A/N: I know this Chapter is much shorter than previous ones, and i'm so sorry. However as much as i did try, this scene didn't want to be stretched out, the boys were adamant about it i'm afraid. They didn't need the filler i had written because they have a life-long friendship and understanding of each other that means they communicate a lot more without words than with them.
(Yes, i'm doing the weird writer-y thing of really personalising the characters as though they're helping me write... I've had a lot of coffee and little sleep and I have no regrets.)
The Arena is approaching.
Thanks to everyone so far, i love to hear what you've particularly liked about Chapters. Comments literally make my day, and criticism helps me grow.
Happy Reading!
Chapter Seven
There was a heartbeat of absolute silence before the audience erupted. Newt was incredibly red under the hot lights, his brown eyes dark and more afraid that Thomas had ever seen them even though his jaw was set and his expression was neutral. Thomas could see it, read it there, and he had forgotten how to breathe. His affection for Newt expanded until it was all he could think about, his heart racing like a rabbit's in his chest.
He couldn't tear his gaze from the screen, even when the cameras switched views and Caesar Flickerman was speaking and the noise of the audience was explosive. He kept his eyes on the image of his best friend in the world, the boy who had stolen his heart years before he'd even realised. The interview was continuing but Thomas couldn't focus. Caesar was reigning it back under control expertly, and Newt was fidgeting, his lips moving to say words that Thomas couldn't focus on. His mind was racing, trying to take in what Newt had just said, what he had just said on a Panem-wide Broadcast.
Thomas's head was spinning, and he didn't realise he was moving until he was standing, striding, moving towards the staircase, halting mere feet from the bottom as he finally breathed again. He forced the air in and out of his lungs, feeling light-headed and fuzzy. He could hear the sound of footsteps and he'd know their rhythm anywhere. As the green trouser legs stepped down into his view, followed by the shirt, the blazer, and Newt, Thomas realised he had no idea what he was going to say.
Newt met his eye as he reached the last stair, and the surprise on his face was short-lived. He looked nervous, and afraid. Newt suddenly looked so absolutely close to tears that Thomas didn't know what to do, he was so stunned by the revelation. Newt never cried. He was the strongest person Thomas knew. He felt a thread of fear spiralling in his gut.
"Tommy, I-"
"What on earth was that? You could have warned me before you went off saying things like that, I could have so many things in place. Do you realise what you've done?"
Janson was pushing past Thomas like he wasn't there, his eyes alight and his face so excited Thomas couldn't believe it. He put a hand on Newt's shoulder, shaking his hand vigorously with the other as his voice grew in volume, his arm swinging expressively.
"Oh, people are going to root for you, my man! Newton that was genius! I couldn't have scripted it better, oh- Sylvia? Could we? Oh there are so many thing we can- Oh Newton, my boy, we're going to be making history for sure! Well done Thomas for setting that up, you two- Hm? Yes, we can- of course. Let's…"
Janson and the Crawford woman strode off as quickly as they had appeared by his side and Janson's rushed babbling continued as they walked away towards the elevator, their heads close together and excitement blazing in their faces. Thomas watched them go, feeling out of place and floaty, like he was in someone else's dream and couldn't quite get his feet on the ground.
"Talk about whiplash."
The voice behind him was quiet and nervous, and Thomas turned to meet Newt's eyes. The blonde was biting the inside of his cheek, and his gaze danced around the hallway. The angled planes of his cheeks were dark pink and Thomas had to swallow the words he wanted to say.
"So Caesar thinks we're brave, huh?" he said instead.
Newt's grin was instant and warm and he looked at Thomas gratefully. Thomas smiled back. He wanted to ask what Newt had meant on the stage, but he was afraid to. He was his best friend in all the world and he would be the only thing on Thomas's mind from the very second he set foot in the Arena.
"Looks like it. Who the bloody hell knows why?"
Thomas sniggered, and pulled Newt into a hug. The blonde didn't question him and he was glad, because he didn't know how to put it into words anyway.
"Tommy… What i said… It won't, i mean… It won't change anythin', will it?"
Thomas looked up, surprised at the doubt in Newt's words. He blew out his breath in a disbelieving snort, drawing Newt a skeptical look.
"You are kidding, right? Besties for life, bro." he teased in a feminine voice.
Newt screwed up his face at that, but the intent had been understood. He shoved Thomas playfully when the younger boy laughed, but it only made Thomas snigger more. Newt gave an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes.
"I take it back, jeez. What was i thinkin'? Lovin' a loony like you."
Thomas merely threw him a sunny grin, fluttering his eyelashes at him. To his delight Newt's blush returned in force, and he scrunched his eyes up as he glanced away, giving Thomas's shoulder a hard shove. As he stumbled away Thomas merely laughed.
"In love with me now, Newt? Man, lucky me. Panem'll have a fit when they hear." he grinned.
"Oh, piss off." Newt snorted as he swatted for Thomas's head.
Thomas ducked out of the way, dancing out of Newt's reach and laughing more when the blonde tried again. They continued the dance halfway up the hallway, Newt growing more red and more boisterous with every unsuccessful attempt to smack the brunette. It was difficult to contain their laughter, both forgetting for a moment where they were. The Capitol officials who were wandering around the corridor were starting to give them seriously displeased looks and Thomas straightened, throwing his hand out casually for Newt's as he called for a truce.
"Come on, let's go get hot chocolate before we get into trouble. The last thing we need is RatMan down our throats."
Newt laughed into his free hand as if Thomas had said something hilarious but he followed dutifully, shifting his hand so that their fingers were linked together. Neither of them said anything more as they made their way to the elevator up to their suite, both focusing on putting one foot in front of the other and trying to memorise the feeling of the hand that warmed their own.
