Soft

Theseus makes his way down the street and into an alley. He needs to apparate to work this morning.

He hadn't wanted to wake up. Hadn't wanted to get out of bed. Hadn't wanted to shower or eat. He didn't want to do anything. Not with the knowledge that Leta wouldn't be there.

Last night had been the worst night of his life. He'd made a lovely dinner for her. Gotten her favorite wine. Nice soft candles and lovely music.

She had broken up with him. Had told him that she was calling off the wedding because she had met a pureblood who could ensure stability.

He'd spent most of the night firecalling Newt. He'd just needed the noise in the empty apartment. To hear his brother puttering around in his case. He could trust Newt not to say he had warned him. Newt hummed to him as he sobbed. He could be soft with Newt.

It had taken ten different spells to get rid of the red eyes and the dark circles. To bring down the swelling.

Aurors don't cry. He can't show emotion. He has to be a stable rock for the men and women who rely on him in the field to keep them alive.

He's not even sure if he wants to go to work. He might run into Leta or have to explain why he isn't running off to have his lunch with her.

He barely manages to block the Bombarda thrown at his back. The force making him stumble forward a step. He sends a disarming spell over his shoulder before turning to face his attacker.

It's Grindelwald.

"Hello Mr. Scamander, lovely day today," the madman says shooting another spell at him.

"Wouldn't really say that!" Theseus says as they exchange more and more spells. The walls of the alley are covered in soot and debris.

How has the ministry not been called yet?

"Oh that? I have some of my followers playing tag with them. I wanted us to be uninterrupted," Grindelwald says and Theseus slams down on his mental shields to keep him out.

"I don't know where the Obscurus is," Theseus says.

"Don't you? He's with your brother," Grindelwald says.

"And he's not allowed to tell anyone where he's gone. Even me," Theseus says.

"Poor Scamander. Are you missing your little brother?" Grindelwald teases and Theseus glares.

"You don't get to call him little. He's what...five inches taller than you?" Theseus exaggerates and spells start flying around them again. Theseus could try and apparate but that would be dangerous. He'd have to leave himself open to an attack why moving and he could get hit. Newt was always the faster at apparation. Even though Theseus is the one who taught him.

Don't get distracted! He snarls to himself as his wand is nearly knocked from his hand.

"Your reaction time is severely decreased. Have a bad night?" Grindelwald cackles. And Theseus manages to disarm him at the same time he himself is disarmed. Theseus wastes no time moving in close and sliding into hand to hand. Wandless magic isn't good in close quarters.

"You really want to face me in hand to hand? You do realize Durmstrang families teach that to toddlers," Grindelwald tosses his head back with a laugh.

"Don't have much choice in the matter," Theseus mutters and takes a punch to the stomach before he can even get his hands up into position.

"You do. Walk away Mr. Scamander. Turn around and quit being an Auror or stop chasing me or whatever your heart desires. I don't care. Or you could join me," Grindelwald says and Theseus dodges a punch and aims a kick that is a little below the belt but Grindelwald catches it and uses his momentum to throw Theseus.

How the fuck is someone so small so fucking strong. Theseus tackles him and they roll around in the muck of the alley. Theseus grappling for some sort of advantage while Grindelwald systematically uses his body to pin Theseus in the places needed to hold him immobile.

Theseus waits for the killing blow. Of the flash of a smell, it the tip of a wand, if Grindelwald didn't hate muggle weapons he'd expect a knife.

His arms are pinned in one hand above his head. While his thighs are pinned beneath legs. Grindelwald still has one hand free and Theseus is trapped.

"Such a shame you really are quite pretty," Grindelwald says a finger tracing a barely noticeable scar Theseus has on his cheek. No one, not even Leta has ever noticed it before. Aside from Newt but then Newt is the exception to most things Theseus says about people.

The hand curls around his throat and Theseus goes still eyes wide a soft noise leaving his lips.

"Hmmmm? What's this? The great Theseus Scamander, pinned in a dirty alley at the mercy of one of the most dangerous men in the wizarding world and he mewls at a simple touch?" Grindelwald says and Theseus struggles a bit.

He has to get free. Has to get to the office and erase this memory forever.

"Ah yes...the old heir a spare disease. You had to be the golden child growing up didn't you. Had to be the well behaved. Good mannered. Polite thing. Emotionless. With asperations for a respectable career. A father who cares more for your accomplishments as opposed to being you. Forced to be the perfect son. Perfect student. Perfect Auror. Perfect wizard. Forced to be hard," Grindelwald says hand sliding under Theseus waist cost and shirt to caress his stomach muscles.

"Forced to be hard when all you wanted to be was soft," Grindelwald says and his fingers brush his side and Theseus mewls in distress and squirms.

"Oh Kitten, we are going to have so much fun together," Grindelwald says and everything goes dark.