Newt waved goodbye to Jacob and to Tina, and picked up his case. Pickett slipped into his coat pocket, where he would be safer and more hidden from the hospital staff.
"You... you're sure they won't hurt the creatures?" Newt asked Theseus, looking at his brother for reassurance. He couldn't risk his creatures safety, not for this, not for anything. "I'm sure." Theseus promised, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Newt leaned against him for a moment, relying on his big brother, then swallowed. "Can...can you come with me there?" He asked. He wanted to run, but he knew that would solve nothing. If he ran, then the Ministry would send aurors to chase him, and he would end up back in the same place he had hated when he was younger. This was his only chance, but he needed Theseus's presence to stop him running from it.
"Of course." Theseus said quickly, tightening his grip around him. "I wouldn't make you go alone." That calmed Newt a little. He knew Theseus would be beside him. "Is it alright if I come too?" Graves asked, and Newt nodded, walking between the two of them along the street. It wasn't too far from where Graves lived to the CIO building. It was hidden carefully, tucked away in an alleyway within sight of the MACUSA headquarters.
Graves paused for a moment. "I'll make sure you've got a window facing the building. If anything goes wrong, put a blanket hanging out of the window. I'll tell my best aurors to keep an eye out. You do that, and they'll rescue you, okay?"
Newt nodded. It was a kindness, a generous offer. It wouldn't be like the British aurors dragging him to the hospital. But he remembered it all. They were approaching the door when he froze, sheer terror overwhelming him. He could remember what had happened when he was younger, and he couldn't face it happening again.
He felt Theseus pull him close, rubbing his back. "I'll be back as soon as I can be, okay?" Theseus asked, and he carefully nodded, trying to remember to breathe. "There..." Theseus nuzzled into his side. "This isn't going to be like before."
Newt nodded, knowing he wouldn't be able to speak. The truth was that it would be worse. Last time he was still a child, and had been spared the worst that could have happened, but he had no such excuse this time. There were things that omegas were made for. Even if the hospital was as good as Theseus thought it would only be a temporary reprieve. Because he would be signed into Graves' care. He would be his mate, and even if Graves was willing to tolerate his creatures he was still an alpha. Alphas had needs. Alphas had needs and omegas had uses. Newt fought the urge to apparate away, taking the handful of steps necessary to get inside the building. They were the hardest steps he had ever taken.
The inside of the building didn't feel like a hospital. There was a young omega woman sat in a comfortable chair, feeding an infant and reading a book. A short way away another omega was sketching. They both looked up at Percival and Theseus, glaring slightly. For a moment Newt nearly spoke up in protection of the others, but he didn't have the courage.
A young beta woman, her curly red hair tied into a bun, walked towards them and stuck out her hand. It took Newt a moment to realise that the gesture was aimed towards him and not to either of his alpha escorts. "Hello. You must be Mister Scamander-Graves."
Newt nodded, startled a little by the change in his name. It made sense he supposed. He was Graves' mate, of course he should have his name. It was a kindness to let him keep his own. "My name is Sarah, and I'll be your liason during your stay here. If you have any questions you can ask me, or any of our clients. Would you like me to show you to your room? It's a private room with a window as requested." Newt nodded, and Sarah paused for a moment.
"If you could say goodbye to your companions?" Newt nodded, trying to prevent any tears from falling. He clutched his case to his chest. "Goodbye." He murmured, not looking up. He walked with Sarah, and didn't turn around to see the others leave.
"Now, first of all we ask that all patients here keep their wands in their rooms at all times. No apparation is allowed on the premises, there are wards blocking it, and while you are free to leave we request that you inform us where you are going and allow us to arrange an escort-" Sarah began to explain, her words washing over Newt as he silently followed her to his room.
She handed him a key, and he used it to open the door. The room was small but tidy, with a bed and a desk and a chair. There were a couple of bookshelves, already filled with battered books that had clearly been there for a while. "This is your room. No one is allowed in here without permission, and that includes me. The only time people will come in without permission is if there is a medical emergency." She explained from the doorway. "The bathroom is to the left. Would you like a tour of the rest of the unit, or do you need a little while to sort things out?" "I... I need to sort things." Newt murmured, and slipped into the room, closing the door behind him. He sat with his back to the door, his knees drawn to his chest.
He was aware he was being rude, that she had been kind, but after so long promising himself he was safe now he was back in hospital. This was nothing like the whitewashed dorms of the hospital he had been taken to from Hogwarts. There were no visible restraints, he had some privacy. But he only had a private room because his mate had asked for one. He couldn't let himself fall into the trap of thinking that this was a good place, or that it was somewhere he would be safe.
He pressed his hand over the mark on his neck. His bond site, linking him to Graves and keeping him from an unknown English alpha who would bring him to their home if this failed. He shuddered at that thought, remembering how much he had enjoyed his freedom, back when he had been allowed to travel. The coat he had around his shoulders meant he would have passed as a beta in the eyes of muggles. He thought of running, but he knew it was hopeless.
Graves had said he would be back soon. For the next few days, all Newt could do was survive.
He glanced up at the door, and saw that it had a bolt he could use to close it. Anyone would be able to use their magic to open it, but he slammed the bolt and felt a sense of calm wash over him. This was his room. He had his case. Whatever else happened, his creatures were with him now.
He didn't want to see what else was there, didn't want to find out what horrors this place was hiding. Instead, he slipped into the case, curling up around Niff in the middle of the mooncalf paddock. He felt almost safe there. He fished into his pocket, drawing out the occamy eggshell bracelet and offering it to Niff. Niff nuzzled his hand before stuffing the treasure triumphantly into his pouch.
After a few hours Newt pulled himself to his feet, checking on his creatures and ensuring they were all fed. Once that was done, he returned to his study, preparing further batches of suppressant pills for himself.
He jumped as a distant knock echoed through the air, and clambered reluctantly up the ladder. It was better to go when called than be dragged out. If they thought he was hiding they might confiscate his case and then his creatures would starve. He could sense the nervousness Graves felt through their bond.
Sarah was stood outside the door when he opened it, smiling at him brightly. "Are you settling in okay?"
He nodded, wordless. She led him to the dining hall.
It was nothing like the hall at Hogwarts. There were small tables set up with groups of omegas sat around them, eating their food as a few infants ran around and babies cuddled up against to their parents. "Food is there-" Sarah pointed. "You can sit wherever you would like..."
Newt fetched a plate of food, his head bowed, and sat at an otherwise deserted table. Sarah and a few other beta nurses were moving around the different tables, but mostly they left him alone other than the occasional question about the food. Newt tried to sneak glances at the rest of the omegas. There was no one with obvious fresh wounds, although a couple had bruises which were in the process of healing. No one seemed to have told them that omegas were expected to be quiet. Someone laughed, and Newt startled at the sound. He had only been in the hospital for a few months last time, but he had never heard any omega laugh while he was there.
After dinner, he returned to his room. Curfew wasn't until eleven at night, but he needed privacy. He laid down on the floor under a blanket, unable to face the bed, nausea twisting his gut. Everyone here seemed to be kind, but he was sure it had to be an illusion, a way that they would be able to hurt him later. He shivered and curled up, drawing his knees to his chest.
He could feel a vague awareness of Graves at the edge of his consciousness, feel his concern as he tried to make their bond official. But there was something as well, nagging at the back of his mind. An anger that he knew wasn't his or Graves', swirling into him and threatening to tear everything apart.
He had never paid particular attention in school when they had spoken about bonds. He was aware he wasn't a particularly sexual creature, that such things held little interest to him. He knew some bonds could get twisted or weakened, but he didn't know how to get rid of this link, or what would happen if Graves found out. Perhaps he would refuse to be Newt's alpha. Even though he didn't want to mate the man, the alternative was worse. The hospital was calling, and there he wouldn't have privacy.
Fill: A Gilded Cage is Still A Cage (17/?)
"You... you're sure they won't hurt the creatures?" Newt asked Theseus, looking at his brother for reassurance. He couldn't risk his creatures safety, not for this, not for anything.
"I'm sure." Theseus promised, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Newt leaned against him for a moment, relying on his big brother, then swallowed.
"Can...can you come with me there?" He asked. He wanted to run, but he knew that would solve nothing. If he ran, then the Ministry would send aurors to chase him, and he would end up back in the same place he had hated when he was younger. This was his only chance, but he needed Theseus's presence to stop him running from it.
"Of course." Theseus said quickly, tightening his grip around him. "I wouldn't make you go alone." That calmed Newt a little. He knew Theseus would be beside him.
"Is it alright if I come too?" Graves asked, and Newt nodded, walking between the two of them along the street. It wasn't too far from where Graves lived to the CIO building. It was hidden carefully, tucked away in an alleyway within sight of the MACUSA headquarters.
Graves paused for a moment.
"I'll make sure you've got a window facing the building. If anything goes wrong, put a blanket hanging out of the window. I'll tell my best aurors to keep an eye out. You do that, and they'll rescue you, okay?"
Newt nodded. It was a kindness, a generous offer. It wouldn't be like the British aurors dragging him to the hospital. But he remembered it all. They were approaching the door when he froze, sheer terror overwhelming him. He could remember what had happened when he was younger, and he couldn't face it happening again.
He felt Theseus pull him close, rubbing his back.
"I'll be back as soon as I can be, okay?" Theseus asked, and he carefully nodded, trying to remember to breathe. "There..." Theseus nuzzled into his side. "This isn't going to be like before."
Newt nodded, knowing he wouldn't be able to speak. The truth was that it would be worse. Last time he was still a child, and had been spared the worst that could have happened, but he had no such excuse this time. There were things that omegas were made for. Even if the hospital was as good as Theseus thought it would only be a temporary reprieve. Because he would be signed into Graves' care. He would be his mate, and even if Graves was willing to tolerate his creatures he was still an alpha. Alphas had needs. Alphas had needs and omegas had uses. Newt fought the urge to apparate away, taking the handful of steps necessary to get inside the building. They were the hardest steps he had ever taken.
The inside of the building didn't feel like a hospital. There was a young omega woman sat in a comfortable chair, feeding an infant and reading a book. A short way away another omega was sketching. They both looked up at Percival and Theseus, glaring slightly. For a moment Newt nearly spoke up in protection of the others, but he didn't have the courage.
A young beta woman, her curly red hair tied into a bun, walked towards them and stuck out her hand. It took Newt a moment to realise that the gesture was aimed towards him and not to either of his alpha escorts.
"Hello. You must be Mister Scamander-Graves."
Newt nodded, startled a little by the change in his name. It made sense he supposed. He was Graves' mate, of course he should have his name. It was a kindness to let him keep his own.
"My name is Sarah, and I'll be your liason during your stay here. If you have any questions you can ask me, or any of our clients. Would you like me to show you to your room? It's a private room with a window as requested." Newt nodded, and Sarah paused for a moment.
"If you could say goodbye to your companions?"
Newt nodded, trying to prevent any tears from falling. He clutched his case to his chest.
"Goodbye." He murmured, not looking up. He walked with Sarah, and didn't turn around to see the others leave.
"Now, first of all we ask that all patients here keep their wands in their rooms at all times. No apparation is allowed on the premises, there are wards blocking it, and while you are free to leave we request that you inform us where you are going and allow us to arrange an escort-" Sarah began to explain, her words washing over Newt as he silently followed her to his room.
She handed him a key, and he used it to open the door. The room was small but tidy, with a bed and a desk and a chair. There were a couple of bookshelves, already filled with battered books that had clearly been there for a while.
"This is your room. No one is allowed in here without permission, and that includes me. The only time people will come in without permission is if there is a medical emergency." She explained from the doorway. "The bathroom is to the left. Would you like a tour of the rest of the unit, or do you need a little while to sort things out?"
"I... I need to sort things." Newt murmured, and slipped into the room, closing the door behind him. He sat with his back to the door, his knees drawn to his chest.
He was aware he was being rude, that she had been kind, but after so long promising himself he was safe now he was back in hospital. This was nothing like the whitewashed dorms of the hospital he had been taken to from Hogwarts. There were no visible restraints, he had some privacy. But he only had a private room because his mate had asked for one. He couldn't let himself fall into the trap of thinking that this was a good place, or that it was somewhere he would be safe.
He pressed his hand over the mark on his neck. His bond site, linking him to Graves and keeping him from an unknown English alpha who would bring him to their home if this failed. He shuddered at that thought, remembering how much he had enjoyed his freedom, back when he had been allowed to travel. The coat he had around his shoulders meant he would have passed as a beta in the eyes of muggles. He thought of running, but he knew it was hopeless.
Graves had said he would be back soon. For the next few days, all Newt could do was survive.
He glanced up at the door, and saw that it had a bolt he could use to close it. Anyone would be able to use their magic to open it, but he slammed the bolt and felt a sense of calm wash over him. This was his room. He had his case. Whatever else happened, his creatures were with him now.
He didn't want to see what else was there, didn't want to find out what horrors this place was hiding. Instead, he slipped into the case, curling up around Niff in the middle of the mooncalf paddock. He felt almost safe there. He fished into his pocket, drawing out the occamy eggshell bracelet and offering it to Niff. Niff nuzzled his hand before stuffing the treasure triumphantly into his pouch.
After a few hours Newt pulled himself to his feet, checking on his creatures and ensuring they were all fed. Once that was done, he returned to his study, preparing further batches of suppressant pills for himself.
He jumped as a distant knock echoed through the air, and clambered reluctantly up the ladder. It was better to go when called than be dragged out. If they thought he was hiding they might confiscate his case and then his creatures would starve. He could sense the nervousness Graves felt through their bond.
Sarah was stood outside the door when he opened it, smiling at him brightly.
"Are you settling in okay?"
He nodded, wordless. She led him to the dining hall.
It was nothing like the hall at Hogwarts. There were small tables set up with groups of omegas sat around them, eating their food as a few infants ran around and babies cuddled up against to their parents.
"Food is there-" Sarah pointed. "You can sit wherever you would like..."
Newt fetched a plate of food, his head bowed, and sat at an otherwise deserted table. Sarah and a few other beta nurses were moving around the different tables, but mostly they left him alone other than the occasional question about the food. Newt tried to sneak glances at the rest of the omegas. There was no one with obvious fresh wounds, although a couple had bruises which were in the process of healing. No one seemed to have told them that omegas were expected to be quiet. Someone laughed, and Newt startled at the sound. He had only been in the hospital for a few months last time, but he had never heard any omega laugh while he was there.
After dinner, he returned to his room. Curfew wasn't until eleven at night, but he needed privacy. He laid down on the floor under a blanket, unable to face the bed, nausea twisting his gut. Everyone here seemed to be kind, but he was sure it had to be an illusion, a way that they would be able to hurt him later. He shivered and curled up, drawing his knees to his chest.
He could feel a vague awareness of Graves at the edge of his consciousness, feel his concern as he tried to make their bond official. But there was something as well, nagging at the back of his mind. An anger that he knew wasn't his or Graves', swirling into him and threatening to tear everything apart.
He had never paid particular attention in school when they had spoken about bonds. He was aware he wasn't a particularly sexual creature, that such things held little interest to him. He knew some bonds could get twisted or weakened, but he didn't know how to get rid of this link, or what would happen if Graves found out. Perhaps he would refuse to be Newt's alpha. Even though he didn't want to mate the man, the alternative was worse. The hospital was calling, and there he wouldn't have privacy.
Shivering despite the blanket, he started to sob.