(oops had two part 19s) Credence leaned in to Mister Graves again, repeating the kiss, learning from his example. Mister Graves did something with his tongue, slipping it into Credence’s mouth and Credence moaned a little, embarrassment warring with desire at how easily his husband could get to him. But then, that wasn’t so much of a surprise – they were married. Graves could kiss him, and it wasn’t something wrong, because it was done because both of them wanted it and were together in the eyes of the Lord. Mister Graves carefully moved to sitting and smiled at Credence, gesturing him closer.
Mister Graves had his arms around Credence’s shoulders, and they felt grounding, comforting. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of Graves’ hands on him, of their now gentle kiss. Mister Graves pulled away the moment Modesty returned to the room, leaving Credence panting as he did what he could to calm down. Mister Graves had left him feeling more full of want than he had ever felt before, and the smile Mister Graves gave him implied that the other man was totally aware of the effect he had brought onto Credence’s body.
“I have to get on with trying to sort out this mess Credence. We still have your other sister to find. I’ll be meeting the President, so you can stay in my office with your sister alright? I need to know that both of you are somewhere safe.”
Credence nodded, and as he stood his husband’s hand brushed lightly over his crotch, making him gasp for breath. He couldn’t believe how incredible it felt. He wanted his husband to ravish him, the way he had been so afraid of a few days previously. But for now, Mister Graves had work to do, and Credence had to care for his sister.
He could never complain at the amount of work it took to calm Modesty when he found her. She had asked the guards, and one had gone to find the president while the other had been sat with Modesty. Modesty saw Credence and ran forwards, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back.
She gave a soft broken sob, and he comforted her. His desire for his husband was pushed to the back of his mind, replaced by the simple need to keep his sister safe. Modesty started to cry, and Credence hugged her close in an attempt to soothe her. She sniffled. “Am I broken forever?” She asked in the doorway.
“Hey. Credence?” Mister Graves called out, and reluctantly Credence paused, glancing back at him, worried about what his sister was about to hear. “There’s an old war friend of mine. His brother is interested in creatures, and I believe he has worked with an obscurial. He has at least managed to study them, and I think he can help you now, assuming you don’t mind.” “Anything that keeps Modesty safe.” Credence said firmly. He didn’t worry so much about himself but anyway he didn’t fear a friend of his husband. This was an offer of help, so he wouldn’t turn it down. “Thank you.”
Percival flashed him a small but genuine smile, and Credence beamed in return. Modesty clung closer to Credence, and he walked with her back to his husband’s office. Modesty looked around in amazement, her gaze captured by things which moved by themselves.
“It’ll be okay.” Credence told her gently. “That’s what Mister Graves does. He helps people.”
***
Grindelwald couldn’t be found, and the longer that went on for the more it made Percival’s skin crawl. The knowledge that the man was out there somewhere was enough to set his teeth on edge, and even as sightings poured in from Europe it wasn’t enough to stop him from worrying. He wanted to be out there, leading the hunt for the man who had tried to hurt his husband, who had tortured the little girl and worn his face, but the duel had exhausted him. Even with the best healers MACUSA had, it was almost a week before he was well enough to go home.
Home, when he got there, was nearly unrecognisable. Credence and Modesty had cleaned it from top to bottom, and Modesty had been sleeping on the bed beside the fire every night. His husband had been sleeping in Percival’s bed, and that made him feel warm. He wondered if Credence would be willing to stay sleeping beside him now that he was home.
Modesty looked up as he arrived. “Hello Mister Graves.” She greeted him softly. “Do you have my sister?” “Not yet. We’re looking.” Percival answered quickly, trying not to let the sorrow in the girl’s eyes cut him to the core. This girl was relying on him, and he couldn’t give her the answer she needed. “One of my friends is coming from England with his brother, they might be able to help you… and I’ve got someone for you to meet.”
Credence looked up hopefully. “You’ve found her a family?” “Only if they all get along.” Percival answered quickly. “His name is Abernathy, his wife is Louise. He works in the wand permit office and she works in MACUSA’s Daycare Centre-“ He paused, thinking of how well Credence had done with the orphans. “So I thought we could talk to them about adopting Modesty…and Credence, how are you getting on with doing filing for me?”
“I’m doing my best.” Credence said quickly. “I know I’m a little slow, but I’ll get faster-“ “Do you enjoy it?” “I like helping you.” Credence answered, and Percival nodded. “But you don’t enjoy it?” Credence shrugged a little. “I like helping.”
Percival nodded, reaching out to pat Modesty’s hair. “How about I ask Louise if she needs any help? You’d be looking after children. You’re good with them.” “That… that would be wonderful.” Credence answered, and his eyes lit up. Percival kissed him softly on the lips before ducking away. “Dinner tonight alright?” “I won’t have time to cook.” Credence said nervously. “And I don’t know if we have-“ “We’re going to a restaurant.” Percival corrected. “We’ll be eating there. And before you worry about Grindelwald and his supporters, several other aurors will be in attendance. It’s the safest place in New York tonight.”
Modesty nodded, looking a little nervous. Percival’s heart ached at how scared her eyes looked, and the knowledge that Credence had never got the happy ending that Percival was hoping he had found for her. Credence leaned in and squeezed his hand a little, focusing him on the here and now.
“Are you sure about this?” “Modesty will be safer not with us. And we can visit all of the time.” Percival promised, smiling a little at the thought of Credence spending the day looking after children. It made him look so alive, so happy. He liked the idea of Credence coming home with stories for him, of his husband spending time with innocents to counter the blood Percival’s own job soaked him in.
He wasn’t sure when he started to think of Credence as his husband, only that now he did.
Fill: Broken and Kept (Part 21/23)
Credence leaned in to Mister Graves again, repeating the kiss, learning from his example. Mister Graves did something with his tongue, slipping it into Credence’s mouth and Credence moaned a little, embarrassment warring with desire at how easily his husband could get to him. But then, that wasn’t so much of a surprise – they were married. Graves could kiss him, and it wasn’t something wrong, because it was done because both of them wanted it and were together in the eyes of the Lord. Mister Graves carefully moved to sitting and smiled at Credence, gesturing him closer.
Mister Graves had his arms around Credence’s shoulders, and they felt grounding, comforting. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of Graves’ hands on him, of their now gentle kiss. Mister Graves pulled away the moment Modesty returned to the room, leaving Credence panting as he did what he could to calm down. Mister Graves had left him feeling more full of want than he had ever felt before, and the smile Mister Graves gave him implied that the other man was totally aware of the effect he had brought onto Credence’s body.
“I have to get on with trying to sort out this mess Credence. We still have your other sister to find. I’ll be meeting the President, so you can stay in my office with your sister alright? I need to know that both of you are somewhere safe.”
Credence nodded, and as he stood his husband’s hand brushed lightly over his crotch, making him gasp for breath. He couldn’t believe how incredible it felt. He wanted his husband to ravish him, the way he had been so afraid of a few days previously. But for now, Mister Graves had work to do, and Credence had to care for his sister.
He could never complain at the amount of work it took to calm Modesty when he found her. She had asked the guards, and one had gone to find the president while the other had been sat with Modesty. Modesty saw Credence and ran forwards, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back.
She gave a soft broken sob, and he comforted her. His desire for his husband was pushed to the back of his mind, replaced by the simple need to keep his sister safe. Modesty started to cry, and Credence hugged her close in an attempt to soothe her. She sniffled.
“Am I broken forever?” She asked in the doorway.
“Hey. Credence?” Mister Graves called out, and reluctantly Credence paused, glancing back at him, worried about what his sister was about to hear.
“There’s an old war friend of mine. His brother is interested in creatures, and I believe he has worked with an obscurial. He has at least managed to study them, and I think he can help you now, assuming you don’t mind.”
“Anything that keeps Modesty safe.” Credence said firmly. He didn’t worry so much about himself but anyway he didn’t fear a friend of his husband. This was an offer of help, so he wouldn’t turn it down. “Thank you.”
Percival flashed him a small but genuine smile, and Credence beamed in return. Modesty clung closer to Credence, and he walked with her back to his husband’s office. Modesty looked around in amazement, her gaze captured by things which moved by themselves.
“It’ll be okay.” Credence told her gently. “That’s what Mister Graves does. He helps people.”
***
Grindelwald couldn’t be found, and the longer that went on for the more it made Percival’s skin crawl. The knowledge that the man was out there somewhere was enough to set his teeth on edge, and even as sightings poured in from Europe it wasn’t enough to stop him from worrying. He wanted to be out there, leading the hunt for the man who had tried to hurt his husband, who had tortured the little girl and worn his face, but the duel had exhausted him. Even with the best healers MACUSA had, it was almost a week before he was well enough to go home.
Home, when he got there, was nearly unrecognisable. Credence and Modesty had cleaned it from top to bottom, and Modesty had been sleeping on the bed beside the fire every night. His husband had been sleeping in Percival’s bed, and that made him feel warm. He wondered if Credence would be willing to stay sleeping beside him now that he was home.
Modesty looked up as he arrived.
“Hello Mister Graves.” She greeted him softly. “Do you have my sister?”
“Not yet. We’re looking.” Percival answered quickly, trying not to let the sorrow in the girl’s eyes cut him to the core. This girl was relying on him, and he couldn’t give her the answer she needed. “One of my friends is coming from England with his brother, they might be able to help you… and I’ve got someone for you to meet.”
Credence looked up hopefully.
“You’ve found her a family?”
“Only if they all get along.” Percival answered quickly. “His name is Abernathy, his wife is Louise. He works in the wand permit office and she works in MACUSA’s Daycare Centre-“ He paused, thinking of how well Credence had done with the orphans. “So I thought we could talk to them about adopting Modesty…and Credence, how are you getting on with doing filing for me?”
“I’m doing my best.” Credence said quickly. “I know I’m a little slow, but I’ll get faster-“
“Do you enjoy it?”
“I like helping you.” Credence answered, and Percival nodded.
“But you don’t enjoy it?”
Credence shrugged a little.
“I like helping.”
Percival nodded, reaching out to pat Modesty’s hair.
“How about I ask Louise if she needs any help? You’d be looking after children. You’re good with them.”
“That… that would be wonderful.” Credence answered, and his eyes lit up. Percival kissed him softly on the lips before ducking away. “Dinner tonight alright?”
“I won’t have time to cook.” Credence said nervously. “And I don’t know if we have-“
“We’re going to a restaurant.” Percival corrected. “We’ll be eating there. And before you worry about Grindelwald and his supporters, several other aurors will be in attendance. It’s the safest place in New York tonight.”
Modesty nodded, looking a little nervous. Percival’s heart ached at how scared her eyes looked, and the knowledge that Credence had never got the happy ending that Percival was hoping he had found for her. Credence leaned in and squeezed his hand a little, focusing him on the here and now.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Modesty will be safer not with us. And we can visit all of the time.” Percival promised, smiling a little at the thought of Credence spending the day looking after children. It made him look so alive, so happy. He liked the idea of Credence coming home with stories for him, of his husband spending time with innocents to counter the blood Percival’s own job soaked him in.
He wasn’t sure when he started to think of Credence as his husband, only that now he did.