"Theseus?" Newt asked, opening his brother's door slowly with a plate in his hand. They both had come home for the holidays and Theseus had brought his girlfriend. They'd been having a lovely dinner until the two had gotten into an argument with both of them storming off.
"Go away, Newt!" he answered harshly.
Theseus was hunched over his desk, his face in his hands. To Newt's surprise, he realized he'd been crying, which he'd never seen him do. He suddenly felt like the pie he'd brought wouldn't do much good, but it was the best approach he had. He wasn't very good with people, either but he had to try. "I just thought you might like some dessert. Listen, I'm sure she just needs some time. You're so great together."
"Really?" he barked. "Didn't you hear what she said? She told me that I was a temperamental, heel biting serpent who could never love anything if it didn't benefit me and if I was so obsessed with work, I should marry the ministry instead."
Newt sighed. "We both know you're dedicated to your job, but I know it doesn't mean you don't care about her."
"I really don't feel like talking much about it right now." He said tightly, refusing to look at him.
Newt set the dragonberry pie plate down on his desk and saw the small, circular, metal object his brother was turning over in his hands and the last part of his girlfriend's comment registered. "Wait. Marry? Theseus, were you going to propose-
"I said get out!" Theseus raised his wand and a flash of red light hit Newt in the chest, toppling him to the ground before he had time to react.
Theseus threw back his head, closing his eyes in regret the second he had cast the stunning spell. He just wasn't ready to have this conversation, but that was no excuse. Looks like his girlfriend was right about the temperamental part, if nothing else. Newt had only been trying to help. He knew he should stay with him, but he suspected his presence would no longer be appreciated when he woke; and besides, he couldn't be in this house anymore. He at least picked his brother up and laid him on his bed. Theseus scribbled a quick note and set it next to the bedside table with a glass of water. "I'm sorry. Turns out I'm bound to hurt everyone I care about. Going back to London."
A few hours later at a bar in London, Theseus downed his third whiskey sour upon his phone alerting him to a text. "Theseus, it's not a crime to love someone. Take care of yourself. I'm here if you need someone to be there. Newt."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this. I had way too much fun with it. I wanted to explore situations that could fit into Newt's response to Tina, but that could also have been warped by time/have more to the story because I couldn't quite come up with a situation where I could see Theseus straight out trying to kill him. I'd love to hear what you thought. For anyone curious, I picture ages about: 6 and 14, 9 and 17, 15 and 23, and 21 and 29.