Cocktails: Starter Pack - Newt/Graves
Lent: Only Male Characters
Restriction of the Month: Write a story that does not contain any characters that attended Hogwarts whilst Harry was there (including Professors).
Caffeine Awareness: Black Coffee - Write about a bitter person
Jewels: Verdite - (Ring) Write about a Hufflepuff
Scavenger: Write a fanon pairing
Insane House Challenge: Style - Third Person
2018 Resolutions: Write a pairing you've never written before
Word Count: 413
Recovering
"Don't look at me like that," he grumbled, turning away from Newt.
"Like what? Someone who loves you," Newt whispered, reaching out and touching Graves' hand which instantly twitched away from him.
"No. Like someone who feels sorry for me," Graves snapped. "I know you wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for this!"
To reiterate his point, Graves pulled down the hood of his cloak and revealed his face which was scarred to the point where it had become unrecognisable to him whenever he looked in the mirror. The hideous scars left him a shadow of the man he used to be.
"I have no idea what you mean," Newt said, his eyes not quite meeting Graves' as they lingered on the partially healed scars his boyfriend had sustained three weeks ago during a fierce duel with a dark wizard. It pained Newt to see Graves in such a state because of the mental toll it was taking on him. Newt had never seen his boyfriend so broken before.
"Don't treat me like an idiot," Graves barked. "I saw the letter from Hogwarts inviting you to guest teach a lesson next week… and yet you're still here because you think I can't cope, that I need watching 24/7, that I'm going to do something stupid if you leave my side for two minutes."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Newt replied, feeling taken aback by Graves' harsh tone.
"You've been watching me like a hawk since I left the hospital," he hissed, throwing the letter Newt had hidden at him. "I'm not fragile. I am more than capable of coping for a few days without you."
"Okay, Hogwarts did contact me. I didn't accept because I don't want to leave you whilst you're recovering. I want to be here to support you," Newt explained. "And for the record, I don't think you are stupid; I think you are brave and strong. I wish you would let me in though. Talk to me about how you are feeling rather than keeping it all bottled up inside. Please."
Newt reached out and placed his hand on Graves' face, silently pleading with him to look at him.
"I can't make any promises," Graves whispered. "I've been alone for so long that I've never had anyone care about me enough to want to know what goes on inside my head. But I'll try."
Newt smiled at his boyfriend. "That's all I ask."