A/N: This happens to be my first fanfic going beyond the one-shot chapter stage! I am pretty proud of myself. Reviews would be lovely! Enjoy!
"Fiyero, I don't drink."
"Really? Not even a pint?"
The young Prince turned to look at her, the days hour had begun to die down. He wore an oversized lumberjack coat, with sheep wool and bear skins layered on the inside. The collar was pushed up, occasionally brushing his lips as he talked. He didn't seem to mind, long as it blocked out the cold.
"No. And that coat you're wearing, it better not be made from Animals."
"What, you want me to check the tag?"
"Foolish schoolboy..."
Elphaba, walked alongside him. More or less. After a long day of working with Dr. Dillamond in the lab, she had hoped to slip back into her dorm room. Although Fiyero, caught her walking and decided to catch up with her. He had hopes that she'd join him and the charmed circle at The Peach and Kidneys.
"Alright, I'll let that one go. But you really don't wanna come with us?"
"No, I'm tired and I would much rather not sit in a bar full with the smell of men's whiskey."
"Galinda will be there."
"I'm very aware of that, although it doesn't change my mind in the slightest."
She began to rear right, confident she'd be able to detach herself from the conversation once and for all. Though before she could slink into the shadows of the night, a hand reached out and grabbed her firmly by the elbow. The young woman's eyes grew wide and then narrowed into slits as she spun around and tried to yank free from their grasp.
"Fiyero, I'm tired. And I said no!"
"Elphaba... Please."
His eyes seemed to soften, along with his grip. He stared at the green girl before him, wrenching to get free, her arms like angular boat paddles. She had so much spirit, so much will to get away from him. It hurt, somewhat.
"Elphaba please, for me?"
She stopped to stare up at him, her gaze gone a little bit out of focus. Those eyes, they looked so sincere. She was almost thrown off, almost. But then she remembered: men and their stinky whiskey.
"No need to get so romantic about it, Prince Fiyero of the Vinkus. Let go of me, or I'll have to call the authorities!"
"They won't hear you from here."
He smiled goofily. She groaned.
"Idiot."
"Thank you. So will you come?"
"I have no choice, now do I."
"Well... Well no I don't want you to think like that... Surely you want to come? Just a little...?"
"No. I told you before."
"Oh. Well then I don't want to feel like I'm forcing you-"
"I don't drink-"
"You don't have to drink Elphaba! You can just sit there, with us. Have a good time."
She tried to search for a way to say no, yet even she knew she would just sound... Repetitive.
"Alright. But I won't drink, I won't drink."
"That's alright! Really, I don't want you to feel pressured or anything. It's just that, everyone else will be drinking... Except for you... You'll look a little silly and different-"
"Oh and I'm so worried of looking different, now aren't I?"
"Wait what- OH! Oh, oh I didn't mean-"
"Whatever. I think everyone there will already be too appalled by my skin color to be focused on the fact that I'm not clutching a bottle of rum-"
"They.. They don't serve rum-"
"Like I care!"
She threw her arms in defeat, shaking the slightest. Fiyero was unfazed by her behavior however. By now, he had gotten used to it. Somewhat.
"May I just, ask you something? Why don't you drink? Why are you so against drinking? Of all things."
She let out a deep sigh. Her boots clanked against the icy cobblestones, keeping up with Fiyero as they got closer and closer to the alehouse.
"My mother, used to drink a lot."
Silence stirred, it danced around them, thick with awkwardness, tickling their noses.
"And..?"
"And she died."
"Oh. Oh I'm sorry. Fr-from the drinks?"
"No. From childbirth. But that's not... Relative to what I'm saying."
"I'm sorry, continue."
"When I was an infant, I never once saw my mother sit still. She was always... Swaying. Like a dancer."
"Dancing is good-"
"Not when you're intoxicated it isn't! She raised me, full of wine and hard liquor. At the time, I didn't understand. But now, looking back I am just so sick of it... Do you understand?"
"I think so."
She scoffed.
"Yeah well, your head is so full of air and your brain is somewhere else, Princeboy."
"Look, I'm sorry about your mother. But so what? She drank, what's the big deal?"
"I just don't want to end up like her."
The same silence from before devoured them, whilst the new moon, shone on them lovingly. The mist of the evening sprayed on them, the cold kept pushing up against their bodies. Elphaba kept her eyes trained on the ground, her shoulders hunched forward and her hands buried deep into her coat pockets. The poorly knitted scarf wound around her head danced in the wind, threatening to fly away. After some time, Fiyero spoke up again.
"Hey, we're here."
"Fuck."
He decided to ignore that last comment and instead went to push open the heavy door. It's hinges were coated in a layer of ice, making it difficult.
"You drag me all the way here and you can't even push open the door-"
"Shut up will ya?"
Her face fell and her shoulders dropped. The words had shocked her.
"Alright. Fine."
"Look, I'm sorry, can you help me out?"
She grumbled some, but then submitted to the task. They grunted, their feet digging into the ground as they applied more force. With one last push and shove the door flew open and they tumbled inside. Their noses were filled with the smell of ale and burgers. The stench had taken them by surprise, that Elphaba had to cover her nose with a mitten.
"Oh! Look, there they are!"
A merry voice rang across the house. The two looked up to see a very happy-looking Galinda making her way towards them. She wore a cyan blue dress that stopped above her ankles, swishing deliciously with every stride. A small thin belt buckled around the waist, the straps to the dress were of absence.
"What took you two so long!"
She strode over, her curls jingling like bells. The blonde stopped to help take off their coats, eager to get them back to the table. Where the others sat, impatiently.
"It took longer than expected, that's all-"
"I didn't want to come."
"I had to persuade her."
"I don't drink."
"You don't have to, you're just here to have a good time, don't you ever want to have a good time?"
His voice threatened to rise more than it should've. The debate between them left Galinda to awkwardly stand there with their coats folded over her arm.
"Alright, well, how cold is it out there? You two must be freezing, I can feel it from your coats. Here, go into the back I'll hang them for you- everyone is waiting."
"Who bothered to show up?"
"Everyone. Except your sister, she said she had a meeting with the Unnamed God or some other-"
"Figures."
Elphaba pushed through the restaurant with Fiyero in tow. She wore a simple, black dress that stopped at her knees yet black tights that ran rest of the way. On her feet were old people boots, the metal on the bottom however clanked like new. Her arms were bare, giving a leafy glow to the otherwise dim lounge. Fiyero, wore a button down shirt with denim jeans, the color royal blue on royal blue. On his feet, business shoes.
"You look spiffy, if I do say so Prince Fiyero."
"Just, call me Fiyero?"
"Why, does Prince bother you?"
"A little, actually. It's complicated, just it would really help."
"Fine."
"And, you look nice too. Black seems to suite you."
She stopped trudging past tables to turn and look at him.
"You mean that."
"Yeah. It makes you look kinda pretty."
She chuckled.
"I don't know whether to say thank you or not to that shitty compliment."
She turned her head away though, as if to hide her look of embarrassment. He saw this.
"They're waiting."
"Right."
They trudged past the last of the restaurant and quickly came into view with a broad seating arrangement placed around one single large table, occupied with drinks, empty drinks, and fries. The rest of the charmed circle peered up from their beverages, looking rather annoyed. Placed in the center of the seating was Avaric, his arms wrapped around the chairs of Pfannee and Shenshen. Sipping his drink, coaxing a smile.
"It took you long enough."
"I apologize."
From the numerous chairs filled, there were only two left.
"Not to worry. It was the green bean keeping you?"
"It took some persuading, yes-"
"Hmph."
He took a sip from his drink. They watched him.
"Avaric, if there are only two chairs left, there won't be a spot for Galinda."
Elphaba pointed out. Avaric just chuckled, throatily.
"The policy states no reptiles of any kind to be allowed access-"
"Avaric, quit being a dick. Elphaba, don't worry about it, I'll pull over a chair."
Galinda had come up behind them, catching the snippet of conversation. She glared at Avaric then went to pull over a seat for herself. Everyone had settled, crowded around the table with their bodies nearly pushed up against one another.
"So far, I'm not having fun..."
Elphaba muttered, her eyes burning into Avaric's neck.