N/A: Hi guys! Sorry for the delay…

Got distracted and unable to come up with something for too long. In a moment of despair, I told my mother I didn't know how to end a story. She told me to just kill everyone in a zombie apocalypse. If she only knew, it would defeat the whole purpose of this thing…

Anyway, that's what I came up with. Hope you like it! (Don't expect too much of it, it's mostly drabbles I couldn't just fit with the rest.)

Days later:

They'd moved from the medical tent for days now, but still Thomas kept walking in the wrong direction. Drenched in sweat Thomas turned around, cursing himself as he walked back to where Newt and him had settled down for the moment. It wasn't anything permanent, thought through nor even dully decided. It just happened. They didn't have the luxury to request individual accommodation even if wanted to. Maybe in a few years when the urgency of answering to basic necessity didn't weight down the camp as priority. Maybe. They had other problem and one of which was starting to get on his nerves.

"You need to talk to your sister," announced Thomas, shirt sticking to his back, hardened by a mixed of sand and dust congealed together into the fabric.

"I do, in fact I talk to her all day long," smiled Newt comfortably from the floor. Fresh air from the sea was now rushing in the cabin. The sun had only started to fall and the wind breeze picking up, finally delivering everyone on the camp. "The last thing I want to do today is to have to talk to her again," he laughed. "No offence but one more word about the 'legitimacy of authority' and I stage a coup just to exile her."

"So sorry," Thomas smiled strolling through the room to grab the nearest towel to dry his face "She's still obsessing about the book she found on the boat then?"

"Yeah…" asked Newt, pushing his paper away. "How was your day?" he tried instead apparently not interest in continuing on this line of questioning.

Thomas shrugged easily, rolling his shoulders as the soreness landed harder and harder every passing second. Gally was not letting him off easily, every morning picking Thomas up at the first morning lights. It was cutting trees and moving truck to the little village outskirt, all day. In silence. Lunch was brought in by Frypan and they were left alone again. Not one word spoken until the sun started to set, nothing but dull orders and aloof directions. Thomas fantasied to bash his head on the nearest trunk by ten a.m. on the first day but now he had gotten used to it. Newt scold him sufficiently for him to think about it twice before punching someone else.

Unexpectedly Thomas almost looked forward it now. Working with Gally, not punching him. It was peaceful, not worrying about the other, just working together in the present, step by step, cut by cut working the anger and the terror out of their muscles unto something tangible.

"Still working?" asked Thomas, eyes running on his friend surrounded in papers. They had find a whole bunch of it in the boat, making everyone terribly relieved, despite Brenda fondness on the aesthetic of writing in the sand.

"Just reviewing the list of people running of the council a last time," sighed the blond. "Trying to come up with some sense of who is could get on my side."

"Any luck?"

Newt sighed one more time, waving at the mess around him in defeat. Thomas knew were too many people presenting, running for different position. The whole election was organised in two rounds, representatives of each of the camps sectors; the head of medical, head of security, of food storage, agriculture… etc and then there will be an election the head of council of executive power. It was mess if you asked his opinion.

Everything was still blurry and people kept on coming with new ideas. It was hard starting from scratch but it was refreshing for everyone; this feeling of having control over their own life for once. But it seemed as the more they thought of it, the more complicated it got, until there was a mass of papers on the table to the floor and everyone was shouting. Thomas had attended one meeting and he had had enough.

Seeing them struggle, just kept on reminding him of Alby and how it must have felt like, taking over the group of lost boys, giving them structure when there was so much fear and so many unknown dangers lurking around them. He could only imagine how Newt and Minho were feeling about it.

Newt pulled away and threw the stack of paper in his hand on the top of the pile, apparently done in every sense of the way.

"What's up with Sonya anyway?" asked Newt a bit amused by Thomas state. He knew he looked like he had melt. Working in the sun all day with Gally turned him in a puddle of water by mid-day and a smelly mop by the time the sun set.

"Sonya's going mad," he asserted finally taking his t-shirt off.

"Same…" moaned Newt, staring shamelessly at Thomas before being brought back by questioning eyes. "I mean, she's overworking herself to the ground… There's just so much work she can shoulder before she goes insane."

"Well, if she stops pestering me, maybe she'll have more time," he grumbled low enough for the other to barely hear any of it.

Newt stared like he usually would when he thought Thomas sounded childishly petty. Thomas decided to take the high road and ignore it by getting some fresh water.

"Did she finally corner you and beg you to run for head of security?" teased Newt leaning back on his hands to follow Thomas movements. "She keeps saying you would be best for that."

Thomas rolled his eyes.

"You should just give up," taunted Newt. "When she has something in head even Harriet can't talk sense into her."

Thomas stopped struggling to find clean clothes . "It's not about the election."

"Oh? Then what?" asked Newt suddenly confused.

"She doesn't like the idea of me and-" he trailed on drinking some water as his free hand waved around the room.

Newt didn't understand, eyes fixed on him, waiting for Thomas finish that sentence but he never did so he tried.

"She doesn't like you and… Gally?" proposed the blond standing up. "Something happened with Gally?"

"No," sighed Thomas grabbing the towel again, to wash off as best as possible without too much hassle. "It's about us. Us going out and all…"

"Going out?" repeated Newt astonished, like the idiot he is, a smirk on his lips. "Where? You could have told me."

Minho and Brenda had started saying that about relationship, it stuck. But obliviously Newt didn't believe in it. What were they going to do? Walk to the next beach over holding hands? He had a point. Well, they were not going out anywhere special for sure but it sounded nice, simple.

Thomas glared, trying not to be amused by the overused running joke, "You know what I mean… And your sister doesn't like it."

"Why would she oppose it, Tommy? It doesn't make sense," he frowned. "No one even think about it. Sonya doesn't care neither."

People might have commented on it at the beginning but it had quiet down as none of them were really throwing around their semblance of relationship they tried to build. They didn't hold hands, they didn't lay on the beach on lunch break like Sonya and Harriet, nor get caught making out like Minho and Brenda when they were suppose to work.

Thomas worked all day with Gally and Newt too. Not with Gally, with the council. It wasn't a big deal. People didn't need to know that Thomas would fall asleep to counting quietly the seconds each breath Newt took as he slept next to him, the kisses, the terrible jokes and the way Thomas hold him close, face buried against the crow of his neck at sunrise. Okay and sex was great but really, who needed to know?

It just didn't feel right to throw their relationship in everyone's faces, they decided after all, they'd been through enough drama, Or maybe that was just a lie to explain why Thomas would always break eyes contact in public as if in sudden embarrassment, or not dare to let his touch linger on Newt's shoulder, arm, or hand. But it was enough for Newt, Thomas was sure. It didn't matter anyway, they had all the time in world to decide what they wanted to do now.

Thomas still hadn't answer, and went to sit down next to the blond.

"She can be over-protective…" recognised Newt, hands toying with closest the papers at his feet. "Just talk it out?"

"I've tried," whined Thomas sinking down to the floor. His eyes on the ceiling and head almost on the papers. "She just won't listen. If I knew it wouldn't bother you, I'd call up the council over this."

"The council?!" scoffed his friend. "That's a bit much."

Thomas glared angling his face just right to show his friend the seriousness of it. "I just don't know what to do! She keeps glaring from afar. She threatened me!"

Newt couldn't stop his chuckles at the theatricality of his sigh.

"Are you actually scared?" he teased, leaning over Thomas."She wouldn't hurt you."

"I've seen her use a rifle. I'm terrified of her and so should you."

"Okay! Okay!" smiled Newt moving some of the stacks away to lay down too. "I'll tell her to slow down on threats."

"Cool."

Silence settled, as the camp started to get louder and louder outside as temperature decreased sufficiently for the beach to be enjoyable. Thams hand slithering across the papers to find Newt's, tugging at it for more attention. "Gotten dinner yet?"

"I need to talk with Sonya," called Newt dropping by the election headquarters after dinner.

While most of the camp was moving back to their own rooms, one hunt still shone bright in the night. The voices were loud and worn out. Everybody turned to the new comer. Things and people hadn't move much from where he left them at earlier. Food had been delivered but outside for this added layer of mess, nothing was new.

"The election can wait, this discussion can't," grunted Vince mentioning Newt out of the room.

"We're trying to work out if we need a Constitution before the election," tried George. "An pragmatic opinion would be welcomed?"

"We need a referendum!" pipped up Sonya.

"We can't ask people to vote on something we won't even have a draft of!" rebutted Harriet. Someone else shouted louder and it seemed to be the trend because Vince didn't react to the background noise, his eyes steady fixed on Newt.

"Tomorrow," he repeated voice almost sounding like a beg. He was at the very end of his strengths.

Newt felt flushed and suddenly childish for bringing personal matter in what he suppose would be as close as business setting as possible here but they clearly needed a break and he promised Thomas he would deal with it as soon as possible.

"You need to take a break," tried Newt and everyone actually stop shouting to consider. "And this is not about the election… It's about Tommy."

Everyone looked up and turned to Sonya who smiled innocently from her sit at the end of the table. "Is it?" she smiled.

"Thomas's okay?" asked Harriet staring at her girlfriend, unimpressed.

"Yeah… The big sister talk might have gone too far."

"She what?" started Vince taking in a deep breath, eyes closing in pain. The headache was almost visible. Then, shutting up Newt's explanation with a wave of hand, he mentioned everyone out of the room."Wait. That's exactly why I'm not running for president of council. There is some things I don't want to know about."

Vince just looked exasperated. "Just sort it out quickly."

"We'll do our best," Sonya smiled.

"Have some sleep," advised the blond instead. He didn't wait to be invited and sat down as the last one were moving out.

Sonya didn't seem worried and just waltz in a sit closer to her brother with a pious smile.

Vince just glared a last time at the both of them before storming out calling after Harriet as she sent a last suspicious glance at her girlfriend before turning away.

"So," smiled Sonya. "Thomas?"

Silence fell on the room and Newt didn't know where to start. It was the first time he had a sister. Nobody in the Glade was related. Even with a manual Newt wouldn't be sure how to talk to her. They had the same eyes, the same blond hair and more he repeated it to himself the more he could see the resemblance between them. They had the same blood but they never learned how to deal with it. She wasn't Newt's closest friend but somehow they always found shared territories to walk on. Why wasn't it the case now?

"So are you together?" she tried.

Everyone knew. It was rhetorical at best, so Newt answered with a nice and neat, "Yes."

"That's all I get?" teased Sonya, keeping the tone light but it was just a bit too bitter to be honest. "A late notice and no details?"

Newt looked over to the shelves ready to bang his head against it. Minho had spend the week demanding details about the relationship. The whole ordeal had apparently been fuelling an important betting scheme around the camp. After few hours of cards, hopefully there was enough gossip for them to last the month and leave Newt alone with the questioning.

It was nice to talk to his friend again though. Newt barely remembered what they fought about to begin with.

"Everyone has known for a while… Ever since, Minho seemed a bit too shaken that one morning," giggled Sonya.

"Nothing happened that morning, Minho overreacted." Answered Newt maybe with too much force because why can't everyone focusing on their own bloody lives for once? Hadn't they given enough of their privacy away in the Maze?

"Sure…" teased Sonya leaning back on the chair, so smudged and confident.

"Nothing happened," exasperated Newt.

"And that's the problem?" whispered Sonya, getting closer to her brother to elbow him.

"No!" hissed Newt wondering how putting a stop to Sonya's bullying led him to be the one under attack. "The problem's that you're harassing him."

"So he came crying to you…" she smirked.

"He was concerned."

Sonya rolled her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't like it." announced Sonya. "You and him…"

Newt searched her face for more explanation because this didn't make sense. "Why not?"

"I don't think you're ready," bragged Sonya and Newt had to tried hard not to choke.

"That's not up to you!" he yelped, hands shooting to the sky.

Sonya straightened in her seat. "I don't want to see you hurt because of him," she continued unwavering. "Thomas has been flapping around like a butterfly, looking at Teresa for a bit, then Brenda for some more, now you. People talk."

Newt let the cold wash through him. "It's not like that." He said. His hands shook but it wasn't from anger toward his sister or Thomas's crushes and flings creating gossip. Maybe it was his frustration to realise there was still a part of him that would believe those words even after all of Thomas's promises.

"You're the only family I have," she continued remorselessly, proud to come clean. "You're the last one and somehow I can't never catch you alone."

"Sonya…" winced Newt. Did she not understand the stress they were under? "If you wanted to play card together, you could have just ask!?"

"I have lost you too many times and if I need to threaten Thomas every day, then be it!" she declared and stood up, hands flat o the table. "If I need to remind him everyday that you're the last thing I have left of family and that he'd better be bloody careful, then I will."

Newt wasn't sure how to respond, a disbelieving saddened smile tugging at his lips. He stared at his sister in wonder. He was such an idiot for no trusting her more.

"You're not going lose me," he said.

"I lost almost everyone in the Maze, I thought we were never going to stop running from the WCKD," she continued eyes tracing the patterns on the table filling up slowly in water. "I can't let anyone of my family get hurt again."

Newt nodded slowly, reaching to grab her hand. "I'm sorry…"

"It's okay, we're all busy," she mumbled, blinking hard. "I'm just overworked," she laughed bitterly.

"It's okay." Newt let her hand go, watching her trying to get hold of herself again.

"It's just he never holds your hand or anything," she urged trying to explain pushing the tears away. "I wanted to make sure he was honest and in love, like, you know…"

"We're fine," smiled Newt. "As far as I know he is… and that enough for now, for me."

"Are you sure? Are you happy?" she said ready to just up and go kick Thomas's ass.

"Sonya. Please," warned Newt. "We're fine."

Sonya did not back down, it wasn't like her but it was her brother and she was not going to waste that relationship so carelessly. "What's going on then?" she asked more softly.

"It's complicated."

"Try me."

Newt sighed, it was his turn to straighten in his sit, quivering under his sister glare. "I think we're just going along whatever this is… We have no idea of what we're doing."

Sonya did not hold back a snort. "No surprises here," she holed. "How did you guys even survived in the maze on your own?"

"To be honest, Sonya, I don't know," laughed Newt. "We'll sort it out eventually."

Sonya nodded along silently. "You know I'll kill him if he hurts you," she reiterated.

Newt let a smile run across his face again. "I'm sure it won't be necessary."

Sonya didn't laugh before adding, "At least when you're in charge, you'll be able to get me off."

"I thought people liked my ruthlessness like when I threw Thomas in the pit," pointed out Newt. "I can't disappointed them by sparing you."

They both laughed their hearts out, wondering how it had come to this.

"But I'm your sister!" stressed Sonya.

Weeks later;

"Are you hiding?" asked Brenda, finally finding Newt at the small cliff looking out to the waves.

"Wanted some calm," confessed Newt not bothering to move, not even feeling guilt.

There was no use in getting excited now. The only thing they could do now was wait. The results would come on their own.

He didn't want to say it out loud but maybe he was actually worried of losing. Maybe this all things ended up like something he actually cared about. He had tried to fool himself into thinking he would find something else to do if he lost but really what? What would he give to be like Thomas always busy, always finding stuffs to get involve in.

Thomas said that it wouldn't be the case, but Newt could feel it deep in his bones. He was no good on camp, and if left to his own device it would not take long before falling into the same pattern than in the Maze.

"Why are you and Minho always hiding around here?" wondered Brenda sitting down next to him, breathless from the little trek. The cliff was a perfect point of view, high above the campement allowing for an open view over the beach and the sea.

"Reminds us where we are, I guess?" They kept on finding places at the shade of the trees but near from the sea to have that breathtaking open view on the ocean.

"Why not just sit on the beach like the rest of us?" she teased.

"Some bad habit I guess," he rectified, hands digging in the sand. On one hand, the trees around them made it feel like home and the direct view over the camp kept the paranoia at bay. And on the other side, it was just so open; Newt could stood up and swim straight ahead until exhaustion without anything to stop him.

"Looming over the camp?" supposed Brenda. "Was it the daily activity in the Maze?"

"Yeah," chuckled Newt waving at it. "We used to meet up with Alby on the side other side of the Glade and look out at the sheds."

"Must have been nice…"

Newt didn't answer, Brenda didn't deserve some snappy comments about how "nice" was that dreadful cage holding them prisoners as scientists dissected their friends on the over side and deadly robotic worms screaming in the night waiting on them to misstep. Wasn't it just wonderful.

Newt didn't just want to forget the Maze, he wanted it erased from his brain. He wanted it gone, but nevertheless as much as he hated it, it was always going to be his first home. Missing the Maze was a very peculiar feeling for each Gladder and other persons taken in by WCKD. It was hard for others to understand the mice of lovely and distressing, sweet and horrifying memories. Some of them did know about the Maze, asked about it, tried to imagine but most would never understand the fear and happiness of that time. Even with Thomas and he argued about it sometimes.

It stayed with Thomas so differently than the long term Gladders. Maybe because he didn't actually lived there long to have anything else than bad memories and it brought up only anger and blood freezing horror.

"Thomas's doing much progress at the sessions," Brenda said off hand, just starting the conversation again.

"I'm not going Brenda," sighed Newt, feeling the stare of his friend on his face. He was not going to sat down and talk about turning into a Crank, or getting tortured by mad scientists that erased his memories and killed his friends in front of him. No thanks, he was going to be doing something else of his days than revisiting those wonderful memories. Call it denial, if you must. Drama Queen, Newt didn't care. "I'm happy that it helps Thomas, but I'm not going."

Thinking it was merely exhaustion, nobody commented on Newt's silence every time the Maze was spoken about. Brenda had obliviously noticed and keep on inviting Newt to join.

Minho had decided joke about it now, trying to bring it up as much as humanly possible, trying to make those disgusting and horrifying thoughts a casual part of the ordinary daily life.

Gally regretted too much to actually mention any of it first but Brenda's project actually helped a lot. Newt could at least recognise this. She would sit down and talk about it, it was open for anyone to attend. To say the least, even Newt was feeling more okay with mentioning it in passing, maybe he just needed to work with it at his own pace.

"I know you won't…" she cut in. "I know you quite well now. All of you."

Newt looked up at the tease in her voice. "Do you now?"

"Yep," she smirked quite smug. "And I can say that Thomas's doing great and not just thanks to the project."

Newt frowned. Thomas missed having a goal and going back the active life of the camp helped so much. Brenda said it was from the "PTDS." Thomas was simply searching for the adrenaline. It was a itch under his skin. Newt didn't show any of that overflow of energy, on the contrary, and somehow that fit perfectly with Thomas, regulating them both.

"I know you both act like there's nothing out of the ordinary," teased Brenda. "But you're good together."

Newt wasn't sure what to say, it was nice but at the same time he didn't expect to have Brenda's opinion on "them."

"Thanks?" bloused Newt. "It's not, like, a big deal…"

Brenda scoffed. "Don't let Thomas lie to you like that," she mocked. "The Immune War wasn't a big thing for him neither! And look where it lead him! Punching Gally and all."

"Fair…" sighed Newt eyes back on the sea when tumult was heard from somewhere behind them.

"Newt!" shouted Thomas rushing in.

Both turned and looked at the intruder in surprise. "What!?" "Tommy?!" asked standing up, heart racing, ready for the worst.

"You've won!" laughed Thomas grabbing the blond by the arm.

Brenda looked to the setting sun, "That's… too early?"

"You got 80% out of the 60% of accounted votes, yet!" laughed Thomas shaking his friend who was still silent. "You've got it!"

"Wow! Congrats!" smiled Brenda patting him on the shoulder.

"What?" flattered Newt.

"You won!" he repeated grabbing Newt's hands. "You're Council President!"

The blond laughed shakily, large smile running on his face, he jumped into Thomas's arms. His arms wrapping around Thomas's neck, Newt didn't even think twice before pressing against his friend. Thomas didn't hesitate reciprocating easily, arms around his waist.

"I'm so proud," simply whispered Thomas.

"Got to catch Minho!" Interrupted Brenda. "I am so claiming all of my bets tonight!"

"Really?" asked Thomas moving back to watch her run off.

"I can't believe they're still organising those betting matches… Vince should have put an end to it." Chuckled Newt as Brenda rushed toward the beach.

"You mean you…" teased Thomas.

"What?"

"You could put an end at it, just say so,"

Newt rolled eyes, "Pretty sure I didn't get elected to control Minho and Brenda's betting habit."

"Maybe we should bet too sometimes," decided Thomas.

"Nah… You're too clueless and I'm too pessimistic," jabbed Newt, hands brushing on Thomas's shirt.

Thomas laughed at it easily holding the blond close one last time while more and more shouts of joy rose from the camp.

"I can't believe it actually worked," whispered Newt.

"I can," smirked Thomas like the idiot he is.

"What about you?" mumbled Newt face pushed against Thomas's shoulder.

"Don't know yet…" sighed the brunet, because yeah… Sonya had won in the end. He had presented. Newt moved away, daring to glance back at the main area.

"Let's go see for ourselves then…"

Months later

"You think they were right?" whispered Newt. It was late, late in the morning, not enough for the smell of lunch to start leaving Frypan's kitchen, but late enough for people to already be slowing down under the sun's weight.

"We're not talking about the storage unit organisation again, right?" mouthed Thomas against the blond's neck, loving the little breaks they just started to find throughout the day. Their new jobs definitely hold some advantages.

Newt laughed pushing Thomas just away enough from his neck to catch his lips again. "Can you let me be bitter about losing that vote?"

"I did! I listened to you whine about it for a whole week," chuckled Thomas kissing his jaw.

"I did not."

"You did," Breathed Thomas against his neck, as Newt absently tried to tug his top off placing his hands on Thomas's skin. "You had a whole existential crisis about losing the majority over a minor issue."

"Maybe I did," conceded the blond unable to fight off Thomas's grin.

Thomas ultimately complied with Newt demanding tugs and took his t-shirt off. They still have a handful minutes before someone would call.

"So, what are they right about?" he asked working on Newt's clothes now.

"Nothing important…" pressed Newt trying to get back to he much preferred activity of kissing Thomas breathless.

"Go on," insisted Thomas, feeling Newt tensing against him.

"It's stupid."

"Is it?" persisted the idiot.

Newt just wanted to roll his eyes, because obliviously Thomas would not let it go. "Just… Like if they're right in thinking, I can make right decision, and so on…" murmured Newt in a rushed voice as his hand running in Thomas's hair tightened as he bite down on his neck.

"You remember that there is a whole council around you, right?" mumbled Thomas.

The blond hummed, hands running out Thomas's hair to his chest.

"But?" guessed Thomas, dragging words out of his friend mouth and grabbing his hands to put a stop at the distracting tactics he was pulling.

"What if something happens to you?" huffed Newt, getting his hands out Thomas's grip.

"Nothing we won't be able to deal with," cut off the younger boy.

As if Thomas had deserved to hear about such terrible words because he had chased after them when Newt had begged him to let it go.

"What if you get hurt?" insisted Newt regretting each word has they followed. "What if I start feeling terrible again and it's too much? If you can't deal with it- If you leave- and I-"

What if you leave me; Newt couldn't even say it out loud . He could fell the choking panic knowing there was nothing he could demand of Thomas, and nothing that Thomas could answer. There was no way to make this feel real, make them feel safe, because it was whole in his head. Not that Thomas, a renown stubborn git, would not make and keep any promises Newt could asked him.

But he couldn't ask him to stay. Not when Thomas would agree without hesitation but still ran away from him in front of their friends. It didn't matter, because what matter wasn't what other saw, but it didn't mean it wasn't killing Newt softly with doubts and dormant fears.

He was waiting for the sword to drop, counting on Thomas to see all of the other immunes around them and realise that Newt might be just a friend.

It was true. Teresa was always Thomas's soulmate. They were always on the same wave length, mind-reading each other without even having to try, trusting each other without a second thought given to doubts nor reason. After this, was what they had enough for Thomas? For how long? What if she was alive? Would he stay?

"What if WCKD is still out there looking?" he said instead lying to them both. "What if they find us? What if this is not real?"

"And what if the sky falls off?" mocked Thomas and Newt didn't dare to say yes, exactly! So he glared, weakly, as Thomas cupped his face in his hands. Newt really hoped the water blurring his vision wasn't visible to his friend.

"What if this is not meant to be?" Newt regretted each word as soon as he uttered them.

"If what…" Thomas blinked, worry washing over his face. "No… don't do this." His fingertips ran on the blond's cheek. He tried to smile, pleading eyes that forced Newt to look away for a second.

"Stop selling us short," coaxed Thomas pushing some blond strands out of the way of brown blinking eyes. "We'll be fine."

Newt nodded staidly at Thomas's words.

"We are," persisted Thomas searching for his eyes.

Thomas leaned down capturing the blond's lips, taking his attention away.

"I didn't mean it," lied Newt against his lip. It was an heartfelt apology, perhaps a bit clumsy and precarious but he couldn't summon anything more. An easy smile slowly moved into place and a shaky breath settling slowly.

Thomas kissed him again, useless in this deadlock. He didn't stop until he could feel Newt relax under his hands. Newt let it happen, because after all there was no reason behind his fears, they were fine, right? There was nothing Thomas hadn't already told him that could make him change his mind.

"Nothing will happen. I'm fine and I swear, you're much harder to kill than what you look like." Smiled Thomas as Newt's fingers slide down to pause on the hem of Thomas's jean. It didn't go far.

"I look easy to kill?" Newt asked confused of the statement as Thomas chuckled, unashamed with smirk on his lips .The blond continued to fake scandal and shock but it was harder each passing second.

"No, I wouldn't dare to say that of the Council President," laughed Thomas hiding his face against Newt's neck giving up on the t-shirt.

"Yeah, you'd better not," Newt teased pushing Thomas away. He did not even try to hide his grin.

"Or what?" He taunted tugging the blond to him. "You'll throw me in the pit again?"

The cry of outraged wasn't fake that time, and Thomas barely had time to react before a pillow smashed to his face.

"Maybe I should!" the blond shouted right before Thomas tackled him to the floor, laughing out loud.

Newt sat proudly on the top of his friend enjoying maybe not pyrrhic but nonetheless total victory. It didn't last long before Thomas decided to go back to the main activity and bring down Newt toward him to kiss the blond breathless.

"Thomas! Vince!" shouted some high pitched voice that Newt recognised immediately.

"Really?" marvelled Thomas. It had been a few weeks already he was part of the camp's security and Newt running the council and he had started to believe it was a game to call on at least one of them at an interval of 3 hours though night and day.

As soon as they looked up Harriet ran in, breathless, shotgun in hand. "Guys, you need to come. Now."

She didn't even looked fazed or surprised, Newt stood up in one quick motion, frowning at the gun and Harriet troubling behaviour. It had been a quiet day so far. An accident maybe? But Thomas wouldn't called on… A fight?

"Couldn't you have at least given us a few minutes before bargaining in?" asked Thomas, unlike the blond he hadn't noticed anything amiss from her behaviour.

"Just come… We have a situation," she urged, not interest in whatever Thomas was saying. Her eyes ran around the room hastily, stomping a little, ready to ran out. "Now."

Newt stared hand settling on the desk to help his leg straightened. "What's going on?"

"There's something in the water," she explained voice wavering. "You should come too."

Forgetting about the crumbled t-shirt in one corner of the room and merely avoiding to step on the pillow, Thomas hurried behind Harriet. People were scattered around the island for the moment but soon people were going to back to the main Hall for food. Some had already started to meet up and Harriet ruled her expression out of any emotion walking quietly.

Newt noticed her sister sitting down at one of the table without a worry in the world. She didn't know but still threw a questioning glance at them when they didn't come to her table. Newt waved at her that everything was fine.

As soon as they were out of sight they rushed to the beach. There was a small group discussing at the top of the hill.

"What's wrong?" Newt asked when they quiet down and Harriet didn't say anything. Thomas's eyes were lock far away in front of them, directly to the sea.

"Is this-?" started Thomas fear fulfilling up his throat. Newt's head snapped toward him sensing the concern in his voice. Harriet handed him the gun so he could use the visor to look at the black point in the sea.

Thomas didn't speak, his eyes took a moment to realise what was wrong.

"It's a boat," Harriet announced. Unconsciously Newt took a step back.

"I saw it," Erik added. "I looked for Harriet when I couldn't find you."

It was maybe meant to be a reproach but Thomas couldn't care. "No way…" he gasped gawking at it.

It was a boat, heading straight for their beach. There was no denying they'd saw. The smoke from the main hall alone could be seen miles away. So, Jorge had establish contact, as soon as he was notified.

Aboard the embarkation held 10 passengers. Or so they said.

Did not know about WKCD, none of them infected, or so they said.

Newt was staying as still as possible. He sat down next to Sonya, as Thomas paced up and down the Council Room.

"They should reach the shore within a few hours," Vince claimed walking in.

"We can't let them in like this," reiterated Newt for the fourth time since they'd contact the boat. His fingers continuously drummed against the wooden table. "It's too dangerous."

"People are talking." Harriet urged, arms crossed as she stood in the back of the room. "We need to come up with a plan before panic start spreading."

"We know," snapped Charlotte, head of medical who just got convoked.

Newt sighed, looking at the map of the island opened in front of them. Thomas's group had been working on it for the past month, he wasn't sure if he was proud to finally see it at use or not.

"I'm going to say it." Sonya declared stopping herself from picking at her sleeves; "What if it's WCKD?"

Thomas had to glance at Newt. The blond did react steeled and composed as he used to in the Glade, his eyes falling on Thomas too.

"Unlikely," supposed Vince, staring at Newt too. "They wouldn't have been interest in knowing who was in the camp. Jorge said they didn't ask anything about us."

"We can't run the risk," decided unanimously Newt. Acid memories flooding Thomas mind as he remember Newt standing at the Maze's entrance, attached to the Law refusing to save his friends.

"But we can't let them out there!" scoffed Thomas, rage bubbling in him. Did they not change at all?

"We can't physically stop them from coming closer," added Sonya.

"We could," pipped up Harriet from somewhere in the back of the room. She hadn't put down her gun.

"What about deterrence?" asked Charlotte leaning on the table. "Two well placed shot and they'd understand to stay the Hell away."

"Deterrence?" scoffed Thomas.

"We're not opening fire on them without a good reason," scolded Newt glancing at Vince for back up. He was Vice President for a reason. "We are not going to put human beings in danger just because we're unreasonably scared."

"What if they have the Flare?" growled Charlotte. "We're not all immunes, here!"

Newt didn't dare look at Thomas this time and neither did he.

"Should we vote?" asked Sonya.

"Vote?" repeated Vince. "We'll never agree and before we can even take a decision they'll either starve on the boat or here."

"Or we'll be dead," added Charlotte.

"This is a crisis," said Harriet. "It needs to be Newt's decision."

The blond did not react eyes fixed on the map.

"We can quarantine them," proposed Charlotte.

"Where?" asked Sonya pointing at the beach. "Ask them to sit around quietly while we decide either or not to feed them?"

"They're people," growled Thomas. "We should let them in. We can't start working like WCKD. We can't do the same mistakes. Being scared of everyone and barricading ourselves in just because it might be a risk for us. We can't decide who deserve to live or who doesn't."

"Thomas's right, we can't let them die," quipped Sonya from her sit.

"And risking everyone's life?" asked Charlotte.

Newt kept silent. They had feared something like that would arrived. A situation with no solution where he would have to take a decision fro everyone. He had had nightmare about it a few times, though most of them would involved nice reminder of the worst decision made in the Glade. Thomas didn't live through all, but the general panic and chaos that spread in the Glade during the last few days were enough to imagine. Nevertheless, none of this was present for the moment. People were concerned and worried but no panicked. Outside for the people in this room plus Eric and his two friend no one was aware of this. They could still plan this out.

"We can't tell them to leave, they know about us now." Vince declared. "It's too dangerous. There could be anyone on that boat. They could be armed."

Thomas rolled his eyes ready to attack again.

"Tell them to anchor here," finally said Newt, finger on the map. "We'll prepare some kind of quarantine, they'll need to stay on that boat until Charlotte thinks it's safe and that all weapons are surrendered. We need to be clear on the fact that if anything goes amiss we'll sink them."

"You actually want to send people on this thing?" shrieked Charlotte.

"It's too much risk," said Vince.

"Aren't I Council President?" asked Newt. He didn't flinched at Vince's disproving stare and Harriet's glare. "If you want to overthrow me find yourself a majority ready to overrule me. It's not my rules."

Everyone fell silent Sonya the only one going on boarding straight away with the plan, "And after quarantine?"

"If they want to stay after it all, they can," decided Newt against all his fear, Thomas thanking him in silence. "We're not going to close ourselves off in fear. Too many people died from this already. Plus if they aren't immune we might have a solution for them."

Thomas was still awake in the dead of night.

They just had survived the Immune Civil War (as Brenda named it), it was still an unusual occurrence to go through the day with the distinct tangible sensation that their life could be more peaceful. Because now they knew how it felt.

All he learned had been obeying to WCKD until they got dumped into the Glade. And there, they'd wake up and do their part, there was no laying down with your lover to make out under the trees, thinking about the bright future, none of those things. It was running away from monsters and death. Even more so in the Scorch, not even mentioning the Last City.

But now it was happening. Everything was falling into place; Newt, his job, his life, and it was terrifying.

If only they could stop being thrown challenges left and right.

Newt had just collapsed on the bed and was fast asleep in the minute as Thomas ran his hand in the blond's hair. They only had one evening off since the boat had arrived last week and it hadn't even been on the same one. They kept on crossing path, but the only time they could actually talk about something else than work was at the short lunch they shared in the Council Chamber with the others. The camp was just starting on the second week of quarantine with the frail hope to hold everything still until Charlotte gave the green light. It worked. It was hectic for everyone on the island but it worked out okay for the moment.

The radio went off, the new invention of Jorge, keeping them all connected and updated. The Devil's instrument he had succeeded to fix earlier and had been slowly breaking up the boys sleeping pattern.

"Already…" grumbled Thomas.

Newt stirred but it was only when Thomas climbed out of bed, the blond looked up. "Please…" he begged. "Tell me it's not mine?" he mumbled, hand running over his eyes.

"Nah, you're fine," whispered Thomas pushing on his outstretched hand to grab that awful thing.

Leaving with a last kiss against his temple, Thomas was sure Newt felt back into sleep the second he walked out. As he made his way down to the shore, only a handful of people was awake. The sun had barely starting to show as Harriet run up to him, shotgun screwed to her side.

"One of them's missing."