Archive of Our Own ^beta

It’s been about a year since the Right Arm arrived in the Safe Haven. The physical wounds have diminished to scars. The nightmares are slowly but steadily going away.

They have vegetable farms and water desalination devices. They have wood for houses and buildings. They have fish, cows, sheep and other animals for protein. They have jobs for everyone. They have everything they had in Glade plus one more: freedom.

There’s no beetle blades, no maze, no grievers.

Of course they also have trauma and only the memories of their lost friends and family.

But they’re slowly moving on.

Vince was the leader. He made sure everyone was doing their part, that there wasn’t fights and everyone was safe and as happy as possible. 

Newt’s job was a trackhoe, his favourite job from The Glade. He wasn’t upset he wasn’t the leader or second in command. He was happy to just be a trackhoe and live a relaxed life.

Thomas had a job as a scavenger. Like a runner, scavengers would spend their time running around the island looking for any new vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans or just looking around the island to figure out how big it is. They have rules like runners including not staying out too late. They know there isn’t any grievers, but there could be other dangers. Despite this, Thomas loved being a scavenger. He loved the Safe Haven.

His day started as always, waking up next to his boyfriend. Newt running his fingers through Thomas’s hair. Thomas cuddled closer into Newt. Newt chuckled softly, knowing Thomas melts under his touch. 

“We should get up now, Tommy” Newt murmured. Thomas grunted and hugged Newt tighter in response. Newt kissed his forehead, Thomas’s favourite type of kiss, and attempted to pry him off him.

After 5 minutes Thomas finally gave in with a huff. He rolled off the bed while Newt watched amusedly. They got dressed and went to breakfast.

All though they’ve been together for 4 months now, their friends still whistle at them when they walk in a room holding hands. Thomas uses his free hand to flip them off.

Once everyone has their food and is sitting down eating, including the cooks, Vince stood up. 

“Can I have your attention please!” He yelled with a loud voice.

A hush fell over the room as everyone turned their heads to look. Vince was standing by the entrance of the undercover eating area. 

“First of all I want to say that I am very proud with the progress we have made on this island. I thank everyone for doing their part and helping out with the developments. Secondly, I am very happy with being your leader but, running this island all by myself is a lot and I think it would be best if i had a second in command! Someone who is responsible, a leader, who can take over when i am unable to lead, and someone who can take over when I get too old!”

The crowd murmured and whispered. 

“As a community, i think it is best that we all agree on someone who we all trust and value. We will hold an election in some months time. Until then, anyone who would like to be my second in command, please come talk to me and we can work some things out.” Vince finished his speech. 

The breakfast hall erupted into noise again. People shouting to their friends “you should run!” And “you’d be perfect for the job!” 

Thomas turned his attention back to his own friends. 

“Newt, you think you would want to do it?” Brenda asked and the rest of the table hums their agreement.

”Mmm, no not really. I like only having one job, it’s a nice change.” Newt said with a gentle smile. Minho nodded but then turned to Thomas. 

Thomas knew what was coming.

“Thomas, you should run! You’d be amazing! You’re practically already out leader.” Minho said.

“Oh my gosh, yes!” Brenda said.

”Yeah, you could do it, man!” Frypan joined in.

”Tommy, you’re an amazing leader you could definitely be the second in command!” Newt encouraged.

But Thomas didn’t want to be a leader or a second in command. He’d done that all through the maze, the scorch, the wicked lab. He was still exhausted from it all. He wouldn’t be good enough. But what can you say when all your friends are agreeing around you?

”Yeah, i guess I’ll think about it!” He said with a smile “um… I gotta go scavenging now though, so uh bye!” He got up and left as quick as he could.

 He was running as fast as he could to try and distract himself. He focused on his breathing and his heartbeat. He felt it pound against his rib cage. The wind blowing against his ears. He felt rejuvenated.

He ran and ran, not looking where he was going or what was around him. He wasn’t even doing his job properly now, how could they expect him to be a second in command? He ran faster.

He didn’t notice the stick. 

Or the river.

He tripped and fell straight in. The shock of cold water made him sink to try get his footing. He completely submerged himself under the water and still couldn’t find the bottom. He tried not to panic as he quickly resurfaced.

He spat water out his mouth and rubbed it out his eyes. He didn’t know how to swim properly but thankfully the river was calm. He scrambled his way to the edge of the river and crawled out.

He turned and finally took the time to assess his surroundings. The river was actually very nice. Flowers and grass surrounded it. However, that was on the other side. On the side Thomas was sitting on there were rocks and sticks all sticking up at crooked angles. The rocks with jagged edges.

Then Thomas noticed his ripped pants. And the blood.

His legs were scratched, grazed, and bruising. He tenderly pressed his finger to a spot becoming purple. He hissed and pulled away.

Newt’s gonna kill me.

Taking a deep breath, Thomas pushed himself up. While running had helped falling into a river had made the pressure in his chest reappear. He shook out his hands, a habit he does when he’s stressing, and began his attempt to jog back. 

He jogged in a straight line hoping it would take him back to the camp.

Unfortunately, it did not.

He ended up at the beach shoreline. He started shaking his hands again while trying to keep his breathing stable. The wetness of his clothes sticking to his body wasn’t helping

Thomas looked down and checked his legs. The bleeding had dried but they still hurt like all hell. But he had to keep going.

He huffed out a breath that was more of a hysterical laugh and kept jogging

The sun was sitting on the horizon waiting to slip behind the ocean and Thomas still hadn’t found his way back. He slowed to a fast walk, too exhausted to keep jogging but he was more scared of being alone at night to stop completely. But, he would’ve loved to crawl into a ball and cried until he slept.

It wasn’t much longer until he smelled food cooking. Frypan’s food. He wanted to sob in relief. It was only now that he realised he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. He was starving.

He started sprinting towards the smell, pushing through the pain exploding in his legs. 

He ran as fast as he could until he reached the familiar rows of huts where he slowed down to a jog again. He spotted his favourite head of blond hair and went towards him. Thomas didn’t know what to do now but he wanted Newt. 

He was able to slow completely to a walk and as soon as he was close to Newt, he turned around. 

“Tommy! I was wondering when you’d-“ Newt didn’t finished his sentence as he fully took in Thomas’s appearance. “Jesus, what happened to you?” Newt worriedly took hold of Thomas’s hands and began to drag him over to a picnic bench nearby. 

Thomas was feeling the pressure in his chest again. 

“I fell into a river…” He said quietly while looking up at Newt. Newt leaned down and pressed his lip to the crown of Thomas’s head. 

“Let’s get you a shower, yeah?” 

Thomas let Newt pull him around to the shower block. The builders hadn’t quite gotten the hang of plumbing yet so they decided before adding bathrooms to the houses, they’d start with a building dedicated for the showers. 

Newt got the water the right temperature, helped Thomas out of his wet clothes and got him in the shower.

”I’ll wait just outside the stall for you” Newt told him with another kiss to his forehead. Thomas was able to give a small smile and a nod. 

Inside the shower cubical Newt had put both soap and shampoo for Thomas to use. Thomas just stood under the water spray and took deep breaths. He felt suffocated and claustrophobic. He went to pull at the neckline of his top (another habit) but he wasn‘t wearing it. He scratched at the skin around his neck as if it would let more air into his throat. He tried to tell himself to breath and that it was a panic attack, he’d be alright. But it didn’t work this time.

“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t,” He sobbed though not really knowing what he was saying it to. He could feel the difference of the water from the shower and his tears now. “Newt” He whispered and he slid down the wall of the cubicle.

”Tommy? You okay in there?” He heard Newt ask gently. He couldn’t answer, his voice stuck in his throat. “Tommy, can you let me in?” Newt tried again. Thomas pushed himself off the floor and shakily opened the door for Newt. He stepped back and watched as Newt took off his clothes to join him in the shower. 

As soon as Newt stepped under the water as well, Thomas wrapped his arms around his waist and buried his head in Newts shoulder, sobbing. Newt gently scratched his fingers up and down Thomas’s spine while whispering comforting words in his ear.

Newt pulled away from Thomas and gently pulled them both down to sit on the floor. He made sure Thomas’s legs were outstretched so the grazes wouldn’t rub against the floor. He leaned over and grabbed the shampoo. He squirted a bit into his hands and began massaging it into Thomas’s scalp. 

Thomas focused on the feeling of Newts fingers in his hair and his warmth behind him. He took slow deep breaths, still trying to calm down.

"Do you want to do that grounding excersise i taught you?" Newt asked scratching the spot next to Thomas's ear. Panic attacks weren't unusal for Thomas and they hadn't been unusal in the Glade so of course Newt knew lots of little tricks to help.

"Okay" Thomas responded while shaking one of his hands.

"So 5 things you can see?" Newt prompted

"Um... the floor, the walls, your clothes... the soap bottle and um the bubbles" Thomas listed and popped one of the soap bubbles on the floor.

"Yeah good, now 4 things you can touch?" Newt encouraged.

"My legs, uh the floor, the bubbles..." Thomas touched everything as he went then he reached his hand up to touch Newts arm "and you"

Newt pushed Thomas's hair back and gave him another forehead kiss.

"3 things you can hear?"

"You...the water and... the people outside" Thomas was feeling a lot better already.

"2 things you can smell?"

"Soap and dirt" Thomas huffed a laugh and Newt chuckled along 

"Yep, now 1 thing you can taste?"

Thomas thought qbout what he could taste. Finally he said "soap" with a laugh.

His mouth was full of soap.

Newt laughed as well.

"You feel better now?" He asked

"Yeah, thank you Newt" Thomas said sincerely

"Of course," Newt responded "do you want to talk about it?" 

Thomas sighed. Newt started washing the shampoo out and brushing Thomas's hair with his fingers.

"Just a bad day i guess?" Thomas phrased it as more of a question.

"Yeah, you seemed kinda off when you left breakfast... was it because we all said you'd be a good second in command?" 

Damn, Newt really did know Thomas well. 

"Kind of. I- I just really don't want that pressure. I mean look what happened last time I was in charge, everyone died!" He explained fighting tears again. 

"Tommy, that wasn't your fault! When are you going to realise that?" Newt's voice got quieter as he spoke.

"I just don't want anyone else to get hurt." Thomas said softly.

"I'm not saying you have to run but if you did, and if you won, it wouldn't be like it was out in the scorch. Death isn't such a big posibility or at least not for a while, Tommy. We're safe here. Plus, even though we lost people your plans got so many people here!" Newt told him. He wrapped his arms around Thomas's neck from behind. "I'm sorry I put pressure on you to think about it" 

"It's okay, I just felt panicked. And then I fell in a river and got lost." Thomas said.

"That's totally understandable, everything will be okay, Tommy." Newt reassured. 

Thomas leaned back against Newt and let his head fall on Newts shoulder. 

"I love you, Newt"

"I love you too, Tommy"

After they got out of the shower Newt helped to dry Thomas's hair and used a small hair brush made of wood to brush it out. They put their clothes back on. Newt brushed his own and tied it in a small bun.

They grabbed 2 plates of food from Frypan and had a small quiet dinner together in their own hut. 

They went to bed early and spent hours lazily kissing and cuddling. 

Thomas didn't end up running for second in comand.

There were 3 girls from Group B who ran and 1 boy from another maze and someone who used They/Them pronouns from a maze that was full of people under the Non Binary umbrella. There was also Minho who ran

Newt and Thomas were his biggest supporters as well as Brenda, Frypan and especially Gally. No one knew if Minho and Gally were dating yet but everyone could tell they were hopelessly in love. 

Today was the day that the votes got announced. Minho was sitting with the rest of the contestants on a stage kind of set up. 

The whole island was nervously jittering. 

Thomas slipped his hand into Newts and squeezed it. Newt squeezed back. They were all nervous for their friend.

"Guys just because he cocked up one of his campaign things doesn't mean he can't win" Gally exclaimed. 

"Yeah of course!" Brenda agreed. 

But Minho had cocked it up pretty bad. 

"Okay! Thank you all for coming today and thank you for participating in the voting for my new second in command!" Vince started "We have already counted the votes and I am very happy to announce the winner"

The crowed was silent as everyone waited in anticipation. 

"Minho Park!" Vince yelled for everyone to hear. The place exploded with cheers and clapping. Even the other contestants clapped and cheered. Minho stood up and punched the air with both hands. 

The group got up and all ran down to hug Minho. Gally wrapped him in a huge hug first which Minho returned. Then everyone else hugged him.

"Congratulations!"

"Good job, Minho!"

"I knew you could do it!"

"I knew everyone would love you!"

Minho was smiling so wide his face must've hurt.

"Thank you everyone who ran and i would have loved to have all of you as a second in comand"

Everyone clapped again. Slowly people began to leave to go to where the bonfire was to celebrate. Gally had made his special brew. 

The night went on and Newt and Thomas watched as Gally and Minho started messily making out.

That would be an awkward conversation for them tomorrow.  Thomas thought as he looked at Newt. They shared a smile. 

Things would still be hard for them for a while. There would be many more panic attacks and bad days. But Newt and Thomas had eachother. And they had all their friends as well.