Chapter Text
The last thing Newt does in New York is to help Tina and the other auror to find the real Percival Graves. However when they arrive at the old building and reach the basement (after breaking all the spells that were surrounding it) things done go as they had planned.
Maybe Newt is the only one that's not surprised when two aurors step back, with their wands firmly grabbed in their hands. Tina, who is behind them, close to Newt, asks what happened.
"Director Graves doesn't seem to recognize us, he tried to attack using wandless magic. He looks disoriented and scared."
"It's perfectly normal. A powerful alpha like Mr Graves, who has been tortured for days would be reduced to basic instincts in order to protect himself," Newt explains, catching up attention. "Also you two are alphas as well, which only make things worse. Maybe you bring in-"
"An omega, of course," Tina agrees with him even though she doesn't let him finish the sentence.
"I think I can-"
"No, Newt. It's too dangerous. As you said, Director Graves is very powerful," his friend protests and Newt accepts her decision.
He's not like other omegas, at least he's not like the perfect omegas are supposed to be. He travels alone and works in the wild (fact that has raised many eyebrows back in England), he doesn't want to get married, not very soon at least and definitely doesn't want an alpha to control every single aspect of his life.
But Newt also belongs to a pureblood family that's part of a very ancient and small society. And they have rules and Newt's unmarried status and 'wild behavior' has caused some of the elders to start the pressure over the Scamander's family. But since Newt's parents died long time ago and the head of the family is his brother Theseus, they are not as aggressive as they would with another family. Because Theseus is the pride of the whole community, he's a powerful alpha with a high position in the Ministry of Magic and he's also a war hero, so they respect him. And Theseus, he loves his little brother so much he lets him do whatever he wants, he protects him from the elders and basically from the rest of the world.
But Newt knows is just a matter of time before they start to lose their patience and they begin to demand Theseus to give his brother to another pureblood.
Newt doesn't want to get married, but he knows he will have to do it. He also wants to spare his brother from the shame and embarrassment that comes usually with being related to him.
But then, when he arrived to America, he discovered things were not quite the same as in England. The Americans treat different their omegas, they have more freedom and they're more respected.
So Newt has an idea. He starts to think of the possibility of marrying an American. Of course it'd be difficult to find someone interested in an omega as odd as him but it could be arranged.
But then he meets Tina and thinks that maybe it's a sign. She's an alpha and she's not bonded yet and, most importantly, she seems to like him.
Newt likes her too, but he's not in love and is pretty sure Tina sees him just as a very good friend, but he thinks he can convince her to marry him. Maybe they can make it work, they could stay friends.
He knows she likes his scent and she's already very protective of him... so there's that at least.
But he can offer her that yet, he needs to talk to Theseus about it first.
"Newt, you okay?" Tina asks, pulling the omega out of his thoughts.
"Yes, I'm fine," he assures her, smiling. He looks around and notices the two healers that appear next to them. It's a beta and an omega. "I still think I can help them."
Tina shakes her head and takes his arm.
"They'll be fine."
No, they're not. They both approach Graves slowly, which is a good start, but quickly they ruin everything by trying to reach the injured wizard who's sitting in a corner, looking at them like aggressors.
Newt resists the impulse to roll his eyes. Normally injured alphas relax when a omega is around, but sometimes, if the damage is too much, they reject anyone who doesn't win their trust first.
"I'll do it," Newt says with determination in his voice. He takes off his coat and gives it to a very worried and irritated Tina.
"No. They'll try it again," she argues.
"He's not going to trust them," Newt explains. "Please, Tina. I know what I'm doing."
After a few minutes in which Newt thinks his friend is going to refuse, she quickly nods her head.
"Fine, but if I think you could be in danger I'll take you out of here."
Newt accepts and begins to walk slowly towards the figure on the ground. He stops when Graves rises and looks at him with curiosity.
He's used to this, he tells himself. He has encountered many creatures that could kill him, but he had managed to calm them down.
Newt looks at Graves in the eye and starts to unbutton his shirt. He makes sure the skin of his neck is exposed and titles his head to the side in an act of submission.
The alpha reacts immediately. He looks up and Newt sees as Graves nostrils flare, searching for his scent. He seems to like it, because the next thing he does is to wrap himself around Newt. He nuzzles gently at the omega's neck an inhales.
"You smell like a potential mate," Graves purrs over his skin.
Newt shivers because that was not the reaction he expected.
He feels arms around his waist, pulling him close.
"Mr Graves," he says kindly. "I need you to focus on me."
"Easy," the alpha looks at the omega with something close to amusement. He starts to relax.
"You're hurt," Newt comments. "I'm gonna call the healers, they're just going to look out for wounds and help you heal, okay?"
Graves nods but when the two wizards approach, he tightens his grip on Newt's waist and looks fiercely at them.
"Mine!" He growls at them. Newt blushes bright red and does his best to soothe him.
"They're not going to take me away," he assures. "They only want to help you."
Finally, he nods and allows them to move closer. When they pull out their wands, Graves tenses, but Newt takes his hand.
"It's okay," he whispers. Graves looks at him before rubbing his nose on Newt's freckled cheek.
"What's your name?"
"Newt Scamander," he answers.
"Theseus Scamander's little brother?"
"The very same," Newt smiles, happy to see Mr Graves more like a conscious person.
When the healers are done, Tina approaches them, but Graves just bares his teeth at her.
"She's my friend," he comments. "You work with her at MACUSA, remember?"
"Auror Goldstein?"
Tina nods.
"We'll take you out of here. You'll be fine," Tina assures
"My mate comes with me," Graves says.
For a second Newt wonders if Director Graves is married or something, but quickly he realises Graves is talking about him. He can't argue with him, he knows he's not himself and can't think properly at the moment.
Graves energy starts to fade away. The aurors act just in time to stop him from falling to the ground.
Finally, they take him to the hospital.
Newt wants to stay to say goodbye, but time's running out and he has to return to England.
***
Theseus welcomes him back with open arms and embraces him like he doesn't want to let him go. He buries his head on his neck, like he always does when he's particularly stressed and it's just then that Newt realizes something is not alright.
"What is it?"
"I know what happened in New York," he says and stops nuzzling Newt's neck, just to take his brother's face and kiss his cheeks. "I was worried."
"I'm here now, I'm okay," Newt whispers, he wants to add something more, but he gasps, surprised when he lips on his neck.
But it's not the first time Theseus does that, he likes to kiss Newt's neck every now and then and Newt has convinced himself that's normal. It's part of Theseus nature, as alpha, to want to be close to the omega in his family. It's very common in alphas to seek the comfort in the omega's scent and touches.
It doesn't mean anything.
But sometimes... It just feels different.
"I've missed you so much, baby," Theseus mutters and Newt feels his warm breath over his skin. At the moment, he's glad he thought of washing his neck with extra care that morning. There was still a bit of Graves scent on him and Theseus doesn't like at all when he smells another alpha on him.
He's very protective.
"Me too," he manages. "Let's go home now, I'm really tired."
Theseus looks up and his eyes meet Newt's. He seems worried and he starts to caress his little brother's back to soothe him.
"They about your adventure in New York. They want to talk with you," Theseus warns. "They're going to meet us this evening at our parents' house."
And just like that Newt realizes he's in trouble.
***
They're not happy. Not at all.
There are five of them. They're the most old wizards of the community. All of them alphas. They sit on their living room, while Newt waits for the resolution standing in front of them. Theseus is beside him with a hand on his shoulder.
He can accept anything that comes to him, it's okay if they don't take away his creatures. Anything but that.
One of them calls him a shame, a disgrace for the omegas... For all the community. Theseus growls when he hears that, but Newt stops him before he says anything.
"We've decided you need a proper alpha, a pureblood. You, Mr Scamander, have to be binded and married by the end of the year." One of them tells him and it feels like an actual sentence.
He starts thinking about the alphas in their society, the purebloods. No one would like an omega like him. And if one of them does, they'll take away his freedom.
He's so scared and worried he almost misses when Theseus takes a step forward and says with an unusual determination in his voice "I'll do it. I'll marry him."
Newt looks at him, but his brother doesn't look back, he has this weird expression on his face and a different light in his eyes.
They look at him like he has gone mad and it's not because he's Newt's brother (purebloods marry family members all the time, although a wedding between siblings is not so common) but because of Newt's reputation. Theseus is considered the perfect alpha, while Newt is the omega that doesn't belong, the omega that is the shame of the society.
Theseus is a war hero and has a position of power in the British government. He's also handsome and strong, he can have any omega he wants, they'll all be more than happy to have him.
"Are you sure, Mr Scamander? Because your brother is-"
"A perfect omega for me," he interrupts them. "Yes, I'm sure."
Newt almost rolls his eyes, Theseus always thought that, but it's just because he's his brother and loves him too much.
"Very well, then. We hope to hear of your ceremony soon," one of them says.
Newt is about to protest, but Theseus takes his hand and they both watch as every single one of the elders disappear.
"Theseus, you don't have to do this. Maybe we can find another solution," Newt suggest. He doesn't want his brother to sacrifice himself for him.
"Shh... Everything is going to be fine, baby," Theseus sits on the course and takes Newt by the waist and pulls him close, making him sit on his lap, looking at him.
Newt expects his brother to be angry or irritated by the idea of liking his to his brother's, but when he looks at him he sees Theseus' eyes filled with a different spark, he's grinning from ear to ear and Newt thinks that he's brother is just pretending only to assure him.
But a part of him tells him his brother's joy is real.
"We'll be very happy, you'll see. I'm gonna take care of you," Theseus pulls him closer and kisses the line of his jaw and neck.
"Do we have to bond?" Newt asks, suddenly flustered.
"That's necessary, yes," Theseus says, his fingers stroking Newt's curls. "Don't worry, baby, I'll be gentle."
Newt feels his face even hotter. Theseus looks at him with fascination, like there's something really interesting on his face.
Theseus leans in and uses his thumbs to caress Newt's lips. But he detaches himself from his older brother and rises from his lap.
"You'll still allow me to take my suppressants, right?" He asks.
"Of course. Anything that makes you feel comfortable," Theseus assures calmly. He seems so okay with that Newt thinks he has imagined the flash of disappointment he saw in his brother's eyes.
Theseus tries to reach out for him, but Newt takes a step back. He's being ungrateful, he knows it, but he still can't quite understand how his brother seems so calm about all of it. A group of people just decided about their lives and Theseus looks like it was his idea on the first place.
Maybe he's just trying to look strong and composed for him. Maybe he wants Newt to feel safe.
But Newt doesn't think he's ready.
He's not ready. He's not even prepared to discuss that kind of topic with his brother.
He flees to his room and while he wants just to lay down and think about it all he needs to take care of his creatures first. When he gets out of his case though he's so tired he can't think of anything and falls asleep.
He wakes up the next day and manages to reach the kitchen (he's never been a morning person). Theseus smiles at him fondly and puts a mug with his favourite tea in his hands.
"How do you feel today?"
"Fine, thank-" he stops when Theseus leans in and places a soft kiss on his lips.
"Seus?" Newt blushes and looks at him, confused.
"We're going to be married soon," he explains and his lips quirks up with the words. "That's how husbands usually wish each other good morning."
"Well, yes... but I-I..." Newt doesn't know how his brother seems to be so ready for it, when he's still trying to process what happened. "Yes... I mean it's okay."
But while he's saying it he's thinking about going back to New York. He thinks he can find another solution to their problem.