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Newt had always been a bit different from other people his age. Especially, he had always been significantly different from what people expected him to be based on his gender.
He distinctly remembered, even when very little, the sense of disdain that followed one of the alphas many comments on his behaviour, his appearance, his passions.
Every one of the adults that came to their house, every family friend had at one point felt the need to comment on something they didn’t find was appropriate about him.
But Newt just couldn’t change, he just didn’t want to. He was gentle, especially with his creatures, but he was, ultimately, stubborn to his core.
His mannerisms and appearance were often interpreted as meekness, subordination proper to an omega. His difficulty with eye contact and soft voice seemed to attract the stupidest, most cocky alphas every time without fail.
Nothing soured his mood quite as the encounters he had to have to start the process of choosing a mate.
Every one since his sixteenth birthday, a couple months prior, his parents had started arranging these meetings for him, as any of the other few omegas in Britain had ever done.
There was nothing Newt despised more than their stench, covered in cologne that was supposed to enhance it even more, their all knowing smirks, as if they already decided they were superior to him, their voices and over simplified words, as if they were talking to a child.
Contrary to what people believed about omegas, Newt liked being one. His problem was with people, everyone thought less of him for his gender.
Growing up, watching his brother and his alpha friends, he knew he didn’t want to be like him. He just envied his freedom, his weightless mind, the lightness in his steps.
Alphas really didn’t have to think about the same things an omega had to analyse for hours.
But this one surely didn’t think at all.
“Hogwarts? Bah! If i had a say, omegas wouldn’t go that far with their education. Reading and writing is all that’s indispensable to know. I don’t even know why an omega would want to go to college! It’s such a bore, really.”
The alpha was a twenty something wealthy guy his parents met through family friends, a blonde pompous empty headed specimen, that seemed to have a penchant for long monologues.
Newt had been stuck in the living room for close to an hour now, the last thing he said was It’s a pleasure to meet you.
he was growing desperate. He felt, deep inside him, that he was moments away from saying the most unfortunate thing.
Fortunately, three knocks at the door interrupted the alphas monologue.
Out of all the people, he surely did not expect Percy to enter the room.
“Excuse me for the interruption” he says, in that particular way of his, where he manages to seem not at all sorry and important anyways, like what he has to do is obviously more pressing, you just don’t know it yet. “Excuse for the interruption, but Mrs Scamander really needs Newts help with one of the hippogriffs right this instant.”
His gaze remains on Newt while he hastily says goodbye to the guy and then takes his hand, how they have always been used to do since they were little, to lead him away.
“What does mother need help with exactly?” Percy shoots him a warm smile, the one he reserves for the little bit of people he considers close to him, “Nothing. I passed past the window and saw the look on your face. And also,” he’s leading him out, to the garden, “I’ve seen a curious creature out there. Thought you could help me find out what it is.”.
Newt feels a bit warm inside now. He always does these days, when he sees Percy.
He is the exception to everything he thinks he knows about alphas, and yes, he’s known him for all his life, but now they’re both grown, and Percy has really an incredibly pleasing scent, warm eyes and an innate calm, he exudes a sense of stability that makes Newt turn to putty.
He has always liked the most unpleasant things about him, how he liked to play in mud, how he never did what others told him to, his love for creatures, his ambitions both for educations and for a career.
And Newt looked up to him, to his brothers best friend, that always seemed to notice him, to send him a smile, to find time to steal a blueberry scone for him.
His childhood friend leads him to a remote part of the garden, a slightly more secluded one, with more shade and rocks to sit on. They move slowly, as to not scare any animal, and Percy makes a sign telling Newt to wait.
After a couple of minutes, they see something. It’s six in the evening, so its not quite dark yet, but still the creatures are out flying. They are similar to insects, to fireflies, but they glow three different colours, alternating them, and every time they land on a branch, little sparks sprinkle from their tiny bodies.
Its truly an incredible sight, and Newt is entranced.
Maybe that’s why he doesn’t see how close he is to Percy, or why he didn’t notice he pressed himself to his friend, squeezing his arm as if to say “Can you see it?”.
But now he notices, and he turns towards his friend. He’s looking at him with a strange look, so soft but also… adoring, maybe? Could it be?
“I also wanted to talk to you about something.” God, his arm his really big. Also still in his hand. He should really let go. “I know you don’t really like this whole courting thing, but maybe you haven’t found the right person yet so…” Ever since he started his auror training, he is even more attractive. “I want to court you.” Newt processes this in a few seconds. “What?” he realises its the first thing he has said in a while now, and he’s done so with such a clueless, shocked face, that Percy can’t conceal his amusement.
“You don’t have to say yes, if you don’t want to, of course. But I like you, a lot, and I cant think of anyone else I’d ever see or want next to me.”.
Newt had thought about it, quite a bit, really.
But he always found excuses to tell himself they wouldn’t be good together, that he was too skinny, too tall (taller than him, for god’s sake), too ambitious. He always ended thinking Percy would be better off with a pretty omega, shorter than him, with curves and a nice smile.
He realises now he just didn’t want to hope, didn’t want to risk.
Percy is looking at him expectantly now. All around them, the creatures (he will have to research what exactly is their name, how they change colour, what they eat) continue painting their now dark little corner of the garden.
Newt really wants to answer him, but words have never been his forte, so he just closes the distance between them, and kisses him.
Percy is obviously surprised, because he’s still as a statue. Just when Newt is starting to pull away, a bit less sure, Percy seems to break out of the stupor and finally kisses him back.
Oh, and it’s really good. His lips are so soft, his hands come to rest on his narrow waist, and Newt feels something funny in his stomach.
He hasn’t kissed many people, or any at all, but this is really much better than he could have ever imagined.
Percy is obviously skilled, the kiss is deepened but it doesn’t feel gross at all like he thought. Its soft and hot and incredible.
The omega’s legs turn to jelly, and since it’s all Percys fault, it’s only right for him to help. Thank god Percy is so sturdy, Newt can almost completely abandon himself and he knows he will keep him upright.
All of a sudden Percy steps back. The first thing Newt notices is how the little creatures lights reflect on the alphas black eyes, he takes in the barely noticeable flush on his ears, the softness of his smile.
“That was amazing, really”, he says with the deepest voice he has ever heard from him, “but i really need you to tell me with words too.”.
“I want you to court me. There’s no one else I could ever want. I’ve liked you since I was three.”.
“Amazing.” He laughs while Newt makes a fool of himself, the corners of his eyes crinkle and his smile blooms.
“I will tell your family tomorrow then, if you like.”
“Yes, yes. Do that.”
He goes to kiss him, and Percy meets him halfway.