Percival doesn't understand Newt Scamander.
When Percival had the insane thought to follow the Magizoologist on his trips, he didn't expect to be dragged into insane situations.
For one, he never realised how problematic poachers are. Or how dangerous they are. They are as relentless as the criminals he put away. Then again, creatures are very valuable. He knew an Occamy was so sought after but he never realised just how valuable they are. Poachers can get paid thousands of galleons just from a nest of Occamy eggs.
That also meant that Newt Scamander gets into a lot of trouble. He doesn't blame Newt. The man just wants to find, study and care for the creatures in the magical world. The only problem he could be causing, and has caused, is taking in dangerous creatures so close to the public.
Then again, it's not like he has a place to go, like a sanctuary. His only sanctuary for his creatures is his extendable briefcase.
Percival had been wide eyed when he saw the inside of the case for the first them. Then he froze when he met the creatures that Newt keeps.
While they are... intimidating at first glance, they are surpringly docile around Scamander. Scamander is... an odd man. He doesn't make eye contact, he's soft spoken, he's skittish and people avoidant. He can come off as rude but as Percival observed him, he realised that Scamander never meant to be rude. But he doesn't understand nor follows society's standards of polite conversation.
Percival has seen the man at his best, caring for his creatures like they're his own children. His tone of voice soft and confident, reassuring even the most violent of creatures- Percival nearly had a heart attack when he saw a Kelpie and Scamander had jumped into the water with the beast. Then he was impressed when Scamander rode the normally aggressive creature. Scamander had been unafraid, unphased, and unperturbed being so close with a creature known to kill wizards on sight.
But Percival has also seen Scamander literally skitter away from people like they're the scariest thing he's ever faced. As if he doesn't have a Sweeping Evil in his case that he occasionally pets absentmindedly.
Percival doesn't understand Scamander at all. But he doesn't mind it either. Scamander has so many sides to him that Percival can't help but be curious and amazed.
There's so much obscure knowledge of creatures inside that mind of his. They have literally escaped from being eaten by so many aggressive creatures because of Scamander's knowledge of them. Percival is honestly impressed.
But circe forbid Scamander actually talk to a human being. Its odd how Scamander can face a literal dragon with little to no fear, and literally flee the moment he sees a person as if they're Dementors.
No, Percival has seen the look in Scamander's eyes when there's a mention of a Dementor in a town they had been in. He had to literally convince the man no we cannot study a creature that can literally suck out our Souls. The man has no fear of creatures. But he'll literally sprint in the other direction the moment he has to interact with another human being.
Percival can't blame him. But it would have been so much easier if Scamander just talked to people. With his lack of confidence, lack of eye contact and general skittishness, he looks so suspicious. Percival had taken the role of mediator to explain what they're doing. He has seen Scamander ask a person, point blank with no hi or hello, if they had seen a Runespoor. Then promptly left after questioning the poor confused man.
Scamander is amazing, but he lacks social skills or social awareness.
But that's fine. Percival finds Scamander interesting in his own way.
He listens to Scamander when the man explained about the creatures he care for. He has a look in his eyes that just lights up the room. Percival is always interested in his little information dumps.
That doesn't mean he completely understands Newt Scamander.
Recently, his behavior has confused Percival even more.
During one of their trips- this time to Iceland to find some kind of giant man eating cat- they had been resting in an Inn. Well, he's resting in the Inn. Scamander is in his case, either caring for his creatures or doing research. Probably the latter. Percival has seen him take down a pile of books into his case.
It has been a long day of searching. It's near Yule and the air is buzzing with magic, or that's what Scamander says. He looks excited at the prospect of tracking the giant cat. They are sleeping in the morning so that they can get sufficient rest by nighttime, where the creature is active.
Percival had been resting his eyes when he hears Scamander's footsteps. He opens his eyes to see the top of Scamander's head pop out of his case. He still avoids eye contact and he fiddles with something in his hand.
"Is something the matter?" Percival asks as he sat up.
"No no." Scamander said as he pulls himself out of his case. His Bowtruckle's head sticking out of his pocket. He was sure his Niffler is inside his coat as well. He never goes anywhere without those two, mostly because they refuse to leave his side and Scamander didn't have the heart to remove them from his person.
"I found this." Scamander held out a pair of brand new, grey wool gloves.
Percival blinked and took it. "Thank you."
Scamander nodded, head tilted down. "The Yule Cat won't eat you if you wear something brand new."
Percival stares at him and Scamander gestures to his nose and waves his hand.
"The- the creature is attracted to the smell of people's natural pheromones. New clothes throw them off." He said as an explanation.
Percival looks down at the wool gloves. He finds the gesture very thoughtful.
"Thank you Mr. Scamander." He said. "Do you have something for yourself?"
Scamander nodded. "I do."
Good news, the Yule cat didn't eat them that night. The bad news, they now have a giant man eating cat in the case with them.
They did manage to leave the cat in the Iceland forest away from civilization.
---
Sometimes Percival thinks Scamander emotes like the creatures he cares for.
Then again, he has seen the man dance ridiculously and making snorting sounds to attract an escaped Erumpet.
He had been looking after a bunch of bird like creatures. A pair of mates who they rescued from poachers. One of the creatures had a broken leg which Scamander fixed up with a mild healing drought and a bandage. They are caring for it while they go back to the creature's natural habitat. It was interesting to observe the creatures court each other.
The male brings food or trinkets for the female. Percival has seen it pick up colourful stones, leaves, sticks and the odds and ends that can be found in Scamander's case.
Honestly, Percival thought the creatures made courting look so easy. Bring a gift, then viola, they're mates for life.
He had been watching the birds groom each other when Scamander came up to him and gave him a smooth rounded stone. It is grey with speckles of dark grey, white and black.
Percival blinked in confusion.
"It's the same colour as your eyes." Was Scamander's only explanation before he left to tend to some Mooncalves.
He had stared at the stone in his hand for a while, wondering if his eyes did actually look like the stone, before he noticed the two birds staring at him.
"What?" He asked. The birds didn't reply of course but he did keep the stone in a drawer in his own room.
---
Percival is constantly impressed by Scamander's little traits and talents. One of them being mimicry. He can mimic the voices of creatures using his voice and his hands. He can mimic their behavior, even with the lack of tail or extra limbs. It's like he actually becomes the creature but in a human's body.
That being said, Percival noticed Scamander starting to mirror his behavior. It was just a random observation that started by a random stranger thinking that Scamander and him are together.
"You two act alike," they had said, a little embarrassed when Percival denied their perceived relationship.
But it did prompt Percival to observe Scamander more closely while also being aware of his own behavior.
He did notice small things, nothing to bring home about.
Percival stands straight with his hands in the pocket of his coat. Scamander started to mimic him, but usually around other people. Percival theorised that it's to appear less socially awkward by mimicking the only other human that is a constant in his life.
Percival tends to fix his hair idly. He does this as a habit since he prefer his hair to appear neat. He noticed Scamander playing with his hair more often, though despite his attempts, his curls still stood unkempt. At least there's a lack of leaves and feathers that usually stuck in his hair.
Percival has a wand holster on his arm, a remnant of his time as an Auror before he was put on indefinite leave. Scamander usually shoves his wand in his pocket, since his job doesn't really require a wand. But he noticed recently that Scamander had acquired a wand holster and secured his wand onto his arm.
Percival doesn't give it much thought. At least Scamander is taking more care about his wand. He kept losing it.
Though Scamander is starting to hold his wand just how Percival does. Usually he just holds it a bit clumsily. But now he's holding his wand just like Percival does, firm, pointed and how Percival was taught during training to hold his wand for increased efficiency and accuracy when casting.
---
Scamander- Newt, as the man insisted he call him- reminds Percival of a bird as of late.
He keeps bringing Percival little random trinkets.
Shells, buttons, interesting stones, shrapnel, or more often than not, things his creatures shed. Feathers, claws, teeth and talons.
Percival doesn't understand it. But knowing that Newt tends to mimic his creatures when expressing his emotions, he's going to assume that Newt approves of their... friendship? He never confirmed verbally that they are friends. But then again, Newt hardly uses his words to communicate unless it's to his creatures.
---
Poor Newt looks like he's about to jump out of his skin.
He's been invited to a birthday party by his brother- Percival hadn't known Newt had a brother- and it took some convincing to encourage Newt to go. Though now the poor man looks so uncomfortable amongst so many people.
The party is held at a restaurant with all of Theseus' friends and co-workers. Safe to say, he is going to assume the reason Newt is so socially awkward is because his brother took all of his social skills via genetics.
Percival took pity on him and sent him to the garden saying that he overheard the servers talking about some critters in the trees and bushes. Newt took the chance to practically sprint out to the side door leading to the garden to hunt for creatures.
"You're Graves?"
Percival turned to see Theseus. He nodded.
"You've been with my brother during his trips?" He asked.
"I am." Percival replied.
Theseus looks away for a moment. "Thank you. For keeping Newt safe."
Percival nodded in acknowledgement. "I try my best."
"He gets into so much trouble." Theseus sighs.
"It's not his fault." Percival defended immediately, to his surprise. His face grew a little flushed under Theseus' confused and intent gaze. "He doesn't mean to cause trouble. All he wants to do his help creatures."
"...Yes... he does have an admirable dream." Theseus.
"It's not a dream." Percival said with a bit of a bite. "Newt is actually helping the creatures he saves. It's not his fault some people doesn't appreciates the creatures we depend on."
"...That so?"
Percival bristles at his tone. "Yes. Newt has contributed so much to modern medicine and understanding of creatures. Have you read his book? All of that was his discovery. Now his knowledge is being used for good. His 'dream' benefits a lot of people. It shouldn't matter if he couldn't be bothered to say hello to some people. Pointless small talk."
Theseus gave him an intent look, as if Percival is some kind of puzzle he's trying to solve. Percival remembers how much he hated that look compared to Newt's open and unjudgemental stare.
Theseus was about to say something when Newt skitters back in with something in his hand.
"Percival," Newt said with a tone in his voice that Percival recognised as joy. "I found this."
He opens his hand to show off a five petal black flower with spots of purple, pink and blue. The flower looks like it's been touched by the night sky.
"A Night flower." Newt said happily. To Percival's surprise, Newt leaned forward and places the flower in the breast pocket of Percival's robe.
Newt glanced at his brother, tilted his head down and stepped back outside.
Percival touched the petals of the flower with a curious frown. A faint smile grew on his face. His wand slides into his hand and he cast a preservation charm on the flower. He'll keep it in his drawer with all the other trinkets.
He glances at Newt's brother who has an astonished and curious look on his face.
"What?" Percival said defensively.
Theseus blinked before he grinned. "Nothing. It seems my brother has shown his affection for you."
"....What?"