Lover || Newt x reader

DONT BE A SILENT READER ♥️
Maya's POV

It was officially time to go into the Maze.

Nerves coiled in my stomach, but I forced myself to push them down. Minho and Thomas had done this a hundred times before, and Alby, as the leader, knew what he was doing. I had nothing to be afraid of.

At least, that's what I told myself.

When we reached the doors, Newt was already there, waiting.

The first thing I noticed was how tired he looked. Not just tired—exhausted. His eyes were shadowed, his usually perfect hair was disheveled, and the tension in his jaw was clear as day. He hadn't slept. I knew he was worried, but I hadn't realized just how much.

"You're in charge," Alby said, jabbing a finger into Newt's chest.

Newt barely reacted, only giving a tight nod. Everyone knew that while Alby was in the Maze, Newt took his role as second-in-command. But right now, he looked like he didn't care about any of that. His eyes flicked to me instead, scanning my face, my body—like he was memorizing me.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of her," Minho teased, flashing Newt a grin.

Newt's glare could've burned a hole through him.

"Shuck it," he muttered, making the other boys laugh.

I smiled at Newt, trying to reassure him. "I'll be back soon."

He crossed his arms, shifting his weight onto his good leg. "You better be," he mumbled.

Something about the way he said it made my heart ache.

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him.

Newt tensed for only a second before he pulled me closer, his arms tightening around me. His hand found the back of my head, fingers threading into my hair like he didn't want to let go.

I felt him exhale, his breath warm against my ear.

Then, softly, he pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

My chest tightened. I held on for a moment longer, committing the warmth of him to memory.

"Alright, lovers, time to get going," Minho called, making Thomas and Alby chuckle.

Newt exhaled sharply but didn't let go right away.

"Right," he finally muttered, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. "Be safe."

"Always," I promised, smiling softly.

I forced myself to step back and turn toward the Maze. Just before I ran inside, I glanced over my shoulder one last time.

Newt was still watching me.

Then the Maze swallowed us whole.

The Maze was just as terrifying as I had imagined.

The walls stretched endlessly toward the sky, covered in twisting ivy. The sun shone through the gaps, making everything feel just a little too quiet.

Minho and Thomas ran ahead while Alby and I took the back. We moved quickly, navigating through the stone corridors like it was routine.

After nearly two hours of running, my lungs burned, and my legs ached. I wasn't used to this kind of exertion.

When Minho finally called for a break, I nearly collapsed against the cold stone wall, breathing heavily.

We sat in a small clearing, eating the sandwiches we had packed earlier. The conversation was light—until Thomas smirked and turned to me.

"So, Maya," he started casually, "you and Newt, huh?"