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4theseus-s · 2 years ago

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summary. the scamanders have their first dinner together in years, but theseus finds himself drifting further than ever. ships. theseus + newt, theseus x leta ( past ), newt x tina ( minor ) characters. theseus s., newt s., tina g., scamander parents word count. 2.3k setting. after crimes of grindelwald genre. hurt/comfort, grief, angst warning. mention of death + not beta-read

Two solid knocks on the door could only indicate the presence of Newton Scamander. Theseus stood up from the couch and made his way over. His face instantly lights up at the sight of his little brother and his fiancée, MACUSA Head Auror Porpentina Goldstein. He wraps his arms around Newt and holds him a little, and an unspoken “I missed you” makes Newt reciprocate.

Theseus senses the hesitation in his actions, and as much as he wants to hold him tighter, he’s in his 40s. So he lets him go and shifts his gaze to Tina. They both simultaneously take their hand out and share a silent handshake. It’s been a while since Theseus has met Tina - they’ve only ever communicated directly to each other through owls from work. But as Theseus welcomes them into the Scamander household, he recalls the short but very Newt-like letters about Tina. It’s endearing, he thinks to himself as he tells them to settle themselves; he’s grown up so well.

It’s already the 1930s, yet the supposedly golden boy and the War Hero between the two is the alone one here.

Theseus bitterly chuckles to himself. He’s so, so alone.

He hears his mother calling that dinner’s ready from the floor below. He makes his way down to see his father, Newt and Tina seated on one side of the rectangular table. Dishes flew and were placed on the table as Theseus made his way to a seat on the other side. Both his father and Tina were having a heartfelt conversation as Newt sat in the middle, clearly out of place but compensated by observing Tina with doe eyes. Theseus finds his eyes bouncing between the crazy amount of food on the table and Newt - it’s almost comical how fast the nights change.

Just a few years ago, Newt wouldn’t be attending such dinners, leaving the entire family (especially their mother) in a somewhat sour mood. He would forget to reply to his and their mother’s letters, and Theseus often found the responses arriving several months later on his desk. And he would definitely not be making such prolonged eye contact with anyone, especially not a female and an Auror. The thought of Newt choosing an American Auror over him, particularly after the many quarrels between him and Newt about the profession, leaves Theseus feeling a pinch of unnecessary bitterness.

No, not now, he reminds himself; this isn’t about you; it’s about Newt for once. Stop being so selfish.

But Theseus recalls the time that Newt said he wasn’t a good brother at all. It was childish, and both were saying things they didn’t mean. But both brothers knew he had crossed the line - they may have far too many disagreements with their affiliations, but their relationships were always something they never touched. He apologised and said he didn’t mean it like he always does. Yet Theseus could still feel the sting decades later.

For once, he’s the one that can’t make eye contact with his brother.

The dinner was fine until Mr Scamander mentioned how Theseus was still companionless.

“Theseus,” his father started, and Theseus lifted his head from his food in surprise at his name being mentioned for the first time that night. A sigh left the oldest Scamander’s lips, “We can’t have our older Scamander walking around single, can we? You’re already in your 40’s, for Merlin’s sake.” Theseus, as always, stiffly but casually dismisses his father. “I just haven’t found the right one yet.”

“Oh, but Thee, even Newt is engaged,” his mother dramatically huffs, clearly wanting to see her children get wed. Theseus looked in Newt’s direction, and Newt responded with an awkward smile. Theseus could only wave his hand in disregard: “Newt’s grown up a lot, mum. Unfortunately, he surpassed me when it comes to finding a lifetime lover.”

“But with this job,” Theseus continued, “I have to stay at the Ministry too much. Plus, I think the Ministry’s trying to push the Head of Magical Law Enforcement title on me since Mr Travers is…well, not known for his competent personality. And you know that’s far more than just being the Head of the Auror Department, especially at a time like this.”

His mother only looked disapproved. “Newt travels so much; we don’t even know his location most of the time!” She stops to turn to Newt, whose ears turn a soft shade of pink. “Yet he’s engaged to an American Auror. What are you waiting for: an American magizoologist?” It’s Theseus’ turn to be embarrassed as he groans under his breath at the comparison. Does he look like he wants to interact with more dragons and kelpies?!

“But what about Leta?” Tina speaks up in the conversation for the first time, and Theseus can only weakly glare at her, which takes her aback. Both the Scamander parents have intense dazes on Theseus, and Newt’s eyes are only screaming apologises to him. Not that it means anything anymore. “You were dating Leta?!” his mother practically yelled, “I hope it wasn’t the Lestrange.” There was no disgust in her voice, but the disappointment was thicker than Traver’s stack of untouched paperwork on his desk. And that’s saying something.

“What was between Leta and I is none of your business.” Theseus’ words come out harsher than he intended, but he wasn’t planning on having this conversation right now. At this point, he wasn’t sure if it was directed at his parents or Tina.

“You were snogging over the Lestrange. For one, you didn’t tell us. But secondly, we thought you were better than that, Theseus Scamander.” The strictness in his father’s voice makes him internally wince a little. “What’s wrong with Leta?” Theseus asks though it’s more of a threat if anything. His father stands up abruptly, causing Theseus, Newt and Tina to flinch.

“You know exactly what’s wrong with dating Leta,” his father reprimanded, “She was your brother’s first. That’s highly inappropriate of you, Theseus.” Theseus breaks away from his father’s eye contact to briefly scan over Newt. He could tell he was feeling guilty, but now wasn’t the place where Theseus could comfort him. He returned his focus to his father. “Am I not allowed to love who I want to love? What happened to ‘finding the right one’? What if Leta was the right one? What were you going to do about that?”

This time, it was his mother who spoke up. “Then you shouldn’t have tried to get her in the first place. You should have known who was off-limits. We thought you knew better.” Theseus could feel his blood starting to boil, but he tried to remain calm and keep a straight face as his mother continued to ramble. “You betrayed the Ministry’s trust to fight in a Muggle war, and came back a hero. Only to go after the Lestrange?! You had the morals to protect even the non-wizards, yet you didn’t have the morals to go after your brother’s ex?”

“You don’t know what happened between me and Leta, Mum!” Theseus defensively resorted. He could feel himself losing his temper with every new word. Activate ‘Head Auror’ mode, he tells himself. A switch he couldn’t reach right now because this was far too personal. “We don’t, but we don’t need to know what happened to know that it was highly improper of you!” his father states, his voice significantly raised by the end.

“Is that what you expected from me? To be the perfect son? Free from any mistakes?”

“No,” his father calmly but steadily answers, “We just wanted you to be a good example to your brother.”

“What about my happiness, dad? As long as Newt looked up to me and I did well in school, everything would be fine? Am I not allowed to fall in love?” “Oh it’s not like that, Theseus…” his mother’s voice was now softer, almost forgiving. “But you should know what you shouldn’t do. You’re the follower of rules here, Theseus.”

“There are no rules when it comes to love, mum! Weren’t you the one that told us that? Surely you aren’t backing out on your own preaches?” Theseus almost hates how mockingly the last part came out, but a voice in his head tells him it’s the right move. “I even got bloody engaged with her. But you wouldn’t know that because I knew you would all react like this!”

“Thee…” Newt’s soft-spoken voice speaks for the first time. “You didn’t tell them about the wedding?”

“Theseus Scamander.” Their father’s voice goes dangerously low, and Theseus can see how Newt instantly regrets his words. “There was a wedding, and you didn’t tell us about it?!”

“Well, it never happened, and it will never bloody will! Because she’s dead! She’s dead!” Theseus loses his temper as he finally shouts out. “Theseus, we thought you knew better than to hide secrets from us. Even Newt doesn’t do that anymore,” his mother tries to calm him down, to no effect. “Shut up! Shut up!” He suddenly stands up and storms off upstairs. The table shares hesitant glances at one another as the echo of a door slamming shut bounces off the walls of the Scamander household.

Theseus clenches his wand in his hand as he summons his briefcase. He wasn’t planning on pulling a Newt today - let alone talk about the unsaid relationship - but he couldn’t stay within these walls anymore.

Is this what Newt felt? He asks himself. Did Newt feel like the air had become suffocated and the walls had begun to close in too much?

Before all his items have been stored in his briefcase, he hears a knock at the door - two solid knocks. A second ahead of Theseus, he hears Newt’s voice say, “Alohomora,” and the door creaks open. He resists the urge to frown and lets out a heavy sigh as Newt’s figure appears. In Newt’s fashion, he stays still, not trying to close the gap between the brothers. Instead, he watches the items float into his brother’s briefcase, and it locks itself up afterwards. Theseus lets out another sigh, not wanting to let his emotions bubble over again but also knowing that he was going to have to be the one to speak up.

“Newt, are you alright?” “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you?” Theseus smiles a little, knowing that Newt is doing his best to be concerned. “I’m alright, Newt. But I’ll get going - I don’t think I’m welcome here for this dinner.” He feels Newt slowly approaching like Theseus is a demiguise that needs to be caught. Newt stops an arm’s distance away and continues to avoid eye contact. “Thee, you know me and Leta...” “Were never together,” Theseus finished Newt with a sign, “I know, I know. And by the way, tell Tina that it’s not her fault that our parents and I fought. She didn’t know. If anything, it’s mine.” Newt slightly nods and returns to the awkward Newt posture he’s always in.

Theseus picks up his suitcase and approaches Newt. He pats his shoulder before telling him, “I’ll be off now, Newt. Please tell dad and mum that we can talk about this…sometime in the future.”

“Wait,” Newt calls nearly noiselessly, “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I will be, Newt. Don’t worry about me, I’ll have it under control. You should go back down and continue eating dinner alongside Tina. Surely she’s feeling a little out-of-place there without you.” Theseus grins for the first time that night as Newt’s face turns pink from embarrassment. The older brother almost disapparates before he remembers. “Oh right, come ‘ere, Newt.” He throws his arms around Newt and holds him tighter than usual.

“Thank you for being the better son now,” Theseus whispers. He can see that Newt’s about to speak up when they break it up, but he disapparates before he can hear what he says.

Instead of apparating back home in the middle of London, he finds himself in his office at the Ministry. He tiredly makes his way to his chair and stares at the paperwork below him. They were still trying to catch Grindelwald’s tail - not easy when his goal to conquer the world means he’ll be in places far beyond Europe. But his mind wasn’t on Grindelwald’s capture right now, as much as it should be. Theseus turns his head to look at the shelf against the furthermost wall of his office. He stands up and approaches a moving picture of the Scamander family.

Newt was only two at the time, and he was ten. The family looked happily at one another as Newt was slightly wobbling while trying to walk away. His father was ruffling his hair as his mother eventually picked Newt up and kissed him on the nose.

But now, he’s the outcast of the family, a supposed backstabber to his parents’ trust. And he knew he wasn’t going to get it back as long as the relationship remained a sour subject to them and Leta’s death remained a sour subject to him.

You’re so, so selfish - the voice finally speaks up after the conversation - and so, so alone.

(Theseus swears he didn’t stay in the office all night, crying himself to sleep on his desk for the first time in a long time. Theseus swears he didn’t just stay because the house suddenly felt too big again, too big for just one person after Leta’s gone. Theseus swears he’s not resentful against anyone and that he didn’t cast the locking charm and the anti-alohomora charm on his door in fear that someone would see him in this state.

Theseus swears that he’s moved on from Leta’s death.)

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starlight0901 · 2 months ago

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I understand what you mean!

The first time I saw fbcog in 2018, my impression about that scene was: "I understand you Newt, damn that guy is annoying", it was like: "he stole your girlfriend and surely made fun of you when you were little, and now he wants to be your friend! I don't think it so", (all that because of the youtube theory videos and the promotional photo of the characters where Theseus has a face of "I believe myself the most because I am"). And that's why I gave Newt the point, but over time I began to love Theseus and his relationship with his brother, but I also realized how slightly rude (not mean, rude) Newt was to Theseus (if I had act like Newt to Theseus in the French ministry (that it wasn't actually Newt, it was Tina but you know what I mean) with my older sister she would've stopped speaking to me) in general throughout COG, when he is the calmest and kindest character of all.

That alone gives me the impression that Newt had a very serious problem with Theseus in the past that leads Newt to be somewhat rude to his brother, in fact, in an interview Eddie and Callum mention a scene that I believe they did record but in the end they removed, of Theseus on a broom and a small Newt (this was a long time ago and I was very little so I don't know if what I'm saying is entirely correct), I don't know maybe that scene explained something important to his story although if they removed it I don't think it was relevant to the main plot. and although I currently continue on Newt's side in this, but it seems that Newt doesn't really believe that Theseus intentions are good, and he only wants what he believes is right for him, so he just blocks him with his attitude

I anyway LOVE both characters, and I'm glad Newt's personality it's not just being nice to everyone and he can be mean sometimes too as anyone, likewise with Theseus, he can be affectionate with the people he love like Leta and Newt and serious when he has to be it.

rewatched the ministry corridor scene and while it does have its flaws (i.e., what the hell is going on and how come this doesn’t really matter), i really like how they made newt prickly and theseus (awkwardly) affectionate there. I think it’s so interesting. like newt is compassionate and friendly to everyone but a bit standoffish to theseus. theseus is distant from most people and pretty reserved but affectionate towards newt. the contradictions!

like i know i write them with a bagful of problems that complicates this, and this scene was also charged by the credence discussion—but hey, let’s pretend for a moment it’s just set neutrally, and forgive me for writing my own subtext that’s actually not subtext.

I love prickly newt and affectionate theseus.

in short, I like the idea that maybe newt just doesn’t like theseus very much at that point, because i sort of relate to placing distance between myself and other people for no tangible reason. it feels like such a good character flaw. being sweet and compassionate but also just that little bit defensive. and even more interesting for newt’s psychology if it’s not a cut and dry situation and perhaps it’s even a little arbitrary, rather than super deep. like maybe he just doesn’t want to be around theseus, he just wants to leave; it’s not because he has a history where he hates theseus or because he loves leta. it’s just that he doesn’t like theseus in that moment, even though theseus is (according to david heyman, which you’d have to squint to see) finding middle ground. like maybe theseus is doing all the things that are technically right, but newt is just being prickly because at that moment, he /is/ prickly.

I feel like a core thing in their relationship is a certain amount of irrationality because of the distance. like newt pushes theseus away for /some/ reasons but he also doesn’t know why. and theseus keeps persisting in this very limited way with this somewhat one track mind and still doesn’t /quite/ break out of it. maybe they have many other reasons, but when it comes to a quick interaction, this is just “what happens.” perhaps not because theseus has ever been particularly mean, or newt has ever done whatever that equivalent is back, but just because they’re both so unsure with one another.

idk…i wish i could articulate it better, but i really like it, I don’t know why. I feel somewhat represented by the fact that newt at his core is compassionate and gentle, but doesn’t come across as “nice” all the time when he’s uncomfortable or unsure, and perhaps sometimes that’s just how he is. like maybe newt is being a little “mean” to an observer, because he’s not perfect, but theseus keeps pushing on: because in the end being a /little/ prickly and mean sometimes is /okay/. you can be a cinnamon roll-style character and not always extend eternal love and sunshine to everyone all the time, because it’s hard to work like that.

this part is slightly tangential, but, like, i think i am autistic, and sometimes, even though my family are fine, i can’t bear to talk to them, or anyone at all. i like to think newt has days like that, where he’s snippy and a bit unfair/resentful and quietly prickly and desperate to retreat, but we (and all the characters) love him anyway. :,)

#newt scamander #fantastic beasts #theseus scamander #eddie redmayne #callum turner #fbcog

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