♡ Dark Paradise ♡ ; newtmas fanfic.

h e r o

We didn't have to walk for much longer before we found a place to stay.

We stumbled upon a deep cave that was wedged between a small stream and a rocky hill. It was so dark inside, we had to take out some lanterns and flashlights from our bags.

"This seems like a good place," Paul nodded, like he assumed we were all waiting for his approval.

After everybody else had already settled down to sleep, I spread my blanket I had brought along with me on the bumpy ground, and used my bag as a pillow. I lay myself down on the rough cave floor, and prepared myself to sleep. A yawn escaped my lips, and just as my eyes were about to fall shut, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Wha-" I turned myself over to see a face only inches away from mine.

My eyes opened wide in surprise when I saw her leaning over me.

Brenda.

She covered my mouth with her hand.

"Shh," she warned, "Shut up. Just let me do this.."

She lowered her head and roughly brushed her lips on mine. I tried to squirm away, but she had a firm grasp on my body.

I tore my face away from hers, breaking the kiss. "What the hell are you doing?!" I demanded, cringing at how weak I felt.

"Just don't say anything," she shook her head. "I know you like me, okay? I know it. You just forgot."

"What are you talking about?" I tried to push her away from me, but she jumped on me again.

"You like me, remember?" She repeated. "Not.. him." Brenda nodded her head towards where Newt was sleeping.

"Stop-" I began, but she pressed her lips against mine again, cutting me off.

"Do you remember now?" She demanded, a crazy look beaming in her eyes. "Do you remember?"

I tried to shout at her, but it just came out muffled when she covered my mouth with her hand again.

"It was never supposed to be like this.. You were supposed to be with me. Not.. Newt." She spat his name out like it was poison on her tongue. "What do you even see in him?"

Just the way she said his name made me fill with anger.

"Well, he's kind," I began, "and he would never force me to do something like this if I didn't want to."

Brenda tried to shut me up again, but I raised up my knee and kneed her in her stomach. She let out a groan.

"And he's caring," I continued, almost shouting, now. "He's smart. He's always there for me. He's.. so, so beautiful."

"Shut up!" Brenda cried. "Just shut up!"

"And he's better than you ever will be."

That was enough to drive her over the edge. She slapped her hand down across my face, and left my cheek tingling with pain.

She was about to speak again, but before she could, somebody had grabbed her off of me and thrown her on the ground.

"Brenda.. What do you think you're doing?" The person yelled in their thick, english accent. It was hard to see in the darkness, but there was no doubt it was Newt.

I could just barley see his face lit up by the fading light of the lantern.

"Thomas belongs with me," Brenda wept.

"He doesn't want you," Newt roared. "You don't deserve him. Just go away, and never touch him again. Do you understand?"

"But-"

"Shut your bloody mouth. I asked you a question. Now, do you understand?!" Newt was fuming.

"Yes!" Brenda cried. "I get it!"

"Now get away from here." Newt ordered. "Never come back."

I watched in silence as Brenda hobbled outside of the cave, fading into the darkness of the night.

Newt sat himself down beside me, and gently rested his hand on my knee. "Did she hurt you?"

"...No. Well, I mean, kind of?"

"I saw the whole thing." Newt explained. "Her shouting woke me."

"She.. she kissed me."

I heard Newt's breath hitch. "She forced you to?" He tried to stay calm, but I could hear the anger in his voice.

"Yes.." I whispered. "She kept kissing me, and she slapped me.."

"I can't believe her! That Slinthead!" Newt growled.

"But that's not the part that bothered me.. She started to talk about you. Like you were a piece of shit, and that's what bothered me. I couldn't let her say that about you. I hate her.. I just hate her.."

Suddenly, all the anger in Newt's voice melted away. He pulled me into a hug. At first it surprised me, but I let myself fold into his arms; his hot breath dancing on my neck; his fingers combing through my hair. Even though we hadn't been this intimate in so long, any awkwardness between us seemed to vanish.

"It's okay, Tommy. Everything will be okay."

The way he touched me, so assuringly and gentle, felt so different than the way Brenda touched me. I knew I could never love Brenda. That's not the way love was supposed to feel.

I lay in Newt's arms, feeling warm all over even though the air was crisp and cold. He tells me to rest, that he'll stay beside me tonight.

"Were all those things you told Brenda about me true?" Newt asked, smiling softly.

"Of course," I grinned back, snuggling closer to him. Despite all the walking and running, he still had that sweet familiar scent that I missed.

I felt like this, just being here with Newt, was all I wanted in my life.

That's how I knew, this is how love is supposed to feel.