His desk was covered in coffee cups, and they all nearly got knocked over with the loud knock on his door.
Percival blinked sitting up in his desk and realized that he had dozed off. Again. This was getting ridiculous… He was having a hard time falling asleep at night now… he had cleaned the bedroom, and actually gotten new sheets and blankets. But it didn't seem to be enough. He was still tossing and turning, fighting nightmares and trying to push at the darkness that kept trying to squish him.
He was debating going to get sleeping powder from a healer…
Percival shook his head and called that the door was open and he was surprised when Tina poked her head in. She seemed nervous, holding the door in front of her as though trying to hide behind a shield.
"Tina?" He greeted, waiting for her to walk in. It took her a moment… and Percival frowned, concerned for his auror.
She stepped into the office, closing the door behind her and walked up to his desk. He braced himself for the worst news imaginable, prepared to leap into action to help her. Tina cleared her throat.
"Mister Graves, Queenie and I were wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner on Friday..?"
Of all the things that he was expecting, that was not one of them. For a moment the Director wondered if he heard her correctly…
"…You've come into my office in the middle of a shift to ask me over for dinner?" He asked slowly to clarify, already feeling his brows starting to furrow.
Tina quickly straightened her back and declared that she was on her coffee break, and figured best to get it out of the way early so she wasn't trying to track him down later. Percival watched her for a moment and he an inkling of a feeling that she was lying. She wasn't on break, and she certainly wasn't trying to make the rest of her day easier. She was too nervous for that. So this must have been Queenies' idea.
Graves was planning on saying no. He was much too busy, and often didn't enjoy socializing more than necessary…However… when was the last time he had a well cooked meal? Not something he had quickly made in an effort to feed himself to make the nagging doctor's happy? How long had it been since he had socialized at all? Not to mention, his upbringing told him, it would have been incredibly rude to turn down the offer. His mother would have scolded him and the nannie would have smacked him up the backside of the head for being rude.
He sighed heavily. "What time on Friday?"
Percival had been about to knock on the door to the building address Tina had given him; but the door opened before his hand landed. Tina stood at the door and quickly put a finger to her lips. He closed his mouth from his greeting, blinking slowly, before giving a small nod.
Tina took his arm, and led him up a set of stairs, his temporary cane hooked on his arm. He remained quiet, looking at her questioningly before being gently pushed into the upstairs flat. Tina let out a soft breath before turning to Percival.
"Sorry Sir… Mrs Esposito, the landlady doesn't want us bringing men home." Tina said awkwardly. She pressed her lips tightly together, looking at him a bit with wide eyes as though surprised she had just said that.
"I see." Percival said quietly, really not sure what else he could say on the matter. However now he was curious about what would happen if he got caught here. "… I take it you have put on a silencing spell then."
Tina gave a nod, opened her mouth and then closed it, unsure of what to say. However the moment of awkwardness was cut off when Percival heard the bubbly cheer of
"Mister Graves!" He turns to look over his shoulder to see the grinning face of Queenie Goldstein. For her sake he tried to smile back.
"Miss Goldstein." He offered with a small nod.
"Oh please Mister Graves, none of that while you're in our home…" Queenie waved her hand. "Queenie. You already call Teenie, Tina."
Percival blinked, looking at the other Goldstein sister. "Teenie?" There was the barest hint of a smile on his lips. It only grew when Tina got a light dusting of pink on her cheeks; she quickly brushed past him into the kitchen.
"It's nice to see you finally out of the office." Tina said moving onto a new topic. "Even if it is in my house." There is a teasing hint in her tone and Percival raised an eyebrow in surprise but he found himself smirking.
"I must admit it's nice to finally be out of the office… even if it is in your house."
Tina and Queenie were treated to the rare sight of his rare grin.
"And its about to get better. Dinner." Queenie said finishing up with a flick of her wand and the Director turned to watch the food finish cooking, floating out to plates and finally to the table.
Percival smiled, waiting for his hosts to sit before seating himself. "It looks… delicious." He said quietly. And it did. His mouth watered at the sight of potatoes with melted butter, small roast cut into fine slices with gravy on the side, and there was dessert… pie? Set off to the side.
"Thank you." Queenie said off to the side and Percival gave a small laugh. He supposed he would have to be careful with his thoughts, least he give away how thankful he is. He glanced at Queenie out of the corner of his eye and sees her nose scrunch up and she gets a wide smile.
He hadn't seen food that looked this good since he was at home… a boy… School days. Of course he had been out to dinner, and yes he had been to MACUSA parties with food aplenty. But it wasn't the same. Made to please multiple hundreds of people without that personal touch.
This was… This was nice.
Percival pulled a heaping serving on his plate as did the two witches.
However as he was eating he was struck by the sudden thought… he had nothing to talk about with the other two expect work.
"… So. Tina." He started and saw her look up from a forkful of potatoes. "How are you liking being an auror again?"
She got a nervous little smile. "Its great Mister Graves, Sir. I'm very happy to have my position back."
"She's been so much more upbeat, Mister Graves." Queenie chimed in much to Tina's embarrassment.
"That's good." Percival offered a bit awkwardly. "And… Mister Scamander? He's off back for his Ministry?" He asked, admittedly not knowing what exactly Mister Scamander did.
"I think he's finishing up his book." Tina said. "I haven't heard from him in a wh-"
"He's coming to visit."
Percival and Tina both paused and looked to the blond haired Goldstein sister. She shrugged a shoulder. "I got the post today while you were at work… He's coming to visit." She gave a smirk to Tina. "Something about delivering the first copy of his book in person."
Percival certainly didn't miss the blush that crossed her cheeks.
"It'll be nice to finally meet the man who helped capture Grindelwald." Percival said to get rid of the silence that had taken over the room.
"Yes. Oh Mister Graves I think you two will get along quite well." Queenie said, ignoring the look Tina seemed to be giving her.
"I guess we'll see." Percival said before putting a forkful of roast in his mouth. He wasn't sure how exactly he would get along with Mister Scamander… after all… from what he had read about the man… Newt Scamander didn't really seem like the type of man who would really be one for following the laws as strictly as Percival would like him to.
Tina gave a slow nod. Judging from the small laugh Queenie gave, it seemed Tina was apparently the same thing.
Percival gave a laugh.
Both the girls couldn't help but smile.