Theseus’ Birdy

Of course she knew when her birthday was, she wasn't that empty in the head regarding her own identity. What she didn't know was that today was the 18th of May and not whatever other date. She never actively looked at dates at all.

"Birdy." A muffled voice sounded from behind the door, "Birrrdyy." The voice continued to call before a long trail of silence filled the space, followed by the squeaking of the door opening, which didn't catch her attention. What she caught though was the door closing.

"What are you doing here Newt? You should be asleep. Should be around 2 AM by now." She placed her paintbrush down, swiping a cloth under it to make sure any ink didn't leak onto the masterpiece she was creating.

"Somnus, I hate to inform you but it's about to be 7 AM in the morning." Newt tilted his head to the side in his awkward fashion and then gave her a lopsided grin— suited him greatly.

"You haven't slept have you?" He took a step closer, bending down slightly— worriedly— and assessing her state.

"I am alright, Newt. I took a small nap here and there." She chuckled at his fussiness, "What do you need?"

He nodded along, still concerned about her sleeping pattern, but he hoped a routinely man like Theseus could whip it back into something much more suitable. For the sake of their minds.

"I have something to show you actually, I think you might want to see it." Newt held out his hand in invitation so that she could grasp on it. He may have an aversion to physical contact, but Somnus was someone he trusted greatly and knew well since his first year at Hogwarts. They were essentially ride-or-die individuals with the same interest in magizoology.

She placed her small hands into his larger, calloused— shaped from years of dealing with his beasts— gentler ones. A smile graced his freckled face, further adorned by the sun that shone its way through her curtains.

"You'll love this." He whispers, excitement laced in his words as he eagerly led her down the stairs of his British townhouse.

Meanwhile, Theseus had been waiting in Newt's basement, the creatures (the mooncalves) cooing in awe at the new presence. Their large full moon-shaped eyes creeped Theseus out a bit. He never really stepped into the world his brother had fought so hard to discover and save. To be frank, he was glad he could experience it now rather than later, but who better than with Somnus? It was her birthday after all, and he was aware that she had absolutely no clue the day was today!

The two brothers had clashed heads, in a good way, a week in advance on what to do for her. She wasn't an extravagant person— sometimes, nor was she someone who liked too much attention on her without feeling guilty of her own existence, and she certainly never mentioned what she wanted for her birthday. The boys knew she loved food though.

With Newt's expertise in environment design evident in his basement and suitcase habitats for his creatures, he created a perfect scene of a calm night in the forests with waterlogged grounds, and a smidge of ruins on either side of the pathway they will be walking on to their picnic destination. Theseus was in charge of setting the actual picnic up, going out of his way to source the best wines and food from around the shops,while also picking up some gifts she'll appreciate.

"So what's this about?" Somnus laughed softly as Newt practically dragged her down his basement, letting her stop to pet the augureys and baby nifflers on the way, "you usually aren't this eager, did a graphorn give birth?"

"No." His answer was short and sweet, "B- but it would have been great too."

"Then what?" She pulled down her black silk blindfold. With the wave of her hand it cascaded down her arms and into a cloak-like accessory straight out of elvish fashion, covering her shoulders like a waterfall.

"I can explain." A deep voice, bordering on smug, rang out from the man hidden in a shadowy corner. Theseus was dressed in something more casual, a white buttoned up, and a black waistcoat with a jacket draped neatly over his right arm. There was a usual stubborn group of hair that curled in just the right way that made him adoring to look at.

Her eyes sparkled, their deep caramels twinkled under the light of a lantern hung not too far away, to make sure that she was as comfortable as she could be, as harsh lighting would irritate her eyes too much. They wanted this to be comfortable for her— the best!

"Oooh look who's here, Mr Head Auror Theseus Scamander. What brings you to our…humble abode?" She let go of Newt's hand and took elegant strides to stand before the older Scamander.

"You, actually." Like the cocky bastard he could be sometimes, he had the audacity to smirk and then laugh at her confusion, his ocean blues holding a sea of mischief in them.

"Here to arrest me or something?" She hummed, wondering what his presence meant. The new 'enclosure' behind Theseus dawned on her though, and Newt only gave her a suspiciously knowing shrug when she looked back at him in question.

"Oh trust me darling, you in handcuffs would be a sight." He teased before taking her hands and guiding her to walk beside him, helping her step onto the right pathway that will lead to their picnic spot: a place on the hillside with small patches of wildflower where the grasps of the enchanting forests end to uncover the vast expanse of the lake below that reflected the bewitching night sky.

Newt walked after the two of them, carrying Pickett on his shoulders. He let the two have their small piece, enjoying the harmony in the air.

"Today is special," Theseus started, before clearing his throat, "a burning ember that glows so bright in the darkest of voids was born today."

His words earned him a long stare from the woman next to him, temporarily distracting her gaze from their surroundings of a waterlogged forest.

"What are you on about?"

A chuckle erupted from his chest at her oblivious nature, "You silly girl…" He trailed off as he pushed some stray bushes aside to make way for her to step into their picnic spot. Since she hasn't slept, as expected, they decided to prepare meals made for dinners over breakfast meals, despite the protest of their stomachs.

"It's your birthday!" The Scamanders spoke in unison, waiting for her reaction.

"It is?" She looked quite shocked before launching into a series of expressions from amusement, guilt, and then gratefulness.

"Wow, you have outdone yourselves, boys." Somnus smiled, her canines glinting under the moonlight. Genuine happiness was hard to come by for this lady, but the boys certainly knew how to bring it. It was like the old days! Everything was simple. Food, good times, and just the three of them sitting at the Scamander's house during long breaks, viewing hippogriffs that Mrs. Scamander bred and took care of. "Thank you so much, Newt. And thank you to you as well Theseus. I am sooo lucky to have you both in my life." She thanked him, going up to hug them tightly— something Theseus was very ecstatic about.

"Happy birthday, Somnus." Newt ushered her to sit down so they could dig in, pouring wine for everyone since it was technically night time in this space that he connected to. Theseus also offered his wishes to her, bringing her body closer to his after wrapping his jacket around her so she doesn't get too cold from the occasional breeze.

It was just comfortable banter, exchanges of their life stories so far, and just being themselves. Somnus desired normalcy, to put behind a past she never had control of, and the sickness that threatened to consume without notice if she let her guard down, but perhaps she'll rest for the day and let her most trusted people ward off nightmare's inky grasps. After a good 3 hours of quiet, humble birthday celebration, Somnus had her rosy cheeks pressed against Theseus' shoulder, her body relaxed as she finally let sleep hold her in its arms.

It didn't take Newt long to conjure up a comfortable space to lay down on after tidying the space a bit. Theseus just held her in his arms as she slept soundly, her breathing even and her limbs lay dormant without any worrying twitches. Newt would expect her to thrash in her sleep, but he let out a sigh of relief that she seemed to be at peace.

Theseus placed her down on the comfortable bedding, making sure her clothes didn't choke her and that she had enough movement to move around in her slumber.

"So how's your relationship with her?" Newt grinned cheekily at his older brother, causing him to shake his head with a lick to his pink lips.

"You can guess, Newt." Theseus ruffled his younger brother's hair. Of course it was going well, they weren't at the stage of being official yet but there was a level of serious commitment going on between them, and he was glad at the speed this was going in. He was a man that wanted to savour, to carefully trace his fingers down every crack or mark without making her flinch in fear of harm.

Time worked a bit differently here- or it moved the same but magic was just slightly weird- he was starting to feel sleepy.

"A nap?" The auror suggested, to which Newt shook his head. "I'll sit around, clean up a bit and if I find myself yawning more than three times I will take a nap in my trusty hammock." He clarified to Theseus, obviously wanting to give them their alone time.

"Fine, I'll stay next to her." Theseus nearly burst out laughing at Newt's raised eyebrow and sceptical look.

"I promise!" He raised his hands as if he was surrendering.

"Happy birthday, sleep well for now. You have a day ahead of you, birdy." Newt leaned down to whisper his temporary farewell to his dearest friend, before quietly leaving the conjured tent.

"I suppose I should count this as a break from my job…" Theseus yawns, stretching his limb before plopping down beside her, "Happy birthday, little bird." He leans over to press a long and tender kiss to her forehead, earning a small sound of protest from her. Goodness was so happy he met her, she was a kind soul with a complicated life. He hoped that this day would create a haven for her that would last beyond just a single day, he— them both— wanted her to know that she could lean on them for support whenever.

"Sweet dreams." He draped a blanket over her, before dozing off as well.

It was a slow start to their 'day', despite it being night time in this part of Newt's enchanted basement. Theseus hoped that she'd appreciate whatever he planned for her next after she rested enough for the afternoon.

Has it been years? Perhaps, perchance, maybe— who knows? Well, Theseus certainly knew, it’s been nearly 10 years since Newt brought this temperamental, yet sweet, girl home and introduced her to the family. He was glad to have a little sister to dote on then, but now that he’s got all his compasses facing the same way and not north pointing south– his life being in more order, he finds himself fancying this girl he knew for the past decade and more.

“Hello, Somnus.” He greeted her. Autumn was, and always will be, beautiful, and here she was to grace him with her elegance in this delightful time. “Newt should be here later.” He spoke softly, letting her into his flat in a quiet neighbourhood. The older male hasn’t seen her in a while, only ever writing to her in the form of letters sparingly. 

“Hi Theseus.” Somnus nodded in his direction, a small smile tugging at the corner of her plump lips. She had neglected to put on any makeup today, deeming it necessary and that she knew the boys well enough to not put on too much effort to be dolled up. She was comfortable. Somnus noted the fragrance he used on himself when he brushed past him, he smelled rather good— a mix of velvety wood with a smidge of warm vanilla, sprinkled with pepper that spiced the mood up just in time for Autumn.

”What are you cooking up, old man?” Her tease rang from down the hallway, snapping Theseus out of his daze on his mini-analysis on what perfume she was wearing today. Bold flowers and white tea extract, he deducted. Perfectly befitting of her.

“I’m not that old, Somnus.” He huffs at her, feigning mock offence. It was true, their age gap was nothing but unconventionally large, but that didn’t stop Theseus from being a total sucker for her attention. ‘She better have no one.’ He thought to himself. This poor soul had spent weeks planning on the best way to approach her without scaring her off— he witnessed her chase off a man in the Three Broomsticks before, no way was he going to have the same fate. “I hope you like pumpkin cream soup and some good yorkshire pudding. Surprise Surprise I can cook.” He chuckled, leading her over to the living room with a hand on her shoulder. 

His strides were confident, he was already basking in the attention he received from her. “So, what have you been up to lately?” He struck up another conversation with her, curiosity beaming in his eyes.

Somnus hummed for a moment, deep in thought to realign her sense of time and achievement. “Not much actually” She pauses, “—Oh, actually I tried to find out what I did best other than magizoology. I find that I rather enjoy art and making tea for people in the morning.”

“As long as they don’t make small talk to me.” She grinned. A woman of few words towards strangers, but getting to know her was like opening Pandora's box if the box wasn’t horrifying- she was rather nice. Nice wasn’t what he would use, she was a plethora of other things actually but right now Theseus’ brain couldn’t come up with anything.

Dinner passed by in a blur, Newt arrived rather later but was cordial with Theseus as usual— his brother being the same as always— however it was still pleasant to spend time with his younger kin, and Somnus. He’d been giving her looks the entire night, over some good glass of alcohol that made doing all that easier, but all he received back was just the tilt of her head, like an owl, and a small smile that made him want to throw his body back against the chair and groan.

Newt had gone to bed early, or more like gone to take care of his creatures to leave the two alone. It was something Theseus was rather grateful for as his attempts on trying to hint things at Somnus was going down the drain, and Newt being observant as he is would have noticed and made snide comments towards him as a tease.

“You wrote to me about roses and how romantic it would be if a man gave you a black one.” He started. Yes, they had spoken about relationships briefly over the letters and she had basically given all the secrets on how she wanted to be wooed by a man, if there ever was a man worthy enough to woo her!

He walked up, wobbling over slightly, causing a glorious sound to tumble from her mouth, and Theseus nearly face plants into a wall. Oh how her laughter made his heart dance in joy. He made her laugh!

He returns with a small bouquet of black roses in hand. He has a grin on his face when he gives it to her.

“Oh! Thank you Theseus.” Her arms clutch the roses close to her chest and she gives him a smile back in return, conjuring up a vase to place them in so they can stay fresh.

“Yeah- I remembered that you liked black roses so, you know what this means ri-“ And before he could finish his sentence, she had already cut in.

“That you are a good listener and want to make your dear companion happy?” She chuckled. Theseus snapped to face her direction with a confused look, ‘No, it means I am romantically interested in you…’ He thinks to himself but doesn’t blurt it out- okay maybe roses would be too vague as he had already given her flowers before when she expressed that she liked them when they were both younger.

“Yes! I remember you like flowers, and uh- since other guys never give you the flowers you want, why not be a good friend and give you some flowers to make you happy?” Theseus laughs sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘Or maybe she was oblivious to the fact that he is giving flowers in the context of being a suitor and not this great gentlemanly friend’ He internally sighs.

It carries on, he tries to give her hints, to make her respond back to him in the way he’s been! He gave her roses, asked her out to dinner after he is free from work— he thinks he is getting somewhere but he was smacked in the face with, “Thank you, you’re the best buddy I ever had the chance of meeting!” She would bounce in joy when he offered to buy her some snacks from Hogsmeade.

Was she obviously and utterly denser than a brick, or was she trying to brush him off?! Was he not clear enough? No male friend would ever take his female friend on a ‘date’…Perhaps he didn’t specify it was a date. 

So he asks Newt for help. 

“Newt this has gone on for too long, and I don’t know how to bring it up but…” He starts but trails off. 

“That she is rather dense?” His younger brother seemed to bite back a grin at his big brother’s helplessness. The big brother that has no problem in making women swoon over him with his charming smile and his flowers by your doorstep attitude, and the one who had no problem getting flirts back from said-dates.

“Yes. I have given her flowers—roses, Newt, roses!” He exclaims, “Took her out to dinner, expressed that she was quite beautiful and how impossible it was that she wasn’t taken.” He buries the lower half of his face into the palm of his hands, calloused by years of handling his trusty wand.

Newt simply chuckles, “Theseus, she thinks you’re just a really good friend.” He shook his head, “You just need to tell her you’re trying to get her to notice you.” He spoke with a shrug.

“What if she doesn’t see me as more than a friend?” The older male frowned slightly, “I mean I have known her for years- well, since you introduced me and okay she might still see me as a brotherly figure but-“ He groans, internally in shambles. 

He didn’t mean to be creepy like that! He hopes. It was just that he was happy to have a little sister figure, and Newt seemed pretty happy she was around so that was that, though as time passed and they both reconnected on a much more mature level, he found his heart beating slightly quicker at the thought of her. What in the friends to lovers situation was he even in?!

“The- Theseus, no seriously, Theseus.” Newt attempts to calm his brother down, never in his life as he sees his uptight and confident brother in shambles over a girl. “Look, I know her. She’s not the type to know when guys beat around the bush and you’re awfully vague right now to her compared to other girls you’ve tried to date before.” Newt lifted up his eyebrow.

“So you want me to say ‘Hey Somnus I want to date you’ and that’s that? Wouldn’t that be too straightforward and just cause her to throw me out a window?” Theseus stared at Newt with a worried expression.

”I didn't mean to outright say it but perhaps you are holding back?” Newt squinted, leaning away slightly.

Theseus was silent in thought for a moment, perhaps he was holding back on going full out flirt on her, because he was scared she would run away. Though any normal girl would have picked up the hint by now? Fancy dinners, walks in the forest, roses, even art supplies! 

The woman is denser than a brick!

”Perhaps I need to adapt.” Theseus grumbles, but he thought he already adapted! He got her art supplies like she dreamed of getting but felt like it wasn't necessary, then books, inks, quills! Maybe she just needed the straightforwardness that Newt mentioned, that a clear relationship needs to be established along with his intentions?

To be clear, she also got him stuff back in gratitude for him getting her gifts.

’Thank you for the perfume, Theseus. You’re spending money irresponsibly. Now here’s a cologne that I think would fit you, good day.’ She would write to him along with a bottle of fragrance more expensive than he gave her! And he wonders why his brain got the wrong idea that she was ‘making moves’ back. Looking back, she didn’t have any weird writing like he did.

’I thought of you when I saw this, and then remembered you wanted these new oil paints. Oh! I am always reminded of you when I walk past the art store back to my flat, so I figured I would visit today and get something for you.’ He wrote to her once with a package of paints and other bits and bobs- oh, chocolate! Now he realises that she just thinks he wanted to give her something because he is such a good friend.

Goodness me, she really was oblivious.

“Okay Theseus, I also need to tell you that maybeshedoesn’tknowyou’retryingtomakemovesonherisbecausesheisquiteinsecureandwouldneverthinkyouwouldeverbetryingtomakemoves.” Newt blurted out in rapid succession, not wanting to be a bad friend and expose Somnus’ secrets of being rather insecure.

He stared blankly at Newt with a deadpan expression, “So you’re telling me she thinks I would never flirt with her because why would I ever do that to her, because she thinks she isn’t good enough?” He blinked slowly, flabbergasted that she could ever think that way.

“And why is she able to pick up on advances from other men and not mine?” He frowns yet again, not understanding her logic.

”Well that’s because it’s other men, not the man she has known for a decade and more so she brushes it off as an unusual increase in friendliness.” The freckled boy coughed to clear his throat, “She told me that.” He spoke rather quickly.

Ah, now he sees.

”Thank you, Newt.” Theseus stood up slowly, bidding farewell to his brother before leaving and coming up with a next new plan.

“Uhm- uh- sh-she…she says she likes it when you come around by the way!” Newt yelled after him, and that caused the man’s heart to soar. Okay, at least she liked whatever he was doing and wasn’t bothered by his presence.

A week passed, and another flew by in the blink of an eye. 

‘Hello, little bird, would you like to go out with me to dinner? No need to be too fancy, we’re having a picnic under the stars— but I'm sure you’ll shine just as bright. Don’t worry about the food, I got it covered, but if you want to bring some wine to share then that will be lovely.

From, your one and only Theseus.’

Commence the nicknames and whatever gentle sweet talking skills he had in his bones that hopefully would set the mood. He’s been far too vague, too polite before. Now he was going to try to be a bit more forward and clear that this was him trying to sweet talk her, and only her, and that this personality was not him being nice and gentlemanly like he is to everyone he had the unfortunate chance to interact with. No, he had to show her that this was him being lovely towards her!

Somnus thought he was weird of course, one day he gives her roses, a week after he gives her paint, another week he gives her perfume. So of course she wants to return the favour and be kind!

Now this month he asks her out to have dinner and speaks rather sweetly. She may have blushed upon reading the letter but brushes it off as something he does. Theseus was naturally charming, no way was he trying to make any sort of moves on her right? Right?

Back at the picnic space, he had been pacing back and forth for about 3 minutes straight, trying to think about what to say to her when she arrived. ‘Your one and only Theseus’, that was the dumbest thing he wrote— YOURS! He rubbed his temple and then shook his head before it snapped to the direction of grass crunching beneath the light footsteps of someone.

His eyes lit up, and if he had a damn tail it would be wagging like a dog. He was so at the point of grovelling at her feet and begging her to see that he was flirting with her! He is only this pathetic because he yearns to feel her affection in the forms of romance. 

“Theseus?” A voice so soft, like snow beneath his leather shoes.

”Yes, birdy?” He responds back with his voice deep and velvety smooth— what is wrong with him?

She seemed to be side eyeing him slightly, her face looking downwards with just her light-brown eyes looking up at him through her thick eyelashes. 

Somnus remained silent for a moment before speaking, “You’ve been…weird for a while uhm.” She trails off.

”Go on, dear.” He might smack himself for that, what’s with all the cutesy nicknames? Though he hid the thought behind a carefully trained expression of neutrality.

He witnessed the gears turn in her head as she continued to stare at him with a look he couldn’t quite place his finger on. “Are you trying to flirt with me?”

There it was!

”Yes.” He spoke finally, a large breath being released.

”Actually? Like you aren’t just using me to practise on so you can use it on other girls?”

”No!” He stepped closer, holding her shoulders in desperation for her to not get the wrong idea, “Somnus I am about to go on my knees and beg you with bated breath that you see me as more than a friend and something more. Even if you reject me in the end.” 

“So you aren’t playing.” She replies rather cautiously— goodness me who hurt this girl?

“I would never play with you, I’m not a player.” He shook his head. Well he was charming and had a few women that were interested in him over the years but he brushed them off in favour of committing to pursuing her and observing her subtly.

”You have so many women tho-“ She was cut off by his stare, he didn’t mean to do it but it was drilled into his bones at this point that he would subtly silence others in the ministry with just his stare alone.

”Sorry, but no. You are the one I pay attention to. The only one.” At this point Theseus had run his hand down from her shoulders to gently grasp at her hand, wanting to reassure her that he was rather serious in whatever he was trying to achieve with her.

”Why didn’t you tell me?” She says with a small pout, as if in disbelief he let this cluelessness of her run for so long, “All those gifts and letters, those dinners…They were all to try to get a message across?” Her voice seemed to raise at the end.

”Yes…” The more it went on, the more he actually didn’t mind her obliviousness as he found it endearing, but it certainly would help if she caught on earlier, “Well, I thought you’d catch on?” He cringed slightly at himself.

”Obviously I didn’t. I thought you just had money to spend, and thought I was lonely because I barely leave the house and have no friends other than Newt.” She went on.

”Oh, I was just trying to be polite and non-threatening because you literally hissed at a wizard for approaching you and I admit that kind of scared me a bit.” His voice rang out in the vast forest space, a smile adorning his freckled face.

”You have special treatment, you know you’re more than annoying sometimes right?” She snorted and then playfully elbowed him. “I literally did not catch onto your tones.” Somnus lets out a grumble.

“Anyways, shall we?” He figures she let him intertwine their fingers together as he had been idly rubbing circles on the back of her hand for a while now they went back and forth. Luckily, she does let him, and he leads her to have a seat on the cliche picnic blanket he found at the back of his wooden cabinet under the stairs. Theseus carefully tucks a strand of her hair behind her ears, admiring the blush that blossomed on her face.