Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked or any of the characters. Sigh.
"Fiyero!"
The Arjiki prince felt vaguely guilty about leaving Glinda to come up with an excuse for his sudden disappearance, but he knew he wouldn't be able to stand listening to those lies about Elphaba for much longer. Besides, he thought. It serves her right for throwing my own engagement party without even asking me.
"Oh. He's gone to fetch me a refreshment. He's so thoughtful that way."
Fiyero rolled his eyes. Yes, he had left a little suddenly, but surely she could make up something a little more plausible than that? But then, these people believed that Elphaba had three eyes, detachable skin and Oz knew what else. Fiyero had spent most of his life playing a brainless socialite, but he had never realised that people could be quite that dense.
"Idiots," he muttered.
"What?"
Fiyero jumped practically out of his skin. Elphaba had emerged from the crowd into the back corner he was hiding in and was standing in front of him, holding a broom and smirking. For several seconds he just stood there and gaped, his brain turned to Elphaba-obsessed mush, before he managed to speak.
"What in Oz's name are you doing here? Elphaba, if you get caught - "
"I won't." She grinned. "Besides, I could always shed my skin or something." Despite himself, Fiyero laughed. The grin faded from the green girl's face, and she frowned at him.
"Shouldn't you be celebrating your engagement, instead of hanging around talking to wanted criminals?"
Fiyero shrugged, not meeting Elphaba's gaze. No, because I'm getting engaged to a brainless socialite when what I want is to spend the rest of my life hanging around with a wanted criminal.
"No, because… I don't know." Excuse me, I have to go bash my head against that wall until my vocal cords decide to reconnect with my brain and I stop sounding like a blushing schoolboy.
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "I thought you loved Glinda?" she said, an odd look in her eyes that Fiyero couldn't read.
"I do, I just…" I love you, Elphaba. Say it, you brainless fool!
"Fiyero, are you blushing?" she said, sounding more curious than anything else.
Fiyero was about to reply when Glinda's strident soprano infiltrated the discussion.
"Happy is what happens when all your dreams come true…Well, isn't it?"
Her voice trailed off abruptly, and Fiyero looked round to see her gazing straight at Elphaba. He could have sworn he saw her lips form the words "it's okay" before she turned back to her adoring fans.
Elphaba took his hand, her dark eyes filled with … shyness, that was it. He'd never seen her shy of anyone before. Then he understood what Glinda had meant. It was okay for him and Elphaba to – No. You're being ridiculous. There's no way Elphaba wants to…oh.
Elphaba broke the kiss as abruptly as she had begun it.
"Come with me," she said softly. Fiyero just nodded, not trusting his vocal cords yet, and followed her away from Glinda's party.
Elphaba turned back once, briefly, for one last look at Glinda.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, hating that she was taking away Glinda's chance at happiness.
Fiyero never looked back at all.
