump’.  “Bloody hell, that hurts like a fucking–,”

“Woah there, you think Newt’d approve of that kind of language?”  Minho snickered from somewhere behind you, the volume of his laughter only rising as you tilted your head back to shoot him the best glare you could muster from the ground.  After a few beats, he finally stifled the rest of his bemused sounds, eyes flicking from your haphazard position and back to your eyes that strained to keep pace with his own before he rolled his eyes and crouched down to offer you a hand up. 

You were rolling onto your stomach in an instant, gingerly twisting your aching leg a moment later with great care as to not let it snag in the chipped concrete floor before you flung your hand into Minho’s outstretched one while huffing a begrudging sigh.  His grip was cold and assuaging in contrast to your heated and unpleasant grasp from being pressed against the Maze’s floor, you noted in the fleeting moment in which your eyes met once more, only for you to bite back a bark of pain as you attempted to settle a sliver of weight onto your leg.  Had it not been for the Keeper’s firm grasp on you, you would have stumbled right back to the ground and likely been left there had he not shown up in the first place, but he offered a teasing scoff instead and slung your hand that was already in his own gloved one across his shoulders.  You obliged with his actions gratefully, almost gasping in relief as you felt the crushing weight alleviated from your injured leg, and began stumbling alongside Minho as he set a rather swift pace that you struggled to keep up with, considering you were only left with only one good leg.  

“Keep up or we might as well roll out a picnic blanket and wait for the Grievers to come and enjoy the quick meal we’d make for them,”  He managed after you stumbled for the nth time, his breathing clearly heavy, and the signs of strain obvious, but he didn’t so much as falter as he continued practically dragging you in the direction of the East Doors.  You couldn’t help but cast a partially distressed glance in his direction, feeling nothing but sorrow at the unnecessary weight you were forcing him to bear, but you knew that he would only tighten his grip on you if you tried to manage without him, so it was a losing game either way.  You cast a final glance his way, but he seemed to catch notice of your lingering stare in his peripheral vision, not even fully turning his head as his mahogany irises focused on the twisting corner wreathed with thickly woven vines just up ahead.  “What’re you lookin’ at, shank?”

You pushed off the ground with your good leg, springing forward and stumbling a few steps as Minho matched strides with you, huffing your response between focused breaths and sighs,  “Nothing.  Uh –,”  you panted softly, sweat beading on your forehead as you continued to manage single steps in the time Minho made three paced strides.  “ – anything planned for tonight?” 

The two of you rounded the corner and you could practically feel your running partner quaver in relief, his response breathless but audible as the two of you attempted to hurry through the homestretch. 

“A big plate of whatever crap Frypan has cooked and a warm shower to rest my weary bones.”

You were about to scoff a laugh the moment you cleared the Doors, already shouldering him with an eye roll and a witty quip soon to follow, when someone called out to you and Minho.  Both your heads turned in unison, your steady steps pausing as his arm fell to your waist to hold you steady, and a beaming smile instantly made way through your exasperated frown as you caught sight of Chuck ambling straight for you, Newt trotting not far behind.  

“What happened?  You guys were out for like, two hours longer than usual!”  The younger boy exclaimed as he approached, finally taking in the sight of you leaning against Minho and his arm around your form before he gagged and darted away.  “Get a room!”

You choked a surprised laugh at the suddenness of Chuck’s joke, watching his retreating figure stick out his tongue at Minho’s irritated expression, which made him look as though he was about to go after him had it not been for Newt’s prompt arrival.  You greeted him with a soft “hey” and the same smile that had been present for the short period of time you had to talk to Chuck, which the blonde seemed to eagerly return, nodding at Minho and taking in the closeness between the two of you.   

“You two had an eventful evening, huh?”  There was no malice in his voice, merely just an amusingly intrigued tone to his words as he gestured to Minho’s gentle hold on your waist, which made you fumble over your words momentarily, rapidly moving to explain the situation as your hands flicked subconsciously along with your rushed train of thought.

“Oh, uh, Minho distracted me whilst I was trying to grab a beetle-blade, and I ended up falling.  Blew my bloody ankle, it seems,”  You gesticulated to the obviously sparse pressure you were putting on your leg with a slightly nervous laugh as Newt cracked into a brighter grin.  

“It was your fault,”  Came Minho’s facetious remark before he cursed under his breath suddenly and knocked your shoulder.  “Since you’re too busy chattin’ up a storm, I’m gonna have to do the maps, aren’t I.” 

It was the second in command’s turn to scoff lightly  and wave a dismissive hand in the Asian’s direction. 

“Consider it an order.” 

“The things I do for you shanks.” 

“Yeah, a bloody hard life you have, shank,”  Newt mused, his smile never once faltering before his eyes finally strayed back to you.  “I’ll get Jack or Clint over, see what they can do in the meanwhile.  Probably just needs to keep off it for a while, take it easy.”  

“Ay, ay,”  He quipped, a lazy, two fingered salute his makeshift form of a farewell, quick to turn on his heel after his fingertips tapped your shoulder in a reassuring manner before he jogged off in the direction of the Map Room, leaving you and Newt to your devices.  

The two of you immediately fell into a bout of comfortable silence as he slowly edged toward you, taking Minho’s place at your side and slipping an arm across your shoulders before looking to you for silent confirmation to begin guiding you to the Medjack hut.  You nodded easily, instantly finding a compromised speed to limp alongside Newt, your own arm settled just under his shoulder blades as you both made your way across the Glade with the sun fully beginning to set behind you.  

“So,”  He began after a moment, doe eyes fixated wholly on you as you carefully navigated through the swishing grass.  Gladers were bustling about the expansive courtyard, some carrying plates loaded with food while Builders wrapped up the day, Gally’s shouting fit heard even from the distance you and Newt were as he ordered the others around.  “You ready for tomorrow?” 

Your head perked up in curiosity, brow furrowing as you called upon even the slightest memory to recall what was supposed to be taking place the next day, finding rather quickly that you wouldn’t be able to.  You offered te blonde a confused look as you continued to keep pace with him as best you could, only stumbling every few feet or so now that you were walking across the even terrain of the grass-laden field.  “What’s going on tomorrow?” 

The second in command chuckled, the sound more akin to the shard of a melody plucked out of a long-since-forgotten song, ancient and rich and beautiful as the golden rays of the dissipating light hit the panes of his face and sent the amber tones to his eyes sparking.  It was truly a peaceful moment, one that you found yourself eager to meld into as you laughed alongside him. 

“Greenie day.  I’m surprised you didn’t remember though, you’re usually more on top of it than I am.” 

You hummed.  It was odd, how something so big followed by the most looked forward to night of the month followed right after slipped your mind, but you figured that in combination to the surge of new Runners and having to train them alongside Minho had proved to be a bigger distraction than you had originally though.  So you shrugged, a content sigh tugging at your lips as you leaned into Newt with a nod.

“‘spose so.  Let’s just hope they aren’t another nutjob like Gally.”

rowan’s rules!!

RULES…!!

what i won’t do . sa, self-harm, incest, heavy mental illness and smut.

readers i write for . anyone!!! i’ll write for anyone, just lmk whenever you ask.

what genres i write . fluff, angst, anything but smut 💀

extra . so i basically do any character from the fandoms below, if a fandom isn’t listed just ask if i could write for it and i’ll see what i can do !! feel free to send in asks of any genre, but i can decline if i'm uncomfortable or im too busy!!

FANDOMS 🌼

stranger things . dead poets society . criminal minds . greenhouse academy . the summer i turned pretty . wednesday . the 100 . bridgerton. hunger games . little women . pretty little liars. glee . the umbrella academy. the maze runner . harry potter ( tom’s era, marauders era, & the golden era.) . xo, kitty . a series of unfortunate events . greys anatomy. bbc sherlock . enola holmes.

ABOUT ME

hi i’m rowan!!! she/they prns!! i love the marauders & post apocalyptic movies :D feel free to send asks, reqs, or to be a anon !! i’m making a master list thingy for it so yeah!! more active now as well :)

this is so cute 😍

Men and Tea

Based on this request: “a newt fic with her using the “I like my men like I like my tea” and everyone’s staring at her until she says “hot and British” and newt is just like “hey I’m British” and she’s like “yeah i know” and he’s all blushy, flustered and cute?“

masterlist

Is it a terribly dark day, or is it just you? You’re used to life in the Maze. You’re used to the constant feeling of never being able to fully relax, all because of the walls shading your back with every step you take. Sure, you can hang out with your friends, and laugh and joke all you want, but at the end of the day you’re still stuck in the Glade, with no way out. It’s wearing on you today, this knowledge. It’s wearing on everyone.

Everyone can sense it, too. Eventually Alby has had enough of seeing everyone moping around and announces that there’s going to be a Bonfire Night later in the day, which makes the Gladers perk up a little. Bonfire Nights are usually reserved for Greenie Days or particularly thrilling celebrations, so the fact that Alby’s given in and let one happen tonight should say enough about the overall atmosphere of the Glade.

Keep reading

As Brave As You Are (Newt x Reader) - A Maze Runner Story

As Brave As You Are (Newt x Reader) Reader Insert: she/her pronouns Word Count: 12,051 Warnings: death, bloody wounds, fighting, mental and physical torture, guns, suicidal thoughts and actions Spoilers: no spoilers because the books and films came out ages ago

After helping Newt recover from his ankle injury, Y/N and Newt formed an unbreakable bond that always had them looking out for each other. When they escaped the Maze, then navigated the Scorch, they always had each other’s back. It isn’t until Y/N is captured alongside Minho by WCKD and Newt contracts the Flare that he realises how he truly feels about Y/N.

Problem is, will he rescue her in time to tell her?

Note: I'm back in my dystopian future era thanks to the new Hunger Games film so of course I had to write for my original YA crush. This piece is based on the movie series mainly. Don't get mad at me, I love the books more, but I can appreciate the storylines that came out of the path they took with the films. And if there is one thing the TMR fandom can agree on, it is that the film cast was the best cast ever for the series. So enjoy - not sorry that it's horrendously long, Newt deserves it xx

‘Medjack! Medjack, now!’

Y/N recognised it was Minho was calling for help. Clint and Jeff ran out of the med hut to see what all the commotion was. It wasn’t long before they were hurrying back inside, carrying Newt of all people between them, Minho and Alby in tow.

‘Clear the table,’ Clint ordered, and Y/N quickly followed through, practically throwing off containers, bowls and medical instruments to get Newt on there as quick as possible. Once Newt was up, Y/N finally noticed the unnatural twist in his ankle and it almost sent Frypan’s sloppy sweet potato soup right back up. 

She was still pretty new to her job as a Medjack, being the greenie and all. She was the only girl in the Glade of the current twelve residents, so she was intimidated at first as to what role she could play in the place. Medjack seemed the most suitable, and she seemed to have a knack for it, having stitched up some eyebrows and cleaned up knee scrapes with ease and precision. 

But even though she’d seen blood, dealt with displaced bones and joints, she still got queasy doing her job. It didn’t help that Newt was hissing through clenched teeth from the intense pain, an occasional sob passing through.

‘What happened?’ Y/N asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Minho said. ‘We split up for only five minutes. I thought we could cover more ground that way. And we’ve run that part of the Maze like a hundred times already. I thought we’d be fine…’

Clint held Newt down as Jeff and Y/N took a look at Newt’s ankle. Jeff only pressed gently with his fingers around the bone, but Newt’s responding howls confirmed the severity of the injury.

‘The bone is completely shattered,’ Jeff said grimly. ‘We’re going to need to reset his foot first though. Y/N?’

‘On it.’ She rushed to a shelf that held bandages, then to a cupboard with flat boards about shin length. She grabbed two of those before heading back to the table.

‘You’re going to have to hold him down,’ Y/N directed at Alby and Minho, gesturing to follow Clint’s efforts. Then she turned to Newt, whose face was slicked with tears and sweat as he continued to writhe in pain. ‘Newt. Newt, can you open your eyes for me? I need you to focus on me.’

To his credit, Newt opened his eyes and he didn’t look away from her. 

‘Good. Good, Newt,’ she said. ‘Now, we have to realign your foot. It’s going to hurt a lot. We’ll go on three, okay?’

In the short time Y/N had known Newt – which arguably was no time at all, as he ran every day and she was in the Medjack hut all day. They didn’t interact unless he or another runner got hurt, or at dinner if only to say hello. Even so, she had come to know he liked it plain and straight, no bullshit. So, despite his pain, he took two deep, calming breaths and gave her a nod to say he was ready for what they had to do.

Y/N nodded back, then looked to the others, who had their hands braced on all Newt’s limbs. ‘Ready?’ she asked, to which they nodded in reply. Y/N gently held Newt’s ankle, eliciting a quiet whimper from the boy. ‘Okay, on three. One, two…’ She cut herself off as she slammed her hands either side the ankle bone, causing a loud cracking sound as the ankle snapped back into place. 

Newt’s wail of pain must’ve been heard from across the whole Glade it was so loud. He writhed and pulled to sit up, but the boys held him down as Y/N and Jeff bandaged the two splints either side of Newt’s ankle. Jeff then dabbed a small dose of chloroform in a cloth and pressed it to Newt’s nose. Soon enough, the boy was unconscious, finally pain-free.

‘You guys go have dinner,’ Y/N said to Clint and Jeff a little while later as they were cleaning up the hut. Alby and Minho had left soon after Newt fell asleep, but it was almost dinner time now. ‘I’ll stay with Newt tonight.’

‘You sure?’ Clint asked. ‘We can do shifts if you’d prefer.’

Y/N shook her head. ‘I insist. You guys rest up. I can do this. Consider this my final test to becoming a fully-fledged Medjack.’

Jeff chuckled. ‘You have much more to learn, Greenie, but suit yourself.’

‘We’ll bring you back some food, Y/N,’ Clint said as he and Jeff left the hut, leaving Y/N to idly clean up.

Newt woke up from a dull throbbing in his ankle, which turned into a harsh pain, causing him to sit up in alarm. 

‘Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay,’ a voice gently said as equally gentle hands pushed him back down.

‘My ankle,’ he said, voice hoarse and dry. ‘It hurts…’

The face of the voice finally came into view: it was the Greenie. Y/N offered him a small smile as he finally recognised her. In one hand, she held a needle with clear serum. Her other she offered to his leg. ‘May I? It’ll help, I promise.’

He hesitated for a moment, but the intense pain in his ankle broke his composure as he eagerly nodded. The painkiller worked immediately, and Newt sighed with relief as the throbbing eased significantly.

’There,’ Y/N said, wiping the needle. ’That should help for a bit. Sadly, we don’t have much left for me to give you more than once a day, but I’m hoping you won’t need it beyond the end of the month.’

Confusion clouded Newt’s mind as he tried to process her words. ‘What… What happened?’ But he answered his own question as images of the Maze flashed through his mind, and he remembered it all. How he bid farewell to Minho. How he climbed as high as he could along the Maze walls. How easy it was to let go. 

Then the pain fully encompassed him, and then it was just a blur. How Minho found him. How Clint and Jeff laid him on the table he realised he was still on. How angry and embarrassed he felt having his friends see him broken and miserable. 

Newt managed to pull himself into a sitting position, propping a pillow behind him to cushion the hut wall. ‘How bad is it?’ he asked glumly, eyes unable to lift from his injury.

He couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries. He was too tired, and, frankly, saw no point in keeping up appearances anymore. 

To her credit, Y/N seemed to pick up on his mood, saying, ‘It will heal to a point you’ll be able to walk again. But it won’t ever heal properly.’

‘You mean I’ll have a limp?’

‘Potentially.’

’So I can’t be a Runner anymore?’ Y/N didn’t reply, finally drawing Newt’s attention away from the source of his pain and to her. 

Newt had only interacted with Y/N on a few occasions. Mainly at mealtimes or the odd occasion he passed her by on the way back from a run, only talking as much as greeting and farewelling one another. As the only girl so far, of course he found her intriguing, but he never had time nor a reason to get to know her.

And while he’d come to think of her as the quiet and gentle Medjack in comparison to Clint and Jeff, he didn’t see an ounce of pity on her face as she looked at him. Only quiet contemplation, as if there could be any other answer but no to his question.

‘I guess that’s up to you and Alby,’ she finally said. ‘I mean, I know what I should say is no. I’m sure Clint and Jeff will say no. But it’ll more so come down to if you want to go back in or not.’ Her eyes flickered to his ankle, sadness glazing her eyes briefly before returning to him. ‘But I think I can take a guess as to what your answer will be.’

Newt’s gut twisted with guilt and shame that she’d figured it out, and his face flushed with embarrassment and anger. ‘So, you going to tell everyone?’ he asked, words thick  with hopelessness. ‘I mean, that’s your job, right? Diagnose me, then tell Alby, then the whole glade how pathetic I am?’

Y/N shook her head. ‘I think you give me too much credit. I’m not an actual doctor, you know,’ she said, coming to stand beside him. She inspected his ankle for a moment, then turned her gaze to him, and it shocked him to see such intensity in her eyes. It was as if suddenly he was the most interesting person in the world.

‘I can say it was a running accident,’ she finally concluded. ‘You can tell your truth when you’re ready. It’s not my place to take away hope when the others are so full of it right now. That includes me.’

He stared, stunned, as she packed up the last of her things by a spare medical cot at the other end of the hut. It wasn’t until she let out a loud yawn that Newt noticed it was dark outside. The silence of the Glade told him everyone else had gone to bed so it was late. Or early, he couldn’t really tell.

Y/N fluffed a sad excuse of a pillow and put it on the cot. ‘Now that I know you’re alive, are you going to be okay if I get a few minutes shut eye? I can stay up if you’d like.’

Now that the initial shock and embarrassment of the day’s events had subsided, Newt realised how exhausted he was still. ‘No, that’s okay,’ he said. ‘I think I should rest a bit more anyway.’

Y/N nodded and swung her legs up to lie down fully. Newt went to slide himself and his pillow back down to do the same when Y/N spoke again.

‘And Newt?’ she said, her voice soft and almost hesitant.

‘Yeah?’ he called back.

She was silent for so long Newt thought she’d gone to sleep. But then she spoke. ‘For the record, I don’t think you’re pathetic. For wanting it all to end, that is. I actually think what you did was really brave. You might be scared and maybe out of hope, but at least you did something about it. The rest of us can only hope to be as brave as you.’

Newt’s breath caught in his chest as it swelled with a mix of emotions. Brave? What he did was the act of a coward. Tears streamed silently down his face, both from a deep shame, but also a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time.

The rest of us can only hope to be as brave as you…

Newt had lost all hope after a year of searching for a way out and finding nothing. But she didn’t know that, and neither will the next Greenie, or the Greenie after that. Even some of the boys already in the Glade didn’t know that. That’s why they waited every day for the runners – for him – to come back with news, with a shred of hope that they’d get out of there soon. 

Newt twisted himself so he could see Y/N, who was rolled away from him, her body rising and falling with the rhythm of sleep. Even if he thought it would all be hopeless in the end, some truly believed they would get out of here.

And maybe that was something worth fighting for.

~

Two years on and Newt and Y/N had managed to forge something akin to a friendship. 

Y/N had kept her word and said Newt had had a running accident, and he’d agreed with her for the sake of his worried friends. Y/N had also been right about his ankle; it healed to point where he could walk and do a decent jog with a limp. But he would never run again. 

He was transferred to work as a Track-Hoe in the gardens with Zart. But it wasn’t all bad. As more boys arrived – never any girls much to their confusion – Newt developed a knack for leading others, for diffusing hard situations, and for wrangling the boys into line. Because of that, he was promoted to Alby’s second-in-command, which gave him more meaningful work to do than just the gardens – stuff that might actually get him and the other Gladers out of the bloody Maze. 

It also meant he had more time to talk to Y/N. He would make sure to drop by once a day (and not just at mealtimes) to check in on her. For a time, he convinced himself he did that because it was his job as second-in-command to keep up group morale, and he would visit everyone in the Glade. Eventually, however, he realised it was because he genuinely enjoyed her company.

Since that night, Y/N had come out of her shell more. Still a little shy and apprehensive at times, but she would openly joke and play along with the boys’ antics. She was more confident in her work as a Medjack too, not afraid to boss Clint and Jeff around if she needed something from them.

Newt’s visits became longer, as they talked about any and all things. Aside from Alby and Minho, Newt considered Y/N one of his closest friends. And she must’ve felt the same – or at least in a similar fashion – as she entertained his thoughts about life beyond the Maze, and the rants he would go on thanks to whichever stupid shank put the fertiliser in the wrong place.

It was a friendship built on mutual respect and genuine care for one another, something that helped Newt convince Y/N to come with him and the others when they finally decided to leave the Maze. But he couldn’t help but feel a deep dread and guilt as he waited behind Thomas, knowing that Grievers were right around the corner.

While the others caught up, Newt turned to Y/N – who’d been helping him through the Maze with his limp – and offered her a spare spear he’d been carrying.

Her eyes widened at his offering. ‘I can’t take that. I can’t fight.’

‘Well, you can’t just go in there without something to protect yourself,’ he said, this time forcibly handing the spear over. Y/N clutched the spear awkwardly, and Newt saw the uncertainty in her eyes, in her trembling hands.

Newt felt bad for making her hold such a violent weapon. All her hands had ever done were help people, save them at times. Now he was asking her to kill. It was for the greater good they both knew, but to kill, nonetheless.

Newt placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and locked eyes with her. ‘Hey,’ he said softly, ‘you stay with me the whole time, do you understand? I promise you won’t have to use that unless absolute necessary.’

Y/N bit her lip to stop it trembling too, but she nodded, steeling herself in preparation for the fight ahead. Newt reciprocated the action and gave her shoulder a final squeeze before turning to face Thomas as he explained the plan.

They fought the Grievers, taking down a few while some of them took down Gladers. The Gladers were backed against the door that Teresa and Chuck were trying to open with a code. Minho shouted numbers at them as he, Newt, and the others fended off one last Griever.

Before he could finish, Minho was caught by a Griever, and Clint ran out to save him. But the Griever’s tail caught him, sending him over the edge of the walkway they fought on with one flick.

‘Clint!’

Before Newt could stop her, Y/N rushed out from behind him, spear drawn back and flying at the Griever in seconds. Not being a fighter to begin with, let alone a good one, the spear bounced off its metal leg without much effect. It did, however, alert the Griever to her presence, turning all its attention to her. Minho leapt to his feet, finally free, and ran back to the group. ‘Y/N!’ he cried as he ran. ‘Run!’

Y/N seemed to finally realise her situation, looking up at the Griever frozen with fear. The horrible creature raised its claw to end her, but Newt moved faster. 

He ran as fast as he could, limp be damned, past Y/N and threw his spear at the Griever’s head. It landed true, puncturing one of the creature’s bulbous eyes, drawing a painful screech from it. Newt didn’t wait to see what it would do next, as he grabbed one of Y/N’s arms and Minho grabbed the other and ran back to the group, practically throwing her behind the front line and against the door. 

Teresa finally got the door open and the Gladers tumbled in, Thomas throwing one last spear down the Griever’s throat as the doors closed. 

Lights flickered on to show they were in some empty room with a door on the wall behind them leading to a corridor.

Thomas looked at the group, taking heavy breaths. ‘Everyone okay?’

‘What’s left of us, that is,’ Winston said, his tone sad and regretful. 

As Newt eyed the group, he noted how many they’d lost, how little their group seemed all of a sudden. 

Minho stepped ahead with Thomas, pointing towards the door. ‘Well? It’s not going to open itself.’

As Minho and Thomas led the group to the exit, Newt turned to Y/N, whose eyes had a distant look glazed over them. ‘What were you thinking?’ he asked, bringing her attention to him. ‘I told you to stay behind me. You could’ve been killed.’

‘I-I know. I’m sorry,’ she stuttered out, tears teetering in her E/C eyes. ‘I just… Clint… It all happened so fast, and I was just kind of moving before I knew what I was doing.’ She looked down at her hands then, and Newt noticed a slight tremble to them. ‘I thought I could help, but I was too slow. And I put you guys in danger too. I’m just… I’m sorry.’

Newt’s guilt came back full force then. He placed a gentle hand over her trembling one, grasping her fingers to stop their shaking. When she looked up at him confused, he just said, ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pressured you into thinking you had to fight. You won’t ever hold a weapon like that again. I promise.’

Y/N opened her mouth to object no doubt, but Newt cut her off. ‘But you have to promise me something back. Promise me that you’ll let us protect you. You can help by keeping us alive, just like you always have. But you’ve got to listen to me, you got it?’

He used his authoritative voice this time, and it seemed to work as Y/N calmed down, her unshed tears now gone.

‘Okay,’ she said, quiet but strong. ‘I promise.’

Newt nodded. ‘Good that.’ He turned to see the others leaving through the door then turned back to Y/N. ’Do you think we’d be lucky enough not to face anything else beyond those doors.’

‘I think we should consider ourselves lucky for getting this far.’ To her credit, Y/N managed a small smile as she looked up at him. ‘But why should our luck run out now?’

There it was again; the glimmer of hope Newt had felt from her since the night he injured his ankle. Newt couldn’t deny that they’d made it this far – by design or by luck, they’d made it. 

And who was he to deny that things might be on the look up for them now?

Together, Y/N and Newt followed the rest of the Gladers to meet their makers.

~

‘I never thought I’d say this… but I miss the Glade.’

The group around the fire grew silent at the implication Frypan’s words had, the memories they conjured up. Y/N couldn’t help but agree as she looked into the dark sky above her, peaking from behind the crumbling pillars they took refuge under. 

The sky was always so clear back in the Glade, she recalled silently. But, just like their current situation, the sky was now obscured. 

The people who rescued them from the Maze were actually WCKD – the people who’d put them in the Maze in the first place. The past twelve hours had seen herself, Newt, Thomas, Minho, Frypan, Winston, and a boy named Aris find Teresa, break out of the facility, and enter the deadly Scorch. In their search for supplies, they’d been attacked by crazed, infected people, driving the group to hide where they were.

The Maze was dangerous, but it was familiar and the only home Y/N recalled ever having. Out in the Scorch, safety wasn’t guaranteed. 

She looked to Winston, who laid back, his shirt pulled up to expose the bloody bandage she’d wrapped his torso in. Y/N tried not to think about the infected scratch marks underneath, and more specifically what gave them to him. The Grievers were one thing, but the things that attacked them? They used to be people.

Not wanting to sit in her thoughts anymore, Y/N stood up, brushed off her pants, and grabbed knife from their pile of weapons they’d found in the abandoned mall. ‘I’ll take first watch.’ 

She didn’t wait to hear if anyone objected, already walking around the stone that covered them so she was on top. To her relief, the others let her go without argument, putting out the fire and quickly settling down to sleep.

After half an hour, Y/N decided to get up and patrol around the area, knife tightly gripped in her hand and her footsteps quiet despite the sand. 

There was so much of it,  the sand. The lady in white – Doctor Ava Paige – had said in her video that the whole world was just desert now. The thought made Y/N yearn for the Glade even more. For the grass, and the woods, and the bonfires they used to have, and the games they played. The boys – Clint, Jeff, Alby, Gally, Chuck. 

Y/N wasn’t a hateful person, but she clutched the knife tighter at the thought of all the loss they’d all suffered at the hands of WCKD. 

It’s why she didn’t hesitate to follow Newt when he’d found her in her room – for some reason, she hadn’t been allowed to stay with the other girls from the other mazes just yet. It’s why they were now braving the Scorch searching for people that Thomas didn’t know even existed. They wanted a better life out from under WCKD’s thumb.

The crunch of sand had her whirling around, awkwardly poising the knife as if to attack, but she relaxed at the familiar person standing there.

Newt raised his hands in mock surrender. ‘Whoa there,’ he said, the quirk of a smile on his lips telling her he was just joking. ‘You could do some real damage if you’re not careful.’

Y/N blew out in relief, the knife dropping to her side again. ‘Thanks, but we both know that’s not the case, Newt.’

Newt shoved his hands in his jacket pocket, shrugging his shoulders as he did. ‘I don’t know, I’ve seen you with a scalpel. Absolutely terrifyingly precise with that thing.’

Y/N chuckled softly, appreciative of the distraction. But her smile dropped as she looked out into the dark cityscape. The moon hid behind clouds so Y/N couldn’t make out anything. ‘Is it pathetic that I’m scared to see what the world has become?’ she asked, not daring to raise her voice above a soft mumble.

Newt stepped up beside her, his body radiating the last remnants of heat from the fire and it warmed her slightly. ’Someone once told me that I was brave for facing my fear,’ he said after some quiet contemplation. 

Y/N looked up at him confused, but he looked down at her with a knowing, smug smile. Much to her chagrin, she couldn’t help but chuckle and shake her head at him. ‘I don’t recall saying that specifically. But if that’s how you saw it, who am I to tell you that wasn’t what I meant?’

Newt hummed in agreement looking back out at the dark expanse, contemplation scrunching his brows together. ‘I’ll be honest with you, I’m scared too.’

That surprised Y/N. Newt, second-in-command, casual, leader Newt was scared? ‘You are?’

Newt nodded. ‘I’m scared that we’ve made a mistake. That Thomas is wrong and there aren’t any mountain people.’ He turned back to Y/N, the most serious she’d ever seen him. ‘I’m scared we’re going to lose more of us, and then what was our escape for? But… it’s not my place to take away hope when the others are so full of it. Including myself.’ Finally, Newt’s smile returned, and it warmed that cold pit of despair Y/N had been falling into ever since they left the WCKD facility. ‘Or, at least, I think that’s what someone very wise once told me.’

Y/N stared at him, awestruck. Hopeful. Newt was hopeful again. And she didn’t want to read into it, but she thought the knowing smile he was giving her told her that she had something to do with it. The thought alone strengthened her resolve, and she looked down at the knife in her hands, less afraid of it all of a sudden.

Y/N held it out to Newt. ’Teach me.’

He raised an eyebrow in a silent question. ‘What?’

’Teach me. How to fight,’ Y/N explained, eyes unwavering from his. 

Concern flashed across Newt’s face for a brief moment. ‘Y/N, I told you, you don’t have to fight if you don’t want to.’

‘If there is one thing I’ve come to know about WCKD is that it doesn’t actually matter what I want anymore. What any of us want,’ Y/N said, feeling the most certain she’s felt in a long time. ‘The one thing we have on WCKD is that we are defiant. We escaped, and are taking away the one thing they want most of all: a chance to find a cure. So, if we’re going to have any hopes of making it to the mountains alive, I’m going to have to know how to fight. So please – teach me.’

Newt contemplated her for a moment, and Y/N just prayed he wouldn’t say no. Or even worse, laugh. Instead of doing either, he took the knife from Y/N’s hand, his fingers brushing across her palm as he did. 

‘All right,’ he said, moving his feet apart to get into a fighting stance. ‘First of all, you’ve got to have a wide-ish stance, and stay light on your toes so you can control when you back away from your opponent.’ 

He demonstrated the movement by quickly shuffling away, always keeping his feet a certain distance apart and the knife gripped tight by his hip. ‘…and when you go into attack.’ He moved so fast Y/N didn’t see his footwork, her eyes locked on his as they bored into hers, knife poised at her neck as if he’d strike.

He stepped away and gave her the knife back. ‘You think you can do that?’

Y/N nodded and took the knife, and for the next hour Newt taught Y/N basic blocks and manoeuvres that he’d picked up from Thomas and Minho and just from basic instinct. Just like she’d been with her Medjack skills, Y/N was a quick study, performing move after move when Newt asked her to. 

She impressed herself. For a natural pacifist, she wielded the knife quite fluently.

They decided to finish the session on a quick sparring match. Newt took a swipe at Y/N, and she stepped back just like Newt had taught her. She then rushed in for an attack, to which Newt threw up his own knife in time to block. Y/N anticipated the pushback and twisted out of Newt’s way as he stumbled slightly forward. While he was disorientated, Y/N gripped his wrist that controlled his knife and pointed her own into his back. 

‘Looks like I win,’ she said, breathless but proud.

Y/N didn’t like the carefree scoff he gave her, followed by, ‘Are you sure?’

She doubted herself for a moment, loosening her grip enough for him to twist out of her reach, knock her knife away and bend to sweep her legs out from underneath her. Y/N landed hard, groaning at the pain in her butt as Newt looked down at her and laughed. 

‘I’m glad you find my pain amusing, Newt,’ she grumbled, rubbing her sore behind.

Newt laughed for a moment longer then calmed down. But his radiant smile remained on his face, brightening the darkness surrounding them. ‘I’m sorry, love,’ he said between remaining chuckles. To his credit, he held out his hand in an offer to help her up. ’But the surprise on your face was priceless.’

Y/N contemplated his hand for a moment, whether she should just push it away or take it. Instead, an idea came to mind, and she gripped his hand tightly then pulled him to the ground with her. He landed on his stomach beside her, getting a face full of sand.

Y/N let out a loud laugh before quickly covering her mouth to stifle the relentless laughter that wished to burst from her. 

Newt spat and coughed out sand as he made to sit up. ‘Well,’ he started, spitting out more sand as he looked up at Y/N, ‘I should’ve seen that coming.’

That just made Y/N laugh even harder, using now both hands to quieten the giggles. Goodness, when was the last time she’d laughed this freely? When was the last time she’d felt such joy? After everything they’d been through, Y/N was worried she’d forgotten what was like to laugh.

When she’d calmed down, she looked down to see Newt propped up on his arms looking up at her with an odd expression on his face. Like he was in awe, maybe. Whatever it was, it made Y/N acknowledge how handsome Newt had become. His baby features had faded since she’d first met him, being replaced by a lean figure and a toned jawline from working in the gardens every day for two years. And with his big brown eyes, tousled blond hair and funny accent, Y/N wondered how he had changed so much without her realising it. How she hadn’t realised he’d grown up.

The intensity with which he looked at her brought a heated blush to her face, and so she turned away into the cool night breeze, willing the blush to cool down. Newt shuffled to sit up next to her. They didn’t speak for a minute, until Newt suddenly stood up. 

‘Well, um,’ he started, and for the first time since Y/N had known him, he sounded uncertain about what to say. ‘I better let you continue with your shift. At least you know how to defend yourself now.’

Y/N hastily stood up as well, making sure there was at least a step between them. ‘Yes!’ she said. ‘Thank you for that. I’ll be sure to practice.’

‘Good that.’ 

They looked at each other for a moment, and even though Newt said he was leaving, he made no move to leave. Maybe he doesn’t want to, she thought, and the mere possibility of that being true warmed her heart.

But he took a step away, gave her a shy smile and a small wave farewell. ‘Goodnight, Y/N.’

‘Goodnight Newt,’ she said, those two words hanging in the air long after he’d left.

As she finally woke Frypan up for his shift, she clung to the knife and went through all the manoeuvres Newt had taught her until she fell asleep. 

Newt was unable to sleep until Y/N woke Frypan up to take the next watch shift, and laid down to sleep herself. Newt opened his eyes to see Y/N laying across the pit they’d dug out for the fire. She faced him on her side, and Newt noticed with curiosity that she held the knife she’d practiced with close to her chest. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically, and paired with her heavy breathing, Newt figured she was completely asleep. 

An odd sensation fluttered in his chest and stomach as Newt considered Y/N’s sleeping face. It was the same feeling that had fizzled in his chest when he’d looked up at her as she laughed. He couldn’t remember the last time any of them had laughed as freely as she had. 

And he couldn’t help but admire how beautiful she looked doing so – hiding her bright smile behind trembling hands, eyes narrowed but sparkling with joy. 

All because of him.

He rolled onto his back then, not wanting to give the thought anymore weight. There’s no point getting your hopes up, he reminded himself. But like a moth drawn to flame, Newt couldn’t help but tilt his head to gaze upon her peacefully sleeping. An ache carved itself deep in his heart. How had he not realised her growing up, changing? Being the only girl for a long time, of course he and the others found her pretty. But now that he looked at her – really looked at her, and wasn’t concerned with his life for just a split second – he realised just how beautiful she was. 

It was in her features, but also in her determination to be better for the group. It both hurt and impressed him when she asked for his help. He promised her she would never have to fight again, but things have changed drastically since the Maze.

It was in her ability to still find the joy in things, to still be able to laugh despite their situation.

It was how she believed in Thomas, in Aris, in the mountain people, even if she was scared. 

‘The rest of us can only wish to be as brave as you,’ he whispered into the night, a silent promise that he’d tell her that sometime. 

And with the fluttering in his chest finally easing into a calm warmth, he finally fell asleep.

~

Everything exploded with chaos as Y/N, Newt, Thomas, and Minho navigated their way through the Right Arm camp as guns fired and explosions went off. 

Teresa had betrayed them. Y/N couldn’t believe it when it was revealed in front of everyone, and she still couldn’t believe it as Minho pushed her head down, sheltering her from another explosion. Teresa truly believed WCKD could find a cure, but still at the expanse of Y/N and her friends’ pain. And just when Thomas was going to blow them all sky high, Jorge and Brenda had come in like a saving grace, and that’s when all hell broke loose.

‘This way!’ Thomas yelled over the din, beckoning them behind a weapons container.

However, Minho stopped suddenly and picked up a launcher. Keep going!’ Minho called over his shoulder as he shot at WCKD soldiers around him. ‘I’m right behind you!’

Thomas and Newt reached the container, but Y/N stopped and turned at the sound of a painful cry. ‘Minho!’ she cried as her friend fell, his body convulsing from a launcher shot. 

‘Y/N, no!’ Newt called after her, but she was already running back to Minho, grabbing at his jacket to drag him to safety. 

But Y/N was not strong like the boys, and certainly not strong enough to move Minho in any hurry. She looked up just in time to see a launcher fire at her, then her body felt like it was on fire. 

She was sure she was screaming, but she couldn’t hear anything as the electricity struck every nerve with a vicious bite. After what felt like an eternity of pain, she was granted a moment of peace as her vision went white, then in a flash was swamped by darkness.

Newt’s heart stopped when he saw Y/N shot. She convulsed as Minho had, then collapsed beside their friend unconscious. The second Y/N hit the ground, Newt found his voice again, feelings of anger and desperation clawing their way through every vein in him.

‘Y/N, no!’ His cry came out broken as he made to run to her, but a strong hand gripped the back of his jacket and pulled him back. 

‘No, boys,’ Vince shouted over the din, holding both Newt and Thomas back. 

‘Let me go!’ Newt protested, struggling against Vince, eyes darting between him and Y/N. ‘I need to help her! Y/N!’

But WCKD soldiers were already picking up Y/N and Minho’s unconscious bodies, dragging their feet through the red dirt and into a berg.

‘I’m sorry, son,’ Vince said, and Newt thought he sounded genuine. But that didn’t stop icy terror gripping tight on his heart as the doors began to close on Y/N, Minho, and other immunes from the Right Arm.

Thomas called for Minho, and Newt called for Y/N, but neither could do anything to help their friends as they were flown away. Back in WCKD’s clutches once again.

When the sun rose, the remaining survivors came out of hiding and began scrounging up supplies. They were moving on, Vince claiming there was nothing they could do but keep going with who and what they had left.

Newt couldn’t accept that, and neither could Thomas apparently, as he claimed he was going after Minho, Y/N and the others. Without hesitation or any further explanation, Newt was the first to sign up and join him.

And so, they went on a quest to rescuing Minho, Y/N, and as many immunes as possible. The train hijack was a huge success with immune numbers, but no Minho and no Y/N. Even so, Newt refused to accept that he’d never see either of them again. Even when they almost got killed by cranks. Even when he, Thomas, Brenda, Frypan, and Jorge were almost blown up by turret guns.

Even when he found out he was infected with the Flare.

He could feel it, his mind slowly slipping away as the Flare ate away at his sanity. He was usually level-headed and rational – it’s part of the reason he became second-in-command in the first place. Guilt and shame ate away at him as he sat on the rooftop of their hideout in the outskirts of the Last City, explaining to Thomas why he just bit his head off about being in love with Teresa.

Not that I’m one to talk, he thought as he rolled down as his sleeve, silence wrapping around him and Thomas comfortably. Newt could feel Thomas didn’t know what to say, and Newt didn’t like long silences so he broke it.

‘The crazy thing, though is…’ Newt started, a soft but sad scoff escaping him, ‘I’m not scared of dying. I used to be, back in the Maze. Because it felt like my friends were dying for no reason, without purpose. But…’ Newt looked over his shoulder, past Thomas, and to the peaking spires of the Last City. To where Y/N was being held somewhere.

‘I have something to die for now,’ Newt said, eyes never wavering from the spires.

Thomas came to sit beside Newt, a sad realisation drawing his brows and lips down. ‘You’re not just talking about Minho, are you?’ he asked.

It was how gentle and matter-of-fact Thomas spoke that had Newt’s chest tightening with fear and an immense pressure he’d been scared, until now, to acknowledge. His throat threatened to close on him as he spoke, rendering his words tight and uncontrolled. ‘I failed to protect her, Tommy,’ he managed to get out. ‘I promised I’d always protect her, and I didn’t.’ 

It surprised Newt how simultaneously hard and easy it was to speak about his feelings, and now that he had started, the words just flowed. 

’She’s just always been there, so I never saw it coming,’ Newt continued, a melancholic smile adorning his lips as he recalls the day he met you, how you helped him with his ankle. How, since then, you’ve always been by his side, growing with him, changing with him, supporting him and everyone else around you. 

’Saw what?’ Thomas asked.

‘I never saw that I could have a future after the Maze, after all of this,’ Newt explained. ‘That I would want a future… with Y/N.’ And with that, his tears finally spilled over, the pressure in his chest bursting into sobs that wracked his whole body. Newt was vaguely aware that Thomas was now holding him, and so he wrapped his arms tight around his friend, around his brother.

‘I love her, Tommy,’ Newt whispered over Thomas’ shoulder, his words obscured somewhat by his tears and holding back sobs. ‘And I’m scared I’ll never be able to tell her before I go.’

‘Hey,’ Thomas said, pushing Newt to arm’s length. He kept one hand on Newt’s shoulder and used his other to grip Newt’s neck, forcing their eyes to lock. ‘We’re going to find her – and Minho, and the other immunes. We’re going to get you that serum that helps with the Flare – as much of it as possible – and you’re going to tell her. You’re not dying. No one is dying. You hear me?’

No one could replace Alby, but the way Thomas was taking control of the situation reminded Newt of his old friend. How kind yet stern he could be. How hopeful yet pragmatic he was. It was something familiar that Newt was thankful for. He quickly calmed down, wiped away his tears and nodded at Thomas.

‘Good that,’ Thomas said, a small proud smile gracing his lips at his use of Newt’s common phrase. 

Newt couldn’t help a chuckle as well. ‘Good that, indeed,’ he agreed, and followed Thomas back inside the hideout to finalise their plan to get into the WCKD facility.

…and you’re going to tell her. You’re not dying. 

There was a nagging voice in the back of Newt’s head that was telling him not to believe Thomas. That Newt was going to die, or worse, turn into a crank and hurt his loved ones. That voice had followed him from the Maze, to the Scorch, and now the Last City. It was the voice that had driven him over the edge of the Maze walls all those years ago. But not anymore.

Newt had to keep hope, just as Y/N had taught him. He just had to be brave.

~

Y/N sat in the corner of her white-walled cell, hugging her knees to her chest as she rested her head on top. She’d sat there for hours, perhaps days. Y/N lost track of time after her first month in WCKD’s facility. 

There were no windows, and the lights never dimmed. She pressed her eyes into her knees in the hopes of downing out the incessant white light. Her eyes ached with sleep deprivation, but she refused to sleep. The nightmares were much worse to deal with, and they always came whenever she closed her eyes.

Images of her friends dying in the Maze and the Scorch, of Grievers chasing her, of her friends turning into cranks and attacking her. Images fed to her by WCKD. 

She knew they weren’t real, but she could never wake herself up in time to escape them. So, she stayed awake, knowing that she’ll have no choice but to face her nightmares when the doctors and scientists come to test on her again.

Y/N shivered at the thought of seeing another needle, of seeing her blood drained from her while WCKD turned her mind against her. When will it be enough? She might’ve lost track of time, but Y/N knew she’d been in the facility for a while now. If they hadn’t found anything by now, something told Y/N that nothing she gave would ever be enough. That included her life.

She knew Thomas and Newt would be dumb enough to come after her and Minho – that’s just the kind of people they were. Her heart ached at the thought that their efforts would be in vain. 

Y/N hadn’t seen Minho since they arrived, having been separated from each other and the other immunes. Something about how they were the most promising subjects, she overheard from a scientist one time. Y/N didn’t know if Minho was alive, and if he was, what condition he was in. 

But Minho was strong, the strongest of all the Gladers in Y/N’s opinion. If he was being tortured like her, he would be able to hold on. Y/N highly doubted she would last much longer.

The rest of us can only hope to be as brave as you…

Y/N wasn’t sure if Newt knew she was actually awake that first night in the Scorch, but she’d heard him, his words so soft she thought she’d dreamt it at first. But it had been real; Newt thought she was brave.

She was too dehydrated to produce tears, but an ugly sob desperately tried to escape her aching chest. She bit her lips instead, hard enough to draw a little blood, and the sob died out, leaving her body quiet except for her mind.

I’m sorry Newt, but I am not brave.

Even so, Y/N refused to crumble to WCKD anymore. They’d taken everything from her. Her life, her memories, her loved ones, her friends. Even her hope – something she so naively believed no one could take from her. They would not take her dignity.

She raised her head at the sound of her cell door unlocking, blinking a few times as bright light flooded her vision once more. Two WCKD soldiers and two scientists stood by the door, and Y/N spied a gurney just behind them. 

One of the scientists – young male, maybe in his early twenties – stepped forward. ‘Time for more testing, Y/N,’ he said in a cold tone. But he had the sense to look sympathetic as his eyes roamed over Y/N as she stood up, showing how pale her S/C skin had become, how dark the circles beneath her eyes were, how the cargo pants and grey t-shirt hung off her in areas where she used to fill.

Y/N knew it was useless, but still she ran for the door, pushing past the scientists with ease despite her weakened state. However, she hit the soldiers like a brick wall, unable to fight against them as they restrained her arms and pressed her against the wall. The male scientist recovered quickly and injected her with a serum that made her drowsy enough that she wasn’t in control of her body. She was conscious as the soldiers strapped her to the gurney and the four of them wheeled her down corridor after corridor, and all she could do was watch fluorescent lights pass her by as she stared at the ceiling. 

Soon enough, she was in a familiar room: the test lab. 

‘It hasn’t been that long since we last tested her,’ the other scientist – a female, about the same age as her co-worker – said, her words laced with worry. ‘We put her under again, we risk losing her for good this time.’

‘I didn’t make the call,’ the male said as he continued to set up equipment around Y/N. ‘When Janson says he wants a cure, I don’t question him. Do you?’

The female didn’t answer, switching her focus to helping her co-worker. Y/N could slowly feel the serum wearing off – it was obviously only a light dose, the scientists knowing they’d put her under when they began testing. 

But just as they unstrapped her to move her to the nightmare simulator, the room shook, sending Y/N rolling to the ground as glass and steel broke around her. 

Sounds were muffled briefly and her vision blurred in and out of focus. She couldn’t hear what exactly the soldiers were shouting, but she saw them run out of the room alongside other soldiers. That just left her and the scientists. 

Y/N flexed her fingers, the serum completely wearing off. Before she could stand though, two hands roughly grabbed her arms and hauled her to her feet. ‘Come on, Y/N,’ the male scientist said, pushing her towards the machine. ‘Just one more trip under…’

Fear electrified Y/N’s every nerve. No, not again. With a desperate cry, she shoved the male into the utensils table, sending him and the tools scattering across the ground. Before he could get up, Y/N straddled his upper body and slammed his arms into the ground.

‘Get off me!’ he yelled, struggling violently beneath Y/N. He managed to twist them both around until she was the one pinned to the ground. Y/N struggled but to no avail. She was significantly weaker than she was when she was first captured and he knew that.

‘You little brat,’ he spat in her face. ‘Ungrateful, selfish immunes. Your duty is to save us all! You–’

He was cut off when he suddenly went slack, falling unconscious on top of Y/N. She scrambled out from underneath him, then looked up from the floor to find the female scientist with a syringe in her hand. She looked between her unconscious co-worker then Y/N, a scared and disbelieving expression morphing her delicate features. 

‘Go,’ the scientist finally said, her voice shaky, but the resolve in her eyes told Y/N that she wouldn’t chase after her. The room – no, the whole building – shook again, and when Y/N looked out the window, she realised why.

The city outside was on fire. Buildings crumbled, and Y/n could hear the screams and cries of civilians through the broken windows. The scientist wouldn’t chase her because there was no point. 

This was the end.

‘Go!’ The scientist insisted, and Y/N didn’t think twice. She picked herself up, ignoring the cuts and scraps of glass it caused her, and ran out of the room.

She ran into the corridor, ignoring the cries of soldiers and other scientists who recognised her as a subject. She didn’t know where she was going, but this was the most freedom she’d had in forever.

Then a thought came to her – Minho. She had to find him, he surely had to be alive. She would run through every floor if she had to to find him. So she ran, looking into every test lab, every storage closest, every break room on the floor. 

‘Minho!’ she cried, uncaring at this point if someone heard her. She just wanted to find him. She didn’t want to die without a familiar face with her. ‘Minho, where are you?’

She rounded a corner, right into the chest of a WCKD soldier. He was caught by surprise, giving Y/N an opportunity to slam him into the wall. It was like her fear was giving her a boost of strength, as she kneed him in the groin, sending him to the ground. He dropped the pistol he was holding, and she quickly picked it up and smacked the butt over the back of his head. He fell to the floor in one last scuffle and laid unmoving as Y/N sucked in deep breaths.

‘Y/N?’

She whirled around at the familiar call of her name, only to find three other people had entered the corridor. Thomas, Minho, and Newt. Her eyes scanned over them all, heart aching with an intense relief it threatened to crush her chest. ‘Guys?’ Her voice was hoarse with disuse and exhaustion. She was surprised she even had a voice after all her screaming.

Newt stepped forward, a relieved smile gracing his lips. ‘Yeah, love,’ he said, sounding on the verge of tears. ‘It’s us.’

Y/N’s first instinct was to run into his arms, the only place she’d felt since leaving the Maze. But she took a closer look at him. He was paler than when she last saw him, almost sickly with how dark the circles under his eyes were. Crank.

She pointed the pistol at her friends, causing them to raise their hands in shock. ‘Whoa, Y/N, it’s us!’ Thomas exclaimed.

‘No,’ she said, her voice cracking ever so slightly. ‘How do I know I’m not in that simulator again? How do I know this isn’t just another test, another trial?’

‘What are you talking about, Y/N?’ Newt asked, worry crinkling his brow. 

’She doesn’t trust her mind,’ Minho said, as if in explanation. ‘Boy, they really did a number on her…’

‘Shut up!’ Y/N unlocked the safety and pointed the gun at Minho. ‘You’re just trying to trick me. Make me think everything is all right. But it’s just a lie. You’re not here. You’re not here…’

Newt stepped into the firing line. ‘We are here, love. I promise, we’re really here.’

‘Newt…’ Thomas warned, but Newt remained, eyes locked on Y/N’s.

Y/N couldn’t look away from Newt. He sounded so genuine, so much more real than previous simulations. But WCKD couldn’t be trusted, and they were wearing soldier uniforms…

Her hands shook but her voice was strong. ‘Prove it,’ she said. ’Tell me something only the real Newt would know.’

Newt swallowed thickly. ‘Okay, um… You cut yourself when you tried out being a Slicer and had to have Clint and Jeff fix you up. That’s when you thought being a Medjack would be a good idea.’

‘WCKD was watching us the whole time. They would’ve seen that,’ she countered, using both hands to grip the gun. 

‘Okay, okay,’ Newt said, looking away a moment to think of something else. When he finally looked back at her, he was calm once more, eyes genuine and sincere. ‘How about how I jumped off the walls of the Maze in an attempt to kill myself?’

The world around the four of them seemed to freeze, as if the world wasn’t collapsing outside. To Y/N’s knowledge, Newt had never told anyone the truth of what happened that day. It was the shocked and tragic expressions on both Minho and Thomas’ faces respectively that had Y/N loosening her grip on the gun slightly.

Newt took a small step closer, eyes never straying from her. ‘I had lost all hope of getting out of that bloody maze. So I did the one thing I could do to control the situation. But I failed.’ He stepped closer again. ‘I was embarrassed, ashamed. I was just a coward. But you healed me and told me something I will never forget. I have held onto it like a lifeline through the Maze, through the Scorch, and all the time I was looking for you.’

He took one final step towards her, unfazed at how the gun pressed hard against his chest. Now that he was so close, Y/N saw just how sick he was. He looked like the early stage victims of the Flare they’d seen in the decrepit city they’d lost Brenda and Thomas in temporarily. And while Y/N refused to believe Newt – her beloved, sweet Newt – was infected, his eyes were the same as always. Open, honest, and truthful.

‘The rest of us can only hope to be as brave as you.’

It wasn’t the fact that he knew the exact words – again, WCKD had cameras everywhere in that Maze, they would’ve heard it. It was instead the emotion tied to the words. She felt them, felt the lifeline they’d created for him in his darkest moment. He wasn’t lying, and that meant he was real.

Finally, she allowed the sob to break free as she dropped the gun and threw her arms around Newt’s neck. He breathed out in relief, bringing her closer to his chest, face pressed into her H/C hair.

‘It’s really you,’ she whimpered, grasping tighter to the person she’s always been able to rely on. The person who has always protected her and brought out the best in her. Her closest friend, her safety net, her home. 

‘It is, love,’ he said into her hair, breathing her in deeply. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you before.’

‘It’s okay,’ she said, pulling away to look up at him then to the other two. ‘I can’t believe you came after us.’

‘I know right,’ Minho said, punching Thomas’ arm lightly. ‘Dumb shanks.’

‘You can berate us later,’ Thomas said, rubbing his arm. ‘Right now, we’ve got to get out of here before Lawrence brings down the whole city.’

Y/N went to ask what he meant but gripped onto Newt instead as the building shook again.

‘Come on, let’s go,’ Newt said, grabbing Y/N’s hand with one hand, and holding a launcher in the other. Together, the four of them ran to escape WCKD once and for all.

~

‘Brenda!’

Y/N didn’t care about the rain of bullets and walls of fire around her as she ran for the berg. After hearing Teresa’s broadcast, she needed to get the cure back to Newt fast. Leaving him was one of the hardest things she has had to do. He wasn’t in great condition, but Thomas insisted that he’d take care of Newt. But the medicine Thomas had given Brenda all those months ago didn’t just buy her time, it had cured her completely. It could do the same for Newt.

If she could make it in time.

‘Brenda!’ Y/N cried as she spotted her friend. ‘The cure! I need the cure!’

Brenda understood, immediately retrieving one of the extra capsules Mary had made from Thomas’ blood before WCKD raided the camp. ‘Here,’ she said, passing over the injector. 

‘Thanks!’ Y/N said, already sprinting back into the war zone before anyone could stop her. 

She could feel it, the exhaustion, the strain she was putting her body under. Underfed and under trained, she was struggling. But she refused to stop. Newt had come all this way to find her, risked his life to get her out of WCKD’s clutches when he could’ve been administered the temporary cure and been safe on the berg already. No, Y/N refused to let him die without trying.

Minho, Brenda, Frypan, and Gally – Y/N was still shocked about that revelation, but that was for another time to discuss - followed around her, covering her with guns and other weapons as they ran through the war zone.

After an eternity of running, the group rounded a corner to find a sight that made Y/N feel like she was back in the nightmare simulator. Newt was leaning over Thomas with a knife aimed at his chest.

‘Newt, no!’ Y/N cried, running towards the two boys without thought. 

Newt faced her at the call of his name, and she froze as she saw his black eyes. Dark veins branched over his skin and black blood dribbled from his chin. He was a full-blown crank now. 

He raced at her, snarling as he swung the knife at her throat. She ducked just in time and rolled away as he slammed the knife down where her neck was. She quickly jumped to her feet, and despite her fatigue, muscle memory took over her legs, then her hands. That first night in the Scorch came to mind, how her and Newt sparred. The injector was her knife, and Newt her proper opponent.

‘Newt, it’s me,’ she said, slipping into her Medjack demeanour – calm and steady. ‘It’s Y/N. Please, snap out of it for a moment so I can help you.’

She thought he would run at her again, but his brows crinkled with concern and he looked at the knife in his shaky hands. He looked back at her, and the voice he spoke with broke her heart. It was a mixture of his sweet accent and a gargled croak where blood clogged his throat. 

‘Y/N…’ he started. ‘Run away… Before… Before I kill you.’

The scene reminded her of the time he came in with his injured ankle. How desperate he was to fade into nothing because he was scared and ashamed of what he’d done. But just like then, she refused to be scared of him. 

Y/N shook her head. ‘I’m not leaving you, Newt,’ she said. ‘None of us will.’

Newt seemed to realise there were more people than just her and Thomas, turning around to see the others. The sight of them seemed to distress him, though, as he snarled angrily and charged at her. She shuffled back as he swung at her again and again, but as she stepped back again, she tripped on something. She fell onto her back, knocking the air out of her lungs. Before she could gather herself up, Newt was on her, straddling her similar to how he had Thomas pinned before. Newt raised the knife to bring down on her but was tackled by Thomas.

They rolled for a little, then scrambled to their feet as they fought once more. This was Y/N’s only chance. She pushed herself up and ran for the boys, injector at the ready. Newt was bringing the knife forward in a wide arc that would gut Thomas when Y/N threw herself in between them, slamming the injector into Newt’s arm.

Right as his drove the knife into her stomach.

‘Y/N!’ 

She wasn’t sure who called her name, because all she could focus on was Newt as some of the blackness in his eyes cleared and she saw some of his gorgeous brown eyes. She also felt her body finally giving up. As if it knew that this was the end. After all the torture and pain, she had stayed alive so long for one reason. To save Newt – the boy who had been there from the start. So much so she hadn’t realised until he wasn’t there how much he meant to her. How he’d wormed his way into her heart and consumed it without her even knowing. 

She gripped his hand that held the knife in her stomach, unfurled his fingers from the handle, and brought them to her chest where her heart was slowly slowing down. Her weak legs gave out, and she brought Newt down to his knees with her. She could’ve been imagining things, but she swore she saw recognition in his half-black eyes which made her smile as tears finally fell from her eyes.

‘It’s okay, Newt,’ she whispered. ‘It’s okay because… I love you.’

Her vision blurred and she finally let go of Newt as the both of them collapsed to the ground. Her breaths were short and sharp as the pain made itself known. A rush of feet thumped around her, and she had the slightest awareness that someone was moving her, but she didn’t care. She was finally at peace as darkness, at last, consumed her.

~

Y/N woke to the sound of waves rolling over on sand. The first thing she saw was grey canvas, then rolled her head around to see she was lying on a cot in a small tent with tables and medical supplies similar to how her Medjack hut looked. But she wasn’t alone.

‘Oh my God.’ Brenda’s face came into focus as the girl crouched by Y/N’s cot, disbelief and relief morphing her gentle features. ‘You’re awake! You’re finally awake!’

‘Ow,’ Y/N clasped at her head at the sudden loudness. ‘Could you lower your voice please?’

‘Yes, right, sorry,’ Brenda said, but her lips split in a bright smile as she helped Y/N sit up. ‘I’m just so happy you’re okay.’

‘What happened?’ Y/N asked, all she remembered was being stabbed then falling unconscious. She pulled up her fresh linen shirt to see her wound bandaged. ‘I thought I was done for.’

‘So did all of us,’ Brenda admitted, her tone sombre as she pulled up a seat beside the cot. ‘We got you to the berg as quickly as possible and Vince got you stable, but you just weren’t waking up. It’s been a week.’

‘A week?’ Y/N made to get up but sat back down as her wound pulled in an unpleasant way.

‘Whoa, where do you think you’re going?’ Brenda asked stabilising Y/N back in her bed. ‘You’ve just come out of a coma induced by physical and mental torture. Not to mention you were stabbed.’

‘I’m fine. Trust me, I’m trained… somewhat,’ Y/N said, this time able to swing her legs over the side of her cot. Brenda didn’t try and stop her, but she did have to help Y/N when she stood. ‘Now, where is Newt?’ Brenda didn’t answer right away, and tears threatened to pool in Y/N’s eyes at what her silence could mean. ‘Brenda… Is he… Is he alive?’

Brenda, again, didn’t answer, and her face didn’t give anything away either. Instead, she just held back the flap of the tent and motioned for Y/N to exit. Y/N took cautious steps forward as she followed Brenda into a completely new place that had her staring in awe.

It was a bustling camp where sleeping quarters and other spaces were mapped out by canvas strung up on carved wood pillars and posts. Y/N spied a kitchen area where she swore she heard Frypan laughing with some others. 

There was a gathering area where a giant stone stood in front of the seats. There were names carved into it, like what they used to do in the Glade. Y/N tried to make out if a certain blonde’s name was on it. She caught familiar names like Alby and Chuck, Clint and Jeff. 

‘Y/N?’ 

She swung around to find Brenda smiling as she was joined by Thomas, Minho, and Jorge. The three of them ran at her, arms wide open to capture her in a hug.

‘You crazy shank, Minho said, laughter on his lips. ‘Look who finally decided to join the living again.’

‘And here I thought I was the lazy slinthead for sleeping for so long,’ Thomas said jokingly, pulling Y/N in for another hug. ’I’m so relieved.’

‘Welcome back, hermana,’ Jorge said, a warm smile gracing his lips as he gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder.

‘Good to be back,’ Y/N replied, smiling at the three males. ‘What happened after I thought I’d died?’

Thomas went to reply, but Minho cut in. ‘We’ll explain later. Right now, I think you should go say hi to someone else.’

Confused, Y/N followed Minho’s gaze to Brenda, who stood atop a hill and was staring over the other side of it. Y/N quickly reached Brenda’s position and followed her gaze to a large garden that people were working on. But her breath caught at the sight of a familiar blond at the edge of the gardens talking and pointing in all directions to people.

‘Hey, Newt!’ Brenda called out, causing the blond to turn around and look up. At first, he saw Brenda, but his gaze soon fell on Y/N and his whole face changed into disbelief.

With the other gardeners forgotten, he started climbing up the hill, and Y/N couldn’t wait another moment so she started walking down the hill. 

They met in the middle, with Y/N standing at Newt’s height on the uphill. Neither said anything to begin with, both in disbelief and awe at who stood in front of them. Y/N looked over Newt, noting he still looked pale and somewhat sickly. But the dark veins were gone, as was the black blood and his black eyes. And the sun shone so brightly that his hair looked golden. It was as if he was never infected to begin with.

With a shaky hand, she reached out to rest her hand over his beating heart. ‘You’re alive,’ she whispered, too scared to voice it too loudly in case this was also another nightmare. 

But he proved her doubts wrong as he rested his own hand on top of hers. ‘I am,’ he said, and the usual warmth of his voice truly convinced her he was real. 

His face pinched suddenly with concern and guilt. ‘I’m so sorry, Y/N,’ he said, his hand tightening slightly over hers. ‘I hurt you. I almost…’

‘It’s okay,’ she interrupted, using her free hand to cradle is cheek and keep his eyes on her. ‘You didn’t. I am here, too. Looks like we both saved each other.’

To her relief Newt smiled. It was a genuine, happy smile, something she hadn’t seen on him in a long time. He nuzzled into her hand briefly, before bringing it down with his free hand so he held her hands between them. 

‘Before I passed out,’ he started, ‘I remember you saying something.’

‘Oh.’ A blush heated upon her cheeks, but she refused to look away from him. ‘Right. I did say something.’

She was trying to play it cool, but as soon as his deep brown eyes fixed on her, she knew he could see right through her. But he didn’t smile smugly, he didn’t tease. He actually looked scared as his jaw clenched, fighting to find the next words to speak. 

‘You said you love me,’ he finally said, words tight but hopeful. ‘Is that true?’

Y/N’s mouth dried up suddenly, constricted by all the things she wished to say but couldn’t say all at once. It’s not like she was scared, she just never thought she would live long enough to have a future, let alone one with love. One with Newt.

But she had – she had survived WCKD’s cruelty, she had survived the terrors of the old world, she had survived when so many of her friends hadn’t. And it was her duty to live her gift of a life to the fullest.

‘Yes,’ she finally said, and it was like breathing in fresh air after being underground for so long. ‘I love you, Newt. I don’t know when or how it happened, but I do. I love you.’ 

There was a second of hesitation, but then Newt broke out into a wide smile, and Y/N swore she saw tears brim in his eyes. He suddenly reached one hand up to cradle her neck as he pulled Y/N in for a sweet kiss that simultaneously knocked the air out of her and breathed new life into her. He held her neck and hip, and she pressed her hands against his chest, satisfied to feel his heart thundering beneath her hands. The heart that almost never beat again, the heart that had saved her over and over again. 

The kiss was short but was no less breath-taking, and when they pulled apart neither could stop the smiles on their faces. 

‘I love you, too,’ Newt said. ‘If that wasn’t already obvious.’

Y/N threw her head back in a hearty laugh. She slung her arms around Newt’s neck, a cheeky grin dancing across her lips. ‘I’m not so sure. Maybe we could try that again to make sure?’

‘Cheeky bugger,’ he murmured as he pressed his lips to hers again. Y/N sighed into the kiss, grasping the baby hairs at the base of his head. 

They pulled apart at the sound of their friends whooping and clapping atop the hill. Y/N felt her face erupt with embarrassed heat, to which Newt laughed as she ducked her head into his chest. 

‘All right, come on lovebirds!’ Minho called out. ‘Dinner’s almost ready.’

As they walked down out of sight, Y/N went to follow but was stopped by a loose grip on her wrist.

‘What is it?’ she asked as she turned back to Newt.

‘I just…’ Newt turned to the gardens below, then to the water, then to the sunset that bathed the whole camp in beautiful hues of orange, pink and purple. When he finally turned back to Y/N, she thought he couldn’t look any more handsome with that pure sunshine smile and sparkle in his eyes. ‘Thanks.’

‘For what?’ she asked.

‘For teaching me how to be brave,’ he answered.

Y/N gave his hand a squeeze. ‘You were always brave, Newt,’ she said. ‘It’s how I learned how to be brave in the first place.’

Newt squeezed her hand in return, then they walked hand in hand back up the hill and down to dinner to where their friend awaited them. 

Where the lives they never imagined they’d get a chance to live awaited them.