Chapter Text
Credence Barebone had the perfect life already at only twenty-five years old. He was a very successful real estate stager in NYC, financially independent and had a loving four-year relationship with his cardiologist boyfriend Gellert Grindelwald.
The only thing he was missing, or rather they were missing was a place to call their own, and not a rented apartment in Washington Heights that didn’t even had its own ensuite bathroom.
That was going to change soon though.
Gellert and Credence were applying for an apartment that had just come out on the market. Located on 84th street and with breathtaking views of Central Park it was the closest thing to heaven Credence could ever hope for.
“As you know, Salem House is not offering rates very often and we have enough candidates. Why should we pick you?” – asked the woman who was interviewing them, a shabby old lady with yellow fingernails and horned-rimmed glasses.
“Well, I have always lived in New York, although I come from a very humble family. The Upper West Side has always been a dream of mine. And now… luckily, I’m in a position where I can afford it, and with someone who wants to share my dream. Our dream.” – said Credence, his excitement showing through.
“Besides, the commute will be much shorter” – added Gellert, a devilish grin on his face that lasted barely a second as he was almost immediately back on his phone.
Credence let out a nervous laugh at his boyfriend’s remark.
“Indeed. I assure you, Ma’am, you’ll find we fit all of your requirements quite well.” – for they did. The building wanted rich young people to give the place a boost of life.
Minutes later the woman smiled all crooked teeth and thanked them for their visit.
“That went well” – Credence said, his confidence deflating now that he didn’t have to put on a mask.
Gellert lifted a finger indicating him to wait until he was finished typing away at his phone. His thumbs dancing across the screen so machine-like Credence wondered if he wasn’t dating a robot.
“It went marvelous. You really outdid yourself back there. Pre-war, three rooms, doorman, swimming pool and gym. Of course we’ll get it.” – and then he was back on his phone, this time sending a voice note and yelling at some poor bastard by the name of Abernathy.
Credence waited awkwardly for his boyfriend to finish while he took pictures of the building that, with buckets of luck, would become his new home.
“Sorry, angel face. Gotta run. Apparently the two other cardiologists are idiots and they need my opinion. Woman about to die and all that. Dinner at eight?” – he didn’t even wait for a reply before he was planting a quick peck on his cheek and hailing a cab.
“Uh, yeah. Sure”
Credence was used to Gellert’s busy schedule by now, dating a cardiologist wasn’t for the faint-hearted, pun intended.
On his way home he received a call from his dearest friend Tina.
“Hey, Credence! How did it go with the apartment?” – her voice cheery in his hear.
“Went fine, I guess. Gellert’s positive we’ll get it and he’s usually right so...”
“Yeah, so… “– echoed Tina. She didn’t like his boyfriend much, but then again it wasn’t like she actually had a say in whom he dated. “Wanna go out for lunch with me and Queenie? We’re on the 65th and 60 East at Daniel.”
“Sure, I’ll be there in twenty” – the line clicked off and Credence gave the driver the new address.
-
The restaurant was incredibly ostentatious, not Tina’s usual. Must’ve chosen Queenie then, thought Credence.
The sisters were already at their table browsing the menu, Tina a little cross-eyed while staring at the prices while Queenie chatted away on her own.
“Oh, Credence. It’s lovely to see you. Tina told me you went apartment-hunting today.” – said the girl as he took his seat.
“Yes. 84TH West. It’s beautiful.”
“Sounds fancy” – intervened Tina from behind her menu. She wasn’t one to splurge but here she was having a glass of wine that costed about seventy-five dollars.
“It is fancy, thank you very much.” – the apologetic smile on Tina’s face was enough to placate Credence’s small displeasure.
The waiter took their orders and they went back to talking, this time about Newt, Tina’s new romantic interest.
Through the course of their meal Queenie got a text from Jacob and nearly choked on a scallop to Tina’s both worry and amusement.
“You won’t believe what Jacob just sent me!” – she said after gulping down her glass of water.
“What?” – asked Tina and Credence in unison.
Queenie showed them the picture on her phone, face triumphant. “That, Mr. Barebone, is your man leaving Harry Winston with a little black bag in hand. And we all know what that means, don’t we?”
Credence’s pulse was up to a hundred beats per second, was this really happening? After four long years was Gellert finally going to propose?
“Actually we don’t, Queenie. That could mean just about anything” – countered Tina, fork raised in defense.
“Surely not anything, Tini”
Tina rolled her eyes at her sister and dug into her chicken once more.
“I’m getting engaged” – blurted out Credence when things calmed down, a faux look of surprise on his face, hand clutching his chest.
He was excited and joyful and scared shitless, but the three of them clinked their glasses in celebration all the same.
-
Gellert was late for dinner. Again.
It would’ve been embarrassing if he hadn’t expected it, but so many years of being with the man taught him well.
Twenty-five minutes later he saw the mop of white-blond hair, phone on his ear as he approached the table. At least he had the courtesy of ending the call just before sitting down.
“How was work, did you save the woman?” – Credence had already ordered for them; he knew Gellert’s preference well enough.
“Of course” – replied the man with a dismissive gesture of his hand, as if to think otherwise was absolutely preposterous. – “How was the rest of your day?”
“It was fine. Had lunch with Tina and Queenie, and went over some designs to stage an apartment down in Harlem.”
Credence started describing the different ideas he had to help the apartment sell faster, from furniture, to ornaments, to even feng shui.
Gellert seemed to have his mind elsewhere, nodding along to whatever Credence said and shushing him when he grew tired of it.
“I bought you a little something” – from an inner pocket on his suit he produced a little black box.
Credence was ecstatic. This was really happening. He was getting engaged, and to a cardiologist, no less.
With eager fingers he opened the box, his brows ready to lift in surprise, his mouth prepared to open in a perfect O.
“They’re cufflinks!” – his face was doing that uncomfortable thing where he couldn’t really stop smiling, his eyes fixed on the shiny little squares.
“Yes” – came Gellert’s non-committal response after a sip of martini.
“For my shirts”
“Yes”
“Uhm, thanks. They’re beautiful” – he should be more grateful because it was a very nice present, but the idea of getting engaged still weighed heavily on his mind.
“Not as beautiful as you, angel face. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay through dinner, the hospital got me an earlier flight, so I gotta run if I’m gonna make it to Dublin on time.”
This he expected, that was another reason why he didn’t wait for his boyfriend to arrive to order his meal, with Gellert it was impossible to be sure of anything.
“Okay”
“See you next week, angel face. Will call you as soon as I land.”
Credence smiled sadly at the receding figure, the vacant space already there before Gellert was gone.