Newt apparated to the edge of a Tennessee forest. He had received an urgent owl from a concerned witch stating that an injured wampus was seen in this forest. He had never seen a wampus before and was eagerly anticipating meeting one. He just hoped it wasn't too severely injured.
Newt removed his wand from its holster and checked to make sure his case was still securely closed. He didn't want any of his creatures escaping into the forest.
"Well, what do you think, Pickett?" he asked, glancing down at the bowtruckle in his lapel pocket. "Ready to meet a wampus?"
He chuckled as he listened to Pickett's chirps. "No, I don't think he will eat you. Wampuses eat meat, not bowtruckles. Now, let's go find that wampus."
Before he could enter the forest, he heard a near silent pop behind him. He whirled around and came face to face with Gellert Grindelwald. He quickly fired a spell at him but it was lazily batted out of the air.
"There's no need for that, my dear Newt," Grindelwald purred. "It's a pleasure to see you again. You're even more beautiful than I remember."
"Beg your pardon?" he asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for you, darling; I've missed you."
"Are you following me?"
"No, silly. I sent you that letter about the wampus. I knew you would come running if you thought a creature was hurt and needed help.
Newt was confused. "So does this mean there is no wampus?"
"No, precious, there is no wampus."
Newt looked down at the ground, a frown on his face. He looked up at Grindelwald with tears shimmering in his bright blue eyes. "I really wanted to see a wampus. They are such magnificent creatures. I already built a habitat for it in my case."
Grindelwald stared in horror at the sad magizoologist. He hated himself for making Newt cry. "I'm so sorry, darling. I just wanted to talk to you. I didn't mean to make you cry. Let's go find a wampus right now."
Newt shook his head in despair. "No, that's alright. I don't want to be a bother. What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I wanted to see you because I realized that you are my soul mate. We're meant to be together and I want you by my side as we rule the world, hand in hand," he said with a zealous gleam in his cold, dark eyes.
Newt took a careful step backward. Now that thoughts of the injured wampus had stopped occupying his mind, he realized he was in danger. Grindelwald was a powerful, dark wizard, who must also be insane if he thought Newt was his soul mate.
"You think I'm your soul mate? Why?"
"You were the only one who saw through my mask. You saw the real me," he said, referring to the time he impersonated Percival Graves. "We're going to be amazing together. Once we have subdued the inferior, we can release your creatures. They can live out in the open without fear. I'll kill anyone who hurts any creature. They'll be safe and protected."
Newt nodded as he thought of a way to call for help. Mr. Graves had given him a thunderbird pendant that acted as a distress signal. He slipped his hand into his pocket and activated it. Now, he just had to play for time until help arrived.
"While I agree that these wonderful creatures should be allowed to roam free, I'm afraid I don't want to rule the world as you say. I don't think that muggles are inferior to witches and wizards."
The dark wizard looked at him fondly. "I know you have a kind heart, dearest. You are also too modest. You are far superior to muggles, witches, and wizards. You are the best person I have ever met. You wouldn't have captured my heart if you weren't the best."
He blushed faintly. "Thank you for your kind words, but I'm afraid you're blinded by affection. I am merely an average wizard. You are much more powerful than me."
"You are my opposite in every way; that's why you're the other half of my soul. Lightness to my darkness, goodness to my evil, weakness to my strength. We were made for each other."
Newt tried to think of a way to reject Grindelwald without making the evil wizard kill him in a rage when he heard multiple pops. Help had arrived at last. He saw Graves, Tina, and four other aurors appear next to them.
Percival quickly took stock of the situation. He was shocked to see Grindelwald with Newt. He had assumed Newt had run into poachers or traffickers and needed backup. He did not expect to see his former captor and torturer standing in front of him.
"Grindelwald, you are under arrest!" Percival shouted at him as he stood in front of Newt, protecting him from the dark wizard. He would rather die than let any harm come to the adorable magizoologist.
Before Grindelwald could blink, his wand was flung out of his hand by a well-executed Expelliarmus spell and thick, iron chains wrapped around his body. Tina slapped magic-suppressing cuffs on his wrists.
Percival turned around to look at Newt. "Are you alright, Mr. Scamander? What happened here?"
He ducked his head shyly. "I am not hurt, Mr. Graves, although I am still disappointed at the lack of a wampus."
The director pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please start at the beginning. Why are you here in Tennessee?"
"I received a letter saying there was an injured wampus in this forest, so I came here to find him. I've never met a wampus before and I was quite looking forward to it. However, it appears that the letter was a fake. Mr. Grindelwald lured me here under false pretenses."
Newt glared at the dark wizard as he remembered his lie. For his part, Grindelwald implored Newt to forgive him.
"I'm sorry, darling. As soon as I escape from prison, I'll go looking for a wampus for you."
Percival, Tina, and the other aurors stared at the dark wizard in shock. Why was he calling Newt darling?
"Mr. Scamander, why did Grindelwald refer to you as 'darling'?" Percival asked.
Newt blushed in embarrassment. "Ah, you see Mr. Grindelwald believes that I am his soul mate. He lured me here to talk to me and confess his affection towards me."
"Yes, Newt is mine!" he shouted. "Keep your dirty hands off of him! As soon as I escape, we're going to be together and rule the world!"
Percival glared at the dark wizard. There was no way that Newt belonged to Grindelwald. He wouldn't stand for it. Newt was too precious to be the boyfriend of a crazy terrorist.
Tina had walked over to Newt to make sure he was alright. "Are you ok?"
Newt broke off his longing gaze at the forest to look at Tina. "I'm fine. Do you think there are any wampuses in this forest?"
Tina gazed fondly at her best friend. "I don't know, but I do know where there are a few wampuses."
"Where?" Newt asked excitedly.
"Ilvermorny has several living on the castle grounds."
Percival stopped glaring at Grindelwald when he heard Tina and Newt's conversation. "That's an excellent suggestion, Goldstein. Mr. Scamander, would you like to accompany me to Ilvermorny this weekend to visit the wampuses?"
Newt beamed at the director. "I'd love to, Mr. Graves."
He thought he was standing in a ray of warm sunshine when Newt smiled at him like that. "Very good. I'll make arrangements with the headmistress as soon as I get back to the office."
"Hey, the wampus was my idea to court Newt," Grindelwald stated proudly. "Find your own date ideas, Graves."
"You didn't actually have a wampus, Grindelwald. You tricked Newt into coming here and made him sad by not having a wampus. I can show him one and make him happy," Percival said, smiling smugly at the captured dark wizard.
"As soon as I escape, I can give Newt anything he wants," he said. He looked at the wide-eyed magizoologist. "Darling, would you like a dragon? I will get you a dragon."
Newt stared at the two men. He was flabbergasted at their behavior. They were acting like two males fighting over a mate, posturing and boasting. He blushed a deep red as he belatedly realized they were fighting over him.
"That won't be necessary, Mr. Grindelwald," he said. "Dragons are proud creatures. They do not wish to be owned."
"How about a manticore or a basilisk? An acromantula? I'll give you anything you want," he said.
"That's enough," Percival said. "Take him back to MACUSA's holding cells. Goldstein, please inform the president that we have captured Grindelwald again. Do not let him escape again."
Grindelwald looked at Newt one last time. "Wait for me, precious. I won't let us be separated for long."
Newt shook his head in bewilderment as the aurors transported Grindelwald back to jail. He couldn't believe the day he was having.
Percival took a calming breath. He did not like watching Grindelwald trying to win Newt's affection. Now that the dark wizard was on his way to MACUSA, he could focus his attention on the adorably flustered magizoologist.
"Mr. Scamander, I can see that this has been a trying day for you, but I have a few more questions," he said. He didn't want to cause him anymore pain, but he had to follow protocol.
"It's alright, Mr. Graves. Please ask your questions."
"Are you in collusion with Grindelwald? Are you one of his supporters or fanatics?"
"Of course not," Newt said scandalized. "How could you think that?"
"I don't think that, but I have to ask. Do you share his feelings?"
"No, I don't think that wizards are superior to muggles. I don't think they should be subjugated to our rule."
Percival smiled at Newt's naivety. "I wasn't referring to his ideology. Do you share his romantic feelings? Are you and Grindelwald in a relationship?"
"No, I'm not attracted to homicidal maniacs," he said, greatly offended by the suggestion.
Percival sighed in relief. He didn't believe sweet, innocent Newt would ever have feelings for Grindelwald. "Very good. Now, we should return to MACUSA. You'll have to give a statement."
"Of course, I understand," Newt said.
"Then, I will contact Ilvermorny's headmistress and arrange for our trip. I'm sure you will enjoy seeing the castle and meeting the creatures that live there."
"Are you sure you want to go? I know you're a very busy man, and now you have Grindelwald in custody. I don't want to take you away from your work," he said forlornly, staring down at the ground.
"I'm very sure I want to go with you," Percival said fervently. "My work will still be there on Monday. I can afford to take a weekend off."
Newt looked at Percival through his hair covering his eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Graves. I'd like it very much if we went together. I enjoy your company."
Percival smiled as he heard those words. His heart raced as he saw Newt shyly looking at him through his fringe. He really was too adorable to be real.
"I enjoy your company too. I'm very much looking forward to our trip."
Newt smiled sweetly at him and picked up his case. "Shall we go back to MACUSA?"
Percival nodded as he realized that Seraphina was probably impatiently waiting for him in her office. "Yes. Would you like me to side-along you?"
Now, Newt was an expert at apparition. He was fully capable of apparating long distances and apparating blindly. However, he happily accepted Percival's offer. He wouldn't mind being close to the other man.
Percival smiled again as he heard Newt's acceptance. Instead of holding onto his arm, he slid his arm around Newt's waist and pulled him close. He gazed fondly at him as he blushed. He wanted to count every cute freckle on his face, but he didn't have the time. "Ready?"
Newt took a deep breath. He hadn't expected to be held so close. He gripped his case tightly and placed his other hand on Percival's shoulder. He briefly met the director's eyes and nodded. "I'm ready."
Percival took a moment to memorize the feel of Newt in his arms and then apparated them back to MACUSA. He resolved to confess his feelings soon. He didn't want another dark wizard to try to steal Newt away from him.
