I've got you

It was a hot and humid day and Newt wanted nothing more than to get out of the map room and go find somewhere to lie down in the shade to cool down. However, as Keeper of the Runners he had to check that the other Runners had completed their section maps for that day. He wiped the sweat away from his forehead and squinted down at the maps on the table, sighing he braced his hands against the edge of the table and stared down at the maps. His chest felt tight when he looked at the maps, seeing what he feared become a hard fact. In the past year they had mapped every inch of the Maze, and there was no way out. Newt bowed his head and clenched his eyes shut, how was he supposed to look the other boys in eye? They looked to the Runners and him with hope. Hope that they would find a way out. Now Newt knew the ugly truth, there was no way out.

Newt was so lost in his thoughts that he did not hear the door to the map room open. He jumped when a pair of arms encircled his waist, despite his gloomy thoughts he had to smile when a gentle kiss was placed on his head. He pulled one hand away from the table to grip the hands on his front. “Minho,” he smiled.

“You need to stop staring at those shucking maps and come for dinner,” commented Minho, “You’re skinny enough as it is.”

“I just got a little lost in my thoughts,” shrugged Newt. He turned in Minho’s arms and smiled at his boyfriend.

Minho rolled his eyes, “you’re always doing that. Come on. You need to eat.” Minho leaned forward to briefly kiss Newt before leading the blonde out of the map room and towards the kitchen. Newt smiled to himself, wondering what a sight they were, Minho pulling Newt along by holding one of his hands. His smile slipped off his face as they crossed the Glade and he kept his eyes trained straight ahead, but found he was unable to avoid all of the hopeful gazes directed towards him. He flinched seeing the small glimmer of hope slip away from the pairs of eyes looking at him. Minho frowned as he looked back at him, Newt darted his eyes towards the ground and jolted when he was pulled to a sudden stop. He looked up at Minho questioningly. “Don’t let those shanks bother you. Everyone wants to get out of here but you putting even more pressure on yourself isn’t going to help.”

Newt grimaced, “I just feel like I’m letting everyone down. I’ve been here fourteen months and have been running the Maze for just over a year. I’ve run every section and I don’t have any answers for them.”

“Listen to me,” started Minho as he pulled Newt into his arms for a tight hug. “I know it’s hard, but we will find a way out, I just know it. Good that?”

Newt smiled against Minho’s shoulder, “good that Min.”

Minho nodded and then began pulling Newt towards the kitchen once again. Once they had grabbed their stew, they sat down at a table with Nick and Alby. Newt and Minho listened to how Nick and Alby’s day went, when Minho talked about his and Newt’s run through the Maze. He didn’t let Newt talk with a pointed look to his stew, Newt fondly rolled his eyes at Minho but kept silent so he could eat his stew, catching Minho’s approving nod from the corner of his eye.

While Newt had a pleasant evening sat leaning against a log beside Minho, listening to the boys’ chatter and laugh around a small bonfire. He found that he wasn’t completely in the moment with everyone else, his earlier discovery weighing on his mind. Despite Minho’s assurance that they would find a way out, Newt wasn’t so sure. In the past year he had lost two Runners to the Maze and was constantly terrified that he would lose Minho as well. He reflected that was probably why he made Minho his running partner, even back when they had only been best friends.

He smiled to himself remembering when Minho came up in the Box, he had arrived the month after Newt. While Newt had gotten along well with the first group of boys, he had felt a slight distance with them. They had all woken up in the Glade together, whereas Newt had come up in the Box alone. Newt had been the first official Greenie. With Minho being the second boy to come up in the Box, Newt had felt an instant connection with the other boy. When Minho had remembered his name, Newt had smiled and said it back. It had been weird. There had been an echo in his head, and Newt was sure that he had known Minho before the Maze, it had felt like he had said the other boy’s name lot. Minho was convinced that they had been best friends before the Maze and he was probably right.

Newt’s eyes began to grow heavy and he let himself lean against Minho more so that he could rest his head on the other boy’s shoulder. He just let himself drift in and out of the conversations going on around him. He was able to keep himself somewhat awake, until Minho rested an arm over his shoulders and tucked him against his side more tightly. He felt Minho rest his chin on his head and then Newt lost his battle against the heavy feeling in his eyes and let them slip closed.

He woke sometime later to a gentle hand brushing his hair away from his face, Newt groaned and snuggled more into the crook of Minho’s neck. He felt his head shake as Minho chuckled lowly. A second hand appeared and a thumb brushed over his cheek, “come on, let’s get you to bed.”

Newt curled up tighter and mumbled, “but I’m comfy here.” When there was no reply, Newt relaxed thinking that he could just drift off again. However, he was surprised when he felt himself lifted up by a strong pair of arms. “Wha’?” He cracked his eyes open to find himself being carried in Minho’s arms bridal style. The gentle rocking motion quickly making him sleepy once again.

“I can’t leave you sleeping outside silly shank,” murmured Minho, despite the insult Newt could hear the fondness in Minho’s voice.

So, he let himself drift as the Homestead came into view. Minho carried him up to his room, as a Keeper he got his own room, the downside was Minho was not allocated a room in the Homestead and so slept out with the other boys. He felt himself gently placed in his hammock, he reached out and grasped Minho’s sleeve, “stay.” He kept his eyes open long enough for Minho to remove both of their shoes and climb into the slowly swaying hammock.

“If I fall out…”

“You won’t,” mumbled Newt as he tucked himself against Minho, his arms wrapping around the other boy.

“I better not,” threatened Minho, but the threat was eased with the soft tone Minho spoke in. As Minho began to run his fingers through Newt’s hair again, Newt felt himself drift off to sleep again in a matter of seconds with a mumbled “love you.”

The last thing he heard was Minho whispering “love you to” into his ear.

The next morning, Newt’s body clock woke him up at the normal time. He smiled as he listened to Minho’s gentle breaths, indicating the other boy was still asleep, his nose pressed into Newt’s hair. Newt slowly eased himself away from Minho’s chest and gently brushed Minho’s fringe away from his face. He pressed a soft kiss to Minho’s lips and smiled when his boyfriend blearily opened eyes to squint up at him. “I could get used to waking up like this,” murmured Minho smiling.

Newt chuckled and with one more kiss heaved himself out of the hammock carefully, so he wouldn’t accidentally knock Minho out and on the floor. They got themselves ready for the day in a comfortable silence and walked out of the Homestead to the kitchen holding hands and sharing secret smiles.

The morning and their run went by pleasantly enough for two people trapped in a maze, but everything changed that evening. Newt and Minho had just left the map room when they saw a small crowd by the North Doors. They shared a glance and then sprinted towards the door.

“What’s going on?” demanded Newt, as he came to a sudden stop.

Alby turned and looked at Newt with a worried look. “Dave and Rick split up and Rick isn’t back yet.”

Newt turned to Dave with a frown, “why did you split up?”

Dave’s petrified eyes met his, “we were about to head back and Rick thought he saw something new. So, he told me to come back to the Glade and that he would meet me back here.”

Newt sighed as he ran a hand across his face. He looked between the Doors and was horrified when they began to slide shut with no sign of Rick running towards them. A strained silence took over the small group of gathered boys. Newt’s heart pounded while his chest tightened with dread, he stared at the moving Doors wide eyed, internally begging for Rick to hurry up and get back through the Doors. When the Doors closed, the gathered boys sighed in defeat. Alby guided Dave away and the others slowly followed. Newt shuffled forward until he could lean his head against the Doors, he reached out and pushed his fists against the solid concrete. ”Shucking damnit!"

A hand was laid on his shoulder, but Newt wrenched himself away and began sprinting towards the Deadheads. He skidded to a stop in the depths of the Deadheads and let himself fall to his knees, he leaned his head back against a tree and tightly clasped his hands over his mouth to try and contain the scream that ripped itself from his throat. Tears gathered in his eyes and he tried to hold them back. While he had also felt devastated with the loss of his other Runners, the loss of Rick was even harder knowing that there was no way out and he had sent his Runners into the Maze anyway. He would now have to have another Runner trained so that everyone ran in pairs and the thought that he could be sending another boy to his death looking for a way out that didn’t exist was soul destroying.

He stared up at the slowly darkening sky, still curled up against the tree with his hands covering his mouth as tears slowly began leaking from his eyes and trailing down his face. He heard twigs snap as someone walked towards him, but he kept his eyes looking up, hoping he would be left alone. The person stopped beside him, “Newt.”

Newt clenched his eyes shut and gritted his teeth; his shoulders were shaking as Minho knelt beside him. “Newt. This wasn’t-”

“Don’t,” Newt choked out, “don’t say it wasn’t my fault. I’m the Keeper. It’s my responsibility to make sure everyone gets out of the Maze.” His eyes flew open in surprise when he was roughly pulled into Minho’s arms. He looked up to see Minho looking at him with a serious look in his dark eyes.

“Listen to me,” stressed Minho as he shook Newt’s shoulders. “Rick made his own decision to not come back with Dave. Not you. I watched you train Rick and you told him how important it was to come back on time. He made his choice. It was the wrong one, but it was his. So please don’t let this eat you alive.”

As a sob ripped itself from his throat, Newt pushed himself closer to Minho and grasped his boyfriend’s shirt tightly. He felt Minho stroke his back soothingly as he murmured quiet soothing words in his ear. They stayed there for a while before Newt pulled himself back and clambered to his feet on unsteady legs. Minho quickly stood and wordlessly followed Newt back to his room in the Homestead.

Lying in the hammock together, Newt pressed himself against Minho’s chest and listened to his boyfriend’s heartbeat to help soothe him into sleep.

The next day before the Runners left for the Maze, he changed some of the pairs, so that Dave would not be running alone. He partnered Dave with one of the boys who had run Dave and Rick’s section before, he then asked Minho to partner with Freddie for the day while Freddie’s partner ran with Dave. Minho frowned, “are you running our section alone?”

Newt shook his head and explained that he would be spending the morning with Alby and Nick, while they discussed who would be the new Runner and would be then showing the map room to the new Runner. Minho nodded in acceptance and quickly kissed Newt before he followed Freddie to start their day. Newt watched Minho warily, worried that something would happen and he wouldn’t be there to help.

He then met Alby and Nick at the tables by the kitchen so they could discuss who could be a good replacement Runner. Once they had decided on Stephen and the boy had agreed, Newt took Stephen to the map room and showed the boy the chests of maps and explained what they did. Selfishly he decided to have Freddie train Stephen, to save himself the pain of getting attached to another Runner who might well end up dying in the Maze. He then took Stephen to the East Doors where Freddie and Minho were just running through. He halted the pair before they could jog over to the map room.

“Freddie, as you’re an experienced Runner I want you to train Stephen starting tomorrow,” stated Newt. “I’ve shown him the map chests but could you take him back to the map room so you can show him what you need to do after a run?”

“Sure, thing Newt,” nodded Freddie. He gestured to Stephen to follow him and turned to Minho, “don’t worry about helping me, I know this section so I’ll just take Stephen to the map room.”

Minho shrugged, “no complaints here.”

Newt watched as Stephen jogged after Freddie and directed a small smile at Minho, before it slipped away seeing the confused look on Minho’s face. “What?”

“It’s just…you normally train the new Runners for a month or two and then partner them up with another Runner before you run our section with me again.” Stated Minho with his arms crossed.

“I just thought that it would be good for experienced Runners to start doing some training,” shrugged Newt.

“Why not me then? I’ve been a Runner longer than Freddie,” questioned Minho.

Newt’s shoulders slumped, hoping he hadn’t offended his boyfriend, because that would be all he needed. “Well you are known for a harsh sense of humour, don’t want to scare the new Runners,” said Newt in an attempt of a joke.

Minho stepped forward and rested a hand on Newt’s shoulder. “What’s the real reason?”

Newt sighed and let his head come to rest on Minho’s shoulder. “I just can’t get attached to another Runner just for them to die. And its selfish, but I don’t feel comfortable not running with you. Today was horrible. What if something had happened to you and I wasn’t there? I couldn’t cope with that.”

Minho hugged him tightly, “I have to admit I prefer running with you.” Newt looked up to see Minho smirking at him, “and I also have to admit I don’t have the best amount of patience to train a new Runner.”

Newt snorted and gently knocked Minho’s shoulder with his own. “I told you.”

“Shut it shank,” retorted Minho. Together they walked towards the kitchen in hopes of an early dinner if Frypan took pity on them.

A month after Freddie had begun training Stephen, it became clear to Newt that the Runners were beginning to burn out. He knew if they didn’t pay attention then the risk of something happening to them in the Maze increased. So, after a day in the Maze he sent Minho to the map room to draw up their section for the day while he went to find Nick and Alby. He found the pair sat outside the Homestead and ambled over to them before dropping heavily down on the ground in front of them.

“Hey Newt, what can we do for you?” asked Alby with a smile.

Newt sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “My Runners are getting burnt out. I need to start giving each pair a rest day every eight days.”

Both Nick and Alby frowned in concern, Nick leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “I get where you’re coming from Newt, but if we did that there would be one section a day that wouldn’t be run.”

Newt grimaced, “I know. But Nick, I can always get pairs to train more Runners as back-ups. But the Runners need a break. If they don’t get rest days…I dread to think what would happen. We would lose a lot of Runners Nick.”

Alby nodded, “we need to give them the rest days Nick. Newt’s right. Running the Maze day in day out is mentally and physically exhausting for them.”

Nick looked between Alby and Newt, then his gaze flittered over to the Runners exiting the Maze. Even from a distance, Newt could see the tried slump to the Runners’ shoulders. Nick nodded, “starting tomorrow Runner’s get a rest day. I’ll leave it to you Newt to sort the rota out. Alby and I will start looking at boys who could be suitable back-ups, but for now we’ll just run the risk of leaving sections un-run while boys are on a rest day.”

Newt sighed in relief and nodded, “thank you Nick.” He was able to hold back his comment about not worrying about un-run sections, how he had already realised there was no way out. For now, he had decided to keep his realisation to himself, no point in depressing everyone over it.

He heaved himself to his feet and then jogged over to the map room. When he announced the rest days to his Runners, he smiled a little seeing the relief on their faces. He added that the next day would be section one’s rest day and that the day after would be section two and so on. It meant that Newt and Minho, who ran section eight, would have to wait eight days for their rest day, but Newt felt that as Keeper he should take his rest day last and Minho seemed happy enough to just be getting a rest day every eight days.

That evening after dinner, Newt laid down in the middle of the Glade and gazed up at the stars. Happy in the knowledge that he had been able to secure rest days for his Runners and selfishly he was relieved that there was going to be days where he could avoid going into the Maze.

Over the next month and a half, Newt was glad to see the mood of his Runners had picked up. They were able to smile and laugh and in doing so, Newt could see that they had more energy and drive when they ran into the Maze.

Unfortunately, good things couldn’t last for long.

Newt and Minho had just exited the West Doors when they were greeted by raised voices, looking at the group gathered not far from them. Newt could see Freddie and Stephen at the centre of the shouting match. Rolling his eyes Newt began running across the Glade over to the group. He heard Minho sigh behind him and muttered as they ran, “for shuck’s sake.”

As Newt slowed to a stop next to the group, he found Winston trying to push two of his Slicers away from Freddie and Stephen, while Nick and Alby were trying to contain order, while the other boys stood and watched.

“What the bloody hell is going on?” exclaimed Newt, as he crossed his arms over his chest. From the corner of his eye he saw Minho had copied his stance, but frowned making him look more intimidating.

Freddie turned to Newt looking angry, “those two slintheads started yelling at us because we were taking a rest day.”

“You’re Runners! You’re supposed to be running the Maze and looking for a way out!” yelled one of the slicers whose name Newt thought was Will.

Freddie snapped his head around to face Will and snarled, “and we told you. Nick and Alby approved Runners getting a rest day!”

Newt shoved himself into the middle and herded Freddie and Stephen towards Minho, stating “that’s enough.”

"Sure, run away. You’re Runners, I guess that’s what you’re good at,” snapped Will.

Newt paused and turned to face Will as Winston shook Will’s shoulder, “shut it shuckface.”

Will threw his hands up and pointed his finger at Newt, “You’re the Keeper of the Runners. You’re supposed to be finding a way out of the Maze! You’ve been running for over a year and still none of you have found a way out! You’re useless!"

“That’s it,” snapped Nick as he began dragging Will away towards the Slammer. Alby began dispersing the crowd watching, but Newt found himself rooted to the spot, Will’s angry words ringing in his head. He bowed his head and took a deep breath while he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Newt,” Minho softly said as he wrapped an arm around Newt’s shoulders. “The shank was just angry. He didn’t mean it.”

“Didn’t he?” retorted Newt with a side glance at Minho. He then stormed away towards the map room, missing the sad look Minho directed at him. Useless. Useless. Useless. Useless. The word was on a continuous repeat in his head. Newt didn’t say anything to the other Runners, he drew his map and just left the room, not waiting for the others to finish so he could check their maps like usual. There was no point. He knew the truth, there was no way out. Will was right, he was useless.

He walked past the boys lining up for dinner and kept walking towards his room in the Homestead. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn’t see Minho in the dinner line trying to get his attention. He made it up to his room and immediately lay on his side in his hammock, not even bothering to take his shoes off. Useless. Useless. Useless. Useless. Newt covered his face with his hands, his shoulders began to shake as he sniffled and tried to hold back his tears. Useless. Useless. Useless. Useless.

Eventually, Newt was able to stop his shoulders shaking, a numb feeling spread through his veins as he stared at the make-shift wall in front of him. He heard footsteps shuffling up the stairs and hastily closed his eyes in an attempt to fake sleep. The footsteps continued until they stopped beside his hammock. Gentle hands carefully removed his shoes and placed them on the floor with a quiet thud. After a few moments Minho then settled on the hammock behind him, and gently began carding his fingers through Newt’s hair. Newt felt his eyes beginning to fill with tears again and somehow was able to continue pretending to be asleep.

Minho rested his mouth next to Newt’s ear and whispered, “it’s not your fault. You are not useless.”

Newt was able to keep his shoulders relaxed despite the feeling of dread rising up within him. Sweet, lovable and loyal Minho, was wrong. He was useless. Useless. Useless. Useless. Useless.

Somehow Newt had managed to fall asleep during the night, but he still felt exhausted and numb. He woke up at the normal time and suddenly had the urge to run, to escape. He sat on the floor and put on his shoes, before he left his room, he turned to look at Minho still asleep in the hammock. He looked so peaceful as he slept with a slight smile on his face. Newt wanted to smile at the sight, but still felt numb and found himself unable to find the energy to even smile.

He leaned over the edge of the hammock and kissed Minho gently on the lips. As he pulled back, he spotted Minho blinking his eyes open. “Why are you awake? Its our rest day,” frowned Minho in confusion.

Newt gathered all his reserves to smile in what he hoped was reassurance, he swept a hand through Minho’s dark hair. “I’m just going to see the Runners off. Can’t leave those shanks to organise themselves.”

Minho snorted in amusement, he clasped one of his hands with Newt’s, “want me to come with you?”

Shaking his head, Newt kissed Minho’s head, “I won’t be long. Go back to sleep.”

He wanted to feel something when he left his sleepy boyfriend in his hammock, but Will’s words from yesterday were repeating in his head again. Useless. Useless. Useless. Useless.

As he watched his Runners make their way to their respective Doors, he found himself wandering over to the West Doors. He stopped just by the Doors and looked back towards the Homestead, it would be just so easy to walk back and spend his rest day lying in the hammock with Minho.

Useless. Useless. Useless. Useless.

Newt gritted his teeth and ran into the Maze. He had to find a way out he just had to. He didn’t want to be useless, he wanted to help all of the boys escape the Maze. He made it almost to the end of section eight and sure enough there was nothing new. No way out.

Useless. Useless. Useless. Useless.

He gripped his hair tightly as he screamed in frustration. His scream echoed off the walls around him. He felt something snap inside. He had to get out of the Maze, he couldn’t take it anymore. Months of feeling hopeless, months of not being good enough and becoming useless. He stared up at the nearest wall and an idea formed in his head, a way out. Without consciously thinking about it, he began to climb the ivy hanging down, wondering what he would see from the top. He climbed in time to the same thought pounding through his head. Useless. Useless. Useless. Useless.

He got three quarters of the way up the wall where he discovered the ivy stopped. He looked down and thought about how easy it would be to just let go.

Just do it. Let go. You’re useless. After you’re gone, they’ll find a Keeper who will be able to find a way out. Just let go.

Newt pressed his head against the cold, rough wall. He let out a dry sob, “I’m sorry Minho. I can’t do it anymore.” With the final thought that finally he would be free of the Maze, he just let go.

He closed his eyes and felt the wind sweep through his hair. He thought he could distantly hear someone call his name, but ignored it. For the first time feeling truly free. Suddenly, he felt a vine of ivy wrap around his leg, his eyes flew open and he realised he had not pushed himself away from the trailing vines. He could only watch in muted horror when the vine snapped taught and snapped his leg along with it. A pained scream was ripped from his throat and then he was falling again, he hit the concrete ground hard.

The first thing Newt heard was a quiet pain filled groan, that he realised he was making. He groaned louder realising that he had failed in his escape from the Maze and all he had managed to do was injure himself. His only remaining hope was for a Griever to find him that night, not the way he wanted to die, but better than being trapped behind the walls for the rest of his life.

The pain then registered, his right leg was where most of the pain came from, closely followed by his head. He somehow was able to squint his eyes open, looking up at the bright blue sky, before he let them slip closed again. Then he heard his name, this time it was closer. The person then must have caught sight of him, because the voice filled with panic and he could hear running footsteps getting closer. ”Newt! Newt!"

He slowly came to the realisation the person was Minho, who skidded to a stop beside him on his knees. “Oh, shucking hell…Newt? Newt can you hear me?” Minho sobbed, Newt felt Minho’s shaking hands come to rest on either side of his face, Minho brushed his thumbs under Newt’s eyes. “Newt? Newt please, please love, open your eyes.”

Somehow Newt found the strength to flicker his eyes open again. He was met with Minho’s dark eyes filled with tears that slipped down his cheeks. “Min” slurred Newt.

“Oh, thank shuck,” breathed Minho, he bent his head and then raised it so he could lean closer to Newt’s face. “What happened love? Was it a Griever?”

Newt felt tears slip from his eyes as he looked up at his boyfriend and suddenly felt ashamed. In trying to free himself, he had only hurt the person who meant the most to him. Minho continued to brush his thumbs under his eye, catching the tears. “Not…not a Griever.” Newt took a shuddering breath, braising himself for what he was about to say. “I…I couldn’t take being useless anymore.”

“What do you mean?” questioned Minho, his voice still shaking.

“I’m sorry Minho,” cried Newt, “I’m so sorry. But I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to be useless anymore. I climbed the ivy…and then…then I… I just let go.”

Minho looked down at him in horror. ”Oh Newt.”

“I’m sorry,” sobbed Newt.

Minho moved one of his hands up so he could cradle Newt’s head. “It’ll be okay. I’ve got you. I need to get you to the Glade. I’m sorry but this is going to hurt.” The next thing Newt knew, he was being carefully lifted from the ground, he let out a pained moan as Minho began to run back towards the Glade.

As the West Doors finally came into view, Minho was panting as he ran, trying to hold Newt in a way that would cause the least amount of pain. Seeing that Minho would be safe from being trapped in the Maze overnight, Newt felt his eyes begin to drift closed. He managed to mumble, “I’m sorry” again.

“Newt?” panicked Minho, but Newt knew nothing else but darkness.

Newt remained on the edges of unconsciousness and drifted, he was aware of being laid on a bed, he presumed it was in the Med-jack hut. There were hands running over him checking his injuries. He heard Minho whispering reassuring words in his ears, but couldn’t place what his boyfriend was saying. Then hands were resting on his right leg, before fire erupted in his leg. He heard himself scream, he tried to move away from the pain but was unable to. Minho tried to calm him down, but Newt was unable to make himself stop screaming, distantly he was aware of tears streaming down his face.

When finally, he felt himself fall unconscious, the pain finally drifting away.

The next thing Newt was aware of he opened his eyes and confirmed to himself that he was lying in the Med-jack hut. He looked down and saw his right leg covered from his foot to his knee in a cast. His arms were also wrapped in bandages and he thought he felt one wrapped around his head but couldn’t find the strength to lift one of his arms to find out.

Hearing a shuffle, he turned his head slowly and found Minho shifting in a chair next to his bed. His boyfriend looked exhausted and Newt felt guilt twist his stomach, before he could lose himself in his thoughts, Minho’s eyes met his and the other boy launched himself out of his chair and knelt beside the bed. Shaking hands roamed across his face and tears welled up in Minho’s eyes. “Thank shuck you’re awake. It’s been two days,” breathed Minho.

“I’m sorry,” murmured Newt.

Minho violently shook his head. “Don’t. Don’t be sorry. But promise me. If you ever feel like everything is getting too much again, please come and talk to me.”

“I promise,” said Newt, wincing as he raised his arm so that he could rest his hand against Minho’s face. Minho cupped his hand with his own, and nuzzled into Newt’s hand.

They remained like that for a little while until Jeff came in to check on Newt. Jeff explained that he had broken his ankle and, between his ankle and knee, his leg had snapped in two places. He was also going to remain in the Med-jack hut while his cast was on so his leg could be elevated while lying on the bed. Jeff also admitted that the Creators had sent up some instructions, that the cast must stay on for a week and that Jeff had to administer an injection that would heal his leg faster.

The week went by slowly, Minho had been reluctant to leave his side, but with Newt out of commission a new Runner had to be trained. Jeff waited for Minho to return from the Maze before cutting the cast off, the three of them were uneasy to try the injection. In the depths of their memories they knew casts usually stayed on longer than a week. Newt winced when the injection went into his leg, but immediately felt the pain in his leg ease. As per the Creators instructions, Newt had to use crutches to get around as his leg wasn’t magically fixed. It was then that Newt realised that he would never be a Runner again.

Gally arrived with crutches he had personally built for Newt and handed them over with a slight nod of his head. “It’ll be good for you to practice in here first.”

“Thanks, Gally,” replied Newt as he took the offered crutches. Gally nodded once more and then left the hut so Newt could practice with just Minho. It took a little while, but eventually Newt got the hang of his crutches.

“Want to go outside?” offered Minho, he was stood close to Newt’s side, his hands outstretched, prepared to catch Newt in case he slipped.

Newt smiled, “it would be nice.”

The pair of them then slowly made their way out into the Glade. A lot of the boys came up to say they were glad to see Newt on his feet again, his Runners all carefully clapped him on the shoulder. As Newt and Minho ambled along, going slow so Newt could adjust to using his crutches on the grass, Newt stopped when he felt someone staring at him. He looked up and found Will watching him with an unreadable expression on his face. Minho followed his gaze and then growled in anger, he marched towards Will and began yelling, “you can stop gawking slinthead! You’ve done enough! Calling Newt useless!”

Will began to back away nervously; Newt’s eyes widened in alarm and hastily made his way towards his furious boyfriend, the best he could. “Minho!”

“He went into the Maze alone because of the thoughts you put into his head. Get back here shuckface!” roared Minho.

Somehow, mainly thanks to Minho stopping and watching as Will more or less ran away, Newt reached Minho’s side. Newt grasped Minho’s arm. “Min. Stop-”

Minho’s head snapped around to face Newt, he was shocked to see Minho’s eyes bright with tears. “I won’t stop. He pushed you to go into the Maze.” Minho’s voice cracked on the last word.

“Min,” frowned Newt, he gently pulled Minho’s head down until it rested on his shoulder. He carded his fingers through Minho’s black hair. ”I went into the Maze. I climbed the ivy. I…I was the one to let go. He didn’t force me.”

Minho’s shoulders shook as he let out a sob, his hands gripped Newt’s shirt tightly. “He called you useless.” He looked up to meet Newt’s gaze, Newt brushed a thumb across Minho’s face. “When I found you,” Minho took a shuddering breath. “When I found you. You said you didn’t want to be useless anymore.”

Newt tightly hugged Minho to him the best that he could standing with his crutches. “I’m sorry for doing that to you. I’ll never stop being sorry.” He kissed the dark hair in front of him. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” replied Minho. He kissed Newt on the lips, it was more desperate than their other kisses, but it was still perfect in its own way.

Later that week, when Newt was sat at one of the kitchen tables. He was just looking out at the Glade; it was an odd feeling not being a Runner. Earlier that day he had spoken to Nick and Alby, with his leg unlikely to ever heal properly he had decided to step down as a Runner. The other two boys agreed and also agreed to Newt asking them to call a Gathering of the Keepers, but once the Runners had returned.

Seeing two figures emerge from the West Doors, Newt heaved himself up right and began hobbling over to them. Minho spotted him and ran over after directing his partner to the map room. Minho frowned seeing the look on Newt’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” smiled Newt shaking his head. “There’s a Gathering for the Keepers and I want you to come with me.”

“But I’m not a Keeper,” stated Minho in confusion.

Newt shrugged, “Well, I guess if you don’t want to help me…I’ll just head on over there by myself.” As he started to hobble away, he smirked when he felt Minho press close against him as they made their way across the Glade. Newt felt back tricking his boyfriend into coming to the Gathering, but he just felt that it would be better for Minho to hear what was going to happen when it happened.

As they reached the Council hall, Newt swung open the door and looked down at the steep steps carved into the mud in dread. He hadn’t had to deal with steps this steep before. Minho stepped down one step and held his hands up to Newt. “Just take it slow. I’ve got you.”

Newt nodded and slowly, ever so slowly, they managed to safely reach the bottom of the steps. They sat down on the carved-out seating area, with Newt ignoring Minho’s questioning look as to why he wasn’t sitting in his Keeper’s chair, and waited for the others to arrive. First was Alby and Nick, who nodded at Minho before going over to their seats. The other Keepers arrived and also took their seats. Gally paused in front of them, “how are the crutches doing for you?”

“They’re great, thank you Gally,” replied Newt with a smile. Gally returned the smile and walked over to his seat.

Seeing all the Keepers had gathered, Nick nodded at Newt. He then pulled himself up, using his crutches, and looked at the gathered faces. “I asked Nick to call this Gathering, because Nick, Alby and myself have agreed that it is best for me to formally step down as a Runner.” He paused and ignored Minho’s quiet protest that his leg injury was only temporary. Newt glanced down at Minho and offered a small smile, before he looked up at the other Keepers again. “Also, it would be buggin’ stupid to have a Keeper of the Runners who isn’t a Runner. So, I have also decided to step down as Keeper of the Runners and I recommend Minho to take my place.” The other Keepers nodded in agreement.

However, Minho shot to his feet and shook his head. “What are you doing?”

“The sensible thing,” responded Newt. He rested a hand on Minho’s shoulder. “You’ve been my unofficial second-in-command Keeper of the Runners, so I know you can do the job.”

“But-”

“I can’t run anymore Min,” said Newt softly. “Jeff and I were talking and we agreed that I’d be lucky to walk without crutches, let alone run in the Maze again.”

Minho scowled, “the injection the Creators gave us-”

“Just fixed the breaks, but it won’t mend the damage done to my leg. Its permanent Min,” Newt rubbed Minho’s shoulder and turned back to the Keepers. “Are you all in agreement with my proposal?”

All of the other Keepers nodded in agreement. Nick then dismissed them and they all hastily left to leave Minho and Newt alone. Newt lowered himself back to sitting on the carved seating, he looked up at Minho while the other boy stared at the chair that had remained empty during the Gathering. “Sit down Min, it’s yours now.”

Minho flinched, and looked down at Newt. “I can’t do this Newt. I can’t be a Keeper. I can’t take your place.”

“Yes, you can,” responded Newt. “There is no one else I could trust to look after the other Runners.” He nodded towards the chair and watched as Minho slowly made his way over to it.

Minho sat down in the chair and looked across at Newt. Suddenly, he surged across the space between them and carefully pulled Newt to his feet. He gripped Newt’s shoulders, “I promise to you that I will find a way out. I will get you out of this Maze.”

Newt smiled softly and pressed himself against Minho, “just promise me that every day you’ll come back to me.”

“I promise,” vowed Minho. He hugged Newt tightly to him, Newt hugged him back just as tightly. Minho’s strength helped Newt find hope that one day they would get out of the Maze, and until that day, he silently promised to keep fighting so he was there for Minho to come back to.