Chapter Text
They were supposed to be mad at Thomas. All of them were. They’d basically all decided on it. He’d helped build that maze, the one they were going to be trapped in, starting tomorrow. They were supposed to totally resent Thomas and Teresa for helping WICKED build it.
But if Newt was going to forget everything he knew and loved tomorrow, he wasn’t going to spend the day resenting his boyfriend for something he obviously didn’t have very much control over. Especially not when he’d already given him enough grief about it.
“I’m sorry,” Thomas says again. It’s the fifth time he’s apologized in the past half hour. Newt just shakes his head in response. He doesn’t need to apologize. Not to him.
“I love you,” Newt says instead. It’s the first time he’s said it, but if he’s going to forget everything, he needs Thomas to know how he feels.
Thomas smiles gently, holding him tighter against his chest. “I love you too,” he says, without hesitation. “I’ll always love you. Even after you forget me.”
It was clear even Thomas didn’t know what would happen after the Maze Trial started. That was okay. It just proved his innocence even more.
“Let’s make tonight special,” Thomas says, “so you can’t forget it.” They both knew it wouldn’t work like that, but neither one of them seemed to want to point that out. Newt’s quick to agree to whatever Thomas is proposing.
Thomas sits up and pushes off the bed. Newt pulls himself up, accepting Thomas’s hand as he gets to his feet. Thomas doesn’t let him go, instead dragging him throughout the WICKED compound by the hand. They twist through winding, seemingly never ending corridors.
Newt’s lived here all his life, and even he doesn’t know where they’re going. Yet Thomas seems to have a very particular location in mind. He waves absently at Teresa as they pass her. She asks him what’s going on, but Thomas doesn’t answer. Newt shrugs to prove that he’s just as out of the loop as her. She sighs and keeps walking in the other direction.
“Where are you takin’ me?” Newt manages to ask as Thomas pauses to take in his surroundings. Thomas looks back at him, smiles, and mouths “you’ll see”. Newt gives in, because Thomas has the best surprises.
They don’t stop for long before Thomas picks up again, continuing to move, this time much faster. Newt has to run to keep up with him.
They end up at a library. Not the one by the dorms that Newt’s been in hundreds of times, but one that must be for the scientists. Newt’s not convinced that Thomas can actually get them into it, since it requires key card access.
Thomas smirks at him, reaches into his pocket, and pulls one out. He swipes it in the lock, staring at it blankly in anticipation. Against all odds, it flashes green. He mumbles something about Chancellor Paige, and then says nothing else, pocketing the card again.
“You stole that, didn’t you?” Newt asks, smirking. Maybe his Tommy did have a bad side. Thomas doesn’t confirm, but he also doesn’t deny, which is answer enough for him.
Thomas pulls the door open, peeking his head around to make sure no one else is inside, and then walks in, extending his hand, once again, to Newt. He smiles, taking it and letting the door click shut behind him.
Newt looks around. The books in here are way better than the ones in their library, that was totally and completely all non-fiction. Actually, it was full of biographies, and not much else.
“No cameras in here,” Thomas explains. “Prolly the only room in the compound without them. I break in here all the time. Never been caught.”
He sits down on the floor in between two tall bookshelves and pats the ground invitingly. Newt hesitates a moment before collapsing down on the floor of the library beside Thomas. They were nestled between two ridiculously tall bookshelves, stuffed to the brim. Thomas loops an arm over his waist, pulling the older boy's back flush against his chest.
"I love you," Newt whispers, turning around to face him, holding his shoulders to pull him closer.
"I love you too," Thomas says back, kissing him.
The door pushes open, the quiet library being filled with chatter. A couple of scientists Newt didn't recognize. They didn't seem to be actually looking for any book in particular, just seeking the solitude of the silence.
Thomas's eyes widen. Something tells Newt that they're not supposed to be in there.
"I'm not sure how I feel about the Maze Trials," one scientist says quietly. "With what Paige is planning, it's just inhumane."
Newt's gaze shifts from them to Thomas, demanding answers. Thomas obviously has no idea what they're talking about.
"They'll be fine," a second scientist says. "I'd be more worried about your ass, now that you've said that."
Thomas lets him go, pushing up to sit as silently as he can. Newt quickly follows his lead. There's a tiny gap between the top of the books on the bottom shelf and the bottom part of the shelf above it- perfect for spying.
"There isn't anyone else in here, is there?" The first scientist asks, looking around nervously.
Thomas drops down so they can't be seen from the gap. Which would have been perfect, if he hadn't knocked a table over.
Uh oh.
The two scientists are standing over them in an instant, arms crossed. One's even tapping their foot, preparing to scold them.
"Thomas," the first one says, "Chancellor Paige is going to love finding out that you're breaking into our private library."
Thomas frowns, crossing his arms to match them. "Chancellor Paige is also going to love all the treason."
"Are you black-mailing me?"
Thomas shrugs. "Depends. Is Paige gonna find out about me and Newt?"
"Is Paige gonna find out about our badmouthing?"
"We'll call a truce."
"Deal."
~~
Thomas smiles softly. Newt's already fast asleep, head in Thomas's lap, hands right beside it. Thomas runs a hand through the older boy's hair, twisting his fingers through the soft strands.
"What're you doing, Thomas?"
Thomas looks up, though he really doesn't want to take his stare off the boy in front of him. And it's Paige. Of course it is.
"Those bitches," Thomas hisses under his breath.
Doctor Paige stares at him, unimpressed. Her bottom lip's sticking out, like it always does when she's really mad.
"What happened?" Doctor Paige asks, though from her tone, it seems a whole lot like she already knows.
"You know your scientists hate you?" Thomas offers instead, shooting her a forced smile.
Doctor Paige returns the cold look. "You know that you're not supposed to be in here! How'd you even-?" She pauses. "You stole my card, didn't you?"
"...no?"
"Give it back," she snaps, sticking her hand out. "And both of you get to bed!"
Thomas reluctantly hands her the key card, and she stomps off, obviously not really caring whether or not they actually got to bed. Newt looks up at him. They blink at each other for just a second before they both break out into laughter.
Newt falls asleep again not long after, even though he spent a good ten minutes crying and stressing over Sonya's wellbeing. Sleep doesn't come for Thomas that night, but he doesn't mind.
The longer he's able to stare at his boyfriend, the better. He doesn't even know if he'll ever see him in person again, after tonight.
"I love you," he whispers, even though he's positive that Newt can't hear him.
He can't keep from smiling when he hears the quiet, slurred "love ya too", muffled by his jeans.