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Newt sat outside of the bakery on the bench just outside, where Jacob supposedly met Lally, according to the baker. He stared blankly and unblinkingly at the night sky– a blanket of darkness with its shining opals of stars, hands folded together. It would be peaceful, almost beautiful, if he wasn’t fearing for his life at every given moment.
He never told anybody about it– although, it was likely Queenie already knew with her mindreading, even if it wasn’t as bad before she went with Grindelwald, and even after her return-
Shit, his mind was back to Grindelwald. Again. Fear flooded him once again, making him quiver slightly as he gripped more onto his hands, which now had his knuckles jutting through them. He tried managing his breathing, but it grew more strained as he remembered Jacob writhing on the ground, pale as a ghost, eyes wide with agony and shock.
He remembered the triumph in Grindelwald's eyes, glittering with malice and a hidden sneer as the bewitched Qilin bowed before him. His bitter eyes that landed on Newt still haunted him– the pale body of Jacob still haunted him. He remembered the blue flames, scorching around him as he watched Leta, his first ever friend, be gone right before his eyes- killed. It hurt more than the wounds after the first attack from Grindelwald– or, Percival Graves, when he was still under his act of a respectful, honorable man.
And he still behaved as such. And everyone believed him.
Again.
His fight with Grindelwald never ceased. It kept going, yet his followers only grew, burning and shining brighter as their cries of anger and support ran through the tension filled air, and how it lit the sky with a bright, booming show of colors at Grindelwald’s apparent ‘victory’. But he lost in the end, right?
No, he escaped, once again.
And now he feared for his life every time he breathed, muscles always tensed and ready to fight, always fearing for Grindelwald’s return.
His breathing grew quicker as he now could only see darkness, and no more shimmering stars. He was alone. Grindelwald could be here. He could lose everyone. He could die. Not again, not again…
“Hello, Newt.” A warm voice interrupted his thoughts, “Are you alright?”
Newt snapped back into reality, blinking as his eyes settled on the speaker, who he now identified as Tina as he fully processed who the voice was and who they were in general. Newt gave her a half-hearted smile, which faltered a bit with his shakiness.
“Y-yes. I am alright, thank you…” He replied shakily, although his expression stated otherwise.
Tina’s eyes softened a bit, seeing Newt’s demeanor. She moved to sit beside him, their knees bumping as she did so. She looked around the town, while Newt kept glancing down, now slouched over.
“...so, Newt, how have you been?” Tina inquired casually, although it seemed more of an honest question than one you’d ask someone during the afternoon after seeing them for the first time of the day.
Newt shrugged, “Just a bit, er , on edge, I guess.” Newt mumbled, still looking at the ground. Tina turned to look at him, eyes now softer, as she replied with a gentle, quiet ‘ oh?’
Newt looked up to meet her salamander-like eyes, his smile fully gone now. “It’s just… do you ever think… Grindelwald… will be back? Like, now?” He whispered.
Tina looked down at him, eyes almost pitying as she scanned his gaze. “...sometimes. But we’re here now, and that’s what counts, right?” She said reassuringly, almost as an offer. Newt sighed, but nodded.
“I guess… It’s just… sometimes… I still see him. I see everything he has done… and it’s just…” Newt cut off, not wanting to continue his sentence.
“... you’re scared?” Tina finished for him. Newt nodded slowly.
“I know I shouldn’t be… I asked for this by fighting back. I’m just doing this to myself… but it's just- I’m- scared.” Newt whispered, shaking a bit now, his hands now clenched once again. Another hand, that of Tina’s, then moved over his, rubbing soothing circles upon them.
“It’s not your fault, it will never be your fault. You’re incredible, Newt. And brave and admirable. What you are feeling is natural. The only fault of it is Grindelwald– it isn’t yours and it never will be.” Tina declared, looking deeply into Newt’s eyes.
Newt felt his muscles finally relax after so long, looking into her soft, comforting dark brown gaze as he felt himself lean against Tina, head dropping to her shoulder. Tina looked a bit stunned for a few moments, cheeks now a shade of pink as her flustered feeling overcame her for a few moments, but eventually melted into the intimacy and wrapped an arm around Newt, holding him close as Newt shut his eyes in a sense of safety.
The two sat there in silence for a while, losing a sense of time while simply relishing each other's company and comfort, only finally speaking when Newt broke the comfortable silence with a simple “Thank you.”
Tina looked back down at him, shooting him a gentle smile. “It’s- not a problem…” She mumbled, trying to hide her blush. Newt lifted his head from her shoulder, green eyes meeting brown as he did so.
“Listen, Tina, I uh–” Newt looked around, flustered and not sure what to do as he stuttered and stumbled over his words, face basically as red as a tomato at this point. “I– love you…” He whispered, looking down shyly.
Tina’s face bloomed an even deeper shade of a blush-red, taking a few moments to process the confession, reeling back ever so slightly. She sucked in her breath, eyes scanning Newt subconsciously before she finally processed what was going on– what Newt said, a grin growing on her face.
“...I love you too, Newt…” She replied in a quiet, gentle tone.
Newt moved up, eyes wide with slight shock, but they were bright with joy. He smiled, looking at her for a long few moments, gentle and loving. Their faces were inches apart at this point, both their breathing ceasing as they got closer. Tina moved her hand back over his, breaking the space between them as she pulled him in for a gentle peck of the lips, feeling Newt’s slightly chapped lips against her own.
Newt’s eyes were briefly closed, still grinning as he opened them, almost immediately kissing her back, the kiss this time longer, full of love and yearning. When they broke apart, Newt laughed briefly, almost awkwardly as Tina joined him too, almost contagiously. The two sat at the bench, hand in hand as Newt’s anxieties faded away; even if Grindelwald was out there, he still had Tina. And whatever happened, they’d face it. Together.