Prompt Post #1

[fantasticbeasts_kinkmeme]

 ROUND 1

FUCK IT WE'LL FIGURE OUT SPECIFICS LATER

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Mini Fill: Number Four (or: this one is a Monster, whoops)

[(Anonymous)]

new author here, saw this & decided to try my hand! previous author!anon, i loved your chapter, and now i've written a thing too! hope you enjoy, whoever wants to can take the next one!

---

They've been dating for six weeks when James finds him in the corridor outside the office for the Ministry's Beast Division and says that they need to talk.

Newt is somewhat taken aback, but doesn't show it except in his questioning expression and a small tilt of his head. James sighs, and looks around the corridor before speaking.

"Look," he says, "it's not that I don't like you, Newt, you're a perfectly charming man, there's just. A few things in our relationship we need to discuss."

Newt nods his head. He considers his words carefully, hoping to avoid coming across as confrontational. "I understand. What exactly do we need to talk about?"

He thinks he was rather successful at not escalating the situation any, but really, one can never tell, with humans.

As such, James' immediate surreptitious glances toward everyone nearby, and his tone when he speaks, put Newt quite on edge. "Your beasts," he mutters. At a normal tone, James continues, "I'll see you after work, then? We could get supper at that club you like in Diagon Alley."

Newt frowns. This underhandedness and the sudden change in subject are rather uncharacteristic of James. (Though, ironically enough, not of the work he does in the Invisibility Task Force.) Despite his misgivings, he agrees, and with a somewhat forced smile says, "Well, I'd better get back to work!" He makes an awkward, abortive gesture back to his office.

"Yes, you should, of course," James says, with a curiously blank expression. "I'll just... be going."

The awkward tension hangs in the air for a long moment, then James breaks it by sharply nodding and turning away. Newt wonders what's caused him to act so strangely, but soon after he's entered his office and returned to work, all thoughts of the strange conversation slip out of his mind.

---

It's only hours later that Newt remembers his dinner plans with James. He often works overtime, losing track of the hour while concentrating on his work, but fortunately he's not – quite – late, or at least he won't be if he rushes. He hurriedly grabs his things from his desk, says a quick goodbye to his department head, and practically flies through the corridors to the main atrium. The elevator ride is torturous; Newt finds himself uselessly checking his watch every few seconds.

It's only when he finally reaches the main atrium with the minute hand just ticking past five after five that he breathes a sigh of relief. A call from across the room directs him to James' side, where they exchange a brief kiss and then apparate to the hidden city center behind the Leaky Cauldron.

"Is there a problem?" Newt asks, as James leads him quickly through the busy streets. There's no reply. Newt chooses not to think about that, to focus on Diagon Alley instead. It's about as crowded as he had expected, but Newt hardly has time focus on the fact that there are so many people--which is probably a good thing, he reflects--due to his preoccupation with whatever had upset James.

Why is he so agitated? He had mentioned Newt's beasts earlier. Oh, god, what if he was allergic to one? Newt didn't think he was, but he had never realized with Leta, and that had ended-- well. It had ended, certainly, although they still wrote each other quite often.

He withdraws quite abruptly from the whirlwind of activity and his own thoughts as he realizes they are at the restaurant and, in fact, being led to a rather private table in the back of the establishment.

James makes small talk as they decide on their meals and order, but Newt thinks--although he isn't sure--that whatever was bothering him before hasn't gone away. It's not until their waiter has approached them, a few minutes into the main course to ask how the meal is, that James finally brings up their conversation from earlier.

"I'm sure you remember that I mentioned we needed to talk about our relationship earlier," James said, and the relief that it was finally out in the open almost outweighed Newt's anxiety about what such a talk would entail.

Almost.

"Yes, of course," Next replies. "You said you thought I was perfectly charming-- thank you, by the way, I never did thank you for that, anyways-- but before and after that you said there were things we needed to discuss, involving my beasts, I suppose, because you mentioned them as well." It's a monumental effort to stop talking, he tends to chatter when he's nervous, but he'd rather not put his foot in his mouth (too much) during such an important moment as this one.

James takes it in stride, as he always does, which, Newt thinks, is more than can be said for most people. As much as he hated his brother's meddling in his life, especially his love life, he occasionally did have some good ideas.

"Yes," James says, after a few seconds pause. A rather wistful expression has overtaken his face, and Newt finds himself even more worried. "Yes," he says again, nodding, steeling himself for what's to come by folding his hands together. Newt always thought that was an adorable quirk, rather like way Liondragons would flare their facial spikes when challenging one another for territory.

He regained concentration just as James was saying "...technically, illegal."

"I'm sorry," Newt said. "I'm afraid I was elsewhere for a moment, could you say that again?"

James smiled at him, the wistful look crossing his face once more, then repeated, "I know you love your beasts and that they would never purposefully harm anyone, but you must realize that I, as a member of the Invisibility Task Force, am obligated to report things that may pose a threat to the Statute of Secrecy. And since your beasts are not registered, and your case does not meet the security standards for lodgings of magical beasts, it's technically illegal for you to have them in your possession."

Newt flounders for a moment. "But! Surely you can't be suggesting that I turn my creatures over to the Ministry? They'd kill half of them for the mere crime of existing! I've never had a problem with them escaping, either, if that's what you're worried about."

James cuts him off before his worries go too far. "No, I don't plan on reporting you. I've seen more than enough of the Ministry putting down magical creatures just because they felt they couldn't control it well enough, I don't need to be responsible for it myself."

Newt knew there was a reason he liked James so much.

"I just." James pauses, fidgets with his hands. "I love you, you know that, but I don't want to be in this position where I have to choose between you and my job. I can't, in good conscience, continue keeping your sanctuary a secret if we continue... dating. I'd always be afraid that I'm allowing you to break the law because of our relationship, and that I could turn a blind eye to any corruption if it were perpetrated by someone I care about."

Oh. It was like Leta all over again, except also entirely not. Newt distantly thinks that he should feel heartbroken over the fact that James, lovely spectacular James who respects his creatures and love him, is ending their relationship, but a larger part is merely grateful that James has promised not to turn his creatures over to the Ministry.

"Newt?" James asks, and Newt realizes he has been silent for a moment too long.

"Oh. Yes. That makes sense." What else can he say? "I'm glad you told me. I don't want you to be hurt by our relationship. I can leave, now, if you want me to," Newt continues, looking to the side and awkwardly beginning to stand.

"No!" James says, quickly, sounding almost panicked, and Newt sits back down. "No, I don't want you to leave right away. Unless you want to, of course. I would love to finish our supper. You're a wonderful person, Newt, whether I'm dating you or not. We just can't keep dating."

"Oh," Newt says again. That was unexpected. And rather relieving. "So, we'll remain friends, then?"

"Of course," James says, and he smiles. It's free of tension, Newt notices, in a way it hasn't been for a few days at the very least, maybe even weeks. Even if they aren't in a romantic relationship anymore, it seems both of them are quite glad to have made the other's acquaintance.

Re: Mini Fill: Number Four (or: this one is a Monster, whoops)

[(Anonymous)]

Aww poor Newt :(