Disclaimer:

I do not own The Maze Runner, but this chapter may cause many feels bc it's basically all just newlyn fluff

-✼-

After taking a well-deserved and very long shower, I opened the door to my room, stomped inside with my feet making obnoxiously loud noises on the crooked wooden floor, and face planted onto my bed. I screamed loudly out of all the pent-up frustration and anger, my voice luckily muffled by my sheets and mattress. I was so done.

"Do I even have to ask?"

I jumped, stood, and spun around in the direction of the voice. There stood Newt, an amused expression on his face as he watched me from his side of the dresser. I rolled my eyes and sat on my bed, scooting myself further onto it so my feet didn't touch the floor.

"No," I sighed, swinging my legs absentmindedly.

"So," Newt paused to pull his shirt over his head, "how was your first day in training as a Runner?"

I stared at his muscles for a few moments, noticing how the removal of his shirt caused his blond hair to be just the tiniest bit messy, and it still managed to look good. Then I remembered he was waiting for a reply, and the floor quickly became extremely interesting. "If one more person asks me that, I'm jumping out the window."

Newt rummaged around one of his drawers before getting frustrated and slamming it closed forcefully with a bang, biceps tightening. My eyes widened and I ogled him as his jaw did the thing that happened when boys were angry, where it clenched and got all prominent. Then, acting as if nothing had happened, he came and sat next to me, rubbing my back comfortingly. I tried not to think about the fact that he still wasn't wearing a shirt.

"What was so bad about it?" he asked quietly in my ear, so close I could feel his breath on my neck and felt a shiver dance down my spine. I kept my eyes forward and exhaled deeply.

"I suck at running," I answered, using wild hand movement to further explain my frustration, because he knew that I only used them when something was bothering me. "I suck at drawing. I suck at cutting ivy from a fricken wall. I suck at everything."

Newt took one of my hands in his and examined it carefully, eyebrows pinched together. "Is that what these are from? Cutting the ivy?" He turned my hand over, exposing more small, dried scrapes on the other side. "Dyl, it's been one day."

"I can't handle knives," I told him as he released my hand and let it fall into my lap. "It's just...every time I do, I think of—"

"Thomas's scar," he finished for me. "I know."

My lips pressed into a thin line. I had forgotten he knew pretty much everything about me. "Oh. Right."

We were quiet then, and I leaned into Newt's shoulder as he continued to press small circles into my back. I was starting to doze off when I felt his hand move down, and suddenly it went under my shirt and I felt his fingers on my bare skin, where he started rubbing there. His touch felt like fire.

Instantly, I tensed and sat up. Newt immediately removed his hand, face flushing red as can be. "Sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

I shook my head. "No, it's just..." I searched for something to say, pursing my lips. "You surprised me. That's all." I laid my head back on his shoulder, snuggling closer to his warm body. "I don't mind."

"Okay." Newt went back to rubbing my skin and I felt my eyelids getting heavier and heavier, my mind getting hazy until my eyelids drooped and I finally fell asleep.

-/-

I was sitting in the plain white room again, staring blankly at the floor with my hands folded into my lap and back straight as a board. The hard bed I was sitting on provided little comfort for what I knew was about to happen. My breathing was deep and controlled, and I didn't even think I was blinking.

Slowly, the door on the opposite wall creaked open, and a certain blond boy stuck his head in. My eyes flickered to see him, and I instantly shook out of the daze and stood, relief washing the stress away. "Newt."

He stepped inside and softly closed the door, making as little sound as possible. His feet padded softly over to me and I took in the fact that he was wearing...color. He had a dark blue t-shirt that fit him very well and black skinny jeans with matching running shoes. It was so weird to see him in something other than white, which was pretty much the only color I'd seen in almost nine years.

He leaned down and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me to him in a caring embrace. I stood on my toes and put my own arms around his neck, placing my chin on his shoulder and mumbling, "You aren't supposed to be here."

"I had to see you," he whispered, then pulled away and held me at arm's length, his dark eyes looking straight into mine. "But listen. Thomas convinced Paige to let you come. You just aren't allowed to, quote, 'lose it.'"

I smiled weakly, noting that I'd have to thank my brother when I saw him. I wondered how long he had to beg the Chancellor's ear off this time. "Well, I can't promise anything." I paused, thinking about how different my life would be in about an hour. Everything would change. "What if when I go up there, I'll be attracted to, like, Minho or something."

"Or Gally," Newt joked. I rolled my eyes, which made him laugh. But suddenly he turned serious and put both his hands on the sides of my face. "But don't worry. I won't let that happen." He cracked a smile. "I'll woo you over with my charm a second time."

I rolled my eyes again and scoffed. "I think it was me who" —I put up air quotes — "'whooed you over', Newt."

He shrugged. "Can't deny it."

I let out a shaking breath as things became quiet between us. Finally, the reality was sinking in like a dead weight into my heart. "I can't believe it. It's actually happening. You're leaving me."

Newt used his hands on my face to tilt my chin up so I was looking right into his eyes, which held a dull sadness in them now. "Listen to me. We will see each other again. We will. At least that's a given."

"Nearly two years from now," I reminded him.

"Don't worry," he said calmly, "I'd wait more than a few years for you if that's what it takes."

I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could, Newt had already leaned down to match my height and brought my lips to his in a gentle kiss.

And the door opened with a bang, making us jump apart and turn toward the noise. Three W.I.C.K.E.D guards stood, unfazed, at what they had walked in on.

"Subject A5, we have come for extraction," one of them said with a deep, gravelly voice. He then turned to me. "You're allowed to follow behind with Len."

The guard of whom I guessed was Len stepped forward, nodding to me. He had a weird and unflattering buzz cut and dark skin that was littered with stress lines, corners of his mouth pulled into a permanent frown.

Newt gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before releasing it and walking solemnly with the guards.

"'Subject A5?'" I questioned angrily. "It's Newt."

"Be quiet," the main guard snapped, tone icy. "You're lucky your brother is in the high ranks and convinced Chancellor Paige to let you come. If it was up to me, you'd be sitting right here without even a goodbye."

I rolled my eyes, his words merely bouncing off of me with no lasting effect. He couldn't hurt me— Ava would fire him for harming a subject.

I complied when Len forced me to walk very, very slowly about five yards behind Newt and the other two guards. I kept my chin high and didn't show any more emotion. I didn't need to give them the satisfaction of teasing me, which they did to all of us more often than not.

We walked through the white halls, shoes making small clicking sounds on the tile as we moved. Fluorescent lights dimly lit the way until we reached a metal door, which was unlocked by a scanner from the rude guy's badge that was attached to his belt.

The door opened with a buzz and my eyes widened as I walked into a room I'd only been in once before, many years ago. It was terribly dark, the lights barely casting enough to make shadows. There were scientists standing around with clipboards in hand and white lab coats pristine against the lack of light.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a swish of familiar black hair. "Teresa!"

She turned, saw me, and dropped her professional facade. Her bright blue eyes flickered with recognition and shock before she quickly made her way to me, scooping me in a hug. When she let go, her voice dropped to a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

"Thomas got me in," I replied quietly, noticing the fear apparent on her pale, freckled face.

She sighed in relief, the tension in her shoulders releasing. "Oh, thank God. I thought you were getting sent to the Glade." Then she went rigid like she said something she wasn't supposed to, and quickly added, "Early. I thought you were getting sent to the Glade early."

I shook my head, confused, but I let it slide. Thomas came up behind me and pulled me to his side, a small, timid smile on his face. I turned around and hugged him tightly. I hope he knew how much gratitude I had towards him for convincing them to let me come. "Thank you."

"No problem," he said while squeezing me tightly, picking me up and swinging me back and forth so my head spun. I let him go upon noticing that Alby, Minho, Newt, and a couple others were being prepped for extraction, my feet dropping to the ground with a snap. My heartbeat quickened. It was happening.

"We have to get back to work," Teresa said, patting my shoulder, "but you can stand over there." She pointed and I followed her finger to see a small, open space right in front. I nodded at her and slipped between people until I got to the space. It was just big enough for me, and I could see everything that was going on.

A doctor was taking samples of Minho's blood, a needle injected into the underside of his elbow as it was drawn. He looked around until he saw me, and he gave me an anxious look. I was sad at his departure- Minho and I always had fun breaking the rules together. At least when I arrived, we'd be able to do it again.

I shot him an encouraging smile, which dropped as soon as the needle was removed and he climbed into the metal box. Next were some people I didn't know, and then Alby. Newt was the last.

A doctor took his blood. His eyes looked around until they landed on me. And I did the one thing I wasn't supposed to.

I lost it.

All the tears I had pent up over the past few days, ever since they told us they'd be starting the experiment early, came flooding out. Newt's face fell and his boyfriendly instinct to come comfort me kicked in. But when he tried to come forward, the doctor grabbed his forearm and forced him to stay.

"Hey, wait up—" he tried to say, but he was shoved backward before he could finish. I saw him wince in pain and noticed a different needle pressed into his arm. They were hurting him.

"Stop!" I exclaimed, rushing forward. "Stop! You're hurting him!"

Strong, muscular arms grabbed my middle and hoisted me off the ground as I thrashed around, trying to break free. I was hysterical, tears streaming down my face and strangled screams escaping my lips as I kicked. That rude guard threw me over his shoulder and I knew exactly what to do.

I put both hands on either side of his head and pushed so I was rolling away from it. He was immediately thrown off balance and I was able to hit the pressure point on the back of his neck, which shocked him enough to release me. I dropped to my feet and brought him down with a hard kick to the middle of his gut, knocking the wind out of him. I sprinted to Newt before anyone could stop me, wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my lips onto his in a feverish kiss.

After a few seconds, I was ripped away from him by Thomas, and I was almost mad at him until I saw why. Newt's eyelids were half-closed and he looked groggy. Whatever was in that needle was knocking him out, but he was fighting it so he could talk to me.

The doctors got him inside the box, but before they closed it and before Newt let himself go unconscious like the rest, I shouted, "I'll see you in two years!"

The box doors closed. Mechanic whirs filled the air. I watched the fifteen boys shoot up into the Glade.

And all the while, I couldn't figure out why my brother had a troubled look on his face like he knew something I didn't.

-/-

I woke up with a start, sitting upright in my bed. I felt around, letting my fingers pat over the worn sheets on my cot as my brain scrambled to place my surroundings. The window revealed that it was still dark outside, the night sky an inky black. The only light source was a single candle burning next to my bed, illuminating the room in a gloomy orange glow.

A soft snore made me jump and turn toward the sound, realizing it was coming from beside me. I looked down and saw Newt's sleeping form, an arm wrapped around my waist and his body facing mine. I felt my cheeks heat up and I was about to leave - considering he was taking up more than half the bed and I was squished into the wall - but the snores stopped abruptly and a sleepy voice replaced them.

"Dyl? What's wrong?" Newt's morning voice caught my attention as he sat up and yawned, placing a hand on my back. His blond hair was messy and sticking up everywhere, making me smile.

"Nothing, it's just—" I stopped as the events of my dream came back to me, flooding my brain with words and flashes of images. "I remember."

Even in the dark, I saw Newt's eyes go wide. "What?" All signs of tiredness were gone and he looked intrigued, and excited, even. "Remember what?"

"The...uh...when you were about to go here," I recalled, thinking back to the dream. "I brought a guard down just so I could kiss you. You're welcome."

Newt laughed, voice cracking from sleep. "I do remember that, but it's a little foggy."

"They injected you with something that knocked you out," I informed him. "You were fighting to stay awake to say goodbye to me."

"Aw, I was such a great boyfriend," Newt teased. He needed to stop talking in that hoarse morning voice of his or we'd have a problem.

"Still are," I told him, tickling his stomach even though I knew he wouldn't react in any way. Then, I froze. "I mean, that's what you are, right?"

A sleepy smile crossed his face. "Of course."

"Cool," I said.

"Only you would say 'cool' in a situation like this," Newt joked, then cut himself off with a yawn. "You should try and go back to sleep. You have more training tomorrow."

I groaned loudly in frustration. "Thanks for reminding me—"

"Hey!" I heard from next door, followed by a banging on the wall. I recognized the voice as Winston, who sounded tired and angry. "Shut up, you guys! It's too early for doing the do. Honestly, people. Disgusting."

My face turned bright red and warmth rushed to my cheeks. I buried my face in Newt's chest from embarrassment while he laughed loudly, only adding to my shame.

"This isn't funny," I hissed, sitting up and still blushing.

"It's hilarious," he corrected. "Okay, but seriously, go back to sleep."

I glared but did as he said anyway, noting that I had to be up in a few hours. But the memory had me intrigued, and I hoped that by the time I got out of the Glade, I would remember everything.

gif is what newt looks like when thomas pulls dylan away from him aw

_______

are you all okay did you all survive are you still breathing

first of all, i want to thank you for all the ideas! i never thought i'd get so many. i combined like three i think, and the rest i'll spread throughout the series! you are all so creative

dedicated to lizziethewolf for her amazing idea of dylans reaction when newt goes up the box

-kristyn