Prompt Post #2

[fantasticbeasts_kinkmeme]

  ROUND 2

Seeing as we've reached 4,000 comments in Round 1, it's time to make a new one. Same (lack of) rules apply. Gentle reminder to everyone to refrain from posting extremely long prompts, though. While no word limit will be imposed, take note that it is very unlikely for someone to fulfill your prompt if your prompt alone is already several paragraphs long and containing a number of specifications.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-(01/14/2016) We now have a TRADING POST where you can exchange fills with people. 
-The prompt freeze is over! You may resume posting prompts. The next freeze is scheduled on February 8, 12:00 AM (PST) or if this round reaches 4,000 comments; whichever comes first.
-Due to popular demand, we now have our first couple of rules!
RULE #1: No prompt must exceed 250 words. Any prompt that exceeds that WILL be screened.
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Fill: Who Pays The Piper (16/?)

[(Anonymous)]

Returning to America was hard for Theseus - he was only too aware that this was the place that had sentenced his little brother to death, and had been willing to send his best friend to Azkaban for something which was in no way his fault. But there was no way that he could ignore how clearly Percival wanted to return home. With what little he had managed to learn from him about his past marriage, it was clear that Percival deserved to feel safe. Even if Percival had told him nothing, he would have wanted to help him. But now that he knew, he was sure Percival was suffering more than he was letting on.

That was reason enough for him to jump at the chance to visit. He could only hope that seeing his friends would help Percival to relax, and understand that he was safe. More than that, he was hoping he might gain the opportunity to speak to President Picquery, to ensure that no one else would ever be abandoned the way Percival had been.

He couldn't help feeling angry at how little support Percival had been given. How America had been willing to have him sent to his death without speaking up for him, how they had appeared willing even to contemplate Azkaban. None of it was right. Not when Percival had served MACUSA for his entire life.

Newt was putting the last of his things into his case as Theseus rested in the parlour. He'd traveled enough that he always had a bag ready to take with him on his next adventure. It was a relief when Percival appeared, his new case at his side. Theseus had worked with Newt to create it in the hope that it would provide him with a sense of security and sanctuary, and it seemed to have been working. Theseus was relieved with that.

The two of them made their way to the Ministry, Newt hiding in his case. He always preferred to travel with his creatures, finding that they were less stressful travelling companions and better conversation than most humans. Theseus was careful not to take that personally.

Once they were in the Portkey office, he set out to explain what would happen, reaching across to squeeze Percival's hand. It seemed to soothe him a little.
"I've got to see President Picquery when we get there. You go and do whatever you need to. We'll be in some of the rooms MACUSA sets aside for foreign aurors." He shrugged a little, hoping that would be enough to help him relax. "So maybe meet up there for dinner? If you need to eat elsewhere, that's fine. Just... try and be back by the morning?"

Percival frowned a little as he glanced up at him, looking genuinely surprised.
"You sure about this? You know I could just run and never look back."
"I know." Theseus answered honestly. "And if that's what you do, I'll know you did it because it was what is right for you. But I hope we might have a chance, and if we do, I think that you'll be there." He smiled at Percival, and pointed at the case.

Despite Newt's preference for travelling in the case, sometimes it was easier for him to be outside of it - and using a portkey was a perfect example. Newt clambered out, resting his head on Theseus's shoulder, as they gripped the portkey, moving from the Ministry to MACUSA in the space of a few heartbeats.

Percival looked hopeful for a moment, glancing around before turning his gaze down at his own feet. He was shrinking, and it worried Theseus. It was almost as though Percival believed he was less than the rest of them. He reached down, tilting Percival's head up towards him and smiling a little, hoping it would calm him. But their arrival had drawn attention.

He could see an auror striding across the space towards them.
"You don't have to hide who you are here. Go and talk to him. He looks pleased to see you."

Percival whispered his thanks, and walked away. Theseus watched him go, and then headed to Picquery's office as Newt slipped away to find his friends. He hadn't made an appointment but he had to hope she would be willing to meet him, to listen to what he might have to say. He knocked smartly on her office door, felt the warmth of her magic sweep through him.

"Come in Mister Scamander, take a seat." A voice called out, and he walked in, bowing smartly. Just because he was furious with her didn't mean he couldn't act appropriately. "Why are you here?" She asked, looking rather concerned. "What have you done to Mister Graves?"
"Mister Percival Scamander," Theseus corrected tartly, "is doing much better now than he would have been in Azkaban's cells. He's got his wand back. He's helping my brother with his creatures, and he is rebuilding his life after everything that Grindelwald and MACUSA did. You were willing to sell him out. You knew he was frightened and you made no effort to explain. You even suggested execution, and then you ask me what it is that I did to him? You're the ones who hurt him."
"MACUSA did nothing to Director Graves." Seraphina snapped. She leaned forwards to get closer to him, wand out on the table in front of her.

"MACUSA was willing to send him to Azkaban. If I hadn't managed to claim pureblood privilege-" Theseus tried to explain, only to stop at the look of sheer horror on the President's face.

"What do you mean, pureblood privilege?" She spat. "Is that how it works in Britain. People like you get their pick of those who will be getting sent Azkaban? You marry them and they're what, meant to be grateful?"

"I didn't claim it for me." Theseus frowned. "I managed to persuade the Minister that it should apply to members of the Twelve as well as the pureblood British families. I argued it for Percival."

"What?" The President looked confused now, as well as angry.

"Do you even know..." Theseus took a deep breath and then continued. "Pureblood privilege is the idea that if a crime has been committed that would be sufficient to get a witch or wizard sent to Azkaban, they can instead ask their victim to make a deal. Marrying into a pureblood family... it was a way of getting rid of unwanted pureblood children, to keep others out of the prisons... By saying that Newt and I would accept the status that being married to Percival would entail, rather than ask for his punishment... it would save his life."

Picquery stared at him, sheer incomprehension written across her features.
"And so just like that, you decide to marry him?"
"I saved his life." Theseus answered. "I know you must miss him, But he's better off with us than dead or in Azkaban. You can talk to him about it. I brought him here so that his friends could see him, so that he wouldn't miss you all so much and..."
"No." Her voice was cold, her eyes glinting dangerously with sheer fury. "He asked to die. That last night, we sat up together because he needed to not be alone, and he asked me to let him die."

She swallowed.
"I had to look my closest friend in the eye and tell him that no, he couldn't be killed, because the British weren't placing that on the table. I had to tell him I didn't want him to lose his soul, that I couldn't face him being destroyed like that. That the only option that was available was his worst fear. That I couldn't even kill him. And you walk in here and act as though I'm in the wrong, as though the contract you made wasn't written in Percival's blood." She stood up now, her eyes glinting.

"You had him sign away his own name. And you waltz in here, calling him Scamander as though it was something that he chose, as though he wasn't little more than a slave. You were a virtual stranger to him. Maybe you were close once, in the war. I know he spoke kindly of a British auror back then. But you don't know him. No one who knew him, no one who cared about him, could have done what you did."

She took a deep breath.
"You made a liar of me Mister Scamander. I lost my best friend, for three long years. And when I found him again, he was broken. He'd been hurt worse than you could ever comprehend, tortured. Because that's what that man did. He broke him, tortured him. He hurt him, and he let his friends hurt him. Friends that have risen through MACUSA, that I have been unable to stop. He took one of the most powerful wizards of our generation, and he turned him into his own private punching bag. He beat him to the edge of death, and still expected dinner on the table. And he made him lie. He made him say that everything was fine, because if he said anything else it might have damaged that precious pureblood reputation that you claim saved him. When that monster died, I promised him that it would never happen again. That he would become stronger, and that he would never ever get hurt like that again. And you made a liar of me."

Her eyes were damp with tears now, and Theseus watched, beyond words. He'd known that the previous marriage had been bad, but he'd never have guessed it was the nightmare that she was setting out before him.

"You made a liar of me." The President repeated. "You know that Percival is skilled with wandless magic? That's because his last husband confiscated his wand. You took him and you trapped him in his worst nightmare, you took him across the Atlantic, and then you dare come in here and criticise me for what has happened?"

Theseus blinked, startled to find that he had started to cry.
"Mister Graves is still my closest friend." The President continued. "And I will not allow you to destroy him. If you care for him the way you claim, then you'll be glad I've told you the truth. Someone had to."
"I'll talk to him." Theseus whispered. It wasn't enough. Not after her outburst. Not after all he had learned. But it was all he had to offer.


***

Theseus wiped his eyes as the two of them walked side by side from her office.
"Thank you for... being honest." Theseus managed. It was a horrific situation, but knowing the truth could help. Now that he understood, he would have to work out how to fix it.

"It's alright Mister Scamander. I know you were doing what you could to save him. And it's because of you that he's been able to keep his soul..." This was hard on both of them. But it was clear that both of them had Percival's best interests at heart. That at least meant they would work together.

He heard a raised voice, walking a little faster. As they approached a corner Percival stepped out, pale with anger.
"What happened?" Theseus asked as tenderly as he could.
"Nothing."

Another man walked around the corner. He was an older gentleman, wearing a smartly cut suit. He looked furious. When he spoke, his voice dripped with cold fury.
"I was telling the traitor here that he wasn't welcome here. We don't want Grindelwald's whore."
"Secretary Piers, hold your tongue." Picquery hissed, as Theseus fought to find the words he needed. He was horrified that anyone would talk to Percival like that. That he could still be blamed when he had fought, when he had resisted.
"You do not speak to my husband that way." He snarled. "Picquery, after what we spoke of - I want to talk to this man in the morning, with you present."
"I shall escort him to the cells myself." She answered, taking the man away at wand point. Theseus walked across to Percival, and wrapped his arms around him.

Percival's shoulders shook with emotion. Theseus was sure he was shaking as well, Picquery's words echoing in his head. Theseus embraced him tighter for a few moments, breathing slowly, before he spoke.
"Let's go to our room. Then we can... we can talk."

Percival nodded, letting Theseus guide him back to the rooms that they were staying in. Theseus reached out, and gently squeezed Percival's hand. After a moment, Percival squeezed back, his lips lifting slightly in a smile.