People hurried past, trying not to show their growing interest, but at the same time they tried desperately to slow down their pace in order to hear the two people arguing in the corridor.
Fighting between those two was normal. It was an everyday occurrence in which all the people, as well as many of the MACUSA other inhabitants knew.
It was director Percival Graves and the hunter Medea Ace.
In over a year the people of MACUSA have learned how the relationship between those two really works. At first it looked like they would kill one another, but slowly everything changed.
Now people around the building and New York learned that even if director was sometimes so high and mighty and bossed around his stuff, he was also good at listening to normal people and responding. Many of them felt that they had Medea to thank for that.
Medea a badass. A stone cold killer. Not someone any sane person would want to tangle with. She had a reputation for absolutely destroying anyone who crossed her in the slightest.
Other Aurors would compare the of them and say they were like the sun and moon, or two sides of the same coin.
They were always arguing and bickering, always together, always looking for each other, always in trouble. They were in many ways friends.
Bickering between them was nothing new, and it was almost always over something stupid what Medea had done.
Sometimes it was hilarious, and Medea always laughed afterwards in the office.
This was different though, this time Medea looked like he was really angry. She didn't seem to care if anyone heard him. The woman was chasing after Graves until she finally stopped the man.
Graves tried to avoid her gaze, looking both sad and wary at the same time.
She says and she goes back to her office as Graves insists on talking with the woman because he would never allow such thing…
Tina rolls her eyes and decides to walk away from the room. Picquery sits back on her chair like she's about to watch a dramatic episode of a soap opera.
Newt follows her example and sits on a chair in front of her desk because knowing his friend It's going to take a while before she calms down again.
''You fuckinh asshole...''
''Medea let me explain..''
''Shut the fuck..''
''Stop throw things at me..'
''Do not tell me what to do..''
''MEDEAAAAAAAAAAAAA...''
There's a loud slam, followed quickly by Fraves' shout, and Newt looks over at Tina. She grips the mug tighter and bites her lip. Medea clonks through the doorway, grabbing up her gun with nimble fingers.
"Fido, come on," Medea orders.
"Where are we going?" Newt asks, scrambling to his feet without much thought.
"For a fucking walk" Medea grits and walks out, heading to the exit door.
"Right," Newt sighs and looks to Miss President. "Uh, we'll be back. Check on director?"
"Of course." She agrees.
"Thanks, you're the best," Newt says quickly, hurrying after Medea.
"Stupid, selfish, idiot man," Medea snaps harshly as she snatches open the door.
Newt lets out a heavy sigh as he walks around next to her , he could hear her talk under her breath. The man has long gotten used to Medea's bad language, but in this moment, he reaches up and clutches the "oh shit" handle just to be on the safe side. Medea is pissed.
Soon, the MACUSA isn't anything but a small dot in the rearview mirror, and still, Newt keeps quiet. Medea has her foot planted firmly down. Her jaw is clenched, and she's white-knuckling the gun as if she can strangle the inanimate object.
Newt doesn't say anything. He never does, not when Medea is like this with the director; he knows better than to do that. It might take a bit, but Newt knows that Medea will eventually break and start ranting until she lets Newt give her some advice that will help her cool down.
And, he isn't wrong. Newt can see the exact moment that Medea is going to break. Her hands loosen and a deep breath pushes from her body. She hunkers down a little, a pout formed between her eyebrows. Newt goes still and starts counting down.
3…
2…
1…
"He's just so stubborn, you know? He doesn't fucking listen to anyone about anything, even if someone is trying to help him."
Newt internally rolls his eyes, though he keeps his face perfectly blank. He has no idea what it is that Graves isn't accepting help with, and honestly, he isn't entirely sure if Graves is in the right for refusing to listen. Sometimes, Medea's offerings for solutions aren't all that great.
But Newt doesn't say any of that.
"You just care about him," Newt says softly, nodding seriously. "We all do. I get it."
"I just don't understand. He's so...asshole''She bursts out, getting riled up all over again.
''Why are you so angry with him?''Newt sighs, shrugging.
''He does not trust me!''Medea grumbles.
''Since when?''He asks with a frown.
''Since I came back!''
''You left him, Medea. The man said that he was in love with you and you ran away for two weeks. For 14 days all of us had to put up with his attitude, his screams and his grumpiness''Newt lectures, shooting Medea a look.
"I know! That's what I keep telling him that I am sorry, but he keeps bringing it up as a reason to…" Medea abruptly trails off, going silent as her throat bobs.
Newt is almost too afraid to ask, almost, but he asks anyway. "Reason to do what?"
" To have Black in a field to have his back, " Medea grits out.
Newt has the distinct impression that his friend doesn't like Giselle Black for a whole lot more than she lets on, and for more reasons than just because he works close with Graves.
"Well, what did he say?" Newt pushes.
''That Black can have his back in a fild because of her magic!''Medea mutters, making a face when she says " magic " and grinding his teeth ass he clenches the gun harder.''And that stupid bitch stood there smiling at me and then he grab Graves by his hand. She was basically wooing Graves to her side, dumb fuckface."
Newt doesn't know whether the Italian woman is the dumb fuckface in the scenario or Graves. But either way, Newt knows that it bothers Medea that Giselle even makes an impression on Graves.
"This is ridiculous," Newt states sharply.
Medea sighs. "You're fucking telling me, man".
''We were freaking talking and then his phone rang. At first, I didn't know who he was talking to. But when I found out, we fought worse than we ever have. I was more angry that he hid it from me than I was for him actually talking to that Italian bitch! " Medea explodes, her face going an alarming shade of red.
"Did he stop, at least?"Newt asks, grimacing as Medea hit a wall.
"No. No, he fucking didn't. That asshole argued with me and then, he fucking called Giselle to talk some more about a new plan. Like, literally right after! With me still in the room! " Medea shouts, absolutely fuming.
Okay, this is leaning more towards a rant on partners being unfaithful. It definitely holds that air, and Newt knows he has to be cautious. Because, if Medea slips up and lets some real feelings show, not the watered down shit he actually lets out, they'll both be in a world of awkwardness that they aren't ready for.
"Graves must think she's trustworthy and can help us." Newt says softly, wincing the moment the words fall out.
"Oh, I bet he does. I'm sure Mr. Smarmy Italian Bitchy is absolutely charming . Smooth talking Graves right on into her arms, like some fucking suave jerk laying out a trap for the game."
Newt starts up a mantra in his head, consisting mostly of don't let it show that Medea sounds like a married woman whose partner is cheating on her, don't let it show, don't let it…
"Have you asked him to not go out there with her?" Newt asks her quietly, making sure to keep his gaze fixed pointedly away.
"Have I…? Fido! What the hell do you think I've been fucking talking about this whole time?" Medea explodes, exhaling harshly.
Newt makes a bitchface at a tree, only so he won't focus it on Medea. Causing an argument between them won't do well for anyone. Besides, Medea's a bit like a dysfunctional gun that has a problem with randomly going off. When se's fired up, she often doesn't care who she shoots off at, even if they aren't who she is originally angry at in the first place. Newt can hold his tongue, if only because he's already so tired.
"No, Medea," Newt murmurs, chancing a look at his friend. "I mean, have you truly asked him to stay with you as a partner?"
Newt isn't going to say it, isn't going to say that he wants to know if Medea has asked Graves to stay with her, isn't going to say that he's asking if Medea made it clear that she wants Graves to stay for her.
He isn't going to say it, but he doesn't have to.
"That's sort of implied, Newt. I mean, he should know that I… it's not like I'm not asking."
Newt speaks quietly and keeps her eyes fixed firmly on the road. There are so many things unsaid, but it is all so understood. But they're freinds; it comes naturally for them. Newt wishes that Medea understood that it can't just be that easy for her and Graves.
Newt feels hollow looking at the woman standing there in a t-shirt and sweats, looking more disheveled than he's seen her in a long time. Her hair is messy, and there are dark circles under her eyes like she hasn't slept all week- which, he realizes, she probably hasn't.
There's so much pain written in her expression, and she's glancing around like she isn't quite sure how he got here. She looks like someone ripped the world out from under her feet, like she's drowning in the middle of the ocean without a speck of dry land in sight. Her eyes are red and puffy, like she's been crying for hours, but there are still tears in her eyes. He can see her trembling.
His eyes are shining as he swallows the lump that has lodged itself in his throat and tries again. "Medea?" His voice is shaking.
She doesn't speak for a moment, just stares at him in silence. He doesn't know what she sees written in his expression, but she eventually whispers, "I don't like him right now"
"Enough!" Newt yelled. Medea was taken aback, she wasn't sure his reaction was exactly warranted."This isn't about your guilt or hate Medea! This is about you being selfish. You want to have all his attention!"
"That's not..." Medea began. "I mean yeah, but that's not why-"
"What's not it Medea?" Newt was still looking furious. He must have seen the confusion on Medea's face, because he calmed down a little. "Medea, it's okay."
She had no idea what he was talking about now. What was okay? Why was he looking at her like a hurt puppy?
"I know... I know how you feel about him," Newt said and tried to reach out to Medea. Medea pulled away instinctively, out of defensiveness because she didn't know what he was talking about and that's not something that happened often.
"You want him with you because you want his attention," Newt continued to explain. "You will miss him... because you're in love with him."
Medea's mouth went dry. She tried to swallow. "Fido, don't be ridiculous." She tried to sound harsh and confident but it came out airy and her heart was beating too fast in her chest. It felt far too similar to the start of a panic attack, which only freaked her out more.
"Medea, calm down. Sit," Newt said as he guided him to a bench. She took slow, deep breaths, pressing her fingers on her eyes.
"Medea."Newt places a hand on his friend's knee, squeezing softly. "You need help."
"I know…" Medea's eyes lift to meet her, shaky and watery with tears. "Help?"
That morning just after ten that morning, a meeting between Seraphina and her Aurors was planned in the Major Investigation room.
Tina, Steve ,Newt are listening intently to miss President like always. Steve's even taking notes. Medea was sitting on the head of the table, her boot-covered feet propped up on an antique meeting table.
''I have an idea''Medea said mulishly.
''We're not gonna mirder anyone.''Newt`s voice filtered in behind them
Medea groaned and covered her face with her hands. ''Why are you spoiling my fun?''she asked
''People get hurt when you have fun!''Tina chastised, trying her best not to laugh.
Medea opens her mouth, but finds herself at a loss for words. "'We want to kill someone!''" she eventually says.''The quickest way to someone's heart is through the fourth and fifth ribs.''
''I am literally terrified of you!''Steve mumbled.
One moment she's enjoying that awkward relief, and the next, it goes to shit.
Graves walks in the room, his quiet steps loud enough to have everyone looking up. He has a file in his hands, plump with whatever is held within. Newt's eyes land on it, and his heart drops. Abruptly, it gets impossibly more silent.
"I have an announcement." Graves says seriously, blinking once as he ran his gaze between Miss President and the others, never looking at Medea.
Because he's an idiot, Newt looks at Medea. He immediately wishes he hadn't. He's never stared betrayal and pure hurt straight in the face before and never so unexpectedly. While Newt knows Medea feels these things, he doesn't expect Medea to show them.
There it is, though. Plain and cutting, right on her face. It's in the small shift in her shoulders, somehow tensing and drooping all at once. It blares obviously in the tightening of her eyes, in the way she blinks slowly, as if she couldn't fathom what she's witnessing. To Newt, it's obvious what Medea's feeling.
"What is it, director?" Miss President asks softly, her eyes curious. She doesn't even seem to notice the sudden coldness to the room.
''I want miss Black be partnered with me while miss Ace can do office duty''," Graves answers, his words short and hard, a cold edge to his tone.
It's silent again, this time even worse somehow. Newt wants to shiver in the bite of the air, and his stomach quivers with a massive nervousness he hasn't felt since Medea had went on one of her drunken rampages. Newt peels his eyes from the table—they'd fallen there after flinching from 's face—and she pins them on Graves.
"Why?" Newt asks, his words coming out harsher than he means them to.
''I think is time to work again with MACUSA's code. Miss Ace refuses to follow orders and work by rules!''Graves murmurs, frowning at him.
''It was not bothering you for a long time that!''Newt hisses, abruptly standing. He's angrier than he has any right to be, but he doesn't care.
A hand lands on his shoulder, and Newt blinks in surprise. He pauses and turns to face Medea, who halts him. Medea just shakes her head and swallows, gently pushing him back onto his chair.
"This really what you want, director Garves?" Medea mutters, and her voice is gruff. Newt could clearly see that the use of his tittle felt like a slap against the director's heart.
The man pauses and finally looks at Medea. He blinks slowly, staring at Medea. Newt wants to scream. Hell no, this isn't what Graves wants! Why the fuck is he even considering it? Why won't Medea fight it harder?!
''I need to work with other people''Graves explains, his eyebrows scrunching up, eyes pleading Medea to just understand.
She jerks his head and gives Newt a stern look that has him shutting his mouth. He doesn't want to; he wants to smack Graves over the head and send him to his room like a scolded child. Medea sighs behind him, and it's a defeated sound, something that only cranks up Newt's anger more. Newt feels Medea's hands slide from his shoulders, and he almost jumps back up to hit Graves over the head like everything in him aches to.
But someone speaks up before he can.
''Do you trust miss Black to have your back in flied?''Miss President asks softly, her face twisted in confusion.
"Miss Black assured me that is all ok, and I see no reason for her to lie. However, if it is, I'm sure I'll be fine." Graves replies, giving her tight smile.
"And you just trust Miss Black so much, right?" Newt suddenly barks, her balled up fists bumping into Newt's back.
Don't let it show, don't let it…
"Medea," Graves says in obvious exhaustion, like he's tired of having this same exact fight over and over, "please do not start."
Medea's nostril flare wide, jaw twitching in her obvious anger, fists clenched. "You know, I wouldn't care so much about you want off and partnered with other people This, though? Going with those fucking dicks? I don't get it. What is it about Balck that really gets you going, Cas?"
"She explained things to me, Medea. They can keep me from doing things I shouldn't. Miss Black says thtat you keep us back without you having magic and we must work hard and quick for not gaving new bodies," Graves tells them, throwing up his free hand in frustration.
"And whatever theat bitch says is absolute gold, right? You're ready to just drop everything because she says for you to?" Medea growls flatly, shaking her head.
Don't let it show, don't let it…
"This isn't about her! This is about my desire to protect my people. Get off your petty jealousy, woman!" Graves explodes, his black eyes flaring wide.
Don't let—oh, fuck.
As if there's a switch to hit, Medea shuts down. Newt's head whips to stare up at her, watching the anger flare in her eyes. It's fucked up for Graves to deliberately call out on one of Medea's biggest vulnerabilities, even if everyone already knows about it.
Silence blankets over them again. It isn't uncomfortable this time; it's harsh, and it presses upon them until it's hard to breathe. Newt swallows, watching as Medea presses her lips together and considers Garves through cold, unforgiving eyes. Her expression sends a rock tumbling through Newt's gut, making him take a deep breath.
"So you trust that woman more than me?. I have save your ass at flied a lost of times, we prectice together. We know how to fight together and you throw all this out of the windwo because I am not a witch. You say that I am useless"
Graves flinches, and Tina gasps quietly, her eyes bulging as she looks at Medea like she doesn't recognize her. Which is kind of a recurring problem, but this is different. Newt cringes because it is harsh, but he isn't shocked. Medea is Medea, and he knows how to cut to cause the most pain, no matter the person.
"i never said that," Graves whispers, staring at Medea in obvious hurt.
''You were the one who said that the fact I can't do magic is that make me so special!''Medea says gently, her face softening with sadness. Newt turns to stare at Medea, watching as she cracks too. Maybe Medea doesn't actually feel better, and maybe she's still just as hurt, but she locks it up. She blinks twice and sighs heavily. Between one moment and the next, Medea quirks a small smile that Graves sees through immediately.
"You're right, man. I'm sorry, director."
Newt's eyes swivel from the false everything he'd just witnessed from his friend to take in Graves. He looks sad as before, all despaired and bruised, but his eyes stay locked onto Medea as he slowly nods.
"It's okay, Medea, I... understand," Graves murmurs, his words scraping against each other.
"Right," Medea chokes out and clears hee throat roughly. "If this is really what you want, then I'm not gonna let you go off on bad terms."
"It's what I want," Graves states blandly.
Medea moves around the chair, heading towards Graves. "I was my honour to work with you. Be safe or I will hunt Black down and kill her."
"Of course, Medea," Graves agrees, his eyes following Medea as she halts to stand right in front of him.
Medea sighs, and Newt watches as something spectacular unfolds before his very eyes. She steps forward and grabs Graves into a hug, tugging him in close. But the spectacular part is that it's like no hug Newt has ever seen Medea partake in, let alone Graves.
She sort of stumbles into him, folding the space between them until it's nonexistent. Newt watches Medea dip her head into Graves' shoulder, watches as Medea's arms loop around Graves' neck, bent at the elbows as her hands crawl into Graves' hair. It is, by far, the most intimate hug Newt has ever seen, and it's shocking that Medea initiates it.
Man' eyes are wide, stunned surprise bouncing in the black orbs as his hands clutch at Medea's back. It's clear to Newt that Graves has never been hugged like this before. Thinking about it, Newt doesn't know for sure if he, himself has ever been hugged like that. He can see how it is a moment so unlike any other that it can alter everything .
They stay huddled together like that for a few moments longer than a hug calls for. Graves' eyes seem to get wider with every breath he takes, and his hands keep clenching and unclenching at the back of Medea's flannel.
Medea pulls minutely back, her head turning, almost as if she's about to dole out a kiss along with that earth-moving hug. But Graves freezes, his eyes going wide as Medea halts in pulling away. There's a faint whisper that drifts back to Newt, but Medea is murmuring so lowly to Graves that he can't hope to make out what he's saying.
Judging by the way Graves' face changes, twisting into something between wonder and regret, Newt guesses it's something important.
Medea seems to have said what she needed to say, done what she needed to do, because she abruptly pulls away, walking back to the stove all casual-like, as if she hasn't just done something worth gaping at.
Newt blinks at Graves, noting how he's riveted to the spot, eyes focused unwaveringly on Medea. Newt doesn't even want to know, but he can't force himself to break the moment, even with how uncomfortable it makes him. Newt isn't a fool, and he knows Medea has just gone out of his comfort zone to leave Graves hanging, maybe in some need for retaliation for leaving her.
Graves lets out a shaky breath. "Medea?" he whispers, confusion blatant on his face.
The woman might have a reply, but they never get to hear it, because it's Tuesday, and Tuesdays are the absolute worst. Fuck, Newt really hates Tuesdays. But this one specifically; she's going to have to look up the exact day so she can hate that too.
As if sensing that the situation can get worse, Giselle Black walks right into the meeting room like it's her own, smile gracing her face as she enters.
"Good morning, everyone," Giselle greets cheerfully, as if her presence isn't wrong in every single way.
There's a tense silence, then Medea's suddenly got a gun trained right on Giselle. Newt thinks that might be a tad overboard; a bitch Black may be, a monster she is not. Graves sighs, like this is yet another headache he has to endure, and Miss President, Tina and Steve looks like they are not sure what's going on. Newt isn't sure what he's supposed to be doing, whether he should back Medea up or try and calm her down.
"Why the fuck are your here?" Medea spits, taking a few steps across the room. Her finger twitches around the trigger like it does when she's particularly eager to kill something.
Giselle blinks at Medea, surprised.''I am here to talk with my partner for the new plan"
"Medea," Graves growls, moving over to tug his arm down forcefully, "stop being childish."
"medea, maybe… put the gun down," Tina suggests softy.
Graves turns away from Medea, ignoring her in favor of focusing on Giselle, and wow, Newt has never seen Medea look so utterly jealous before. "Giselle, I— I need a few moments, please."
"Reconsidering?" Giselle asks, eyebrows drawing up in slight worry.
"I must press upon you the importance of this opportunity, Percival," Giselle says, still watching Graves intently. "And quite frankly, I'm looking forward to working closely with you."
Newt's eyes widen, and he twists around on mere reflex alone, grabbing Medea before she can launch herself at Giselle. The hunter slams into him, but she's too angry to be thinking clearly, so Newt manages to wrestle the gun from Medea's hands before she can do something she'd regret later. Now is not the time for caveman tendencies, nor is it the place to stake her claim. Medea lets out a real, genuine growl, face pinched in fury.
God, Newt can't wait to tease her about this later.
Graves whirls on Medea, clearly frustrated. "medea, stop. Are you incapable of controlling yourself for one moment? Can we just… relax, please?"
Medea looks worlds away from relaxing, but she makes a valiant effort to gather some of her dignity, huffing and shoving back a few steps. Giselle watches in faint interest, looking genuinely really, really doesn't like her.
"Well," Giselle hums, sounding so fucking pleased that Newt wishes he'd just let Medea beat her ass, "it seems there are some things you two need to discuss. Percival,Tesoro , I'll be waiting in the loft when you're ready to leave."
To add insult to injury, Graves turns to give Medea a kind smile, nodding. "Of course."
When the Italian woman leaves, and Medea whirls on Graves with wide, flashing eyes. "Tesoro?" she spits harshly. "Tesoro ? So you're her Tesoro now?"
"What?" He mutters, looking confused. "Medea, what is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me; what's wrong with you, Graves? You're gonna just go with her, that bitch?"
"She hasn't actually done anything to provide evidence that she's a bitch."
"Are you fucking serious right now?" Medea breathes, eyes wide with shock.
Graves rolls his eyes. "You call me dramatic."
"She's very polite," He replies with a shrug.
"Oh, she's polite. Fucking fantastic," Medea growls out, lip curling in distaste.
"Why are you being this way? Giselle has manners, so what?" Graves asks, narrowing his eyes.
Medea's lips tip down in displeasure, and she reaches up to press her hand to her chest. " I have manners too, Percival."
And Jesus, that's the saddest thing Newt has seen this week. It's pitiful that Medea would compare herself to a bitch like Giselle, and it rubs Newt the wrong way. He knows, without a doubt, that Medea is ten times the woman Giselle could ever be, but Medea seems to be scrambling to try and prove that, like maybe Graves doesn't know. Newt's fairly certain Graves knows that, but he can't understand why Graves is even entertaining Giselle.
Tina makes a small sound in the back of her throat, and Newt sends her a look. She bites her lip and turns her eyes to the tabletop. Graves tilts his head at Medea in confusion.
"I… never said you didn't," he says slowly.
It was hard for everyone to look at them right now as the golden couple of MACUSA broke up in front of their eyes. Medea and Graves stared into each-other's eyes and it was like the first time all over again. Their cold skin felt alight and their un-beating hearts fluttered. They gravitated towards each other, forgetting that they had an audience, unaware of anything around them. Their eyes began to close and their lips were mere centimeters away.
At this time Giselle walks into the room again looked back at the hunter, anger and annoyance clear on her face, was her face stuck like that?
''This is yours!''Giselle hissed giving a black box to the hunter.
Taking the box, Medea held it a moment before starting to unwrap it while Graves felt the jealousy rise in his veins, watching Medea as she looked at the box Graves saw the hint of a smile play across Medea's face.
"EVERYBODY GET DOWN!" Medea yelled. But it was too late. The bomb went off. There was a flash, and then everything was still.
The Aurors winced away from the disturbingly too bright flash… no one saw it punch a hole in the roof, or put a crater into the ground. They were too busy watching in horror as Medea and half a dozen Aurors were brutally hurled through the air by the blast. And then a fraction of a second later, the others were all thrown to the ground by the shockwave that emanated from the blast.