STATIC → newt , tmr [EDITING ; VERY SLOW UPDATES]

chapter x

"She's not okay," Tiago said to Jorge when they were outside. He ran a hand down his face. "She's scared, Jorge. I-I want to help, but―"

"There's nothing you can do," Jorge interjected quietly. He could see the distress forming on Tiago's face and immediately tried his best to calm the younger boy down. "She has to deal with this on her own."

"She'll be taking blood from people for the rest of her life," Tiago said, sorrowful gaze staring up at Jorge. The older man sighed and placed a hand on the back of Tiago's head.

"Tiago," he murmured, not breaking their gaze. "I know it's hard right now. It will get better." He paused. "You remember when I found you at that house? You were all alone, starving, crying, and you wouldn't leave your baby sister. Remember what I told you?"

Tiago felt the corners of his lips turn up as he answered, "You told me that as long as my heart was still beating, my sister would never leave me."

"Exactly," Jorge said, a grin forming on his lips. He glanced back at the tent. "Brenda is in a rough place, and she'll deal with this her own way. It's not up to you to save everyone else. It's not easy, but you have to let her come to you, if she needs to."

Tiago shook his head, too many thoughts clouding his mind. He was suddenly thinking about Kim, though he wasn't sure why. He tried his best to shake her face from his mind, but her smile was imprinted in his brain. Instinctively, Tiago reached toward Jorge and wrapped his arms around the man's shoulders. Jorge didn't let go of his head, cradling Tiago against his shoulder. They stood and hugged for a few minutes while Tiago tried to sort out his thoughts. When they pulled apart, Jorge noted that Tiago's eyes were clearer than they had been before.

"Do you know where Newt is?" he asked.

Jorge raised a questioning eyebrow―which Tiago tried his hardest to ignore―before pointing across the camp to a ridge. Tiago followed his arm and saw four boys sitting on rocks. Tiago thanked the man, and Jorge gave him a pat on the shoulder as he left.

― ➶ ―

"It's freezing up here," was how Tiago announced himself to the four other boys on the ridge. They turned to look up at him, all flashing him brief smiles. He smiled back, settling himself on the rock between Newt and Thomas. He saw Minho glance between himself and Newt before he went back to staring out across the camp.

"Hey, Aris!" Frypan called out. Tiago raised his head slightly, looking down at the camp to find Aris sitting near a fire, with Harriet and Sonya.

"Hey guys!" Aris called back, raising his arm in a wave. Tiago smiled.

"I kinda like that kid," Frypan mused, a bright grin on his face.

"Yeah ... still don't trust him though," Minho said. Thomas chuckled from beside Tiago. A breeze swept past them suddenly, making Tiago shiver violently.

"Jesus," he grumbled, trying to wrap his thin jacket around himself tighter. He clenched his jaw when the wind kept blowing, raising his hands to his mouth to blow on them for some sense of warmth. Suddenly a weight fell on his shoulders. Tiago glanced up to find a thick jacket resting there, and Newt's hands were pulling away as Tiago looked up.

"Didn't they give you anything warm?" Newt muttered, frowning down at Tiago's shivering form. Tiago shook his head. Newt rolled his eyes. "No wonder you're freezing then."