Newt x Reader || A13

When I open my eyes, the world is blurry.

I blink multiple times, trying to adjust my eyes, but my surroundings stay out of focus.

My head pounds with exertion, and my lips feel dry.

The room is stiflingly hot, suffocating me. Beads of sweat drip down my forehead and neck. The cloth beneath me is soaked through: with blood or sweat, I can't tell.

I bring a hand up to my forehead to wipe the sweat from dripping into my eyes. Instead, I find my skin to be scalding.

It's not the room which is warm.

I open my mouth and attempt to speak, but find my words to be an incoherent mumbling.

The sound of my slurring startles me; my heart pounds in my chest as I struggle to string together words.

I've never been one prone to panic attacks, but-

"Hey! She's awake!" Despite the throbbing in my head, a clear voice rings through, calming me for a moment. There's a quick rustling of feet, and then the presence of someone at my side.

Then, through the blur, Newt calls my name.

"Can you hear me?" As he speaks I close my eyes, trying to slow my frantic breathing.

Knowing he's next to me makes it a little easier. I feel the knot in my chest loosen.

I nod carefully and count to three in preparation before opening my eyes. The world is still blurry, but I can make out Newt's hazy silhouette hovering over me. I do my best to nod once more, blinking again, willing my eyes to focus so I can see him.

"Yes." I manage. As time passes, his features sharpen until I'm able to properly look into his face. His eyebrows are angled down in concern, his brown eyes full of imminent worry.

"How are you feeling?" He asks, covering his mouth with his left hand and rubbing his chin- a habit of his.

"Bad." I say, and he chuckles, giving me a tense smile.

"As expected." He says, moving closer to me and sitting down by my side. He is silent for a second, obviously lost in thought. When he does speak, his voice laced with thick worry, but I can hear him trying to add reassurance to his tone.

"I was worried," he whispers, "we all were." I try and smile, ignoring the pain it causes.

I can only nod, trying to stifle a yawn. My legs are sore from the maze, my injured thigh still hurting terribly, though it's better all bandaged up. It's better out of sight.

"I'll let you get some rest then. Hopefully the condition improves." Newt stands to leave, but I muster up my strength to reach out a single hand. He stares at it in confusion.

"Stay." I whisper.

My eyes silently plead with him. They tell him what he already knows, and he winced as if it pains him to realize again.

I've been stung. It's only a matter of days, maybe hours.

Newt grabs my hand, interlacing his fingers with mine. I squeeze my hand shut around his: secure, and let my eyes flutter closed.

"Always." His strained whisper is the last thing I hear before darkness once again.

- - -

I stand before a large screen. It's lit up, displaying the culmination of my work for the past year. I exhale as Dr. Paige looks over the screen's contents with a neutral expression.