Warnings: ¡Spoilers! & Mild Language

Rating: T+

Spoilers: The Maze Runner

Timeline: Set throughout The Maze Runner , prior to Teresa's arrival

Pairings: None , but feel free to see it as you see it.

Word Count: 3k+

A/N: I have read The Maze Runner , thus some components from the book will be used , but know that this story is primarily film based as I have the film for ready reference but not the book.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to The Maze Runner. Neither am I associated with the production companies or the actors who portray these characters , nor the author or publishing company. I make no money off any of my stories , this is purely for entertainment purposes.

"Any fool can know. The point is to understand." - Albert Einstein

The night began to fall away to day , inchings of deep azure and indigo blending with black along the edges of the horizon. Illuminating the outlines of structures and highlighting the silhouettes of objects. Details still remained concealed in long shadows , obscuring their nature unless one stood very near to decipher what the clinging darkness strove keep enshrouded.

Movement towards Thomas' right caught his eye. His maroon irises zoning in on the bouncing shadow , squinting against the absent of natural light to help in identifying the form. It's shape was biped , another Glader then and not one of those creatures belonging to those groseque wails and screeches he heard at the bonfire earlier. Remembering now that both Gally and Alby has reassured him that they all were safe in the Glade , never did those things come into the centre of the Maze during the day nor could they climb the walls far enough to come inside should they ever wish to. They were safe so long as they didn't cross over into the Maze.

Yet Thomas found himself desiring , more like longing , to see beyond the walls confining them in the Glade. Curiosity of what lay beyond intermingled with an overwhelming instinct to dessert this place , hey weren't meant to be here nor would this place provide sanctuary forever. Unable to pinpoint exactly how he knew this nor why it's was such a strong feeling ; after all , none had shown any direct hatred towards him ( minus Gally , but he seemed the bully he was ) nor did any of them seem in serious danger if they abided as the rules directed.

His memory loss , selective in allowing fleeting images or 'gut feelings' backed by a distorted flashback , had Thomas all the more on edge. Prickly , near agitated , over the most minor of things and struggling to remain level headed enough to convey to the other he could handle more than the others thought he could. He may be very new to their way of living here , but he could still be useful and deserved to know what he'd gotten himself into , even if he couldn't recall what brought him to this point.

Thus at noticing a certain pattern to the shadowy form's movements , it bouncing along not due to sparse lighting nor uneven terrain but due to the gait of the person. And if he had learned one thing by observing his first day here , was that only one person in the entire Glade walked with that sort of limp.

"Newt!" Thomas called , voice pitched loud enough to catch the other boy's attention but low enough not to rouse the others in the hammocks , as he scrambled up to his feet and followed after the other boy.

Turning at the sound of his name , Newt felt an amused smile pull at his lips at seeing The Glade's latest Greenie jogging to catch up to him. The bewildered look all newbie's had still held within the other's features , it's visibility would wane after a few weeks as it had with all of them. But it never ceased to be funny , and a slight endearing , when each new addition wore the same expression whilst trying to adjust to the new environment and lot in life.

"Hey , you al'right there , Greenie ?" Newt asked , knowing the First Day Freak Out sometimes extended past day one and this particular Greenie had seen more his first day than most nowadays.

Thomas' brow dipped deeper at the greeting , the other having seamlessly blended companionable concern with a lighthearted cheer that he wondered at the boy before him. How could someone remain so high spirited given their situation ? It both rattled and eased his nerves , too many contradicting emotions the past twenty - four hours left him untrusting of his own feelings. Thus shoving them aside for the moment , he latched onto the reason for calling out to Newt in the first place.

"Yeah , yeah." Thomas answered , dismissive of truly answering the other's query , but at the pulling down of the blond's smile , he backtracked , "Well , no , but I don't suppose anyone was at first."

His speech trailed off in more so a question than a statement. Hoping it'd lead into the topic regarding around the question he'd been curious to ask.

Newt chuckled outright at that , "No definitely not. Usually takes a week or so before one can settle enough to be al'right."

"Yeah , Chuck told me about his first day." Thomas replied , a small smile pulling at his lips , an expression of both humour and relief it wasn't he who reacted that way , "Glad to know I wasn't the worst."

"Believe it or not , but Chuck's wasn't the worst." Newt smiled as he spoke , "Seen a few Greenies klunk themselves their first day , not pleasant that but not the worst."

"That's not ?" The question sprang forth past Thomas' lips before he realised what he was asking.

Newt glanced away , lips pursed in thought before he broke into another grin , "Not like its a secret , really , but I wouldn't bring it up to the shank , if I were you. Gally knocked us all flat when he came up. Definitely one of the more exciting Greenie Days."

Thomas eyes flew wide at that , although he wasn't necessarily surprise that Gally would do that , but it had him wondering exactly how many were present for the bull of a boy to fight. Certainly not as many as he came up to.

"How many was 'all of you' ?" Thomas asked , wondering exactly how many Gally had taken down.

It's certainly alter his opinion of him either way.

"Ah." Newt intoned , thinking back with ease , "That'd be Alby , myself , Minho , Nick , Alfred , and George. Had us all on our arses in minutes , the shuckface."

The insult was delivered with utmost affection tinged with exasperation over the memory , the day forever burned in the taller youth's head as one of the most ridiculous New Arrival Days he'd ever encountered.

"Plenty of buggin' Greenies come up fightin' , but never had any of them compared to the amount of mayhem caused in so short amount of time as Gally did that day." Newt smirked

"That … isn't hard to imagine." Thomas' opinion of Gally didn't shift much , though it proved the confrontational Glader held the guts to back up his attitude.

Newt laughed , eyes crinkling at their edges in true mirth , "Isn't that the bloody truth of it."

Thomas then asked another inquiry without thought to it , "How did you react your first day ?"

A brief flash of surprise flitted across Newt's face , eyebrows rising and mouth dropping open slightly , before a twitch of his lips morphed into another smile , "Fair question that. Al'right , I'll tell you. I bolted , as you did , but unlike you , I didn't faceplant within the first hundred metres. Made it to the trees , I did , and hid out for three days."

Thomas' own expression reflected his own brand of surprise then , falling back a few strides in their walk , "You did?"

At least now he felt a bit more rational in his knee - jerk reaction to running when faced with forty or so strange boys in a strange place with no memories of who , how , or what to go along with that. It eased the smidges of embarrassment that had slunked around the edges of his mind since arriving here. It truly seemed everyone had been in the same boat as him at one point.

"Yeah." Newt's head bobbed in confirmation , turning to glance back at Thomas as he spoke , "Took Alby two days to talk me int'a camp."

After a handful of moments spent in silence , letting the new information soak in and trailing after the other , Thomas asked , "Was it just you two then ?"

Having twisted to look backward at the brunette lad at hearing speak up again , Thomas was able to visible watch a shadow came over Newt's features , dissolving the pleasant expression his face held only moments before. It had Thomas wishing he could retract his query. Hating to have dredged up bad memories for one of the few boys he actually liked here , and would hope to call a friend someday.

"Ah , no. No , Justin and Nick were there too." Voice a slight thick , Newt gave his answer after moving to face away from Thomas , continuing their walk without anymore comment than that.

Sensing a topic of discussion that was best left forgotten , or at least saved until a later date , Thomas kept his curiosity in check. Near biting his tongue to ensure his questions remained without an audible voice , although he was certain his interest was visible in his demeanour. Thus he strove to distract his mind with another question , one that would hopefully move away from that line of conversation and be easier to answer.

"Where are we going exactly?"

A grin sprang forth across Newt's features , "Now there's a question I can bloody well answer ! But we're almost there so I best just show you since you decided to tag along."

Nodding in agreement , silent for the time being , Thomas continued to follow the other boy. Catching up to walk astride Newt in a few longer stride , the pace fell slower than his natural gait due to the other's limp. Not that Thomas minded. Newt's limp was noticeably affected the look of his steps , seemed to hamper him none , appearing to be more mobile about the Glade than many of the others and never had he heard any complaint or special accommodation made for him.

Although , Thomas didn't doubt one would be made should the other had needed it. This group seemed the sort to stick together. And Newt seemed very well liked , respected even , that it was unlikely he was forced to participate as much as he does if walking bothered him. Concluding then it was by choice , his companion this morning kept an active part in leading and running the settlement here.

Thomas had to wonder if he could come to integrate himself into this life , into their mismatched family , despite everyone seeming so dedicated to it and set within the natural niche of things here. Thoughts leading towards a more self - criticising path than the original track had begun as , emotions still in an upheaval over everything where to blame he reasoned. A lot had occurred over the last twenty - four hours that he wondered if he'd ever gain a sense of peace that so many here had seemed to achieve.

"I can practically hear you thinkin'." Newt's words called Thomas away from his thoughts.

Thomas' head jerked up at Newt's voice , realising the other had been slowing then stopped and Thomas had followed on mere peripheral instinct whilst his retrospections had run away with his attention.

"Sorry." Was Thomas quick , lamely places reply.

Newt shrugged , shaking his head in tandem with the movement , "S'al'right. We're here though."

The last bit was spoken around a massive grin , teeth near gleaming in the rising light of morning , as he leapt forward to grasp a low hanging branch of a tall tree near the South door. Hands enclosing around the rough bark , muscles along his arms straining not when he swung a moment then pulled himself upwards until he could place his legs on the branch and continue his assent up the sturdy trunk.

Watching in slightly awe , Thomas had yet to move. Continuing to do so until Newt seemed to disappear right before his eyes , causing the burnet to blink harshly in astonishment. Stepping back then forward with a squinted gaze in an attempt to locate the other boy. It wasn't until he heard a chuckle then saw the blond's head peer around what he now noticed was a thick outcropping of individual branches tied together , not a separate section of the main trunk , to create an undefined version of a flet that concealed the slighter boy.

"C'mon up !" Newt called down , "You watched me do it , now you !"

Thomas stood back to access the path up the tree Newt had taken , tracing the proper nooks for his feet and handholds upwards before too leaping forward to pull himself up the same way he'd seen Newt do. Easily transcending the branches , the massive tree unyielding in its strength despite the light breeze and weight placed upon its boroughs.

A moment later Thomas was swinging up next to Newt , the other scooting over to allow him space to sit alongside him. The small flet was integrated near seamlessly into the tree's counteramce and much larger than Thomas had first thought , accommodating their lithe forms and leaving enough room at their sides to dispel with any fears falling over the edge.

"So how you really holdin' up ?" Newt asked , settling in his seat with his good leg hanging over the edge and his other folded up to his chest that his corresponding arm rested on.

Thomas made a noncommittal sputtering sound , shrugging a single shoulder. Shifting his own legs that lay over the edge of the flet , absentmindedly letting them sway back and forth in need of some activity to abate the idleness. Despite the lack of sleep and early hour , Thomas felt overly energised. Abundant nerves , innate curiosity , and overwhelming desire to have his confusion sedated , all combined to fuel his temperament of the morning.

"You said absolutely no words , but that's the best bloody way I've seen it put." Newt had to chuckle at Thomas' expression , both physical and verbal.

They had all been there in the their beginnings. No memory of anything beforehand , not knowing themselves , not even their names until an indeterminable time later when they came back. Nothing else to return to their minds. Add in being thrust into a world filled with monsters out for blood and flesh , where survival depended upon your strength of person and contributions to the Glade as a whole. It was a lot to take in. Everyone understood it , experienced it firsthand , and , despite their humour found in the floundering of the Greenies , helped in every way to ease the new one's transitions.

Some still reacted better than others. Newt felt Thomas was handling it well , although more dangerously curious than most. Keeping his ears perked towards his companion , but not wanting to appear overly attentive , he glanced out over the Glade. A warming light from the rising sun was beginning to peak over the tops of the walls , piecing the east facing edges of the Glade , inching its way along the massive field and forest that comprised the foliage of their current home.

Soon it'd bath the entirety of the compound , its brightness would elicit the waking of even the most stubborn of risers. That , or an eager someone would be sent with a water bucket after those still lazing in their hammocks. It seemed Thomas was more alike to Newt in being an early bird , although he tried to keep assumptions away from concrete thinking and those taken as fact until a few days passed a Greenie's christening , in order to allow the newness to fade and habits to form. Thus allowing their true character to manifest.

Expelling a breath through his mouth that could have been interpreted as a soft laugh , Thomas nodded , allowing a small smile to turn up a at the corners of his lips. Staring at his hands a moment , still rather incredulous over the world he had landed himself in.

"Just I have so many questions." Thomas near exploded in his speech , a mild anger rising to colour his tone , directed more at the entire situation than specifically Newt , "But no one seems willing to answer them. Or even seems to have any answers to give."

Newt pursed his lips , features appearing contemplative yet frowned in distaste.. Russet coloured eyes narrowed against the sunlight and in reflection of his thoughts , knowing this Greenie was different than most who'd come up but also knowing they had rules set for a reason. Ones that'd worked all these years and ones not easily broken simply because a curious newbie asked.

"See the thing is , we don't tell Greenies everything in one go." Newt finally gave a voice to his thoughts , expression faltering none and his tone matched the gravity his features displayed , "Learned from experience we did with that. Frightens the bloody hell right out of 'em. So it's best to ease into it , trust me , we aren't being secretive because of trust issues. It's us tryin' to protect you , mate."

Gaze flicking from where it'd drifted to follow Newt in observing the brightening of the day towards the other , vaguely stunned at the admittance as it seemed to be one of the most honest thing he heard since arriving here , Thomas had to wonder what exactly they all felt so strongly to protect the new ones from. For the first time he questioned himself in if he truly wanted an answer to his curiosity , but in the next moment he knew he'd never be satisfied with being kept in the dark. And if he was to truly 'do his part' as the first rule stated , he'd have to know all there was to be told about this place.

"I'd rather know than not know." Thomas blurted out , "I mean it's great that you all want to protect the newbies , I understand that , but I can't help or focus when there's so many questions left unanswered when you or anyone could easily give me those answers."

Newt had turned to stare at Thomas when he spoke up , openly eying the other boy with an unreadable expression. Gaze dark and features shuttered , it appeared another boy sat before Thomas than the one he came up here with. An odd look that had it finally clicking for Thomas why Newt was chosen as the second - in - command.

"I get that , and you're more likely to find out the hard way if no one does tell you." Newt finally responded , "Can't say I've got all the answers , but I'll bloody well give you all I got. Meet me here each morning ? Then no'ne will know it was I who spilt the beans to the Greenie."

And as if a switch had been flipped , Newt smiled once more. All sternness about his expression cleared , leaving him looking far younger than his years or experiences told. Thomas took a moment to blink at the sudden change , scrambling mentally to catch up when Newt continued talking.

"For now we best be joining the others as wake up's now and breakfast will be gone before you know it." Newt slapped a hand twice on Thomas' knee , in a rougher version of a good natured pat , before gathering his legs beneath himself to stand and move towards the ladder.

Thomas paused to stare a moment longer out over the Glade , basking in the atmosphere as the quiet of dawn was broken by muted movements below ; Gladers waking others up , moving about their morning routines , and generally listening to the entire camp gain life once more.

Newt popped his head back up , brow pinched at noticing Thomas hadn't moved but his tone remained light when he called out to the other boy , "You comin' ?"

"Yeah , yeah !" Thomas affirmed , pulling his legs up from over the edge to stand upright and join Newt in descending the branches , wondering still why they were put here and what his purpose was in being apart of it.

TBC.

A/N: All right so there's the first bit , hope you enjoyed it & if you wish to , please tell me how you liked it. Whether for the good or bad.

The next chapter will have the more exciting bits , with Ben's attack & the subsequent events there after. I would have had it in here , but all of it just blew the word count past a reasonable chapter length so I decided to spilt it up into two. If life decides to be kind , the next part should be up by the end of next week.

Again I apologise about the blending of canons , or about any conflicting topics or inconsistencies I may have had in this. Feel free to tell if I did anything overtly ghastly. I always welcome criticism.