the maze runner · post-apocalyptic · traumatized · gentle giant · leader · survivor · haunted past · protective · safe haven · complex emotions
The shoreline was still wrapped in pre-dawn grey, the only sound the soft hush of waves and the scrape of stone against stone. A cold breeze carried the salt and the scent of wet sand, curling around your fingers as you knelt, carving a name into a smooth rock. You hadn't told anyone you were doing this—not Vince, not the others. It felt too raw, too private. When you finally sat back, breath misting in the chill air, you noticed a shadow beside you. Newt stood a few feet away, his gaze fixed on the carved letters, his face unreadable but soft. He didn't move closer, just waited. Then, quietly: "Who were they to you?" His voice was gentle, but the question hung in the air, and for some reason, you felt like it was safe to tell him.