Hi :) sorry this has taken so long for me to update, I'm studying for a Master's and suddenly found myself with a lot of work to do. I hope that you enjoy this update and like where the story is going. Please feel free to let me know if it's still interesting, it's been so long since I've written I'm worried I've lost their voices/ the thread of this story. Hope you all have a nice day :)
As Newt stared up at the grey skyscraper that housed the American Ministry of Magic, the top of which was shrouded in clouds giving him the sense that it never ended, the nervous feeling in his stomach threatened to overwhelm him. He'd never been one for for authority, but the black and white way the Americans clung to the rules, which made the British look progressive, terrified him. As he swallowed to combat the nausea from rising, he felt Tina take his hand as give it a reassuring squeeze.
"Come on now, the quicker we go in, the quicker we get out," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"And we need to solve this," she added.
He nodded in agreement, not trusting himself to speak at that moment, and together they stepped inside the grand building.
Though it had really been less than a week since Tina had been slogging away at her job, trying to move up the ladder and be taken seriously, returning to MACUSA made all her previous hopes and dreams seem quaint. So much had been irreversibly changed in such a short time, it was staggering, but they had a mission to complete, there would be time later to dwell on all she had lost and gained since meeting her funny Englishman.
"Hey Red," Tina smiled as she greeted the dwarf who was peering at the pair curiously, "Madame Picquery's office please,"
"Sure thing Goldstein," he responding using his clawed stick to push the top button, one minute of awkward silence later, they were stepping out in the cavernous upper hall.
"Good luck," Red called after them, and Tina gave him a nod of thanks as she steeled herself for the onslaught ahead.
Affording themselves one more look of encouragement, Tina and Newt stood side by side in front of the ornate golden door that housed the President, and knocked.
"Come in," Picquery's clipped tone resonated through the door.
"Ah Goldstein, Scamander, thank you for coming so promptly, please do take a seat," she said gesturing to the chairs in front of her desk. She watched them as they sat, hands steepled and a worried look marring her handsome face.
"So have you found the source of the No-Maj deaths?" she queried. Newt and Tina glanced at one another, reaching the unspoken agreement that Tina should lead this meeting.
"We believe so, Madame President.. Newt thinks that we are dealing with a Mishipeshu," Tina began respectfully, and sensing the President's confusion hurried to clarify.
"It's a creature, normally found in the great lakes, but one has clearly found it's way into Buttermilk Channel..erm they are generally peaceful but we think.." she broke off and glanced at Newt.
He cleared is throat and continued for her, "I think that when Frank..uh the Thunderbird, used his magic..it um aggravated the Mishipeshu, they have this innate natural animosity you see...I'm so sorry I didn't know there would be one here..this close to the city.." he trailed off and looked at his hands.
Picquery closed her eyes for a brief moment, processing this information,
"Well there is nothing we can do about that now, the Thunderbird was necessary to avert the No-Maj crisis..the question now is, how do we deal with this..Mishipeshu?" she said with a touch of steel in her voice.
"Newt thinks that it would be possible to capture the creature alive, and release it somewhere else, where it can't do anymore harm," Tina answered.
"Would it not be easier just to exterminate the beast?" Picquery queried.
Newt's head snapped up at this comment, and Tina placed a placating hand on his knee.
"With respect Madame President, this is a rare and powerful creature..it would be a tragedy to destroy it," seeing that she wasn't convincing the President with that line of argument Tina continued.
"More than that though due to it's powerful nature we don't know how easy it would be to kill, and a battle would be hard to hide from the No-Maj population, especially if creates the same water disturbances that sunk those other ships."
"Fair point, so how would you propose to capture it?"
"We'd need to do some more research, this is the first time any of us has come across this creature, but we intend to find away to subdue it peacefully and tempt it into Newt's case," Tina responded, jutting her chin slightly in a show of confidence of their ability to tackle the problem.
"How long would you need to reach a solution?" Picquery asked
"I need to modify my case, so that it can hold the Mishipeshu safely..and as Tina mentioned..I've never dealt with this particular creature before..I'd need to figure out a way to approach it safely...so maybe a few days," Newt responded, sensing a glimmer of hope that he could rescue the creature without any more bloodshed.
"In the meantime I would recommend putting shields in place, and coming up with a reason that the No-Maj's shouldn't use that stretch of the channel," Tina continued.
Picquery nodded in acknowledgement of their advice,
"I will give you two days, this seems like the best way of dealing with this problem at the moment," sensing the President had more to say, the pair held in their relief.
"But if there is another incident or you can't come up with a solution, I will not hesitate to use lethal measures," she concluded firmly.
"Of course Madame President, thank-you for having faith in us, we won't let you down," Tina conceded
"See that you don't..alright you're dismissed, thank you for you time," Picquery spoke, ending the meeting abruptly with a wave of her hand. With nothing else to be said her attention returned to the papers in front of her, and the headache she now had to deal with.
"Thank-you Madame President," the pair murmured as they left the office.
The journey out of the headquarters was a blur, and suddenly they were out in the brisk New York morning air, in disbelief at how well the meeting had gone, but feeling the weight of responsibility that was now upon them.
They faced each other, the cold air and exhilaration of the morning causing a matching blush to rise in their cheeks, breath fogging in the chilly air.
"We have got a lot to do," Newt said seriously, his arms encircling Tina,
"That we do, but we'll do it together, with Queenie's and Jacob's help, of course..hey we took down Grindelwald...we can do this," Tina said encouragingly, before stretching up to give him a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Come'on Mister Scamander, we have work to do."