Outside of the ruined building that had once been MACUSA and was now Grindelwald’s throne room, life carried on. The No-Majs might have been little more than animals in the eyes of the elite, but they still worked. They still went about their lives, their eyes a little more shadowed, their voices a little quieter. But life continued.
Percival made his way through the streets, hating how everyone parted from him. It wasn’t just the robes that Grindelwald had ordered all witches and wizards to wear that had them running from him. He was recognised, even by No-Majs, as one to keep clear of. He was saving the lives he could, but all anyone saw was those he couldn’t help.
He hurried along to his destination, a small bakery that was set into a near deserted street. People still needed bread. There were cakes and other fine treats available for those lucky enough to have the money for them.
The No-Maj baker looked up as he walked in, but didn’t hurry away. Instead, he handed over a box of pastries he had prepared. “She dropped the order off earlier sir.” He didn’t look Graves in the face. It wouldn’t do. You never knew when someone might be watching. But Queenie would have visited, and passed on a note to the man and through him to those he was harbouring within the suitcase balanced between bags of flour.
“Good.” Graves answered, because he was always going to be polite, even to No-Majs. “Anything else today sir?” Graves hesitated, then nodded, pointing at the jar of candies on the top shelf. “A couple of those.” He handed over the money and took the pastries back to the Woolworth building, leaving them in the break room. In a way, it was the mundanity of life here that was the strangest thing. A change of regime, and life went on. The baker made cakes for the staff of what had been MACUSA and helped shelter members of the resistance.
One of the men in the break room, an ugly man with a twisted nose and thick accent smirked to see him. “American. The boss wants to see you.”
He popped one of the candies in his mouth, and pocketed the other, walking into Grindelwald’s throne room, his footsteps echoing on the Pentagram still emblazoned on the floor. He bowed his head, dropping the candy from his pocket and sending it across the room to where Credence was sat, naked now aside from his collar and a thin sheet of silk that was spread across his hips. Credence picked up the candy and ate it with a momentary flash of a smile.
“One of your men said you wanted to see me.” “Director.” He nodded. “I wanted to settle a little disagreement between my men and I. They say that you are still loyal to that woman and her desire to hide what we are, but I tell them you are happy to be known. Which is it?” There was a danger in his voice which made Percival shiver.
“I serve you while the rest of MACUSA rots. Is that not your answer?” “I hoped you would agree. Still, they are demanding a little more in the way of proof. Perhaps you would be willing to interrogate some of your staff. And there are rumours of some more European aurors arriving at the docks tonight. If you can get the information I need, and remove the threat, I will know you are loyal.” “As you wish.” Percival answered. “Who do you wish me to interrogate?” “That woman.” Grindelwald commanded, and Percival fought to repress a shudder. It would be better to deal with an auror, who was at least trained to withstand pain and likely to remain calmer. But if this was what was needed, he would do it.
“Now?” Percival asked. “Or do you want me to prepare for meeting the aurors?” There was no point in getting angry or arguing. Just do what he wanted and hope for the best. There was a time when he would have fought against this. He didn't know what he was now. Which side he was on. He lay awake at night, thinking of who he had once been, the pride and power he had once possessed. That was gone now. What was left was surviving long enough to win this game.
"We may as well interrogate her first." Grindelwald answered, and signaled for one of his men to fetch the President. Percival glanced towards Credence for a moment, seeing how he was watching with wide eyes, then ducking his head as he realised he was being stared at.
Seraphina was dragged in, still wearing the ragged remains of her robes of office. She spat at the guards holding her, and when she saw Graves she froze. "So. It's come to this?" She asked, and Graves exhaled slowly, remembering them being little more than children, talking about their futures and planning code phrases. It had been years, but he still knew the reply to give. "You know I've made my choices long ago." He answered, sending a curse towards her. There was no point in going easy, nothing to be gained by not committing. He sent flame to lick across her skin, trailed knives over her body, then hit her with the Cruciatus curse. As she screamed and lay panting on the floor he turned to her and smiled. "So."
"What?" She gasped, panting. "How do we get into the final vault?" That was what Grindelwald had wanted for weeks now. As far as Grindelwald knew, the few objects which MACUSA valued were stored in there. The fact that there was a further hidden vault was a fact only known to himself and to Picquery.
"I won't-" She started to protest and then screamed in pain. He fought not to let it get to him. He was here to do a job, and that meant that sometimes he had to make harsh choices. He struck her again, sending quick waves of curses and hexes at her, never giving her a chance to catch her breath.
She protested a few more times, before collapsing on the ground, blood trickling from between her lips. She shuddered, and as he raised his wand once more she flinched away. "Percival-you...after everything, please..." She gasped, and he began another curse. She screamed and backed away as best as she could, before whimpering. "The bookcase. There's a spellbook, third row along..." She murmured a guide, not enough on its own, but with his additional knowledge he would be able to open it. She was taken back to the cells, and he went to put what he had found to use.
Grindelwald smiled as he sent him to intercept the foreign wizards. He returned with the news that they had been killed. He had been able to fake that easily enough. They were banished back to another boat, a letter he had written in the pocket of their leader, telling them to stay away for a few days.
He returned to announce his victory, and found Grindelwald gloating over what he had extracted from the vault. There were objects here with enough power to level a city, but not a country. In a way, it was a positive. He had been assured of Graves' loyalty, and hopefully Picquery would get a few days to recover. All being well, he was going to make his move soon.
"Well done." Grindelwald announced, clasping a friendly hand onto his shoulder. Graves made himself smile at him. "You have proved your loyalty. What do you want as your reward?" "I want..." This was his opportunity, and there was one piece he needed to bring it into play. He couldn't let on as to the reasoning, so he gazed around the room, pausing when he saw Credence who was watching with something close to fear in those stunning dark eyes. "I want to borrow your toy for the night. I want the Moonflower."
Credence's head jerked up, staring at him in shock, but Grindelwald simply smirked. "You do?" He asked with a chuckle. He let most of his top agents use the boy's mouth, but getting privacy with him, getting him unguarded, was a favour that most of Grindelwald's officers would not dare to ask for. Percival tried not to hold his breath, knowing that this could backfire at any second.
"You can have him." Grindelwald began, and Graves relaxed a little, only to tense as Grindelwald said a few more words. "If you can prove you want him."
The Moonflower (Graves/Credence noncon) Part 2
Percival made his way through the streets, hating how everyone parted from him. It wasn’t just the robes that Grindelwald had ordered all witches and wizards to wear that had them running from him. He was recognised, even by No-Majs, as one to keep clear of. He was saving the lives he could, but all anyone saw was those he couldn’t help.
He hurried along to his destination, a small bakery that was set into a near deserted street. People still needed bread. There were cakes and other fine treats available for those lucky enough to have the money for them.
The No-Maj baker looked up as he walked in, but didn’t hurry away. Instead, he handed over a box of pastries he had prepared.
“She dropped the order off earlier sir.” He didn’t look Graves in the face. It wouldn’t do. You never knew when someone might be watching. But Queenie would have visited, and passed on a note to the man and through him to those he was harbouring within the suitcase balanced between bags of flour.
“Good.” Graves answered, because he was always going to be polite, even to No-Majs.
“Anything else today sir?”
Graves hesitated, then nodded, pointing at the jar of candies on the top shelf.
“A couple of those.” He handed over the money and took the pastries back to the Woolworth building, leaving them in the break room. In a way, it was the mundanity of life here that was the strangest thing. A change of regime, and life went on. The baker made cakes for the staff of what had been MACUSA and helped shelter members of the resistance.
One of the men in the break room, an ugly man with a twisted nose and thick accent smirked to see him.
“American. The boss wants to see you.”
He popped one of the candies in his mouth, and pocketed the other, walking into Grindelwald’s throne room, his footsteps echoing on the Pentagram still emblazoned on the floor. He bowed his head, dropping the candy from his pocket and sending it across the room to where Credence was sat, naked now aside from his collar and a thin sheet of silk that was spread across his hips. Credence picked up the candy and ate it with a momentary flash of a smile.
“One of your men said you wanted to see me.”
“Director.” He nodded. “I wanted to settle a little disagreement between my men and I. They say that you are still loyal to that woman and her desire to hide what we are, but I tell them you are happy to be known. Which is it?” There was a danger in his voice which made Percival shiver.
“I serve you while the rest of MACUSA rots. Is that not your answer?”
“I hoped you would agree. Still, they are demanding a little more in the way of proof. Perhaps you would be willing to interrogate some of your staff. And there are rumours of some more European aurors arriving at the docks tonight. If you can get the information I need, and remove the threat, I will know you are loyal.”
“As you wish.” Percival answered. “Who do you wish me to interrogate?”
“That woman.” Grindelwald commanded, and Percival fought to repress a shudder. It would be better to deal with an auror, who was at least trained to withstand pain and likely to remain calmer. But if this was what was needed, he would do it.
“Now?” Percival asked. “Or do you want me to prepare for meeting the aurors?” There was no point in getting angry or arguing. Just do what he wanted and hope for the best. There was a time when he would have fought against this. He didn't know what he was now. Which side he was on. He lay awake at night, thinking of who he had once been, the pride and power he had once possessed. That was gone now. What was left was surviving long enough to win this game.
"We may as well interrogate her first." Grindelwald answered, and signaled for one of his men to fetch the President. Percival glanced towards Credence for a moment, seeing how he was watching with wide eyes, then ducking his head as he realised he was being stared at.
Seraphina was dragged in, still wearing the ragged remains of her robes of office. She spat at the guards holding her, and when she saw Graves she froze.
"So. It's come to this?" She asked, and Graves exhaled slowly, remembering them being little more than children, talking about their futures and planning code phrases. It had been years, but he still knew the reply to give.
"You know I've made my choices long ago." He answered, sending a curse towards her. There was no point in going easy, nothing to be gained by not committing. He sent flame to lick across her skin, trailed knives over her body, then hit her with the Cruciatus curse. As she screamed and lay panting on the floor he turned to her and smiled.
"So."
"What?" She gasped, panting.
"How do we get into the final vault?" That was what Grindelwald had wanted for weeks now. As far as Grindelwald knew, the few objects which MACUSA valued were stored in there. The fact that there was a further hidden vault was a fact only known to himself and to Picquery.
"I won't-" She started to protest and then screamed in pain. He fought not to let it get to him. He was here to do a job, and that meant that sometimes he had to make harsh choices. He struck her again, sending quick waves of curses and hexes at her, never giving her a chance to catch her breath.
She protested a few more times, before collapsing on the ground, blood trickling from between her lips. She shuddered, and as he raised his wand once more she flinched away.
"Percival-you...after everything, please..." She gasped, and he began another curse. She screamed and backed away as best as she could, before whimpering. "The bookcase. There's a spellbook, third row along..." She murmured a guide, not enough on its own, but with his additional knowledge he would be able to open it. She was taken back to the cells, and he went to put what he had found to use.
Grindelwald smiled as he sent him to intercept the foreign wizards. He returned with the news that they had been killed. He had been able to fake that easily enough. They were banished back to another boat, a letter he had written in the pocket of their leader, telling them to stay away for a few days.
He returned to announce his victory, and found Grindelwald gloating over what he had extracted from the vault. There were objects here with enough power to level a city, but not a country. In a way, it was a positive. He had been assured of Graves' loyalty, and hopefully Picquery would get a few days to recover. All being well, he was going to make his move soon.
"Well done." Grindelwald announced, clasping a friendly hand onto his shoulder. Graves made himself smile at him. "You have proved your loyalty. What do you want as your reward?"
"I want..." This was his opportunity, and there was one piece he needed to bring it into play. He couldn't let on as to the reasoning, so he gazed around the room, pausing when he saw Credence who was watching with something close to fear in those stunning dark eyes. "I want to borrow your toy for the night. I want the Moonflower."
Credence's head jerked up, staring at him in shock, but Grindelwald simply smirked.
"You do?" He asked with a chuckle. He let most of his top agents use the boy's mouth, but getting privacy with him, getting him unguarded, was a favour that most of Grindelwald's officers would not dare to ask for. Percival tried not to hold his breath, knowing that this could backfire at any second.
"You can have him." Grindelwald began, and Graves relaxed a little, only to tense as Grindelwald said a few more words. "If you can prove you want him."