fantasticbeasts_kinkmeme | Prompt Post #2

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.
RULE #2: Please state RPF in the subject line if your prompt involves real people.
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Percival lay staring up at the ceiling, hearing the others breathing beside him. It wasn't easy, to listen to those breaths. But he understood that this was his life now. It felt unnatural to sleep in a bed beside someone. During the war, Theseus and Percival hadn't had a room, and had made do with whatever they could find. Jauncey had made it clear that if Percival was in a bed, he had better be there to be useful.

Newt and his brother were cuddled up together, and both were smiling. As Percival lay with his eyes closed, he heard something move towards him. He looked down to see a shape slithering across the sheets, and reached down to bump his hand on familiar scales. The occamy grew, draped across his legs, the weight soothing; it grounded him. He tickled her softly, wondering how she had got out of the case. Her forked tongue brushed his palm, and he began to drift off to sleep.

He could hear the breathing even in his sleep, but as he rested, the two heartbeats faded into one, and he felt Jauncey's hand run up his side, pressing him down into the mattress His back burned from curses he remembered only too well.
"Did you manage to forget what I asked you to do my darling?" Jauncey whispered into his ear, and Percival cringed away.
"No, sir," he murmured. "I just..."
The excuses died on his lips. He knew what he had done wrong. He had been working hard, cleaning the house and making sure that there was food ready for Jauncey's return, but it wasn't good enough. His husband was a busy man, running international operations to prevent the spread of dark magic as the Chief of Magical Intelligence. He deserved the best; he deserved to come home to a meal on the table. But Percival had been tired. He'd been so tired that he had fallen asleep in the kitchen, as he had been scrubbing the floor. That was how Jauncey had found him, face down with his eyes closed. A kick had woken him.
"So what is it going to be?" Jauncey asked. Percival gagged, nearly vomiting, his heart racing. It was always the anticipation that was worst. He sobbed softly, biting his lip in an attempt to stay quiet, knowing that he couldn't be heard to cry. Crying was weakness. Jauncey would only hurt him more if he was weak. The hand on his side edged down, and he bit his lip, waiting.

A hand gripped his shoulder, and someone shook him. He whimpered softly, cringing away from the contact even as his mind reminded him that he was meant to stay still. He was Jauncey's property; if his husband wanted something, he was there to provide it. He knew that – nevertheless, he still couldn't avoid flinching from the touch. That was the very weakness that meant he would get tortured, more often than not.

"Perce!"
A voice startled him, and he looked up to see two sets of eyes staring down at him. He whimpered again, trying to work out who they were. Neither of them looked familiar. He stayed tense for a moment.

"Perce, you are in New York. You are in MACUSA," the taller man told him, and he frowned up at him.
"Theseus?" he asked, and then glanced at the other man. "Newt?"
Theseus helped him to sit up, as Newt guided the occamy onto his lap. He blinked up at the two of them, still feeling a little disorientated by the entire situation.

"You're safe," Theseus promised. "We're here. You are safe. He's dead."
Percival nodded, ducking his head slightly. He couldn't help feeling ashamed at the fact he had asked to sleep in a bed with them, then found it overwhelming. He hated the person that Jauncey had made him, the man he was still slipping into.
"It's alright," Theseus’s voice was tender. "You want me to take first watch?"

"There's no point you not sleeping."
"I will if it'll make you feel safe," Theseus said simply. He squeezed Percival's hand, and Percival squeezed back.
"I can watch first?" Percival offered and Theseus smiled, then shook his head.
"Rest, Perce, I'll be here. And so will Newt, and your occamy. Nowhere safer in the world."
"Thank you," Percival closed his eyes, and felt Theseus resting his hand on his shoulder.

That touch was grounding, and it stopped him from slipping back into nightmares. It reassured him to have that gentle touch, same as it had in the trenches with the bombs exploding and shrapnel falling. There was nothing in it that reminded him of Jauncey. Jauncey had never showed him any tenderness. He felt the darkness of sleep surround him, but this time it didn't feel like a threat. It was like coming home.

***

"Here."
Newt sat down on the bed, holding out a plate of food. Percival reached out to take it from his hand, and noticed that there was a cup of coffee for him on his bedside table. Theseus was already sipping his own.
"I appreciate this."
"You need to eat," Newt shrugged. "You don't need to worry. We won't ever withold food from you, and anyone who did... anyone who did was a monster."

Percival ate his breakfast, then helped Newt with the morning chores in the case. It was relaxing, the two of them walking through the different habitats together. There were many creatures that needed care, but Percival was learning a little more each day.

When he climbed out of the case, he found both Seraphina and Theseus waiting, sipping what appeared to be tea.
"Tea, Seraphina?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"According to your husband, coffee is an abomination. I do hope that he hasn't inflicted such views on you."
"He's just messing with you," Percival said with a faint smile. "And tea isn't that bad."
"You've spent too much time in England, apparently," she teased, and Percival felt a little calmer as Theseus poured him a cup and handed it over to him.

"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here so that we can go and see Secretary Piers together," Seraphina answered. "You and Theseus are going to lead the discussion. But I'll be there – to prove the force of MACUSA is behind you."

Theseus sighed.
"The problem is, Percival, there's very little we can accuse him of. We both know what he has done. But that in itself..." he sighed. "We can't punish him for that. But like you said, we can tell him he will be watched."
"That's all I want," Percival agreed, and Theseus nodded.
"I'll see if I can get you that apology."

Walking to the cell, between Theseus and Seraphina, Percival felt almost safe. It was like being surrounded by the support that he needed.

Secretary Piers was sunk down in the bed, his head down. He looked up as they arrived, raising his head and crossing his arms, glaring up at them.
"On your feet," Seraphina demanded, and he stumbled up. Percival was a little surprised to see how small Piers looked. In his nightmares, Piers looked like a giant, looked powerful. Here, he was just an old man who had been trapped by his own past mistakes.

"Hello," Theseus spoke, stepping forwards. "I want to talk to you about what happened last night."
"I accused him of being a traitor," Piers snapped. "Because he isn't welcome. Everyone knows he spreads his legs for anyone who asks, but you would have thought that working as a whore for Grindelwald would have been beneath him." His words conveyed the same superiority he had always shown – that he was above everyone else just because of who he knew.

Percival raised his head and gazed straight forwards. He wasn't afraid. Piers seemed to notice that after a moment, backing away a little. Theseus smirked.
"My husband is a respected member of society, which is more than could be said of you."

Piers opened and closed his mouth a couple of times. Percival smiled a little at that, even as Theseus continued.
"Your past actions show your foolishness, but your words last night show that you are still making mistakes. We can't hold you for this any longer. But after today, well..." he rested a hand on Percival's hip, the touch a little soothing. "I want you to know that MACUSA are watching you. If you make one mistake, they will not hesitate to destroy you," Theseus's words were accompanied by a brilliant smile. "And do not hesitate to wonder – you will make a mistake. And MACUSA will be waiting."

"Thank you, Auror Scamander," Seraphina stepped forwards. "The two of you have better things to do than worry with men like this. But as you said, I will keep an eye on him."
She went to unlock the cell door.

As that happened, Piers stepped forwards. He said nothing, not even looking towards Percival. Percival could feel himself trembling, but Theseus's hand was resting on his, still grounding him, still keeping him safe.

Realising that he was no long frightened of Piers was a surprise. He had Theseus and he had Newt, and Jauncey was dead. Piers wasn't, but he was no longer the looming monster from his nightmares. For the first time since the war, he felt something almost like hope within his chest when he looked at Theseus. It seemed like they could have a future, free of Jauncey’s shadow.
"Busy day today?" he asked Theseus.
"Going to work. I've got to consult with Henery about some smuggling that's been happening. Newt's going to help."
"And me?"
"Whatever you want," Theseus shrugged. "Go and do whatever you'd like. I think Seraphina would like to see you."

Prompt Post #2

Fill: Who Pays The Piper (18/?)