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Managing the jungle terrain wasn’t the easiest, though it was something Newt was used too. His adventures around the globe in search of rare and magical creatures had almost always led him to more isolated locations. At least this evening the bright moon above was able to provide a sensible amount of visibility.
Twigs snapped behind Newt, vegetation harshly brushed aside, his traveling companion trailing behind.
“Keep up.” Newt continued his quick pace without sparing a look back to his brother struggling through the foliage. Even with his case in hand Newt was traversing over the tangled roots with what appeared to be very little effort, fallen leaves mischievously concealing many of these trip hazards.
“When you asked for my help. This wasn’t what I had in mind.” Theseus caught his breath after speaking. With Newt showing no signs of slowing down, he was forced to press on and attempt to fall in step behind his younger brother.
In truth Dumbledore had been the one to recruit Newt and subsequently his brother. They had heard word, a rumour, that Grindelwald was making a move. A move that would give him an upper hand in the war to come.
They hadn’t much to go on. But it wasn’t something they could ignore, especially if the rumours were true.
From what they managed to understand, Grindelwald had dispatched his acolytes to acquire something for him. A Qilin. A rare magical creature, one of which is highly regarded in the wizarding world, while of course having roots in Muggle mythology.
Grindelwald’s interests in the rare and fascinating hoofed creature could only possibly stem from the unique abilities they possess. Born with a remarkable talent in the arts of divination, Qilin’s are widely known for their precognitive abilities and gift to look into a person’s soul to determine if their pure of heart.
In the wrong hands, in the hands of Grindelwald, the power to see future events before they even occurred would give him the upper hand in any fight, in any and every plan enacted against him. What chance would they have against a man who knew their move before they even had a chance to make it?
“Did you know the city of Guilin was named for the sweet-smelling trees located in this region?” Newt asked, looking to distract himself from his more unpleasant thoughts with interesting facts about their current environment. After all their arrival in the city had been brief, not much time for pleasantries before their trip upriver towards the beautiful renowned lushes’ mountains.
“Nothing sweet about it.” Theseus swatted a large fly from his face. “Are you sure you know where you’re going?” His brother then queried doubtfully, towering bamboo not giving variation in their surroundings.
“Yes.” Newt quickly but confidently replied.
“How can you-”
A low pitch groan rumbled the landscape, bringing the brothers to a stop, both men having to adjust their footing on the inclining terrain.
Newt looked back to his brother, a glint of excitement behind the greyish green of his eyes.
“She’s ready.” He smiled before proceeding with haste.
They’d heard the reports that the Qilin was pregnant. Though how close to giving birth Newt couldn’t say for certain… Until now.
The brothers worked their way through the unforgiving landscape, their brown tweed jackets protecting their arms from reaching branches and unfriendly foliage. Soon enough the stone arch that resided on the top of the mountain came into view, booming voice of the pregnant Qilin now their guide in the night, leaving little said between the brothers in the final leg of their treacherous journey.
The terrain levelled out as they reached the peak, bamboo forest dispersing into a small clearing.
Newt stopped suddenly, Theseus almost stumbling into his younger brother.
Laid on the leaf littered ground, the deer-like creature breathed heavily, large belly noticeable in the moonlight.
Slowly, Newt lowered his well-travelled brown leather case to the ground.
“Stay here.” Newt briefly glanced back over his shoulder, Theseus flicking a concerned look between the Qilin and his younger brother.
“What are you doing?” His brother hissed at him, Newt already making a move towards the pregnant creature.
Ignoring Theseus, Newt came to a stop in the scaled deer’s peripheral vision, waiting for her to take notice of him before moving any further. Her long neck raised from the earth, stunning eyes watching him closely.
“Hello.” Newt offered a genuine smile, light coloured eyes somehow conveying so much warmth.
The Qilin, between panting breaths, lowered her head slightly. Gesture reminiscent of a bow.
With his brother’s eyes burning holes into the back of his head Newt slowly moved up. Hand cautiously reaching out, it eventually rested on the creature’s forehead. A soft glow emitted from the space between her scales, the Qilin once more resting her head on the ground.
Newt crouched beside the mother to be, hand running along the scales on her belly. In a moment of trust, he rested his head against her, ear pressed to her side listening for signs of life.
Suddenly with a groaning cry the mother stood, making Newt jerk back.
“Newt…” He heard Theseus softly call out in concern, having at the last second thankfully lowered his voice.
Newt raised a hand to settle his older brother, attention remaining on the Qilin who was turning round, nose pointed to the ground beside him.
Wriggling on the floor was an egg-like sack, slick surface having a sheen in the moonlight. Miniscule compared to the size of the mother, Newt could make out the arch of a neck fighting to break free. And with a sudden burst of strength the new-born sprung from the pale blue balloon. It found its feet in an instant, tiny hooves holding up wobbly legs briefly before the creature flopped to the floor, beady eyes exploring the wonderful new world.
The proud mother sniffed her baby inquisitively, tongue licking the new-born’s face as it once again found its feet.
“Beautiful.” For one, fantastic moment, Newt had forgotten why they had come. It was a moment that was gone to soon. “The case.” Newt turned to his brother who had for the most part, quietly watched from the side-lines.
Theseus did as he was asked without a word, collecting up the case he mimicked Newt’s slow approach before handing it over. Taking a step back Theseus continued to watch the tender moment unfold, the new mother delicately cleaning her baby, the tiny creature sniffling happily and leaning into its mother’s touch.
“Amazing.” Theseus sighed somewhere behind Newt.
“Alright you two. Now for the tricky part.” Unlatching the lid, metal clasps snapping into an upright position, Newt opened the case. An assortment of drawings were pinned to the lining, photo of Tina having pride of place. Newt thought of her often. Though he would never admit that to anyone.
Carefully positioning the case correctly, Newt took a position behind the luggage.
He watched for a second. Waiting for the right moment to try and usher the pair to their new home.
The peaceful night was shattered in an instant.
Green burst of light crashing against the Qilin mother, magic dispersing against her scales as she refused to go down.
“Newt!” Theseus cried in distress, unable to draw his wand before a burst of blue sent him flying back, hitting the ground beside Newt.
Another explosion of green magic finally brought the Qilin to her knees. Head smacking against the ground unable to keep it raised any longer.
A shield burst from the tip of Newt’s wand, the thin, battered slither of wood finally in hand. Strands of blue light stretched out to bar the way of their assailants.
“Theseus?” Newt didn’t look to his brother, he couldn’t falter in his concentration, wand maintaining its raised position, tip still glowing blue.
A groan told Newt he was alive at least. Movement letting him breathe a sigh of relief as his brother got himself back to his feet.
A figure stepped towards the blue beaming barrier, face recognisable now as the young man they knew as Credence. Face shaped by long black hair as he raised his own wand to the barrier.
The young wizard’s wand acted like a knife, edges of the vibrant blue barrier burning away like paper, orange embers flaking off into the air around them as two more of Grindelwald’s lackeys stepped towards the barricade.
“Theseus…” Newt needn’t finish the sentence, panicked look over towards the infant enough to spring his brother into action. “Run!” He then ordered, Theseus clutching the new-born to his chest, feet hesitant to move. “Go!” Newt insisted with an authority that even surprised himself.
The last he saw of his brother, was him dashing off back into the grasp of the surrounding bamboo.
“Accio.” Newt turned on the spot, wand pointed to his case, the leather-bound luggage leaping up at him. His fingers latched around the handle; eyes wide as his barrier dissipated. Newt took off running in the same direction as Theseus and the young Qilin.
Almost immediately the unforgiving terrain played its hand. A steep drop being masked by the thick foliage, leaving Newt little hope in keeping himself upright. He tumbled, rolling through shrubs and leaves, losing his grip on his case. Sitting upright in an instant he searched for the missing luggage.
Instead, he heard the despite shrilling cry of the new-born Qilin. With his brother nowhere in sight Newt had no choice to scramble to his feet and scoop up the small defenceless creature. There wasn’t any time for worrying thoughts or overbearing emotions as bright white bursts of magic soared past him, crashing through the bamboo, sheering many of the shoots in half.
Newt ran, he ran as fast as he could. Qilin pressed to his chest the entire time, wand awkwardly in hand.
He managed to let out a desperate whistle. A handful of his creatures that resided within the case knowing the call. Newt could only hope that he was heard as he charged forward without a destination in mind.
Reaching hands tried to snatch the child from Newt’s grasp, a flick of his wand sending Grindelwald’s acolyte hurtling backwards.
Out of breath and out of time Newt found a cliff face rapidly approaching. He turned at the last second, wand ready, single arm cradling the frightened creature.
He never felt himself fall. The wind rippling through his dark orange hair.
Newt just about registered the cold touch of water, his back smashing down against the river surface, thunderous waterfall not yet reaching his ears.
Dazed. Pain nothing more than a bad memory as he floated towards the riverbank. Pebbles and hard stones resided beneath him, water lapping against his chest. Clouded mind leaving him without much feeling of any kind. A blissful existence absent of both sensation and emotion.
Opening his eyes, Newt found his vision blurred. Distorting his view of the world in a mess of colour and shapes. Misrepresenting the breath-taking landscape.
The cries of the new-born Qilin brought him back from the brink. An instinct to protect forcing him to at least try and sit up, a hand longingly reaching for the creatures as it was fished from the river by unwelcome hands.
Newt could only watch as the young creature was stuff into a bag by two figures, hazy sight not giving him much in features until Credence stepped closer. His burdened eyes looked down at Newt. Fingers twitching on the hilt of his wand.
Theseus wasn’t sure how long he had been unconscious. An untimely encounter with a rock leaving blood oozing from the side of his head, chrisom liquid trickling down over his ear. The fall had been brutal, Qilin parting from his grasp in the first roll.
After coming round and gathering his wits about him, Theseus found himself following a trail of destruction. Clear path carved through the thick vegetation and crowded bamboo. Not knowing if time was on his side, he rushed forward wand at the ready. For all he knew he could already be too late.
The booming of a waterfall alluded him to the approaching cliff edge, allowing him to pace himself and prevent an untimely tumble. Theseus felt a sense of dread building as his eyes frantically scanned the vast jungle before him. He’d found the trails end, but there was still no sign of his brother.
Cautiously he peered over the edge. Down being his only option.
Though a distance, Theseus could make out movement below.
His wand brought him safety down, apparating on the spot, he appeared at the base of the waterfall. The roaring of crashing water masked the sound of his arrival. Dense forest treeline concealing him for now.
Brushing aside a reaching branch Theseus could now make out distinct figures. Two of which were in the process of shoving something into sack, cries of a creature now audible. He found himself holding his breath as he calculated the odds of retrieving the creature. He’d been in many unfavourable scenarios, several in which he found himself out numbered.
However, this time Theseus was simply out matched.
Even with the element of surprise. The unforgiving terrain left him without the means to control the fight. Tactical advantage remaining on the side of Grindelwald’s acolytes.
The Qilin appeared resigned to its fate.
Theseus, keeping to the treeline could only watch on, unable to act without great risk to himself.
One of the individuals stood out to him.
Credence.
The young wizard, or Obscurial as some would not fondly call them, approached something on the riverbank. Arm outstretched, wand pointing to the ground.
Piquing his curiosity, Thesesus manoeuvred himself into a position to see what had the young man’s attention.
There was no thought behind what Theseus did next. His well calculated assessment of the situation forgotten instantly at the sight of his prone younger brother.
The young wizard’s hesitation in delivering the final blow is what gave Theseus the chance to intervene.
“Expelliarmus!” Theseus apparated mid river, knee deep in the rippling waves, he watched the Obscurial’s wand clatter against stone.
Two quick well executed flicks of his own wand defended Theseus from violent bursts of magic. Two of his four assailants thankfully still occupied with apprehending the new-born Qilin. Their hands only now going for their wands.
Theseus thinking quickly apparated beside Newt, hand reaching out for his sleeve, he barely had time to look ahead, trained reflexes bringing his wand up in self-preservation.
Ghastly black smoke poured from Credence. An assault of pure magic crashing against the shield projected in front of both Theseus and his unconscious brother.
Gritting his teeth Theseus fought to maintain the spell.
In the end it was too much.
But in a last-ditch effort Theseus disrupted the beam of unbridled magic by condensing the shield into a ball and shooting it directly up the smoke stream. The smoke dissipated, both wizards attempting to catch their breath. But it all happened so fast. Reprieve not a luxury Theseus was permitted.
The spell struck his shoulder, a numbing effect enveloping his right side as he was knocked back shoulder first, landing against the pebbled bank. As predicted his foes had the upper hand, another acolyte taking advantage of the situation landed the stunning strike.
Theseus breathed quickly, hands fighting to get under him, eyes chaotically searching for his wand. Thankfully it lay not far, resting between stones an arm’s length away. Even with the feeling in his fingers now limited, he felt them fumble to get a grip.
Desperately Theseus shuffled forward, half crawling towards his brother’s unmoving form. He spotted Newt’s wand at the last second, snatching up the battered piece of wood, hand then slapping down in haste on his brother’s chest.
Moments before they apparated Theseus could see Credence pointing his recently retrieved wand at them. His heart stopped. Fate supposedly sealed. Though a spell was never cast, allowing them to vanish mostly unscathed.
They hit the ground rather hard. The sudden nature of the spell not allowing for much finesse.
Theseus picked his chest up off the ground, dropping both his and Newt’s wand in the process. Without a second thought he crawled over to his brother through dirt and leaves, surroundings of little concern, focus fixated.
Newt lay on his side, Theseus taking note of the overly pale nature of his skin. His breaths so shallow Theseus wasn’t even sure he was breathing.
“Newt…Newton!” Out of breath himself, Theseus reached out brushing aside Newt’s collar to rest his fingers to his neck. He was sure he held his breath, waiting for the thud of the artery under the cold clammy skin.
Theseus let himself take a shaky breath. Gentle rhythmic tapping against his fingertips.
His hand lingered in position for a moment, wanting to be sure that the returning feeling in his fingers was not playing tricks on him. He needed to be certain that his brother was alive.
Theseus hung his head while nodding, eyes scrunched closed all while sucking down a deep breath. It was a much needed second of clarification.
Sitting back, Theseus was able to begin to settle himself. Surrounding area now able to be acknowledged. A low pained humming drawing his eye. In the dead of night, even the fading glow emitting from between the scales of the Qilin mother stood out.
The clearing had been the first place to come to mind upon their narrow escape. The once beautiful moment scarred into Theseus’s memory.
He was of course surprised to find the mother still drew breath, the hearty beast withstanding two attacks that would have stopped the heart of any human in an instant. But her restricted breaths were hard to listen too, glistening eye looking his way making it all the worst.
She never tried to move or even lift her head, single visible eye just following him. Theseus looked down at his brother unable to maintain eye contact with the dying creature. A shiver had started to take Newt’s form, wet hair slick against his pale forehead, wet clothes supposedly not helping the matter. With both hands Theseus carefully lifted his brother’s head onto his lap, raising it from the ground.
“Newt?” He tapped the side of his brother’s face. It didn’t garner a response, then again, he wasn’t sure what he’d expected.
If he’d been a few seconds too late…
If Credence hadn’t hesitated…
These thoughts didn’t help matters. Theseus doing his best to rid them from the forefront of his mind.
A familiar shrilling sound drew Theseus’s eyes back to the female Qilin. From around her backend stepped a sniffling child, new-born eyeing the world with the same curiosity as the last. The small creature beamed a soft bright light from between its tiny scales, it’s mother trying to look round at its second child but to no success.
Carefully he laid Newt’s head back down, stripping himself of his own jacket to use as a pillow for his younger brother. Theseus approached the two creatures. And showing as much care as he did with own brother, cradled the child in his arms and brought it into the mothers eyeline.
“Twins…” Theseus managed to solemnly smile. Creature in his arms snuggling against his warmth, unaware of the events that transpired before its birth.
The flickering glow between the mother’s scales faded completely. A lonely tear gliding down her cheek as her chest slowly exhaled for the last time, leaving the bundle in Theseus’s arms an orphan.
Swallowing back his own tears Theseus moved away, returning to his brother’s side with child in hand, creature not all being a difficult traveling companion.
“Twins Newt. She had twins.” Theseus kneeled by his brother’s shivering form, bottom lip now trembling. With one arm he cradled the tried Qilin, his free hand resting on Newt’s shoulder. “Come on… this is your thing.” He continued, gaze shared between the orphan and Newt, hand gripping his brother’s shoulder tighter.
An approaching sound from above brought Theseus instantly to his feet, free hand having gone for his discarded wand without hesitation, orphaned creature still pressed against him. From the treelines canopy emerged a unique looking creature, familiar brown case wrapped up in its long blue tail.
Holding his wand steady not sure how to handle the matter, Theseus watched the beaked creature come into land, fluttering wings seemingly to small for its body.
The case thudded to the ground, bird like creature’s webbed feet waddling beside it, tail untangling in the process. Up close Theseus could now make out a familiar small green stick like creature that had been clutching onto the handle, move to unlatch the lid. With ease the lid popped open, the flying beast tilting its head curiously at the opening before fluttering up off the ground and diving in out of sight.
“Smart lot you are.” Theseus remarked with a chuckle. Carrying the Qilin, Theseus kneeled beside the case, the little twig creature watching him. Thanks to the charm bestowed on the luggage, lowering the new-born safely within its confines was easy, inside being the safest place for it right now.
The Qilin having been deposited Theseus went to close the case, attention turning to the Bowtruckle still to enter. The creature had walked to the side, now standing still it stared at Newt, brown jacket wrapped up underneath his head.
“He’ll be ok.” Theseus found himself reassuring the twig, which in itself he found unusual. After all he’d never been one to show the same kind of fascination in magical creatures that his brother did.
With a notable level of cognitive thought, Theseus watched the Bowtruckle walk back towards the case, clambering up the side it gave one last glace back over its shoulder before dropping inside.
Before Theseus had a chance to close the lid the same long tailed blue beast from before shot out, circling briefly before landing beside him. Another creature scrambling from the case caught Theseus off guard, the small platypus looking organism was one he’d seen before, pilfering pest for some reason one of Newt’s favourites. It shuffled past him, making Theseus turn to see where it was going.
The flat billed beast tugged at the corner of Newt’s jacket like a dog, trying to pull him towards the case. The unique bellowing of the bird-like creature made Theseus look back, creature’s beak open slightly, neck vibrating from the sound it was producing. The Bowtrukle was perched on the lip of the case, head motioning towards the opening when it finally caught Theseus’s attention.
It seemed mad. But Theseus had an idea what was being asked of him by the handful of magical beasts.
Returning to his brother’s side Theseus pulled Newt over his shoulder with a tremendous heave.
“You’re heavier than you look.” Theseus remarked, an attempt to lighten the mood as he balanced the young man with some difficulty. After all he was tired, a long trek and then spontaneous magical duel not doing wonders for his energy levels.
The Niffler scampered past him on all fours, Newt’s wand between his flat beak, sleeve of Theseus’s own jacket peeking out from the pouch on the creature’s belly as it jumped back in the brown case.
A last look to the Qilin mother was warranted. Her eyes open but lifeless in the unnatural silence of the bamboo forest.
“I’m sorry.” He mumbled before looking down into the case and apprating within.
Manoeuvring around the small workspace with a fully grown man over one’s shoulders wasn’t what Theseus would call easy. Tight confines of the shed like room additionally not helped by the condensed but surprisingly organised clutter.
Carefully, taking attention in supporting his head, Theseus lowered Newt onto a camping bed of sorts that had been tucked away in the corner. It was difficult but he managed it.
Theseus retrieved his hand from behind Newt’s head, a warm sensation lingering on his fingertips. Sticky, drying blood, rested against his skin. Pulling up a stool at his brother’s side, Theseus took a seat, a hand tilting Newt’s head to the side.
“Lumos.” He was surprised by the amount of panic laced throughout the single word. Glowing tip of his wand pointed in the direction of the back of Newt’s head, all while using his free hand to part the hair.
From what he could see there was a deep graze, much like the one Theseus sported on the side of his head. Theseus found himself concluding that Newt must have fallen at some point, his stomach twisting at the thought of him falling from the cliff down into the settling waters of the waterfall.
Taking notice of how Newt still shivered and trembled, face remaining pale. Theseus cursed under his breath. The light on the end of his wand went out, another wave of the refined piece of wood drying Newt’s clothes instantly.
Theseus couldn’t help berating himself for his foolishness, for not thinking of ridding his brother of his wet clothes beforehand. Helping him out of his boetie was the next step, fabric unravelling and sliding out from under his collar. Jacket and waistcoat more difficult to remove. Process involving sitting his brother upright and resting his head against his shoulder, eventually unveiling a dark green cotton shirt.
In going to place Newt’s hands back down at his side something drew Theseus’s eye. He collected up his brother’s right hand, a nasty swelling and bruising having formed on his palm in a distinct pattern. Theseus had seen this type of wound before.
The bruising and swelling were caused by Newt’s own wand. From where he gripped the hilt at the second of a spells impact, defensive charm having possibly been disrupted. Delicately he laid the wounded hand on his brother’s chest, looking round for something to bind it.
A sniffling sound at his feet made Theseus look down.
The same Niffler from before still had Newt’s wand clasped between its bill. Theseus’s jacket sleeve sticking out from the pouch on its belly as it sat on its back legs, black beady eyes looking up at him.
“Thanks.” He offered his gratitude after retrieving his brother’s wand from the creature, who then scampered off after tilting its head in acknowledgement.
Theseus laid his wand on one of the many shelves at his side, allowing him to hold Newt’s wand with both hands. He slowly surveyed the dented piece of wood. Finding himself remembering the day his brother bought it.
He placed it on the side beside his own wand.
Another commotion at his side brought Theseus’s attention from his thoughts. The Niffler now in the process of pulling out the brown jacket from his pouch. Little hands finding it hard to manoeuvre the amount of fabric, back rolling against the floor as it just about managed to remove the article of clothing.
The Niffler caught him watching, little eyes watching him intently before the creature turned on its hills and darted out the crack in the door.
Unpleasant memories plagued Newt in his unconsciousness. Flashes of recent events vivid in the forefront of his mind, having to unwillingly relive it all over again.
He watched, following along the fractured fragments of burdened memories.
“When you asked for my help. This wasn’t what I had in mind.” He heard his brother behind him, Newt’s eyes forward as he trekked up the mountain side.
The vision changed abruptly, now watching as he approached the Qilin mother.
“Hello.” Newt felt his face offer up a smile.
The recollections past by quickly, events chaotic, his vision then consumed by a venomous green. The mother hit the ground. The cry of the new-born deafening as he was suddenly running through the jungle, weaving in and out of the bamboo, heart in his ears.
“Newt!” He heard the distant cry of Theseus, recollections out of order as he continued to dart through the dense jungle. Bamboo leaning in, trying to bar his path.
The next thing he knew he was falling. Then darkness, before his vision snapped to the moment he came too at the base of the waterfall. Hand reaching out for the orphaned Qilin as it was snatched from the river.
His vision blurred. Body numb. Hearing hushed in the awful moment as Credence stepped into view. Newt’s eyes fluttered closed, world going black as what remaining consciousness was lost to him.
Back in the present, consciousness returned to Newt at a snails pace. The first feeling that came to him was something cool pressing against his forehead, dapping at his temple before pulling away and returning.
He tried to open his eyes, but they refused to budge. Face weakly scrunching from the attempt.
“Newt?” The familiar voice asked, at first distant but drawing closer. “Newt?” Whatever was pressed to his forehead was pulled away.
Ever so slowly Newt’s eyes creaked open. Determination outmatching his bodies stubbornness to cooperate. His vision focused, Theseus’s face coming into view. Soft lighting easy on the eyes.
“Hey.” Theseus offered a worried smile, hand taking hold around his arm in the tender moment.
“Hey.” Newt managed to mumble in reply, throat dry, a general tiredness still attempting to overwhelm him.
“Had me worried for a second there.” Theseus leaned in, playfully shoving Newt ever so slightly. Motion actually helping to ground Newt to the moment, prevent him slipping back into the mess of memories playing over in his mind.
“Where…?” Newt tried to sit up, effort getting him caught up in what he was trying to ask, his brother’s hands settling his head back against the pillow.
“We’re in your case.” Theseus calmly told him, hand remaining on his shoulder in a comforting way.
Newt listened to his brother try to explain and describe the creatures that had ushered them into the luggage, and the bird-like beast that had remained behind.
In the end he signed in relief. His creatures were safe. His brother was safe. The Qilin…
Against his brother’s wishes Newt shoved his elbow under himself, pushing up so his back rested against the side of some shelving, right hand cradled on his lap. The hand itself had been bound with a bandage, pain at least not as bad as he remembered.
“We failed.” Newt solemnly looked down at his injured hand, not able to face his brother.
Without a word his brother stood, moving to the corner of the room he reached down for something in an open crate. Newt only looked up when a sniffling sound caught his attention.
“Not entirely.” Theseus corrected him. A baby Qilin in his brother’s arms. “Twins.” Theseus smiled, sitting back down cradling the sleepy child.
Newt couldn’t help but smile. The warming sight of the new-born breathing life into his exhausted form.
Theseus looked down at the creature, for once the one to avoid eye contact.
“Newt, I thought I lost you…” He bites back tears. “I can’t lose you too.” Lita’s death had been hard on them both. Theseus having for the most part kept his true feelings buried deep, a testament to his professional nature.
“Theseus…” Newt didn’t know what to say.
“Now that Grindelwald has what he wanted, things are only going to get worse Newt. More dangerous.”
“Theseus we-”
“That’s why we’ve got to stick together through this okay.”
Newt was taken back. Having been ready to defend Dumbledores ambiguous plan. He’d expected his brother to insist they retract their involvement, to step away from all this madness but Newt had been wrong.
“Okay.” Newt locked eyes with his older brother. The man then passing the Qilin off to him. Shimmer between its scales pulsing as it now slept.
“We’re going to stop him. Together.” Theseus held his hands together, unconsciously trying to comfort himself. “For Lita.” Newt could see the fire behind his brother’s eyes. The anger, the need for vengeance that secretly drove him.
“Together.” Newt conquered, before sitting sat back with the sleeping Qilin in his grasp.