Y/N had forced herself out of her hammock on this colder than usual morning to start getting ready for her day in the maze. She was happy to greet Frypan and reluctantly awaited Minho's attack on her hair while she wait outside the kitchens. There was only one thing missing: Newt. He was usually up with the rest of them on early mornings and yet he and his crooked smile were nowhere to be seen. Maybe the cold had him hiding away in his hammock, hoping for the sun to rise over the walls and warm things up a little.

While the girl sat eating slowly, she seemed to fade into her thoughts as she stared at the maze doors, still yet to open. Were they ever going to find a way out? What would be on the other side? Surely, there had to be something out there to eat other than Frypans plain, cardboard porridge. Not saying it was bad...but after three years, it was getting boring.

Suddenly, some warmth erupt in Y/N's side. Someone sat right now beside her with a tired and disheartening huff. This invader of personal space sat flush against Y/N, head falling over to land on her shoulder. Their porridge sat on the table in front of them unattended. When the hair on their head ticked Y/N's ear, she knew who it was.

"You okay?" She asked quietly. "You're usually the first up."

Newt moved closer, pushing more into the girl. It was like he was trying to quite literally crawl inside of her arms so he could hide himself form the world. "I'm okay. I just...don't feel great."

Y/N lift her arm and put it around Newt, squeezing him. She pressed her nose into his hair. "Is there anything you need?"

The boy shook his head gently. "No, it's okay. It's just nice to have you here."

Sitting there contently while Y/N tried to force down as much porridge as possible, Newt sucked in as much heat and comfort as he possibly could. In the moment, he sort of felt motion sick, like his world was spinning with the worst case of vertigo he'd ever felt. Nothing felt solid except for Y/N. So, he held tight.

Pounding feet against the soft earth came up behind Y/N and Newt much too quick. "Times up suckers, we've got a maze to run." Minho tried breaking apart the entanglement that was Newt and Y/N.

Newt didn't fight back, but Y/N could feel him closing off once again the further he got pulled away from her. All Y/N could do was squeeze Newt's arm in apology as Minho dragged her off across the Glade to the maze doors. On their way, Y/N looked back a couple of times, only to see Newt slumped at the table, staring at his food, not moving. All she wished was that she could stay, leave a piece of herself behind, do anything. But right now? With a job to do and no bending of the rules, she had to turn away and keep walking. All she had to do was make it through the day and then she could do whatever she had to when she got back. It was going to make for a long day.

As they ran, Y/N couldn't stop thinking about Newt. "Can we please get back a little early today?" She asked.

"Why?" Minho scoffed. "You becoming a slacker?" He playfully shoved the girl making her have to rebalance herself as she ran.

"No," She shoved back. "Newt wasn't himself this morning. I know you saw it too. I want to spend some time with him."

"Baaah," Minho threw his head back. "Alright. But only because he's my friend too."

Y/N smiled proudly. Not just because she'd convinced Minho but because he'd once again proven himself to be the opposite of what he fronted. Minho really was just a bighearted doof.

Y/N knew Newt's favourite thing was hiding himself beneath as many blankets as possible. It quieted all the noise around him and created a warm little bubble where nothing could touch him. So, Y/N's mission, having arrived back in the Glade early, was to scavenge for a pile of blankets. She knew it was going to be no easy feat. Blankets, for some strange reason, were like gold in the Glade. If the medjacks weren't ordered to store them for 'emergencies' Y/N was pretty sure they'd be their own currency. Alby didn't like the idea of having a black market in the Glade.

"Jeff, I know you're hiding them." Y/N followed Jeff as he backed up, almost like he was trying to hide something. He didn't give her the blankets when she asked nicely, so she was going to have to rely on other measures. Sheer intimidation...if that was even possible.

"Nope." Jeff threw his arms up in innocence and shook his head. "You got the wrong person. I think Alby has them."

"Oh really?" She raised a brow and quickly ducked down beneath the cot and came back up with as many as she could carry. "Because I think these are exactly what I'm looking for."

"C'mon, you know we can't just give these out." Jeff sighed in defeat.

"They're not for me. I'm looking after someone. I promise I'll bring them back right after and wont let Chuck get to them." Y/N explained as she walked for the door.

"Ah, okay. That's fair." Jeff gave up. "Take good care of them."

Y/N nod with a small smile of thanks and then disappeared into the Glade. Making it across the open field with a bundle of blankets and going unnoticed wasn't going to be easy. But, here in the Glade, it seemed that if a person walked with confidence and didn't make themselves look suspicious, no one would notice.

Newt was working in the gardens as usual. For a moment, he felt a strange twinge in his stomach and his eyes were unconsciously drawn upwards. To his surprise, there was Y/N, striding across the Glade happily with a pile of something in her arms. No one seemed to pay her attention. She quickly fled into the homestead.

Curious and not wanting to be out here anymore anyways, Newt dropped his shovel and began walking across the Glade. What she was up to and why the runners were back early? He had no idea. For the most part, Newt had learned to stop questioning what weird things she and Minho got up to. But this was more out of the ordinary the normal.

Making his way into the homestead, there was no sign of the girl. Aside from the main area where people frequented, there were only the keepers rooms. Still unsure of what she was up to, Newt made his way to his room. When he saw the door slightly propped open, which he always left closed tight, his heart sped up. Nervously, he approached as quiet as possible and peered inside. But there wasn't anything?

Well, not that he could see until the door in front of him flew open. He shot straight upwards with a small yelp. Within seconds he felt his face heating up to a self-conscious amount.

"Newt?" A voice asked.

The boy had his hands over his eyes and he split a couple of them apart slightly to peek through. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder and then caught the smile of Y/N right in front of him. "Hey," She laughed lightly.

"Ah," He straightened up awkwardly. "What are you doing?"

"C'mon," She grabbed his hand and pulled him inside the room. "I thought you might like this."

Newt's face undoubtedly lit up ever so slightly. "Where'd you find all of these?"

He didn't have to ask what it was for. He already knew. Y/N had a good memory and he remembered the very moment so long ago when he'd told her hiding beneath the covers was his favourite thing.

"Ah, you know, hidden around the place. Took some snuffing around." She laughed lightly. Then, she walked to the edge of the cot and lift up all the blankets. "What are you waiting for?"

"I just—" Newt hesitated. "I—thank you. You didn't have to do this."

Y/N smiled softly and then nod toward the cot. Newt happily climbed beneath the mass and immediately felt something inside of his mind unraveling when all of the sound of the outside world got cut off. He peeked out from beneath with a wide smile, staticky hair clinging to his forehead. The girl laughed lightly and shook her head.

Newt made a little motion that Y/N didn't quite understand. She tilt her head in question. "What are you waiting for?" He asked, motioning for her to join.

"Ah," She crossed her arms over herself. "Nah, I'll go cover for you. Just get some sleep—"

"Y/N!" Undoubtedly, Minho's voice hollered from outside the homestead. The door swung open with a loud groan. "Anyone seen her? She didn't finish her maps."

Wide eyed in a panic, Y/N scrambled to get beneath those covers with Newt. Giggling quietly, he made sure she was under before flattening and concealing themselves in darkness, hoping Minho wouldn't be able to see them.

Footsteps scurried around and Minho searched each room until he finally reached Newt's. "You shanks better not be hiding from me—" His voice paused.

"What the shuck?" Minho questioned. "Blanket hog. What a wimp."

Those heavy footsteps dissipated out of the homestead and finally Y/N and Newt could breathe again. Truth was, Minho knew those two were hiding from him beneath that pile of blankets. It was painfully obvious. But he knew exactly what Y/N was doing, and in this case, he was willing to support it. She was true to her word. She was helping Newt and not just skipping out on work in the maproom.

Without a second thought, the pair broke out in laughter. Unable to see from the darkness that engulfed them, Newt still tried to catch her smile. He couldn't see it, but in his chest, he knew it was there. In the moment, his chest didn't feel so heavy. Something, ever so slightly had shift. It didn't mean things were better. It didn't mean that all of the sudden, everything that was crushing his mind had simply let go. It more more just a feeling of passing relief where he was given a chance to take in a full breath.

Newt was soon to settle beneath the weight and warmth holding him down. He felt safe. After a few breaths, letting his thoughts settle, he found Y/N's hand and held onto it gently. Just being here in itself was nice. To have Y/N here as well, able to hold her hand, seemingly the thing tying him to reality, made it that little bit better. He knew he didn't have long before he faded into sleep, but he made sure to appreciate every waking second he had here in the moment.