hollow // credence barebone

14. of future and past

———

it wasn't about the two brothers hating each other, because newt never despised him. if theseus despised him, it was not so much different from any other man in the world, driven by the kind of career path newt was following. to be fair, theseus had good things in mind whenever they discussed newt's future and he certainly didn't wish him badly.

but perhaps after the trick he pulled out in new york six months ago and by the way he now slammed the ministry's door shut after being denied a request of lifting his international travel ban, theseus scamander might actually murder him.

"newt. newt!"

but on the other hand, as newt remembered, it was also theseus who had taken a girl newt once loved as his future wife, and it was him who had access to all family heritage, and it was also him who often had his nose stuck up so high it was a wonder he didn't snivel out clouds.

he spun on his heel angrily, "what?"

theseus came jogging to him, looking mildly distressed as he half-hollered, "can you tell me what on earth you pulled out in there?"

newt shrugged, "yes, i called the minister of international transportation a prick. forgive me, i should have called him a blockhead or something more easy on the british tongue."

"newt! genuine question, are you losing your mind?"

"well, it might be one of side effects of a grindylow's bite and seeing that two full litters hatched yesterday--"

"i go out of my way," theseus said coldly, "and use my personal connections to offer you a simple chance to get the thing i know you want to get, and you allow it to end like this? by slamming the door and cursing at people?"

"i'm thankful for your help, theseus, but you wanted to sell me to the ministry and lock me up behind a desk for the rest of my life. i don't know about you but that sounds like a betrayal to me."

"newt!"

newt rolled his eyes, turning again to his brother. as he eyed him up, he couldn't really help but remember how everybody who ever sees the brothers standing together asks if they are not twins by chance. it had to be said that they shared very similar facial structure, hair colour and eyes, but that's right about where the similarities ended. taking a look at theseus, a typical picture of an office worker by blood pact appears. neat from head to toe, hair held by gel and denying gravity, and of course, the permanent lack of knowledge what a smile is supposed to be. and then there is newt and his haphazardly assorted clothes and lack of any control over what his hair decided to resemble today.

in the moment of silence as the two brothers eyed each other, the fury on theseus face slowly transformed into frustration. after that, he shook his head and massaged his aching temples.

"okay," he exhaled. "i promise i didn't know they vere intending to incorporate you in the ministry. i should have known better. and i'm sorry if you feel like i betrayed you."

newt cracked his knuckles as he closed his fists tighter, and then slowly released with an exhale.

lately, whenever they'd start yelling at each other, they would practice the 2-minute-of-silence rule. as the silence came to an end, the one who first called the other demented or dimwitted would then need to be the first one to apologise. this time, it was theseus who suggested newt had lost his mind. last time, it was newt who suggested theseus has lost his cerebral matter to the bite of a grindylow.

it worked, because when they looked at each other again the vibrant irritation melted off to a well-known resignation.

"alright," theseus sighed. "now come here."