Chapter Text
Thomas was taking his time on the walk back to the apartment, the weather was fresh with wind promising beautiful summer days and he just wanted to let the sun soak his skin in warmth. He was humming to himself in perfect content as he strolled past a park. The brunet eyed it thinking that he and Newt should go check it out one of these days.
With everything finished concerning his admission to college, Thomas found that he could finally fully enjoy the summer break ahead. It took some time for the two of them to pack all of Thomas’ belongings when moving to Washington and it was kinda stressful at the time, but now that they were here and living in their own flat he couldn’t contain his happiness. He even found a pretty cool looking café close to their neighborhood where he applied for a job as a barista, partially as a joke on Newt’s past comment on it, but also out of curiosity how well he would actually do.
And in the end everything turned out the best possible way.
Or so Thomas thought.
A shout stopped him right in his tracks. Thomas spun around and was met with what he later swore was the biggest shucking grin he ever saw in his shucking shuck life.
“Well aren’t you the shuckiest shuck-faced shuck there ever was!”
Thomas bolted towards the boy where they almost crashed in a massive body-shattering embrace. It was as if they were competing in who’d be the first to strangle the other, but in a more loving way.
Because that was always the Minho way.
After a time close to eternity Thomas at last pulled back and looked over the Asian boy.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see your ugly shuck face again.”
“Ain’t that a way to greet an old friend.”
Neither of them could keep their faces smooth and grin-free, they were soon hugging again, laughs echoing the whole area around.
Minho patted him on the back before stating.
“Com’on, your shuck ass is taking me somewhere for lunch ‘cause I’m shucking starving and we ain’t gonna be parting soon, you better believe that!”
The brunet agreed wholeheartedly and lead their way to the nearest restaurant. It was a small and cozy place, only half a dozen tables stuffed in, but it only served to make it appear more intimate especially since they were the only ones there. The boys placed their orders and soon enough were back at joyously laughing together, still in glee at their sudden encounter.
“So how come you’re here? Not that I’m not thrilled, but I didn’t exactly expect to run into you out of all people.” Thomas shook his head with a grin.
Minho stretched his hands above his head and leant back in his seat. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, shuckface.”
Thomas swatted at his shoulder playfully. “Why did I ask then, shank?”
The Asian raised his hands in defense. “Okay okay, detective Thomas. I’m actually living here, been about two months I reckon since.”
The boy had his infamous smirk in place as he leaned closer over the table, as if about to share a secret.
“Guess who I ended up with?”
Thomas was already well taken aback. “You wanna say you found someone who actually tolerates you?”
Minho laughed. “You better believe it, Tomboy! And not just someone—“ He wiggled his eyebrows.
The brunet laughed in disbelief. “No—“
Minho snapped his fingers. “Oh yes!” He calmed down a bit, nodding to himself slowly. “It’s Brenda.”
Thomas let out a low whistle.
“Right you are there, shank. I can tell ya we’re in love as a couple o’ swans, ‘cause they find only one mate for life, ya know? Yup, and pretty soon there’ll be little babies crawling around and I appear to have found myself the perfect babysitter!”
They both laughed once more, Thomas shaking his head at his friend.
“Is it too late to pretend I never met you?” The brunet asked jokingly.
Minho patted him on the arm, albeit more forcefully than necessary.
“Look at Thomas making jokes, ever the funny guy!”
Their food arrived then so they continued their talk while munching on some especially tasty pasta. Thomas looked forward to catching up with his friend, not to mention Brenda too. He still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that the two were a couple. Then again if anyone could match Minho’s disposition, Thomas was pretty sure it would be her.
A thought struck him then.
He excused himself from the conversation to type out a message on his phone before continuing, now buzzing with excitement and anticipation. He couldn’t keep his foot from lightly tapping on the floor as he glanced at the time every so often.
“You expecting Ratman to show up for a date there, Thomas? You keep looking at your shuck phone.” Minho raised an eyebrow in question.
Thomas laughed nervously in response.
He should be here by now, his shift ended half an hour ago.
Just as the thought crossed his mind Thomas heard the door open, ringing the little bell in announcement of a new arrival. He saw Minho’s eyes shift from his to the entrance and then there was a look on his face that Thomas imagined he himself had way back then in his dad’s office. There was disbelief, then shock as the boy shot up from his seat, then it was everything else.
Feeling a little guilty for not preparing his friend for it Thomas nonetheless felt his face break into an almost permanent grin as he turned to better face his friend, who was still standing rigid in place and his boyfriend who had his hand still holding onto the door.
A brilliant smile graced his face and with a “Shuck me” he quickly crossed the remaining distance and embraced his friend. It all felt terribly like déjà vu with Minho clinging to the blond and Newt laughing in return. Thomas stood up from the table to join them in their now group hug and all three of the boys let teary chuckles be the only sound around. When they at last separated torso from torso from torso Minho was busily wiping his face, a grin still present and with a shaky voice he said, “Mighty Gladers, back together again.”
*
It took some time for them all to calm down enough to be able to talk normally, but once they did they realized they were starving. Emotional reunions could be exhausting apparently.
Newt ordered a meal for himself as well and soon the boys were happily eating and talking over each other in their excitement.
An hour later Minho suddenly stopped mid-sentence before gasping and dramatically pointing at his two friends.
“Are my shuck eyes playing tricks on me or did Thomas just grab Newt’s shuck hand all lovey-like?”
The two boys glanced down at their joined hands on the table; Thomas must’ve done it subconsciously without realizing it because right then he just couldn’t fight off the creeping blush.
Newt let out a breathy laugh as he shrugged.
Minho clapped loudly, “I’ve been shucked and gone to heaven! You shanks finally got together, I still can’t believe it.”
He shook his head, arms crossed over his chest.
“I thought that I’d see Newt raise from the shucking dead before you two slintheads confessed and to think I was right!”
He shot them a narrowed look at which Thomas guiltily swallowed.
Newt rolled his eyes, “Better late than never, ey?”
Minho raised his glass, “Good that.”
The Asian smiled brightly at them and they clinked their glasses together.
“Here’s a toast: to my best friends, to our new start and to all those bastards who wronged us rotting forever in hell. To growing old together till we’re all klunking our pants and my son and your adopted daughter announce their marriage!”
Thomas and Newt laughed, shaking their heads.
“Oh we’ll bloody see about that!”
***
“No but, a Kanima is way tougher than a Griever, ‘cause see—“
“No, you see here, shank, did you even hear a word I said about them injecting you with basically poison and if ya don’t—“
Minho’s loud discussion with Scott and Isaac in the backseat should’ve irritated Thomas after already an hour and a half, but he just couldn’t bring himself to feel anything other than content. He glanced at the rearview mirror to see Lydia’s car right behind them. He mused that she, Kira and Brenda were probably invested in their own discussions, but probably not as nearly as intense as the ones happening in his jeep.
Thomas looked over at Newt who sat shotgun next to him, watching the passing scenery through the window, a small smile ghosting on his lips. The brunet reached over and took his hand and Newt turned to meet his gaze, squeezing his hand firmly and sending him a loving smile. Thomas was seriously tempted to steal a quick kiss, but he reminded himself that he was driving and he hardly wanted to crash them into a tree before they even got to the beachside.
Instead he returned the smile, feeling his whole body shiver with excitement. He couldn’t wait for Newt to see the sea for the first time, something the blond’s been dreaming off for a long time and he couldn’t wait to spend this vacation with the people he loved most.
As he turned up the volume on the radio to dull the shouting in the back Thomas though about the life that’s ahead for them all. He thought about where he was this time last year, how so many things (everything even) changed and he thought how even in his wildest dreams he couldn’t wish for things to turn out better. For the first time in a long time, Thomas was beyond excited at the thought of the rest of his life.
And frankly he couldn’t wait for it to begin.
As he drove down an empty road on a sunny summer’s day, his friends laughing and his love kissing his cheek, eyes sparkling at the thrill of a new adventure, the song on the radio sang:
“So don't fight, if you really feel it,
It's alright, this could be the start of something new—“
And Thomas thought that this really is the start of something new.
The end