Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The flashing of multicolored lights, bodies dancing to the rhythm of music, and drinks everywhere to spare were intoxicating to all the attendees, except for one. Newt scanned the crowd of people in search of any of his companions, but he couldn't catch a glimpse of any of them, so he figured going to the bar was his best option.

    The Interpol's thief undid the button of his suit and took a seat. Signaling the bartender for a drink, Newt turned on the chair and leaned back on his elbow at the bar.

    "Here you go," the bartender said as she slid the drink to Newt.
   "Thank you, love," said the thief as he picked up the glass.
   "What's a cutie like you doing alone around these parts?" she flirted with him.

    Newt downed his drink in one gulp and placed the glass down. He hoped Thomas would give him the signal soon so they could leave and he wouldn't have to deal with all of this. They're taking way too long; I wonder if they got in trouble, Newt thought.

    He finally turned to the bartender and offered her a smile. "I'm looking for my boyfriend. Have you seen him? He's about five-nine, a bit clumsy, but lovely."
    The girl chuckled and straightened up, understanding the message. "I haven't seen him, but I hope you find him."
    "Thanks," Newt said with a wave.

    With her gone, Newt focused again on finding Thomas and the rest. The Interpol team was set to capture Emiliano and his band of dealers today. It took Newt one week to read the dealers' patterns and track the leader's hideout down. Years of crossing paths with this kind of person when he was with his Gladers back in London had given the blond a way to understand their way of thinking. That was his contribution to the team. Thomas, Aris, and Teresa were good at enforcing the law, while Newt was excellent at knowing how to play with the rules.

    "Got a visual on the target," Thomas's voice came through the earbud.
    "Don't engage him yet. Teresa is making her way to the second floor," Aris said next.
    "Kinda have to do it, otherwise I'll lose him in this sea of people," Thomas uttered.
    "That sounds like an awful idea. Maybe you shouldn't do it?" Newt interjected.
    "I agree with Fast Fingers. It sounds like a bad idea, Thomas. Just wait for me. I'm going up the stairs right now," Teresa said.

    Silence. Complete silence on the other side of the line for what felt like an eternity. Newt just had to wait for what he knew would come.

    "I'm going after him," the golden boy of the Interpol said.

    Both Aris and Teresa complained, but Newt just accepted it. Thomas made the job unpredictable, and that thrill made these missions worthwhile. Newt slowly stood up and started to walk through the crowd of people. If he knew his boyfriend, which he did, he better start moving before chaos erupted.

    A blast was heard in the distance of the complex. Newt stopped in his tracks and looked in the direction of the sound. He spotted Thomas running after Emiliano on one of the upper floors, exchanging spells with the arms dealer.

    "Thomas, what did you do?" Aris asked through their ear buds.
    "There is no time for a subtle approach. He was already bound for the exit," Thomas said.
    Teresa cursed, "Could he have known we were coming?"
    "I think it's more of a case of Tommy being terrible at playing pretend," Newt said as he waited for the elevator. "You first, ma'am," he said to a person stepping out of it before he went inside.
    "You're lucky I'm too busy hunting a criminal right now to prove you wrong," Thomas snarled.

    The thief pressed the button to the fourth floor and leaned back against the back of the elevator. The trio of agents were fighting while he made his way up. The person besides Newt looked at him, and he offered her a smile before returning to watch the numbers go up. For a team that was supposed to work like a well-oiled machine, they fought like fourth graders trying to get the last cookie.

    The doors opened, and Newt gently grabbed the lady that was about to get down.

    "Better if you stay in the lower floors. Here, go get a drink"— he slipped some euros on her hand—"it's on me."

    Stepping down from the elevator, Newt walked confidently through the people who were running away from the commotion Thomas had created. The agent was struggling with two of Emiliano's henchmen across the other side down on the second floor. Newt kept his eyes on him the entire time, worried that he would have to step in, but Thomas was skilled enough to disarm the first one and freeze him, and knock down the second one with a depulso.

    Newt was relieved for a second, but his panic returned when he saw a third guy come down the stairs behind Thomas. Newt was about to alert the agent when Aris broke through one of the doors and kicked the guy's wand away and then proceeded to deliver a quick jab to his nose, followed by two strong hooks that left the man unconscious.
   
    "Someone is distracted today," Aris said.
    "No time for that, move, he's getting away," Thomas said.

    Newt could hear the eye roll in his boyfriend's tone. The thief shook his head and resumed his walk to his objective. Thomas and Aris were forcing the guy into the upper floors. He wondered where Teresa might be. She was supposed to help Newt block one of the exits, but he hadn't heard her say anything.

    "You're awfully quiet, T. Did the prodigy lose her sharpness today?" Newt asked, leaning against the rail of the stairs he was supposed to cover.
   
    Teresa appeared in that moment on the other side of the corridor, a little out of breath and flushed from the effort.

    "Hmm, you seem a bit out of breath," Newt joked. "Breathe in and breathe out, T," Newt uttered.
    "Shut up," Teresa huffed. "You make your way up four flights of stairs in a dress and heels and then we'll talk," Teresa said.
    "I mean, the elevator was right there," Newt said.
    "What?!" Teresa said.

    The Interpol prodigy looked to her right at the elevator on her side. Newt giggled and Teresa flipped him off from the other side of the hallway.

    "Fancy making a bet?" Newt said.
    Teresa straightened now that she calmed her breath, "what would it be about?"
    "Can you two- Thomas!" A crash and a huff was heard on the other side of the line. "Maybe just focus on the job? we don't have time for games."
    "I say Thomas is going to lead Emiliano to come up on my side of the stairs," Newt said.
    "Guys, we are almost there," Aris said.
   
    Newt quirked an eyebrow at Teresa and even from across the hallway he could see the glint on the agent's eyes. Newt tilted his head to the side and Teresa crossed her arms over her chest.

    "Fine, if I win you let me give you a haircut," Teresa said.
    "Don't touch his hair, it's so long and pretty," Thomas uttered.
    "Ok, but if I win I have a free card to chose how we deal with the bad guys on our next mission. No complains, ifs or buts, deal?" Newt said.
    "You two are unbelievable," Aris said, clearly done with the conversation.

    Newt tilted his head to the other side and waited. Teresa tapped her foot on the floor and assessed her options. She was always going against Newt more bold approach to their mission, so he wanted the liberty to use one of his plans for once.

    "Ok, deal," Teresa finally said.

    Newt got behind cover on one side of the stairs and Teresa did the same on her side. The sound of the battle raging underneath increased and Newt wondered who would be the one to corner Emiliano? Aris or Thomas?

    A shadow appeared on the wall of the stairs and Newt prepared. The footsteps increased and when he least expected it, the target rounded the corner of the stair and reached the floor where Newt was. The master thief delivered the same succession of hits Aris had taught him to leave anyone out of combat. Emiliano fell to the floor with a groan.

    "Thanks mate," Newt said as he slapped Emiliano on the face a couple of times, "you just made me win a bet."

    Straightening his back, Newt looked at Teresa that threw her arms over her head and looked at Aris who just reached the end of the stairs and joined them in the forth floor. The hunter shrugged and started to walking where Newt was.

    Thomas appear in much the same state as the hunter. His boyfriend was sweating from the persecution, but Newt thought he looked just as dashing as ever.

    "Nice to see I can still steal your breath away Tommy," Newt said.
    "You're lucky i love you. Next time"—Thomas huffed and swallowed his spit—"You are on persecution duty."
    "I thought it was Aris's turn," Newt said.
    Aris who had reached them and was cuffing Emiliano said. "it's always my turn. Some of you need to start doing it again."

    The dealer struggled against the cuffs and looked at them with rage in his eyes. The four stood looking down at him while the stocky man tried to free himself.

    "If you think you will get out alive you're wrong," he said. "Mis hombres les llenareis el cuerpo de balas y todos ustedes terminaran en el fondo del mediterráneo."
   
    The four looked unimpressed at the man that was acting like a toddler throwing a fit. Aris sighed and took his radio out.

    "We have the suspect. All squadrons you have permission to raid the building," Aris commanded to the Interpols and Spaniards units.

    Withing seconds the building was surrounded by the two forces and the entire operation of the dealer was captured. Aris's units and the Spaniards institute of magic and order had all of them lined up for the cameras and the world to see.

    The team made Emiliano walk all the way down and placed him in the middle of all those captured. Newt cleaned his hands and walked away as Teresa approached to deal with the media while everyone else finished doing their round ups to make sure the perimeter was safe.

    "Another mission finished," Thomas said. "Another day closer to your freedom."
    "Eh, at this point I'm not even counting," Newt uttered. "But I'm glad this one was easy and fast."

    The two shared a smile, but that seemed to not be enough for Thomas who stole a quick peck from him.

    "Were you really about to let T cut your hair?" Thomas asked.
    "Mmh... I trusted that you wouldn't let me down," Newt answered.
    Thomas bit his lip and let it go, "good thing I made an effort to outrun Aris then." Thomas ran a hand through his locks that were starting to reach his shoulders, "wouldn't want to see this go."

    Thomas gave the soft hair a gentle tug and Newt's grin grew dangerously devilish. The two would have continued if Aris hadn't made the most annoying gagging sounds.

    "At least wait to be in your room before you star doing that," Aris said.
    Newt snorted, "as if you and my sister are better. I keep running into you two making out as if air is an option."
    Aris flushed red, "well, maybe start knocking before barging in!"
    "Aww, fighting when we had such a successful raid?" A third voice said.

    The trio turned in time to see Brenda approaching. The branch leader of the Interpol had that knowing smile in her face and Newt couldn't stop the groan escaping him. The blond and Brenda had a bit of a rivalry going on.

    "Debo admitir, me habéis sorprendido," Brenda said, "que redada más Guay."

    Newt rolled his eyes. Brenda sometimes switched to her Spanish just to annoy Newt since he didn't understand it. Their whole time in Spain he had to count on Thomas to get him some food when they were in areas where people either refused or didn't speak english. He also secretly find Thomas's Spanish voice attractive, but the brunet didn't know that so he kept helping Newt while being blissfully unaware.

    "Brenda..." Thomas warned.
    "I know, I Know. I'll switch for your little thief's sake," Brenda said.
    "How generous," Newt said.
    Brenda clicked her tongue, "So grumpy. Thomas, pero es que en serio... de entre tantas opciones-"
    "Brenda, ya! Es en serio, déjalo," Thomas warned.
 
    Newt didn't need to be versed in Spanish to know that Thomas was trying to put an end to her teasing. Newt really didn't know what she had against him, but it was starting to be repetitive and annoying.

    "Why don't you tell us what you want Brenda? You sure ain't here to just talk," Aris said.
    Brenda sighed and crossed her arms, "so insightful as always Ari. I'm here to deliver your next mission."
    "We just finished one," Newt said. "Don't you think that's a bit too much?"
    "No, not when I've been pushing it for the past week. I was just kind enough to prevent the higher ups from pushing this on you guys until you were finished here," Brenda explained.

    From within her red suit jacket, Brenda procured an envelope. The branch leader hand it over and the trio hunched around it while Thomas opened it.

    "The U.S is in trouble. It's not really our field but it has escaped the hands of the Magical Fauna Department," Brenda said. "Someone is stealing dangerous beasts, and it's not looking good with the recent threats to the white House. Your team has been assigned to deal with it."

    Newt looked up at Brenda, the serious expression on her told the thief that this was no joke.

    "But don't worry," she said, and stuck her chin up, "you'll have an addition to your team this time around."
    Newt felt the change in her tone, "please tell me-"
    "Oh it is Newt. I hope you look forward to more time with me," Brenda said.

    Newt huffed a frustrated sight out, but looked at the envelope instead to read the report that was sent weeks ago.

Three weeks ago.

"Thank your mom again for the lift Sadina. I always feel bad when you guys do this," Isaac uttered as he got down from the reinforced vehicle.
"Don't mentioned it. You know she loves you a lot. Beside, I need to use my privileges as daughter of the president of the United States from time to time right?" Sadina said.

    Isaac nod and Sadina closed the door so they could drive away. Isaac sighed and started his way up to his door room. The twenty-years-old engineer student was tired, but he was too excited to continue with his project that he didn't feel like sleeping. No matter how late it was.

    Once in safety of his room, the auburn-haired student sat down on his desk and popped his headphones in. Reaching for his phone he quickly opened Spotify and press play on the first song he found.

♪I be like "Fuck it", at the same time I don't say "Fuck it"♪

The beat of the song transported Isaac to his own safe space. The auburn-haired student grabbed his tools and started to fix the drone he had been working on. He was obsessed with any gadget or machine he could get his hands on. He hoped to one day work for the Nasa and help fix those big rockets he always saw when he was little.

    Cables were cut, he fused one part with the other. Isaac was in the zone as he mouthed the lyrics of the song playing in his ear. He was letting the rythm get a whole of him thought. When the chorus came in, he couldn't help getting a bit distracted.

♪Came a long way from the minimum wages. When I get paid, don't feel nothin' (Hey, hey, hey, hey)♪

    Isaac stood from his chair, project forgotten as he danced along and sang the lyrics softly. The engineer was so distracted in his music that he didn't notice the figure lurking outside of his window.

♪Don't care if I'm in the wrong, I don't get upset♪

    Isaac rolled his hips and nodded his head to the music's rhythm and he would have continued, if he wasn't startled by the dry thud that he heard over the music from somewhere behind him.

    The student felt his heart leap at the intruder. He quickly grabbed the first blunt object he could get a hold off—it was his lamp— and lifted it to defend himself. The auburn-haired stopped when he saw that the intruder was not only injured, but also completely exhausted. He was covered in full black, with a hoodie and a scarf over his face.

♪Now look what—♪

    Isaac stopped the music and slowly walked to where the stranger was. Eyes trained in whatever was within his hands.

    The guy reached with one hand and removed the hoodie and scarf. Isaacs eyes grew in fear when he recognized his face.

    "Min!" Isaac shouted and went to kneel beside his friend.
    "Shhhh, don't scream you idiot," Min said.

    Isaac recoiled back, but resumed his anger towards his friend. The auburn-haired frowned and tried to do his best scolding voice.

    "Don't shh"—Isaac notice the blood on his friend's shirt—"Min? What did you do."

    The Asian opened his arms slowly, revealing a baby thunderbird within his arms. The beast looked hurt, but even then it didn't justified the amount of blood.

    "I didn't know where else to go. Roxy would have been pissed at me," Min said.
    "Min... what have you gotten yourself into?" Isaac asked.
    The Asian laughed, but it came forced and it seemed to hurt him, "A lot of troubles Isaac. I need your help. Please."
    Isaac panicked, "I'll call Sadina, she can-"
    Min reached for his arm, "No!, no. It can only be you Isaac. Please I don't want to involve anyone else. Just let me explain"

    Isaac looked at the desperation in his friend's eyes. He knew that look. He was counting on him. Shaking his head, he prepared to say yes and help his friend out of the hole he digged for himself.

Chapter Text

"Sit down in my chair. I'll patch you up," Isaac instructed his friend, who, with difficulty, made his way to the old, creaky chair he owned.

    Isaac went to his nightstand in search of the medical kit Sadina had pestered him to get. When he didn't find it, he dropped to his knees and searched for it under his bed. The small, red, metallic box was just below a pair of socks he had forgotten were there.

   Isaac reached for it, hitting his arm as he dragged it out, but he endured the pain and stood up. He spun around and stopped in his tracks at the sight of Min's bare back. Min had removed his shirt and now Isaac could see all the nasty cuts of different sizes that ran down his spine, the crimson red of the blood mixing with the bronzed skin of his friend as it trickled down the toned muscles of his back. He was in worse shape than Isaac thought.

    Isaac licked his lips and trained his eyes on the box in his hands instead of his friend. He set the kit beside the other boy and opened it. Taking out a cotton ball, Isaac coated it with the antiseptic wound wash he had bought at CVS and started to clean him up. Min sucked in a breath but endured the pain.

    "Maybe I should have gone with Sadina. She's gentler," Min complained.
    Isaac spared him a glance but kept cleaning his back. "Too late for that now."

Isaac found his gaze drifting to the creature in Min's arms. The baby thunderbird looked in poor shape. Isaac might not be a veterinarian like Min, but even he knew that thunderbirds were supposed to have feathers that shifted through colors like a rainbow, not dull and sickly like the one in his arms.

    Min caressed the bird's head and soothed it to sleep. For a guy who looked hard and cold on the outside, he was a big softy when it came to animals.

    "Care to tell me why there's a bloodied bird in your hands and why you look as if someone tried to serve you like tuna for dinner?" Isaac asked.
    "I stole the bird," Min said.

    Min had always been a man of few words compared to him, who seemed to never be able to shut up. But even Isaac needed more information if the Asian expected him to help out.

    "Is that the only place you got hit?" Isaac asked him.

    Min shook his head and turned the chair to face him. He finished removing his shirt and revealed the long cut he had across his chest. Isaac wet his dry lips and reached for the antiseptic again to avoid staring at it more.

    "You say you want my help and to leave Sadina out of this," Isaac uttered as he cleaned the wound. "If that's going to happen, then I need to know more. So start talking."

    Min sighed but gave a slight nod of his head. Isaac reached inside the box again and took the scissors and bandages out.

    "Now, what happened?" he asked again.

    Min was returning from his internship at the Reservoir of Magical Native Creatures and Natural Territories of all Nations, or Remnants Nations for short, where his college had the opportunity to conduct research and help animals as part of an internships to the best grades in his class, and as someone who was studying how to handle, both magical and non-magical animal, he appreciated the opportunity.

   In his short time in the internship, he had won the good graces of Victor and Alexandra. Both the CEO and stockholder of the company seemed to be happy with his ability to handle magical beasts so much that he was one of the few who had a good chance to get a job once he was done with his studies.

    The Reservoir was situated near the center of Washington and served more as a facility for injured beasts and animals. That's why Min was so valuable. He helped rehabilitate them and then released them to the exterior, and in the meantime, he learned as much as he needed from all the other veterinarians and scientists. He was grateful, and Roxy, his adoptive mother, couldn't be more proud of him, but despite all that, he couldn't shake the strange feeling that the company sometimes gave.

    It started with small things. Some beasts and sectors were out of reach for him, but he pinned it down to authorization problems and their whole hierarchy. Things turned out to be even stranger when certain species that he could have easily saved were delegated to others and taken to sectors he couldn't access. The corridors felt too clean, too perfect, and too orderly in an unsettling way, as if everything was a facade. And while Alex and Victor were nice to him, they also acted oddly from time to time.

    Alex was the most welcoming of them, but Min had caught the woman murmuring something to herself far too many times and had seen the flicker of anger behind her eyes if someone brought it up. Victor was normal for the most part. His only strange feature was how selective he could be with most of the creatures. He was the one who sent most of the animals to the unauthorized sectors Min couldn't access. All of that just kept making him suspicious of what was going on until one day he got his answer.

    Min blamed his curiosity and the sense of justice Roxy had instilled in him, but that's why when he was making his way out of the building and saw that one of the doors had been left unlocked, he took a quick glance at each side to make sure the coast was clear and snuck past it.

Inside, he saw two of the scientists he had worked with before. A particular duo that he had nicknamed Orange and Scrawny, mainly because he was somehow bad with names and had forgotten theirs. They didn't seem to mind, so he kept referring to them as that.

    "Be careful. You know Nicholas gets mad at us if we drop the creatures," the girl said.
    The guy groaned and readjusted his grip. "I know, I know. Just keep walking so we can leave this place soon. It's always so creepy down here."

    Min followed them around, hiding behind walls and tiptoeing behind them until they left the creatures inside a room with more cages.

    "What is this place?" Min said to himself.

    A spark and a scream drew him in the direction of the corridor that had all the cell rooms. Min walked to the source of the scream, peeking inside to see what was going on.

    "Initiating test on subject one-zero-zero-eight," one of the men at the control panel said.

   As they were too occupied with pushing buttons, Min slowly made his way further inside. Hiding behind a pair of boxes stacked near the door to the room they were experimenting in, he looked inside and witnessed something that broke his heart.

    They had a Diricawl strapped to a table. The poor thing fought against the bindings as a machine slowly descended on it. Three arms swirled around it: two held the animal down, and the third one revealed a needle as long as Min's arm. The machine aimed and stabbed the scared animal in the next moment, making it cry helplessly.

    Isak stopped wrapping the bandages around his torso and secured it before saying, "Right, that's concerning, but how does that include your little bird and you almost being sliced in half?"
    "Do you ever let anyone finish? There were multiple rooms like that one, but his was different," Minho said.

    The Thunderbird, unlike the others, was in a separate room. A large screen flashed 'compatible match'  behind it—something he didn't know what it meant, but it was the least of his worries now. The little animal seemed to have been sedated and was currently lying on a bed in its drugged state. The poor bird barely managed to open one eye and looked at Min. He tried to tell himself to leave, not to throw his whole life away over this, that he might just not know the whole context, but he saw the pleading look in the thunderbird's eyes and he had to help it.

    Min stopped crouching and went to undo the straps that kept the animal down, wincing when an alarm went off as he untied one of the creature's wings.

"You'd better be thankful for this," he said before rushing to finish the job and get the animal out.

    Isaac took a breath and blew the air out through his mouth to let some of the stress out after hearing what the other guy had to say. He brought his hand to massage his temples while he leaned against his desk since Min was still sitting on his chair.

    Gathering his thoughts, Isaac finally said, "So you somehow escaped, almost being cut in half by the guards who threw all those dangerous spells at you..."
    "Isaac-"
    "And your first instinct is not to call the police..." He exclaims, his heart pounding at the thought to be dragged into this.
    "Isa-"
    "No, no, no, no, no! It's to drag your ass. To my room. And incriminate-" Isaac let a desperate groaned out and buried his face on his hand. "I'm going to go to alcatraz. The FBI will be on our asses in minutes. I'm to young to go to jail. What will Sadina think? Or Miss Cowell, oh she's going to hate me..."

    Min stood up from the chair. At the sight of the inevitable panic attack Isaac was about to have, he did the only thing he could think off, he slapped him across the face.

    "Ow, what was that for?" Isaac asked.
    Min shrugged, "you were panicking."
    "And you didn't think about... talking me out of it or something?" He asked rubbing his cheek. "Not everyone is build like a wall of muscles like you who feels no pain."
    "You're such a drama queen," Min said.
    "No, I'm just being realistic," Isaac said.

    The two had forgotten about the baby thunderbird until the creature gave a small yelp of pain, causing their argument to end.

    "What do you plan to do with him?" Isaac asked. "And what about your shady internship?"
    "It won't happen again. Whatever happened in there is beyond us. Just help me hide him and release him when it's safer," Min said.
    Isaac nodded, liking the plan. "Okay, that sounds like a good plan. Just don't get into any more trouble."

Four weeks later:

"A Thunderbird, a Double-horned Elk, a Phoenix, a shimmering serpent..." Newt listed as he went through the files one more. "how do you steal a Howling Bear?"

    Thomas chuckled. That's a good question, he thought. The Interpol's golden team and their Master thief had made it safely to America. The group had to take their time and travel conventionally due to America's policies on international teleportation, something Aris was grateful for since he hated the floo network and he didn't fancy getting split in half if one of them decided to do the stupid challenge of apparating between continents.

    "You stole a whole convoy of materials from WCKD, but a bear is too much?" Aris asked.
    "The convoy wasn't about to howl if I stole it," Newt answered. "And it didn't have deadly claws or sharp teeth with which it could snap my head off."

    Thomas supposed his boyfriend was right about that. Who would have thought that the blond that stepped out of that stolen police patrol would end up here today beside him?

    "Can we get back to the topic at hand?" Brenda asked, clearly not amused.
    "Oh no, let them," Jorge said. "I've been waiting so long to meet the infamous Newt, after all. Don't you get bored of only focusing on work? Live a little."
    "Como si eso fuese algo bueno," she said under her breath.

    Thomas didn't know what Brenda's problem with Newt was, but it was starting to annoy him. He has never had a problem with her before. In fact, the two worked like a great team in the past, and he enjoyed his time with her. He supposed he would have dated her if she hadn't accepted becoming a branch leader back in Spain, but that was part of the past now.

    "We have already met Jorge," Newt reminded him.
    "Yes, but it's not the same to meet who won Thomas over through a screen than in person," Jorge replied. "And Between you and me? This is the first time I've seen him this gone for someone," Jorge whispered, or at least tried.
    "Ok, that—as true as may be—is something you can't know," Thomas said.
    "Oh, Compadre"—Jorge pointed a finger at him—"I've known you since we met back in that small office you had. With your shiny academy shoes and the Bureau of Magic rules drilled into that skull of yours. I've molded you into the agent you are now and I'm one of the few people that know you best."

    And Thomas knew that. He was about to accept the position as Head Auror in America when one case with Jorge made him fall in love with the Anti-Dark Magic unit of the  Interpol and it's way of delivering justice. Plus he loved travelling, so he owes him not being trapped behind a desk right now.

    Thomas shook his head, "Maybe, but as Brenda said, we have other things we should talk about."
    "Aww come on, let Jorge tell us a story or two about shiny shoes Thomas," Aris said.
    Thomas quirked an eyebrow at him, knowing that he could also play that game, "Sure, and while we are at it we can talk about your old short haircut and the amount of hair gel you used to apply to it?"

    That shut Aris up, but didn't stopped him from glaring at Thomas.

    "Anyway!" Teresa interjected. "What where you saying Brenda?"
    Brenda cleared her throat, "Remenant Nations wants to stop whoever is mingling with their business of protecting the Fauna around the U.S. the bureau already tried and found nothing, and since the loses just keep happening..."
    "They asked for us?" Thomas asked.
    "Well, more like they bought you," Jorge uttered.

    Thomas frowned, he had never heard Jorge said something like that before.

    "Meaning?" Thomas asked.
    "That President Cowan is the one that called you here. With a very generous donation to the Interpol of course," Brenda said.
    "They can do that?" Aris asked.
    "You can do almost everything if you have money and influence," Newt uttered.
    Brenda snorted, "in that we agree."

    Newt spared a glance at her, but otherwise said nothing.

    "What about our two friends in this picture?" Teresa asked.

    She held a picture that was taken when the Bear was stolen. Two figures stood frozen in the frame as they lured the bear away. One a fit guy covered full black in what looked like one of WCKD's helmets and some tactical gear carrying a sword. The other one had something more simple on him. A white cap, a scarf around his nose and mouth and a simple shirt and sweatpants.

    "The ones behind the thefts. The guy in black we have chosen to call the orphan, but he usually calls himself Minho whenever he introduces himself," Jorge explained.
    Newt looked at Jorge, "Minho like-"
    "Yes!" Jorge said, eyes blazing with excitement. "Like your friend Minho. They are, apparently inspired by you Newt."

    The car fell silent as everyone looked at Newt, an unreadable expression passed over his boyfriend before Newt chuckled.

    "Oh I can't tell if that's going to inflate his ego or if he's going to hate it when he finds out," Newt said. "Please, tell me the other one doesn't call himself Newt."
    "Nop, we actually don't have a name for him. That's the first recording of anyone else aiding him since we know of the orphan," Jorge said.

    Thomas studied the picture, they looked young, or at least one of them looked young. He didn't want to judge a book by its cover, but they looked like amateurs, how did they caused so many problems.

    "So the U.S is having problems with two guys?" Thomas asked.
    "Sort of. You see, the U.S elections are soon, and president Cowan obviously needs things to look as if they are under control," Jorge explained. "But she's also concerned for her daughters well being. Since her amicable polices that benefit Wizards are not well received."
    "I thought you guys lived in the land of freedom?" Newt said sarcastically.
    Jorge laughed, "I like this one. We have people that don't mind them, but you know that hatred always exist. Racism, homophobia, misogyny, the world doesn't change from one day to another."
    "I suppose so," Newt said. "But how does that involve those two?"

    Jorge handed Newt another filed. The blond reached for it and started reading it while Jorge continued.

    "Cowan loved the Remnant nations project. She's one of the principal donors. Attacking the company is like attaching her, and the white House has been receiving quite the amount of threats," Jorge said.
    "Which is why our safe house will now be the white House," Brenda interrupted, "We have to find those thieves, figure out if they are the ones behind the threats too, and make sure her daughter is fine at all times."

    Right as the words left Brenda's lips, the car pulled in front of the white House. The famous building now stood before them. Inviting them to step in and start their mission.

    "This is going to be one hell of a mission," Newt said.
    "It appears so," Thomas uttered.
    "At least we get to sleep in comfy beds," Aris said.
    "That does make it sound better already," Teresa uttered.

    The group opened their doors, and along with Jorge and Brenda made their way inside the house to start their search for the orphan and his accomplice.

Chapter Text

Newt was never a fan of attention. Being known meant being an easy target back in London. From his time at Hogwarts to his graduation from University, he always tried to keep his head down and survive. And he was right to do so. The moment he pursued recognition, his work ended up being used to hurt everyone by WCKD and Janson.

    His Gladers and the erasure of his name to create the persona of Newt were born as countermeasures to the petty greed he once had. Janson might be gone, and WCKD might have paid, but he still prefers not to fall back on bad habits. That's why he, even as a member of the Interpol's team, lets everyone else take the spotlight. Teresa handles the interviews, or Thomas gives the statements on his behalf, all so he can stay in the shadows and help from there.

    However, there are days that his reputation as the leader of his Gladers follows him around. Like right now, as he tries not to tell the president's daughter to please stop staring and whispering in the staff girl ear as they are being welcomed.

    "I'm glad you all could make it, I've heard a lot about your team. If you need everything Gerard here will gladly get it for you."

    Miss Cowan pointed at a man standing to attention to her right. His white beard and hard stare reminded Newt of one of his teachers back at university. He nod silently, but otherwise said nothing to the group.

    "Thanks for receiving us, Madam President, it's an honour," Teresa said on behalf of the group.
    "Please, while we are here Miss Cowan is fine. I wish I could stay here for longer, but I have a meeting. However—" she motioned to her daughter, "Sadina will show you guys around and Maril will gladly supply you with anything you might need."
    "Of course. We wouldn't want to entertain you Miss Cowan, thank you again," Thomas supplied with his own version of a polite voice.

    Miss Cowan left after that brief exchange. The team now had to deal with Sadina and her sunny disposition.

    "Before we begin, I just want to say that I love you guys," she squealed in delight, "I can't believe I have the Heroe of London and the Interpol's golden trio living with me. Oh, Isaac and Trish wont believe me."

    And there it was. The thing Newt struggled most with even after a year. It's not that he doesn't feel grateful for people's admiration for him, it's just that it's not his thing to be the center of attention unless is needed of him, Thomas is better at that kind of things.

    The Interpol's Golden boy proves him right by immediately taking Sadina's compliment and steering the conversation away without making it feel unnatural.

    Sadina is pretty energetic and amicable in the same way his sister is. In many aspects she reminds him of her, which only helps to make Newt feel nostalgic about his friend's back in the U.K.

    He wonders what Minho or Gally are doing. If Frypan managed to open the restaurant he wanted, if they and the rest of his Gladers have paid their share of the blame for their involvement with Newt and WCKD. He supposed he should face time Minho and for once talk about more than just the shit he gets involved in now with the Interpol. Newt made a mental note to do just that and also to text his sister and tell her he misses her.

    A gentle shove shakes him out of his ever running mind. Teresa in all her regal elegance is looking at him with a bit of concern.

    "Trapped in our heads today?"
    Newt snickers, "A bit, yes."
    Teresa nods along assimilating his response, "worried about or Magical beasts thieves?"

    Is he? Newt doesn't really see the danger or the challenge, but that's probably what Thomas thought when he went after him. Still, so far every mission has been finished and fulfilled in record time, so he doubts two kids can outsmart them so easily.

    "Not really. I guess I'm just a bit exhausted."
    Teresa brought a hand to his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly, "We can take a brief rest before we go over all the information."

    Newt liked that idea.

    "Here is the Queen and Lincoln rooms. I know you guys must be tired," Sadina uttered, but she was definitely holding something off.
    "Is there a problem?" Newt spoke for the first time, trying his best to get back in the game.
    "No, no. It's just..."—Sadina took her phone out—"do you mind if we take a picture? I want to send it to my friends."

    Newt fought the need to roll his eyes, she was just excited because it was the first day. Newt is sure that she will act normally after a bit. The group agreed, and Sadina was more than delighted to get what she wanted and was out of their faces just as fast as she snapped the picture.

    "Ok, I need to get back to the headquarters," Jorge informed, his hands clapping and causing an echo as he spoke, "I'm going to leave the rest to you guys."
    "Well have it under control soon, don't worry," Brenda told him.
    "That's what I hope My niña," Jorge used his index finger to push Brenda's forehead gently, "please behave. I don't want troubles."

    Newt snorted; he didn't want to, but it escaped his lips before he could prevent it. Something about Brenda and behaving was funny to him, perhaps because she didn't know what that meant when he was around. Jorge's glare held that knowing disapproval that only older people can give. Even at twenty-six years of age, Newt found that he could feel insignificant under such a gaze.

    "That goes to you too, Solecito. I'm aware of how you two act with one another," Jorge held a finger up and tilted side to side. "You're in the White House, and you represent me. I don't want to hear either of you caused troubles."
   
    Newt tried to held his gaze, but found it to be too much, so he deviated it anything else.

    "Was I clear?" He said with more force.
    "Yes," Brenda and Newt said in unison.
    "I think that's the first time I've seen them agree on something," Aris commented as he kept his attention on a painting hanging from the wall. 
    "You and Thomas were much the same in the beginning," Jorge uttered, giving Aris's bum a quick slap as he walked to the exit. Making the hunter jump, "and look at you now Hermano, you and compadre are the best team. But for real, no funny businesses. Newt. Brenda."

    With that last threat, Jorge left. Simultaneously, Newt and Brenda turned to one another. She scoffed, huffing in annoyance before turning around and walking in the direction of the Queen's room. Teresa followed her, shrugging her shoulders as if telling Newt to bear with her for now.

    "What's her problem?" Newt shook his head in disapproval, he was getting tired of her way of acting.
    Aris stood beside him rubbing the spot Jorge hit, "It's just one mission. Don't let it get to your head."
    "I agree with Ari," Thomas appeared to his other side, "come, let's check our room. You can't sleep in the white House every day."

    Thomas took his hand and dragged him toward the Lincoln Bedroom. The staff had prepared the room for them; the floor and walls remained the same. However, they appeared to have switched the historical bed for a normal queen-size bed and removed most of the furniture to make space for a single size one, as well as give them more room. A wardrobe that looked like something Newt could have bought at a second-hand store had been shoved in a corner, and just as expected, their things had already been carried inside.

    "I call dibs to sleep with Newt," Thomas joked. He ran and threw himself on the queen size bed.
    Newt giggled, Thomas could be charming in the most childish way and not make it feel cringy, "and here I was looking forward to spoon Aris."
    Aris threw his head back with a groan, "you two have prohibited to make out or anything while we share a room."
    "You can join the fun if you want," Thomas joked, blowing kisses in Aris's direction and making him want to puke.
    "No, thank you. I'm gonna go see if I can find something to eat, didn't grave anything on the plane."

    Aris walked away and out of the room. Newt followed him with his gaze and didn't notice Thomas getting close by until he felt a pair of arms circle on his waist and a peck land on his cheek.

    "Hi," Thomas spoke softly, eyes gleaming and lips spreading in a smile.
    "Hi," Newt returned with the same affection, "whatever you’re going to do, I would advise against it."
    "Hmm, and why is that?"
    "Aris will be pissed if he comes back and finds us snogging."
   
    Thomas laughed, and it was so genuine and joyful that Newt felt his lips twitch.

    "Just a quick one?" He begged him, rubbing his nose against Newt's. "Please, Solecito?"
    His lips curled into a smile, "What does that mean?"
    "Sunshine. Little sunshine if you're picky about translation."
    Newt hummed, moving the tip of his nose against Thomas's, "I like that."

    He found his lips. A quick share of their intimacy that has been feeling interrupted recently was always welcomed. Turns out that running around from country to country and fighting Dark Wizards all around the globe left little time for them. Even so, Newt was too tired for anything right now. After the quick peck, he found himself laying his head in the crook of Thomas's neck.

    "Just that?"
    "I'm sorry. I'm still sleepy. Going to need a few days to fix my sleeping schedule from all this jet lag."
    Thomas's hands came up to rub gentle circles on his back, "you have a sleeping schedule? Wasn't it fuck up from the beginning?"
    Newt poked him in the ribs, making Thomas squirm, "Shut up."

    Their tender moment was interrupted as Brenda pushed open the door to their room. Barely sparing them a glance up and down, arching an eyebrow.

    "Come to our room, I wish to discuss our first move," she said and turned to leave.
    Newt unattached himself from Thomas and huffed through his nose, "Elle m'énerve, vraiment."
    "I have no idea what you just said, but that was hot."
    Newt chuckled, "Nothing you should worry about. Let's go before she starts bitching again."

    Brenda had everything prepared in her and Teresas's room. She had pin down all the pictures and files they had on their suspects on a wall and had cleared one of the tables to make room for a map and a projector. Aris had been dragged much like them and was already sitting on one of the chairs with his legs over the arm rest and his back against the other arm rest.

    "All right, time to plan our move," Brenda instructed. With a flick of her wand, the projector turned on and displayed a hologram of a train.
    "What's that?" Aris asked, eyes not leaving the hologram.
    "REMENANTS train. They are taking several injured beasts as well as some resources of the company from subsidiaries outside of Washington."
    "And you believe that's their next target?" Teresa asked.
    Newt yawned and let himself fall on one of the couches, "They only attack or interfere with anything coming or going our of Washington, so... I'm gonna guess is our best bet."

    Brenda pressed her lips together un a tight line, looking at Newt as he just insulted her but couldn't let herself be affected by it.

    "Newt is right..." she says, spitting the words as if it's acid burning her, "Which is why I want to propose a plan for tonight."
    "Wait, tonight? How can you know it will happen tonight?" Thomas asked her.
    "Simple. The shipment is going out tonight and there are no other targets coming through this upcoming days," Brenda uttered as she knelt to open a briefcase, "plus, our thieves have been quiet for the last few days."

    Brenda brought four watches out of the briefcase. Taking out a tablet, she pressed something on the screen Newt couldn't see and stood up to give each one of them one.

    "Since we don't want to repeat what happened last time with a certain thief of ours," Brenda glanced at Newt, "I say we end things in one mission."

    Going back to the hologram, she switched the image to amplify one of the carts.

    "The beast are in the last three carts of the train. We wait for them to strike, and once they are in the wagons, we appear and catch them."
    "And how do you plan to get on a train that is moving at full speed?" Newt asked her as he played around with the watch.
    "We will be there already, or well, two of us will," she pointed with her wand to the interior of the wagon. "There is a small section where two of us can fit and wait for them to appear."
    "What if they expect you to be there?"
    "Why would they do such thing?" Brenda scoffed, clearly angry at Newt's intrusion.
    "Because they are clearly not dumb. You've read the files as much as us. They have escaped traps, and very efficiently, may I add."

    Brenda's jaw tightened, her eyes glaring at Newt who held her gaze with the same fervour.

    "I'm with Newt. Do we know how they escaped in the past?" Thomas said stepping in.
    "All the reports only say that when they looked to be cornered, they dissapeared," Teresa lifted the papers on her lap to show them, "they must have a way to get a secured exit. Maybe that's how they also managed to stole all those magical beast without prancing them around the city."

   
    Newt stood up from his chair. Turning the watch to Brenda, he showed her the option he had selected.

    "These have a lot of options."
     Brenda puffed her chest, folded her arms and set her shoulder straight, "of course they do, I designed them."
    "They are impressive," Newt said, hoping she would take the compliment.
    "Does this option do what it says?" He said directing Brenda's attention to the face of the watch
    She glanced at it and the back at Newt, "Yes. Why?"
    Newt looked at Thomas, his soft smile reassured him he had his back, "'Cause I have an idea."

REMENANT's train on its way to Union Station.
10:30pm

With a hard dry thud, Min and Isaac landed on the roof of the moving train. Looking up to the sky, Isaac tried to locate their friend amont the starry night with no avail. It was gone as soon as it dropped them.

    "Stay focused," Min told him with a light tap on his chest. "Are you sure these mask will work?"

    Isaac finished adjusting the swat mask he had modified, tugging at the straps to make sure it was secured in place. His face almost ended in the news in one of their heists when something went wrong, so he rather avoid that again. When he turned to Min, he could see his reflection in the similar mask he had given him.

    "Yep, I tested them," he gave the mask he was wearing a quick succession of taps. "Took one out of Newt's book. It was tricky to integrate the charms in the circuits, but turns out that chips and motherboards are great conduits of magic, whic-"
    "With a simple yes it would have been enough. But good to know."

    Min went past him further down the train. Isaac sighed, these past few weeks have showed him that he isn't as much of a friend to Min as he thought he was. He sometimes feels that the other guy hasn't kicked him out because his inventions are useful. It's getting repetitive, though. Isaac considered that maybe it was time to put a stop to it.

    "You know, you could treat me a bit better," Isaac said, thanking that he decided to implement a feature that allowed him to speak with min in the mask. Otherwise he would be shouting over the wind.
    "Or," Min turned around and poked him in the chest, "you grow up, and stop taking everything so personal."

    The Asian turned around and resumed his walk. Isaac shook his head and followed him though his posture slouched a bit at the terrible outcome of that conversation.

    Stopping in the last wagon, Isaac stood a few feet back and saw as Min took out the sword he modified for him. The swords edge heated thanks to a spell and allowed him to cut through the roof. Making a small circle enough for a person to go through, he gave them access to the interior of the train.


    Just as the two of them had expected, REMNANT had cages upon cages of animals trapped, and they now knew that they were not on their way to recovery, but to their deaths. It took Min a lot of weeks to get them more info, but now both of them knew that the company Min worked for was nothing but a branch of the same person that funded WCKD. If what happened in London was any indications of the intentions of the company, then Isaac didn't fancy finding out what they wanted with all these creatures.

    "We will get you all out of here," he whispered to a terrified double wing condor.

    Min walked a bit further ahead, he quickly paced the gadget he had created on one of the cells and pressed the button in the center. The disc beeped and extended it's four sides to extend its radius further. Isaac did much the same.

    "This is pretty easy. I'm glad we won't have to run from anyone today," Isaac commented as he strapped another cage to the device.

    His statement made him wonder. This looked too easy, almost as of REMNANT didn't care about the beast. No guards, no traps either. Something was wrong.

    He spun in order to comment that to Min, when out of the nowhere he saw his friend tumbling in his direction. Min landed with his back against Isaac, who barely managed to catch him.

    "Oh. My. We are screwed," Isaac managed to say.

    In front of him was non other than commissioner Aris Jones, Interpol's most relentless Hunter. A human, yet one capable of fighting wizards thanks to his training and one of the members of the special division of the Interpol to catch dark Wizards.

    Rolling his shoulders, Aris did two quick jabs downwards and then brought his fist up ready to fight, "Hey kid, what do you two think you're doing?"
    The tip of a wand poked Isaac in the back of his Neck, "for their own good, I hope they are just lost."

    Turning his head slightly to his right, Isaac found Newt. The heroe of London and the infamous Glader with who he shared a name, he looked just as dashing as in the News. He couldn't tell if he felt complimented or terrified. All he knew was that he didn't want to go to jail.

    "Uh... Orphan," Isaac uttered.
    "Thinking," was Min's response, somehow delivered with both annoyance and sincerity.

Chapter Text

Newt hoped they wouldn't need to use his plan. The orphan and his accomplice appeared to be nothing but amateurs. They took for granted that there was no one on the wagon and rolled with it as if it was an open store they could just waltz in.

    "Come on kid. Hands up were I can see them," Newt directed at the blond guy he had at wand point.
    The guy helped Oprhan to his feet and slowly brought his hands up, "Ok, no need to tell me twice."
     "I suggest you do the same," Aris pointed at Orphan while reaching for his cuffs.

    Orphan looked between him and Aris. Their main target was clearly still looking for an exit and as admirable as that might be, Newt wasn't in the best of moods to tolerate a pursuit right now. Aris seemed to perceived the same as he found Newt's gaze and his eyes practically screamed the same sentiment that he felt.

    Aris let the cuffs dangle from one finger as he kept his eyes on the two suspects, "hands up front. You first, then your friend. We all walk out of this without anyone hurt."
    Orphan turned his head to speak over his shoulder, "Is—Blacksmith, do something."
    "Bla- Wait? Is that going to be my name?"

    Newt allowed his lips to break into a smile. Their targets sounded like two teenagers fighting, sometimes he can't believe this is what his job has developed into. Aris, on the other hand, looked more done with these two as he advanced to arrest them.

    Aris was mere feet from them, when they heard a piercing cry coming from the left. Newt had just a few seconds to cast protego on Aris and Himself when he caught a glimpse of a creature. The animal broke through the glass and launched itself against Aris. Lightning broken across the wagon, sizzling and striking everywhere as the creature's wings flapped everywhere creating currents of wind thst startled the other animals. That's when Newt understood what he was seeing. It was a Thunderbird, a small one, maybe a baby, but with enough rage that it dared attack Aris.

    The lightning stopped and the bird exited the wagon leaving Aris and Newt stumbling to stand up. Once he regained his composure, he notice that both Orphan and The Blacksmith were already making their way to the next wagon.

    "Next time I'm just going to knock them to the ground and cuff them," Aris commented as he stood up and ran after their suspects.
    Newt blew air out and quickly ran a hand through his hair, "Why can't they stop running for once."

    The duo made it to the next wagon right as the other two crossed the door to the third one. Newt and Aris ran at full speed to reach the third wagon in time record. Once they stepped past the door, Aris took his handgun out and aimed at the panel for the forth, shooting the controls down to block their escape.

    Both guys slowly turned to them. The Blacksmith looked at Oprhan for help, he seemed to be the most out of his depth.

    "Ok, that was a nice run, but now for real," Newt said with his wand pointing at them, "lay on the floor and no more tricks."

    Putting their hands in the air, both got slowly on their knees and then laid down. With Newt pointing his wand at them, Aris lowered his launcher and started to walked up to orphan first to detain him. Aris managed to reach a few feet away from him when suddenly a beeping sound made Newt look to the side. The artifacts they had attached to the cages had a light that was blinking back at him. Returning his attention to the two suspects, he saw the one his partner call Blacksmith looking up and pressing something in his palm.

    "Aris, be-"

    The devices opened up in four different corners attached to the light in the center. A wave of magic enveloped the wagon, making the whole structure shake and creak. Both Aris and Newt felt their knees falter and they have to get their footing back in balance before they felt the wagon start to lift. The ascension of the wagon continued until it was practically vertical. Newt had to grab to one of the cages not to fall and Aris did the same from the other side of the room.

    Orphan let himself drop on top of the door, shoving his sword on the crack and cutting it open. When the door was knocked off, it fell to the ground with a loud thud. Newt could now feel the cold air of the night rushing in and the sound of the wins howling. He could also see that the train was still in movement, but it appeared that only the wagons they where in were suspended. Grabbing from a corner, oprhan reached with his sword and made a quick work to unattach the wagon from the rest, resulting in them rising in the air slowly until Newt stopped feeling that he was being suspended.

    Newt and Aris stood back up, dusted themselves and rearranged their clothes while they glared at the open door where the Blacksmith had joined orphan in their escape.

    "They are on the roof," Aris said, picking his weapon back up.
    Newt fixed his tie and then tilted his head in the direction of the previous wagon, "let's catch them from both ends, I'll meet you back outside."

    Aris nodded and moved to the exit. Newt wasn't planning to give them more advantage. He flicked his wand and forced both doors from the previous wagons open. He took a step, but in the next one he casted velox fuga, turning his body into a cloud of white smoke that rushed through the wagon and then skyrocket into the air, dropping Newt on the other side of the roof and ahead of the other two.

    Orphan tried to deliver a strike, but he got pushed by Newt's depulso past his friend. He followed up with another attack, this time directed at the other guy, but he surprisingly blocked it with his own wand.

    "What the fuck is that?" Newt asked once he laid his eyes on the Blacksmith's wand.
The wood wand wasn't the problem, it was all the circuits attached to it that fell on a ring located a bit over the grip. Newt thought that the Interpol's full metallic wands were weird, but this was another level.

   "Uh, just some augments," the Blacksmith shrugged.
   "Yeah, well, I'll have a good look at it when you're detained," Newt said and launched another spell.

    Blacksmith blocked it, but Newt just kept pressing on. Despite not returning any of his attacks, he seemed to be really good at fencing attacks with a precision that rivaled Teresa's. Even when Newt wanted to disarm him, he was good enough to not let it happen. One thing he noticed, though, is that each successful block the device attached to his wand would blink. Which could only mean that he was cheating somehow.

   Blacksmith spared a glance over his shoulder "Uh, Oprhan? A little- oh god."

    Aris had the other thief corner in close to close combat. Orphan's blade clashed against Aris's vambrace and gauntlets that emitted a blue electromagnetic light around them. One of Brenda's addition to the group was her talent with technology. Most of their work gadgets were made by her, and that included Aris's new addition to his arsenal.

    Aris pushed the blade away, landed two quick punches, one to his face, the other in his stomach. Orphan recovered, and and went for a sweep of his blade that Aris avoided, he stepped closer and attacked overhead. Aris grabbed his arms and did a quick job to take the blade off his hands, throwing it in the direction of Newt before going back to his fight.

    Newt's suspect looked down at the blade, then at him, then back at the blade. Newt used his distraction to launch another spell, and whenever it was because of his good reflex or the thing on his wand, but he managed to escape the spell one more time.

    The same screech from earlier on raged in the distance, Newt saw the Thunderbird charging towards him. He scared it off with a spell, but it seemed to circle back to come help his friends after stabilising his course.

    "Valeria, go for the the animals first!" Blacksmith shouted over the wind.
    "Don't be stupid, we need to leave," Orphan answered from the other side while still fighting off Aris, who seemed to be winning.
    Blacksmith looked at the bird, "but-" his eyes landed on Newt, and he let a groan out. "Get us out of here."

    Newt renude his assault, keeping an eye opened for the approaching bird. Instead of moving closer, both suspects moved close to the edge while they fought them back. Newt saw from his peripheral vision as the bird covered its body in lightning. The animal dived to the side of the train and in that instance the two of them jumped over the edge. Newt rushed to see what had happen, only to see as two portals remained suspended in the air and then closed up.

    He cursed his reaction time, but saw his opportunity when he spotted the bird coming their way. Turning the screen on the watch until he saw the attachable tracker option, he aimed in the direction of the animal. Aiming and holding his breath he tapped his own palm with his thumb twice, the motion releasing the tracking device on the bird. The animal rushed past him and dissapeared much like the other two. Newt looked down at his watch and was glad to see that the device seemed to be working perfectly.

    Aris joined him, the two glancing in the direction of the now gone bird. Wondering what just happened.

    "Why can't we have one normal, relaxed mission?" Aris commented with a huff.
    Newt shrugged, "Dark-Criminal Wizards and their love for the theatrics."
    Aris looked up, placing his fingers over his eyes and rubbing them in circle, "Oh. What are we going to tell the rest?"
    Newt chuckled and turned to him, "About?"
    He stopped rubbing his eyes and glared at him, "loosing two amateur smugglers that act like college dudes."

    Newt shrugged and patted Aris in the back. He wasn't looking forward to it. Brenda is surely going to have a lot to say and he didn't want to hear it, but he knows he will have to.

    "Let’s get out of here, and then we can talk," Newt uttered.
    "How do we do that?"
    "I'm sure if we take some of the devices off we can make it slowly land," he said already moving to enter the wagon. "Come on, let's do this fast so we can think of our next move."

Isaac was startled awake by someone dropping a stack of books on top of the table. He shook his head and looked around in his dazed state while his body recovered from the the effects of his slumber. When he finally came back to it, he found Sadina with her arms crossed over her chest and a smile gracing her face.

    "You have been falling asleep a lot," she gave him a quick look up and down. "Didn't have a good night of sleep?"
    Isaac shook his head to really shake the sleep off, "Uh, yeah. Mm, a couple of long nights of study."
    "Studying for what?" Trish asked.
    He kept his mouth agape while his brain tried to catch up with a good lie, "M-mr Robinson's upcoming exam. I wanna be ready."
    "We don't have an upcoming exame with him," Trish said, leaning back to stare at him suspiciously.

    Times like these is when Isaac hates his poor lying skills. It's not that he doesn't try, but apparently he just gives himself away most of the time. Maybe it's something on his face, or maybe it's just that Trish and Sadina are that good at reading him because they have a lot of time of knowing him.

    Isaac brought his pen to scratch his hair while his lips pressed into a thine line, "My bad, all the nights of revision must have confused me. I meant Rogers class."
    "We don't have any exams with him either," Trish said without skipping a beat.

    Isaac cursed inwardly at her friend perfect memory and that they were studying the same degree.

    Sadina sat down and corner him on one side, "What are you hiding?"
    Trish got closer to him on the other side caging him, "Yeah, I'm sure it's not one of your inventions because you would be yapping about it by now."

    Isaac looked from one to the other. Min told him to not divulge anything about their little thief expeditions so he felt the pressure to come up with something that would sound credible.

   Sadina gasped and then leaned forward to look at her girlfriend, "Could it be that he's seeing someone."
   He blinked and panick at the implications, "What! No. No, me, uh-uh. I have no game, not a fish on my side of the tank, lonelier than a cactus in the middle of the dessert."
   "Aww look at you blushing. Isaac, it's not bad if you're seeing someone and... loosing some sleep because of it," Trish said while she wiggled her eyebrows.

    He shook his head and reached for one of the books. That didn't stopped their stares but he would rather look at the letters and diagrams than to any of them while they kept this up. Mainly because he would run the risk of blurting his and Min's late night escapades if he did so. Keep your eyes ahead, don't give in to the pressure, Isaac reminded himself.

    With a sigh, the girls set a distance. He didn't want to be rude, but he also didn't want to fail Min and make him angry with him, plus, potentially risking sending either of them to jail.

    His phone screen lit up—Isaac's eyes landed on it. They always placed them in the center and bowed to not touch it or you would have to invite the others to a snack as punishment.

    Isaac tapped his foot and tried to ignore it, but the screen lit again and the girls spared it a glance. He sighed and reached for it. Min was texting him. The girls were not so discreetly looking at him from the top of their books, but he didn't care for that right now.

Min :)

Can you come out? I'm outside of the WH.

Can't you come in? They know you.

Don't think we should talk about THAT in there.

He sighed and stood up. He tried to ignore the inquisitive but entertained looks of his friends. Going out of the door to Sadinas room, Isaac tried to rush to the exit. What he didn't expected was to almost clash with someone as he reached the stairs.

    "Wow, careful there," someone said as he gently pushed him away and avoided their bodies colliding.

   Isaac finally looked up, and saw that it was Thomas and his team. For some reason, even though he knows is logical, seeing them all out of their suits and uniforms and wearing more casual clothes was a bit bizarre to him. His eyes landed on Newt and Aris who almost kicked his ass yesterday. He gulped and prayed that they couldn't recognise him somehow.

    "Oh, please tell me you won't start gushing after Newt like the rest," a lady in the back said.
    "Brenda." Thomas warned.
    "What?" Isaac raised his eyebrows until his brain caught up with what was said, "Oh. No- I mean, I know who you guys are- but no, no, I don't think I..."
    "Don't mind her. You can keep on your way," Newt told him and signaled him towards the stairs.
   
Isaac nodded and pushed past them. As much as it was cool to meet them his nerves were ready to handle their gazes on him right now. His descent was stopped by Brenda calling after him.

    "Who are you? First time I've seen you here," she asked.
    "Isaac ma'am. I'm" —he looked in the direction of Sadina's bedroom and pointed—"I'm friends with Sadina and Trish."
    "Really? Well-"
    Teresa stepped in and covered her mouth, "Well that's lovely. She has mentioned you a couple of times. We will let you continue."

    Isaac rushed downstairs. Not sparing even a glance back in order to get out of their sight and to go see what Min wanted. The walk out of the house was like a mini exercise to him, he wasn't the best when it came down to stamina so he was a bit out of air when he finally found Min casually waiting for him on a bench near the senate Park.

    "This is not outside the white House," Isaac told thim as he rested his hands on his hips and focused on breathing.
    Min looked up at him through the upper part of his sunglasses, "Close enough. Come, sit."

    Resigned, he walked up to his friend and flopped on the bench. He slide down further until he could rest the back of his head on the bench and extend his feet in what to many would be a horrible position, but to him, it was quiet comfortable.

    "What did you needed me for?" He half tilted his head in Min's direction.
    "I think they want to... promote me. Or offer me a deal of some sort," Min uttered, his gaze still looking up ahead.
    Isaac frowned, "Who? Remenant? What for?"
   
    Min looked down both sides, making sure that they were not being spied before he turned his body to Isaac.

    "Yeah. Alex- did I told you who she was?"
    Isaac nodded in slightly several times, "The tall lady with weird murmuring habits and one of the owners of the company."
    "Yeah, her," Min lowered his voice for the next part, "she's been getting closer to me, asking weird questions."
    "Maybe she has the hots for you?" Isaac joked.

    Minho swat the back of his head, making Isaac shield it and also rub on the now hurt place.

    "Ok, sorry," Isaac admitted with a giggle. "Bad moment, but what do you mean getting closer?"
    "She's been asking me for my schedule, if I think I could have more free time, trying to strike a conversation in the most random of moment... I don't know. Its just being weird and I feel that that's the only thing that would explain it."

   Isaac dropped his hands on his lap and stared at the distance. He pursed his lips and thought about it.

    "Well, what have you decided so far?" He asked.
    Min propped himself straighter and laid his hands around the bench, "I don't know what to do. That's why I wanted to ask you.'
    "Hmm," Isaac looked down. " it might be risky, bit if it gives you more access..."
    Min pushed his glasses down his bridge slightly and looked at him, "We can finally figure out what their whole deal with the beasts and the Thunderbird is."
    "Valeria, and yes."
    Min rolled his eyes and pushed his glasses up, "I still can't believe you named her."
    It was Isaac's turn to do the same, "I can't believe you mistaken her for a him. And you're supposed to be the vet."

    Min delivered him another hit on the top of his head, but Isaac didn't mind it. He laughed it out and stood to return with the girls. With a quick bye to Min and a promise from him to keep him informed, he started his walk back. Hoping that he's not setting his friend down a path that might be too dangerous.
    

Chapter Text

Thomas kept looking at the dot in the map change location and force the image on the laptop swap between a different part of D.C or even a complete different state. He's been trying to find a way to use Newt's tracker on the suspects' Thunderbird, but is hard if the thing doesn't stay still.

   With a sigh, he closed the laptop and leaned back on the chair, letting his head fall back.

    "Still trying to figure out where the bird meets those two?" Aris asked him.
    Thomas lifted his head and turned it to his friend that was currently chilling on his bed, "Yea, but the thing moves around a lot. It's safe to assume they must met it here in D.C? Right?"
    Aris shrugged, "Not really, the thing can teleport—which is cool—who's to say they are not from outside of the state?"

    The thought made Thomas scrunch his nose and throw his head back, that just made the case more complex and narrowing down their location more difficult. Thomas pinched the bridge of his nose and and rubbed the area, ignoring the sound of the door opening and hoping that it wasn't Brenda, because he wasn't in the mood right now to deal with her.

    "Thomas," Newt scoffed. "We've talked about this. Don't just leave your bag and stuff sprawled over the bed."
    Turning around on the chair he focused on where Newt was pointing, "Sorry, got distracted. I wanted to see if the tracker you placed on the Thunderbird was working."

    Thomas stood up and helped removed everything. Quickly shoving the majority off things on his bag that he half zipped back up before he placed it on the floor beside the desk. Grabbing the chair he sat down while he heard Newt sigh and let himself flop on the bed.

    Thomas opened the laptop again. Chewing on his bottom lip and frowning at the screen trying to decipher his dilemma. When he came empty handed, he tried to reclut new help.

    "Hey, Newt? Baby?" Thomas called softly as he half turned towards him.
    With his arm over his eyes and his feet dangling from the edge, Newt barely acknowledge him, "Hmm?"
    "The bird seemes to go in and out of D.C. What do you think?"—he looked at the screen and then back at Newt—"is it safe to follow it here inside of D.C to find those two or do you think that their friend teleports them from another state."
    Newt took a deep breath and moved to sat on the edge, "I... don't know."

    With that he flopped on the bed again. Thomas didn't want to believe he heard a bit of boredom in his voice, but it sounded as if he didn't cared.

    "Oh... I thought you might. Uh, since you always seem to know how these people work," Thomas said quietly.
    "Yeah, well, I can't solve everything Thomas," Newt uttered without looking at him.
    "I don't pretend that you do."
    "Then believe me when I tell you that I don't know," Newt said a bit exasperated. "I have enough with Brenda bothering me for everything. "

    Thomas closed his mouth. Newt had never talked to him that way so he was a bit speechless. Even Aris who was silently observing the debate had an eyebrow raised in his direction.

    "Ok, then," he said quietly yet it sounded really loud in the silent room. "Sorry."

    Turning on his chair he tried to ignore the slight feeling of pain that left him. They had fights here and there, but non of them ever felt so, dry and mean as that one. They usually also ended pretty quickly, but Newt sounded genuinely done with him for now.

    Another sigh, came from the direction of the bed. Newt had sat back up again, "No, I'm sorry. I'm... I'm still tired and stressed because of the jet lag."
    Aris stood up abruptly, "I'll leave you guys to sort this."

    Aris was out as fast as Newt had come in, leaving both I'm a pretty tight spot where they couldn't ignore one another. Thomas's gaze fell on Newt who found his after he stopped looking at the door. Thomas hated the awkwardness of the moment, and how he didn't know what to say or do to fix it. Luckily, Newt found something else to speak about.

    "I think they must operate here in D.C," he said cocking his head in the direction of the screen.
    "Wha—Oh. Uhm, that. Yeah," Thomas spun around and got close to the laptop, "maybe I can ask Brenda to mark the spots the bird frequents here in D.C and we can... go from there then."
    Newt stood up and walked behind his boyfriend, massaging his shoulders and placing a kiss on the top of his head, "Sounds like a good plan."

    Thomas leaned his head back, contacting it with Newt's stomach. He offered him a soft smile while his hand came to squeeze one Newt's over his shoulder. Newt returned it and squeezed back.

    And idea crossed Thomas's mind, one he wished to propose to Newt, "Hey, Newt-"

    Thomas's speech was interrupted by the sudden sound of shouting. The pair looked in the direction of the window and then back at each other. The two moved to the source of the interruption and looked for clues as to what had caused it. Outside the White House, Thomas could see a mob of people forming and protesting while security personnel piled up to keep them from going further.

    The two frowned and went in search for the rest of the team. Finding everyone gathered around in the center hall, where Sadina and her friends had also come out to.

    "What's going on?" Newt asked.
    "It seems to be a protests," Teresa uttered.
    "Yeah, but for what?" Newt asked again.
    Sadina was the one to answer "Probably, against my mom. It must be the Right Arm."

    Thomas had heard that things were tense around here due to the Right Arm rallying people behind them to oppose Miss Cowan in the next elections that should be pretty soon, but he never came around to read why. Last time he checked, she had a pretty good acceptance rate.

    "And what are they protesting about?" Thomas asked.
    "Don't you guys watch TV?" Trish asked them.
    Thomas shrugged, "Sometimes. When we have the time."
    "Yeah, we've been lacking that recently, though," Newt answered.
    "They are accusing my mom of having biases for witches and Wizards," Sadina explained as she rolled her eyes. "They believe that she's sticking with them for votes and that she's increasing the jobless rates because they see Wizards the same way they see immigrants."

    To Thomas that sounded just like your usual racist, xenophobic asshole. He has dealt with his few share in the past. There has always been people that believe that their magic gives them an advantage, which can't be far from the truth, especially when there are so many regulations in place now a days.

    "What is your mom's response?" Brenda asked.
    "Same as always. Let them talk. She believes that provoking them will only bring more violence," Sadina answered.
    "And has it worked?" Brenda questioned.
    "No!" Sadina sank further down her chair, "that's the worst part. I'm sure some of them are the ones that have sent the death threats to her over her politics."

    The girl looked distressed. Thomas couldn't even begin to picture what it would be like to have someone threatened his mom.

    "If she hadn't signed that deal with Remenant, then maybe things wouldn't be this bad," Isaac commented mindlessly.
    "Don't start Isaac," Trish warned.
    "I'm just saying."
    "What does Remenant have to do with those outside?" Thomas asked.

    The guy, Isaac, Thomas reminded himself, looked as if he wasn't expecting him to pay attention to what he was saying. He looked caught off guard, but managed to deliver an answer nonetheless.

    "It's a Wizard owned company. With all the animals they've been loosing that have been wreaking havoc, public opinion is not the best for them at the moment, and neither is Sadina's mom," Isaac explained.
    "Hmm, but that's those two petty thieves fault. Not Remenant's," Brenda defended.
    Isaac fixed with a glare, "They are not thieves."
    Brenda arched an eyebrow, "how are you so sure?"

    Isaac's eyes opened like two plates. He seemed to not want to let that out, Thomas found his whole behaviour odd all of a sudden.

    "I'm not," Isaac said defensively, "but you have to admit that them attacking only Remenant convoys also speaks about the company. W-what if it's the same case as with WCKD?"
    "Don't be absurd kid," Newt interrupted. "WCKD was a different story."
    "But-"
    Sadina covered Isaac's mouth, "you have to excuse him. Isaac sometimes gets some funny ideas in that head of his."

    Sadina removed her hand and that seem to be the end of the discussion, but Thomas kept his eyes trained on Isaac. Something about the way he spoke reminded Thomas of Newt when he was using his day persona to speak to him. His words held the same melancholy as his boyfriend's once did.

    "Maybe it's worth investigating," Thomas uttered.
    "Tommy-"
    "All I'm saying is that if we want to get to the bottom of this mess, then we need to investigate all parties involved. The thieves, Remenant, the Right Arm..." Thomas shrugged and motioned at Sadina, "Miss Cowan."
    Sadina stood up, "you can't be possibly accusing the president of the United States."
    "I just did. I think we should split. Brenda, Teresa, figure out as much as you can about the right arm," Thomas ordered.
    "Tom, I think you forgot I'm not here to do field work," Brenda said, her stare one of authority.
    "Jorge left me in charge and told you to behave, so I think you will do as I say," Thomas answered. "Aris, track that bird down, Newt and I will pay Remenant a visit."

    Thomas let the door of the car close with a loud thud as he looked up at the big letters of the company shine against the sun. The Reservoir was bigger than he thought.

    "So what exactly do you expect us to get from them?" Newt asked as he buttoned his suit and stood beside Thomas.
    He spared a glance at Newt before putting his sunglasses on, "hopefully, some answers as to why they might be the target of those two."

   Thomas moved to enter the building and Newt followed. The receptionist gave them a warm welcome and told them to wait while she informed Nicholas that they were here. Somehow, being in the reception of the reservoir did make Thomas feel as if he was back in WCKD waiting to meet Janson. He didn't miss having to deal with him.

    "Gentleman, welcome. I've been informed that you were looking for me?"

    Thomas spun around at the sound of the unknown voice joining them. Nicholas looked to be your day to day politician rather than a CEO, the well combed back brown hair, the elegant silhouette, and the charming smile made him look friendly but his overall aura screamed that he was hiding something, but he was supposed to not judge.

    "Hi, yes. I'm-"
    "Agent Thomas and the heroe of London, Newt. I've heard of you two," Nicholas responded.
   
    Newt arched an eyebrow at him and shared a knowing glance with Thomas before he stepped in.

    "We will be brief sir, we don't want to take much of your time away," Newt uttered, "we were just hoping to speak with you."
    Nicholas nodded along as Newt spoke, before he offered them a smile, "Of course. Come with me, please. We can discuss this in my office."

    Nicholas led the way, talking pleasantries the entire way to his office as Thomas looked around at all the different beast they had. The reservoir had both 'normal' animals as well as magical creatures, something Thomas found weird to see, but he supposed that it should be expected.

    "Please, take a seat," Nicholas uttered as he motioned at the two chairs in front of his desk, "what can I help you two with?"
    "The thieves that have been targeting your company..." Newt started, "any idea why they might be after you?"

    The CEO chuckled, something Newt wasn't expecting. He looked to the side for a moment before he shrugged.

    "By all means I'm as lost as you," Nicholas said.
    Thomas frowned, "you haven't had any problems with... previous employees? Or maybe a competitor?"
    "By whom? Remenant doesn't have a direct competitor. We are here to help the magical and non magical beast, and nothing more Agent," Nicholas explained. The way he said Agent unnerved Thomas, but he tried to ignore it.
    Newt gave the CEO a quick look up and down, "you don't seem... worried at all. Doesn't this hurt your company."

   Nicholas giggled. The CEO crackled as if Newt had just told him the best joke ever and neither Newt, nor Thomas, knew what to do about it. Nicholas brought his feet up to his desk and leaned back on his chair, before he gave them an unpreoccupied expression.

    "What they do is... annoying, sure. But it's hardly damaging for Remenant," he shrugged, "I worry more about keeping public appearances for our estimated president. After all, I wouldn't want the upcoming elections to be... unfavorable for her because of us."
    "We've heard about some of those opinions. Do you think that maybe that's why they are trying to make you guys look bad?" Newt asked.
    "The thieves don't look to be after such things. So no," Nicholas dismissed it.

    Thomas found interacting with him odd. Janson might have been an asshole, but he was clearly worried about his company. Nicholas, on the other hand, talked as if what was happening was nothing but a little incident on a Tuesday afternoon that wasn't causing them to loose money.

    "Listen. I'm sure you two have this under control. I would appreciate if you take the thieves off my shoulders, but in the mean time... we have a goal to work towards to, and I don't plan to stop because of them," Nicholas said and stood up.

    Both Newt and Thomas stood up too, the CEO kindly thanked them for their visit, but told them that he had other things to attend. The duo was escorted to the exit by the guards and left in the reception so they could go back from where they came from.

    "That was... odd," Newt uttered.
    Thomas nodded, "Agreed. He doesn't seem to care at all." A dangerous thought coursed through Thomas's mind, he thought it was safe to discuss it with Newt though, "Do- do you think that maybe Isaac could be right?"
    Newt scrunched his nose in that adorable way Thomas loved, "the kid? About this being like WCKD?"
    "You got to admit he gives off the same weird vibes as Janson... I would like not to commit the same mistake..."
    Newt looked in the direction of the office, really giving Thomas's proposal a thought, "He's... weird. But we will need more than a hunch if you want to go down that path."

    Thomas knew that, but it was a good idea to keep that possibility open.

    "We will see how things develop. For now, I think we should see what the others gathered," he turned to Newt and offered him his hand. "Ready to go back?"
    Newt rolled his eyes, but took his hand, "lead the way."

Back in Nicholas's office:

Nicholas rolled the pen between his fingers. He wasn't expecting the visit of the two agents, and he felt like he could honestly go without them poking their noses where they were not called. Remenant's project was a delicate one, and he wasn't particularly looking forward to fail the rest of the council like Janson did.

    "Alex. Are you there?" Nicholas said through his mind as he tapped into the connexion he had with her.
   

    The presence of a mind formed somewhere, Nicholas knew it was Alex in an instant.

   "Yes. What is it?"
   "I need you to keep an eye on the Interpol. They can't know about project chimaera. Keep them away, and focused on our unwelcome thieves," he ordered, "send Miclan if it's needed."
    "..."
    "Is there a problem?"
    "No. I'll keep an eye on them," Alexandra waited for a moment before she continued, "permission to kill the thieves if we run into them."

    Nicholas thought about it, but ultimately decided that if they are to succeed and get the councils objective done, they needed to stay as the simple reservoir company they are supposed to be.

    "Only if you can ensure they don't see or connect you to us. Otherwise, leave them to the Interpol."

With a sight. He cut the connexion and stood up to reach the meeting room. The rest of the members will have a reunion soon. He needs to get their approval today. That is if he wants to be able to manipulate the elections in their favour and get them a step closer to their goals. Nicholas couldn't let a single thing fall out of place.
    

Chapter Text

"Alex. This goes against Nicholas's orders," Miclan uttered, afraid, shy and with a lot of difficulty.

    Alexandra spared the man a glance. She was in this entire mess because of him. She had gone far and beyond to get Nicholas's approval so he would help her save her dear Miclan. Only for him to come out a fragment of who he used to be.

    She offered him a smile, a tender one for the old days, "my dear Miclan. Don't you see? The Interpol is a danger for Nicholas."
    "But... he said-"
    "I know what he said, but isn't our job to keep him safe? To keep Remenant from being shut down?" She questioned.
    "It is. I just don't know if this is the best way," he question her.
    She placed her hands on his face, cradling with the same care she once had for him, "do you trust me?"
    "I-I do. I do Alex."
    "Then the thieves and the Interpol die tonight, and we get that bird back," she held his gaze, pouring all his heart in the next sentence. "So Remenant can have a tomorrow. So we, can have a tomorrow."

Isaac:

"Min, wait!" He hissed in the dead of the night to make his friend stop, "Min! Can you just wait for a second."

    Isaac finally caught up to him. Grabbing his friend from his bicep, he made him stop from keeping his advance. The duo was outside Min's house. His friend was being stubborn and trying to make his way to were the Thunderbird had taken refugee despite Isaac's warnings that he will walk into the Interpol.

    "I heard you already, but if we want to continue fighting Remenant, we need Valeria," Min said, and walked past him.
    Isaac got on his way, "Yes, but if you get your ass arrested then it's also over. We lose our eyes inside Remenant, and I won't be able to do anything to help all those animals you care about so much."
    "Isaac. No offence, but I'm not as clumsy as you. I'll be in and out in a minute," Min uttered and went past him again.

    That one hurt, but he always thought that it was the duty of a friend to make the other see the bigger picture even when they didn't want to.

    "I know how capable you are, " Isaac said blocking his way once again. "But we are talking about a group of trained adults that know we will be there. You're walking into the lions den."
    Min rolled his eyes, "Then we sneak by. I won't leave her there, scared and about to be captured by a bunch of idiots that will return her to Remenant."
    "Then let's maybe lure her out and bring her to my apartment so-"
    "That won't work and you know it. Last time I had to hear you bitch about someone finding her. Beside, thunderbirds are free spirits, they are not made to be caged inside four walls."
    "I know that-"
    "Do you?"
    "I do!"

    The light in Roxy's room turned on. Both boys ran to hide in the shadows so they won't be spotted. Their little fight was louder than they thought. Min and Isaac observed as Min's guardian and adoptive mother peeked through her window at the street to try to find the source of the sound.

    Isaac focused on Min. His friend looked up worriedly at his mother, probably hoping that she would just go back to sleep. He sometimes wished he had that connection with his aunt and uncle. They loved him and fed him, but Isaac never felt as if he was fully accepted into the family after he lost his parents. Roxy and Min's relationship always made him feel... empty.

    "What's your plan then?" Min whispered, his eyes still on the window despite Roxy going back to sleep.
    "The bird is in the Lincoln memorial. The Interpol is probably waiting for us there, so... how about we set a trap for them for once?" Isaac said with a confident smile.

Newt:

Newt observed through the binoculars, fascinated with being able to see a Thunderbird, no matter how small it was, for the first time. Aris had done it's job and found the place where the bird was currently taking a nap a top of the statue of Lincoln. He was surprised it wasn't in the news by now, but the Interpol had its ways to keep things under wraps.

    "You don't think they are stupid enough to walk into a clear trap, right?" Brenda questioned.

    Brenda, Thomas and Newt were sitting inside the car, equipment at the ready and waiting for any sign of their thieves.

    "That's why I told you we should have let people stay," Newt complained. "If the place is dead empty at this hour no one will believe it's not a trap."
    "Hay por favor. That would mean putting civilians in danger. Plus, making the bird scared," Brenda commented.

    Newt clenched his jaw. He was really reaching his limit with her tone of voice and remarks. It didn't helped that Thomas appeared to not want to intervene recently. He allowed them to fight until Aris or Teresa stopped it. He wondered if his small fight with him was the cause of such a thing. No, it can't be. We are ok. We are more than ok, Newt reasoned with his mind.

    "This gotta be my most stressful case so far," Brenda complained. "If we hadn't followed Newt's idea maybe this would have been finished a mission ago."
    Thomas exhaled, "Brenda-"
    "Ok, that's it. What. Is. Your. Problem?" Newt spat in her direction.
    Thomas tried to step in again, "Newt, dont-"
    Brenda straightened herself, coming up close to him, "wanna know my problem? Its you."
    "Guys." Thomas warned.
    "Yeah. I can see that sherlock," Newt shouted, his anger flaring with each passing minute.
    "Don't get sassy with me muchacho. I ain't like Thomas, if I have to put you-"
    "You won't do shit you scared little-"
    "Guys!" Thomas got between them and pointed at the monument. "The bird!"

    Newt stopped his fighting. He used the binoculars to look in the direction of the monument. The bird had lifted its head and was focused on something in the horizon. Newt followed its gaze and found a drone hovering not so far away from the bird.

    "Valeria. Who's a good girl? Wanna play for a bit?" The voice of one of the thieves came from a speaker in the drone.

     Newt smiled at the simple trick and applauded their good problem solving skills. They knew they were waiting, of course they wouldn't get near the place, but he never thought that this would be their solution.

    The drone procured a small metal rod that came out of the top part. Newt could see symbols carved on it. In and instant, electricity build up on it, creating a small thunderstorm of lightnings that came out of it. The phenomenon attracted the bird who seemed to take flight as soon as the first lightning came out of the rod.

    "Oh you got to be joking," Brenda said as she followed the bird who was now following the drone. "Well don't stay there, Thomas follow it!"
    "Ah, si, ya voy, ya voy."

    Thomas pressed the pedal, making the car screech as it turned in the direction of the drone. Newt barely managed to get his seat belt on before Thomas was speeding through the streets of Washington.

    "Thomas what do we do?" Teresa's voice came through their earbuds.
    "Keep following the bird. We can't lose its track," Newt answered for him.
   
    Newt cut the call and kept his eyes on the sky, focusing on the not loosing track of the bird. However, his pursuit was about to come to an end.

    One minute he was staring at the beauty of creature in the sky, and the next one, Newt felt the car crash and roll on the pavement. The vehicle turned and turned while Newt held to whatever he could for dear life. When it finally stopped, he was now upside down and with bruises all over.

    "What just happened?" He said with a groan.
    "I don't know, but let's get out," Thomas commented.

    The trio made it out of the now destroyed car with difficulty, but they managed to do it. Standing now in the middle of the street with his suit ruined and with what he felt was blood dripping down his forhead, Newt focused on the reason of their crash.

    Two figures cladded in dark armour and what looked to be an overgrown bull with more horns and eyes than he should have stood in their way. The creature charged against them again. Both Newt and Thomas reacted with a spell of their own, but the animal shrugged them off and kept its advance.

    The trio got put on the way before it could crush them to death. However, their car got a more horrible fate as it was thrown away like a rag doll. The bull snorted, pointed its horns at them and scrapped his hoof against the pavement once.

    Behind them, the two figures also turned hostile. One of them extended it's claws, while the other one hissed and dislocated it's jaw to reveal a set of teeth that were too sharp to be human.

    The three agents got back to back. Each one of them taking their wands out.

    "I take the bull," Newt said.
    "I'll make sure weirdo on the left is dealt with," Brenda said.
    "I'll take the one on the right then," Thomas said.

    A moment of tension built as the trio stood in the middle of the highway. Each member of the party waiting for the most minimal movement.

    Newt controlled his breathing. He searched for a solution to the creature. He had shaken their spells off as if it was nothing. Going through his lessons back at Hogwarts, Newt recalled a passage that talked about American Stone bulls. The description matched with the beast in front of him.

    The animal was the first to charge, his hoofs scrapping against the pavement as he approached Newt. Pointing his wand in the right spot, Newt casted arresto momentum first, slowing the beast down, and following up with a flippendo and endig with a glacis he concentrated in the form of a spear. As their name said it, stone bulls were covered in a tough skin that protected them, but their lower part was soft and vulnerable. The spear went right through its heart.

    Thomas and Brenda's duel was over just as fast. Spinning on his heals, Newt expected to find them struggling. To an extent that was true. Brenda was blocking the attacks of the poisonous tongue of the creature that dislocated its jaws, but in one of the block, she stepped aside and pinned her heel to the tongue. The creature screamed in pain, but it was short lived as Brenda took its head off with a diffindo.

    Thomas went for the most conventional route. His boyfriend was more adept at pushing his opponent back, though the creature did managed to scratch him with its claws once. Thomas took the damage to its suit personally. In the next attack of the creature, he cut one arm with a diffindo and then used bombarda to blow its torso into pieces.

    The trio remained in silences while they proceeded what happened.

    "Was... was that an assassination attempt?" Thomas uttered in disbelief.
    Brenda adjusted her suit, "Not put of the ordinary."
    "Maybe, but it had never been done so openly," Thomas commented.

    Newt knew that was true. As much as their life had been in danger before, no one had tried to go for them in such a brutal way. Even less so using animals and what looked to be mutants.

    "We can worry about that later. What happend to Aris and Teresa?" Newt asked.

Isaac:

Isaac considered himself a good duelist. Not the best, but not the worst either. Was he on the same league as Teresa? No, no he wasn't.

    His plan to get Valeria away from the monument had worked, but he had hoped that the Interpol's response would have been more slow, or that they would have at least fallen in one of the multiple traps he had prepared in the warehouse he had lure the Thunderbird to. Teresa and Aris, were clearly built differently though.

    "You don't want to do this kid," Teresa warned him.

    Valeria was behind him, the Thunderbird looked apprehensive of their unwanted visitors. Behind her was Min, trying his best to fight off Aris in their rematch.

    Think Isaac, think, he desperately thought as he pondered his options. Teresa could disarm him easily, she could probably had him in cuffs in less than five minutes and then capture Valeria alongside Min. That's if he hasn't lost already and he will have Aris on him in no time.

    "We are not the bad guys," Isaac pleaded.
    Teresa looked him up and down, her eyebrows frowning in concern, "it doesn't look like it. Listen. If you cooperate, I will try to help you out. But you need to put your wand down."

    The idea was appealing. He wasn't built for this kind of life. Valeria pressed her head against his back. Isaac spared her a glance. One look in the innocence of her eyes and he knew he couldn't just let her down. Surrendering was condemning her to a life of imprisonment, and Min said so himself; Thunderbirds were not made to be prisoners.

    "I'm sorry, " he said and prepared for his duel. "I'm truly am."
    "So am I kid," Teresa responded.

    Their clash, however, would never come. Teresa was hit by a spell on the side that sent her flying away. Isaac followed her body clashing against a wall before he turned to the source of the spell.

    From within the shadows, what looked to be a woman in armour and with a black veil over her head stepped into the light. Her wand at her side and ready. Despite not being able to make eye contact with her, he could feel her burning gaze on him.

    "So you are the thieves," she uttered. Her voice obscure and low and filled with disdain. "Don't worry. I'll make it painless, and I'll make sure to take care of our little bird."

    Isaac frowned behind his mask, he was about to question her when he started to pick up movement in the shadows. Humanoids dressed more or less like her started to pour inside the building. Isaac saw claws, sharp teeth and the flash of steel from swords and guns. He tightened his grip around his wand, fearing for what would happen next.

    What the fuck, he thought as his options for an exit diminish. The woman snapped her fingers. A cable was launched from the shadows and it coiled around Valeria's neck. Other followed from different directions before he saw how they rendered her immobile.

   "Stop, what are you doing. You're going to hurt her," Isaac pleaded.

    He tried to help her out of the bindings. Her wails of pain. Tore at his heart, but he was unable to reach her as the woman shot a spell at his feet.

    A light appeared from above. A ship now hovered atop the building. Isaac saw in horror as the glass above was broken and a claw descended to grab at the trapped Thunderbird. He wanted to stop it, but he was surrounded and the woman still had her wand pointing at him. He hopelessly observed as the woman gripped the claw and stepped over it.

    "Kill them, and bring me their heads," were her orders before the claw elevated and took her into the ship.

   As soon as she was out of sight, the rest of the creatures launched to tear him into pieces. Isaac tried to defend himself, but he could barely make two stop while the rest still came after him. Teresa was his saviour. The Interpol's Agent created a wall of ice that halted their movement.

    "Not friends of yours, I suppose," she said as she kept her attention in their direction.
    "No, not really," Isaac said.
    "T I think more are coming, " Aris shouted from the other side.

    To Isaac's relief, Min and Aris seemed to be fine. There were a couple of those creatures dead by their feet. He supposed the two had to work to kill the first ones before Teresa created the wall.

    Aris pointed at another figure similar to the woman on an upper part of the warehouse. The men looked at them intrigued, and much like the woman he had what looked like a legion of monsters behind his back.

    "Kid?" Teresa whispered.
    "Yes?" Isaac asked as his heart rate increased.
    "Run."

    Like a flood that was just waiting to happen, the avalanche of creatures went after them. The four ran in the direction of the first exit they could find. As the howls of the creatures followed them not so far behind.

    Isaac was panicking. He was so out of his element and he was so afraid that all he could focus on was in running. He was aware that Aris and Teresa were firing back with all they got to buy them time, but he couldn't bring himself to help as the fear of death paralysed him.

   He could hear them talking. He registered Teresa shouting spells and Aris firing his gun, but the ringing on his ear was stronger. Isaac ran. He ran and ran until he couldn't feel his legs anymore.

   He doesn't know how, but they barely escaped. He has a vague memory of Min pulling him away through another passage where they split the enemy forces, but other than that, Isaac can't tell how they ended back at Min's home.

    His friend was trying to bring him back. He even removed his mask do Isaac could breath better, but each time he closed his eyes he could see the claws and the sharp teeth and panic settled in again. Min finally got him back with a slap to the face.

    "Are you ok now?" Min asked. For once looking worried for him.
    "Yeah, yeah I'm fine," Isaac managed to get out.
    "Good," Min ran a hand over his hair and exhaled.

    Isaac was slowly getting over his small episode of panic. Straightening himself, he tried to regain his composure by changing the subject. However, Min had the same idea.

   "Why did you let them take her?" He questioned Isaac.
   "Wha-"
   "Valeria. She was scared and you just stood there and let them take her!" Min said with more anger this time around.
   Isaac licked his lips, he was confused at his outburst,.but tried to remain logical, "Min. I couldn't do-"
    "Of course you could. But you just stood there and did nothing!" Min said stepping closer to him, "same when we were running. If it wasn't because of Aris and Teresa we would be dead."
  
    Isaac wasn't a confrontational person, but even he had his tipping point. He had tried to keep his cool with him. Tried to reason even when he treated him like shit. Threw away his comments about his plans, his inventions and even his taste in music.

    In a rush of anger, Isaac finally let himself feel the indignation of his accusations.

   "Oh and what did you do to stop it?" He spat back.
   Min glared at him, "Don't use that tone with me. We are in this mess, because we used your plan and stupid gadgets."
   "My plan is what allowed us not getting caught in the first place, dumbass!"
   Min scoffed, snorting at him, "Really? Because I remember having two Interpol agents on us before those weirdo's showed up."

   Isaac felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment, he was right, but it's not like he didn't tried to prevent it.

   "It's not my fault they could get past my traps," Isaac said through clenched teeth.
   Min chuckled, "No. No. It's never your fault," he said. "It's those stupid inventions of yours. You are so focused on them, so proud of them that you can't see they are shit."
   "They are not shit," was Isaac's poor defence.
   "They are! You think they are so important, yet Valeria and I did those initial heist without them," Min said. "In fact, I think things started to overcomplicat when you wanted to step in."

   Isaac willed the tears away. He was set on not letting this affect him.

   "You would have being arrested by now if I hadn't been there to help," Isaac answered, hating how his voice broke down a little. "I created your mask, your equipment-"
    "Which I never asked for!" Min hissed, "that's your problem Isaac. You never realise that your help sometimes make things worse. God, no wonders your family sent you so far away, your aunt most be tired of you."

   Isaac response died immediately in his mouth. Min looked in shock at him, just now processing what he told Isaac.

    "Isaac..."
    "Save it."

    Isaac grabbed his mask and shoved it in the first trash can he could see. He would give it to him, at least Min looked ashamed for once.

   "Sorry for trying to help," he said taking some.of the gadgets he carried with him to shoved them in the trash too.
   "Isa-"
   "Forget about me," he pushed the trash further inside. "Don't worry, I'll keep my mouth shut," with a loud thud, he closed the lid of the trash. "Forget our friendship or whatever... this was. I won't bother you again."

   Min tried to stop him, but Isaac was done. For once in his life he didn't care about being the better person, he didn't care about Min calling after him. He felt useless, hurt and foolish for having ever thought that Min even respected him. As much as he was worried about Valeria, tonight, all he wanted was to sleep. 

Chapter Text

As the title says, I'm no longer going to write this fic due to personal beliefs and the way JKR has been acting, so for Those who were looking to read the next chapter at some point, I'm sorry. I was planning on coming back to it, but I just can't anymore.

Feel free to be inspired by the idea if anyone finds this work and wants to do something similar, but don't use or continue my idea, please. That's all.