Derek's hand was warm against the back of his neck, making his already hot skin feel hotter. When he felt Derek drawing him forward, he didn't know exactly what was happening but he didn't resist. Touching as a means to comfort was a foreign concept for him. Comfort back in the Maze was mostly an arm pressed against his and mostly given by Teresa.
Teresa was long gone, though. The only thing left of her were the memories Thomas had locked away behind a dark door in his mind.
When Derek dropped his arm, Thomas looked up at him, a question in his eyes. But, it slipped away and Thomas looked down at the ground. He dug his shoe into the sand, watched it disappear. "I'll keep your secret," he promised, bringing his eyes back up to Derek's. He watched Derek's face intently. "And I'll tell you mine. Just -- just not now."
Talking about the Flare would make the whole thing even more real than it already was. It'd label Thomas a patient, a victim, and he needed time to deal with and accept that.
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Teresa was long gone, though. The only thing left of her were the memories Thomas had locked away behind a dark door in his mind.
When Derek dropped his arm, Thomas looked up at him, a question in his eyes. But, it slipped away and Thomas looked down at the ground. He dug his shoe into the sand, watched it disappear. "I'll keep your secret," he promised, bringing his eyes back up to Derek's. He watched Derek's face intently. "And I'll tell you mine. Just -- just not now."
Talking about the Flare would make the whole thing even more real than it already was. It'd label Thomas a patient, a victim, and he needed time to deal with and accept that.