Chapter Text
Cat’s ears twitched and he blinked at the smiling man in front of him. Percy had this look on his face like it wasn’t him the one Newt was talking to. So, when the wizard took off his coat and went to the bathroom, switching the tap on to fill the tub, the cat followed him out of curiosity.
Then Newt just rolled up the sleeves of his sweater and grabbed the dumbfounded cat, putting it into the filled tub. The reaction wasn’t one that Newt or the cat expected. Percy stayed silent, golden eyes boring into wizard’s face as that scrubbed his fur with soap. After a good rinse, Percy was wrapped into a bath towel. Newt smiled at the soft ball in his hands and laughed when he spotted a frown on Percy’s face. It was simply hilarious.
“Good boy. I thought cats dislike water, but you’re some special case I suppose.” Newt hummed and dried the cat, using the same towel. Surprisingly, it didn’t punch or scratch Newt even once. He actually looked like he enjoyed the whole bathing thing.
When Newt finished drying his fur, Percy walked off and jumped on the bed, curling into a ball. Newt watched him amused, leaning on the door-frame.
“Aren’t you hungry, Percy?” Newt asked as he slumped beside the cat. Newt could swear Percy opened one eye, looked at him and nodded. It was something weird, since it wasn’t as one of his fantastic beasts. The cat shouldn’t understand what he says. Newt shook his head. Maybe he just hallucinated.
He stood up and went to the kitchen to see if there was anything he could feed the cat with. He opened the small refrigerator and peeked inside. There was milk. There was sausage. There was cheese. Newt took all of these and put them on the table, when a loud thud was heard from his bedroom, where both the cat and his case were. The cat. The case.
“Oh my god!” Newt shrieked and ran into the bedroom with the speed of light.
Maybe the most standing out thing was the bowtruckle on Percy’s head… or perhaps the niffler under Percy’s paws.
And Newt closed his case! Even put a goddamned rope around. Newt didn’t know what to do first: to untangle the bowtruckle from Percy’s neck, or to drag the niffler from under the cat. One thing Newt knew though. Percy wasn’t like other cats, and perhaps there was something fantastic about him.
Newt walked inside the MACUSA building with Percy hot on his heels. He couldn’t leave the cat – this cat – alone with the case, and as he was kind of banned to take his case into the MACUSA headquarters, unless he wanted it to be taken from him. President was kind enough to leave him and his beasts in peace, as long as he doesn’t cause any troubles and keeps them far from their organization. So, Newt didn’t want to risk without having a proper reason.
He looked around for a bit, but didn’t spot Tina anywhere. Probably she already was in her office, but getting there without her would be a problem. Newt thought he had to try at least. Maybe the goblin will let him.
Entering the elevator, Newt stuttered as he said the floor he needed to be taken to. The goblin eyed him and then the cat. Newt smiled awkwardly and the goblin sighed, pressing the button. The door closed and the elevator began ascending.
“So, is this one of your new beasts, Mr. Scamander?” the goblin asked, peering at the black ball of fur at wizard’s feet.
“Oh, no-” Newt started explaining, but got a paw-punch in the leg. Percy turned around and made an unpleasant noise, before jumping on the goblin’s head in attempt to scratch him.
The door of the elevator opened and Newt successfully dragged Percy from the wincing goblin.
“Keep your beasts in check, please!” that yelled as the door closed behind them.
Newt held Percy up and looked into his eyes.
“Never do that again.” And then he smiled “Even if he doesn’t look like a good guy, he’s the one who did us a favor and let us in.” Then he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against Percy’s, feeling the cat stiffen in his hold. “You’re so cute, even when you act like that.” Newt murmured and withdrew, changing the position of the confused animal, so he held him close to his chest and walked in the direction of Tina’s office.
Percy was looking up at him and Newt threw him some glances from time to time, as well as some of his soft smiles. But Percy still felt tensed in his hands and Newt really wondered why.
He knocked on the door and entered his friend’s office. There were both Tina and Queenie and they shared a somehow loud discussion, which mainly was Queenie scolding her sister.
Queenie turned to him and smiled “Hi, Newt!” she greeted and waved at the cat awkwardly “Hi, Percy! Percy?” she looked confused at Newt and so did Tina.
“Well, don’t ask.” Newt said and rolled his eyes “And stop reading my thoughts, please.”
“You know it’s something I can’t really control.” Queenie trailed off, looking down apologetically.
Newt sighed and shook his head. He looked at Queenie “So, did Tina rest properly yesterday?”
She smirked back “Obviously.”
“And did you convince her to go home earlier today?”
“I was in the process when you arrived, but yes, I think she understood my point.”
Newt approached Queenie and then the most unexpected thing for Tina happened. They just freaking high-fived in front of her like she wasn’t the one who they were talking about and the subject of Queenie’s mission.
“Stop acting all buddy-buddy, it doesn’t suit any of you. Look, even the cat is annoyed.” Tina said, pointing at Percy.
“Alright.” Newt laughed.
Before he even opened his mouth to ask, Queenie beat him to it.
“There’s nothing new about Mr. Graves, Newt.” Then she bit her lip “Oops, sorry. I’ll better go now.” Queenie said and walked past Newt, to the door. Turning around, she grinned “And you totally look good together. The witch and her black cat – I mean, the wizard and his black cat.” She laughed and closed the door behind.
Newt sighed and sat down on a nearby chair. Percy jumped on his lap and gave him a stern look.
“And now, care to explain where did you get this cat from and why are you carrying it around MACUSA?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I break any rules by bringing him with me?” he asked, clearly worried.
“No, you didn’t. I’m just curious?” Tina’s eyebrow quirked up in question.
“I found him yesterday, and I don’t know why, but I can’t leave him alone.” Newt said, a bit flustered when Percy looked him in the eye. He turned his attention back to Tina. “Never mind him. He won’t cause trouble, right?” Newt smiled down and petted Percy’s head. His hand froze as he realized. Percy allowed him to stroke himself for the first time.
It made him happy and he didn’t know how to express it. So, he grabbed Percy and practically cuddled into him, thing which caused the cat to stiffen again, but then Newt felt it relax and nothing made him happier in that moment.
Tina coughed at his side “So, shall we start before you assault the cat completely?”
“Uhm, yeah, sure. Sorry.” Newt straightened up and let go of the cat. He could swear he hear a small sigh coming from its direction, but decided to ignore, because maybe he overheard it?
They just got home and Newt was practically drained. He stumbled to his bedroom and opened his case. He had to feed and check up on his beasts, which gave him much more work for the day, but he gladly did it. When he finished, he climbed back up with a tired, but satisfied smile on his face.
Percy was sleeping on the bed, curled into a ball as always, and Newt decided that he needed a proper bath after this exhausting day. He tiptoed to the bathroom and stripped down while the bathtub was filling with hot water. He looked a moment at his reflection in the mirror hanged on the wall.
His eyes traveled from his chest down to his abdomen. Skin white and smooth, but covered in scars, from big to small, from deep ones to the ones which looked like simple scratches. His eyes moved onto the side and he saw a pair of golden eyes looking at him from behind. He slightly jumped and turned his head to the side to look at the cat.
“Percy? What is it? Want to join?” he smirked smugly.
The cat continued to bore holes in him and he felt embarrassed for some reason? He shifted a bit on his spot. Then Percy just turned around and walked off. Newt stood there for a moment and then laughed. He just was embarrassed of a cat seeing him naked? This was ridiculous.
Tina ran through the entrance almost knocking the door down.
The mediwizard flinched and threw her a disapproving look.
“I heard they found him!” Tina said through gasps, and when the woman just watched her confused, she added “Percival Graves!”