Chapter Text
One of Newt's biggest problems is that when he feels safe in a place, he becomes less and less alert of his surroundings, especially if there are no creatures around.
Tina's office is one of those. Despite it's only his second week working at MACUSA, Newt is very used to the room. He spends so much time with her and she's so nice Newt feels calm whenever she's around. And he might not be the most focused man in the world (in the social environment that is as the Goldsteins like to point out) but he's at least aware of the people in the same room as him, unless he's distracted which, sadly, happens often if he's worried and right now, he's very much so.
That's why he walks in Tina's office without knocking first nor looking up from the letter he has just received from Theseus.
"Clara's not feeling well," he starts, sitting on the couch, his eyes almost glued to the piece of paper in his hands. He's so used to talk to Tina about his problems he doesn't feel the need to make eye contact, he knows she listens, she always does. "I know the wounds she has are going to take a while to recover, but I think she also has an infection. I think I might need the potion I told you about, the one with the silver steam... the blue one. I could do it myself, but it takes months to make it and I don't think Clara has that time left... So I have to buy it, which leads me to ask my brother for money... again. And I know he likes to help me and it's not like I won't ask him, because he's the only that could help and I wouldn't risk Clara's life, but sometimes I wonder if I'm asking too much of him. What do you think, Tina?"
"Well..." Newt freezes the moment he hears the deep voice, because that's definitely not Tina's, it's not even a woman's voice. "First of all, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr Scamander, but I'm not who you thought you were talking to. Second, I think I need more context to give an opinion. Who's Clara? Is she your girlfriend?"
The wizard with red curls blushes and after looking at the letter in his hands for so long, he feels with the courage to lift his head and meet Graves' dark eyes. It doesn't help at all that the man is standing right in front of him and staring back like he wants to study Newt. There's also something close to amusement dancing in his gaze.
He doesn't answer right away; it's so weird to be talking to the Director, because since Newt arrived there has never been a chance for the two of them to talk, Graves is usually very much busy and Newt... well he's always with Tina, also he's not very good at being... social. They have been introduced, but Newt honestly got the impression the Director didn't like him because when they shook hands, the wizard stared at him for too long.
Like he's doing right now and like he does when Tina and he are in the cafeteria or in the hallway talking about something.
Actually, Newt doesn't find Graves' dislike odd, he thinks it's somehow logical, because they're so different from each other; Director Graves is calm, loves order and discipline and Newt... he is, as his brother said once, a little chaos, a not contained storm. There's also the laws problem, that he knows Graves is well aware, because Newt has broken many of them in the years he has as magizoologist.
He realizes he got lost in his own thoughts. The pressure of his own teeth on his lower lip is enough to make him bleed, but he doesn't stop himself from biting because he's too flustered to care. Graves doesn't seem angry his question hasn't been answered yet.
The director takes a step forward and it's enough to make Newt jump from the couch. He's more than ready to flee; he looks around, alarmed. It's so rare to see Director Graves outside of his own office that for a brief moment Newt considers he has made a mistake.
"This is auror Goldstein's office, if that's what you are thinking. I was waiting here to talk to her," Graves explains with a very amused grin on his face.
He doesn't know if the auror is very good at his job or Newt happens to be so easy to read.
"Well, maybe I should leave. I can talk to Tina any other-"
He's cut off by another step forward. Newt can help but to look at the door; he has the weird impression he's suddenly acting like a pray trying to escape from its predator.
"I can help you," it looks like Graves is blocking his only escape route, but that's so ridiculous Newt dismisses the thought right away. "But I'd like to know who Clara is first."
The smirk on the auror's face fades away as soon as the name gets out from his lips.
"She's the hippogriff I rescued in the case I worked with Tina. We found the traffickers were-"
"I know," Graves cuts him off. He looks more relaxed. Newt looks a little surprised at first, but then reminds himself it's actually Graves' job to know everything his aurors do even though he's not directly involved in the case. "I'm also aware you took the hippogriff, thought I didn't know you had named it- her, I mean."
"I name all my creatures."
Graves chuckles and rolls his eyes.
"Of course you do."
It seems he cut himself after all, because he feels blood coming from his lips and licks them out of instinct. Graves follows the movement and takes that final step to close the distance between them.
"You hurt yourself," he comments, taking Newt's chin with one hand and placing the other on the back of his head to prevent the magizoologist from moving away. "You must be more careful."
Before Newt can say anything, the hand on his chin moves to his lips; the auror starts to whisper healing spells.
"Thanks," he tells Graves. The man caresses his lower lip with his thumb before releasing him.
Newt feels his cheeks like they're burning.
"It was a pleasure." The smirk grows wide and the spark on the dark eyes becomes even brighter. "So... Mr Scamander, how much do you need?"
"What?" Newt doesn't squeak, except that maybe he just did.
"How many galleons do you need to buy anything you need to save Clara? Just tell me, I'll give them to you."
Newt gasps; he's glad the second 'what' doesn't get out of his mouth. But he's mentally screaming in shock. He recovers quickly though.
"Would you lend me some money? You're so generous, Mr Graves!" He beams. "I promise I'll pay you back as soon as-"
"You misunderstood, Mr Scamander. I'm gonna give you the money, there's no need for you to pay me back."
Newt blinks, confused. It doesn't help that Graves pushes his curls away from his forehead with an unexpected tenderness.
"I... I can't accept it."
"Why not? I thought you needed it."
"I do!" He's desperate. "But you shouldn't, I'll feel bad if I can't return the money, like I'm taking advantage of you."
Graves chuckles, actually he's shaking with laughter and it's so weird because he has the reputation of being a composed, deadly serious man.
"You're something else, aren't you?" He breathes and there's something like fondness in his voice, but it may be due to the fact that his eyes are still warm because of the laughter. "Newt, I'm wealthy, so much I can live the rest of my life without having to work again. A few galleons less in my pocket will not affect me. Besides, I told you I wanted to help."
It takes a few moments for Newt to react because he's still very much distracted by the fact that Graves called him by his given name.
He's not convinced.
"Mr Graves, I appreciate your-"
The man is stubborn it seems, because with a wave of his hand a bag with coins appears out of nowhere and Graves hands it to Newt.
"I think this'll be enough."
Enough? The magizoologist blinks at him in disbelief, that's much more that he wanted! And the auror knows, he must because the grin reappears on his features.
"I can't accept it!" He protests.
There's the sound of footsteps outside of Tina's office. Her voice rises when someone greets her in the hallway. It must be Weiss or Fontaine.
"We'll discuss this over dinner," Graves whispers while stroking Newt's curls.
Tina walks in and stops cold when she sees them. Newt blushes, but Graves seems unaffected. He takes a step back.
And Newt's so flustered he doesn't get Graves' word until is too late.
Dinner?
"What?"
"I'll pick you up at 7." The Director doesn't give him the chance to reply, he turns to Tina instead and nods in her direction. "I need the report about the no-maj's house tomorrow on my desk."
"Of course, Sir." She says immediately, even though her like look shocked and confused.
"Wait..." Newt tries to argue, but the Director walks away before he can say something else.
Tina's shoulder relax and she suddenly looks more like herself.
"What was that, Newt?"
"I'm still trying to figure it out myself."