Newt sat in silence once Alby had finished his story. He looked at Minho who held his head low and cradled by his hands. Not a single person spoke out loud. Silence echoed through the room. But what was there to say, other than the obvious of course;
"So you think Nick," Newt chose his words as carefully as possible as to not offend, "Caught a disease caused my a griever?"
"The symptoms are the same." Alby was guarded.
"Nick would not have gone into the maze." Minho stood up suddenly, "Especially not overnight."
"It is a possibility."
"Or maybe he's just a violent psycho."
"Minho." Next chided gently.
"No one goes in the maze but Ben and I." Minho told the both of them sternly, "It's my job to make sure the maze doesn't hurt anyone else."
"Your job is to track the maze and map it." He reminded Minho.
"There's more to it than that. I can't have any more people hurt in the maze. Nick did not go in the maze. I didn't let him in the maze."
"What if he snuck in? Without your permission."
Minho shook his head.
"It's alright Minho," Alby reassured him, "It's not your fault."
"There is no way Nick survived the maze. He doesn't know the maze. He wouldn't have made it out. Oscar knew the maze better than any of us. That is why he survived the maze. Nick couldn't have survived a night in the maze. End of story." Minho exited in a huff leaving Newt and Alby alone.
"Sorry about him. He's just-" Newt started to apologize to Alby.
Alby stopped him, "Don't apologize for Minho. He can make his own apologies. He won't but that's also his battle." Alby's serious tone cracked to reveal a slight smile but he quickly covered it, "It's your job to find out what happened to Nick. He's being banished tonight but I still want to know what happened to him."

Newt left Alby with a new sense for Minho's past. Newt realized he'd gone through nothing in comparison to Minho. He needed to see him before Nick's banishment. He was unsure of how exactly Minho would be dealing with his emotions in this situation, but he assumed it wouldn't be well.

Newt found Minho down by the water trough. He was alone. Newt sat down on the dock beside him. Minho carried on carving the end of the stake into a point. The small knife that he used was the one he carried everywhere with him. Newt now knew why. It was Oscar's knife.
"Minho." Newt said cautiously, "How're you feeling."
"I'm obviously not at my best but for your purposes I'm fine." Minho replied through violent slashes to the stake.
"It's sharp enough." Newt lay his hand on Minho's so he'd stop carving. He put the stake down beside him and the knife back in his belt.
"We're losing Nick tonight." He said quietly.
"I know." Newt replied as Minho looked away from him. "It sucks."
"Yeah." Minho scoffed.
A silence stretched out between them until Newt said, "I'm sorry about Oscar and Vinnie."
Minho did not look at him, "Those were dark days."
"And I know you're sad that you lost them and now we're losing Nick as well." Newt tried to reason.
"I'm used to losing people."
Newt let out a sigh full of frustrated patience, "Are you?"
Minho cocked his head to look at Newt, who had an eyebrow raised tentatively.
"I don't care much about Nick." Minho said bluntly, "He was never my friend.
"Minho." Newt shook his head only slightly, "That is not at all what I asked."
"It's easier if they're not your friend."
"You don't have to be like this. You don't have hide your feelings."
"I don't like having many friends. If I care about less people I lose less people. It doesn't hurt as much."
"That's why you don't let people in." Newt realized. "It's not always like that, you know? You don't lose everyone. Is this why you're-"
"I almost lost you." Minho looked up at him with great relief mixed with an even greater sadness sitting just behind his eyes.
"But you didn't." He gripped his hand, squeezing it hard.
Minho let himself smile a little as he blinked back tears, "I didn't."
"What happened to Oscar and Vinnie sucked. What is going to happen to Nick sucks. But Minho, please don't blame yourself. You can't blame yourself."
"Newt." Minho swallowed hard, "You're the first in a long time."
Newt blinked, once, and then twice, before opening his mouth to ask, "I'm the first what?"
Minho's forehead crinkled and his eyes looked deeply into Newts, "You're the first person I've been scared to lose. In a very long time."
"What about Alby?"
"Alby and I have a common agreement. We know the risks. So did Kevin."
"Minho, you don't have to be so guarded. You don't have to expect the worst."
"But I do."
Newt let both his hands grip Minho's.
"You could never imagine how it felt to watch you almost slip away from me."
"I'm sorry Minho. I didn't know."
"I spent every night with you then."
"I'm so sorry. I don't know why-"
"I don't care why you did it. All I care about is that you survived. Just tell me you won't do it again."
"I won't." His voice choked up.
"I was there when you woke up because I was always there. I thought I'd lose you. I was so scared." He admitted with his voice quivering slightly.
"It's okay." He let Minho wrap him gently in his strong arms letting his forehead rest against Newt's. Newt could see the dull sparkle that only tears brimming over the corner of Minho's eyes could bring.
"Don't let me lose you, Newt." Minho whispered.
"I won't."

Newt lay, with his head in Minho's lap, all afternoon until dinner as he sharpened more stakes. When stressed Minho had to be doing some sort of activity. He needed the distraction. Newt made gentle conversation with him as he did and Minho was very thankful for it.
"Favourite colour?" Newt asked.
Minho replied easily, "Blue."
"Like the water trough, the sky-"
"Your eyes." Minho stopped striking the spear to watch Newt blush slightly. Minho smiled down at him as he squirmed slightly in his lap covering his face with his hands.
"That is not allowed." Newt giggled lightly, "I was not ready."
"So you're the only one allowed to find pleasure in making the other blush?" Minho teased.
"I do not take pleasure in making you blush." Newt sat up with devilish grin on his face, as he, did in fact, did take a lot of pleasure in making Minho blush.
"You lie."
"I do not lie." He grinned.
Minho pressed his nose to Newts as he said; "You can't help but crack a smile when you lie."
Newt frowned, "I am not smiling now am I?"
Minho grabbed the other boy by his sides causing him to laugh as he doubled over. "I see a smile there." Minho continued to tickle him.
"Not fair!" Newt desperately squirmed around in Minho's arms as he tried to wriggle himself free. "Tickling is off limits!" He was unsuccessful in his attempts to escape, but he wasn't quite sure he wanted to escape at all. When Minho finally stopped his attack on Newt he was laying on the dock, with heavy breaths shrouded in laughter, while clutching his sides. Minho stared back at him, as he caught his breath, with a smile spread wide across his lips. In the newfound silence Newt stared back up at him with his heart beating hard against his chest.
"Shuck Minho, I need your hands back on me." Newt sighed with his mouth left slightly open. Minho bent himself over Newt and laid a gentle hand on his chest where he could feel his quick beating heart. He slid the other hand under the small of his back, gently lifting him towards his face. He let his eyes close and his lips meet Newt's in a soft gentle embrace. Minho felt Newt's lips form a smile as he brought his arms around his neck pulling himself closer.

Dinner was hard. Every glader knew what was to come after it. They ate in an eerie silence with only hints of strained conversation trying to break it. Winston kept his head down and Newt tried to do the same. He couldn't eat much. His stomach threatened to get rid of anything he put in it. He couldn't help but think that what was going to happen to Nick was his decision. The other's had agreed but he'd come up with it but still-
"You can't take all the blame." Minho whispered from where he sat beside him, as if reading Newt's mind. He couldn't read minds but he didn't have to when he saw the expression on Newt's face. He'd been right. "We all chose this."
Newt swallowed another small bite of food before saying, "I know. I just wish-"
Newt couldn't finish his sentence so Minho did for him, "There was another way?"Newt nodded.
Newt nodded.
"Ben was right. He's a danger now." Minho said.
Newt did not respond. He was a danger and banishing him was for the greater good. His job was to make the right choices for the glade but it could be hard sometimes, extremely hard.

When the time came to banish Nick not a single glader said a word unless it was completely necessary. This entailed that most words spoken were between Alby, Minho, Newt and Ben. The others just watched and did what they were told. Gally brought Nick from his cell to the opening in the maze wall. He cut the rope that bound his hands together as the others surrounded him with the long spears. The sun was beginning to set and the walls started the awful grinding noise that came with their closure. Nick begged for forgiveness until Alby gave the others the command to push him towards the maze at spear point. When they began to push him back he to throw himself at Newt but Minho had anticipated it and was there to intercept his attack with his own spear. Newt turned his head away and grit his teeth but went on until Nick was in the maze and the doors had closed. The glade was silent for a second before Nick's screams erupted from behind the walls. Newt looked around those remaining and noted the mixture of sadness and fear on the other gladers' faces. He knew this would put a dent in the moral but he also could not think of a way to fix it. He hoped it would fix itself in time.

The glade went to sleep shortly after Nick's banishment. No one could think of anything else to buy the time. Minho lay in his hammock with his eyes squeezed shut, pretending to sleep. He assumed the others were doing the same thing. How could anyone sleep with Nick's strangled screams carrying over the walls of maze? Minho didn't know. He couldn't sleep. The screams were bad but it was much worse when they stopped.

Everyone woke up the next morning with heavy shoulders and heavier hearts caused by the night before. Minho was with Newt by the opening of the maze waiting for Ben to arrive.
"You have everything you need right?" Newt worried aloud as he gripped Minho's hands in his own.
"I have everything." Minho reassured him.
Still Newt rattled off items, "Knife? Water? Rope-"
"I have it." Minho squeezed his hand gently, "I have everything."
"And if you find him-"
"Newt, it's okay." He spoke quietly, "I know what I'm to do. Ben does too."
"I'm sorry. I'm just worried he will hurt you if he's still there but I don't want to seem like I'm being-" Newt rattled on until Minho stopped him.
"Calm down. He won't hurt me."
"You'll be careful right?"
"Of course."
Ben ran up to the two of them and they quickly dropped their hands.

Newt went to find Winston once Minho and Ben had left. He was found slaving away in the Bloodhouse alone now that Nick was gone.
"Hey, Winston?" Newt knocked before stepping in. "How're you feeling?"
"Fine." He replied quickly before turning to slicing more meat.
"Stop for a second okay?"
Winston stopped slicing and turned to Newt, "What's up?"
"I just want to talk to you."
"It's about Nick isn't it?"
"Yeah-"
"It's alright. I mean I'm fine." Winston rushed to say, "Nick is-was a danger to everyone. Of course I'm sad. He was my friend but it is fine. I'm fine."
"Winston." Newt stopped him, "It's okay to be upset about this. I'd really like you to take the day off. I want you to take as much time as you need."
"I uh-" He was hesitant, "I don't need any time. I would much rather continue working. It's a lot easier. Honestly."
"That's fine too." Newt nodded, "I will get someone to help you out in here until we get a new full-time partner for you, okay?"
"Newt." He shook his head, "I'd prefer if I just worked alone for a little while."
"Sure." Newt smiled, "If you ever need anything, I mean anything at all, both Alby and I are here to help."
"I know. Thank you."
Newt smiled at him one last time before turning to leave.
"Wait, Newt." Winston called. Newt turned towards him to hear him ask, "You're trying to find out what happened to Nick, right?"
"We are, yes." Newt nodded.
"I don't know what happened but if it's any help I can tell you that he disappeared the day before he got violent. I don't know where he went though. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. That's a lot of help actually."
Winston smiled lightly.
"Thanks." Newt smiled back at him.

That night at dinner Newt made an announcement pertaining to Nick. He asked for any information on his whereabouts when he was missing the day before the attack. He said to meet him in the homestead with information, as Alby let him have it all to himself. The fact that Newt had to mention not to come to him with the information that he was missing or that they did not see him that day after two gladers did exactly that was, to say the least, a little disappointing. Nonetheless, Newt was staying hopeful. Someone must have seen Nick on the day of question.
The door swung open and Minho stepped in.
"Minho?" Newt smiled and lifted his eyebrow suggestively, "Did you see Nick on the day in question?"
"No." Minho shut the door deliberately. "I did not see Nick at all."
"That's exactly what I said not to do." Newt laughed a little as he walked towards the middle of the room.
Minho met him there with a sly look on his face, "I've never really been one for following rules."
"I'm aware." Newt shrugged.
Minho pulled his waist towards his own and kissed him hard. Newt was taken by surprise but then he found himself laughing into Minho's chest.
"What?" Minho asked with a similar laugh.
"Nothing." Newt continued to laugh, "I mean, bloody hell Minho-"
"What?"
"I don't know." Newt shook his head yet his grin remained.
Minho looked down at him with an open expression.
"I just really, really like kissing you." Newt's face flushed red and he looked down at his toes to hide it. It was no use. Minho had already seen the blush.
"Well, that is certainly a god thing," Minho ran his hand down Newt's spine causing him to squirm, "Because I quite enjoy kissing you too."
Minho pressed his lips to Newt's gently at first, but as soon as Newt began to run his fingers through Minho's hair he kissed him harder. Newt found himself melting into Minho as he always did every time he got the chance to. He wanted to be as close to Minho as possible. He wanted every inch of his body to be pressed to Minho's. Nothing mattered when he was with Minho. He didn't care about Nick or his job when he was in Minho's embrace. All that mattered was Minho. The door slowly opening did not matter. All that mattered was Minho's mouth on his.
The door was fully opened to reveal Chuck who now had a shocked expression on his face. Minho pushed Newt away from him quickly to turn his attention to an equally flustered Chuck.
"I'm sorry." Chuck tried to sprint out of the homestead but Minho grabbed him by the shirt collar before he could.
Chuck immediately threw his hands up to cover his head and winced.
"Minho!" Newt jumped in between him and Chuck, separating them.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Chuck repeated over and over in a frightened whisper.
"No, no, no, it's alright." Newt tried to calm him and Minho down, "It's one hundred percent okay."
"No one was supposed to know." Minho replied agitatedly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to I just wanted to talk about where Nick was." A still frightened Chuck quickly explained.
"He can't tell anyone!" Minho yelled at Newt.
"Minho, it's fine." Newt turned to Chuck and looked him in the eye, "He won't."
"I won't tell anyone." Chuck agreed.
"You promise?" Minho stared him down.
Chuck gulped loudly, "I promise."
"See." Newt smiled, secretly entertained by this turn of events, "We're all good."

AN: Sorry about having no chapter last week. It was my exam week so I was very busy with school. The chapters will be up and running again from now on. Thank you for reading.