Forever and Always

Gremlins

Okay, okay. I know. We're gettin' A LOT of Newt here. But I promise that Tina will be returning to you shortly! ;)
NEWT:

"Oh, come on." Newt said, helplessly.

He hadn't given him a chance to decline his offer; not like he would have. Though he knew the difficulty of the task at hand— finding Grindlewald— selfishly, he still sought reason to find her again.

To find Tina. But he also had priorities, and he knew the danger Grindlewald held over both Wizzarding and Muggle societies. And he also knew that Tina could help him.

Newt felt a sharp jab to his neck. Sure enough, an aggravated bow truckle clicked and whined on his shoulder. "You'll be fine, Pick. We'll be back in a jiffy." He said.

Pickett crossed his arms, clearly not buying it. Newt sighed, turning away from the little green creature. It earned him a few foul yelps and pokes, but Pickett eventually relented and retreated, defeated, back into the depths of his coat pocket. With the lift of a wand and a dash of magic, Newt apparated away.

***

"Bunty?" The staircase creaked as Newt trudged down the steps, searching his basement for his assistant. He'd returned to an open cage and an empty wallet— the shiny galeons that had once occupied it were missing without trace. He didn't care about the currency, just about what it meant. "Bunty. Are you here?" He said.

Absentmindedly, he slipped on his work boots— only to find small, bite shaped holes gnawed through them. He sighed, removing them and slipping on his dress shoes.

Newt's creatures greeted him, each happily dwelling in their enclosures. They meant everything to him— and it always seemed to lift his spirits, seeing them safe from the treacherous world outside the walls he'd built for them. But he also knew that with such affection— came along the risk of danger. With no sight of Bunty, he began to worry. "Bunty! Please come here-"

She'd came to him; but not in the way he'd imagined. "MERLIN'S BEARD!" Bunty ran for the hills, darting everywhere she could inside Newt's basement. Newt, unsure of what to do, saw the tiny creatures clinging to her shoes and chasing her wherever she ran.

"You little Gremlins! Get back, I tell you. Get back!" She'd had enough; grabbing a net that had been tossed over a pile of other gadgets, she held it up in the air accusingly. The Nifflers instantly fled, taking refuge in every nook and cranny they could find.

She let out a puff of air, relaxing her tensed posture. Head hung in embarrassment, she set down the net and brushed down her clothing. "Oh, Merlin's beard! If Newt ever found out about this, I'd be-"

"Mortified?" Newt made himself apparent— at the wrong time. He was met with a high-pitched scream and a shoe flying in his direction. He didn't have time to reach for his wand. Instead, he deflected it with the non-magical shield his forearms provided.

When Newt was sure he wasn't going to get impaled by high-heels, he lowered his arms and net the eyes of a— mortified— Bunty. "Newt!" She ran in his direction, wobbling at the awkward distribution of height one heel and one bare foot caused. "I'm so sorry! So, so sorry. Let me just—" Newt held up a hand, causing her to stop instantly.

"It's alright, Bunty. You head on home now, you must be exhausted." He felt horrible for dumping his responsibilities on her— even if it was her job. Newt— being Newt— always felt obligated to help another.

"But what about the Nifflers? Shall I catch them?" She reached for the net again, but Newt took it before she could grasp it. "Never mind that, leave it to me. Please, go home." He ushered her up the stairs, and she submissively obliged.

"I'll be off to Paris, tomorrow. You'll need the rest." She stopped suddenly, turning to look up at him. "Paris? Why?" Newt busied himself, grabbing one of the Nifflers he'd spotted under the bread-tray.

Bunty gazed at him, hopelessly in love. Even if Newt was too oblivious to notice. "A friend of mine." He said. Too curious for her own good, Bunty couldn't help but ask. "Who is this friend?"

Newt paused, his lips curling into the beginning of a smile, reminiscent and content. "She's an Auror I met back in New York." He coaxed the Niffler into the pocket of his coat. When it scurried inside, Newt gazed ahead of him, eyes filled with memory. "The bravest person I've ever met."

Woo woe! Well. This calls for some Newtina angst. Shall we?

;)

-B