AN: A little late since I'm trying to update around the 20-25th of every month. Also a second chapter! I forgot to ever mention that this actually takes place post-movie. So the part where Graves found himself free was sometime after the movie. Just know that some time has passed. This was also supposed to include a 4 or 5 +1 thing about Newt but this can stand alone without it and so far I only have one scenario written down anyway, what does scenarios are about? Here's a hint: It has something to do with what Graves and Newt talk about. I think it will be obvious.

AN: I have another Fantastic Beasts fic in the works but it'll take a while to be posted. Just know it's a mostly canon compliant AU, so Graves missing, Grindelwald playing with MACUSA and their Aurors will happen. Credence would mostly likely still be alive though just really, really lost after the events of the movie. Though I admit he might only have a minor cameo because I'm really torn on something that has to do with the story's premise. I'm trying to make that into just one long one-shot.

AN: I've also updated 'A Reprieve of Sorts'.

AN: Also no update 'It's a Relative Thing' just yet. I need to finish Chapter 7 before I can get started on Chapter 6, so it might take a while. IaRT's plot is less concrete than 'A Reprieve of Sorts.' But I think it ARoS is easier to write because the plot is definitely less confusing, as a result easier to write even with the more detailed notes I have for IaRT.

AN: And lastly, I honestly don't know when I'll be able to update again. I recently got a job so I'll be a busy bee and will mostly likely be too drained to write anything on most days. As it is since the past few days were so hectic I'm not able to properly go through everything. So any mistakes are mine and feel free to tell me any of the errors, like me not spotting an incomplete sentence/thought.

But that doesn't mean I'll stop writing. I might just update everything every other month? We'll all see. So, I hope you all enjoy reading!

It took a while for Graves to officially meet Newt Scamander.

He caught glimpses of the elusive and reclusive Scamander now and then when the man visits either Goldstein sister at Woolworth, not to mention Theseus had popped by the hospital to nag, whine and sob at him in equal measure after he was found.

Spotting Newton Scamander was something like chasing a figment of his imagination. Always catching flashes of blue from the corner of his eyes, but whenever he turned to look more directly, he was gone.

Eventually serendipity happened.

To be a little more precise, they met around lunch time during the middle of a rather slow week, just shy of seven months after he was found to have seemingly clawed his way from somewhere along the Delaware riverbank.

He was about to head out for lunch when they met.

"Mister Scamander," Graves greeted the Magizoologist when they accidentally ran into each other. Quite literally. Graves was able to balance himself and keep upright, Scamander was not lucky and fell. In fact, he scrambled after his case when he dropped it all but crawling after it. It was a short whirlwind of flailing limbs.

"Director Graves," Scamander weakly replied from where he was tightly hugging his case, "Sorry about that. Didn't, ah. Didn't see you there."

"It's fine Mister Scamander," He says, offering a hand to the frazzled man, "It is my fault as well."

The younger wizard took the proffered hand, one arm still curled protectively around his case, eyes averted.

"Here to visit Auror Goldstein?" Graves asked, moving closer to the wall so that he wasn't blocking the way, it was a common enough courtesy in MACUSA. Gently pulling the frazzled wizard by his elbow when he made no move to get out of the way (there were always someone rushing to somewhere).

"Ah well. No. I mean, yes." Scamander was shiftily looking left and right, "I just saw her. I was on my way out. Might've gotten lost." He finishes, laughing weakly.

"Ah, I was on my way out as well. I would be delighted if you could accompany me to lunch?" Scamander was frantically nodding as his eyes roved around the hall before he finished speaking. Graves nodded, though he knew the other's attention was elsewhere.

There were many entrances and exits in their headquarters (many that only he knew as Head of Magical security. And thankfully, it was one of the secrets that Grindelwald was unable to pry from his mind. Not that the man tried to pry too deep. The bastard was too content and having a lot of fun subtly affecting the careers and lives of Graves' Aurors) he could choose from but given that his companion wasn't really an employee or a regular fixture around the office (though there were some whispers that Picquery was being courted to give the British Wizard a job offer of some sort. Personally, he thinks that would not be possible at all. There were a number of reasons supporting Graves' claim, the biggest one being Theseus).

Their trek outside was a silent one. Not necessarily awkward, it perhaps had something to do with the underlying hint of something frantic coming off in waves from the younger Scamander brother.

"Lose someone?" He casually asked. He got nervous laughter and more shifty looks in reply.

"Uh, maybe?" Scamander was biting at his nails. Graves sighed, disapproving of the action, Theseus had warned him of his brother's bad habit. It had also led to an unfortunate situation wherein his best friend more or less blackmailed Graves into checking in on his younger brother whenever he's marginally near, to help soothe Theseus' worries (he's sure that the worrywart had stocked one of his cupboards with some of that bitter salve his family used to get Newton to stop the habit).

"I'm sure whoever it is will turn up eventually Mister Scamander." He says diplomatically, then side-eyeing the younger Scamander, "I would be infinitely thankful if your, ah, friend won't cause another incident. So grateful that I would be more than willing to overlook things."

"I—" Scamander tried to speak, floundering because a small grateful smile kept stealing over and over on his face. He just nodded in the end but the thanks was still plain to see in his eyes, "Thank you. Please. Call me Newt."

"Newt, then," Graves replies, sampling the name on his tongue, "please, call me Percival or Percy if you wish." It was a nickname the older Scamander started anyway. Though to also give Theseus it was also one of the nicer and less embarrassing ones that Theseus came up with.

"Percival," Newt said through a grin.

Their walk was more comfortable after that.

Graves took them to a No-Maj establishment, not wanting to run into anyone unpleasant just yet. And it was only a small matter to erect low-grade privacy wards after ordering and being served their meal so that they may speak freely.

Conversation started as out stilted, awkward because of the Grindelwald shaped specter hanging over them. But once they got on a more neutral topic, Theseus and his antics mostly, it became easier.

It was after Newt recounted Theseus' latest attempt to get out of their father's matchmaking attempt when Graves decided that it was best to talk about their mutual, ah, acquaintance.

"So…" Graves began while Newt was occupied with the pasta he ordered. "I believe we share a common acquaintance."

"Mrmphf?" Newt said through his pasta, Graves gave him a displeased and disappointed look that cowed the Magizoologist a bit (making sure that Newt doesn't end up dying while eating was part of the duties Theseus gave him after he came back and it was obvious that Newt would keep popping in New York) that he swallowed his mouthful before trying again, "I mean, uh. Acquaintance? Tina's my friend. Queenie too. And, ah, there were the other's who were extremely apologetic after Grindelwald's exposure. But I, uh, don't think you can hardly call your colleagues as acquaintances," He finished laughing then blinked asking nervously, "Uh, can you?"

"Hardly," Graves replied, absentmindedly shooing a persistent mosquito. He put down his utensils and leaned on his interlocked fingers, "I know all of my men. Their habits and vices, it made being replaced unnoticed sting," he shrugged off Newt's sympathetic look, "It's fine. It gives me reason to run them to the grounds with practice and drills."

Newt looked concerned, with a small amount of horror mixed in. He was probably worried for Goldstein. Graves waved of Newt's worry again. "Don't worry, it's a good thing. Grindelwald ruined their training regimes, they have a lot of catching up to do. Auror Goldstein, in particular, looks ecstatic whenever I run drills. Especially when she ends up taking down her duel partner." Which was frequent, she had a lot of... energy to burn out.

"Ah…" was all Newt could say about that, "Then if you do not mind, Percival. I'm lost. Who is this common acquaintance that you speak of? It can't be Professor Dumbledore, can it?"

"Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore, you mean?" Graves asked, fiddling with his fork, "No, I'm afraid not. I never met the man, though I've read some of the papers he has published." He finished, dropping the for in favor of taking a sip of his ordered drink.

"Ah, yes," Newt smiled, "I've read them too, very well-thought." Then his brows furrowed, "If not the Professor, who is our mutual acquaintance?"

"Well… giving a name is nigh-impossible and though, I suspect that perhaps you know. Meeting him was such an unsettling and unbelievable experience. It happened in such a… stressful time for me, so I can't really go about explaining it clearly…" Graves sighed, pursing his lips for a moment and ignoring the wide-eyed curious look Newt sent over his glass.

"The best that I can do is this," Graves straightened up and looked even more severe than he usually did ever since coming back, "Our mutual acquaintance wanted me to, ah, send his regards, I suppose. To tell you that it has been a while since the two of you have been in each other's company, which is a good thing. And that he hopes it will be decades will pass before he gets see you again. Of course, that is nowhere near verbatim but it that is what he meant."

"I…" Newt's eyebrows rose and fell in intervals as he tried to puzzle out what Graves meant. Graves could see the moment Newt figured it out. The Magizoologist paled and let go of the fork he was holding, "O-oh my…! Do you mean—?"

Graves just nodded and took another sip of his drink. "Yes."

It was silent again, Graves continued eating and Newt joined him again soon enough, though he was more subdued and looked thoughtful. When both of their plates were cleared they stared at each other.

Newt was the one to break the silence, "I never thought I'd meet another person who essentially meet Death."

"Not yet." When Newt made a questioning noise, Graves elaborated, "I was curious and I asked." He shrugged. "He answered and said that he wasn't Death, not yet at least."

"Huh," Newt leaned back, "I see. It must've definitely been an experience."

"Indeed," Graves smiled blankly.

"Ah…" Newt deflated as something shifted in his eyes, "B-but... That would mean…" He trails off and Graves had to raise an eyebrow to get him to continue.

"That means when Grindelwald…"

"Hm-hmm." Graves says, dropping the enchantment long enough to signal a server for another glass of his drink and the check.

"You…"

"Go on," Graves nodded his thanks to the server and once again raised the privacy wards.

"You died…" Newt looked so sad by the revelation.

"I did." Graves allowed the somber silence to envelope them for a short while before snorting, catching Newt's attention.

"Then again, it is to my understanding that you have as well," Sending a dry look at Newt who looked like he was only realizing what it meant that they have met someone who's not yet Death, "And it's implied that you've met with him several times already."

"Aha. Ha-ha-ha…" Newt was embarrassed and slid down his seat so that his coat seemed to swallow him. "Well—ah…"

Lunch became a common affair between them after that. They talked about everything and nothing. Becoming an odd confidant for each other because of the odd experience they both went through at some point.

Some of Graves' colleagues and subordinates were left in wonder where their sudden friendship came from. Queenie Goldstein, in particular, scrutinized it doubly (Graves thanks his stars that he was more than adept at Occluding his mind that she can't pry anything from him without being accused of violating Graves' privacy. Plus Newt also being fairly good at it after he encountered that one Siren-like creature near Vietnam that liked to plant suggestion in its victim's mind though he does admit that he was completely unaware of Queenie Goldstein's gift when he first came and as such, his guard was relaxed. Newt says he trust Queenie but he still likes his privacy and has discussed it with her).

However, since they both really want to keep the 'having died came back to life bit' to themselves, they merely pointed to the experience that was Theseus Scamander and everyone who asked understood.

People looked like they wanted to smack themselves for not thinking of that immediately before moving on when they pointed it out.

And so, their friendship was largely uncontested.

(And while Newt became a more semi-permanent fixture in Woolworth because of their friendship, he never became an official consultant. He never stayed long enough for it and Picquery didn't make any moves or gave an indication that she was going to offer anything to Newt. Which was good because there was one time he brought it up with Newt and the Magizoologist laughed and sunk further into his coat.)

AN: Actually before I leave, I just want to say something about a review a received for IaRT, it was a very valid criticism, I suppose, but I've long since made peace that not everyone will like what I write and some may even 'vocalize' it. I get that IaRT may be too wordy and dry even, my own fault really but it was the way I felt the story should be written. That story's pace will be slow and seem like it's distracting and avoiding anything happening because—well, I did say I was trying a third-person limited POV that had slightly a stream of consciousness flow. I'm trying to make the drag be less apparent but honestly, that story has a different style/format and premise compared to others I've written, as a result, the style of it's written and told is affected. 'Til next time!