𝖲𝗎𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝖠2

When I woke up I was surrounded by warmth, being held tightly by two pairs of strong arms.

I smiled contentedly.

From the looks of it, I had woken up before Minho and Newt had to go to work. Either that, or they skipped work to stay with me.

Which I seriously doubted they would, no matter how much they say they would do anything for me. I felt Minho stir from behind me and I turned my head to give him a smile.

Once he had his eyes cleared of their fogginess, he quickly grabbed my head and twisted me around fully, smashing his lips onto mine.

He let go a few moments later and I couldn't protest because I was still a little shocked.

He got up and started to stretch.

I pecked Newt on the lips to fully wake him up before getting off the bed myself.

I tested my weight on my leg and it seemed fine. A little sore but if I had to guess, wouldn't be much of a problem.

I stretched just as Minho had, putting my arms up high and then ruffled my hair.

I looked at Minho and Newt to see them already staring at me.

"What?" I asked feeling self concious.

"You're hot," was Minho's response.

My cheeks lit up like a wildfire.

"And cute," Newt said, kissing my nose.

I blushed even harder.

"'Kay, shank. 'Cause you hurt your leg yesterday, I'ma have to go check out the Greiver myself. You stay here, maybe help Newt out. Good that?"

"No!" I immediately protested.

"I'm fine, it's barely sore!" I continued.

"Look, if in the Maze you end up hurting your leg even more, and it makes me have to carry you... well, we saw how that worked out last time. Only differences being, there will only be two of us and you won't be able to run. So, no,"

I was hurt by Minho's harsh words, but even more so that Newt looked like he whole-heartedly agreed.

I blew air out of my nose harshly.

"Look, you don't have to baby me, if my leg ends up getting hurt worse and it is possible you won't be able to make it to the doors if you stay with me, it's simple. You leave me."

"And besides," I continued on, ignoring their enraged expressions. "I killed the Griever, I want to look at it."

They looked as if they were about to blow steam out of their ears, but I left, giving them both a meaningful glance.

I went to where I was told Noa was staying for the moment and went into her quarters without knocking.

And I will regret that for the rest of my life.

𝖲𝗎𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝖠26

I had woken up five minutes before Gally had come into my quarters.

"Hey Noa... how you doin'?" He asked, concerned.

"I'd like to think I'm doing pretty good for a girl who was just held at knife point," I laughed airily.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I mean, it's probably a sure sign I'm messed up if I'm honestly not even traumatized by it or anything but... I don't know... I just I don't even really feel anything about it. Just surprised that I had taken so long to react and that Jeff said I'll have a mark on my neck for at least a month!" I said, adding in the last bit to try to lighten the mood.

It worked because Gally laughed, shaking his head.

"Only you, Noa," he mumbled.

I realized he had gotten closer and was now standing in between my open legs.

"Cool guy, Jeff. Seems cool, you know we talked after you left. I have my suspicions that him and Clint are a little too friendly to be just friends. What'dya think?" I asked, trying to defuse the building tension between me and Gally.

"I really don't know what to think..."

"We still talking about Clint and Jeff?" I asked breathlessly.

We pulled closer together, as if pulled by some magnetic force, and our lips hovered over one another.

"Shuck it," is all I heard before out lips met harshly.

I pulled him impossibly closer, and it got even more heated when the door was pushed open.

Me and Gally pulled apart as if burnt and I heard a 'Holy shit!' before the door was closed again.

All I saw was a retreating Thomas before I shrugged and pulled Gally back.

𝖲𝗎𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝖠7

After Thomas had left, Newt and I turned to eachother.

"He's not going," he said with conviction.

"I know we both don't want him to, but think. I tell him no, he either finds a different Runner to take him - and let's be honest, there are a select few that aren't smitten with him - or he runs into the Maze by himself.  Which would be ten times more dangerous than if he were to go with me," I explained.

"I'll watch him. He won't be able to get into the Maze by himself, and you can watch the Runners until you leave," Newt counters.

"Newt, with Alby here, you are the Leader of the Glade. So, not only do you have to carry out your normal second-in-command duties, but you also have to do what Alby would be doing," I said as gently as possible.

"I'll find someone to look after him!"

"Newt... that Greenie is smart, and is quick on his feet, and I have no doubt that if you assigned someone as say, Zart, I have a hunch that Thomas will be able to charm someone else into distracting Zart so he could get away."

"I know he's quick on his feet, I know that he is smart, and I know he is good-looking enough to charm his way into almost everyone's hearts, it's some of the reasons we fell in love with him but-" Newt was cut off.

"Holy shit!"

"Did that sound like Tommy to you?"

"Yeah... think we should check it out?"

"Of course! What if he hurt himself?!"

That got me moving real quick.

We saw Thomas looking white as a sheet.

"Are you okay, Tommy?! Do you need anything?!" Newt worried.

"Just, uh... don't go in there..," he said slowly.

Curiousity got the better of us.

We opened Noa's door.

And closed it just as fast.

"I need to claw my eyes out...," I said.

"Well, maybe don't go that far but...," Newt shudders. "Maybe if we ever see the Creators we can ask them to remove that memory."

"I warned you," Thomas chuckled, finally recovering from that.

"Look, Tommy...," said Newt, getting serious. "I don't want you to go into the Maze, nor do I agree with you being in there - especially now. However, I do know that you have wanted to be a Runner since you got here, and I know that you've earned it... So, I am letting you go in the Maze. On three conditions. You stay near Minho. You do not put yourself in any uncessasary harm. Secondly, Minho tells you to run, you run. Minho tells you to do anything you do it. And lastly... you come back. You both come back."

I could tell Newt didn't want Thomas going in there but the bright smile that lit up Thomas' face helped ease the worry.

Not much, but enough.

"I promise I will. Okay?"

"Good that," Newt said with a satisfied smile.

Thomas grabbed Newt and kissed Newt like there was no tomorrow.

"Thanks," was the only explanation he gave to a flustered Newt.

He then walked towards the exit of the MedTent.

"Meet you outside Min," he said as he passed me.

"You know, if that's the reaction he'll give everytime he's grateful for something we did to him, we should do stuff like that more often," I said cockily.

"Yeah, yeah," said Newt, still slightly flustered.

"See you when we get back," I said while giving Newt a sweet kiss on the lips.

𝖲𝗎𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝖠5

It was a long day as I waited impatiently for Minho and Thomas to get back.

I remember it wasn't nearly as bad when it was just Minho, only in the beginning when we found out about the Grievers and started sending people out.

But now, both of them were in there.

And it definitely was helpful in any way that only two nights ago, they were stuck in that Maze.

Night started falling and I was getting worried.

The doors were going to close in half an hour.

Then fifteen.

Then five.

I got worried because Minho always tried to make it to the doors at least 15 minutes before the Doors close so he didn't make me worry to much about him.

All the Runner were back earlier and everybody was gathered around the Doors.

I saw Noa on my right and she was chewing her nails worriedly while Gally had an arm discreetly around her waist, trying to comfort her to no avail.

'Not again' I heard.

Whispers were all about the group, a lot of them along the same lines.

Some were said like they were worried, some indifferent, some like they were annoyed they were going through this again.

But most were worried.

Right as we heard the Doors starting to close, two silouettes turned the corner.

They were running and when they became visible, it was definitely Minho and Thomas, although I had already guessed that.

They slipped through the crack left in the Doors at the last minute and promptly fell to the ground unconcious.

𝖲𝗎𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝖠26

I had been so worried when Minho and Thomas hadn't shown up early.

But I told myself it was fine, they'd get here.

Then, when the Doors had begun to close I couldn't tell myself that anymore.

But Thomas and Minho pulled through.

And then Thomas fell to the ground unconcious about 5 seconds after the Doors had closed, Minho following closely behind.

The Medjacks rushed them over to the MedTent and Newt, me - and subsequently Gally - followed closely behind.

They layed them down on the beds and set to work. While they were in the Maze and as long as I had been awake I had been helping out, so Clint, Jeff and me all worked together like a well-oiled machine, checking over Minho and Thomas proffesionally.

When we were done and had cleaned the few cuts that they had attained, we went back over to where Newt was pacing and Gally was standing calmly to the side.

"It was just exhaustion, it seems," I voiced my examination.

"Yeah, I mean, I've said it a billion times, we aren't really doctors, but we have been able to conclude that it wasn't really anything other than exhaustion," Clint said.

"Of course, we can't know for sure until they wake up, but they should be all good, just maybe shouldn't run the Maze tomorrow," Jeff continued.

"What are they gonna do instead of runnin' the Maze tomorrow? I mean, they'll have to do something other than lay around, it gets out they were sleeping in bed all day because of exhaistion there'll be an uproar!" Gally said.

I gave him a harsh glare.

"Well, if they have a problem with it they can either come to me, go run in the Maze for a full day themsleves and see how they do, or they can shut their mouths and get their heads out of their arses," I huffed before going back to where Minho and Thomas were to check the IV drip we set up.

Lik Clint said, we aren't real doctors, we're just doing the best we can.

'Shit' I heard Gally mutter.

I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"I didn't mean it that way, you know. I may not know the Greenie very well but I was one of the first here after Alby, just like Minho and Newt were. Alby and Newt mean a lot to me and I know that these two gettin' hurt, hurts them, and Minho is a... not necassarily friend but we do care about wether or not the other gets hurt. So, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to say sorry," I say softly. "I should be the one saying sorry," I continue as I turn around to face Gally. "I just- ... I have this feeling that I knew Thomas before the Maze, that we were close before the Maze... just like how I feel that way with you... and not only that, he's the only one who didn't underestimate me as soon as I got out of the Box, just because I was a girl. Even you did that. And I'm not mad at you for that anymore, but still, it meant a lot that he did that. That's why I'm all out of sorts... And I know how much Newt means to Tom and I know that if he gets hurt, Newt will be hurt - especially adding Minho to the mix - and when Thomas does wake up, he'll be upset he did that to Newt. And he's like a brother and I just-" I broke off.

It wasn't even a huge deal, nessecarily.

Running the Maze can tire most people out.

And it was Thomas' first time running the Maze without an adrealine rush and the need to survive.

But, what was worrying was Minho had passed out to.

Maybe that was why it was off-putting.

Or maybe I was just worried.

"Come on. Keep overthinking and you'll end up hurting yourself," Gally said with a slight upturn of his lips.

"Yeah... yeah, okay."

Gally pulled me out to where his private room was - he was a Keeper - and layed down in the bed with me.

"It'll be okay," he said softly.

"I hope so."

𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚢 

When I woke up the next day Gally had already left, leavong a note where he had been lying and saying that he had to get up earlier than normal because there was a new project for the Builders and he'd see me later.

After I had done my normal morning routine I went over to the MedTents to check on Minho and Thomas when I saw Minho standin on his own two feet.

I didn't see Thomas yet, but I acted on instinct and launched myself at Minho, hugging him.

He stumbled and I could tell he was surprised but I just hugged him tighter.

"I'm glad you're okay, Minho..."

"Uhhhh... Well I uh-"

"It's fine!" I laughed. "You don't have to say anything back," I continued as I pulled away from the hug. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"Um... Thanks?"

I just laughsd and let my gaze wander.

I saw Newt looking at me with squinted eyes.

I quickly jumped at him so he couldn't get away and hugged him too.

"What the bloody buggerin' hell? Nothing even happened to me?!"

"I know," I giggled. "You just looked like you were suspicious of me. I get it, I seem like I knew Tom, and while it feels like I do, I have no plans on trying to steal him from you. And, even if I did, I thinknit's pretty hard... he seems to like you both a lot," I smirked.

"Well, I'm glad it's obvious," a voice laughed.

I quickly spun around and saw Thomas.

And then I jumped at him and squeezed him tighter than I had hugged Newt and Minho combined, wrapping my legs around - as if I was a koala bear.

Another difference being that his arms reciprocated the hug and squeezed back almost as tight, one hand going under my leg to hold me up.

"Good you're okay...," I said after a few moments of silent hugging.

"Yeah."

"So what-"

I was cut off by a harsh intake of breath.

Teresa had woken up.

------

𝖲𝗈! 𝖨 𝖺𝗀𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗂𝗓𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗉𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝗎𝗉𝖽𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗆𝗂𝗌𝗉𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍. 𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝖻𝗂𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋, 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗆𝗒 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗌𝗍, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖺 𝖻𝗂𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗆𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗋𝗆𝖺𝗅 1000-1500.

𝖧𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾.

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 ♡︎

𝖴𝗉𝖽𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 . 𝖬𝖺𝗒 30, 2020