
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/11114469.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Fantastic_Beasts_and_Where_to_Find_Them_(Movies), Harry_Potter_-_J._K.
      Rowling
  Relationship:
      Original_Percival_Graves/Newt_Scamander, Original_Percival_Graves/Theseus
      Scamander, Newt_Scamander_&_Theseus_Scamander, Theseus_Scamander/
      Seraphina_Picquery
  Character:
      Newt_Scamander, Theseus_Scamander, Original_Percival_Graves, Seraphina
      Picquery, Leta_Lestrange, Newt_Scamander's_Mother
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_Modern_Setting, Alternate_Universe_-_No_Powers,
      Alternate_Universe_-_Internet, Protective_Theseus_Scamander, Brothers,
      Single_Parents, Bullying, Internet_Friends, Blogging, Dinner, Homework,
      Flirting, predatory_behavior, Age_Difference, Crushes, Innocent_Newt,
      Predator_Graves, tags_to_be_updated_with_each_chapter, Underage_Character
      (s), Internalized_Homophobia, Grooming, aaaaallll_the_warning_signs_that
      Newt_is_missing, Online_Predators, Coffee_Shops, Adult_Percival_Graves,
      Squirrels, Threatening_Situations, Zoo, Animals, Bad_Decisions, Threats
      of_Rape/Non-Con, Sexual_Coercion, Rape, Unsafe_Sex, Threats, Blow_Jobs,
      Choking, Deepthroating, Breathplay, Face_Slapping, Come_Swallowing,
      Humiliation, Verbal_Humiliation, Anal_Fingering, Prostate_Massage, Anal
      Sex, Strangulation, Self-Sacrifice, Minor_Violence, Pedophilia, Victim
      Blaming, Graves_is_a_horrible_horrible_person, Rape_Aftermath,
      Internalized_Victim_Blaming, Trauma, Injury, Some_comfort
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-06-06 Completed: 2017-07-11 Chapters: 6/6 Words: 21207
****** Maybe the Internet Raised Us ******
by MercurialTenacity
Summary
     Theseus knows how much Newt struggles to connect with other kids, and
     he’s glad that his brother has the internet as a refuge. When Newt
     meets Percy online and finds a new friend Theseus can see how much it
     means to Newt, and he couldn’t be happier.
     But when Percy isn’t who he seems to be and Newt ends up in danger,
     Theseus is determined to protect his little brother - whatever it
     takes.
Notes
     Please be aware that this is a very dark story, and be sure to check
     the tags for each chapter. That said, I hope you enjoy it as well!
     The fic is fully written, and will update weekly on Tuesdays.
     See the cover for it here
See the end of the work for more notes
***** Chapter 1 *****
When Theseus gets home he finds Newt curled in front of his computer, a half
eaten peanut butter sandwich and a full glass of milk on the desk in front of
him.  He stands in his brother’s open doorway and knocks.  Newt doesn’t turn
around, but Theseus didn’t expect him to.
“Hey Newt.  You eaten?”
“Uh huh,” Newt nods, without looking up.
Theseus steps over to stand beside Newt, raising his eyebrows at the neglected
sandwich.
“You sure?”
“Uh…” Newt does look away from the screen then, glancing at the sandwich and
seeming vaguely surprised by its presence on his desk, and then looking up to
Theseus.  “No?”
Theseus shakes his head, smiling just a little and picking up the glass of now-
warm milk.
“I'll get you some water, okay?  Mom’ll be home in an hour, make sure you eat
before then.”
“Okay.”  Newt has already turned back to the computer and Theseus looks over
his shoulder to see a brightly colored bird, along with Newt’s copious details
about the creature, prepped in the format of a blog post.
It must have been another hard day.
Newt has a lot of hard days.  He gets some protection at school just by being
Theseus’ little brother, but Theseus knows that can’t be easy either.  Newt’s
not Newt to other people, he’s  Theseus’ little brother.   Sometimes, Theseus’
weird  or  spazzy  or  strange  little brother, depending on who’s talking.
 And whether they’re talking in front of Theseus, or behind his back.  It’s not
Newt’s fault, none of it is.  He’s a good kid, and yeah maybe he’s a little
different, but Theseus doesn’t see why that should matter.  The least his
brother deserves is to be himself without getting shunned and called names, and
the least Theseus can do is back him up.
But even Theseus’ protection only goes so far.  It turns out most other kids
don’t really care about long-nosed armadillos or the social structures of
lemurs, and they’re not shy about telling that to Newt.  If he’s completely
honest, Theseus isn’t all that interested in long-nosed armadillos either, but
he’s damned if he’s going to say that to a kid whose whole face lights up like
the sun when he talks about them.  
Talking to Newt isn’t all that difficult, really.  Find a subject he’s
interested in, and he’s the most energetic person you’ll meet.  He’s more than
happy to share, and Theseus has never seen him more animated than when he’s
talking to someone who is genuinely interested in what he’s saying.
The problem is that trying to talk to him about something he finds boring
making it feel as though he isn’t even in the room.  Theseus knows he’s not
trying to be rude, as much as it might seem that way, but not everyone gets
that.
Theseus sighs, preparing his own lunch.  It’s been a long day of school, and a
long couple hours of work afterward.  Their mom will be back from her shift
soon, and she’ll want to know how Newt is doing on his homework.  Theseus knows
he hasn’t done it yet, and it wouldn’t do any good to try to make him.  Not
after a bad day.  Maybe after dinner Theseus will sit down with Newt and make
sure he gets it done, once Newt has had a chance to recover from the day, but
anything sooner will just be a disaster for everyone involved.  There are ways
things work and there are ways things don’t, and that’s how it goes with Newt.
Not that it doesn’t cause stress sometimes - Theseus has had to talk his mother
down a couple times from banning Newt from the computer.  He’s on it a lot,
yeah, but where their mother sees that as part of the problem, Theseus is
pretty sure it’s the only thing keeping his brother sane.  Online there are
people who do care about the same things Newt does, who want to know what he
has to say and who listen, and Theseus wouldn’t take that away from Newt for
the world.  God knows he deserves to have friends.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Newt hits publish and refreshes the page, waiting to see the bright splash of
color the lorikeets bring to his blog.   Newt’s Fantastic Creatures  talks
about all kinds of animals, but he’s been meaning to do a post about tropical
birds for a while.  He might turn it into a series - people get birds mixed up
a lot, and they really are startlingly intelligent, not to mention eye
catching.  Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to talk about exactly what people are getting
into if they decide to keep one as a pet.
He’s scrolling through pictures of green honeycreepers - small with a sharp
beak, brilliant teal, and native to South America - when a message notification
pops up.  It’s Leta, and Newt grins.  He knows a lot of people online, but it’s
Leta he’s really close with.  He’s known her a long time, and
strangeMagic:  Those birds are awesome! :D
strangeMagic:  Your posts are always so detailed too, what’s next?  Are you
gonna do parrots?
fantastic-beasts: Maybe, but you know I have Strong Feelings :P
strangeMagic:  Yeah, I think you could write a book about animals that don’t
make the best pets
fantastic-beasts:  Also I don’t know how much time I have to post tonight, my
mom’s gonna be home soon and she’s gonna ask about homework
The thought reminds Newt to take a bite of his as yet untouched sandwich -
Theseus is right, if she comes home and finds he hasn’t eaten, she won’t be
happy.  He made himself the food at least, and that’s a start.  It’s just that
sometimes there’s a disconnect between making the food and, well, actually
eating it.  Newt  can  take care of himself, he just… forgets to sometimes.
strangeMagic:  Homework not good?
fantastic-beasts:  Homework not good.
fantastic-beasts: I finished all the bio so now it’s just like, boring things
left
strangeMagic:  Gosh I know!  Idk why we have to take half these classes
strangeMagic: My dad just asked if I was working and I was like suuuuuure XD
fantastic-beasts:  It’s already getting pretty late for you, isn’t it?
Newt checks the clock, doing the mental calculations.  Leta is three hours
ahead, which means it’s almost ten o’clock where she is.  It doesn’t seem like
it should make a big difference, but when it leaves him without his best friend
to talk to for a substantial part of the evening it sure feels like one.
 Timezones are the worst.
strangeMagic:  Yeah I guess
strangeMagic: Don’t wanna go to bed though XD
Newt hears the telltale sound of the front door, and he knows that his time is
limited.  
Sure enough, it’s quickly followed by his mother’s voice calling him
downstairs.  He considers pretending he didn’t hear - it wouldn’t exactly be
unusual, he’s not the most aware when he gets engrossed in something - but in
the end he decides against it.  As much as he wants to stay immersed in his
life online, he knows he has to face the rest of the world eventually.  And if
he’s honest, now that he’s thinking about it, he is hungry.
fantastic-beasts:  My mom just got back, I have to go make dinner :/
strangeMagic: Aah but then how will I stay up??
strangeMagic:  Sigh.  Fine go make dinner :P
strangeMagic:  Message me if you write the thing about parrots
fantastic-beasts:  Yeah I will :)
fantastic-beasts:  See you
Reluctantly, Newt stands up from the computer.  When he gets down to the
kitchen Theseus is already there washing vegetables and their mother is still
in her work uniform, looking tired but glad to be home.
“Have a good day sweetie?” she asks, and Newt musters up a shrug.  She’s busy,
setting water to boil on the stove, and is probably too tired herself to
counter his lack of enthusiasm.  “Will you keep an eye on this, Theseus?  I
need to go change.”
“Sure thing.  Newt and I got this, right?” Theseus smiles, handing Newt a damp
carrot.  Newt accepts it, smiling a little despite himself, and he pulls out
the cutting board to chop the vegetables as Theseus hands them to him.  
It’s calming in a way and Newt settles into a rhythm as he works, paying
attention to the rock of the knife and forming the diced carrots into little
piles.
“Homework after dinner tonight, okay?”
Newt makes a face at the carrots.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.  Look, after you finish French you can help me on my
biology essay, okay?”
Newt takes a moment, considering.  He’s knows that Theseus is bribing him, but
as much as he dislikes French he’s also not going to turn down the chance to
look at the material for Theseus’ senior bio class.  It’s the one subject he’s
actually interested in, and it’s too easy at his own grade level.  Besides,
he’ll end up having to do it at some point anyway.  He nods, already wondering
what unit Theseus is covering.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
French ends up taking longer than either of them would like.  Newt lays his
papers out after dinner and opens up the workbook, gazing down at the words he
doesn’t understand, and thinks about parrots.  He seems to be able to focus
absolutely anywhere but on the papers in front of him, not quite managing to
sit still, and by the time Theseus has gotten him to finish the exercises it’s
late.
Theseus still pulls out the biology homework, and he listens as Newt lists off
ways to respond to the prompt, related concepts he should include, and how it
all relates to actual living creatures.  He even takes notes.  By the end of
the night Newt is beaming, frustration with his own homework forgotten in the
face of the more interesting subject and the chance to talk about it.  Theseus
is always a good listener, and tonight is no different.
Newt stumbles up to bed tired but happy, and for once not thinking too hard
about having to get through school tomorrow.  He checks messages on his blog
out of habit, too tired to respond but still wanting to see what people have to
say.  There are a few responses to his lorikeet post, mostly saying how pretty
the birds are.  There’s also one request for a post about warthogs, and one
message from a username Newt doesn’t recognize.
SilverWolf:  Hey your blog is super cool!  How do you get the ideas for your
posts?  You have some great stuff, I’d love to hear more about it :)
Huh.  Well, Newt will respond to all of it tomorrow.  He falls into bed nearly
content after what had started out as a terrible day, hoping that maybe
tomorrow won’t be quite so bad.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
When Newt gets home from school he immediately runs upstairs, tosses his
backpack in the corner, and turns on his computer.  He doesn’t even bother to
make himself lunch today - he doesn’t notice whether he’s hungry, and he
doesn’t want to spend a moment longer than he has to in the real world.
Today was not a good day.
He just wants to think about creatures, something that actually makes  sense ,
instead of  people.   People don’t make any sense.  They probably should,
people are creatures too, but they’re different and hard to understand and
don’t seem very pack oriented at  all.   Or they do, but their pack doesn’t
include Newt.  They stick to their own kind, Newt supposes, just like most
animals do.  They don’t bond well with other species, and they definitely don’t
consider Newt to be one of them.  He doesn’t want to think about it.
Newt waits impatiently for the browser to load, and then instantly pulls up a
window to message Leta.
fantastic-beasts:  Hey you there?
He waits, minutes stretching on, but doesn’t get a reply.  Maybe she’s at
dinner.  Or actually doing homework for once.
Newt grimaces at his screen, frustration and undirected energy curling in his
chest.  He just wants something to do, someone to talk to, something to take
his mind off of everything else.  Theseus won’t be home for hours, and if
Leta’s not around he doesn’t really know who else is left.  There are other
people he knows online, he even considers himself friends with some of them,
but they’re not the people he wants to talk to.  Not after a day like today.
He can respond to messages at least, write another post, and by then maybe Leta
will be back.  He pulls up his inbox, scanning back through what people have
sent.  He sends off a few quick replies;  Thanks, happy you like it - Glad to
hear that! - Yeah, I was really happy with the pictures for this one -  but his
heart isn’t in it.
He gets down to the last message he’d seen last night, asking about how he gets
ideas for posts.  He frowns a little, trying to think of how to explain it,
restless and antsy in his chair.
fantastic-beasts:  I just really like animals I guess, and it’s cool to share.
 Usually I just pick an animal I haven’t done before, but I do requests
sometimes too
Newt clicks over to the next window, but to his surprise the alert pops up that
he already has a response.
SilverWolf:  That’s neat!  Do you ever do the same animal twice, or no?
fantastic-beasts:  I guess, I dunno
fantastic-beasts: Sometimes people ask for a follow up about something
specific, like their diet or whatever, and I’ll do that
fantastic-beasts:  I try to make the original post pretty detailed tho
SilverWolf:  Yeah I can tell!  You’re really good at it, I’m impressed lol
fantastic-beasts:  Oh
fantastic-beasts:  Thanks
Newt frowns, glad for the praise but not quite sure how to respond.  He doesn’t
have the energy to carry on a conversation about whatever this person wants to
talk about, even if they are pretty nice.  He flips back over to his blog, but
before he can get started on a post he gets yet another message alert.
SilverWolf:  Hey so
SilverWolf:  I don’t wanna be weird, but is everything okay?
Newt blinks, off guard.  He glances back through his messages, and yeah, he has
been a little short.  This person is trying to be nice, and Newt hasn’t been
saying much in return.  They probably think he’s rude, just like everyone else
does.
fantastic-beasts:  Sorry
fantastic-beasts:  Just
fantastic-beasts:  Long day I guess
SilverWolf:  Yeah I know what you mean.  I just got back from school and I’m
totally drained
fantastic-beasts:  Yeah school is just…
fantastic-beasts:  I dunno.  It’s a lot
SilverWolf:  But you must be like, super popular right?
Newt has to stare at the screen for a moment before he can process that.  Him?
  Super popular?   Yeah, right.
fantastic-beasts: No not really
fantastic-beasts: Kinda the opposite actually
fantastic-beasts: Like the exact opposite
SilverWolf:  Aw man that sucks
SilverWolf: You seem so cool online, I thought for sure you’d be like,
everyone’s best friend
fantastic-beasts:  Not unless it’s biology class and they want to copy my
homework
SilverWolf: Oh boy I’m not surprised you’re good at bio.  I struggle with it
sometimes but it’s cool lol
SilverWolf: I’m Percy btw
fantastic-beasts: I’m Newt
SilverWolf: Nice to meet you! :D
Percy is surprisingly easy to talk to.  Somehow he always manages to think the
best of Newt and isn’t put off by actually getting to know him.  He’s
sympathetic, encouraging, and all around just a nice guy.  He’s seventeen, a
senior like Theseus, but he’s not pretentious about it like most of the seniors
at Newt’s school.  He even asks Newt for help with biology, which Newt is more
than happy to provide.  Percy really isn’t great at it, but that’s okay.  He’s
enthusiastic and appreciative, and when Newt goes on long tangents about the
reproductive patterns of whales he doesn’t role his eyes, not even virtually.
 In fact, he seems genuinely interested.
The more they talk the more Newt manages to leave behind the stress built up
from an awful day at school.  He actually starts to relax, enjoying himself
despite it.
It turns out that they’re even in the same timezone.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
When Theseus comes home he finds Newt in a significantly better mood than he
expected.  He’s grinning at his computer, typing quickly, and he even looks up
in acknowledgment when Theseus knocks from the doorway.
There is, however, a complete lack of any evidence of food.  And unless Newt
actually made himself lunch, ate it, and did his dishes already - unlikely -
that means he hasn’t eaten at all.
“Hey Newt.  How’s it going?”
“Pretty good.  Busy though.”  Newt’s computer pings with an incoming message,
and Newt turns to glance back at the screen.
“Talking to Leta?”  Leta is one of the only people Theseus has seen able to
make Newt smile like this.  Whoever that girl is, wherever she is, Theseus
would like to thank her some days.
Newt shakes his head.  “No, she’s busy I guess.  I met someone else though,
he’s pretty cool.”
He must be more than just “pretty cool” if Newt’s behavior is anything to go
by.  He’s smiling, vibrating with what seems to be a happy energy for once, and
as excited as he is about talking online he’s actually responsive to Theseus as
well.  He must be in a really good mood.  
If only he would eat actual food.
“That’s awesome.  You want me to bring you a snack or something?”
“Oh, uh…”  Newt shrugs, and Theseus can see that eating hasn’t crossed his mind
once since he got home.  “Yeah, okay.  Thanks Theseus.”
Theseus leaves Newt to it, smiling as he walks back down to the kitchen.  If
he’s not mistaken Newt’s friend count has just doubled, and Theseus couldn’t be
happier for him.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Newt stays glued to the computer all weekend, perhaps even more so than he
normally does.  He’s energetic and happy enough, but he clearly doesn’t have
much interest in talking to either Theseus or his mother, and Theseus can see
it start to frustrate her.  Newt comes down to do the minimum required of him
before vanish back up the stairs, and while he doesn’t complain, it’s
abundantly clear that he would rather be online.  To Theseus’ relief she
refrains from saying too much about it to Newt; in his opinion, the last thing
Newt needs is to be told that having friends isn’t a good use of his time.
When she gets home after a long shift on Sunday afternoon she can’t seem to
hold it back much longer.  She stands at the kitchen sink with her sleeves
rolled up while she washes dishes, and as she hands a plate off to Theseus to
dry she pauses, sighing.
“I just don’t see what he’s doing up there.  He’s got homework, and chores, and
shouldn’t he be talking to some real people once in awhile?”
“Mom,” Theseus says, a little cautiously.  “You know what happens when Newt
tries to talk to real people.  And anyway, these people  are  real ,  they’re
just not, well, here.”  They’ve had this conversation before, discussed it to
all hours of the evening.  None of this is new, and Theseus is still searching
for a way to explain the freedom it gives Newt to connect with people online.
 “They support him though, way more than anybody he knows at school.”
“Sometimes I just think if he tried a little harder…” Theseus doesn’t say
anything and she stops, shaking her head.  “I know.  I know, I just… I don’t
know what to do with him sometimes.”  She rests her hands against the edge of
the sink, leaning her weight on the counter.  “Sometimes I think you know him
better than I do, Theseus.”
Theseus glances down, not sure how to respond.  He can see the tiredness
showing through, the exhaustion born of long hours and long days on her feet,
and the regret in her eyes at what it means when she comes home.  He knows she
tries.  She’s probably right.
“Hey, well.  Of all the things he could be doing to cope at his age, at least
he mostly stays put in his room.”  Theseus presses his lips together in a thin
smile, which his mother returns.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
strangeMagic:  Hey what’s up!
strangeMagic:  You haven’t been around, everything good?  You go get kidnapped
or something?
fantastic-beasts: No lol, I’m safe and sound
fantastic-beasts:  Sorry I’ve just been really busy
strangeMagic: Okay but with whaaaaat
strangeMagic:  I need your help studying for this bio quiz or like
strangeMagic:  I’m gonna fail XD
fantastic-beasts: Yeah for sure!  No worries :D
fantastic-beasts: I’ve just been messaging with this guy and he’s really cool,
I guess it’s taken up a lot of time
strangeMagic: OMG do I sense a replacement??
fantastic-beasts: No lol
strangeMagic: What’s his name?  Don’t tell me you’ve been helping him with
*his* bio instead XD
fantastic-beasts: Percy, and like
fantastic-beasts:  Maybe just a little XD
strangeMagic:  He’s using you Newt, I’m warning you now
strangeMagic:  All he wants is top grades in biology, and then he’ll ride off
into the sunset with his perfect transcripts and all your hard work
strangeMagic: Unlike me
strangeMagic:  I’m perfectly happy with a C XD
fantastic-beasts:  Lol OKAY okay, I’m all yours until you pass this quiz XD
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
fantastic-beasts: I gotta go, Leta needs my help studying
SilverWolf:  Oh, okay
SilverWolf:  No problem, just don’t let her monopolize all your time lol
fantastic-beasts:  Yeah no, she just has this quiz she’s really gotta pass
fantastic-beasts: It’s not all that big though, it won’t take forever
SilverWolf: Okay well, catch up with you later though?
fantastic-beasts: Of course! :D
fantastic-beasts: She goes to bed before we do anyway, so I’ll probably be back
later tonight
SilverWolf:  Okay cool then
SilverWolf:  Can’t wait, see you in a bit :D
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Newt feels a little guilty for neglecting Leta so much.  They usually talk
every day, and he knows he hasn’t really given her an explanation.  It’s just
that talking to Percy is exciting.  It’s been a long time since he’s made a new
friend, a good friend, and getting to know each other is invigorating in a way.
 He’s not replacing Leta - He’s not.  He’s just… taking some time to get to
know someone new.  Even if Leta misses him surely she wants him to have
friends, and it’s not like they don’t talk at all.
Newt checks his messages before school in the mornings, usually to find some
joke from Percy, and spends the rest of the day imagining what they’re going to
talk about later.  It’s a lot more bearable than thinking about what’s going on
around him, and if it makes people snicker behind his back that he’s even more
spacey than usual, well.  Whatever.  It’s easier to brush off when he knows he
can go home at the end of the day and rant about it to someone who understands.
Newt isn’t really sure how Percy has quite so much free time, actually.
 Sometimes they end up talking all evening, and while Theseus lets Newt get
away with that he doesn’t know how Percy is managing it.  He doesn’t want to
question it too much though, and anyway, he doesn’t know how he’d ask about it
without making it sound like he didn’t want to talk so much.  That’s the exact
opposite of what he wants, so he’s just glad their schedules match up so well.
He really doesn’t know what he’d do without the internet.  He can’t imagine
trying to get through school without it, being stuck with only the same people
who hate him for company every day.  Being online at least gives him some hope
that not everybody is terrible.  There are good people out there too,
somewhere.  Just not usually in his timezone, for whatever reason.
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
fantastic-beasts: The internet’s pretty cool, you know?
fantastic-beasts:  Like I never would have met you or Leta otherwise, I
wouldn’t even have known you existed
SilverWolf: Yeah totally
SilverWolf:  It gets kinda frustrating though too sometimes, you know?
fantastic-beasts: Not really?
SilverWolf: Like, sometimes it just feels like text on a screen
SilverWolf:  I mean, you’re this really great guy and we talk all the time, but
there’s a ton of stuff I don’t know about you just cause it’s all digital
fantastic-beasts:  I mean I guess?
fantastic-beasts:  I’d take it over not talking tho
SilverWolf:  No yeah, for sure
SilverWolf: It’s just like
SilverWolf: Your pic is a tamarin lol, and I’m pretty sure you don’t actually
look like a tiny monkey
fantastic-beasts:  Lol, no not really
fantastic-beasts: Kinda like an orangutan though
SilverWolf:  Huh?
fantastic-beasts: My hair is red :P
SilverWolf:  LOL omg
SilverWolf:  But seriously like, don’t you ever wonder if I actually look like
some great big wolf?
fantastic-beasts:  I kinda figured you don’t, but sure I guess
fantastic-beasts: I hadn’t really thought about it
fantastic-beasts:  What DO you look like then?
SilverWolf:  Wanna see a pic?
fantastic-beasts: Oh, uh
fantastic-beasts:  Sure, lol
SilverWolf:  Hang on, I’ll find one..
SilverWolf sent a file
SilverWolf:  Newt?  You there?
fantastic-beasts:  Yeah!  Just
fantastic-beasts:  Wow that’s a good picture :P
SilverWolf:  Haha thanks
SilverWolf: It’s just a snapshot lol
SilverWolf:  Are you telling me you don’t have any good pictures? XD
fantastic-beasts: Lol not like that!
fantastic-beasts: Idk I can try to find something tho
fantastic-beasts sent a file
SilverWolf: Hey, you look great!
SilverWolf: Now it’s like I’m actually talking to a real person and not a
monkey lol
SilverWolf:  Way better :D
Newt blushes as he leans back from the computer, not entirely sure why.  It’s
not a big deal, right?  So Percy liked the picture.  He’s just glad to be
talking to a real person now, that’s all.
But, well.  Percy’s picture looked pretty good too.  Really good.  Percy looks
really good.
Newt blushes harder at the thought, feeling his face heat up.  He doesn’t quite
know what to do with the flutter it puts in his chest, but he resolves to take
some better selfies the first chance he gets.  And maybe… maybe Percy will like
those too.
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
Newt’s never paid that much attention to other boys, or to girls either.  Or to
people at all, really.  But there’s something about talking to Percy that’s
exciting in a way that talking to other people isn’t.  He grins each time he
gets a message, and he gets a warmth in his chest thinking about it.  It’s not
nervousness exactly - something nicer.  He finds himself looking at Percy’s
picture again and again, and it’s nice.
He doesn’t really know what it is, and he’s not sure how to find out.  It feels
good but it also feels personal, like it might not be something he wants to
share.  He doesn’t quite know what to make of it.
He’s helping Theseus clean up after dinner one evening when he thinks of a way
to ask about it without, well, asking.
“Hey, so.  You and Sera have dated for a while, right?”
Theseus looks up in surprise from where he’s wiping down the table.  “Yeah we
have, it’s been a couple years now.”  He frowns when Newt doesn’t continue.
 “Why do you ask?”
“I just.  Um.”  Newt shifts uncomfortably and Theseus begins to suspect, but he
waits for Newt to talk.  “What did it - I mean how did you know, that you
wanted to date her?”
“I just - really liked her, I guess,” Theseus says, looking thoughtful and
smiling at the memory. “We got along really well - we always had something to
talk about, no matter what the subject was, it was never boring. And she was
very beautiful, I’d have to be blind not to see that, but in the end I think we
decided to try it because we just - had  something . Something worth trying. I
wouldn’t really know how to explain it.  It just felt right, in a way that not
many things do. Are you asking because of Leta?”
“Um…” Newt hesitates, because on the one hand it might be easier to say yes,
but on the other… no.  He’s definitely not.  He can’t imagine feeling that way
with Leta, either how Theseus describes or how he feels about Percy.
 Eventually Newt realizes he’s let the silence stretch on too long, and Theseus
is raising an eyebrow at him.  “No, just - just wondering.  Leta said something
and, uh, it made me wonder.”
Theseus nods, and Newt is certain he doesn’t believe him but he also doesn’t
press, to Newt’s relief.  “Well, feel free to ask if she makes you wonder about
anything else, okay?”
“Yeah - okay, thanks.”  Newt gives a smile which Theseus returns.  He glances
around at the mostly clean kitchen in what he hopes is a subtle way, trying to
figure out how much there is left to do before he can go back up to his room.
Theseus, of course, catches it.  He gives a slight chuckle as he dries his
hands, shaking his head.  “There’s not that much left, you go on.  I’ll finish
up.”
“Thanks Theseus.” Newt grins before turning and hurrying up the stairs, back to
his computer.
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
Newt opens his blog, but he doesn’t check his messages.  Not yet.  What Theseus
said is still cycling through his head, and he needs to think about it if he’s
going to figure any of this out.
It made sense, what Theseus said - or, it didn’t really make sense, but it
described something familiar.  Newt does feel  something  with Percy, he’s
pretty sure, at least when he thinks of it the way Theseus had said it - like
it was deep and big and good.  They go so well together, they connect in a way
Newt hasn’t with anybody else, and it feels like it just works.  Newt hasn’t
had all that many friends to compare to, but this feels different than that.
But Theseus thought he was talking about Leta.  Newt’s closer with Leta than
anyone else, they practically grew up together once they found each other
online, and he wouldn’t trade her for anybody, but - they don’t have
something.   At least, Newt doesn’t think.  They tease and joke and talk for
hours, but Newt doesn’t blush when he gets a message from her.  He’s happy when
he talks to her, but it doesn’t make the same warmth swell up in his chest.
The only person who makes that happen is Percy.  
Theseus said Sera was pretty, and Newt supposes she is, but… Percy is
definitely pretty.  His dark eyes, the way his hair is just a little too messy
in every picture he sends, how he’s so sure and confident when he looks into
the camera… It makes Newt feel like he’s the only person in the world when he’s
on the other end of that gaze and he sometimes finds himself wondering, idly,
what it would feel like to run his fingers through that hair.
But there’s something in the back of his head, something that creeps up on him
slowly, that makes him think maybe he shouldn’t like Percy.  Percy is, well -
He’s a boy.  Newt can’t remember anyone ever telling him he wasn’t supposed to
like boys, or at least not his mom or Theseus.  But it never really felt like
an option either, and it still feels wrong somehow.  Off limits.  He doesn’t
think Theseus would be mad, but he doesn’t know if he’d be happy either.  Maybe
Theseus would rather he like Leta.
But he doesn’t.
If he can’t ask Theseus, who does that leave?  Percy maybe, but Percy is the
whole problem.  Unless… he didn’t tell Theseus who he was asking about, and
maybe he doesn’t have to tell Percy either.  It’s ridiculous, it really is, but
he doesn’t know what else to do.  He doesn’t even know if Percy feels the same
way, and if not, if he thought it was weird, maybe he wouldn’t want to be
friends.  Newt’s heart nearly beats out of his chest as he considers it, he
couldn’t stand to lose Percy.  But then again, the whole reason he likes Percy
is because he can trust him, and he hasn’t been put off by anything Newt has
thrown at him so far.  So maybe it would be okay after all.
fantastic-beasts: Hey
SilverWolf: Hey what’s up? :)
fantastic-beasts: Not much I guess
SilverWolf:  Bored?
fantastic-beasts: Not really
fantastic-beasts: Yeah
fantastic-beasts: I mean
fantastic-beasts: Sorry
SilverWolf:  You’re fine lol
SilverWolf: What’s on your mind?
SilverWolf: Cmon, you can tell me :)
fantastic-beasts:  I guess just
fantastic-beasts: Have you ever like
fantastic-beasts:  Liked someone you thought maybe you weren’t supposed to?
fantastic-beasts:  I mean like
fantastic-beasts: In a /something/ way I guess?
SilverWolf: Hmm well yeah sure
SilverWolf: How so?  Who’s the lucky girl?
SilverWolf:  Or… guy? ;)
fantastic-beasts: Uh
fantastic-beasts: Yeah
fantastic-beasts: Guy
SilverWolf: Hey, that’s cool
SilverWolf: Is that why you feel weird?
fantastic-beasts:  Yeah I guess
fantastic-beasts: It’s just like, guys at my school get like bullied and stuff
for that kind of thing, and they make it seem like something bad?
fantastic-beasts: But it doesn’t feel bad, I dunno
SilverWolf: Nah it’s not bad
SilverWolf:  People make up all kinds of rules about who you’re supposed to
like, about like gender or age or whatever
SilverWolf:  But you just like who you like, you know?
SilverWolf: And that’s not gonna stop just because someone’s older than you or
also a guy or whatever
fantastic-beasts: Yeah, I guess so :)
SilverWolf: Besides, whoever he is really is pretty lucky ;)
fantastic-beasts: Wait really??
SilverWolf:  Well yeah Newt
SilverWolf:  You’re amazing :D
Newt blushes furiously, and feels lighter than he has in a while.
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
It’s easy to see the change in Newt.  He smiles, he talks, he’s practically
glowing.  Theseus smiles, knowing, when he tells jokes over dinner, and their
mother looks round at Theseus in surprised wonder.  It’s been a long, long time
since New has been so casually, carelessly happy.
She turns to Theseus later that evening, after Newt has vanished back upstairs,
and there’s relief in her eyes.  “He’s doing better, isn’t he?” She asks, her
tone laced with cautious hope.
Theseus thinks of his brother’s smile, his happy buzz, and his face when he
asked about Sera, and he nods.  “Yeah, I think he is.”
She turns away, shaking her head.  “Thank God.”
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
fantastic-beasts: I’m really glad I met you
SilverWolf: Me too :D
fantastic-beasts:  Like just
fantastic-beasts: I always feel better when I talk to you, idk
fantastic-beasts:  Even if everything else has gone wrong, you know?
SilverWolf: Yeah :)
SilverWolf:  Me too <3
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
Talking to Percy just makes Newt… well.  Happy.  Even if school sucks, even if
his day has been awful, Percy always manages to make him smile.  Newt loves it.
 It’s not like talking to Leta, even though she can make him smile too.  It’s
more of a rush, more exciting somehow.  Newt isn’t familiar with the deep
tingle Percy’s words send through him, but he likes it.
And he can’t believe Percy likes him.  He really seems to.  He likes all of
Newt’s pictures, says he’s lucky to have met him, and wants to talk for hours.
 He sends hearts sometimes, and it makes Newt’s stomach flip with the sudden
thrill.
Percy makes Newt believe in himself.  He tells Newt not to listen to anyone who
discourages him or holds him back, and he makes Newt feel capable - grown up,
in a way.  It’s silly maybe, but it’s nice too.  It’s really nice.  It’s like
it’s just him and Percy, the two of them figuring things out, together.
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
fantastic-beasts sent a file
SilverWolf:  See, I knew you had good pics :D
SilverWolf:  You look really good Newt
fantastic-beasts: Haha, you think so?
SilverWolf:  Yeah, gosh
SilverWolf: Those eyes, that smile ;)
SilverWolf:  Those lips are gonna kill me
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
“All this just because of the internet?”
Theseus has his homework laid out on one end of the table, opposite the bills
his mother is sorting through, and she looks up from her calculations to watch
Newt bounce up the stairs with seemingly boundless energy.  It’s a far cry from
the restless, withdrawn boy she’s used to seeing.
“All this because he has friends, I think.  And that’s because of the internet,
yeah.”
“I never would have guessed.”  She shakes her head, but she smiles too.  Then
she hums.  “Friends, plural?  Or is there… someone in  particular? ”
Theseus smiles down into his math homework.  “Ah, now, I don’t know if that’s
my secret to tell.”
“He never does tell me these things.”  She sighs good naturedly, but Theseus
can tell there’s a bit of an edge to it as well.  It’s frustrating for her, not
being able to connect with Newt as well as she would like too, he knows that.
“He didn’t exactly tell me either, but… He’s Newt.”
“That he is.”  
She scratches figures down on the back of an envelope, frowning at the result,
and shuffles back through the stack of bills and credit card statements.
 Theseus has gotten himself absorbed in a math problem before his mother looks
back up again.
“Don’t you think he’s a little young?”
Theseus frowns, pausing in his writing.  “I was fifteen when Sera and I started
dating.  Newt’s only a year younger, fourteen isn’t that far off.”
“And I thought you were too young then too.  But I suppose I probably always
will.”  She falls silent, but her frown remains.  Theseus sets his pencil down,
leaning back in his chair to stretch, muscles cramped from bending over the
table.
“Look, Mom - most of the people Newt’s talking to probably aren’t even on same
side of the country, much less in the same part of the world.  He’s having fun,
he’s doing better, and really, there’s only so much that can happen.
“Hmm, well.  I guess the internet’s not so bad after all.”
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
SilverWolf: I was wondering
fantastic-beasts:   Yeah?
SilverWolf:  Have you ever kissed anyone?
fantastic-beasts: Oh uh
fantastic-beasts: No :P
SilverWolf: It’s just that
SilverWolf:  Looking at your lips made me think you’d probably be really good
at it :)
fantastic-beasts: Omg, I don’t know
fantastic-beasts:  Have you ever?
SilverWolf:  Yeah, but
SilverWolf: Not with some who had /something/
SilverWolf: You know?
fantastic-beasts:  I think so
fantastic-beasts:  Yeah :)
                                        
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
Newt gets home one from school one Monday to find he already has messages from
Percy, and he smiles as he pulls them up.  It’s been a long day, and he’s been
looking forward to chatting with Percy for all of it.  He’s glad to think Percy
has too.  He shrugs off his jacket, sets down the sandwich he brought up with
him, and settles down to chat.  
But when he pulls up the messages he pauses, blinking in surprise and
disbelief.
SilverWolf: Hey so I was thinking
SilverWolf: We already know we’re in the same timezone
SilverWolf:  But when we were talking the other day and you mentioned being
near that mall I wondered if we might be closer than we thought?
SilverWolf:  So I looked it up and I think you’re like 40 min from me
SilverWolf:  I could drive up and meet you! :DD
SilverWolf:  What do you think??
Newt can’t believe it.  He has no idea what the odds are that Percy would live
so close - that he would meet someone so incredible and actually be able to
visit  them.  He stares at the screen, rereading Percy’s messages, convinced he
must have missed something.  Percy can’t possibly mean that they could see each
other in person.
But he does.
fantastic-beasts:  That’s amazing I can’t believe it!!! :DDD
SilverWolf:  I know, right??
SilverWolf: Like this whole time, I had no idea :D
fantastic-beasts:  I don’t know what it would be like to actually see you for
real
fantastic-beasts:  I’ve never met up with anyone before, would it be weird?
SilverWolf:  I dunno maybe at first, but also AWESOME
SilverWolf: I can’t wait to see you Newt :D
fantastic-beasts:  Me either I guess, woah :D
SilverWolf: Hey how about next Wednesday?  I have a half day, I could come meet
you right after school
SilverWolf:  You don’t have anything else going on, do you?
fantastic-beasts:  No I’m free
SilverWolf: Then let’s do it!!
fantastic-beasts: Omg
fantastic-beasts: Okay
SilverWolf: Is there like a park by your house or something?  I think it’s
supposed to be a nice day
fantastic-beasts:  Yeah there’s one downtown
fantastic-beasts:  I’ll just tell Thes :D
SilverWolf: Why?
SilverWolf:  Can’t you make your own decisions lol?
fantastic-beasts:  Well yeah..
SilverWolf: Perfect :D
SilverWolf: I really can’t wait to see you, Newt <3
Chapter End Notes
     This is the picture Percy sends to Newt, for those interested.
     This is also the last chapter before things start to get real, so
     brace yourselves for next week... XD
***** Chapter 3 *****
Chapter Notes
     Things get a bit intense this chapter - please check the updated
     tags!
When Wednesday comes Newt takes the bus from school into town, practically
vibrating with energy as he does so.  He holds onto the bar, deciding to stand;
he doesn’t think he could sit still if he tried.
He’d taken forever to get ready that morning, trying to find the right clothes
and to get his hair to lay sort of flat until Theseus had pressed his backpack
into his arms and hustled him out the door.  Newt still feels a little weird
not telling Theseus or his mother, but Percy is right - he can make his own
decisions, and they’ll both be at work anyway, so it’s not like they’ll wonder
where he is.
The bus ride feels like it takes forever, and Newt’s energy is trending towards
nervousness when he finally arrives at his stop.  He hopes Percy will like him
in person as much as he does online.  He’s never met up with anyone from online
before, and he doesn’t really know how it goes.  No one else lives close enough
to him, so it was never a possibility.  He and Leta have schemed about it of
course, but they both knew it wouldn’t actually happen.  He can’t believe Percy
is not only near enough to meet up, but is actually willing to come all the way
out to his town.
Newt follows the path to the part of the park they’d discussed, a little out of
the way but a nice spot.  There are a few other people around but it’s not busy
this time of day, still too early for people to come through after work.  It’s
a nice day for being outside - the temperature is mild with a slight breeze
that makes the trees rustle, and the sky is clear.
Newt is practically buzzing with anticipation and nerves.  People don’t usually
like him in person - will Percy?  Or is he really only likeable online?  He
wonders if Percy will look as good as he does in his pictures.  A small,
unexplored part of him even wonders what it might be like to be able to
actually touch Percy - to hug him, maybe.
When Newt arrives at the agreed upon place he finds it deserted.  He glances at
the clock on his phone and sees that Percy technically does have three minutes
before he’s late, so he finds a bench on which to wait.  His foot jiggles
against the ground with nervous energy and he turns his phone over and over in
his hands, hoping that everything will go as well as he’s imagined.
“Newt?”
Newt turns in the direction of the voice, seeing a man walking towards him but
no sign of Percy.
“Newt,” the man says again, and Newt realizes that it was the man who spoke.
 He frowns in confusion, standing up as the man smiles at him warmly.
“Who are you?” he asks uneasily.  He doesn’t understand who this man is, or how
he knows his name.
“I’m Percy, of course.  I’m not late, am I?”  The man - Percy? - checks his
watch, then smiles again.  “I wasn’t expecting the traffic.  It’s so good to
finally see you, Newt.”
“But -” Newt falls back a step, looking up at him.  This isn’t right, this
can’t be Percy.  He doesn’t look like Percy at all.  Or - he does, but older.
 Much older.  He’s tall, broad shouldered, greying around the temples, and
Newt’s heart starts to beat quicker.  He doesn’t understand why Percy would
send him those pictures, or why he would say he was seventeen. “You can’t be.
 That doesn’t make any sense.”
“C’mon, it’s all right.  How’s Leta doing?  Did you get that essay finished
last night?”  Newt stares at him in shock.  “It’s still me.  We’re still
friends, and I still really like you.  Don’t you want to have a good time?  We
were looking forward to this.”
“Yeah - uh -”  Newt’s grip tightens on the phone in his hands, and he turns the
screen on.  “I just have to -”
“Let’s not let technology get in the way anymore.”  Percy reaches forward as
though to take the phone and Newt balks, taking a quick step away and shoving
it in his pocket.
“Okay, w-we won’t.”
Percy’s eyes follow Newt’s cellphone and his hand falls back to his side,
empty, but his smile stays in place.  “Great. It really is good to see you,
Newt.  You’ve become such a good friend these last couple months.”  Newt nods,
reeling, as Percy pulls him into a hug.  Newt doesn’t return it, but Percy
doesn’t seem to be bothered.  “Come on.  Let’s go for a walk,” Percy says,
draping an arm around his shoulders and leading him down the path.
Newt doesn’t know what to do.  None of this seems right, it doesn’t seem like
such a good idea anymore and he wants to go home.  He wants to go back to
having Percy as his friend on the internet who he stays up with and talks to
all night, not - not this.  Percy seems sort of nice, but he also just seems
wrong.  Newt is suddenly very aware that there aren’t any other people around.
Newt tries to respond to Percy’s small talk but his heart is racing, his mind
spinning off in every direction.  Percy isn’t just going to let him leave, he
needs help.  He needs to find a way to text Theseus, and hope that he sees it
before… well, Newt doesn’t know, but soon.  He doesn’t think Percy will let him
use his phone, and he doesn’t want to try in case Percy tries to take it again.
 But there’s nothing around, nothing Newt can use to distract him.
No, that’s not quite true.  There’s a building coming into view as Percy leads
him up the path, and Newt’s heart skips a beat at the thought that it might
mean people.  His hopes fall when he realizes it’s just one of the little
restrooms maintained by the park, almost certainly also deserted, but… but
wait.  Maybe he can use that too.
Percy squeezes his hand on Newt’s shoulder, clearly growing tired of Newt’s
lack of response to his conversation.
“What’s wrong, Newt?  Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Yeah, of course!”  Newt bites his lip.  He has to do this right.  He’s never
been good at this sort of thing, he’s never been good at people or at lying,
but he has to do this right.  “I just…”  Newt looks up at Percy, eyes wide, and
he squirms.  “I have to use the restroom.  You don’t mind, do you?  I’ll be
really quick, and then I can show you where all the squirrels live.”  Newt
smiles, hoping he looks enthusiastic.
Percy’s eyes narrow, but he takes in Newt’s earnest face, the way he squirms in
place, and after a moment he smiles back.  “Of course.  Go ahead.”
Newt hugs him around the middle and runs off the the temporary shelter of the
restroom.
The moment the door closes behind him he tugs his phone out of his pocket,
unlocking it and pulling up Theseus’ number as he locks himself in one of the
stalls.  He types quickly, hoping desperately that Theseus will see it.  He
should be at work right now but he has his phone on him sometimes, so there’s a
chance and Newt has to take it.  
He doesn’t know how long he has.  How long does it usually take to go to the
restroom?  He doesn’t want Percy to get suspicious, Newt needs him to believe
everything is fine until Theseus gets here.  He absolutely refuses to think if
Theseus gets here.  He sends a few more hurried messages and takes a couple
deep breathes before he puts away his phone and unlocks the stall.  It’s going
to be fine.  Theseus will come, and it will be fine.  It has to be.
He walks out of the restroom to see Percy waiting for him, and he forces
himself to smile and run forward.
“Come on, I’ll take you to meet Marcy.”
Percy pauses.  “Marcy?”
“Yeah, she lives in the oak tree.”
“Ah.”  Percy smiles again.  “Marcy is a squirrel.”
“Yeah!”  After a half moment’s hesitation Newt grabs Percy’s hand, tugging him
along the path.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Theseus’ phone buzzes in his pocket.  And then it buzzes again.  And again.
 Theseus frowns.  He doesn’t usually check his phone at work, but he keeps it
on vibrate just in case.  If someone wants to talk to him that badly… He
finishes the latte he’s making and calls out the order before stepping aside.
“Can you cover me for a sec, Sera?”
“Yeah, sure,” Seraphina replies from her place at the register.
Theseus pulls his phone out of his pocket, tapping the screen to show the new
texts.
Newt S (10 new messages)
theseus help
i met percy today and he’s here but hes not percy
he’s old
like really old
idont know what to do thes
we’re at the park
the one downtown
im taking him to meet marcy kate and sheila
you have to come please
help me
Theseus’ heart drops out of his chest.
“Sera - Sera I have to go.”
“What?” She wheels around. “You can’t - I can’t cover for you, it’s rush hour
soon!”
“Sorry love - Newt is in trouble. Like, deep trouble with a big T - fuck.
 Fuck.  I have to go. I’ll tell you later -” Theseus quickly squeezes her arm
and brushes his lips against hers. “See you.”
“Theseus, wait -”
His heart is racing as he runs to the back room, quickly changing before
grabbing his bag and phone and texting Newt rapidly.
I’m coming. Stay in public, don’t go anywhere else with him
Keep him busy
I’ll be there in fifteen minutes
Then he runs.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Theseus parks across two spaces, but he doesn’t care.  He slams the car door
closed, hoping with everything he has that he remembers which squirrel Marcy
is, and glad for once in his life that Newt named every squirrel in the park.
 Glad that he listened.  It’s easier than thinking about what else might go
wrong.  What else might have happened in fifteen minutes if -
He sprints down the path towards what he’s almost certain is Marcy’s tree.  The
park isn’t that big, but it’s as though the distance is stretching out before
him, expanding and keeping him from his brother, from the only thing he cares
about right now.
Theseus is in good shape but his breathing comes ragged in his chest, lungs
burning with exertion and with panic.  It’s unlike anything he’s felt before.
 The drive was hell, there’s no other word - waiting in traffic he couldn’t
dodge, at the stoplights he couldn’t run, imagining all the while what could be
happening at that very moment.
He turns a corner and there - Newt, at the base of a tree pointing up into the
leaves.  With a man standing next to him, a hand around his brother’s
shoulders.
“Newt!”
Newt turns, sees him, and runs the last few feet until he crashes into Theseus’
arms.  
“You came, you came, you came,” Newt is gasping, clinging to Theseus hard
enough to squeeze the breath from him.
“Of course I did, of course - Newt -”  Theseus pulls back just far enough to
press the car keys into Newt’s hand.  “Go to the car.  Lock yourself in, okay?
 You wait for me there.”
Newt shakes his head, clinging harder, and when Theseus looks up over his
shoulder he sees a smile starting to overtake the look of surprise on the man’s
face.
“Yes,” Theseus says firmly.  The last thing he wants to do is let Newt out of
his sight, but he needs to know that he’s safe.  And whatever happens next, he
can’t have Newt here for it.  He wants Newt behind a locked door.  “I will be
there.  I need you to go, right now.”
Reluctantly Newt does as he’s told, tearing himself away from Theseus.
Once Newt is out of sight down the path Theseus straightens up, turning to face
the man who threatened his brother.
“What a touching display,” he says, a smirk playing around his lips.  He really
is older, way too old to be chatting up kids online, and it makes Theseus’
stomach turn.
“Who are you?” Theseus asks, a hard edge to his voice.
“I’m Percy.  Your brother’s friend.  You are the older brother, aren’t you?”
“Who.  The fuck.  Are you.”
“He texted you, didn’t he?”  The man says instead of answering.  “In the
restroom.  I knew it.”
“Of course he did.”  Theseus clenches his jaw, hands balling into fists at his
sides.  He doesn’t want to think about what kind of kid wouldn’t go for help
when confronted with something like this. “Now what the fuck is your name?”
“Percival Graves.  It was so nice meeting your brother.  He’s a delightful
child.  I would like to get to know him better, though”
Theseus holds back a snarl.  “Not happening.  Don’t ever contact us again, you
are not touching my brother.”
“Uh huh.  Whatever you say.”
“I’ll call the police. We have proof.”
“Do you though?  I wonder.”  Graves shakes his head, looking startling
unconcerned, and Theseus would like to punch the superior expression right off
of his smug face and make sure he never so much as looks at Newt again.  Graves
checks his watch, looking bored.  “I think we’re done here?”
“I mean it.  Don’t come near him.”
“Yeah.  We’re done.”  Graves turns to go and for a moment Theseus thinks of
following him, of doing somethingto keep this man away from his brother,
anything to keep him from simply walking away.  But he thinks of Newt sitting
alone in the car, scared, waiting for him, and all he wants to do is have Newt
safe in his arms.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
When Theseus gets back to the car Newt is sitting in the passenger seat, knees
folded up to his chest and arms wrapped around them.  He looks up when Theseus
approaches, relied flooding his face, and scrambles to unlock the driver’s side
door.
As soon as Theseus slides into the driver’s seat Newt is in his arms, hands
balled in the fabric of his shirt and head buried in his shoulder.  Theseus
quickly shuts the door and locks it again, holding Newt close.  He’s safe.
 Newt is safe, he’s here, Theseus has him, he got here in time.  And he’s going
to get the bastard who did this.
They sit like that for long minutes, not talking, just holding onto each other
and breathing.
Eventually Newt’s shaking starts to subside somewhat and he adjusts to lean
against Theseus’ shoulder, grip loosening but still holding on to Theseus’
right arm.  Theseus doesn’t mind at all.
“Who was that?” Newt asks, voice small.  “Was that Percy?”
Theseus presses his eyes closed for a moment, and takes his brother’s hand.
 Right.  Now he has to explain.
“Yeah.  Or at least, he pretended he was.”
“Percy’s not real, is he?”
“No.  That man - Graves, he called himself - he made Percy up so that he could
talk to you, and so that you would come here.”  Theseus shifts, the seat
suddenly uncomfortable as his chest tightens up again.  He’s going to have to
figure out how this whole mess started, how exactly Graves found his brother
and what led Newt to go meet him in a park without telling anyone, but that can
wait.  Just the essentials right now.
“Newt - I’m gonna ask you some questions, okay?”  He sees worry cross Newt’s
face, and he backs up quickly.  “No, buddy, I am not mad.  I am so glad you
texted me, okay?  You did the right thing.”  He waits for Newt to nod before he
continues.  “But I’m gonna need you to be honest with me.  Can you do that?”  
Again, Newt nods.  
“Did he -” Theseus swallows.  “Newt, did he touch you anywhere?”  The words
taste like ash in his mouth.
Newt looks up at him, and he shrugs.  “He hugged me, I guess.  And he put his
hand on my shoulder a lot.”
“Is that all?  You can tell me Newt, did he do anything else?”  
Newt shakes his head, and relief blooms through Theseus’ chest.  “No, he just -
oh.”  Newt’s eyes get wide.  “Do you mean, he wanted…?”
A strained “I don’t know for sure,” is the best Theseus can manage.  He can’t
think about that, he can’t let Newt dwell on it.  It didn’t happen.  “Just a
couple more questions, okay?  How much does he know about us?”  Theseus doesn’t
ask how much did you tell him, because it’s not Newt’s fault.  It isn’t.
“A lot,” Newt says miserably.
“Does he know our address?” Theseus prompts.
Newt shakes his head.
“Are you sure?”
“I didn’t tell him and it - it’s not on my blog.  He can’t know.”
“Good.  Newt, that’s really good.”  He looks down into Newt’s big, worried
eyes, and wishes to god he’d seen this coming.
“Do you think he’s gonna try to find us again?”
Theseus takes a moment before he answers.  He doesn’t want to scare Newt, but
lying to him won’t help either.  “I don’t know.  He might.  We’re not going to
wait for that though, we’re going to make sure he can’t.”
“How?”
“With the chat logs from your blog.”
Newt’s forehead creases in confusion.  “With what?”
“Your blog - You talked with him online, right?  So we have a record of
everything he said saved, and if we show it to the right people we’ll make sure
he can’t do this again.”
Newt is shaking his head before Theseus even finishes the sentence.  “It’s not.
 It’s not saved, it all goes away after a day.  It’s really annoying if you
wanna look back at something you said, but - it’s gone,” he finishes quietly.
It’s gone.
Do you though?  I wonder.
It’s gone, and they have nothing.  No proof, no evidence.
And Graves knows it.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Theseus’ mind works the whole way home.  They don’t have chat logs, they don’t
have texts, but they still have the account Graves used.  That must have
connections to Newt’s blog, and maybe it can be traced back to him if someone’s
willing to take Newt seriously.  And they might.  They might look into it at
least, and surely some evidence will turn up.  And they have a name - Percival
Graves.
Theseus follows Newt up to his bedroom, sitting with him as he turns on his
computer.  Newt needs to rest, Theseus knows that, but at the very least he can
block Graves’ account first, and stop the man from messaging him again.
 Tomorrow he’ll figure out who they need to talk to, and exactly how they’re
going to deal with this whole mess.
But there’s nothing to block.  When Newt opens his contacts the account is
gone, and searching for it returns an empty page.
It’s gone.
Deleted, Theseus suspects, to prevent exactly the thing he intended to do.
Just a name, then.
This is all slipping away from them, and Theseus can feel them losing more
ground by what seems like the moment.  Newt is looking at him expectantly, the
question of what now hanging in his eyes, and Theseus wants so badly to be able
to answer it.
“It’s okay, I’m gonna make sure you’re safe.  I am,” he promises, to himself as
much as to Newt.  “I need you to tell me right away if he tries to contact you
again, okay?  Don’t respond, just tell me.”
Newt nods, quiet.  “Okay.  Theseus…” Newt worries his bottom lip, looking as
though whatever he’s about to say is eating him up. “Please don’t tell Mom.
 Please,” he adds quickly, seeing Theseus’ expression.  “She’d be so mad I went
to see Percy, she wouldn’t understand at all.  She hates when I go online, what
if she doesn’t let me anymore?”
Theseus sees the concern on his brother’s face, and the guilt that lies just
underneath.  He wishes he could say that wouldn’t happen, but he honestly
doesn’t know.  He thinks about how tired she’ll be when she gets home tonight,
and how badly it would scare her.  And after all - nothing happened.  Newt is
fine, Theseus took care of him.
“All right - for now, we don’t have to tell her.”  Theseus sighs, standing up.
 “You rest for a bit, okay?  I’ll check on you later, bring you something to
eat maybe.”
“Theseus?”  Newt’s voice is quiet, and he looks small sitting on the bed.  “I -
I thought he was my friend.”
Theseus pauses, hand on the doorknob.  “I know, Newt.  I know.  It’s not your
fault.”  He draws the door closed behind him, leaning his forehead against it
heavily.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Theseus allows himself fifteen minutes to sit on his bed with his head in his
hands before he pulls himself together.  Yes, it’s a fucked up situation, and
no, they don’t have much to work with, but the important thing is that Newt is
sitting in his room right now and he is fine.  Shaken up, scared maybe, but
fine.
Theseus checks his phone, unsurprised to see several texts from Sera.
Seraphina P <3 (4 new messages)
Thes, what happened?  Are you okay?
Is Newt okay?
I can’t believe you left like that, you’re scaring me
Please Theseus, just text me
He sighs heavily.  He owns her an explanation, he really does.  The rest of the
shift must have been awful one person down, not to mention the way he left.
 But he’s exhausted, and he doesn’t know where to start.
We’re both fine, we’re home now
I’m sorry I left you short.  I’ll explain it all later, okay?
It’ll have to do.
Theseus takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he opens his own
computer.  He has to think them a way out of this.  While there's a chance
Graves won't come for Newt again, Theseus remembers his slow, smug smile, and
he's not going to bet on it.  But if all they have is Newt’s word against his…
well.  The first step is to find out what Graves’ word is worth to other
people.  He types Percival Graves into the search engine and waits for the
results to load.
There are a lot of hits, more than he expected.  The first link takes him to
macusaenergy.com, and his heart sinks at what he reads.
Percival Graves, Chief Security Officer (CSO) for MACUSA Energy Corporation.
There’s even a picture.
Theseus spends the next hour reading articles about the many generous
charitable donations and causes of one of the security industry's top
professionals, who happens to work for one of the most powerful companies in
the country.
***** Chapter 4 *****
Chapter Notes
     This chapter is the calm before the storm, as it were. Enjoy! <3
See the end of the chapter for more notes
When Newt wakes up the next morning he has a half dozen new messages on his
blog, all from anonymous throwaway accounts.  All from Graves.  Theseus
screenshots everything, but none of it looks all that bad without the context.
 Somehow, he suspects the accounts couldn’t be traced back to Graves anyway.
Theseus doesn’t know how to explain what he found out - that even if they did
go forward, without solid proof Graves has the reputation and power to brush
them aside at best, and ruin them at worst.  No one is going to believe them.
Newt looks at him confused when he tries.  “He’s a security guard?”
Theseus shakes his head.  “No - well, sort of.  He’s an executive for the
company, he’s in charge of all the security they have.  It means… well.  It
means people trust him, a lot.”
“Oh.  You mean, if he said one thing and I said something else… they’d believe
him.”
“Yeah.  Yeah, I think they would.”
“But I’m telling the truth!”  Newt’s face is creased with the unfairness of it,
and it makes Theseus’ chest ache.
“I know.  And I’m gonna figure something out, okay?”  He presses his lips
together, forcing a thin smile.  “Trust me.”
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Graves doesn’t stop.  He keeps sending messages, more that afternoon, more the
next day, ranging from innocent to suggestively vulgar.  They’re all from
different accounts, making it next to impossible to block.  Most of them are
for Newt - I thought we were friends, what happened? - I really liked meeting
you, maybe we could do it again - You have a great smile Newt, send me a pic? -
But Theseus suspects some of them are meant for him as well.
He sees the toll it takes on Newt, and he hates it.  He gets out of work early
on Friday afternoon and finds Newt curled up on his bed, homework spread out
around him and conspicuously across the room from his computer, looking
miserable.
“Hey, Newt.  Come on, let’s get out for a bit.”
Newt looks up and shrugs halfheartedly, clearly not all that keen on leaving
the house.
“How about the zoo?”
That gets Newt’s attention.  “Really?”
“Yeah.  We’ve got nothing else to do, right?  Homework can wait.”
Newt’s face breaks into the first smile Theseus has seen in days.
The zoo is just about the only offline place that Theseus has known Newt to
really be excited about, and that seems to be exactly what he needs right now.
 If Theseus can at least provide him a couple hours’ distraction, he’ll do it
gladly.  Theseus had asked Newt once if he had a favorite exhibit, and Newt had
looked scandalized.  All of them, he said.  He loved all of them.
Newt practically dashes out of the car when they arrive, as though he can’t get
to the ticket counter fast enough.  Theseus grins, following behind him.  The
attendant offers them a map, but Newt doesn’t need it.  He knows exactly where
he’s going, and Theseus lets him lead the way.
Newt somehow remembers the name of every animal.  He knows exactly what they
need, what they like, and how they were doing the last time he visited.  They
stop at the lion cubs, nearly a year old now, and Newt has a myriad of detailed
questions about their development for the zookeeper stationed there.  She looks
amused at first, smiling at Theseus over Newt’s head, before some of Newt’s
more insightful questions draw her in, and before long they’re talking about
the unique challenges of raising cubs in a sanctuary environment.
Zookeepers are somebody Newt can talk to.  They don’t mind an awkward fourteen
year old boy who doesn’t make eye contact and knows too much about creatures
monopolizing their time.  They love it, in fact.  It gives them a break from
the usual sort of visitors who come through asking the same questions on
repeat, it gives Newt a chance to discuss his ideas with someone knowledgeable
and passionate, and Theseus couldn’t be happy to watch them.  The conversation
is over his head, but that doesn’t matter.
Newt explains to Theseus the dietary needs of the koalas, the ideal habitat for
tapirs, and falls deep into a conversation about conservation with the keeper
by the cheetahs.  Theseus follows, and watches, and smiles.  Newt may ramble
through a dozen different obscure facts, but he does it out of pure interest,
not to show off.  There’s nothing pretentious about how Newt talks, only
genuine excitement to know about these creatures, to learn more, and to share.
 Sometimes Theseus is in awe of his brother for that.  
Newt is so animated and happy that Theseus almost manages to relax too.  He
buys them both lunch, a bit expensive but worth it, and marvels at how Newt
manages to eat his slice of pizza without slowing down his explanation of
penguin mating strategies.
He’s a good kid.  He’s a really good kid, and he doesn’t deserve to have to
deal with any of this.  He deserves to have a childhood, to make friends and be
carefree and love his creatures.  The relief at seeing Newt happy - actually
happy - only deepens Theseus’ resolve to do whatever he has to in order to keep
him safe.  And Theseus is starting to think there’s a chance he might know what
that is.
But he doesn’t need to think about that right now.  Later, when he’s alone,
when he has time to look for options, but not now.  He smiles as Newt explains
how penguins’ feathers are designed to help them swim, illustrating with his
hands and nearly knocking over his soda before grinning a little sheepishly and
continuing.
They stay until the zoo closes at six o’clock that evening, only leaving once
Newt has made sure to visit every exhibit.  Newt seems tired but happy,
chatting the whole way home save for the occasional lapse into contented
silence.  Theseus feels the weight start to settle back over him as he pulls
them into the driveway, and he hopes Newt doesn’t feel it too.
But Newt’s cheerfulness doesn’t seem to diminish, even as they go inside.  They
get back just in time to help start dinner, and Newt happily recounts the
afternoon in detail to their mother as they cook.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
strangeMagic: Hey how’s it going! :D
strangeMagic: You busy?
strangeMagic: You’re not talking to Percy instead are you? :P
strangeMagic: Okay well, catch you later I guess XD
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
strangeMagic: You’ll never believe what happened at school today XDD
strangeMagic: Wanna hear? :D
strangeMagic: Hey..
strangeMagic: Are you there?
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
strangeMagic: You haven’t posted in a while
strangeMagic: Is everything okay?
strangeMagic: Newt??
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Seraphina P <3 (1 new message)
Theseus Scamander if you don’t tell me what’s going on right the hell now I am
going to come find you.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Theseus knows that he is well past owing Seraphina an explanation.  They
haven’t had a shift scheduled together since Newt texted and Theseus took off,
and if he’s honest, he’s been finding excuses to avoid telling her.  Dealing
with it is one thing, but talking about it and explaining it is another.  It
makes it feel different somehow.  
He doesn’t want her any more involved than she absolutely has to be either.
 The last thing he wants is to put her in a situation where she feels
responsible, or where she has to keep a secret for him.  Especially something
like this.
But he can’t keep it from her, and he knows she wouldn’t want him to.  She is
absolutely serious when she says she will come find him, if she’s convinced
he’s in trouble.  There doesn’t seem to be any good answer, but he types out a
reply to her anyway.
Okay.  I’m sorry
Can I pick you up after work?  We can talk, I’ll explain
You get off at 4 on Tuesdays, right?
He waits the anxious few minutes it takes for his phone to buzz with a reply.
Seraphina P <3 (2 new messages)
Yes.
4:00, don’t be late
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Theseus pulls up at Kowalski Quality Baked Goods and Coffee at five to four,
and lets the engine idle while he waits for Sera to come out the back.  He
watches the minutes tick by on the dashboard clock, trying to figure out what
he’s going to say.  He doesn’t know whether she’ll be more mad or more worried,
and he doesn’t know how to explain it all without freaking her out.
No, not freaking her out.  Freaking himself out.
A tap on the glass startles him out of his thoughts, and he looks up to see
Sera at the window, bag under one arm and shading her eyes from the glare of
the sun.  Theseus unlocks the doors and gestures her around to the passenger
side.  She slides in, shuts the door with a thump, and reaches to adjust the
air conditioning.
“Theseus.  What the hell happened that day?” She asks without preamble.  Her
voice is calm, concerned, and all in a rush Theseus is so glad to be talking
with her.
“Newt met this guy online.  He said he was seventeen, but - he wasn’t.  Newt
texted me because…” Theseus swallows, mouth dry and fingers tightening on the
edge of the seat.  “The guy got him to meet him at the park.”
“Jesus.”  Sera sets her hand on top of Theseus’, squeezing.  “Did Newt…?”
“He’s fine.  Scared, but… I got there in time, I got him out of there.  Newt
took him to meet every squirrel in the park I guess, bought himself some time.”
Sera smiles wryly.  “He would.”
Theseus looks up into her eyes, and suddenly nothing seems quite so bad.  He
explains everything.  What kind of man Percival Graves is, how he won’t stop
messaging Newt, how they don’t have any proof.  Sera listens, and she nods, and
she does absolutely everything Theseus needs her to except come up with some
magical alternative solution.
There’s a pause when he runs out of things to say, staring down at where his
hands rest on the bottom of the steering wheel, letting it all sink in.
“We’re gonna figure this out, okay?”
Theseus shakes his head.  “Not we, Sera, this isn’t your thing to deal with.  I
-”
“None of this is your fault, Theseus,” she says quietly.
He looks up, a little startled.  “I know that, I…”
“Do you?”
He can’t quite meet her eyes, and she threads her fingers through his.
“All we need is a little time.  We’ll think of something.”  She squeezes his
hand again before letting go, raising her arms up over the back of the seat and
stretching.  “Take me for a drive, okay?  Somewhere out on the highway.  Let’s
get out of this parking lot.”
“Yeah.  Yeah, okay.”
Theseus rocks the gear shift back into reverse, pulling out of the parking
space in one smooth motion as Sera pulls the seatbelt across her lap.  It
fastens with a click, and Theseus puts the car into gear.
Theseus takes the road along the river, the one with no stoplights.  It winds
through the valley like it’s got nowhere to go and all the time to get there,
taking them anywhere.
They roll the windows down and Theseus drives faster than he should, hands sure
on the wheel.  Seraphina leans her head back and smiles, wind whipping through
her hair, and the setting sun casts a glow across her skin and over the water.
They hold hands and they breathe and they don’t talk.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
The taste of Seraphina’s lipstick is still a memory from when Theseus dropped
her off.   He’d rather drive around with her all night than go home, letting
the wind from the road steal his problems away until he’s at peace.  It’s an
illusion, a timeless sort of fantasy, but it’s nice.
And it can’t last.
He gets home feeling pleasantly windswept, trying to hold onto the radiance of
the evening, and feeling the stifling stillness of the house as he opens the
front door.
Newt is sitting in front of the TV looking thoroughly unconvinced that
whatever’s playing is worth his time, and he looks up when Theseus comes in.
“Hey, Thes,” he says, sounding dejected, and Theseus feels the glow of
Seraphina’s company start to ebb away.
“Hey Newt.  Where’s Mom?”
“Upstairs.  She just got back.”  Newt flips the channel, and fidgets on the
couch.  Theseus turns to go through to the kitchen, but Newt’s voice stops him.
 “Hey, Theseus?  Will you check the messages again?”
Newt doesn’t check his own messages on his blog anymore, and Theseus can’t
blame him.  He doesn’t go online much at all actually, not with everything
that’s happened - and everything that’s still happening.  So it falls to
Theseus to screenshot and then delete the daily influx of messages from the man
cyberstalking his little brother.  He’ll do it for Newt, he’ll do anything for
Newt.
But it makes his chest tighten and his stomach churn every time, and he has the
thought - the useless, selfish thought - that he doesn't want to.
“Yeah.  Yeah, of course.  Is your computer in your room?”
Newt nods, and Theseus changes course to head up the stairs.  
He turns on Newt’s computer and navigates to the inbox, and sure enough.  Four
messages, all from different accounts, that all look like they’re from Graves.
 There are a few from Leta too, and Theseus wishes Newt would talk to her.  He
understands why he doesn’t, at least to a point, but he needs his friend.
 Theseus needs him to have a friend.
Theseus shakes the thought away, refusing to pursue it.  He’ll always take care
of Newt, even if he’s the only person left in the world who does.  He’s the
only one who can.
Theseus opens each of Graves’ messages, screenshotting and deleting it in turn,
not paying too much attention to the contents.
Or he tries not to pay attention, but the last message makes him pause.  He
hesitates before deleting it, reading it over again.  And again.
How about I meet you after school tomorrow?  I can pick you up.  Your brother
won’t be there to get in the way, we can have some fun.  I miss you, I just
wanna hang out
Theseus’ heart pounds in his chest.  He doesn’t know if Graves would really do
it, if he would just grab Newt like that, but nothing else he’s sent has had
such a direct threat.  Theseus’ mind races, trying to figure out what to do,
trying to come to a decision.  He needs to do something now, if he’s going to
do it, he won’t have this opportunity again before it’s too late.
He stares at the screen, words scorched into his brain, and he can’t do this
anymore.  Theseus can’t let this man keep ruining his brother’s life.  He
doesn’t know why Graves can’t let them go, just let them be.  Understanding how
it can possibly be worth the effort it must take, the planning, the risk, what
it takes to consider this fun or some sort of sick hobby is beyond him, and
really, he’s glad of that.
Seraphina said they just needed time, but they don’t have it.  Whatever
solution she’d hoped for, it’s too late for that now.  Theseus can’t take the
chance.  He couldn’t live with himself if…
No.  If there’s even a chance, Theseus doesn’t know how he can let it go.
He clicks to open the chat window.
fantastic-beasts: This is Theseus Scamander
fantastic-beasts: This needs to stop.
fantastic-beasts: I want to meet
The reply is instantaneous.
Scorpion1926: Want me to pick you up after school?  I’ll take you back to my
place ;)
fantastic-beasts: No.  I’ll get there myself
fantastic-beasts: Tell me when and where
Scorpion1926: Okay kid, I’m curious
Scorpion1926: My address is 165 Occamy street.  Be there at 7 tomorrow.
Scorpion1926: Good luck convincing me.  You know what’s at stake.
Theseus takes down the address, then deletes the conversation.  It’s done.
 Seven o’clock tomorrow he’s going to end this, and save Newt.  Whatever the
cost.
Theseus doesn’t eat much at dinner.  He tries to join in the conversation but
he fails, rather badly, and when his mother tries to pull him aside after
dinner he brushes past her.  It’s much too late now for explanations.
He readies himself for bed, trying to take some comfort in the routine.  He
longs for the days, years ago now, when climbing under the covers was all the
protection needed from the outside world.  The lights turned out and a blanket
pulled up to his chin made everything else fade away.  It was easier.
It doesn’t work that way anymore.
None of this is your fault, Seraphina had said, and he wonders if that’s true.
 He wonders if it even matters.  It doesn’t feel like anybody’s fault, not
really.  He refuses to blame Newt; he’s a kid, this isn’t on him.  Maybe
Theseus could have stopped it, or seen it coming, but it feels like it hit the
same way a hurricane does.  It’s going to happen, and the only difference is
how well you prepare and what you do after.
Well, he wasn’t prepared, and this is the clean up.  And he’ll do it, because
he has too.
He lies awake in bed for a long time that night.
Theseus takes a long shower before school the next morning, and he tries to let
the hot water beating against his back wash some of the tension out of him.  It
doesn’t work.
He goes through the day jittery, determined but restless, tension mounting as
the hours pass.  He sits through school and then work, and he can’t decide if
he’s glad or not that he doesn’t have a shift with Seraphina.  He needs her
right now, her confidence and her calm, but he doesn’t know if he could go
through with it if he saw her.  And he needs to go through with it.  She’d take
one look at him and she’d know, she’d try to talk him down, and she wouldn’t
understand.  This is bigger than him.
That evening he lies and says he’s scheduled for a late shift.  It sucks, it
happens sometimes, he’s gotta go.  Won’t be back until late.
He types Graves’ address into the GPS on his phone and lets the automated voice
guide him.
Chapter End Notes
     Next week's chapter will go up a day early (Monday instead of
     Tuesday) so that my American readers don't have to choose between fic
     and fireworks on the 4th of July :)
***** Chapter 5 *****
Chapter Notes
     Please be aware - this chapter is explicit non-con. Please please
     check the tags before reading, and if it doesn't look like your
     thing, the conclusion next week should be understandable regardless
     <3 If it does look like your thing, have a great time XD
Theseus parks his car and turns off the engine, gripping the steering wheel for
long moments before he can force himself to move.  He looks up at the house
looming in front of him and double checks the address.  Wouldn’t that be
something if he showed up and offered himself to the wrong guy, he thinks with
a bitter edge of panic.  But no, it’s the right house.
He steps out of the car, closes the door, locks it, and shoves the keys in his
pocket.  He has to do this.  He has to.  
Graves answers the door quickly when Theseus knocks.  Graves is expecting him
after all, even if he doesn’t exactly know for what.  Theseus couldn’t stand
the thought of putting that in writing.  Graves regards him with an amused sort
of curiosity as he lets him in, no doubt wondering how exactly Theseus plans to
bargain for his brother.
“Come in.  Have a seat.”  Graves beckons Theseus through to the living room,
indicating a couch.  Theseus stands for a moment, feeling strangely
disconnected from himself and from this man’s fancy as fuck living room before
he sits down.  His mouth is dry, and he realizes he hasn’t yet said anything to
Graves at all.
“I assume you’re here on behalf of your brother.  Is there something I can do
for the two of you?”  Graves settles himself across from Theseus, sitting
comfortably among the pillows of his couch.
Theseus’ hands clench into fists at his sides.  “You need to leave him alone,”
he says, voice low.
Graves looks thoroughly unimpressed.
“Look.  I know what you want.”  Theseus can’t help the way his lip twitches in
disgust.  But he’s here, he has to do what he came for.  There’s no sense
drawing it out, no sense playing games.  “And I’m going to make this really
easy for you.  I’m here, and I’m going to give you…” he swallows.   “What you
want.  And you don’t ever contact my brother again.”  Theseus hears his own
heart pounding in his ears, and he’s surprised his voice sounds as measured as
it does.  He’s said it.  Now he can’t take it back.
Graves’ eyes widen slightly and he leans back, crossing his arms.  “You really
would do anything for your little brother.  Wouldn’t you?”
Theseus gives a sharp nod, jaw tight.
“What a touching display of affection.  There’s just one problem.”  Theseus
holds Graves’ gaze, holding fast to his determination and trying not to think
about exactly what comes next.  “I’m not sure you’re my type.”
Not his - your type is my little brother you bastard, if I ever get the chance
-
“He could have been sending you pictures of me from three years ago, and you
never would have noticed.”
“That’s just the thing.”  Graves inclines his head slightly, as though Theseus
has said something clever.  “Three years ago.”
Theseus feels sick.  His breath stutters and he takes in air in one, two quick
gasps as he looks down at the floor.  He knows what he has to do.  When he
looks up again he does it through his lashes, letting the confidence fade from
the set of his shoulders, widening his eyes just a little.  Trying not to think
about how he’s imitating Newt, moulding himself into something Graves finds
attractive.
Graves smiles.  “That’s more like it.  How old are you?”
“Seventeen,” Theseus replies, doing everything he can not to lock his jaw.
Graves hums in approval.  “Well, you know what you came here to do,” he says,
uncrossing his arms and spreading his legs wider on the couch.  “Go ahead.”
Theseus tries to steady himself, hands fisting the fabric of his jeans.  “I do
this, and you never talk to Newt again.  You never touch him, understand?  It’s
me for him.”
“Uh huh.  There’s no one home with him after school, is there?”
“What?”
“I’m just saying, you’re not in much of a position to bargain.  But if you do a
good job… well.  I’d consider my next move very carefully if I were you.”
Theseus feels control of the situation slipping away from him, feeling dizzier
by the second.  The whole point is Newt, he wants a guarantee, not a threat.
 But the idea of Newt alone in the house with Graves coming for him makes
Theseus’ blood run cold, and he can’t take that chance.
He slides forward off the couch, towards Graves, until he’s kneeling between
the man’s spread thighs.  He hesitates, not sure what to do, not exactly.
 Graves makes an impatient noise above him.
“Go on.  Let’s start with your mouth.”
Theseus looks down to the front of Graves’ pants, and he sees the bulge there.
 Slowly, he brings his hands up to undo the fastenings.  To his dismay, they’re
shaking.  He reaches forward to take out Graves’ cock, already half hard in
front of his face, and he bites back a shiver of revulsion.  He feels Graves’
hand curl around the back of his neck and he flinches, but forces himself not
to pull away.
“Condoms,” he grits out.
“Not necessary.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t know why you would.” Graves’ fingers tighten, drawing Theseus ever so
slightly forward.  “But it’s your choice.  You suck my dick and take your
chances, or I fuck your little fourteen year old brother until he’s raw and
gaping.”
Theseus swallows.  “You bastard,” he whispers.
“Are you going to save your little brother or not?”
Theseus closes his eyes, wetting his lips.  
“Yes,” he breathes, and lets Graves pull him forward until Theseus’ lips bump
against the head of his cock, and Theseus opens his mouth.
He takes the tip of Graves’ cock on his tongue, closing his lips around it and
holding it as the pressure on the back of his neck eases slightly and Graves
exhales above him.
“You ever done this before, kid?”
Theseus can’t respond properly, not with a dick in his mouth, and he doubts
Graves will let him pull back.  He shakes his head minutely, already feeling
the saliva starting to pool behind his lips.
“Perfect.”  Graves presses him down farther until his cock is filling Theseus’
mouth, his jaw wide and lips stretched around it.  It’s big and heavy on his
tongue, the taste and smell overwhelming him.  “Virgin, then?”  Theseus shakes
his head again.  “I’m betting you’ve never been fucked, though.  Is that
right?”  After a moment, Theseus nods.  There’s nothing else he can do.  “Oh,
you’re going to be fun.”  Graves adjusts on the couch, pressing his hips up
slightly and nearly making Theseus gag.  “But that’s - Mmm.  That’s for later.
 Come on, let’s get you started.”
Graves grips Theseus’ hair firmly, pulling him up until just the head of his
cock is left in his mouth, before pushing him back down again.  He repeats the
motion until drool spills over Theseus’ chin and Graves makes a satisfied
noise.  “That’s it.  Use your tongue.”
Theseus does.  He works his mouth, trying to lick over the head of Graves’ cock
when the man pulls him up, and flatten his tongue along the shaft when he’s
pushed down again.  He doesn’t know how to do this.  He’s struggling, he keeps
messing up his breathing and it’s terrifying, the idea that if Graves pushed
him down just a little farther he wouldn’t have air.  This isn’t - this isn’t
what he thought this was.  He’s had friends who told him this kind of thing
feels nice, but Christ, he doesn’t know what’s happening.  He has no control at
all with both of Graves’ hands on the back of his head and he tries to brace
his own hands against Graves’ thighs, but it does absolutely nothing to give
him leverage.
The only thing he knows for certain is that he can’t - he can’t - let this
happen to Newt.  Not his brother, not ever.
Graves pulls him up until just the tip of his cock is resting between Theseus’
lips, holding him there for a long moment, and Theseus shudders with the relief
of a respite.
“You ready kid?  Deep breath.”
What - no -
Theseus doesn’t have time to inhale before Graves drags him down again,
farther, forcing his cock down Theseus’ throat and he gags painfully, but to
absolutely no effect.  He can’t breathe, fuck he can’t breathe -
He has no idea how long Graves keeps him pinned like that.  By the time Graves
pulls him up by the hair, all the way free of his cock this time, Theseus’ head
is pounding and his vision is blurred, dark around the edges.
“What did I tell you to do?”  Graves’ voice comes out of nowhere, feeling as
though it’s barely making its way to Theseus’ brain.
“Wha -”
Graves slaps him, the sting on his cheek cutting through the fog in his head.
“Think, boy.  What did I say?”
Theseus gasps, trying to make his brain work, trying to pull his thoughts into
some semblance of coherence.
“You… you, uh… d-deep - deep breath… Deep breath?”
“Yeah, that’s it.  So what are you going to do this time?”
Theseus chokes on a whimper and Graves’ hand tightens in his hair.  “T-take a
deep breath.”
“Good boy.  Let’s try again.”
Theseus does it this time, gasping air desperately before Graves’ cock passes
his lips and he’s held with his head buried in Graves’ lap.  He gags again,
throat convulsing around Graves’ cock as it’s forced into him, but his vision
stays clear.
Graves does it again.  And again.  Theseus loses count.  If he focuses on
anything other than breathing he might not get to.  
Eventually he can’t struggle anymore.  His throat relaxes around Graves’ cock,
and the wet gurgles pulled from him sound as though they’re coming from far
away.  Graves is talking probably, or moaning, but Theseus can’t hear it.  
Graves’ grip tightens, and Theseus realizes his cock is pulsing down his
throat.  He coughs, body jerking instinctively to pull back, but he can’t.
“Swallow it,” Graves growls from above him, and Theseus does.
Graves doesn’t let him up until Theseus is struggling weakly, instinctively,
and then he throws him backwards, sending him to the floor.
“You bastard,” Theseus sobs as soon as he gets the breath, coughing on his
hands and knees.  “You bastard, if you touch my brother I’ll kill you, I swear
I’ll kill you -”
“If I touch him?  But I can touch you however I want, can’t I.”
Theseus pants on the floor, throat raw and burning.  
He nods.
“That’s right.  Now, kid - are you ready for part two?”
Theseus makes a lost sound as Graves hauls him to his feet, and he shakes his
head uselessly as he’s propelled down a hallway.  It’s not even really a
protest - when it comes down to it, Theseus isn’t going to fight.  Graves drags
him to the bedroom and tosses him onto the mattress.  Theseus bounces against
it, not having the strength or presence of mind to catch himself.
“Get naked. Face down, ass up.”
Theseus turns around to stare at him in shock.
“What? Backing off now, are you? Think of your little brother.  If you have any
hesitationsI suggest you picture him learning how to please me.  You know what
I like.”
Theseus shakes his head, numb, and his fingers move on their own to find the
hem of his shirt.  He can’t seem to think of anything except Newt.  And Newt in
this man’s hands… Theseus couldn’t live with it.  He wouldn’t want to live with
it.  He tugs his shirt over his head and starts unfastening his pants.
“Yeah, I thought so.”  Graves turns away, fishing for something in a drawer as
Theseus finishes undressing.  He sits naked on the bed, fighting the urge to
try to cover himself because it’s not going to matter soon, and staring
abstractedly at the pattern on the bedspread.  Graves straightens, but doesn’t
yet turn around.
“Boy.  Get your ass in the air.  What exactly do you think is going to happen
if you haven’t done as you’re told?”
Theseus startles, looking up suddenly as fear spikes through his chest.  He
doesn’t know, he doesn’t want to know, and he pulls himself up on his hands and
knees.  Slowly, skin crawling with humiliation, he folds his arms against the
bed and pillows his head on them.  Face down, ass up.  Presenting himself.
Theseus can feel the mattress dipping as Graves kneels behind him, and then his
hands land on Theseus’ ass.  Graves spreads him open and he hisses, head
jerking up, but of course Graves doesn’t let him.
“Ah-ah.  Head down.  I thought you said you were going to make this easy for
me?”
Theseus lets his head drop again, not trusting himself to speak.  He isn’t sure
if he would start sobbing or cursing Graves out, but neither of those things
would help him.  Neither would help Newt.  He’s never been so vulnerable, not
like this, with Graves prying open his ass and inspecting his hole.
Graves’ hands start to wander, running down the backs of his thighs and over
his hips, kneading his ass cheeks and just catching on Theseus’ hole, the drag
of it making his stomach lurch.  He’s completely exposed, ass open and on
display, cock dangling between his legs.  Just waiting there with his ass up in
the air, for however Graves wants to use him.
Theseus hears a tube uncapping and moments later there’s something cool
dripping down over his hole.  It feels disgusting and he can’t hold back a
shiver, but - thank god.  Thank god he’s using lube.  Theseus may not have done
this before, but he knows he doesn’t want to find out what it’s like without
it.
Graves presses against his hole, circling it without quite pushing inside,
massaging him and making him twitch.  He lays his palm flat, chasing some of
the lube inside with his thumb, and then pressing the tip in after it.  Theseus
feel nauseous with it, it’s just a thumb but it feels huge, holding him open as
he tries reflexively to clench and tighten.  And then Graves tugs against the
rim, and it’s as though the bed tips sideways.
“You ever fucked a girl?”  Graves presses his thumb in deeper when Theseus
doesn’t answer, forcing a whimper out of him.  “Oh come on, don’t give up on me
now.  You came here so determined, where’s that grit?  Tell me.  Have you ever
fucked a girl?”
He doesn’t want to think about that. Not here, not now, not like this, but the
images come to his head unbidden.  Seraphina laying back against the pillows,
arms curled around his shoulders as she smiles at him, nudging her thighs
apart, inviting.
“Yes,” he chokes out.  “Yes.”
“Did she feel good on your dick?”
Theseus screws his face up against the sheets, hot tears spilling over.  What’s
the point of this, why does it matter?  Can’t Graves just fuck him, get it over
with, and let him go home to Newt?  He doesn’t want to think of Sera like that,
as some - some object to be used.
Like he is right now.
Hopeless, humiliated, he nods.
“Uh huh.”  Graves is still playing with his hole, easing his thumb in and out,
pressing in deeper each time.  “Nice and tight?”
Theseus takes a breath which might be a sob.
Graves plants his free hand on the mattress by Theseus’ shoulder and leans
forward over him until he’s close enough to murmur in Theseus’ ear, breath hot
against his cheek.
“You ever wonder what it felt like for her?”
No - no.  Not like this, it can’t have.  They’d talked about it, she’d asked
him for it, she’d been laughing.
“She - she wanted it,” Theseus snarls.  “Not like this, she - it wasn’t like
this.”
“Ah, there’s that fight.  I bet you treated her real nice.  Made her moan?
 Made her come?”  
Theseus growls into the sheets, anger and humiliation crawling up his spine
because this, somehow - this almost feels like more of a violation than having
Graves’ thumb up his ass.  Graves can’t have that piece of him, he doesn’t get
to twist those memories.  That wasn’t in the deal.  
“In the end you still fucked her though, didn’t you.  You say it made her feel
good?  Baby.  It’s gonna feel so good.”
Graves pulls his thumb out and replaces it with two fingers, making Theseus
bite back a whimper at the stretch.  He can feel himself loosening up, body
adjusting to take Graves inside, and he’s torn between not wanting to give
Graves anything and not wanting it to hurt.  Graves fucks his fingers in and
out of him, quick, efficient, until it’s not a struggle anymore.  Theseus bites
the insides of his cheeks, trying to think about anything other than the slick
sounds his hole is making.
Graves slows his thrusts, working into Theseus deep, slow, feeling out his
insides, and then -
Oh.
Oh fuck.
Pleasure surges through him and he presses back reflexively onto Graves’ hand,
trying to chase the sensation, a moan falling from his lips.  The intensity
fades after a moment, but the pleasure… doesn’t quite.  Somehow Graves’ fingers
don’t feel quite so strange inside him, and to his dismay his cock starts to
fill.
“What - ohhh…” He breaks off into another moan as Graves rubs that spot again,
and something warm starts to grow in Theseus’ belly.  His prostate, he thinks,
that - that must be his prostate.  And fuck, he’s never felt anything like it.
 He bites his lips, trying to hold back the sounds threatening to spill from
them as arousal mixes with nausea in his stomach, determined not to give Graves
the satisfaction, even if…
But Graves doesn’t let up, he doesn’t stop.  He adds a third finger, pressing
it in slowly as he hits that spot inside, and when did the stretch start
feeling good?  None of this should feel good, he should hate this, and though a
part of him does that part is rapidly losing control.  A whine gets past his
teeth as his hips jerk backwards, searching for the sensation he doesn’t even
want.
“Just let it happen kid, that’s it.”
Theseus’ mind is fuzzy, his body rocking with Graves’ motions even as he shakes
his head.  He doesn’t want this but he… his body does.  He presses back, trying
to take Graves’ fingers deeper, and Graves rubs his thumb behind his balls, a
gentle pressure.  Theseus can’t hold it back anymore.
“Oh - oh god.  Oh fuck, I - ah - ahh…”
“You like this part better, don’t you?  Better than sucking my dick.”
Theseus nods desperately, yes , it feels so good and he can breath, he can
breath, god…
“You don’t even mind letting me play with your hole.  You’re all loose and wet
inside, you feel that?  You’re wet for me.”
He does feel it.  The slide of Graves’ fingers inside him, the way his hole
flutters and tenses, he feels all of it.  He doesn’t understand why he doesn’t
hate it, why he’s not fighting it.  His whole body is relaxing as warmth
spreads through him, filling him and overwhelming him, melting his resistance
away until he’s a squirming, moaning mess on the bed.
“If you could see your face right now… you love it.  Is that why you’re here?
 You heard your little brother was gonna get fucked and you got jealous, wanted
it for yourself?  Never been fucked good and proper in your life, had to come
crawling to me.  How long have you wanted it?”
Theseus tries to shake his head, but he can’t find voice to protest.  It’s not
true, none of it is true, he just - he can’t think, god -
Graves pulls his hand free and Theseus whimpers, he feels so empty, he needs
it, he needs.
“Come on boy, when did you first realize you wanted to be fucked?  Was it with
that girlfriend of yours?  She wasn’t all that good, was she.  You never wanted
something on your dick, you wanted something in your hole.”
Theseus grips the sheets as something nudges against his entrance, and he
shivers in relief as Graves presses against him.  He doesn’t want it, he
doesn’t want to want it, but somehow his body craves it.  His hole stretches
around Graves’ cock, bigger than his fingers, and it makes him ache so good
inside.  Graves presses in slowly, letting Theseus feel every inch of him as he
enters until finally he bottoms out and Theseus feels it pressing against his
insides just right.  It’s so much, it fills him completely, unlike anything
he’s ever felt.
And Graves starts to move.  He pulls back until only the head of his cock is
still inside, stretching Theseus’ entrance, and he grips Theseus’ hips tight,
holding him in place, before he thrusts back in.  Theseus feels it in his
bones, reverberating through him, filling him deep.
Graves manages to hit Theseus’ prostate on every stroke, the angle exactly
right, and between the waves of pleasure and the relentless snap of Graves’
hips Theseus barely knows where he is anymore.  He moans feverishly, the sounds
forced from his throat adding to the wet slap of skin against skin as Graves
fucks him, and Graves’ own grunts of effort and satisfaction.
Graves is talking above him, saying something, and Theseus can barely focus on
the words but he tries.
“Oh yeah baby, your hole feels so good, so hot and wet for me.  Not as - uh -
not as tight as your little brother’s would be, but - Oh, yeah.”
Theseus’ head clears just enough to shove himself backwards, impossibly,
desperately determined to take Graves’ cock deeper.  Not Newt, Graves can’t be
thinking of Newt right now, Theseus doesn’t want to be thinking of Newt right
now.  Theseus clenches his hole around Graves’ length, he has to make it good
enough, he has to make Graves think of him.  That’s the whole point, that’s why
he’s here, that’s what he’s for.
“Uh, fuck that’s good, that’s it baby -”
Theseus rocks back, trying to time it with Graves’ thrusts, trying to make him
moan, trying to make him forget.  He doesn’t realize one of Graves’ hands has
left his hip until it wraps around his throat.
Theseus makes a strangled sound of surprise as his fingers tighten just enough
to threaten his breathing, closing in a strong, firm grip.  Theseus misses the
rhythm and yelps as Graves thrusts into him again, hard.  He tries to find it
again, he tries to get back some semblance of control, but Graves’ thrusts come
hard and fast and he can’t seem to focus, he can’t think anymore, the pressure
on his throat and the threat it brings overwhelming him.  He just needs to
breathe, he needs to breathe -
Graves’ hand tightens further and Theseus chokes as Graves drags him up and
back, mind going blank with the buzz of panic.  He makes a helpless, desperate
gurgle, hands flying to his throat, but it only makes Graves squeeze down
tighter.  
“Be a good boy and take it,” Graves hisses in his ear.  “Take it.”
Tears stream down Theseus’ cheeks as he struggles, fingers pulling desperately
at Graves’ wrist, and for nothing.  His head is pounding, his vision going grey
and he can’t,oh god he can’t -
His grip slackens, hands falling to his sides, and Graves’ hold loosens just
enough that air floods back into him.  It burns his throat and lungs and he’s
dizzy, the world swimming in and out of focus.  He sags bonelessly against
Graves’ chest, body limp, as Graves continues to fuck up into him.
“I told you to take it.”
Theseus makes a rough, lost sound that might be an apology or might be a plea.
 He’s locked in Graves’ grip, held up only by an arm wrapped around his waist
and the hand at his throat, unable to support his own weight.  Graves keeps
pounding into him, each thrust making his whole body quake, shaking him to the
core.
There’s nothing he can do, he doesn’t want Graves to choke him again, he just
wants to be good.  If he’s good maybe he can breathe, maybe if he just takes it
Graves will let him, maybe -
But no - no - Graves’ fingers are tightening around his neck again, making his
breathing strained.
“Are you going to take it this time?”
Graves doesn’t wait for an answer, and Theseus barely manages to gulp out a
“Please -” before the air is gone from his lungs.  Theseus’ head falls back
against Graves’ shoulder and he stares up at the blank ceiling, jerking
involuntarily in Graves’ arms and trying hopelessly not to struggle.
Theseus doesn’t know how long it takes.  When Graves lets him breathe again
Theseus slumps in his arms, body sagging, and the only thing in his mind is the
desperate need for air.
“Better,”  Graves murmurs.  And then they try again.
Graves continues until Theseus is limp against him, letting him do as he will,
giving up everything but his most instinctive responses.  His head lolls to the
side each time Graves loosens his grip, eyes unfocused and cheeks wet.
There’s nothing he can do.  There’s absolutely nothing he can do and the panic
won’t leave him, burning in his chest along with the lack of oxygen.
“Good boy.  Good fucking boy, god you’re so pretty when you can’t breathe.”
Graves’ arm vanishes from around his waist, and Theseus thinks vaguely that he
isn’t sure how he’s going to stay upright.  Everything is hazy.
And then Graves’ hand closes around his cock.  His grip is rough, too tight,
too much, and Theseus can’t take it on top of everything else.  But for the
moment he can breathe, each breath painful but possible, Graves’ hand still at
his throat in threat but not squeezing down, and Theseus is grateful.
Graves jerks him fast, hard, the sensation too much and curling sickeningly in
the cradle of his hips.  He gasps with each stab of pleasure as Graves drags
him to the edge, in danger of tumbling over but not yet.
“Ahh - oh god, oh - oh fuck, uh, uh, u-uh - augh -”
Graves’ fingers tighten, cutting off the sounds spilling from his lips and
reducing him to choked gurgles, but even the fear can’t cloud out the arousal
Graves forces on him.
Graves holds Theseus by the throat long enough for his vision to go fuzzy, then
dim, everything starting to fade as he falls.
The shock of his orgasm washes through him, leaving him adrift and floating as
it goes on, burning away the pain.  Graves thrusts into him one last time and
stills.  The feeling of his cock pulsing into Theseus’ oversensitive hole
forces its way into his awareness, a sensation that he almost doesn’t
understand.
And then he does fall, landing face down on the mattress and utterly unable to
catch himself as Graves releases him.  A heavy weight lands on top of him,
pinning him, as Graves collapses over him.
They lay like that for long minutes, nothing but the sound of Graves’ deep,
even breaths and Theseus’ half choked gasps filling the room.  The sudden calm
is almost jarring.  Graves’ hand curls loosely around Theseus’ throat,
fingertips just resting against the skin.
As the burn fades from Theseus’ lungs everything else starts to creep back into
his awareness.  He’s sticky, soaked in sweat and face a mess of tears and
saliva.  Come and lube trickle from his hole, leaving him wet and loose and he
feels disgusting.  He squirms under the too-hot weight of Graves’ body, trying
to extricate himself and praying his hand doesn’t close back around his throat.
 He just wants to leave.  It’s done now, right?  What more can Graves want from
him?  He just wants to go home.
Graves shifts and his fingers twitch, making panic crash back through Theseus
like a wave, but they don’t tighten.  Not this time.  
Theseus crawls out from under him as Graves groans and rolls over on the bed,
eyes closed.  Theseus looks down at himself to find his stomach covered in his
own come, and he feels nauseous.  He’s a mess, there’s no part of him that
hasn’t been used to Graves’ liking.  
But it’s done now.  It’s done, it has to be, he did what he had to do.  He
shivers, air of the room cold against his bare skin, and god - where are his
clothes?
He finds his pants and underwear crumpled on the floor by the bed and he pulls
them on quickly, not waiting for Graves’ permission, each movement making him
ache.  He’s filthy, he’s making a mess of the fabric, but the only thing he
wants more than to clean himself up is to leave.
Graves props himself up on the bed, eyes following Theseus’ movements.
“Not too bad kid, that was fun.”
Fun. That was fun.  The word doesn’t make sense in Theseus’ brain.
“I did what you wanted,” he says, voice a rasp.  He can already feel the
bruises starting to form around his neck.  “I did it, now - don’t you ever
touch my brother.  Don’t ever.”
Graves sits up, stretching lazily.  “Ah, but see - after fucking you, I can’t
help but imagine how much better he would feel.  So small in my hands, tighter
than you - do you think he’d try to fight, or would he love it as much as you
did?”
Theseus wheels around, anger blotting out everything else.  The bastard, no -
not after all this.  They had a deal, and this monster is not getting his
little brother -
He swings his fist, his only thought to give Graves bruises as deep and vivid
as Theseus’ own and stop him from coming near Newt ever again.
In an instant Graves is standing, catching Theseus’ right wrist and yanking,
twisting him until Theseus’ back is against Graves’ chest, wrist pinned behind
him, with Graves’ hand back around his throat.
“Really, kid?  Just haven’t had enough yet?”
“Don’t - don’t touch him -” Theseus manages, strained under the tight grip of
Graves’ hand.  “You fucking bastard we had a d-deal, don’t -”
“I don’t think I ever agreed to your deal,” Graves growls.  “You were so
desperate to save your baby brother you did whatever I said anyway.  But -”
Graves’ grip on Theseus’ wrist tightens, twisting his arm until his shoulder
flashes with stabs of pain.  “If it means that much to you.  There are always
other kids.  That’s what you wanted, right?  I leave your brother alone and go
have my fun elsewhere.”
Theseus’ stomach drops. No -god how could he be so stupid?  Of course Graves
isn’t going to stop, of course there will be others, what did he expect?  What
has he done, some other kid -
“I’m going to kill you.  I’m going to kill you, someday, I’ll killyou -”
“Uh huh, sure.  You work on that.”
“Fuck you - let me go, let me go-” Theseus twists desperately in Graves’ grip,
sending pain spiking through his shoulder and making him gasp.
“Aw, but kid, you came here and asked for this.”
He did, god, he did.  It had been his idea, he’d insisted on it, he hadn’t
fought it.  But he - he didn’t want it, he didn’t.
“Are you forgetting how much you loved having my dick inside you?  How complete
you felt?  Think about thatnext time you’re fucking your girlfriend, how much
you wish you were the one getting split open.”
“Fuck you,” Theseus chokes, and Graves chuckles.
“No, baby.  Fuck you.”  He spins Theseus around, trapping him face to face and
squeezing both wrists behind his back, the pain in his shoulder only
intensifying.  He smirks, slow, satisfied, and spits in Theseus’ face.  The
glob of saliva hits him on the cheek, followed by a slap which knocks his head
to the side.
“You got what you came here for.  Now get out of my house.”
He shoves Theseus backwards, sending him stumbling, and tosses his shirt after
him.  Theseus trips and his back hits the wall, hard, shirt crumpling at his
feet.  He snatches it up, yanking it over his head heedless of the way the
movement makes his shoulder scream with pain, and he flees.
***** Chapter 6 *****
Chapter Notes
     I can't believe this is the last chapter already?? Gosh it went by so
     fast. I don't really know what to say except that I hope you enjoy
     the conclusion <3
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Theseus makes it out of sight of Graves’ house before he has to pull the car
over.  His hands shake on the steering wheel and he tries to choke back the
tears, but he can’t stop them.  He leans his head forward and sobs.  You got
what you came here for, Graves had said.  Newt is safe.  Newt is safe and
that’s all that matters, that’s all he can let matter.  If he thinks about
anything else…
He stops at a gas station, cleaning himself up as best he can in the tiny,
dirty restroom.  His skin crawls with the filth on him, and the harsh buzz of
the electric lights makes his head ache.  He wets a thin paper towel to wipe
down his stomach.  There’s come on the inside of his shirt from where it sat
against him and he tries to wipe that down too, but the paper towel shreds
against the fabric.
He sees his reflection in the mirror and doesn’t recognize himself.  His hair
is damp with sweat, eyes red, cheeks stained with tear tracks.  There are
bruises blooming bright pink and purple in a ring around his throat.
There’s still come leaking from his ass, soaking through to the seat of his
pants, and he tries but there’s not much he can do about it here.
In the end he manages to clean up enough that he probably won’t scare anybody
when he gets home, at least if they don’t see him in the light.
He buys breath mints and a bottle of water, and the attendant’s eyes linger on
his neck.
When he gets back to the car he rummages around in the back seat until he finds
his jacket, pulling it on and popping the collar, wincing at the way the
movement strains his shoulder.  It’s stiffening up, and he holds his arm close
against his side.  He sits in the dark, sipping the water slowly, each swallow
making his throat burn and throb.  When he drives again, it hurts to work the
gear shift.
The house is dark when he gets home.  He’s not sure what time it is, but it
must be late. Hopefully everyone is asleep.  He unlocks the door as quietly as
he can, and tries to make his steps light on the stairs.  It’s not like he
isn’t supposed to be out, he said he’d be back late, but it feels somehow
blasphemous to create more of a presence than is necessary.
Newt’s light is on, a warm glow through the crack of his half open door, and
when Theseus passes in the hallway Newt calls out to him.
“Thes?  Is that you?”
Theseus pauses, and he forces a pained swallow.
“Yeah, Newt.  It’s me.”  Theseus pushes open the door, doing everything he can
to make his voice sound some semblance of normal.
Newt is tucked into bed, propped up against the pillows, looking sleepy and
anxious and small, and Theseus can’t bear to look at him.
“I just wanted -” Newt starts, but Theseus cuts him off.
“Look, Newt.  I don’t think that guy is gonna bother you anymore,” Theseus
says, looking at the floor.
“Percy?”
Theseus hears the rustling of blankets and looks up to see Newt in the process
of climbing out of bed, probably about to run to him, and Theseus quickly holds
up a hand.
“No, just - just stay in bed.  We’ll know for sure tomorrow I guess, and I… I
gotta go.”
“Oh - okay.”  There’s confusion clouding over the relief on Newt’s face, and
Newt can’t know.  Newt can never, ever know.
“Good night Newt.”
“Thank you Theseus…” Newt says, the last syllable of his name muffled as
Theseus closes Newt’s door.  He can’t bring himself to reply.  Newt doesn’t
know what he’s saying.
Theseus locks his own door and strips off his filthy clothes.  He feels gross,
used, he doesn’t want to be in his own skin.  He doesn’t really know what to do
with the clothes, so he bags them up and shoves them under his bed.  Maybe
he’ll throw them away later, or burn them, but right now he just wants them out
of sight.
He takes a shower and lets the water run until it’s cold, trying not to look
down at himself as he scrubs.  It doesn’t matter, it’s not like he’s going to
report.
Even once he’s dry and in his sleep clothes he doesn’t feel clean, and he falls
asleep shivering under the covers.
 
                   ----------------------------------------
 
Seraphina P <3 (12 new messages)
How are things?  Holding up okay?
Why don’t you come over tonight, we’ll just hang out
At least tell me you’re taking care of yourself
Theseus what’s going on?
Why weren’t you at work today?
What happened
What did you do??
Theseus answer me PLEASE
We’ll sort this out, just fucking reply to me
Theseus
You’re scaring me
What happened?
 
                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
Theseus startles at the sound of a knock on the front door.  He has the TV on,
but he’s not really watching it.  He couldn’t even say what program is playing,
he just couldn’t stand to sit in the silence.  The knocking doesn’t stop, and
it grows more insistent as the moments stretch.  Reluctantly, Theseus stands
and switches off the TV.  He’s the only one home, and as much as he doesn’t
want to talk to anybody he’s the only one who’s there to make the knocking
stop.
He opens the doors to Seraphina’s distressed face, and he looks away.  He
wishes it wasn’t her.
You ever fucked a girl?  Graves’ words echo in his head, making him feel
hollow.
“Theseus, what is going on?”  She walks past him into the house, wasting no
time on the front step, and he follows her into the living room.  “You haven’t
answered my texts in two days, you missed work.  What happened?  What did you
do after we talked?”
“I…” Theseus stares at the floor, voice tight.  “I visited him.”  This is why
he didn’t want her to come.  This is why he didn’t answer her.  She’s going to
know, and she can’t know.  No one can know, and he always knew he was going to
tell her.
“What?  Visited who?”
“The… Percy.  The guy.  G-Graves.”
“What?Theseus, why?  Why would you do that?”
Theseus shakes his head, holding on as best he can, pressing his lips together
tight.  His eyes sting and all he can do is try not to let the tears fall.
“What happened?”  She takes him in, face creased in confusion and disbelief,
and her eyes fall on the scarf wrapped around his neck.  The scarf he hasn’t
taken off in two days, refuses to let himself be seen without.  The weight of
which makes him feel like he’s dying.  “Theseus.”  Her tone is careful.
 Measured.  “Why are you wearing that scarf?”
He can’t look at her.
You ever wonder what it felt like for her?
“Are you okay?”
No.  No, he’s not, he doesn’t know if he ever will be but he should be, right?
 He went and asked for it, he got what he wanted, and he saved Newt.  He should
be, but he can’t stop himself from shaking, and he can’t stop the way he
crumples onto the couch as though he can’t support his own weight.  He reaches
a hand up to his neck, and tugs away the long strip of fabric.
“Oh my G -”
He knows what he looks like.  He tries not to see it, but he can’t look at
anything else in the bathroom mirror.  Dark purple fading to yellow and green,
a mottled pattern around his throat.
“What the fuck did he do?  What the fuck, I’m going to kill him, that bastard
I’ll kill him -”  She reaches towards him and he flinches automatically,
leaning away.
“No, don’t - don’t touch me.  Please, don’t touch me.”
Seraphina’s eyes widen, and her hand drops to her side.
“It - it was my choice,” he says, soft.
“What?”
“My - my body for Newt’s.  We made a deal.”  The words are bitter in his mouth,
but they’re true.
“Wha - and you accepted it?”
Theseus shakes his head, hopeless.  “It was my idea,” he whispers. When did you
first realize you wanted to be fucked?
“Oh my god.  Theseus.”
“He’s never gonna hurt Newt now,” Theseus chokes through his tears.  “He won’t
bother him, you should have seen what it was doing to him, Jesus.  He sent a m-
message saying he was gonna take Newt from school, what else could I do?”
Call the police, Sera doesn’t say.   Call me, call anyone.  Anything besides
this.  She sits beside him on the couch, leaving distance between them, and
bites her lip not to take his hand.
“I’m so sorry.”
Theseus shakes his head, adamant.  “I went there and asked for it.  All of it,
f-for Newt.  He didn’t - it wasn’t -”  He doesn’t mention how he hasn’t been
able to look at Newt for two days.  How the idea of talking to his own brother
makes him feel sick.
“That doesn’t make it okay,” she says quietly.  She doesn’t know what to say to
him, how to get him to understand without making him feel worse.  God, what had
he been thinking?  “What kind of a choice is that to have to make?  He’s a
monster, he did this.”
Theseus looks like he’s about to shake apart at the end of the couch, and
Seraphina feels the frustration welling up inside her that there’s nothing more
she can do than words.  How dare Graves hurt him like that?  How dare he think
he could get away with it?
“It doesn’t matter.  Newt’s safe, he’s what’s important.”
“God, Theseus!” Seraphina exclaims.  “Did it ever occur to you that you might
be important too?”
Theseus chokes back a sob, and all at once he’s in her arms.  She lays a hand
on his shoulder, careful, and when he doesn’t flinch she rubs her thumb back
and forth, slow.  His tears dampen her shirt, shoulders shaking as he falls
apart against her.
She doesn’t know how long they sit like that, but it doesn’t really matter.  
When he’s calm - calmer - he sits up, trying to wipe the tear stains from his
face with a sleeve until Sera leans over to the end table and hands him a
tissue.
“He’s not gonna stop,” he whispers.  “He told me, he’s gonna go find other kids
and he’s gonna do - that.  A-again.”
“We’re going to get the bastard, Theseus,” she says, low.
Theseus shakes his head.  “Nobody can know.  Newt, my mother, they - they can
never know.  And I agreed.  We don’t have anything.”
“Theseus.”  She turns to face him, holding out her hands for him to take, and
when he does she squeezes tight.  She wants him to know it’s not his fault,
that no one could actually agree to something like that, but it’s obvious he
doesn’t want to hear it.  She presses her lips together, glancing down before
looking him in the eye.  “It doesn’t matter.  You’re seventeen.”
A pained expression crosses his face, and his gaze is distant.  “He said I was
too old,” he mutters.
“No, Theseus.” Seraphina’s stomach churns at his words, but she continues.
 “You’re too young.”
Theseus looks up at her, and for the first time there’s a glint of clarity in
his eyes.  “You mean…”
“You’re underage.”  She pauses, not sure how to ask the next question.  “Do you
have anything from that night?  Did you keep anything at all?”
Theseus thinks of the clothes shoved under his bed, the filthy, ruined clothes
he hasn’t been able to bring himself to touch in order to destroy.  He hadn’t
meant to keep them, they make him sick to think about, but he still has them.  
Slowly, he nods.
The set of Seraphina’s face is grimly triumphant, determination burning in her
eyes at Theseus’ answer.  “He’s not going to get away with this, not with any
of it.”
He wants to believe her.  He wants to believe this has some conclusion, some
definitive marker of over so that it can’t rear up again and consume him.  How
long had it been since that day in the park - a week, two?  It feels like
years.  He thinks of his life two weeks ago and he doesn’t recognize it.
He’d just wanted Graves to leave them alone.  That was all he ever wanted.
“I just want him to stop, Sera.  I just want him gone.”  That was what this was
supposed to be - a way out.  But somehow, even though Graves hasn’t messaged
Newt since that night, he’s more of a presence in Theseus’ mind than ever.
 Theseus had won, but he still feels like he lost so much.
“I know.  And when we’re done he will be.  He won’t come near either of you, or
anyone else, ever again.  We’re going to make him stop.”  Theseus meets her
gaze for the first time and there’s steel in her voice, a fire burning in her
eyes.
He looks to her for the strength that escapes him, and he tries to let himself
believe her.
“How?”
“Together.  We’re in it together this time Theseus.  Will you help me get the
bastard?”
Theseus takes in her determination, her surety, the firm grasp of her hands on
his.  
He nods.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much to everyone who's been with me along the way for
     this! I really hope you enjoyed this story, and it would mean a lot
     to know what you think. This story became my life for a little while,
     so I put a lot into it and I'm so glad to share it <333
     Come find me at mercurial-tenacity.tumblr.com :D
     (And if you're looking for something else to read, check out
     writingramblr's What_Kind_of_a_Guy!)
End Notes
     Find me at mercurial-tenacity.tumblr.com :)
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