Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first time Newt wakes up is only to see Percival Graves leaning towards him with a concerned frown on his face. Then Newt blinks and realizes that it’s not just concern, he looks terrified.

“Are you okay? Please, Newt, you have to say something… anything… please.”

But he can’t talk, his head suddenly hurts like it’s being cracked open; Newt groans in pain and Graves flinches like he’s experiencing the same pain as he is.

Which doesn’t make any sense, because according with Tina’s letter Mr. Graves, the real one, was taking his job again as Director of Magical Security in New York and Newt was in London at the moment.

Another wave of pain makes him forget about it, but he has an strange feeling right before he closes his eyes and thinks that it’s the first time he has seen the real Graves.

The second time Newt wakes up things get even more complicated; he’s in a hospital, at first he thinks it’s St Mungo, but as soon as the healers come inside Newt realizes they’re not from England.

Both of them explain him he has suffered an accident in Central Park; he was trying to calm an hippogriff down, but something went wrong and Newt ended up in the lake, until Percival Graves saved him.

Newt asks about the creature and when they tell him they believe the auror that brought him in took care of it, Newt pales and freaks out until the witch assures him that the hippogriff is inside his case.

The magizoologist starts to get confused; if Percival Graves took the hippogriff alone, the other creatures would get scared because they didn’t recognize the auror.

“I need to see my creatures,” he tries to get up, but the pain in the head and the spell one of the healers uses to petrify him is enough to keep him in place.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Scamander, you cannot leave until you’re completely recovered.”

Newt tries to move, but it’s useless. He looks for his wand, but it’s nowhere to be seen.

“How did I end up in New York?” He frowns, which only prompts the two healers to look at each other in a funny way.

“What year is it, Mr. Scamander?”

Newt answers, irritated and argues with them that he needs to see his creatures, but another spell makes him close his eyes almost immediately.

The third time Newt wakes up it’s a nightmare. Or at least he wishes it was.

The two healers that come to see him explain to him as clear as possible the injury on his head caused him retrograde amnesia.

“You don’t remember the last two years,” the witch with long brown hair says when Newt seems as lost by his words as he was before they started to explain. “There’s a potion for that, but we need at least a month for it to be ready.”

Newt nods, but he’s really not fully aware of what he’s doing; he knows he shouldn’t feel that uneasy or worried, since they have told him there’s a cure, but Newt can’t help but think about all the trips and experiences he probably in that time. He would’ve been more alarmed if he didn’t know he keeps everything in his notebook… So regarding his research he’s safe, but he’s not sure about the other aspects of his life, of course it’s not like he has social life, not too much at least.

Besides, he only has to endure a month without two years of memories.

What could’ve had happened in two years?

***

“Mr. Scamander!” Newt blinks a few times before opening his eyes. The witch that said his name is younger than the other two healers that came to see him. “There’s someone here who wants to see you.”

She smirks at him as soon as she says it, like it’s part of a very juicy secret.

“Theseus Scamander?” He mutters, hopeful. If anyone knows what happened to him in two years that’d be his brother. He needs to ask him so many things…

But the witch shakes her head at the name.

“No, your brother… Mr. Scamander said he’d be here in a couple of hours,” she bites her lip and shiver like she just remembered something terrifying. “They’ve told me, Mr. Scamander fire-called the hospital to know if you’re alright.”

Newt rolls his eyes praying to Merlin his brother didn’t threat the entire hospital.

“Actually I was talking about your fiancé,” she continues, lips quirking up.

He’s thinking about Theseus and how he’s going to deal with his overprotective nature now that Newt’s injured and he has a very good reason to act like a mother hen. However, the last word she says it’s enough to make Newt stare at her and freeze.

“What?” He squeaks, still trying to think if the word he heard is right.

“Your fiancé,” she repeats. “He has been waiting to see you for hours, he really cares about you… I haven’t seen someone so desperate to-”

“Stop! I just…” Newt mumbles, feeling the headache coming. “I don’t have-”

He shakes his head, biting the rest of his words; he has lost two years… In that time he could’ve of course, but… It doesn’t feel right… He’s not the type to get in a serious relationship, especially because of his kind of work and because he has never been someone with suitors…

After seeing him so hesitant, the witch starts to worry and with a movement of her wand aimed at the end of the bed she checks the notes left by her colleagues. By the way her brows quirk up, Newt if she knew anything about his condition.

“Who is he?” He can’t stop himself from asking and the witch looks at the door, like she can feel the other’s presence.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t… This is my first week working here and I-”

“Does he know?” Newt cuts her off.

“He hasn’t talked with your assigned healers,” she informs, biting her lip.

“Who is he?” Newt repeats, knowing it’s ridiculous to try to remember, that he won’t find information about him in his shattered memory, but he tries anyways.

“The auror who saved you, I think his name is… Percival Graves, he works at MACUSA,” she says and Newt can’t help but to blink at her in confusion.

He doesn’t even know Mr. Graves… Well, apparently he met him during those two years and they… got engaged. It’s so weird for Newt to think about that because he has no memory of it.

He was the one that found him, that’s something he can remember; he sees Percival Graves leaning, expression concerned… alarmed while he tries to reach Newt, calling h by his first name almost desperately.

“Do you want me to tell him to go back later?” There must be something more than bewilderment on Newt’s face for her to ask him that.

“No… It’s fine,” Newt assures, feeling suddenly flustered. “I… Please tell him to come in.”

Percival Graves… his fiancé deserves to know.

“I can explain to him if you want-”

“I’ll tell him,” he mumbles.

She nods and exits the room, leaving him alone. Newt regrets his decision almost immediately… He doesn’t know how he’s going to talk to someone he hasn’t met yet about a relationship he doesn’t remember.

He can’t imagine how Theseus’ friend ended up falling for somebody like him.

Shaking his head, Newt takes a deep breath and thinks about Graves… he tries to imagine how difficult it’d be for someone to find out that the person you care about doesn’t remember you at all.

It’s heartbreaking.

When Percival Graves comes inside, not only Newt forgets what he was going to say… he also feels speechless.

The auror doesn’t wait too much and he walks towards Newt almost desperately, eyes roaming all over him with worry.

“How do you feel, Newt?” He puts his hand on Newt’s cheek and the magizoologist almost flinches out of instinct, but the moment he feels Graves’ fingers on his skin, he relaxes immediately.

He feels safe around him.

“I’ve been worse,” he smiles and gets surprised when the Director’s lips quirk up.

“Please don’t do that to me ever again,” Graves pleads and Newt has the feeling that man doesn’t do that very often. “I was so worried.”

Instead of answering, Newt reaches out to feel Graves’ face with his fingers and when the man closes his eyes and leans into the touch, Newt gasps, fascinated.

Graves seems to trust him completely.

Suddenly, Newt blushes and he wonders if he does that often when the auror is around.

“Mr- Percival… you need to know something…” He begins after a sigh.

He hesitates, but he knows the more he waits the harder it’d be to tell him. So he starts by explaining to him what the healers told him.

“Two years,” Graves repeats, taking a step back and to Newt’s surprise, he misses immediately the warmth of the auror’s body next to him. “That’s the time you’ve been working for MACUSA… That means you don’t remember… me.”

Newt sees the hurt on Graves’ face, the sad realization on his features and his heart aches.

“I’m sorry…” He mumbles, not knowing what else to say.

“It’s not your fault,” Graves tries to smile, but Newt can see how difficult it’s for him.

The auror reaches out again, but stops before touching Newt’s forehead, the magizoologist smiles and takes the auror’s hand in his.

“It’s okay,” he assures. Then, he adds: “I didn’t know we were engaged…”

For a couple of seconds Graves blinks at him in confusion, but his expression vanishes so quickly that Newt thinks he probably imagined it.

Then, the Director of Magical Security blushes and looks down at their hands.

“The new healers told me.”

“Listen, Newt… about that… I actually-”

But he gets interrupted when Newt’s healers walk in the room, the taller one… the man with black hair asks him to get out the room to let Newt rest.

Graves assures he’s going to be back and tells him his creatures are fed and perfectly okay inside the case.

Newt smiles at him and feels immediately more relaxed at his words. Because, despite of not remembering anything about him, he believes him. He knows his creatures are safe with him.

***

Someone is yelling outside and to his horror, Newt realizes it’s his brother having a heated discussion with Graves and two other people. He’s not sure, but he thinks the voices belong to the healers that have been taking care of him.

“You’re an idiot, Percival!” Theseus snarls. “What were you thinking?”

“I cannot let you inside in this condition, Mr. Scamander,” one of the witches explains and Theseus’ response is a terrifying growl.

Newt rolls his eyes, wondering if his brother is going to get himself kicked out of the hospital, but after a couple of seconds in which he hears Percival apologizing, the door opens and his brother rushes to his side.

He can’t tell how angry his brother was, because the anger vanishes from his face the moment his eyes meet Newt’s.

“Hello, little one.”

Newt smiles, chuckling amused as he says: “Please don’t kill anyone, ‘Seus.”

“You heard me?” Theseus looks at him, almost alarmed and Newt wonders what was the argument about.

“I couldn’t understand much. I just know that you were growling like an angry wampus,” Newt jokes. “What was that about, by the way?”

Theseus sighs, looks down and then ruffles his hair.

“Nothing important.” He assures. “I… They told me what happened. They also said they’re gonna let you go in a day or two… So you’ll be coming back to England with me, at least until the potion is ready.”

“But I work for MACUSA now,” Newt says, frowning. “Besides, I’d like to stay with Percival. It’s not fair to him-”

“Not fair to him?” Theseus repeats through gritted teeth, by the way his eye is twitching, Newt knows there’s an explosion coming. “Listen, Newt, he’s absolutely no worthy of your concern-”

“He’s your friend,” Newt points out, amused. He’d be worried if he didn’t know Theseus better. He never likes anyone that shows interest in him. That makes him wonder how he reacted when he found out they were in a relationship.

“He was,” Theseus corrects him and Newt rolls his eyes.

“He’s my fiancé,” he tries again, feeling the word weird in his mouth.

Theseus grimaces when he hears it and then he takes Newt hands and looks at him, hesitant.

“There’s something you should know, Newt…” He starts but then interrupts himself, looking back at the door and then at Newt.

“What is it?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.” He assures in a defeated sigh.

Newt knows his brother’s lying, he is aware that he’s hiding something, but he decides he’s not going to pressure him… at least not today.

Besides, he has so many things to think about like his creatures and how much he wants to see them again and, of course… Percival Graves. He’s still not sure what he’s going to do about that.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Percival is there in the morning. Newt can’t help but smile when he sees the Director of Magical Security glancing almost shyly at him.

Newt’s still not used to have someone that cares so much about him, but he decides he likes it anyway. And just when he sits next to him, it’s Percival, not Queenie, the one that hands him a cup of his favourite tea.

He feels surprised for a minute before he reminds himself he’s engaged to that man, of course he’d know that.

Newt wants to return the favor; he’d like to know the little details that couples know about each other… Although he is pretty sure Percival is a coffee person.

He grins to himself at that thought and takes one of Percival’s hands in his. He cannot help but giggle when he sees Percival’s surprised reaction. He must be used to that by now, but perhaps his surprise is more due to the fact that he is not sure what to expect of Newt under that circumstances.

“We’re going to MACUSA today, right?” He mumbles, hopeful. He’s excited to know everything about his job as a consultant.

Although Percival doesn’t look as enthusiastic as he is; he intertwines his fingers with Newt’s and looks at their hands almost like he’s sorry.

“There’s something you need to know,” he starts in a whisper loud enough for the sisters to hear. Tina stops before she can give a bite to her french bread and looks at them like she’s expecting something to explode.

Queenie, on the other hand, just sighs and frowns, concerned.

Percival does his best to ignore the both of them and leans closer to Newt. “The people at MACUSA, they don’t know about us.”

“They don’t know we’re engaged?” Newt blinks in confusion, but it gets worse when Percival shakes his head.

Tina looks back at her plate almost disappointed. She even glares at her boss before taking a sip of her coffee.

“They don’t know we’re in a relationship,” Percival explains, staring at Newt just for a few seconds before looking away.

“Oh,” he breathes.

“We wanted to keep it to ourselves,” the Director continues and Newt catches Tina stabbing her breakfast with a fork.

“Sir, honestly I think this is getting-”

“Goldstein,” it’s the only thing Percival says, but it sounds almost like a warning. They both glare at each other and Newt would’ve thought that odd if he wasn’t so focused on the information he just got.

Maybe it’s because Percival is a man that doesn’t like everyone to know about his personal life. Or it could be because he doesn’t want them to know he’s dating someone like Newt.

He has never been someone people is proud to call their friend, it must be worse for Percival because he’s his fiancé…

“Shake that off your head this instant,” Queenie tells him, caressing Newt’s cheek. “No one’s ashamed of you! All of us are glad to have you on our lives.”

Just as she finishes talking, realization hits Percival almost immediately and suddenly he’s kneeling in front of Newt taking both his hands and pulling them towards his chest.

“No, Newt. That’s not… I would be more than happy to let everyone know you’re mine!” He blurts out and the passion in his words surprise even himself. “Because you see… I’m a little bit-”

“He’s very possessive, sweetie,” Queenie cuts him off and Percival looks so flustered that Newt can’t help but lean forward to kiss the auror’s forehead.

“It’s okay, Percy. We can keep it that way if you want to,” Newt assures, growing amused as he sees his fiancé blushing.

***

Newt’s baffled, but also very moved, by how many of the aurors approach to him worried; they knew about the accident and that he was in the hospital, but they didn’t know much about his condition.

He doesn’t remember, but he feels comfortable around them; he chuckles at Weiss and Kenneth’s discussion about who was the last person that brought lunch for all of them and smiles at Lopez shaking his head at the two of them, rolling his eyes as he has seen that too many times before.

He explains as best as he can about his amnesia, only to watch Fontaine’s hurt expression.

“That means you don’t remember us?”

“I do.”

He does. But only briefly, only the few of them he met at his first trip to New York. After he rescued Frank. When Grindelwald attacked.

“But then that means you don’t remember boss,” Abernathy blurts out and even he knows that’s something he’s not supposed to say; everyone goes quiet and look almost sorry at Percival who’s standing right behind Newt.

Percival told him no one knew, but he wonders if they found out anyway.

The Director clears his throat.

“Well… That’s enough for today. You all need to go back to work and I need to take Newt to the President’s office.”

Newt has this sudden impulse to comfort him; he wants to lean and take Percival’s face in his eyes to let him know that he likes him know, even he doesn’t remember, he wants to remind him there’s only a few weeks left for things to go back to normal.

He wants, but he doesn’t, because everyone will see them and they’ve agreed to keep it as a secret.

***

“Welcome back, Mr. Scamander,” Picquery says and Newt’s surprised to see that she actually means it. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Everyone here was worried about you, especially this one.”

She grins amused at the Director and Percival groans in frustration, glaring at her. Newt has the feeling that it’s not the first time the President uses that to tease him.

“You may not remember, but Percival has always been very fond of you. He was the one that offered you the job, in fact-”

“Seraphina,” the Director warns looking almost embarrassed and Newt has to bite his lip to stop himself from chuckling.

“Fine,” she rolls her eyes. “Back to business then.”

Newt’s grateful that she takes her time to explain him again all his duties as a consultant and she also reminds him of the rules while she gives him a half amused half irritated look.

“You always seem to ignore them…” Picquery comments. “And since our Director is unable to say no to you-”

“I think we got it, Seraphina,” Percival groans. “Thank you for your time.”

***

To Newt, walking into Percival’s office is like doing it for the first time. Except that he feels comfortable in that place, he also sees some of his books on the shelf behind the desk, and the drawings he does of different types of creatures on the couch.

There’s also a box of his favourite brand of tea and a potion that looks suspiciously like one he uses to help his creatures to heal.

It seems like he spends most of the time with Percival, but it doesn’t surprise him.

“How are you feeling?” The auror mumbles, looking like he wanted to ask that question hours ago.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry,” he smiles and opens his case to check on his creatures and also to leave Percival focus on his work.

He offers to help, but Newt assures him he doesn’t need assistance. After all, he needs time to think.

Even Dougal notices he’s in a good mood today; he discovers himself grinning while he feeds the mooncalves and the grin doesn’t fade away even after he discovers that Niff has stolen a necklace.

“Listen,” he kneels next to his nest, trying to take a look inside. “I won’t get mad if you tell me where’s my ring, okay? Just tell me.”

But the little thief doesn’t tell him, Newt’s not surprised, what baffles him is that Niff dares to shake his little head like he has no idea what Newt’s talking about.

“My engagement ring! The ring Percy gave me,” he insists only to watch the Niffler tilt his head in confusion.

Newt sighs and decides that he’s going to try again tomorrow.

When he goes back he fin out Percival has brought him lunch and Newt sits in silence on the couch as he eats his sandwich.

Then, watching as Percival’s writing a report, Newt encourages himself to ask another question.

His cheeks turn bright red even before he clears his throat to catch the auror’s attention.

“Can I ask you a question, Percy?”

“Anything you want, Newt.”

“How did we fall in love?”

Newt notices how Percival’s shoulders tense at the sudden question and he’s ready to take it back when the Director walks around his desk and sits beside him.

“You never… told me” He starts, looking almost in pain, but the hurt expression lasts only a second and Newt’s not sure if he imagined it. “But I can tell you how I did, if you want to know.”

Newt nods, feeling his heart bumping into his chest. And when Percival takes his hands, his lips quirk up.

Percival closes his eyes, like he’s watching the memory in his head and when he opens them again Newt can see the spark of adoration in his them.

“I was working on a case. The people I was trying to catch were trafficking with occamys… I didn’t know you then and when I saw you I thought at first you were just a thief and I was going to arrest you, but then…” He says, cupping Newt’s face with a fond smile on his face. “Then we were attacked and I saw you protecting the occamys so fiercely, that I couldn’t… I was so impressed I almost got hit, but Goldstein arrived with backup just in time. And then you started to check on the occamys and patch them up while Goldstein was trying to explain to me you weren’t a criminal.”

Newt giggles at the last and Percival leans even closer, grinning from ear to ear.

“Then, when I asked you to come back to MACUSA to testify and talk to the President about what we were going to do with the occamys you turned around looking so… adorably outraged and angry, telling me that MACUSA had clearly no idea about magical creatures and that I was so mistaken if I thought you were going to leave those precious creatures in my incompetent hands-”

Newt covers his face with his hands, embarrassment spreading all over his face and down his neck… He doesn’t remember, but he knows he can be a little… aggressive when magical creatures are in danger.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbles and hears Percival chuckle.

“Don’t be,” the auror tells him, taking his hands again. “You were just trying to protect them. I understood that.”

“I bet Tina was having a heart attack,” Newt smiles, already picturing his friend panicking.

“She was,” Percival nods. “She thought I was going to arrest you… And then she choked when she heard me offering you a job right then and there.”

“You did that?”

“It was that or ask you to marry me, but I didn’t want to scare you off so I decided to offer you a job instead.”

At first, Newt thinks Percival’s joking, but when he looks at him in the eye and realizes he’s being completely honest with him, he starts tearing up.

“Oh, Percy…” he whispers, feeling Percival’s thumbs on his face, wiping off his tears. “You’re so sweet…”

“Newt, please don’t cry…”

“I’m happy,” he assures leaning closer, wanting to feel Percival’s warmth. Then, surrendering to the impulse, Newt kisses the auror on the lips, just a quick light kiss but enough to make the auror blush.

Percival looks hopeful and happy, but his expression quickly changes into a painful, worried frown. He closes the distance again, bringing their foreheads together.

“Newt, no matter what happens, please don’t forget that I love you, alright?”

“I won’t forget,” he promises, feeling like he doesn’t deserve someone like Percival. “Not this time.”

Chapter Text

Newt can’t believe how two people so different from each other could possibly be so compatible. He probably asked himself the same when they started dating; Percival is so composed and serious most of the time, Newt’s a barely controlled mess that manages to attract trouble every now and then. And yet Percy’s expression softens every time Newt smiles in his direction, he doesn’t work until his exhausted because Newt worries and returns the favor by reminding his magizoologist to eat when he needs to.

It’s weird. To miss something he doesn’t remember, but he does. The more time he spends with Percival the more he wants to know everything he’s missing because of the accident.

It’s a matter of time, just two more weeks.

***

Percival becomes less “shy” within a few days, he starts holding Newt’s hand when they’re inside MACUSA; he caresses his hair and hugs him tight even if there are people around.

And the aurors have started to notice. Newt doesn’t care, he really doesn’t, but he’s not sure if that’s what Percival truly wants.

So when he leans forward to press their foreheads together, Newt looks up at him, confused.

“I thought they weren’t supposed to know… about us,” he mumbles and he immediately regrets saying when he catches Percival’s alarmed expression.

“I’m sorry, Newt… It’s just… You know, I wish-”

He decides to shut him up with a quick kiss on the lips. Fortunately, that works just fine; Percival freezes, but his eyes start shining with mirth.

“I don’t care if everyone knows,” Newt smiles and is rewarded by a huge, hopeful grin in return.

“I don’t care either,” Percival whispers back, retuning a much more fierce and possessive kiss that makes Newt’s heart jump inside his chest.

When the whole MACUSA finds out, Newt notices that no one seems too surprised by the news. Kenneth and Fontaine start asking him questions about ‘how is like to date the most terrifying auror of America’ and Weiss tells him that’s 'about time’ because she was tired of watching boss moping around and looking at him with lovesick puppy eyes all the time.

Seraphina Picquery sighs almost relieved the first time she sees them holding hands; she smirks knowingly at the Director of Magical Security who glares at her in response.

“Glad you finally told him how you feel,” she comments, amusement increases as she watches Percival’s face turning red. “I thought I was going to watch you pine after him like-”

“Seraphina,” Percival warns and yanks Newt out of the office, clamming they have so much work to do while the President bursts out laughing so hard Newt worries about her for a brief moment.

Queenie and Tina are a completely different case, though. Of course, they already know about them, but it seems they don’t like much the idea of letting everyone know.

They always tell Newt they’re happy for him and even though he’s not a legilimens, he can notice when Queenie is worried and Tina’s irritated.

Tina seems to be particularly annoyed at Percival and Newt has no idea why; he asks his friend about it, but she always says that everything’s 'perfectly fine.’

He doesn’t know what to think of it.

***

When Newt jumps out the case, the last thing he expects to see is Percival Graves looking down at a little blue box in his hands like he’s having an emotional breakdown.

But he does, he watches him and sees the exact moment Percival rises from his seat, cheeks red and a nervous smile on his lips.

“Is t-that…?” Newt stammers and sinks quickly into the couch because suddenly his knees feel weak and he doesn’t know how much he’s gonna last before he falls to the ground. “You d-didn’t have to-”

“I wanted to,” Percival says, looking more determined than ever. He looks at Newt like he’s the most precious thing he has ever seen and when he kneels in front of him, one knee on the ground Newt can’t stop the gasp that escapes from his lips.

“You don’t have to,” he insists. He knows they already did this part, even though to him it’s like the first time. Newt shakes his head, but deep down he wants Percival to continue.

“I want to do this,” he repeats. There’s something in his eyes, just after he says the words that makes Newt think of sadness… “And later, when you think of this moment, please remember that. That I’m doing this because I want to, because I love you.”

Newt starts to worry, but he forgets about what he wants to ask when he sees the little ring in the form of a curled up occamy with a diamond over it’s tiny head.

“I-I chose this because I know how much you love magical creatures and because it reminds me the day I met you,” Percy explains, face red. “If you don’t like-”

“I love it,” Newt beams and watches in amusement how his fiancé relaxes. He reaches out, offering his hand.

“I haven’t asked yet,” Percival laughs happily at Newt’s obvious enthusiasm.

“You don’t need to, we’re already engaged,” he replies, almost dizzy because of how warm he feels at the moment.

Percy’s smile vanishes at that.

“Still… It feels like the first time,” he says. “I want to ask… And you know, if later you change your mind, or if you don’t want to accept it’s completely fi-”

Newt has discovered that the best way to shut Percival is with a kiss, so that’s exactly what he does; he kisses him until there’s not enough air for him to keep talking nonsense.

The Director looks up at him with adoration and Newt has to force himself not to look away from him; he’s not used to such undivided attention.

“Ask me then,” he demands, sounding impatient and excited.

“Newton Ar-”

“Please don’t use my full name,” he pouts, making Percival grin at him like it’s the best day of his life.

“Alright then,” the auror nods, eyes sparkling with mirth. “Newt Scamander, would you marry me?”

“Yes,” Newt blurts out without hesitation and realizes that even if he doesn’t remember falling in love with Percival, he has already fallen for him a second time.

Percival is shaking when he slips the ring onto Newt’s finger. But then he rises and kisses Newt like he’s trying to tell him something, like he’s saying how much he loves him…

He grins into the kiss and embraces him repeating himself that this moment… This he will not forget.

***

Only two days later; Theseus startles Newt by storming into Percival’s office while he’s trying to make Pickett to behave. The bowtruckle however, hides into Newt’s coat pocket the moment he sees Theseus.

He doesn’t blame Pickett 'cause his brother looks murderous right now. However, when he looks around and realizes that’s just Newt in the room, his expression softens.

“Are you okay, little one?” He whispers, cupping Newt’s face in his hands.

“I’m alright, 'Seus,” he says, trying to find his confusion in order to offer him a smile. “What happened? Why are you here? You didn’t-”

“Your friend, Porpentina Goldstein, sent me a very interesting letter,” Theseus explains. “She’s worried.”

“Worried? Why?”

His brother doesn’t answer, instead, he takes his hand and glares at the engagement ring.

“What is this?” He demands through gritted teeth.

“Percival gave it to me,” Newt beams excitedly, ignoring his brother. “Look, it’s-”

“You have to come back with me.”

Newt wants to protest, but he can’t, because Percival returns from his meeting and Theseus is not paying attention to him anymore.

He’s glaring at the Director like he wants to punch him in the face.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Percival looks distressed at the question. He tries desperately to meet Newt’s eyes but Theseus steps in between them like he wants to shield Newt from the other auror.

“Theseus, let’s discuss this-”

“You’re being selfish.” He snaps and Percival flinches at the words like he’s been slapped across the face.

Newt almost jumps in his seat; his brother is no longer angry.

He’s livid.

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Instead of using magic (Newt can’t decide if that’s a bad or a good thing at the moment) Theseus grabs Percival by the shoulders and shoves him against the wall.

“Can we please talk outside?” The Director almost begs, he doesn’t even look scared or intimidated by Theseus’ murderous glare, he looks defeated and sad. His eyes trying to find Newt’s.

But the magizoologist is tired of being treated like a child (he lost some of his memories not his damned mind!) and he will definitely not tolerate to watch his fiancé being attacked like that.

“Stop it, ‘Seus!” He rushes towards them, but just when he’s close… his head starts to hurt; the scene in front of him quickly turns into another as a memory comes back to him.

The images are blurry, but he’s sure he’s in MACUSA, in the hallway just outside Percival’s office. The Director is arguing with a wizard that looks so scared of him his face has turned white as a sheet.

“Apologize to him!” In his mind, Percival demands in a growl and when the man complies, he’s looking right at Newt. He does it in a shaky voice, quietly, almost in a whisper and just when Percival’s about to say something else Newt steps closer.

“I think that’s enough, Percy,” he remembers himself saying, doing his best not to smile at the Director, feeling so warm inside because the man in front of him had just defended him.

And just then he realized he was in love.

But the memory vanishes as quickly as it appeared and Newt’s aware that he’s not standing, but laying on the couch with two worried wizards hovering over him.

“Newt! Newt?” By the sound of Theseus’ voice, his brother he knows his brother probably about to turn into his most overprotective mood.

He blinks his eyes open and thinks that maybe Percival has that in common with his brother, judging by the look of deep concern on his face.

He wants to assure them that it’s okay, but then he feels the blood coming from his nostril before actually seeing it on his fingers.

“We must take him to the hospital,” Theseus mumbles and before Percival can agree, Newt jumps from the couch.

“I’m fine,” he groans, even though it’s not entirely true, because he still feels a little bit dizzy. He sits back. There are two pair of eyes on him, glaring at him for being so stubborn. “It’s nothing.”

“Newt, you were… gone. We tried to talk to you, but you looked like you were somewhere else,” Percival explains, leaning forward and taking his hand. “You can’t say it’s noth-”

“I remembered something,” he says then and while he expects to catch both men’s attention he doesn’t expect to watch Percival flinching away from him like he’s being tortured.

“What did you remember?”

“You,” Newt smile, but his gesture is not enough to erase the… panic from Percival’s eyes. “You were defending me. You made a wizard apologize to me.”

With curiosity and some confusion, Newt sees Percival’s relieved sigh, Theseus irritated frown before the Director can speak again.

“He was an idiot,” he comments and Newt can’t help but giggle at Percival’s fierce look. He seems like he has forgiven that man yet.

“You still need to go to the hospital,” Theseus insists and Newt can’t even argue because this time Percival’s definitely on his brother’s side.

He has no other choice. He’s outnumbered.

Once they tell him he’s perfectly fine and they remind him not to stress himself out, Newt expects to be scolded again by the healers like the last time something like that happened; instead, one of them looks suspiciously at both his brother and Percival and asks for details of what happened.

Newt feels a little satisfaction when it turns out that the healers scold them both for distressing him.

“He needs rest,” the youngest witch reminds Theseus almost angrily. “Could you please at least behave?”

Newt hopes he does; he’s happy to see his brother again and he certainly doesn’t want him to jump at his financé’s throat every time he sees him.

He’s still not sure what is Theseus problem with Percival. At first he thought it was because his brother was just being overprotective but now he’s thinking it’s definitely something else.

He needs to know.

***

Theseus doesn’t try to murder Percival again -which is definitely an improvement- but he still glares at him every now and then, especially when the Director gets closer to Newt.

And since he wants to stay in New York, Newt thinks it is best if they both stay at Percival’s house. He has been thinking about asking his fiancé to move back in with him.

He wants to see the house.

But when he makes the comment, Percival doesn’t look very much pleased with the idea. He has been expecting that reaction from Theseus, but not Percival.

He wonders if his reluctance is due to Theseus only of if Percival also doesn’t want Newt in his house.

Why does he look so worried?

“Are you sure it’s okay?” Newt says for the third time, right before they enter the manor. The house it’s beautiful but Newt feels a little disappointed when he looks at it and it doesn’t bring back… anything. He knows he’s not supposed to remember… but still. “We don’t want to impose.”

Percival leans in and kisses him on the forehead, Theseus growls behind them when that happens but Newt ignores him.

“You’re my fiancé. You’re not imposing.”

Newt smiles back and takes Percival by the arm; he lets him guide him inside.

There’s not familiar feeling when they all get to the entrance or the living room. Not even when they see the kitchen.

He remembers the first time he saw Percival, right after the accident; he felt like he trusted him, like the Director looked familiar somehow, even though he didn’t remember. That also happened when he was with Tina and Queenie. Everything looked so familiar.

But not this time.

Percival guides them to two different bedrooms; Theseus would go insane if Newt shared a bedroom with the Director and he honestly thinks he’s not ready to sleep on the same bed as his fiancé.

Newt also can’t help but notice that there’s not a single drawing, not even copies of his notes, not a single thing of his in that house. Perhaps he’s just being ridiculous, he knows he carries all of his things in the case…

But still, it feels like he has never lived there.

***

The letter arrives just a week later, Newt is now used to the house and moves around it at ease; he has let his insecurities behind and has started to enjoy his time with Percival. Even the Director looks happier, despite Theseus annoyed presence, wandering around… worrying about Newt like a terrifying mother hen.

It’s early in the morning and since Percival had a meeting with Picquery he had to go to MACUSA quickly; Newt is still trying to make himself some tea to wake up, while Theseus is in his room, completely asleep.

So when the owl arrives it’s Newt who opens the window for him, thinking it’s from the Ministry of Magic, demanding his brother to return to his duties.

But it’s from the hospital, for him.

Feeling suddenly excited, Newt opens the envelope only to smile from ear to ear.

His potion is ready.

Trying not to look so excited, he feeds the owl and makes more tea for Theseus. But when his brother wakes up, Newt doesn’t mention a thing about what happened.

He wants to surprise them both. He wants to surprise everyone.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Theseus asks suspiciously and Newt scolds himself for being so obvious.

“Pickett has decided to try to be friends with the other bowtruckles. He’s making progress,” he lies, but at least Theseus shakes his head and looks back at his breakfast.

Newt hides his chuckle behind his cup.

He can’t wait to remember everything.

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