1. Just Two Friends
He was 22, she was 19.
"Elphie! So," Galinda grinned as she entangled herself with her boyfriend's strong, muscular arm, "This is Fiyero, my one and only!"
"So I've heard." Elphaba had a curious look on her face.
The boy was tall, definitely. He was almost a head taller than Elphaba, and truth be told, she wasn't exactly a petit specimen. Which meant that next to him, Galinda almost looked like a munchkinlander. He smiled charmingly, flashing his perfect set of pearly whites, as he leaned into a small bow, "Fiyero Tiggular, pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Elphaba."
"Um, yeah, sure," she furrowed her brows in frustration. Who does this guy think he's fooling? Everything about the boy who stood before her screamed pretence. From his perfectly groomed hair to his painfully tight riding pants… even his bright smile seemed rehearsed and prepared… everything about him was as if he's done this a million times.
"I'll go check with the restaurant about our reservations for tonight," Fiyero smiled down at Galinda as he gave her twirl. If her girlish giggle was anything to go by, Elphaba couldn't more sure that Galinda was absolutely enamoured. "I'll see you beautiful ladies tonight," he shot Elphaba a wink as he turned the corner and left.
When Galinda judged that her boyfriend was out of earshot, she squealed painfully as she threw herself at a startled Elphaba. "You see! I told you! He's soooo perfect!" She gasped, as if she's just discovered something, "We're perfect together!"
"You've only been together for a little more than a month…" Elphaba cocked a brow at her giddy blond friend, "For all you know he snores in his sleep and picks his nose… and eats it."
"Elphie!" Galinda inhaled sharply.
Elphaba couldn't help the amused half-smile from forming on her face, "I'm just saying," she shrugged lightly as she picked up her bag from the surface of her desk and slung it casually over her shoulders.
The two girls started the walk back to their dorm room. Galinda continued gushing over her ever princely boyfriend and Elphaba simply smiled and nodded. Internally, however, she couldn't help but feel a little ticked off at her bestfriend's boyfriend.
Elphaba had never gone out of her way to indulge in gossip and rumour, but every once in a while, when people thought that it would be a good idea to gossip in the quiet of the library, Elphaba would (unintentionally) pick up bits and pieces of anecdotes from the Prince's colourful reputation.
He was the very definition of a playboy and Elphaba didn't like that one bit. Galinda, for all her shallowness and self-indulgence, was a genuinely good person underneath. They may have had a rocky start, but the two girls had become very close. As sad as it may seem, Galinda was her only friend, but she didn't mind it at all.
For the next few weeks, Fiyero had gone out of his way to try to get to know his girlfriend's bestfriend…. Only, Elphaba had nothing to say to him. Every 'amusing' greeting he had for her in the morning would be met with a nonchalant and generic "… I have to go." After which it would be followed by a very frustrated Fiyero trying another cheap tactic to try to grab her attention.
It had gone up to the point where even Galinda had picked up on the hostility between the two most important people in her life.
"He's trying, Elphie," She started one morning, "Why won't you give him a chance?"
"He's a flirt and an air-headed slob," Elphaba replied matter-of-factly, "You deserve better."
"Elphieeee," Galinda groaned as she rolled over in bed, "Fiyero's a good person. When we're together, he's really sweet, and gentle… And he pays for every meal…"
Even when she was looking at her roommate upside down, she could make out the curious raised brow and perfectly straight face as Elphaba stared back at her. "Alright look," Galinda rolled over, her head slightly dizzy from the rush of blood to her head as she sat up too quickly, "Fiyero's a really sweet guy and I really like him. You're my bestfriend in the whole world and I want you to like him too."
Elphaba furrowed her brows, frowning slightly.
"Please?" Galinda pouted. "Just try?"
Her green friend sighed deeply, her slender shoulders slumping tiredly. "Alright, fine." Before Galinda could squeal however, she held up her finger, "On one condition."
"What is it?"
Elphaba folded her arms across her chest, "You have to promise not to force it."
"What do you mean 'force it'?" Galinda gasped indignantly, "Why would you ever think—"
"2 weeks ago when I was mad at Boq for that whole 'Nessa crying at the Suicide Canal' thing." Elphaba narrowed her eyes, "The two of us weren't talking and you locked us together in the janitor's closet for an hour."
"The silence was getting really annoying!" Galinda groaned.
"A month ago," Elphaba leaned against her writing desk, "When I was having an argument with Nessa over her choosing Boq over her studies." She placed a hand on her hips defiantly, "You staged an intervention in the cafeteria."
"Alright, I'm starting to see—"
"Yesterday, you bought an apology card from the store and signed Boq's name on it because you knew that I'm upset at him for the 'Nessa crying in the library' fiasco."
Galinda groaned and collapsed into her bed again, "Alright, alright!" She placed a perfectly manicured hand on her chest, "I solemnly swear that I, Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands, will not attempt another intervention."
Elphaba looked satisfied, albeit a little smug as she nodded and turned to pick up her bag. Galinda sat up from bed, surprised, "Where are you going?"
"Class. Madam Morrible's working me to death this week," Elphaba stuck out her tongue at the mention of their headmistress. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate what Morrible did for her. She just thought that the woman was a little… shady.
"Alright… Just remember what we talked about!"
Elphaba snorted, "Yeah, yeah. I'll try to be civil with your Vinkun Prince."
Fiyero was confused.
Something has happened that he did not anticipate. It has been an entire month since he started dating Galinda Upland. And in this month, he had actually found himself having fun. He found that he had actually enjoyed his time here in Shiz.
Sure, it was felt just like Quox or Emerald City U in the sense that everyone loved him the moment he stepped into the court. But Shiz was different mainly because of his unusual, rag tag group of friends. Galinda had been the 'Queen Bee' in Shiz, and that would effectively make him King. Because of their social stature, Fiyero had assumed that they would be hanging out with the very elite. The prettiest girls and the richest boys.
But instead, while they hung out with the typical Shenshen or Avaric types, Galinda had introduced Elphaba as her very bestfriend.
Elphaba didn't hang out with the cool kids. While she was born into nobility, her outwardly appearance and her studious nature made her the very definition of a nerd. She wasn't soft spoken, like what he'd assumed from a 'book type'. Instead, her assertive tone and sharp wit puts her in a strange social limbo.
Most people he'd met had described Elphaba as 'stuck up' or simply just green, and Fiyero had to agree. Not the green part, of course. He was Vinkun and had been subjected to racial slurs his entire life, even as Royalty, and he would never allow himself to discriminate someone simply because of their skin colour.
No, he merely thought that Elphaba was stuck up and full of herself. He tried, he really did. He tried smiling at her, he tried casual flirting, but nothing. She gave him nothing. Every smile and 'Good morning' was met with a cold stare. Every time he tried to talk to her during their shared lessons she would glare softly at him until he shut up.
Elphaba behaved as if he was the most annoying thing to crawl up into her personal space. Really all he intended to do was be her friend. He knew that she was more than the prickly ice queen that she was portraying herself to be. He had seen it with his own eyes.
There was once, when he waited for Galinda to finish up with her Sorcery classes, he had caught a glimpse of the two girls chattering excitedly as they attempted to transmute a piece of paper into an origami crane. He was standing by the window, casually blending into background of their lives.
Galinda was grinning excitedly, like the perky ball of light that she was. Next to her, Elphaba had her long, wavy mess of hair bunned up hastily. The blond was asking her friend about something, and at that point, Fiyero swore that he saw a tinge of purple on her cheeks. She was blushing, he realized, and in that moment, he wanted to know so badly what Galinda had asked her.
It was then that Madam Morrible stepped into the room from an adjacent room connected by a door hidden away from Fiyero's line of sight. The girls quickly hid away their playful banter and returned their attention to the pale faced, nightmare-inducing woman standing before them.
Elphaba was just like any girl. She laughed, she cried and she most definitely gets pissed. And yet, she wasn't like any other girl he's come across. She was incredibly snarky, highly intelligent and oh, so, very sensitive over very strange things.
Fiyero had found that out the hard way when he had discovered her little green bottle one day, hidden under her pillows. He had been walking around their room, waiting for Galinda to finish with her preparations in the bathroom.
Galinda had deemed that Fiyero sitting on her bed would be much too scadalacious and so he made himself comfortable on Elphaba's bed. The green girl had been occupied in the library, or so he had been told. Waiting for Galinda proved to be taxing on his patience so Fiyero found himself looking through Elphaba's bedside drawers.
There were some miscellaneous letters and writing paper, nothing that he cared too much about, in the top drawer. He pulled open the second one and found a small pile of notebooks that seemed to be notes for her sorcery class. The last drawer was locked and Fiyero found himself bored again. He picked up one of Elphaba's sorcery notebooks and wrote a little note for her, accompanied by a cartoon of himself flashing a peace sign. Fiyero chuckled at himself, believing for a moment that he was so very original.
Tired now from his sudden burst of creativity, Fiyero made the decision to lay down on Elphaba's bed. He found her pillows to be strangely lumpy… Admittedly, Fiyero had been spoiled as a child and his pillows had always been stuffed with the finest Alba-Sheep cotton. They were the fluffiest and softest pillows. So it made sense that when he felt the lump in her pillow, he'd reach out to check if there were something under it.
And true enough, a little green bottle stared innocently back at him.
He picked up the bottle, gently touching the surface of the emerald container. It was topped off by a tiny black stopper. He popped open the bottle and it reeked of something very potent. Fiyero scrunched his nose, wondering why Elphaba would keep an empty bottle of whatever under her pillows. Maybe she was a wildchild bookworm, he thought amusedly.
He held the bottle up at the light and squinted. It really was nothing he had ever seen before, and it was known throughout Oz that Fiyero Tiggular was a man who knew his liquor. It was then that Elphaba had trudged back into her dorm room, exhausted from her session in the library.
The moment when she had seen him holding her little green bottle was one of the most frightening moments Fiyero had ever experienced in his life. There was a lot of screaming, yelling and a very flustered Galinda.
He didn't know why but when Elphaba began to accuse him of being an insensitive jerkface (amidst other things), he decided that it was a good idea to tell her about the caricature he drew of himself in her sorcery notebook. Only, that led to more yelling and an even more stressed out Galinda.
It wasn't very surprising that after this event, it was a very long time before the two could even stand being in the same room as each other. Fiyero was convinced that Elphaba was a complete and utter bitch and Elphaba would believe for the longest time that Fiyero was nothing more than a brainless, entitled little rich boy.
He was 28, she was 25.
"I know that I am the last person you'd want to be hearing from right now, but I need you to know, and I need you to understand… I love you. I really do. I never lied about how I felt for you. But the truth is that I love another more. I know that 5 years was a very long time to be confused about my stupid feelings, but believe me when I said that when I was most miserable, you were the only shining light in my life… I hope that one day, we might be able to be friends again. - Yero"
Fiyero read and re-read his letter and crumpled the stupid piece of paper. He threw the paper ball into a waste bin filled to the brim with similar, failed attempts at writing an apology. A framed photograph of him and Galinda celebrating last year's Lurlinemas sat tauntingly on his desk. He exhaled deeply.
"An apology letter? Really?" He muttered to himself. "Look how far you've fallen, Fiyero Tiggular… And you only have yourself to blame."
He thought briefly about moving back to the Vinkus for the holidays. The only reason he was here at all was because Galinda wanted to visit Elphaba before heading back up to the Gilikin to prepare for their engagement party.
Which won't be happening now. FIyero sighed deeply. He hadn't meant to hurt her. He didn't realize how far he's fallen until that day when he first saw her again since that night. When the grand, marble doors opened and she stepped out to greet the small group of Vinkun ambassadors, Fiyero stared. She was so poised, so serious in her tone and stature, and yet he could see the fragile soul behind her hazel eyes.
When their eyes had met, he was sure that she flinched. He hadn't meant for it to happen. He wasn't even drinking that night. It was simply that very moment, something clicked, and they both knew it… and they were both terrified.
He frowned. Why did it have to be this way? If only he'd realized it earlier. If only he had known that whatever whirlwind of emotions and confusion he'd had when Elphaba was around was simply because he loved her. The bouts of jealousy that was absolutely uncalled for and inappropriate for Fiyero to feel over his girlfriend's best friend's new suitor. The warm, crushing feeling he gets when the two of them sat together under the stars… the comfortable silence that felt so knowing and safe.
He knew her and she knew him. And when he was with her, he didn't have to pretend to be someone else just to impress her or make her stay.
He was happy with her… For the first time in his life, he knew irrefutably what true and unadulterated love felt like…. But now. Maybe it was too late.
He was 26, she was 23.
"The Crown Prince of the Vinkus, Fiyero Tiggular," the crier announced to the crowd as Fiyero stepped towards the stairs. The number of people attending had not been too jarring. It seems that the party was looking rather exclusive.
Fiyero recognised some of the faces that were here at the museum. There were an abundance of Gilikinese Officials who roamed about, shaking hands and being painfully polite with each other. There was a small gathering of Quadling Chiefs by the fire place and a number of Munchkinland Officials dressed to their nines, walking about, pretending to understand what each sculpture represented.
"The Vinkun sends their finest, I see!"
Fiyero plastered on his 'political grin' as he turned around to face the owner of the voice. The man was a portly official from the Gillikin whose name Fiyero had forgotten. The only reason he even recognised him was because he recalled faintly about a flighty night with one of his daughters…
"I see the years has been good to you, my lord," Fiyero smiled politely, purposefully avoiding having to mention the man's name. Oh, if his father could see him now.
"And to you," the man guffawed, his pale skin was flushed red as he took another sip from his glass, "Have you tried this, Sir Prince? It really is quite exquisite. I hear that tonight's palette comes from the Wizard's private collections."
"The Wizard drinks?" Fiyero commented amusedly.
"I'd think so," the man laughed heartily, drawing quite some attention to himself. "It'd be a shame if he doesn't! I heard that the reserve in the base of the Emerald Palace is so deep and so very old, the very finest wines could be hidden in there and nobody would ever get to taste it but the Wizard and his Grand Vizier."
"You hear many things, I see, my lord," Fiyero smiled politely, although internally, he was thoroughly amused by the drunk official's strange ramblings.
"I do!" His words were beginning to slur with every sip from his glass, "I was just talking to our Grand Vizier… And I must say, I believe that the lady must've had a little too much because she seemed a little green."
A man dressed in Munchkin colours turned around when he heard the comment and laughed politely, placing a large hand on the Gillikinese's back, "You, sir, sound like you're the one who's had a little too much."
"Nonsense!" The flushed man grumbled good-naturedly, "Lord Joffery of the Weshconors does not get druuunk!"
It was with that that the Munchkinlander's party finally gave Lord Joffery their fullest attention. Amusement was evident in their staunch faces. To be perfectly honest, Fiyero was having the time of his life. It was rare that he'd get to see a Gillikinese lord make a fool of himself in such a formal and elite gathering. This was something he'd definitely write to his parents about when they asked about the party.
Quite suddenly, a tall man in a deep green uniform appeared next to Lord Joffery. The man's face was all but hidden by his impressive black helmet. His voice was cold as he placed a hand on the lord's shoulders, "My Lord, your carriage has been ordered. You should sit and have a glass of water while you wait."
It wasn't an invitation, but a thinly vailed order. The drunk lord knew nothing, of course, as he continued rambling. "Nonsense! I just arrived! I was just having a lovely conversation with our Grand Vizier. I knew it was her! I saw green!"
The guard's face remained impassive. "My lord, please take this glass of water."
"My Prince Yoro would join me for another glass of this lovely red wine, wouldn't you, sire?" Lord Joffery rolled his bloodshot eyes at the guard as he reached out and pulled Fiyero into a one-armed hug, "The night is young!"
Before Fiyero could protest, a blue mist clouded Lord Joffery's head and the portly man had immediately been lulled to sleep. The guard had barely caught the man before he'd fallen flat on his face. A loud snore escaped the drunken man's gaping mouth.
"… That was interesting," Fiyero chuckled amusedly as he dusted himself off. This particular suit was the only set of traditional royal Vikun-style suit he brought with him to the Emerald City… He didn't really need it for anything else during this trip but he didn't really want to get it ripped or anything.
"Ah, Prince Yoro, of the Vinkus I presume," a voice spoke out to Fiyero from behind him. He recognised the owner of the voice immediately of course, but Fiyero was more concerned about the 'Prince Yoro' quip.
He turned around, a smug smile forming on his lips, "Ah, Lady Vizier. You look a little green tonight."
It wasn't just banter, in actuality, when he said that. Fiyero looked her over as Elphaba grinned. Her wavy black hair had been pulled back into a neat, elegant bun. Her hazel eyes shone with a playful glint, accented by the faint purple eye shadow and the emerald green of her skin. If Fiyero had been someone who didn't care so much for Elphaba, he wouldn't have noticed the increased shade of green her skin had taken in the last few years he'd known her.
Even then, he thought she was beautiful.
As a friend, of course. The voice in his head corrected quickly. A flash of guilt quickly coursed through his body just as he thought that. Beautiful as a friend? C'mon Fiyero, get your shit together!
Elphaba handed him a glass of wine, her grin smoothing into a gentle smile as she seemed to do her own evaluation of Fiyero… Her eyes glancing over him. Unconsciously, Fiyero stood a little straighter. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" She said softly.
"Too long." He replied after a beat. He couldn't quite help it, but when her eyes met his, he could feel his cheeks flush and his heart beat faster.
"I'm surprised you came alone," Elphaba commented awkwardly when the pause between the two of them became a little too heavy. "Where's Galinda?"
"She's back home in Gillikin to attend her cousin's wedding tonight." Fiyero replied steadily, taking a sip of the wine as he did. He felt the cold liquid travel through his body and a tingling sensation began to tickle his senses. Fiyero raised his brows. Lord Joffery was right. This wine was exquisite.
"So when you had to choose between a wedding party and a boring old cocktail party in honor of the Wizard, you chose the boring one?" Elphaba cocked a brow at him as her lips curled into a curious smile, almost as if she was fighting it.
"It's never a boring party when you're around," Fiyero laughed. Elphaba thwacked him in the shoulder just as he said that, knowing full well that he was referring to the incident that happened during their graduation party at the Oz Dust just 6 months ago. "So Lady Elphaba," he smiled gently down at her, feeling particularly pleased that even in heels, Elphaba was still a tad shorter than him, "Tell me about this piece." He tilted his head towards the elaborate black and white painting that hung right behind her.
"Are you actually interested or are you just being an ass," she quipped with a smile, her pretence of formality quickly slipping away.
"I really just want to hear the sound of your voice." He replied seriously.
There was a hint of purple against the emerald of her skin as she glared weakly at the Vinkun Prince, "When you say things like that, I just really want to throw my shoe at you."
"Now that'll make a really good headline for tomorrow's Emerald City Daily," Fiyero laughed merrily as he side stepped to avoid another one of Elphaba's smacks, "Lady Vizier pummels Vinkun Crown Prince!"
The two of them spent the rest of the evening quipping and snapping playfully at each other, not noticing the curious stares of their surrounding guests. The Lady Vizier received some comments from her Public Image advisors afterwards of course, but nothing really went in.
Tonight she was happy. The guilt that had been eating her up from the inside out began clawing at her again, of course, but it couldn't quite diminish the warmth in her chest. As Elphaba crawled into bed that night, she touched the spot on her cheek where Fiyero had kissed her. It was a friendly peck of course.
Just two friends saying goodbye.
A/N Horrid grammar and possibly terrible sentence structuring aside, welcome to the first official chapter of 'Night at the Museum'!
I'm glad that you guys enjoyed the prologue and the premise and I hope that the first chapter bodes well with you guys as well!
Doglover645 & AnOreoForElphie - Thanks for the comments! I think I saw you guys in my previous story as well :P
The title of the story would make more sense in time, but for now, what do you guys think?
After this chapter, I'll be posting the rest of the story only once I'm done writing till at least chapter 8. It should be smooth sailing and regular postings after that!