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fantasticbeasts_kinkmeme) wrote2016-11-23 07:27 am
fantasticbeasts_kinkmeme) wrote2016-11-23 07:27 am
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Prompt Post #1
ROUND 1
FUCK IT WE'LL FIGURE OUT SPECIFICS LATER
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Not Flesh and Blood But The Heart (2/3)
(Anonymous) 2017-07-10 01:05 am (UTC)(link)"She's perfect." He whispered the word with reverence. "I mean, assuming you'll be... you'll be happy like this. We can have a family, and she's a smart girl. Creative too." Newt shrugged a little, his hands wriggling at his sides as he tried to organise what else he had to say. "She isn't an obscurial yet, and thats a plus. She has an adult she trusts, and that's another, and she seems to accept at least a little magic. So our situation could be a lot worse."
"Then why do I feel you are about to add a but onto that sentence?"
Newt smiled up at Percival.
"Even if we ignore her abilities, magical and obscurial, and focus just on her - we have a little girl who thinks she can hear voices, and who is already being hunted by Grindelwald. I don't want anyone hurt, but that includes my love and my creatures, and I refuse to let any of them be hurt. She could lash out. She's as dangerous as any nundu that I rescue with a damaged neck - the venom gland might still be in place, or it might have fallen away entirely." Newt shrugged. "We take her in and we treat her well, and we help her to be a human. But we can't let ourselves forget that she may well be an obscurial as well. To do anything else is a disservice to her and to us."
"Do you always sound like you are issuing a speech?" Percival teased, but the smile that accompanied his words stopped Newt from being overworried.
"Only if I care passionately about something," Newt answered. "And yes, that includes Modesty."
Newt stretched his hands above his head and flashed a playful smile.
"I'd best be getting on with preparing for her this evening. And before you ask darling, you do count as something I care about with a great deal of passion." Those final words were accompanied by the tender blowing of a kiss towards his lover, the gesture accompanied by a truly brilliant smile.
"Do you need any help?" Percival asked. Newt shook his head.
"I've planned what I want my little girl's room to look like for decades. Now that I have a daughter, let me prepare this." Newt knew that he was almost begging, but cared about getting this right. He could only hope that if he did, she would stay, and even Percival might be astounded. There was a pause of a few moments before Percival nodded.
"I'll get dinner to make itself then." With that, he walked away.
Newt had already chosen which of their rooms would be good for a potential child - it was one that he had set up as a guest room, with an enchanted window - a tap of his wand changed the view from one of mountains to one with a meadow and a stream. He placed his case on the centre of the floor, and climbed down in it, returning with a patchwork quilt blanket. He prepared a frame on the wall for her embroidery, and sent a message to Queenie asking for advice. After that he scrambled back into the case, returning with a handful of basic spellbooks, and other books that a child might like.
A few of his favourite story books from his childhood joined the others on a shelf. He cleared the table, setting up a mirror on it as a vanity, and adjusted the chair and desk so it would be a suitable height for her.
Finally, he fetched a small wicker basket from the case, and placed it in one corner, lined with a soft fabric. He placed a scratching post beside it, and a bowl for food and one for water. He didn't want to start by getting the girl a kitten - not when they weren't sure it would work out. Not when she might lash out by accident and hurt it. But he wanted to offer her that possibility, to show that she was going to be allowed to stay and that there would be a kitten soon.
"It looks good,” Percival spoke from the doorway, making Newt startle a little. "Are you sure about this?"
"I'm certain." Newt agreed. "She and Witch Mulligan can come and visit, and see what they think of it. I can change anything she wants, but... I want her to have her own space."
Percival nodded, resting his hand on Newt's hip and guiding him down to the kitchen.
That evening, neither of them mentioned the little girl who was about to turn their life upside down, both lost within their own thoughts. The touches they exchanged were as tender as they ever were, but with an intensity that came with the knowledge if tomorrow went well, they would have to be more quiet in future.
***
Percival led the way to Modesty's cell again the next day, knocking smartly. The door was opened by Witch Mulligan, who nodded her greeting, and they were shown in. Modesty had packed away all of her things, and was sitting on the bed beside two bags.
"You came back?" she said softly, and Percival's heart ached.
"Of course we did. We thought you and Witch Mulligan could come and set up your new room, if you'd like that?"
"Is that okay Miss Mulligan?" Modesty asked, emphasis on the word miss. Percival remembered what he had read in the reports, that young Modesty had been made to fear her magic.
"That would be lovely Modesty dear," the woman promised, wrapping her arms around her for a moment. "You're going to be very happy with these two, I know you will. I promise they are going to take the very best care of you, because you are a very special little girl."
Modesty nodded, smiling up at her with trust on her face. Percival shivered a little. It was one thing to consider adoption when it was in discussion in purely theoretical terms. The thought of taking responsibility for a life, especially one as pained as this child's, was frightening.
Newt had already lifted both bags, and reached out for Modesty's hand. She paused, looking up at Percival.
"You're the man with the coat?" She asked.
"What?"
"Credence. He said he had a friend who wore a coat. He said the friend was going to save us... Chastity and Credence are...are with the angels now. But you're his friend. And you've come to save me."
Percival hesitated. He didn't know what to say, not wanting to explain Grindelwald's deception to her.
"Your brother was a good man, and what happened was not his fault. I hope he would think I am taking good care of you." He chose his words with care, but Modesty smiled up at him trustingly.
"I knew Credence would make everything better," she promised, and with that she reached for Percival's hand.
Apparating home was easier than walking through the streets, although the movement appeared to make poor Modesty a little queasy, judging by her expression. Witch Mulligan walked with them into the house.
"It's a pretty house," Modesty said softly, skirting around the rug on the floor.
"You can walk on the rugs Modesty." Witch Mulligan reminded her, and she looked down.
"I don't want to make them messy."
"I'm sure you won't," Percival reassured.
"Even if you do, we can magic them clean again," Newt promised. "You aren't going to be in trouble."
"What's that?" Modesty asked, looking over Percival's shoulder. Several years of loving Newt meant that Percival began to worry whenever he heard any unexplained noise, and he spun half expecting to come face to face with a nundu.
Instead, a Demiguise stood there, looking at the little girl.
"This is Dougal!" Newt introduced him enthusiastically, lifting Dougal up so that he and Modesty were face to face. Modesty waved a hand, and Dougal waved back.
"Is he a monkey?"
"He's a demiguise," Newt explained. "They're a kind of ape, and they can turn invisible at will."
Modesty nodded slowly.
"Why don't we go and see your room?" Newt suggested, guiding her up to the waiting bedroom. Modesty gasped as she saw it, looking around in wide eyed joy.
"It's beautiful!"
"It's yours," Percival promised, and the four of them got to work setting up Modesty's things as Dougal sat and watched, crunching on an apple.
***
"You don't have to stay here tonight," Newt told her, even though he wished that she would stay. "If you'd feel more comfortable staying with Witch Mulligan, you can go back to the base?"
"No thank you," Modesty said softly. "I'd like to stay here, if this is where I'm going to live, as long as Miss Mulligan doesn't mind."
Witch Mulligan smiled and embraced the little girl.
"Okay," Newt felt pride glow within his chest. Modesty wanted to be here, and was showing no signs of being an obscurial yet - while he knew the abuse had primed her for it, it was clear she wasn't feeling that afraid here, and he could only hope that situation would remain. He wanted her to be happy here.
"You can see Witch Mulligan tomorrow," Percival promised. Modesty nodded, waving up at the older woman who embraced her briefly before leaving the three of them.
For a moment an awkward silence fell, but then Dougal walked over, wrapping his arms around Modesty. The little girl giggled, cuddling him tightly in return.
"Hello Dougal," she said softly, patting his fur. "He's really soft!"
"He is, isn't he?" Newt asked, crouching down beside her. "Demiguises are often slaughtered so that their fur can be used to make invisibility cloaks."
Modesty gasped, standing protectively in front of Dougal. Newt smiled at her fondly.
"That's part of why he's here. I want to be able to show people how wonderful Demiguises are, and that the world benefits from their continued life far more than it does from their skins used as cloaks."
Modesty nodded, and Percival called them to eat.
Modesty watched the food float over to the plates, her forehead creasing slightly as she looked at the meal.
"Is something wrong?" Percival asked after a moment.
"No.. not... not really," Modesty murmured. "Just..." She squirmed a little in her seat, blinking back tears. Newt gave her as long as she needed to work out what she wanted to say, and when she did speak her words left her in a tangled rush. "I'm just thinking that Ma said that magic was sinful and that for any man to love another man was inverted and wrong and that was why Credence said I couldn't say about ..." She looked up at Percival, and shook her head. "Because it's wrong and unnatural but..." Her voice shook, and she looked as though she were about to burst into tears. "I just want to have a home, and a family. And Miss Mulligan was so nice to me, I don't see how she can be evil..." Her words gave way to faint sobs, and Newt wrapped an arm around her shoulder, holding her close and trying to be a soothing presence. Percival frowned for a second, clearly trying to find an answer. When he spoke, it was with an authority that made Modesty gaze up at him in wonder.
"It isn't evil. Magic is... well, it's like a knife. It's a tool. Now a knife can be used to cut up bread for dinner," he looked at Modesty. "I cut up some bread earlier. Now, when I used the knife for that, was it bad or sinful?"
Modesty shook her head, curiosity winning over from her earlier fear and anger.
"But the same knife could be used to stab someone because they were annoying me. Would that be good or bad?"
"Bad?" Modesty whispered, gaze down as though she feared criticising her new father even in this way. He nodded.
"It would be bad. Now, the knife itself is the same both times, isn't it?"
Another nod from the little girl.
"So it's not the knife that's good or bad. It's what is done with it. And the... the same for magic. It's a tool, and it can be used to fix things or to cause problems, and on its own it isn't good or bad. As for my relationship with Newt..." Percival's voice trailed off, and Newt squeezed his hand, taking over the speaking.
"I love Percival, and Percival feels the same about me. We make each other happy and we have a family in our own way. I don't think that's bad. You don't have to agree, you can think it's bad if you want. But I ask that you at least get to know us before you decide."
Modesty nodded, and began to eat, her curiosity sated.
***
The first two days passed relatively smoothly, considering the situation that they had found themselves within. Modesty still saw Witch Mulligan every day, but she was visibly growing more confident. She liked feeding the mooncalves in the case, and asked more questions about magic. Percival hoped that perhaps, they would be able to be alright.
Sometimes, it was easy to forget everything Modesty had been through. She was a brilliant child, eager to help and full of questions. Percival answered what he could, and promised to find out more for her. He felt hopeful that she would be happy with them. She came up to him in the kitchen as he was putting the finishing touches to lunch.
"Can I help Pa?"
Percival nodded quickly. Calling Newt and himself Papa and Pa was something she had been trying out over the past day - not every time, but often enough. Every time he heard her say it he felt a wave of emotion well up inside of him at the knowledge he was someone's father.
"That would be very kind Modesty." He handed her a cup. "Could you take in some water for Newt?"
She nodded quickly, taking the cup and walking smartly from the room. It was as she reached the doorway that a diricrawl chick appeared on the ground in front of her, too close for her to see. She stumbled, the cup falling from her fingers and shattering on the floor as the water spilled across the tiles.
Modesty whimpered, wrapping her arms around her chest and beginning to sob softly. Percival waved a wand to repair the cup, but Newt was already scooping Modesty up. Percival approached to join the embrace, then paused when he saw how the tips of Modesty's fingers had become black, the air around her wavering slightly. He took a step back, letting Newt take the lead on this. He couldn't hear the words Modesty was mumbling, but he could hear his husband's responses.
"It's okay Modesty..." Newt spoke, as the little girl tried desperately to apologise for the shattered china. "Your Pa has already fixed it, and even if you couldn't it doesn't matter. No one is going to hurt you. You didn't do anything bad, no, you're not stupid, you're such a clever girl."
The air around her steadied slightly, and Newt carried her over to the sofa, sitting down with her in his lap.
"You aren't in any trouble, I promise you." He began. "Your Pa and I love you, and we won't be angry with you, not at all..." He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Things break. Things are replaceable. You aren't." Modesty nodded, and slowly the darkness faded from her edges.
Newt continued to cuddle her as they ate their lunch, and that afternoon he let her sit beside him as he worked on some notes. She had the niffler on her lap, cuddling him to her chest. The niffler appeared to be tolerating the entire thing with surprising patience, and she was smiling as she patted his fur. By early afternoon, her curiosity had returned, and she was beginning to ask a handful of questions which Newt was quick to respond to.
Percival looked over at the two of them, and knew that they could make this work.
***
That evening Modesty curled up on Newt's lap, looking at the book he had open in front of her. Animals of all shapes and sizes danced across the page, as Newt corrected the book with a pen. She giggled every time he wrote in the book - to her it seemed almost blasphemous, but Newt would just smile and tell her he was making it better.
Re: Not Flesh and Blood But The Heart (2/3)
(Anonymous) 2017-07-10 01:06 am (UTC)(link)Newt rocked Modesty a little as he read, able to see that she was tiring, her eyelids drooping a little as sleep beckoned her.
"You need to sleep now..."
"I worry you'll be gone when I wake up," she mumbled. "You're a real family, and I've got a real home, and I don't want to sleep and then wake up and then find out it's all been a dream. Please, don't make me sleep..."
"You're safe here." Newt promised, not pressing her. He continued with his story, knowing that soon enough she would fall into the sleep her body demanded.
She closed her eyes and snuggled into the warmth of his chest, as he stroked her hair, continuing to read in a gentle voice. Her eyes were closing and she lay in his arms, relaxed.
Newt was just lifting her to deposit her in her bed when the windows of the lounge smashed inwards. Newt instantly wrapped around Modesty to shelter her as glass ripped through the air and Percival drew his wand.
Her eyes opened wide with terror, and she whimpered.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm so sorry, please don't take me back Papa, I'm sorry..."
Newt rested a hand on her back, and shook his head.
"We're never getting rid of you Modesty. But I don't think that was you." He raised his head, looking at the dark mass which writhed outside.