centre | newtmas au

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"So, who's the girl?" Gally asked. 

"My sister" Newt stated, watching their eyes. He saw surprise and shock in some, and sparks of hope in others. He wasn't sure everyone's long-lost siblings would be roaming these beaches, but he wouldn't dare distinguish their happiness. With or without big reunions, there was a lot to be hopeful for. 

The boys eventually dispersed after they shared his joy with him, and only Thomas remained. 

"A sister, huh?" he said. 

"A sister" Newt replied. 

"She has your eyes" 

Newt smiled.

Thomas walked over to a log that was half buried in the sand, and sat down on top of it. He patted the empty space beside him, and Newt filled it. 

They both watched in silence as the other boys milled around them, some approaching other members of the Safe Haven, others sticking together. A young boy walked past the log and mumbled a shy greeting to them. He had curly hair, and was stout, with red cheeks. He wore beige cargo shorts and had his fist clenched around something. 

"Hey" Thomas called out to the boy before he had passed them entirely. His head turned and he shuffled back through the sand towards them. 

"H-hi" the boy said, smiling through his stutter. 

"We're new here" Thomas said, kindly. "Are you new as well?" 

The boy shook his head. "I've been here about two months" 

The boy was silent for a moment, but it seemed he had more to say. Both boys waited patiently, the silence resting in the humid air. 

"I'm Chuck" he said. 

"I'm Newt" Newt said, "and this is Thomas. It's nice to meet you, Chuck"

"I heard about what you did, Thomas" Chuck said, sitting down on a patch of grass near the edge of the sand. "To get here I mean. You risked your life"

Thomas nodded. 

"I'd like to do that for somebody some day, you know. It's brave" Chuck paused." And it's pretty cool" 

Newt looked at Thomas through the corner of his eye, and saw the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips. 

"Well, Chuck, I hope you don't ever have to. There's plenty other ways to show you're brave" Thomas said. "Like Newt, for example. When I got into the maze, I couldn't remember my own damn name. But for whatever reason-" he paused. "Whatever miraculous reason, I could remember him" 

Thomas continued. "He dropped the water he was carrying and he held me. Even when he wasn't physically there, I've felt him holding me up through every second of bullshit I've faced ever since I set foot in that place. He's the only piece of me that I've never had to lose." 

Newt felt his heart jolt with the intensity of the love it carried. 

"So you see, Chuck" Thomas concluded. "Newt, even when he was scared and wanted to give up or stop fighting, he didn't. He held me instead, and led me by the hand through all the hard stuff. He's brave every day, in everything he does. He made me braver too." 

Thomas looked at Newt fleetingly, but with a beautiful fire burning behind his pupils.

"You are too, in your own way" he finished, his eyes back on Chuck. 

Newt felt hot tears prickling at his eyes, and reached for Thomas' hand on the log beside him. Once he felt it, he squeezed it tight. 

"Maybe you're right" Chuck said, picking at the grass by his feet. A comfortable, contemplative silence hung over the three of them for a few moments. 

"What's in your hand, there?" Thomas asked, eventually breaking the silence. Chuck breathed deeply before bringing his clenched fist out from where it was resting beside him, and opened it up. 

He held a small carved object in his hand, reminiscent of a man. There was dirt in it's groves, and Newt guessed he carried it everywhere with him. 

"What's that?" Newt asked. 

"I made it for my mom and dad" Chuck said. "I don't remember them, but I like to think they would've liked it if they ever got to see it" 

"They would've loved it" Newt responded, gently. Chuck smiled at this, and looked at it for a moment before placing it in one of the pockets of his cargo shorts. 

"I better go" Chuck said, getting up and beginning to walk away. "I'll see you around" 

"Bye" both boys replied, watching the back of his head as he moved further away from them. After he joined a crowd of other Safe Haven members and was almost indistinguishable, Newt turned to Thomas. 

"Did you mean all of that, Tommy?" Newt asked. 

"Every word" Thomas replied. 

hey guys!

sorry (again) that it's been so long. november until now has been hectic with school etc. so i neglected to post. but it was also because i didn't really want to finish this either </3

we're not quite finished yet though, so hang tight. but it won't be long this time, i promise!

hope you're all well :)))