Title: I just realized I need you

Characters: Thomas and Minho

Disclaimer: The characters and universe belongs to James Dashner.

Notes: This is for Day 5 with the prompt "He's my what?". Modern AU, High School AU, Fluff, rivals to lovers.

Minho couldn't believe what Miss Paige just said. It couldn't be true.

"He's my what now!?"

"Your tutor, Minho" she repeated, already exasperated. "Because you were sick for few weeks and your implications as the track team captain, you have fallen behind my class. I know you're a smart kid and normally have very good grades, so I'm doing you a favor. Thomas is only going to help you get back on track."

"I don't need help! Especially not from him!"

"Yes you do. Thomas is the best student in this class and the only one qualified to help you catch up." She sighed. "I don't care what's going on between you two, but you have to get over it. Be mature! It's okay to need help! Besides, Thomas already agreed."

"Yeah, probably just to mock me…" he whispered.

"Minho!"

"Sorry Miss Paige. And thank you for your help."

He left, knowing it was futile to argue further. Closing the class door behind him, he went to his locker to get his things before going home. Unfortunately, the only person he didn't want to see was apparently waiting for him in front of it.

Thomas.

Ever since the brown-haired boy got transferred at Glade High School, it had become a nightmare for Minho.

The boy was brilliant, he couldn't deny it. But he was so brilliant that he became top of the class, stealing that title from Minho. Even worst, the kid was also a very good runner and could rival the captain of the track team.

Their rivalry started like that. It was always who had the best grade. If one did a better time during practice, the other would hear about it for days. It wasn't exactly hating each other, and Minho hated bullying since he had been a victim of it back in elementary school, it was more of a you-are-annoying-please-get-out-of-my-life type of thing.

And now, Thomas was going to tutor him. It was the biggest hit at Minho's ego. The worst scenario that could have happen. He was glad he had a teacher that cared about him and his grades and was indeed worried his few weeks out would affect his grades, but he would have liked anyone but Thomas to help him.

Perking up at his arrival, Thomas smirked, indicating a sarcastic comment was about to come. That was another annoying thing about the white boy, he was practically as sarcastic as Minho.

"So big boy needs some help in physics?" he teased.

"Slim it" he replied, too furious to come up with a comeback. He opened his locker door harshly, not sparing a glance to the other boy, and took his things.

"It's normal you know" Thomas added in the same mocking tone, "You can't be good at everything."

Minho slammed the locker door shut, before furiously glaring at the other runner.

"If you say another remark, you can say goodbye to your face, pretty boy."

"Oh, so you think I'm pretty?" he teased before he was taken by shirt by his captain "I'm joking! Calm down big boy!"

Minho released him with a huff. He went towards the exit, wanting to get away from the snarky kid as fast as possible.

But he followed.

"We should starts today" Thomas commented. "We have an upcoming test soon, so…"

"No."

"Listen, do you want my help or not?"

Minho groaned in respond. "Okay, fine. Let's go to my house."

…

They arrived shortly at Minho's house. The way home was… awkward. Thomas had let his sarcasm behind and Minho was still mad, so both didn't talk during the bus ride.

Taking his keys, he opened the door for both of them.

"Mom, I'm home!" he said, as usual, hoping she wasn't actually home.

A head popped up from the kitchen. "Welcome home swee- Oh, who is that?"

"That's Thomas" he said, rolling his eyes, because of course, luck was on his side. "He's gonna… help me."

"Nice to meet you" the brunet said politely.

"Nice to meet you too Thomas" Minho's mom smiled. "I'm glad Minho has such good friends."

"Mom, we're not-"

"Do you guys want something to drink? Or something to eat?"

This was getting frustrating. Minho had wanted to avoid all that. His mom tended to be a bit too friendly sometimes.

"No, it's okay, thanks mom."

Before Thomas could say anything, he took the boy's arms and led him upstairs, going straight to his room.

He closed the door behind him, hoping his mom would leave them alone.

He threw his backpack onto his bed, sighing in defeat. This was hell.

"You like One Piece?" Thomas said, breaking the silence. He was standing near Minho's bookshelf, looking at Minho's ever growing One Piece manga collection.

"Yeah…" he replied, blushing slightly because it wasn't something he liked sharing with others. "I've been a fan for a while now."

"Same" the brunet said, turning to Minho with a smile on his face.

"For real?"

"Yeah, I really like adventure stories, and humor, and yeah, One Piece is just really good…"

That was the first time he saw Thomas have a real smile on his face. It was normally always a smirk or a grin. Never a genuine smile. This was weird and he didn't know how to process it.

"I agree" he smiled back. "One Piece is really good." And then he added "Who's your favorite character?"

"I like Robin…"

That made Minho smirk "Because she's hot?"

"No slinthead, I'm gay. I just like her humor" he argued back.

Then realization hit him. He just outed himself. "Oh shuck, damn it, I-I, sorry, I just-"

"Hey, calm down pretty boy" Minho interrupted him before he could panic. He was a bit taken aback by the sudden revelation that his rival was not straight, but he knew out stressful it could be to come out. "It's okay, no need to be sorry. I'm bi, I know what it's like…"

"You're bi?" Thomas asked, as if he couldn't believe it.

"Yeah. I just never told anyone because it's none of their business."

"Oh… uh, well… yeah, I understand that…" Thomas went to scratch his head in embarrassment. "Sorry, I… I don't out myself like that normally…"

"It's okay, shank, don't worry about it."

"Yeah well… thanks."

That was awkward. But it did made Minho sympathize a bit with Thomas. Maybe the shuck-face wasn't has bad as he thought.

"So hum, what about you? Who's your favorite?" the other boy said, wanting the change this conversation.

It was now Minho's turn to blush. "It's, hum… It's Chopper…"

Thomas's eyes widened again, this time in amusement. "Really?

"Yeah… he's… cute" he explained, which only made his rival laugh.

"Oh wow, a big boy like you like cute things, I could've never guessed" he teased.

"Hey!"

"No need to be embarrassed about it, it's okay too like cute things" he said in the same sarcastic tone. "It just means that like Robin, you seems dark and intimidating and have a weird sense of humor, but you still have a good heart inside."

Minho threw a pillow at him "Would you slimt it shuck-face!"

But that only made Thomas laugh even more and tease his captain during the whole time he was tutoring him.

…

Surprisingly, those tutoring session weren't as bad as Minho first imagined.

Besides his mom often interrupting them to ask if they wanted snacks, time alone with the other runner was actually enjoyable. When they were taking short breaks, they often talked about the new One Piece chapter that came out, or talked about theories and which villain was the best. They also talked about track and running in general. Minho learned that Thomas actually started running after his mom passed away. It helped him during a time when he needed it.

More and more, they were opening to each other and soon, they started being friends, which surprised everyone at school when they started greeting each other in the hallway, or even eating lunch together.

"I guess we were a bit like Zoro and Sanji" the brown haired boy once said during one of their break in tutoring. "We fought and competed against each other, but we didn't actually hated each other."

Minho laughed at that "Yeah, I guess you're right."

…

They were laying down in Minho's bed, watching funny moments from the One Piece anime. They had just finished the tutoring session that has become more of a homework session since Minho did caught up with the class. But it seemed they both didn't really want to stop this regular thing they had, so no one said anything and just kept doing their work together, while taking breaks and chatting after they were finished. Even once or twice Thomas got invited to eat dinner with Minho's family.

Their relationship evolved so quickly, Minho couldn't even understand how they didn't become friends sooner. Being with Thomas was just so natural. They had so much in common and it was so easy to trust him. He had been blinded by his ego, that was the only explanation.

As the brunet was laughing besides him at one of Luffy's weird antics displayed on the phone Minho was holding, he realized he need that. He needed a friend like Thomas. And Miss Paige putting him in his life like that was probably the best thing that could have ever happened to Minho.

And when the brunet turned to face him, with a smile that could illuminate the world, something stirred inside of him. And as they stared at each other, tension suddenly filled the room. Without any of them understanding how it happened, their mouths were on each other's and Minho was on top of Thomas, pressing him into the mattress.

The kiss was far from soft and innocent. It was desperate, months of suppressed feelings finally unleashed. It was intense, a reminder of how much they needed it.

"Hey boys, do you- OH!"

They separated each other as fast as lighting. Minho's mom was by the door, a surprised look on her face.

"Honey," she then said "you could have told me Thomas was more than a friend, you know I would have accepted that!"

Minho groaned "No, it's not like that-"

"Don't you trust you mother anymore?" she said with the same sarcastic tone Minho often used. Thomas now knew where it came from.

"Mooom, please…" The Korean was now as red as a tomato. Thomas quite liked the sight.

"Anyway, Thomas dear, are you staying for dinner? I want all the details about your relationship with my son."

"MOM! STOP!"

He was hoping Thomas would say no. That he would say he had to go. But he only grinned in respond. "Yes of course, thank you for the invitation."

Thomas just couldn't resist embarrassing Minho even more.

"Great! I'll let you boys to your thing, have fun!"

"MOM!"

The runner let himself fall back into his mattress, groaning. The boy besides him only laughed.

"So now were a thing?" Minho asked him. "We've only kissed once and we're a thing?"

Thomas moved into now boyfriend's arms before answering "Well, I guess. If you want to. I do want this. I really like you, you know. I think I've always have. Do you want this?"

When did this boy became so soft and adorable? When did his golden eyes started looking at him with so much love and adoration? When did he start falling for him?

"Yeah, I do. I… I need you in my life" he finally admitted, which was met with the cutest smile he had ever seen.

"Good that."

I couldn't help but add I little bit of One Piece in this one, sorry for those who don't know One Piece.

Thank you for reading and I hope you liked it!

-Safr2n