Disconnection • Newt • Maze Runner

2 - If only

That night was a strange one, that's for sure. While most of the boys hung out around the fire, fighting Gally and enjoying themselves, Aspen opted for a different solution, and was planted firmly at the top of the tree house. After Newt had hung out with the other Greenie for a bit, they'd wondered off towards Gally, where the Greenie, finally remembered his name. Thomas fought against Gally, and won. In the midst of it all, the excited lighting up the glade just like the warm fire was, Newt realized Aspen was no where to be seen.

It would appear Gally had noticed too. "Hey, where's the other Greenie?" He asked, trying to push down the look of anger and slight embarrassment from what had happened with Thomas.

"His name is Aspen." The British boy stated with annoyance lacing his words.

"I don't care what his name, just go find him."

Newt had a pretty good idea of where he would be. "What are you doing up here? Not one to enjoy the festivities are you?"

Aspen scoffed, turning his gaze from where it was firmly planted on the stars above, and looking into Newt's deep brown eyes, eyes you could get lost in so easily. "I'm not exactly interested in watching people fight Gally."

Newt chuckled, leaning against a pole of the tree house and crossing his arms, amused. "You know, he'd probably want fight you, I'm sure you could take him."

A compliment, strange, but acceptable. "That is something I'd be interested in, just not tonight." His gaze returned to the stars above, admiring each individual one as though it was it's own person, had its own life, which technically it did.

Newt stalked towards him, sitting down across from him and laying his head on the wooden structure. Aspen glanced up once more, eyeing the sympathetic look in his face, normally sympathy would anger Aspen. It was a sign of weakness, vulnerability. But this sympathetic glare, and from Newt, was a kind one. It wasn't telling Aspen that Newt saw him as weak and in need of sympathy, it was simply a look of understanding. Silent understanding.

"Fine." Aspen stood up shakily, beginning to climb down the ladder and join the party down below, Newt in tow behind him. When Gally spotted him, his shoulders loosened, but his face remained stern.

"'Sup Greenie, care to go for a round?"

A smirked climbed its way onto Aspens face, as his head titled in amusement. "That depends, do I get to hit you?"

Gally glanced around him at the smirking and bewildered boys were all staring blindly at Aspen. "No, but you get to try, emphasis on try, to push me out of the circle, see how long you can last."

"Good enough for me" Cracking his knuckles and neck, preparing himself to have a little fun. He glanced behind him at Newt, who wore a curious yet impressed look on his face, a smirk present on his lips.

Gally motioned for Aspen to come at him, and come at him he did. Only right as Gally tried to combat the rushing boy, Aspen ducked under his arm and kicked the crouched and shocked boy in the back, knocking him to the ground. Gally shook it off, standing back up, anger present in his features.

Aspen motioned for him to come at him, in a mocking way as he raised his eyebrows. Gally did just that, rushing towards him in a rage, as Aspen clocked him firmly in the jaw before wrapping his other hand around the boys neck and pulling him to the end of the circle, tossing him out of it.

"Hope you had fun Gally." Aspen said before stalking off towards Newt, who rested his arm around the slightly shorter boys shoulder, his smirk still present as he shook his head.

Gally tried to shake off the embarrassment, but after losing twice in a row, he was growing tired of being shown up. Yet he was also growing a soft spot for Aspen, he was confident, and not in the cocky way, he just knew what he was good at, and good for. Gally admired that, it was a sign of strength, and he saw a touch of himself in the boy.

After telling everyone to tuck in for the night, Aspen slipped away towards the forest, planting himself under a tree, admiring the night sky and the walls that shielded them from the world. Aspen was obviously curious as to what lied behind them, but not curious enough to be stupid about it. He wasn't about to go running into the maze, expecting the survive, at least. If it came down to it, he wasn't scared of what lied beneath the walls, but not eager to check it out, lets say.

The sound of slow footsteps rang in his ears, as he eyed Newt as the boy walked towards him, and silently sat beside him, one knee up and resting his arm on it, as Aspen had been doing as well. "Want a drink?"

"That depends, what is it?"

Newt laughed, looking down at the jar with a murky liquid in his hand. "Not sure, Gally makes it, recipe's a trade secret, I guess."

"That sounds promising, hand it over."

Aspen popped open the lid, chugging the remainder of the liquid, Newt merely stared in awe as he chugged it down silently. He handed the empty jar back to him, wiping his lips with his thumb. Newt licked his lips, "I like you."

"Do you now?"

Newt merely laughed, Aspen admiring the soft and sweet sound as it reached his ears. It wasn't obnoxious, just a true and subtle laugh.

They sat together in silence, before Newt eventually stood up and extended a hand towards Aspen, which he took reluctantly, and walked together over to the sleeping quarters, Aspen having let go of Newts hand once they began walking. Savoring the warmth that it had left.

That night he had trouble falling asleep, tossing and turning quietly, eyes open and staring into the night, imagining what could've brought them all here, as well as what lie beneath the walls.

Newt also had a troubling time getting to sleep, he couldn't stop thinking about Aspen, the boys smirk, his reluctant yet sweet smile, on the rare occasion it was present. The boys soft but defined features and his dark, shoulder-length hair. Part of him wanted to run his fingers through it, feeling its soft texture through his fingers, savoring its suppleness. But he couldn't do that, and he fell asleep merely hoping for it, one day.