Work Text:
In all honesty, it pained Tina to her very core that Newt got caught up in all of this. He was a magizoologist and a brilliant one for that matter. She had no clue why Dumbledore felt the need to drag him into the conflict with Grindelwald. Their first meeting had been nothing but an unfortunate accident, which of course, Newt helped to escalate, but nothing further. Newt wasn't a fighter, nor was Dumbledore's spy.
Tina did not share her fiancé's respect for the man, although she understood it. Dumbledore was Newt’s teacher, someone who he looked up to and admired, and just a very powerful wizard, potentially the best one in the entire wizarding world. However, Tina did not like his methods.
Dumbledore was smart, his plans were sharp, mind efficient, still there were so many things he was hiding, so many lies and secrets behind his innocent appearance. Tina could see through the façade. Dumbledore wasn’t afraid to play with lives, and wasn't afraid to sacrifice them for a greater cause. She guessed that was something which he and Grindelwald had in common. They both were players. And players play to win, not to lose.
Players played with what they had, with anyone they had. Newt was unfortunate enough to be kind, respect Dumbledore and semi be involved in the conflict. A perfect pawn in the bigger game. Tina did not like that. Did not like how he had turned Newt, his brother and Jacob into his chess pieces.
Of course, it was war. And war involved everybody, no one could ever escape or deny it, everybody had to play their part. “But not like this!”, Tina's mind screamed. Not Newt. Not as a Dumbledore’s spy. Not on the front lines, so close to danger. It was a fate reserved for only one of them — her.
Tina was a head auror, it was her job to be in the danger head first. And of course, Newt has always been proud of all of her achievements, at the same time being greatly worried about her safety everyday. Yet still, there was a big difference between them: Tina wasn’t a pawn in anyone’s game, Newt was Dumbledore’s.
She shifted on the bed, unable to find any peace or sleep, her mind rocking back and forth, Newt slept soundly beside her. Her fiancé's ability to sleep everywhere and anytime had always amazed her to no end, she guessed it was an influence of his long travels and adventures. He was pressed to the very edge of their bed in his London’s apartment. It was entirely too small for both of them and as a gentleman, he had offered to sleep on the couch, however Tina protested and insisted they spend all of their nights together, before she returned to New York.
She pressed her head into the pillow, closing her eyes. If her mind was unable to rest, at least her body would. She counted till thirty in her head, hoping a dream would come sweeping her off her feet, yet, that didn't happen. She sighed and opened her eyes. Tina’s vision traveled across Newt’s bare back, the planes of his shoulders, constellations of freckles, his scars. She wrapped her arms around his torso, pressing herself closer and left a kiss on his shoulder blade.
“Please be careful and keep yourself safe…”, she whispered to no one in particular, knowing damn well he was asleep.
“I promise, love. But only if you will”, Newt suddenly replied and Tina immediately flushed, trying to figure out how long he had been awake.
She felt his hands on hers, gently squeezing them in a reassuring manner. He turned around, revealing his face to her. His hair messed up, a red line across his cheek from a pillow, he smiled and Tina felt something warm spill inside her heart. She pressed closer to his chest, letting Newt wrap his arms around her back.
“I promise, I’ll try to be more careful”, Tina answered quietly. She didn't want to give promises she couldn't keep. It wasn't in her control over how dangerous the situation was, she could never run and hide, not only because it was her job, but because she didn’t want to.
Grindelwald took Tina’s sister away from her and at first, she felt nothing but pure pain and regret, like all of that had been her fault, but as more time passed, she realized something important. She understood Queenie. Grindelwald offered her something the magic world simply did not allow: love between no-maj’s and wizards.
And Tina was going to fix that. I did not matter how, but she knew she would. If the rules could be created, the rules could be bent. Grindelwald drove on sheer manipulation and charisma, but so did Dumbledore she guessed. They were equally as bad, two sides of the same coin. And Tina did not want to be on anyone's side. She just wanted her sister and fiancé to be safe.
“I know what you think of Dumbledore,” Newt said, interrupting her train of thoughts, “But trust me, he’s a good man, Tina. He’s trying his best.” She really wanted to believe him, yet she couldn’t. And sadly, he knew that.
“I love you, Newt.” She said softly, “Lets just hope we both stay alive...”.
His hand went up to her cheek, stroking it gently, wiping away the tear in her eye.
“I love you, Tina.” He replied, as softly, “We both will be okay.” It was meant to be a statement, but at the end his voice failed, making it sound more like a question.
She buried her head into his chest, feeling a warm embrace of Newt's arms around her. She would be returning to New York tomorrow, back to her nightmares, back to her job and the dangers, too far away from her fiancé and the gentle and passionate love they share under the covers.
Her heart was aching, she closed her eyes. Perhaps for one more night, she could pretend the world isn't falling apart.