Grindelwald smirked as he pushed open the door to the cell, to find that his prisoners were cuddled up together. Percival moved forwards, trying to place himself between Newt and Grindelwald, but Grindewald moved him away with a flick of his hand, then arranged the two of them so that they were both kneeling smartly before him. He took a moment to relish in victory.

That moment was ruined by Percival spitting at him, eyes ablaze.
"Where is my son?" he snarled, pride shredded. He was little more than a feral animal now - the pride of MACUSA broken from Grindelwald's torture and the knowledge that his long lost lover had betrayed him.

"Our boy is quite safe." Grindelwald informed them, making sure that Percival's cuffs were secure. He slipped the key to them into his pocket. "He is going to learn what he truly is under my tutelage, and I shall make sure to compensate for his absent fathers. He was abused. Beaten. He holds his hands out for me so that I can heal him. He trusts me, and with him we can do great things."

"Leave him alone." Percival's voice was breaking now, like his spirit. He had been through a lot, and Grindelwald relished this one final blow to his soul.
"I will treat him well enough, assuming that my other guests don't cause any problems. If either of you do, he will suffer for it." He walked from the basement, lifting the charm as he exited, planning to prepare a meal. If he was to harness the host of an obscurus, he would have to ensure the boy had energy. Letting your weapons starve to death was never a good plan.

***

Percival Graves, Newt's husband in love if not in law, was laughing when Grindelwald left the two of them. His laugh was a terrible broken thing, but it was accompanied by an embrace that left Newt gasping for air.

"What is it?" he asked.
"He has our son," Percival murmured. "He said 'my other guests'. He's got our boy here. In this house, I'm sure of it. I always kept a guest bedroom, in case one day you came back. He's probably given that to our boy."

Newt looked up at him and nodded, than leaned in to kiss him with as much tenderness as he could, trying to help him focus.
"If he's here, then we have to get to him."

"How?" Newt asked as he looked up at Percival in confusion. "We are trapped."
"I don't know," Percival said softly. "But I've lost more than ten years of my son's life. I'm not going to let myself miss any more."

Newt kissed him tenderly, testing the restraints around Percival's wrists. If he could get him free, he had to hope - but to be honest, it wasn't going to happen. They both knew that Grindelwald wasn't a total fool. If he wanted to imprison someone, then he would manage to, no matter how hard they tried to get out.

Percival stared at the chains around his wrist, disgust across his expression. He was trapped, totally.
"That bastard." Percival cursed, and Newt nodded.

"It'll be alright. Our son... if he takes after you, he's going to be alright," Newt attempted to reassure him. After a moment, Percival smiled at him fondly.
"If he takes after you, he'll find a way to get out of there."

Newt nodded, resting his head on Percival's chest.
"So now?"
"We wait," Percival murmured. "We wait, and we know that we won't give up. What has been happening in MACUSA?"

Newt explained to him what had happened and Percival was more relieved than anything, to find out that not everything had fallen apart yet. Whatever Grindelwald was doing it was clear he had been waiting for their son. Newt blinked slightly.
"He said he was abused, didn't he?"
"He did." Pain passed across Percival's face at those two words, at the thought of their son suffering without them there. But Newt looked truly troubled, squirming where he sat, a frown resting on his face.

"He's an obscurial," Newt murmured. "Our little boy... for Grindelwald to be looking for him... he must be planning to use him as a weapon. He's..."
"There's not been an obscurial for centuries-"
"I tried to save a young girl in Sudan three months ago," Newt said quietly, shaking his head. Percival pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"You think our child is?"
"I can't see why else Grindelwald would be looking for him."

"Then he needs us soon," Percival said firmly. Newt nodded, and kissed his cheek.
"I think I can save him. I couldn't save her. But I had to try, and I think I've learned..."
Percival squeezed his hand gently, the two of them gazing at each other. Percival frowned slightly as something green appeared at Newt's shoulder.
"What-"
"Pickett. This is my friend, he's a bowtruckle. Pickett, this is Percival, my... my lover."

Pickett waved a leafy hand and Percival. Percival paused then waved back.
"You're an odd one Newt. It's good to know I didn't just imagine that."
Newt giggled a little and looked up at him.

"i believe in our son," Percival promised, and Newt smiled a little.
"I need to see him."

Percival nodded and squeezed his hand.
"We will."

***

Credence settled down on his bed, staring around at his room. The sheets were soft, and he glanced at his bible, before deciding he could rest for a little while. He stroked his hands over Button's fur.
"You can sleep under my bed, or under the desk?" he suggested. "And I'll find you so many shiny things." He glanced around the room, hoping that he could find something that would draw Button's attention.

There was a glasses case on the desk. He opened it, and found some silver-edged spectacles inside. He didn't want to steal from his Pa, but at the same time he knew that Button needed nice things. He picked up the glasses and popped them on the floor, noticing the brass bedknobs and drawer handles. Those also shined - but he didn't think he could easily remove them.

Button squeaked up at him and settled down beside the glasses. Credence smiled, and then stood as he heard the door unlock. Mister Graves stuck his head around the door.
"Food is ready."
"Thank you." Credence said softly, ducking his head as he walked out, relieved that Button was hidden behind the door. He wasn't sure if he was allowed a pet. He would ask, but he was scared that Mister Graves might say no. He didn't want to disobey, but Button was his closest companion. He couldn't lose him.

He walked out nervously. He glanced from side to side, not wanting to do anything wrong. If he was going to stay with Mister Graves, he needed to not do anything wrong.

The food smelled nice. It was a tomato soup, richer and fuller than what Ma had used to feed him. Everything about being with Mister Graves was so much better than what had come before.

"I need to talk to you about something my boy," Mister Graves demanded, and Credence looked up.
"Yes Mister Graves?"
"I need to know if you have done anything that you shouldn't have done." Mister Graves said. Credence swallowed, knowing that he had done lots of bad things. He shrugged his shoulders a little, cringing in on himself.
"I have done a lot of bad things," Credence admitted. "Ma always said I was... I was born to be a sinner."

"There's one thing in particular I am wondering about," Mister Graves said to him firmly. "Because I know some people get upset, and I need to know how you act when you get angry."

Credence flinched as though he had been beaten, thinking of the anger that swarmed through him when things went wrong. He remembered darkness swallowing him up and then erupting from him.
"You know what I'm talking about, don't you Credence? You are a very special boy, aren't you?"

"The smoke?" Credence whispered. "I don't mean to - I know it's bad magic Mister Graves, I don't want to, I'm so sorry."
"It's quite alright, my special boy. But I want to see it."
Credence closed his eyes and tried to call up the smoke. The smoke normally was something he dreaded, and when that happened he couldn't fight it. But he had never tried to have the smoke happen, and it wasn't happening now.

"I can't sir." Credence admitted, ashamed.
"Then eat your soup, and go back to your room," Mister Graves said firmly. "I can't help you until you can show me that. I must see it."
"I'm sorry Mister Graves."
"You don't need to apologise. You just need to do better."
"Yes Mister Graves." Credence finished his soup, and went to wash up his bowl. He cleaned the other pots and pans carefully, then headed back to his room. He pushed the door open, and then it closed behind him.

He jumped at the sound of the lock clicking behind him. Even though Mister Graves was still downstairs, he was trapped in his room.

He looked away, and frowned slightly at what he saw. Button wasn't there, and now fear twisted inside him.