New York, July 1925
You fell back, slide in your seat but your eyes remained glued to your silent blonde companion. Her eyes had briefly widen with shock at your words but she hadn't fled, just sat there sipping her tea as the enormity of your truth set in, as she processed what that meant.
As time ticked on, your fear grew. Your worry slipped through your cracks and made your mind wander into darker territory, feeding your doubt blossoming it into anxiety of losing another friend, a companion that might understand and make the loneliness slightly more bearable. The clink of the cup being set down on its saucer, Queenie had finished her tea. What would she do now? Would she just get up and leave without speaking a single word to you.
The silence was deadlier than any spoken word, it cut deeper. It was something you had always dreaded, anger could be washed away and eventually forgotten about as the wind of times crossed your path when the next decade begun anew. The silence would remain with you, eating at your heart whenever you consider the possibility of finding a new companion to wind the long years with.
"So you're Immortal then sweetie, is that what you are saying?" Queenie wasn't mincing her words. She was straight to the point, hitting the nail upon its figurative head. You found it hard to speak, to reply and all you could do was nod your head in response. You were lost for words, you had hoped for such an outcome as this one but you thought lightning wouldn't strike your path twice. "You believe me?" Most would have questioned the impossibility of your words, would have wanted proof which you could provide.
"I do, what reason would you have to lie to me. She said to speak her words were not brisk nor forced. They flowed with a sincerity that was soft and soothing to hear. She took a breath, briefly stopping to let her mind find the words to express her feelings in this moment.
"I can see your conviction, your truth burning through when you speak. I believe your words are truth as we do live in world full of such fantastical possibilities why shouldn't this be one of them?" Mary had been far more blunt, her words weren't as soft and accepting as Queenie's came across as in the moment after. Your dear sister had needed time to come to terms with what you had said, the world had been a narrower place back then.
The blonde witch opposite was more open minded, more curious and accepting, a witch before her time.
"Everyone has secrets Y/N and you're trusting me with yours" This was only the tip of the iceberg that was and had been your life. You let go of the breath that had been holding back. You were beyond happy at how things had gone, it wasn't a complete disaster. "Thank you for trusting me, as we are sharing sweetie I have a secret of my own"
A secret? An eyebrow shot up, this was an expected turn of events. Queenie could tell you anything and you keep it under lock and key for the remainder of your everlasting lifetime. "You can tell me anything Queenie, you're my friend" it was short but your words were nothing if not truthful.
"I might have gotten you the job as Director Graves's secretary" She spoke plainly, with a cheeky smile playing on her lips and a twinkle in her eyes. Your mouth flopped open, hanging there in surprise and shock. She had gotten your foot in the door. You looked like a fish staring straight at her. After a few minutes, you pulled yourself together closing your mouth, shaking your head before speaking. "Why?" You forced the words out, your tone quieter than before.
"Honey, you deserve it. You're a hard worker but want no praise for the smallest task" Her words were filled with pride shining brightly through the first rays of the morning sun as it came blazing through. "I saw that look on your face, you wanted a chance but I doubted you chase it" She had felt the resolve crumple when you had walked away as the clucking hens gossips over how they were going to work their way up the ladder into Graves's office and eventually into his bed. She had felt a sharp pain lingering on with you for the remainder of that particular day.
"I did have some inside help, my sister Tina works in the Major investigations department. You start on Monday" The squeak of your chair as you pushed it back, stand up and rushing around the table to Queenie's side, throwing your arms around your friend, hugging her tight. She quickly returned the gesture, relaxing into your embrace.
"Thank you" It was all you could muster as excitement rushed through your veins. This was your chance, your opportunity to see him again, to know again even if he did not remember who you were. The closeness was all that mattered, being near him as you worked side by side.
Percival was unsure of what to expect from the candidate Tina had offered up. It had saved him time and effort in searching through countless applications from undeserving time wasters. His time was precious, he needed focus to ensure the safety of wizard kind, to keep the peace and secrecy unwraps. He couldn't have another mishap within his office with a simpering little woman trailing after him with no work ethic or mind of her own.
He needed a hard working, loyal assistant and secretary who could make a decent cup of coffee that would satisfy his highly selective and refined pallet. Percival would not suffer fools during working hours. Outside of these four walls, he didn't have much as he rattled around his overly large brownstone home. The ancestral seat of the Graves family for over four century that landed at his feet when his father passed away. He was the head of household that had spread across the states. Work, his job within MACUSA was all that he had to keep him occupied.
He needed no one else, he did not crave companionship or friendship. They were distractions from that the task that Madam President had handed him when he had taken the dual office of Director of Magical security and head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
A knock came at the door bringing him out of his thoughts. His new secretary had arrived, his eyes flicked over to the clock upon the far wall. A smirk passed over his lips, interesting. She was right on time.
"Come in" He called, his words were flat and lackluster as he held back all traces of emotion. He was curious to see who this mysterious Miss L/N was and what she bring to his office and more importantly if she would last the day.
