Unspoken // Theseus Scamander

Chapter Twenty-Seven - Nightmares

Author's Note: There's a five year gap between The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore, and I will be utilising it to build on the storyline and some separate plots that I would like to incorporate before the events of the final movie occur. In other words, it's going to be a lot of Theseus and Natalia. 

I will detail how far apart each of the chapters are by giving them dates between 1927 and 1932 (the year in which The Secrets of Dumbledore occurs). Enjoy. 

Word Count: 1,952 words.

Warnings: Bit of a filler chapter. I also apologise again for my horrid updating schedule. 

His hands on my face were the first thing that I remembered. Then it was the sharp sting of his ring as he slung his palm against my cheek. It was those images that plagued me. It wasn't the memory of Percival Graves holding me down, nor his advances after the fact; it was Grindelwald, the face of Grindelwald as I knew him holding me in place, asking me to join him.

The nightmares never stopped, nor did the ones filled with sorrow. I couldn't forget Credence's face as he begged me to help him, when he took Gellert's hand instead of mine. I failed him.

I gasped awake, sitting up on my bed. Hand in my hair, I attempted to level my breathing. He whispered in my ear, pulled at my hair and ordered me to do as I was told.

"Hey," Theseus' voice broke through my pants. He silently wrapped his arms around my waist, placing his lips against the skin of my collarbone.

Holding a hand across my stomach, he used his own breathing to force mine to match. "Breathe."

"Fuck," I cursed once I calmed down, pulling aside the blankets and hurrying to my feet. I hated that he still haunted me.

"Nat..." Theseus tried.

I waved him away. "Go back to sleep Theseus, I will be up for a while."

Heading towards the kitchen, I picked up the kettle, filling it with water before placing it on the stove. Hands resting on the counter, I dropped my head then, forcing the memory of Grindelwald out of my mind.

His hands wrapped around my waist, chin against the top of my head. Gasping slightly, I placed one hand over his, closing my eyes. That only gave the images a blank canvas.

"You know," he began, taking a deep breath. "This is perhaps the most unconventional relationship that I have ever been in."

Scoffing a laugh, I shook my head. "Are you going to ask for my brothers' permission to touch me?"

His breath fanned my ear. "No. Aberforth would never grant it."

I smiled. "I'm sorry for waking you," I apologised.

"Do not apologise. I feel partially to blame for these nightmares."

Turning around, I placed my hands on his shoulders. "It is not your fault, nor is it mine. Gellert Grindelwald is a monster who only wants to inflict pain. Do not give him the satisfaction of knowing that he gets under your skin."

It was what I had been telling myself for years, and it seemed to be the only thing that gave me any sort of sanity.

Theseus took his hands from my waist, placing a palm on either side of my face and looking down at me with a smile. "I love you."

Rolling my eyes, I pulled away, turning to face the kettle before retrieving the tea bags from the cabinet. "You've mentioned," I countered. "Almost a hundred times a day."