Percival sighed. Newt and Goldstein were still out trying to track down the last unicorn from the herd they’d rescued from smugglers. Their arrest had not gone smoothly and while they had captured all the criminals, several of the unicorns had broken out. It had taken almost the whole day but all but one last unicorn had been returned to the herd that was currently being kept safe in an enchanted field in the bowels of MACUSA.
Well, Percival wasn’t going to get anything else done until the last unicorn was brought in so he might as well check on the two of them. Last he heard they were out in Central Park. He apparated nearby and started walking. It took some searching but he finally found the two of them staring into a thick group of trees looking frustrated.
“Goldstein, Scamander, what’s the problem?”
The two of them turned to him. “Director. This one seems more skittish than the others. Netw’s having trouble getting close. It’s hurt and stressed.”
“To put it bluntly, Mr. Graves, we need- ah, a specific kind of lure to bring it out. I’m just not sure where to find one.”
Before Percival could respond the unicorn came limping out of the trees and heading straight for Percival. The poor creature looked strung out and terrified but it limped right up to Percival, keeping the Director between it and the other two wizards before pushing its head against Percival’s shoulder, resting there and letting out a great whuff of air. Percival froze, suddenly completely out of his element. But the poor creature was hurt and he could feel it trembling so he brought up a hand to gently stroke the silky mane and the unicorn relaxed a little more, moving to lean against the confused wizard.
Looking up, Percival noticed Newt staring at him in confusion and growing interest. He didn’t know if he was entirely comfortable with that look.
“Well, Mr. Scamander, now what?”
“Oh, yes, right. See if you can get him into my case and we’ll bring him back to MACUSA.”
Percival raised an eyebrow. “And how, exactly, am I supposed to do that?”
“Ask him nicely, of course.”
Newt busied himself with setting his case down and opening it up, keeping an eye out for any creatures (Niffler) who may try to take this opportunity to go exploring (stealing). Percival waiting until the case was open before turning his attention back to the unicorn.
Feeling rather self conscious, he addressed the unicorn. “How about it, will you get in the case?”
The unicorn just pressed himself tighter against Percival. He grew a little bolder and brought both hands up, trying to soothe the distraught creature.
“You’re safe now, we’re going to bring you back to your herd. Nothing will hurt you, I promise.”
The unicorn gave a shudder and dropped his head over Percival’s shoulder, stepping closer. Percival wrapped his arms around the creature’s neck in what he hoped was a comforting hug. He really wasn’t the right person for this job and looked helplessly to the expert.
Newt was looking at the two of them fondly. “I think if you promise to remain in the case with him, he’ll be more willing to go in.”
“Would that help? I’ll be happy to go in with you and stay until you’re back with your herd.”
The unicorn pulled away enough that he could nuzzle against Percival’s shoulder again before turning and awkwardly leaping into the case. Percival followed, not wanting to break his promise. He could get answers from Newt later.
Newt followed them down into the case and it closed behind them, Percival figured Golstein was carrying them all back to headquarters. The unicorn was at his side as soon as he was out of the hut.
“Mr. Graves, if you’ll lead our guest over to the forest habitat, I’ll bring some supplies to see to his injuries. See if you can get him sitting down, the poor dear’s exhausted.”
The rest of the short trip back to MACUSA was occupied with Newt treating the unicorn’s injuries while it leaned against Percival. Well, leaned against him as much as it could without them both toppling over.
When they heard the knock on the case Newt climbed out first and then beckoned Percival and the unicorn. Goldstein had brought them right to the herd and the unicorn, after giving Percival one last nuzzle, happily reunited with his family. Percival was about to turn to leave when one of the unicorns cantered up to him and nuzzling his hair. It was soon followed by another, and another, until he was in the middle of the entire herd.
He certainly hoped these creatures were very aware of where their horns were.
He, again, didn’t have a clue what to do and looked for Newt and Goldstein. His auror looked like she was torn between laughing at him and cooing at him, wisely declining to do either. Newt looked bemused.
“Scamander, what in the name of Merlin is going on here?”
Newt did let out a chuckle. “They’re thanking you, Director.”
“And what and I supposed to do?”
“Enjoy it?”
Percival sighed and reached out to pet the closest unicorn. It was rather nice. The creatures were gentle and their coats impossibly soft. He showed a little attention to each one and they started wandering off until he was alone with Newt and Goldstein. The unicorn from the park had been the last to go and he had been a little sad to see him go.
They left and returned to his office to finish the last of the paperwork for the herd. It didn’t take long and as soon as it was done Goldstein took her leave. Percival turned to Newt and finally asked the question that had been at the front of his mind since the unicorn had limped out of the forest.
“Are you going to tell me what that was all about? Why did the unicorn come to me and not you?”
Newt wouldn’t meet his eyes and Percival was fairly certain the man was blushing. “Well, you know the old stories about unicorns being lured out by hunters when they tied a virgin to a tree? These days those stories are translated into the lure being pure of heart, which is true. Unicorns have an innate ability to sense a person’s intentions and-”
Percival interrupted the magizoologist gently. “As fascinating as that is, it’s late and I’m tired. Perhaps I can hear the full lecture tomorrow?”
“Oh, right, of course. Well, to get to the point, the old stories weren’t entirely wrong. Unicorns do prefer virgins.”
Graves sat very still for a moment before a blush spread over his cheeks. A shadow fell over his desk and looking up, he found Newt very close.
“Now, there is certainly nothing wrong with being a virgin, or not being one for that matter. But I have to admit, I find it surprising that a man as attractive as you wouldn’t have found a partner by now.”
Percival felt his blush deepen against his will. Newt moved in closer, leaning on the armrests of Percival’s chair and looking the older man right in the eye. Percival froze, watching Newt slowly close the distance between them until their lips touched.
The kiss was gently, sweet even. When Newt pulled away he was smiling and still making eye contact.
“Should you ever want to change the status of your virginity, I would be happy to be of assistance.”
Then with another smile and quick kiss Newt left a dazed and smiling Percival to finish up his paperwork.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note: I'm asexual and don't know how to flirt so forgive me if this is woefully unrealistic
FILL: Pure
Well, Percival wasn’t going to get anything else done until the last unicorn was brought in so he might as well check on the two of them. Last he heard they were out in Central Park. He apparated nearby and started walking. It took some searching but he finally found the two of them staring into a thick group of trees looking frustrated.
“Goldstein, Scamander, what’s the problem?”
The two of them turned to him. “Director. This one seems more skittish than the others. Netw’s having trouble getting close. It’s hurt and stressed.”
“To put it bluntly, Mr. Graves, we need- ah, a specific kind of lure to bring it out. I’m just not sure where to find one.”
Before Percival could respond the unicorn came limping out of the trees and heading straight for Percival. The poor creature looked strung out and terrified but it limped right up to Percival, keeping the Director between it and the other two wizards before pushing its head against Percival’s shoulder, resting there and letting out a great whuff of air. Percival froze, suddenly completely out of his element. But the poor creature was hurt and he could feel it trembling so he brought up a hand to gently stroke the silky mane and the unicorn relaxed a little more, moving to lean against the confused wizard.
Looking up, Percival noticed Newt staring at him in confusion and growing interest. He didn’t know if he was entirely comfortable with that look.
“Well, Mr. Scamander, now what?”
“Oh, yes, right. See if you can get him into my case and we’ll bring him back to MACUSA.”
Percival raised an eyebrow. “And how, exactly, am I supposed to do that?”
“Ask him nicely, of course.”
Newt busied himself with setting his case down and opening it up, keeping an eye out for any creatures (Niffler) who may try to take this opportunity to go exploring (stealing). Percival waiting until the case was open before turning his attention back to the unicorn.
Feeling rather self conscious, he addressed the unicorn. “How about it, will you get in the case?”
The unicorn just pressed himself tighter against Percival. He grew a little bolder and brought both hands up, trying to soothe the distraught creature.
“You’re safe now, we’re going to bring you back to your herd. Nothing will hurt you, I promise.”
The unicorn gave a shudder and dropped his head over Percival’s shoulder, stepping closer. Percival wrapped his arms around the creature’s neck in what he hoped was a comforting hug. He really wasn’t the right person for this job and looked helplessly to the expert.
Newt was looking at the two of them fondly. “I think if you promise to remain in the case with him, he’ll be more willing to go in.”
“Would that help? I’ll be happy to go in with you and stay until you’re back with your herd.”
The unicorn pulled away enough that he could nuzzle against Percival’s shoulder again before turning and awkwardly leaping into the case. Percival followed, not wanting to break his promise. He could get answers from Newt later.
Newt followed them down into the case and it closed behind them, Percival figured Golstein was carrying them all back to headquarters. The unicorn was at his side as soon as he was out of the hut.
“Mr. Graves, if you’ll lead our guest over to the forest habitat, I’ll bring some supplies to see to his injuries. See if you can get him sitting down, the poor dear’s exhausted.”
The rest of the short trip back to MACUSA was occupied with Newt treating the unicorn’s injuries while it leaned against Percival. Well, leaned against him as much as it could without them both toppling over.
When they heard the knock on the case Newt climbed out first and then beckoned Percival and the unicorn. Goldstein had brought them right to the herd and the unicorn, after giving Percival one last nuzzle, happily reunited with his family. Percival was about to turn to leave when one of the unicorns cantered up to him and nuzzling his hair. It was soon followed by another, and another, until he was in the middle of the entire herd.
He certainly hoped these creatures were very aware of where their horns were.
He, again, didn’t have a clue what to do and looked for Newt and Goldstein. His auror looked like she was torn between laughing at him and cooing at him, wisely declining to do either. Newt looked bemused.
“Scamander, what in the name of Merlin is going on here?”
Newt did let out a chuckle. “They’re thanking you, Director.”
“And what and I supposed to do?”
“Enjoy it?”
Percival sighed and reached out to pet the closest unicorn. It was rather nice. The creatures were gentle and their coats impossibly soft. He showed a little attention to each one and they started wandering off until he was alone with Newt and Goldstein. The unicorn from the park had been the last to go and he had been a little sad to see him go.
They left and returned to his office to finish the last of the paperwork for the herd. It didn’t take long and as soon as it was done Goldstein took her leave. Percival turned to Newt and finally asked the question that had been at the front of his mind since the unicorn had limped out of the forest.
“Are you going to tell me what that was all about? Why did the unicorn come to me and not you?”
Newt wouldn’t meet his eyes and Percival was fairly certain the man was blushing. “Well, you know the old stories about unicorns being lured out by hunters when they tied a virgin to a tree? These days those stories are translated into the lure being pure of heart, which is true. Unicorns have an innate ability to sense a person’s intentions and-”
Percival interrupted the magizoologist gently. “As fascinating as that is, it’s late and I’m tired. Perhaps I can hear the full lecture tomorrow?”
“Oh, right, of course. Well, to get to the point, the old stories weren’t entirely wrong. Unicorns do prefer virgins.”
Graves sat very still for a moment before a blush spread over his cheeks. A shadow fell over his desk and looking up, he found Newt very close.
“Now, there is certainly nothing wrong with being a virgin, or not being one for that matter. But I have to admit, I find it surprising that a man as attractive as you wouldn’t have found a partner by now.”
Percival felt his blush deepen against his will. Newt moved in closer, leaning on the armrests of Percival’s chair and looking the older man right in the eye. Percival froze, watching Newt slowly close the distance between them until their lips touched.
The kiss was gently, sweet even. When Newt pulled away he was smiling and still making eye contact.
“Should you ever want to change the status of your virginity, I would be happy to be of assistance.”
Then with another smile and quick kiss Newt left a dazed and smiling Percival to finish up his paperwork.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note: I'm asexual and don't know how to flirt so forgive me if this is woefully unrealistic