It was afternoon and you were bored. Theseus had agreed to speak to you later this evening, but was quite busy at present. You wandered through the halls until you came across a room positively filled with books. It was empty, save for a large wooden desk, a blue overcoat thrown over a chair, and a suitcase in the middle of the floor. You made your way to the desk, sitting in the char and reading through some of the papers strewn across the top. Doxy bites are venomous, one said, and require the immediate usage of an antidote. The growth on a Murtlap's back may be pickled and eaten to build resistance to jinxes, said another. You furrowed your brow. You realized they must be Newt's notes, and you smiled. Your amusement was short lived, however, as several large bangs made you jump. You scanned the room, trying to locate the source of the commotion. You eyes settled warily on the suitcase, flinching when a couple more bangs were produced from inside.
"What in the name of…" You stood, walking slowly to the case and kneeling before it. The lid was closed but unlocked, and it vibrated with each new bang and crash. You hesitated momentarily before flinging it open. "Curious," you whispered. Looking in you immediately saw a ladder leading down into the case. You shrugged, stepping in gingerly and climbing down. You found yourself in a workshop of sorts, filled to the brim with books and plants. The banging was even louder down here, and you winced as it rattled the walls and floor. You made your way across the shed, momentarily hesitating at the door before flinging it open and gasping.
Before you was an entire world - lush grasslands, a small forest, boulders piled together to create small mountains and trees taller than any you had seen in real life. The sky above was brilliantly blue and peppered with wispy clouds. An insect the size of a tennis ball whizzed by you, stopping momentarily to inspect you before flying off into a nearby meadow. You were distracted once again by the banging, so close now that it rumbled through the earth beneath you, and you turned your head to see a giant creature rolling back and forth on the ground.
"Scarlet?"
You jerked your head towards Newt's voice, mouth agape. He was standing before you free of his usual jacket and waistcoat, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Your eyes flicked down to the light scars covering his forearms, and you colored at the intimacy of the moment. Newt didn't seem upset that you were there, instead seeming to study your reaction with academic curiosity.
"What are you doing down here?"
"I…" you trailed off, looking from him to the great creature to your left, still rolling back and forth. "What is that thing?"
Newt's eyes followed yours. "An Erumpent," he shrugged. You nodded, swallowing.
"What…" You shook your head, collecting your thoughts. You let your arms drop to your sides, taking a moment to look back around at the scene before you. "Where are we?"
"Oh," Newt said, straightening up and looking around himself. "In my case. I keep my creatures here, you see."
"You made all this." It was a statement, not a question, and Newt nodded.
"Ah, yes," he said, staring at the ground. "It makes it easier to study my creatures, and to transport them of course." He licked his bottom lip nervously. "Of course, I could always - "
"Newt," you interrupted, surprising him. You waited until he met your eyes before continuing. "This is incredible." His eyes widened a bit in surprise before his face broke into a brilliant smile. This resulted in a warm feeling that pooled in the pit of your stomach, which you promptly ignored.
"Would you like a tour?" You grinned.
"I thought you'd never ask."
Newt had taken you through each habitat in his case, showing you all of his creatures and teaching you about each one. It was truly impressive. The magic and care it must have taken to develop such a detailed world… You smiled, watching him interact with Pickett, one of his Bowtruckles. You had never seen someone who loved something half as much as Newt loved his creatures. The men in your life had not been decent people, to say the least, but something about the gentle way Newt was speaking to Pickett made you trust him.
"Now, Pickett," he said, "this is our new friend, Miss Littlewood."
"Scarlet," you corrected, smiling at the Bowtruckle. He clicked at you from the back of Newt's hand.
"Scarlet," he said, glancing at you and smiling. He walked over to you slowly, extending his arm so you could see Pickett eye to eye.
"Well, hello," you said. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Pickett clicked at you happily and you smiled up at Newt. "He's brilliant, isn't he?"
"Don't go giving him a big head, now," Newt chided. Pickett stuck his tongue out at him, crawling up his arm and disappearing into the pocket of his dress shirt. You shook your head and chuckled, sitting down on the grass and lying back to watch the clouds pass through the sky.
"Why would you ever leave this place?" You said, enjoying the way the grass tickled the back of your neck. Newt sat on the ground next to you, planting his palms into the ground and leaning back.
"Sometimes I don't want to," he said quietly. You hummed. Newt turned to look at you, and you smiled as he studied your face.
"You always look at me like you're trying to add me up," you said. He blushed immediately.
"I… I suppose I am," he said. "I can't help but study things, I suppose."
"My job is to work people out, too," you said. You wiggled your fingers through the grass at your sides. "People always lie to me. I try to find the truth."
"I won't lie to you," Newt said, and you were surprised at the fierceness of his tone.
"No," you said slowly. "No, I don't think you would." You were both were quiet for a moment, each lost in your own thoughts.
"When will you interview my brother?"
"Shite," you said, sitting up. "Theseus." You had completely forgotten you were here to do a job. "I should go see if he's free." Newt stood and offered you a hand to help you up. You took it, squeezing it gently. He looked down at you in surprise and you smiled. "Thank you for sharing your world with me."
"Oh," Newt said, coloring. "It was nice to share it with you." You pulled yourself up and let his hand go, frowning at the loss of contact.
"See you at dinner?" Newt gave you a nod and you turned, heading back into the shed and up the ladder.