A/N: I was planning to update at least once a week but my weekend was so full I simply didn't have the time.. My apologies! It's Monday and a brand new week ahead and I really should be sleeping but I decided to give you chapter 16 now, anyway. Enjoy! x

All we're chasing is the sunset
Got my mind on you

Newt wouldn't easily forget the look on Thomas's face when Alby told him that he was to become a Trainee and, most likely, a Runner. He knew Thomas well enough already that he could see the boy was deeply touched and honoured by the idea of becoming a Runner just from the look in his eyes. He could tell the boy went through a variety of emotions inside him, and the dark-haired Greenie couldn't quite help the exclamation of wonder that escaped his lips.

"Wow, guys, for real?" Thomas uttered, his eyes huge and staring at the boys before him as one of his widest smiles started to spread on his lips. However, the boy suppressed it a bit, lowering his gaze momentarily as he cleared his throat and raised his eyes to meet he Keepers', a look so sincere on his face it hurt Newt's heart. "I.. I really appreciate this, I really do. Wow. Just.. Thank you. You won't regret this, I promise."

Alby narrowed his eyes at this a bit, but eventually their leader rose up, his deep voice echoing in the room, "Good that. I think we're quite finished here and that the Gathering is now officially closed." The boy nodded to the other Keepers around him until locking his eyes with Minho's. "Minho, from now on, Thomas and his training is your responsibility," he reminded, and the black-haired Keeper only grinned and nodded in response. Alby turned to face the others again. "Alright, let's go back to our duties now. After dinner, we'll begin the preparations."

With that, Alby walked out of the room. The other Keepers rose up as well, most of them approaching Thomas and congratulating him. Newt stood a bit afar and watched as Minho rushed to pull Thomas into a brotherly bear hug, cheering and clapping his fist to the boy's back. Thomas laughed with him and his face was the reflection of pure joy.

When the Keepers finally cleared out of the room, Newt stepped closer to Thomas.

"C'mere, my soon-to-be Runner," Newt murmured while beckoning the boy closer with his index finger. A slow smile tugged at Thomas's lips as he closed the distance between them, placing his other hand to the small of Newt's back and the other around his shoulders, pulling the fair-haired boy close. Newt slipped his hands to Thomas's back and met his eyes.

"Congratulations, Tommy," he breathed, smiling.

Thomas looked Newt in the eyes, happy. "Thanks, Newt. Listen.." The boy's gaze seemed to intensify, a strong emotion flickering behind his hazel-brown eyes as he looked deep in Newt's dark-brown ones. "I'm sure you had a significant say in this matter, and I bet without your support this wouldn't have been possible. So really, thank you. This means a lot to me," Thomas said, brushing the nape of Newt's neck with his fingers.

Newt nearly closed his eyes and purred at the small gesture. "In fact, quite a many people supported the idea from the start. There wasn't much persuasion needed.. You're welcome, however," Newt smiled and pulled the boy into a soft, lingering kiss.

After a while they parted and Newt gestured to the door, indicating they ought to go out. Thomas nodded in response and took hold of Newt's hand, intertwining their fingers.

"Hey, Newt.." Thomas said before they had reached the door.

"Yeah?"

"Alby was saying something about starting some preparations after dinner.. I wonder what he meant by that," the dark-haired boy muttered, a troubled wrinkle between his eyebrows.

Newt turned his head to look at the boy, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"I guess you just gotta wait and see, Tommy."

*.*.*

The agenda of the night became clear for Thomas soon enough. After dinner Frypan shooed everyone out of the kitchen, demanding to be left alone to work on something with his cooks. Then most of the boys headed off for the forest, bringing piles of branches and wood and piling them up on the dry patch of ground where there was no grass, only sand and grovel.

Newt could see these little pieces of information clicking into place in Thomas's head. They were standing outside the kitchen when Thomas suddenly asked, "Are you throwing a party here or something?"

Newt chuckled and nudged the boy to his side. "Indeed we are, Tommy. And it's all for you." Thomas looked at him with raised eyebrows and so Newt continued, "We do this once or twice a month, but especially on the day we have a Gathering and the Greenie gets his own Keeper, to celebrate that he starts to find his own place here."

Thomas looked at him, smiling, his eyes warm. "I think that makes sense," Thomas murmured, squeezing Newt's hand.

Newt's face flushed and he cleared his throat, nudging Thomas again and starting to tug him towards the forest. "Come on, Tommy, it won't do to just stand here. There's work to do."

However, he couldn't quite suppress the smile playing on his lips.

*.*.*

While the sky was losing its light, the Gladers built a massive bonfire. Everyone was eagerly awaiting for the celebration to finally start. Some boys had brought some pots and kettles from the kitchen and created other handmade instruments their hands were longing to play. The atmosphere was excited and it was hard not to join it, Newt realised. And it wasn't as if he had any reasons to pout, anyway. Not right now. Even if the worry for Thomas was there nagging at the back of his mind, tonight he would let it go and just enjoy seeing Thomas so happy and gleeful.

Newt and Thomas were carrying a long log between them. Other boys had already carried a few other logs and placed them around the bonfire so they could have something to sit on. Suddenly there was a shout from a small distance away. "Oi! Help me carry the food there! I've only got two hands, after all!" Frypan was carrying a huge tray full of sandwiches and grilled meat, gesturing back to the kitchen with his head. A few boys ran to meet him and deliver the food to the table which they had carried there earlier.

"Excited, Tommy?" Newt inquired, smirking at Thomas.

The dark-haired boy turned to him, grinning. "You guys truly seem to invest in this stuff."

Newt chuckled, amused. "Oh Tommy, you know nothing yet."

They placed the log to an empty spot a bit further away from the fire. Newt brushed his hands against each other and glanced around.

"I guess we're soon ready to start," Newt noted, looking at the chattering and restlessly moving crowd of boys around them.

"Thomas, over here! Come!" Chuck called out from a group of boys who were each holding small torches, most of them lit.

Thomas glanced quickly at Newt who pushed him gently with his hand. "Go," he urged, smiling.

Thomas smiled back before making his way to Chuck. Newt watched as Chuck explained Thomas how they were going to lit the bonfire with the torches, all together.

"Seems like some shanks have grown pretty close today," someone murmured in Newt's ear.

Newt startled and jumped slightly, turning around in a flash. "Shuck, Minho, don't do that!"

Minho grinned at him, his eyes crinkling and forming two little half moons. "Easy there, little lion," Minho said, crossing his arms lightly over his chest. "I didn't mean to scare you so much."

Newt scowled at him lightly but shrugged soon. "Don't worry about it," he muttered, turning back to face the crowd, standing beside Minho now.

"So.. From what I can gather, my little aid was most profitable," Minho said, nonchalant. Newt glanced at him quickly but the boy wouldn't meet his eyes, a knowing smile playing on his lips, instead.

Newt had to bit his lip to prevent himself from grinning like an idiot. "Well, I guess you could say that," he answered, nudging his friend with his shoulder a bit. "Seriously, Minho, thanks. I owe you one."

Minho turned his head to look at Newt who was watching him with serious, grateful eyes. The Asian boy quirked the corners of his lips up, nudging Newt's shoulder back. "Anything for my two clueless buddies," Minho quipped, amused.

"Oh stop it, we're not clueless!"

"Take that again, please?"

"Oh, for the love of-" Newt groaned, shaking his head. "Alright, just shut up now."

"Told ya," Minho smirked, turning to face the bonfire again.

They were silent for a while and looked as Chuck helped Thomas to lit his own torch. Newt watched the boy with affection that didn't go unnoticed by Minho.

After a while, the Keeper of the Runners uttered out words that made Newt draw in a surprised breath. "You do good to each other, I can see that. I'm happy for you guys."

Newt felt so touched by Minho's words, he couldn't make a word out for a few seconds. Then he grimaced, shoving the boy with his hand again.

"Oh, shut up, you bloody sap!" Newt growled, but his eyes betrayed him as he glanced at Minho with wonder.

Then Newt noticed Alby who was making his way out of the Homestead. The Leader of the Glade was usually the one who unwrapped the celebrations with a word or two. The Gladers were clearly waiting for him this time, too.

As Alby looked at Newt's direction, the blond-haired boy nodded to him in acknowledgement. The dark-skinned boy strode over the grass and stopped to stand in the middle of the crowd, other boys forming a circle around him.

"Thomas! Come over!" Alby called out, gesturing with his hand. Thomas turned around and looked confused for a while but soon he made his way to the boy, glancing at Newt quickly. Newt tried to smile at him reassuringly. This was the tradition, after all.

Alby stood beside Thomas before the yet unlit bonfire. Thomas had handed his torch back to Chuck and he was now left with nothing to distract his fingers with so he kept cracking his knuckles lightly, looking a bit unsure of what was to come.

"Gladers!" Alby greeted the crowd. "Today our Greenie, Thomas, got himself a Keeper! From now on, he's truly one of us. Let's have some fun tonight and greet our future Runner, Thomas!" Alby clapped Thomas to his back as the boys around him shouted Thomas's name, cheering and clapping.

Thomas's cheeks were a bit flushed but he looked happy, still.

"Let's light up the bonfire and enjoy the night!" Alby shouted as the voices died out, just to start again right after Alby's words.

Alby shook hands with Thomas and the dark-haired boy returned to Chuck and the group of boys who were now moving closer to the bonfire.

Newt then gestured for Minho and side by side they started to make their way to Thomas.

"Hey, Tommy, you got some fire for us too?" Newt inquired, sweeping his hand lightly over the boy's back. Thomas whirled around, grinning at the sight of him and Minho.

"Hey guys! Sure, here," Thomas said, handing them torches and lighting them with his own.

"Let's light up this glorious night!" Minho exclaimed, cheering with the other boys as they settled on a circle around the huge pile of sticks and branches and hay.

"I count to three," Minho shouted so that everyone heard him. "One. Two. THREE!"

As the last word left his mouth, he, Newt, Thomas and all the other boys threw their blazing torches into the bonfire which flared up in seconds, the fire spreading everywhere and the flames burning hot and reaching high into the star-lit sky like fatal fingers.

"Thirsty, anyone?" Gally shouted a few yards away, holding a huge box full of small bottles that made bright clinging noises as they hit each other gently inside it.

The boys roared in excitement and rushed over, the box draining from drinks at a drastic pace.

"I'll get us drinks, okay? Just wait here," Newt said, winking his eye at the dark-haired boy.

Thomas smiled, nodding and suddenly found himself in the receiving end of enthusiastic congratulations from Minho and other Runners. Newt shook his head in amusement and walked over to Gally.

"I see the Greenie has you wrapped around his finger for good, huh? Making you his slave already?"

Newt raised his head as he heard Ben's sneering voice from a few feet away. The tall, broad-shouldered Builder was leaning to one of the tables a bit further away from the fire. Newt slowed his pace and narrowed his eyes.

"Shut up, Ben," Newt spat, glaring at the boy in disgust as he passed him.

"I'll keep my eye on him, you know. Everything's going way too dandy for him right now and I don't agree with you lot one tiny bit. But you'll see.. That fucking do-gooder won't be able to handle one single day in the Maze. That pathetic pet of yours won't-"

Newt moved faster than Ben had time to register it. He whirled around and pushed the smug, unprepared boy down to the table with such force it knocked the boy out of breath and thrust his forearm against the base of the choking boy's throat, hard.

"Don't you ever, ever, dare say something like that when I'm near. One word and I'll make sure the Grievers'll get a little snack sometime soon.. I couldn't be happier if I never had to see your shuck face again in my life," Newt growled, pushing his arm a bit deeper. Ben was gasping for air desperately, his eyes wild.

"Oi! Newt! Get the fuck off that boy! You won't hurt one of my Builders, you bastard!"

With one final growl and a hard scowl, Newt released the boy and straightened up, stepping several feet away.

"If you don't want me to get rid of your bloody rats for good, get them under control, Gally," Newt answered, letting Ben behind him crash down from the table, coughing and gasping for air and instead looked over his shoulder to the place where he had left Thomas.

Luckily there were a lot of people between them and almost no one had seemed to look too hard on to the incident in the shadows of the night. Including Thomas. Small blessings, Newt thought darkly. He certainly didn't want the fight of the other day to be repeated which would've been sure to happen if Thomas had seen Ben and Newt strangling each other's throats.

There was a slight tinkling sound as Gally lowered the box with the remaining drinks to the ground and jogged over to check on Ben.

"Ben, you okay?" Gally asked, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. Ben shoved his hand away, groaning angrily and mumbling something incoherent.

Newt turned his back on them and walked over to the box, snatching two drinks there. As he turned around to leave, Gally was suddenly there, scowling him darkly.

"Seriously, Newt, what's wrong with you? Calm the shuck down, for fuck's sake. Do something like that again and I'll be sure to inform the Council," Gally said with a threatening voice.

Newt looked the other boy straight into the eyes, stepping closer. "And I'm telling ya, if Ben does one simple move towards Tommy again, I'll throw him to the Grievers. So you'd better keep him out of the way," he said coldly, a threat clear on his voice, as well.

With that, Newt pushed his way through, shoving the boy slightly with his shoulder. Gally stayed silent, shaking his head as Newt made his way back to the Runners.

Newt made his best to shake his gloomy appearance, but it wasn't as easy as he thought. However, he had decided earlier that this was Thomas's night and he sure as hell wasn't gonna ruin it by pouting and acting all weird. Taking a deep breath, Newt forced a small smile on his lips as he pushed through the crowd, nudging Thomas lightly with his elbow.

"Hey, you're back! What took you so long?" Thomas asked, smiling broadly at the sight of him but Newt noted the small crease that appeared between the boy's eyebrows as he took in the blond's appearance. "Hey, is everything alright?"

Newt handed him the other drink, trying his best to smile wider. "Yeah, of course. The queue was long, 's all. Here, take it."

Thomas accepted the drink and surprised Newt by taking hold of his waist with his other hand and pulling him closer. Newt blinked in surprise, blushing lightly.

"Seriously, Newt, what's wrong? I can tell you're upset," Thomas urged, brushing Newt's hip with his thumb slowly.

Newt took a shaky breath and shook his head just a bit. "I'm fine, Tommy, just a bit of arguing with Gally. Nothing new there," he said, shrugging.

Thomas looked at him for a long while but in the end the boy sighed. "Alright. If you say so."

"I say so. Now, let's have a drink, Tommy. The night is young," Newt said, whispering the end of his sentence with a low voice.

Thomas raised his eyebrows slightly as a knowing smile worked its way to his lips. He raised his bottle and clicked it against Newt's.

"Cheers!" they exclaimed almost simultaneously, and took a drag of the bottles.

Thomas swallowed, smiling, but pulled quickly away and spluttered the drink out of his mouth. Newt threw his head back, laughing in earnest with the rest of the boys around them.

"What the hell is this!?" Thomas demanded, looking disgusted.

"The first taste is always the worst, but you'll get used to it soon enough. Just give it a go, buddy!" Minho chuckled, clapping Thomas's shoulder happily.

Thomas swore under his breath but did as he was told, and indeed, the boy swallowed a much longer drag already, only slightly grimacing as he lowered the bottle.

"There you go, Greenie!" one of the Runners cheered and the others joined in soon.

Newt felt the alcohol burn in his throat, and he thought maybe it wouldn't be too hard to get his mind off about the bad stuff, after all.