Chapter Text
Upon reaching the small encampment she collapsed onto the ground exhausted, reaching into her pack she downed one of the small bottles of drinking water before falling back against the nearest tree. A painful burning sensation began to sear her right arm and neck.
“Miss Goldstein I wouldn’t lean against any of the vegetation if I were you.”
Opening her mouth to lay into him, she felt the burning pain once again, looking down at her arm she leapt up, frantically brushing off the insects that felt as if they were all over her body. Assisting at once Mr. Scamander helped rid her of the stinging pests, picking them off expertly. “Fire ants, one of the few creatures on earth I could do entirely without.” Cringing she shook herself and edged far away from the offending tree.
“Here Miss Goldstein, I’ll start a fire that should keep the insects at bay and frighten away potential scavengers.” Looking down at her long bare legs he sucked in air through his teeth, “Stay right there I’ll fetch you some balm for the mosquito bites and a mixture to save what little skin they haven’t bitten yet.” Disappearing into the rather spacious tent (one big enough to walk in) he returned with a small tin of salve and a container of some sort of liquid. “Here we are, this is an antibiotic steroid cream that should help with scarring and quell some of the itch, be sure to put a bit on your ant bites as well.” Doing as commanded, she sighed at the relief making certain to hit every nagging bump. Handing her the liquid mixture he smiled, “Better? Now then, this is a natural concoction I’ve made that keep the those little pests at bay.”
Unplugging the stopper and sniffing the contents warily, she turned and met his amused face. “Do I wanna know what goes into this ‘natural concoction’?” Laughing he stood to gather more wood as the fire burst into life, “It’s made from herbs I have growing back at headquarters, lemongrass, lavender, and basil.” Finding his explanation adequate she liberally applied its contents to her skin. “Oh and the liquid component is urine.” Flailing she readied to lob the bottle at his head when she heard him laugh.
“Calm down I’m teasing, it’s just a joke Tina, may I call you that? Seeing as we’re going to be spending the next twelve hours here together.” Handing him back the bottle she crossed her arms and fixed him with a withering stare before remembering herself and calming. “You’re right and seeing as how you helped me, I don’t mind you callin’ me Tina if I can call you Newt.” Smirking shyly he nodded, “Very well, Tina. Now I’m rather hungry do you fancy something to eat?” At the mere mention of food Tina’s stomach began to rumble loudly. Chuckling he turned toward the tent, “It’s decided then, you’re in luck Tina, I happen to be very adept at campfire cuisine!”
Watching as he disappeared inside the tent something inside her warmed. She had just met this strange, quirky, attractive man, it wasn’t like her to be so drawn in like this. Everything in her cautioned to be on guard and not to get too close, but she couldn’t help the feeling that he was inherently good -and yeah maybe a bit weird too. He returned with two plates, a bowl, and a cast iron skillet. Heating the skillet he poured the mixture in flipping it expertly before depositing it on a plate. “There you are, nothing more American than a flapjack. So now you should feel quite at home in the jungle and ah, here, I have some syrup as well!”
Taking the plate she couldn’t help the awkward half giggle that erupted from her mouth. “Your a very interesting man Mr. Scama...I mean Newt.” Having plated his own food he sat back to look at her, “Is that so? Well, interesting isn’t normally one of the adjectives used to describe me, usually it’s odd, strange, or annoying.” He spoke so matter-of-factly that Tina forgot herself staring, collecting her thoughts she ate a sizable piece of pancake closing her eyes in pleasure at the taste, she was famished. “No, definitely interesting, a British man that works a nature preserve, grows herbs for medicinal treatment, rescues ladies in distress, and makes a perfect pancake... I find that terribly fascinating.” His eyes had widened staring at her as if she sprouted another head. Unsure of herself suddenly, Tina tucked back into her food and the two ate in companionable silence.
Meal polished off, Newt broke the quiet hum of nature. “There’s a sleeping bag in the tent if you like. I’ve been asleep most of the day in preparation for night duties so do feel inclined to use it if you need some sleep.” Unsure as to why Tina felt the need to stay up with Newt, she found herself wanting to know more about him. “It’s alright, I slept on the plane ride here so as long as I’m not walking though a dense jungle I’ll be fine. I, well, I don’t guess you have any coffee in that magic tent of yours?” Leaping up energetically Newt grinned widely, “As a matter of fact Tina I do, though being English I do enjoy my tea, I’ve found coffee a necessity for nights precisely like this one!” Returning from the tent it took mere moments before, coffee in hand, they sat looking up at the brilliance of the sky, stars crisp and bright, all the more visible with the absence of artificial light.
Several moments passed and her investigatory nature wouldn’t allow her to stay silent. “So, what do ya do here at the nature preserve? If you’re on the look out for poachers shouldn’t you have a weapon on you?” Sitting his cup down he directed his attention back to her. “I suppose thwarting poachers is part of what I do, but no, I study the wildlife within the sanctuary in hopes to provide knowledge to fellow human beings, urging them to protect these creatures. Many are viewed as pesky, harmful, or dangerous and by educating I hope to dispel those notions. As for weapons, I am trained but I don’t feel comfortable in the fact that I’m carrying something that could potentially end a life, be it human or animal.”
He was very forthright and passionate about his work, smiling to herself he’s a little like someone I know very well. “Why here? I mean aren’t there creatures in the UK that need an advocate?” Squinting his eyes at her he leaned forward resting his forearms on his knees, “Here’s as good as anywhere, besides the Amazon is the worlds largest ecosystem of biodiversity, so what better a place? I’ve travelled to many other parts of the world studying various species but I’m drawn back to large cats.” Smirking she needled, “A cat guy huh? How did you get into zoology in the first place?”
Laughing he halted further inquiry, “You certainly have a lot of questions, I expect that’s what makes you so good at your job though, investigator...am I right?” Startled she sat there mouth gaping unable to form words. “I saw you survey the area and checking for potential weapons paired with the questioning, it’s not a stretch to assume law enforcement.” Taking a deep breath she reeled in her composure and answered with pride, “Correct, I’m a federal agent of the United States,” a sudden question then presented itself, “but you’ve a very sharp eye Newt, I’m guessing you’ve had experience with the law?”
Huffing a laugh his fingers begin to fidget, a fact that did not escape her notice. “Yes I’ve had some run-ins with local officials over ... misunderstandings that arose from protecting defenseless creatures, but that’s not how I picked up on it. My elder brother is a chief officer at Interpol, he’s a decorated naval hero and displays many of the same mannerisms despite whether or not the situation warrants it.” Turning quickly he flitted past the comment, “More about you, what brings an FBI agent to an area as remote and far from the US as Belize anyway? Don’t most yanks vacation within their own borders? I reckon if I were to guess it’d be that you’re getting away from something, a bad breakup perhaps?”
Blushing furiously without knowing why, she caught a glimpse of his smirk and glistening green eyes still latched sideways on her. “No. Absolutely not, I’m not even in a relationship!” smacking herself mentally she cursed her awkward response. What the hell Goldstein he didn’t need you to blurt out that your single! This, outbursts like this, are exactly why guys aren’t interested in you! Walking the comment back she flipped the question back at him a bit childishly, “How bout you, I guess that’s why your in some far away country, getting over a girl,” sputtering quickly she continued, “or guy back home, in England was it?”
Pulling on his fingers he hung his head, she knew a nerve had been struck. Tongue poking out to wet his lips as he cast his eyes toward the fire, “A girl, or a woman rather, and it was a long time ago. We had been close friends I thought, I believed, we had something special but as it turns we didn’t.”
Reaching out Tina laid her hand on his arm, “I’m sorry it was stupid of me to... you don’t have to say anything else.” Looking down at her hand he continued on anyway, “ We were chums in school you see, we were both enthusiastic about environmental causes, animal protection mostly. As we both aged I developed feelings for her that she seemed to reciprocate, however looking back, Leta always kept me at arms length. At any rate, as member of a proper British family I enrolled for duty and was sent to Afghanistan the same as my brother, the hero. She had sent me a picture and pretty words wishing me a safe return, unfortunately upon discharge I found that she’d settled quite nicely into the arms of another man.”
“Oh Newt, I’m so sorry. I’ll bet the guy is some cheap bum that’ll leave her crying in a heap!” Placing his hand over hers he loosed a pained huff, “Leta is engaged to be married to my brother. Turns out she did care about me, as a friend, and used every excuse to be near me because it afforded her a close proximity to my more handsome brother, Theseus.” Tina found tears welling up in her own eyes and despite having just met this man she wanted to knock his brother and this woman upside the head once or twice! “I’m...I don’t know what to say. It’s a raw deal, one made even worse by what seems like a betrayal of your own older brother. I don’t really have any idea what you’re going through, no one ever really expressed that kind of attention toward me so I can’t relate. I do however know what it’s like to be looked over, my younger sister -her name’s Queenie by the way- Queenie’s a bombshell! Guys have been beatin’ down our door since I can remember, even in school, anytime a guy I thought was interested in me got a look at my sister, it was all over. I couldn’t fault her for it though, she’s a kind person with a helpful magnetic personality that just draws people to her. I always envied that quality and I suppose if we hadn’t been forced to rely on one another growing up in foster care, we might not have been at all close. That envy would have likely turned to resentment.”
“You lost your parents?” His own pain quite forgotten he tightened the grip covering her hand. Pursing her lips tightly Tina nodded, “Yeah when I was twelve, Pa died of pancreatic cancer and well, I guess watching someone you love so much die in that way took a toll on Ma too. She um, couldn’t smile after he died, I found her on the bathroom floor...told my sister her heart gave out on account of Papa’s death, but it wasn’t a heart attack.” Hot tears rolled down her cheeks burning hot trails as they descended, a relief of burden lifted from her as they fell. A surprisingly muscled arm reached around her shoulders comfortingly, “I’m so, so, sorry Tina. That’s the first time you’ve ever spoken that aloud isn’t it?” Wiping her eyes a voice inside asked her why? Why share your feelings with this man you’ve only just met in the middle of a jungle of all places?! A small weak voice responded for her, why not? There was something here, Tina never believed in love at first sight or fairytale romances, especially not for herself. However this feeling in the pit of her stomach gnawed at her, she felt as if she knew this man, had heard his story, had loved him well, perhaps in another life.
Clearing her throat words once again flowed instead of tears. “How about we turn from sad topics and I’ll tell you why I’m really here.” Moving back carefully he smiled brightly, “More coffee then?” Before she could respond his finger was pressed to her mouth, “Shhhh...”
Whispering softly she questioned fearfully, “What’s the matter is it another jaguar?”
“No, humans, more than one.” Dousing the fire quickly, he grabbed her hand darting from the encampment running to a large nearby tree before dropping it and turning toward her. “I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone the conversation and you’ll have to do something that doesn’t come naturally- trust me.”
Reaching out for better or worse she took his hand back firmly, blindly trusting in him.