Percival half expected to wake up and find that he was alone in the house, the boy and the bowtruckle having run away during the night. He wouldn't have been angry if that had been what happened - he had even set the wardings up so that if the two of them wanted to leave, they could - they wouldn't be able to take his things with them, but they could go.

It turned out that he didn't need to be so worried. He woke in the morning to the smell of food cooking, and made his way downstairs to see the young man standing beside the stove, preparing breakfast by hand. Percival frowned a little at the fact the man wasn't using a wand - he had clearly got a talent for magic, judging both by the creature he had with him and what little he had said the previous night.

"Newt?" He asked softly as he made his way into the kitchen. "Are you making breakfast?"
Newt turned to face him. It was clear that a night in a comfortable bed had done him good - he was looking much cleaner than he had the previous night, and while he was still skittish he almost met Percival's eyes.
"I thought you might be hungry."
"A little..." Percival agreed.

"Sorry. It's... it's your food." Newt stuttered, and Percival nodded again.
"I assumed that, based on the fact you are in my kitchen and had no food the previous night."
Newt had a sweet smile, when he was relaxed. Percival realised at that moment that he would do anything to keep Newt smiling that way.

"I cleaned up the kitchen earlier. I can do more, I know we didn't agree last night what you needed but thank you-" Newt spoke quickly, then jumped at a noise against the window.

Percival saw an owl tapping against the window and walked over to open it, seeing a letter addressed to him and written in Seraphina's hand. Newt was watching the owl carefully before he reached out, his hand visibly trembling. The owl hooted softly, and moved closer to him. Newt rewarded the creature by stroking its feathers, murmuring gentle praise. After a couple of minutes he looked up at Percival, seeming to notice the world around him.
"Is that... anything important?" he asked softly, and again Percival thought of what had been said the previous night. Newt was frightened of MACUSA, so he could hardly own up to being the President's best friend.
"Not important." He said as he opened the letter, skimming through it. Seraphina had highlighted a couple of cases he could help with, but nothing that meant he had to return to work immediately. A few days ago he would have jumped at the chance to be back in the office if not in the field, but with Newt here he found himself suddenly grateful for the opportunity to take it easy for a couple more days.

"Can we talk about last night?" He asked Newt. Newt tensed for a moment and then nodded sharply.
"Of course. I'm sorry I broke in."
"Why did you break in?"
"I was hungry." Newt said after a moment as he plated up the food, as though that were the most obvious thing in the world.

"You said you could tell I was magic?"
"I could."
"Then why not target a house of no-majs? They can't defend themselves."
"Because it wouldn't be right." The boy muttered towards Percival's shoulder. "I wasn't aiming to hurt or frighten anyone. I just wanted a meal. I was going to take it, and then leave, and put a note with an apology on it on the table."

"You've done that before?" Percival asked, feeling fairly certain of the answer.

"Dozens of times." Newt agreed. "It doesn't always work. I get caught, or the wards start to wrap around me. But mostly... mostly it works. And if it doesn’t, I can normally get around it.”
"You're English?"
Newt nodded but didn't volunteer any more information. Instead, he looked up at Percival almost reluctantly. Percival tried to get more information from him.
"So what house are you? I know most thieves are Slytherin. Or maybe Gryffindor, breaking into a stranger's house like that."
"I was a Hufflepuff." Newt said softly as he carried two full plates of food over to the table.

Percival nodded, still bothered by Newt choosing to cook by hand. He pushed it aside for now, and for a few moments the two of them ate in companionable silence, Newt bent half-over his own meal in order to protect it.
"Where's your wand?" Percival asked when both had eaten, sending the plates to the sink with a flick of his wrist.
"My original wand was... confiscated." Newt said after a couple of moments thought, his gaze directed downwards as though he was ashamed. "The one I use is one that I was given ..." He paused, then shook his head.

"Was it MACUSA that confiscated your wand?"
"The Ministry." Newt shrugged, and Percival tried to work out how to push for more information without overwhelming him.
After a few moments he spoke, his voice soft.
"You're a long way from home, aren't you?"
"I like creatures." Newt answered, gesturing up towards Pickett. "I travel the globe finding out about creatures that most people have never heard of, that most people wouldn't care for if they did know about them. There are... there are so many animals out there, all unique, and so many linked to magic and most people never... never even give it a moment's thought."

Newt seemed to come alive as he spoke about creatures, and Percival wished he could have something he could offer. He paused, thinking through the creatures that MACUSA were looking after. Certainly nothing at the moment that would be suitable, but there was a chance that that would change soon enough.

"Like Pickett here?" Newt nodded and Percival continued, emboldened. "Where did you get him?"
"I was given him by my brother." Newt murmured, and closed his eyes, his hands twitching slightly. Percival let him take a few breaths, not wanting to put more pressure on him.
"You have a brother?"
"I do. A mother, a father and a brother." Newt seemed to hold his tongue after that, not volunteering any more information. Percival wondered if part of the boy's reluctance could have been his old auror persona seeping through, demanding answers which Newt simply wasn't willing to give.

"So you must miss England?"
"I like travel. And I can't go home." Newt said the words matter of factly. "I just... I travel, I keep moving. It's harder to hit a moving target, and all that..."
"You travel America?"
"The world." Newt shrugged. "I mean..." He paused, and closed his eyes. "I don't really get to do much studying, but if I'm in a region with creatures I do try and see them. Mostly I just work on avoiding detection, and practicing magic..." He sounded ashamed by what he was saying, his gaze down once more, and Percival wanted to ask what he meant. Newt seemed to realise that, glancing up and then down again.

"I got into trouble with the ministry. Nothing more than a misunderstanding really, but if they find out where I am they have some rather terrible things planned for me..." he swallowed and closed his eyes. Percival reached out to give his shoulder a reassuring squeeze in an attempt to help him calm down. It seemed to be working, if the soft smile that rested on his lips for a moment was anything to go by.

After a moment, Newt shrugged.
“I keep moving. It works out. And when it doesn’t, I escape eventually…” He swallowed, rubbing his hands together, and Percival could see a number of scars on the visible skin.
“Do you need to escape now?” Percival asked, giving him a chance to get away. Newt hesitated, and then shook his head.
“I don’t think so. I just need to avoid… trouble.”
“Can you tell me what happened?” Percival asked, as gently as possible. Newt shrugged.
“An old… an old teacher got me into trouble.”
“Can you give me a name?”

Newt shook his head, and glanced down.
“If we went to the authorities, they could help-“
Newt looked up, eyes shining in terror.
“No.” He snapped, shaking a little. “No. They can’t. Please.”