Elphaba opened her eyes to the darkness and sighed. "Nope, still the same."

Galinda harrumphed. The swish and flick of a wand disturbed the air by her face again. "Now?"

"Same."

A rustle of sheets. Galinda must have thrown herself down on the bed.

"Face it, it's hopeless."

A bob of energy trembled the girl's voice, "I refuse to give up. We'll just have to be perseverian."

"Perseverant, but sure." Elphaba stretched her arms behind her head. "What else do I have to do? Hard to read when you're blind."

At once she regretted the snipe as Galinda's voice lost its buoyancy. "Oh, dearest, I am so, so repentified!" An arm draped around her. "If I'd have known…"

Elphaba patted the girl's hand. "So you've said, and I'd have known regardless. Though I think we ought to get a safety latch on your wand, just in case."

Her friend tucked her head against Elphaba's shoulder. "Agreed. Second on the agenda, but first…" She hopped up again, and Elphaba felt a wave of air too close to her eyes for comfort.

"Careful, Glin! What good is it to unspell them if you poke my eyes out?"

A flurry of activity sounded, and Elphaba thought how her roommate might be part whirling dervish. Then a frustration grunt pinpointed Galinda halfway across the room. "That does it! I'll be back."

The click of the door, and she was alone. Pfft. She edged her way across the room. She stumbled on a pile of clothes, and punted it out of the way. No. She drew a deep breath. She could handle this.

Using the bathroom took far more effort when she couldn't see which of the plethora of bottles belonged to the soap. Oz, how much product did her peppy friend need?

She fumbled back to her bed for lack of a better alternative. What a pickle. Try though she might to fight it, she feared the spell might be permanent after all. Most spells were, even if amateurishly cast.

She fidgeted. What to do… This was more time with her thoughts than she needed, for certain. And she really couldn't read. Or study. Or even clean up. So she settled in bed for what she hoped would be a restful and illuminating nap.

Finally, minutes, hours or days later, the door opened. "Elphie?"

"Still here."

"I've done it!" Galinda bounded over, and the side of the bed dipped. "I've got the answer."

Thank Oz. Elphaba sat up, reasonable caution warring against her friend's contagious enthusiasm. "And?"

"Fiyero!"

Her forehead scrunched together. "What do you-"

"Here," the boy's voice carried, and Elphaba clutched her blanket higher. "You needed me?"

"Elphie does. Come quick."

She groped out blindly and latched on Galinda's elbow. "What is Fiyero doing here," she hissed, and the girl's curls whispered against Elphaba's face at the same volume as her hushed tones.

"He's a prince."

She shook her head. "And?" But Galinda pulled away, lost into the darkness as she went to wherever Fiyero stood.

"So, he can help."

The hesitation and confusion in his voice felt like a perfect mirror to her own. "Happy to, but how? Are you alright, Elphie?"

"Peachy," she bit back, but Galinda sighed.

"She's blind, alright. Long story," Elphaba snorted, but her friend pressed on, "but I kind of magicked her blind, so you have to help me! I mean, Elphie! I mean, both of us. Please?"

"Of course," he replied, immune by now to the blonde's tirades. "But what can I do? Elphaba's the one that can cast spells, and I doubt I'll be any use in research."

"You need to kiss her."

The resounding silence that met that statement echoed too loud in Elphaba's ears. Surely she'd misheard. "What?"

"Prince," a rustle of air as Galinda waved at her, "damsel. Magic spell. Hello!"

She could imagine his face now, his hand running through his hair. "So you think my kiss can cure blindness? I mean, thanks, but…"

"It's got to work! We've tried everything else."

"No," Elphaba's cheeks would catch a flame. "I'm not kissing Fiyero in some half-wit plan based on a fairy tale."

"No, silly." Her friend plopped down on the bed beside her and wrapped a hand around hers. "He kisses you." She rolled blind eyes, and Galinda popped up again. "It's our best idea, and Morrible thinks it might work."

"You told this to Morrible?" Right when she thought she couldn't be more shocked. "And she thought this was a good plan?"

"The best. So…get to kissing." A thud and Fiyero came hurtling at her and landed with an oomph.

"Um, well," he floundered. "I guess it's worth a try."

She pursed her lips at him with narrowed eyes, and Galinda clapped her hands together. "That's the idea! Go on."

He brushed a soft finger down to her chin to tip her face toward his. "Sure you're alright with this?"

"No," she murmured, an irritating breathlessness in her voice. "But go on. She'll never give it a rest until you do."

"Maybe it'll work."

"Do you think your kiss cures blindness?"

He laughed. "No complaints so far." Then a gentle brush of his lips against hers had her breath lodge somewhere in her throat. Just like that, he was gone. "Any luck?"

Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she stupidly believed it might have worked. "Nothing."

"Huh." She heard Galinda's frown in her voice. "Try again. Put a little more oomph in it."

"Glin, stop, we tried it but-" She cut out as Fiyero's lips found hers again, with definitely a little more oomph in it. Oz. The plan didn't seem as ridiculous now. Maybe he could cure blindness.

Her fingers crept up to his shoulders, and he drew her into him. His soft lips trailed over hers, and as his tongue swept into her mouth, a wave of feeling had her body singing for his touch. Oh, Oz. His fingertips spread out to anchor her, tickling the sensitive skin just below her ear.

Her chest arced up on its own, pressed to him with a soft sigh. At once, he filled the space below her with a strong hand, holding her to him. He felt incredible. Her fingers flexed, pulling him tighter still, and he bit back his own sigh. More. She wanted more. She turned into him, her leg tucking up, and he ran a hand down her side to her hip.

Galinda cleared her throat, and she might as well have poured cold water on them. They leapt apart. Elphaba struggled to catch her breath, skin too hot.

"Um, well, that was…thorough."

"Happy to help." If his voice was any indication, his cheeks must burn as red as hers.

Her heart still raced, but she fought for cool indifference in her voice. "That's that, then. I'm blind."

"Oh, Elphie!" The girl draped herself over her. "I won't give up, I promise. We'll figure it out."

Fiyero said, "I mean, if you want me to try again-" Galinda lifted her head in what must have been a remarkable stare. "Or, whatever. Just say the word."

He beat a hasty retreat, and Galinda fussed over her as they readied for bed.

So it went, and with each hour, she felt more certain this would be her new life. The blindness frustrated her, but the helplessness was worse. Galinda leapt into the absence her eyes had left, happy to dress and tend her, and while Elphaba appreciated the help, she didn't appreciate the mothering.

But worst came the relentless attempts to de-blindify her. Since Fiyero hadn't worked, Galinda theorized he just wasn't the right prince for the task. "I mean, he's perfect, but that doesn't mean you're perfect together. We need your one true love's kiss!"

And then her life became an obstacle course of blind kisses hurled at her by terrified boys at her roommate's behest. The first one had taken her quite off-guard, a couple steps into her History class and mid-sentence. The boy's lips landed harshly on her teeth, and she stopped short, shocked.

"Anything?"

She snapped a hand up. "What is the matter with you?"

"True love's kiss." Galinda leaned close, checking her eyes for signs of sight. "Did it work?"

She fought a growl. "It's blindness, Glin, not the hiccups."

"Well, you wouldn't have to be surprised with a kiss if you'd let me line up all the boys on campus to kiss you."

She rolled her eyes, and Galinda gave an aggravated harrumph.

Despite her objections, she'd probably still kissed half the boys at Shiz by the time Galinda started doubting her plan. Desperate and consumed with remorse, Galinda proved relentless. Elphaba sympathized, but still, she was the one blind here. Did she deserve an endless volley of unwanted lips, too?

"Maybe true love doesn't mean romantic love," Fiyero suggested one day, popping a grape into Elphaba's mouth and wrapping her hand around a cup. "Have you tried it? You are best friends."

Galinda paused in her planning with a long "Hmmm."

Then soft lips and sweet-scented hair flooded Elphaba's senses. "No luck," she said, and Fiyero cleared his throat.

"Maybe put a little more oomph into it." She slapped his chest, and he boomed a laugh. "Worth a try."

"Oh?" She glared blindly at him, and then snatched his plate away with a smug grin.

"Still worth it," he teased by her ear. "That was hot."

She rolled her eyes and helped herself to more of his grapes.

Over time, she slowly acclimated to the dark world around her. She learned to use her ears, her touch, even her sense of smell to fill the void. By now she could take care of herself, though Galinda insisted on helping her get ready. And while she couldn't read to study, she could listen as Fiyero read it. His grades even improved as well, as he learned some of the material through osmosis.

All in all, it came as quite a surprise when Fiyero, of all people, took it upon himself to try another solution. "I've been thinking." She snorted, and he flicked her nose. "You say you can't cast a spell without knowing the words, but remember your first day? When you made everyone leave Nessa alone?"

"How do you know about that? You weren't here."

His shrug bumped up against her. "Talk. Anyway, how did you do that spell?"

She shook her head. "It was an accident. I just got really mad."

"So…what if I made you really mad?"

She rolled her eyes. "If that worked, I'd be exploding out spells every day."

He chuckled. "Well, I've been reading, and don't laugh." She stifled the snippy comeback. "It says heightened emotions. We could try it, if you want. Better than all those boys kissing you, right?"

She made a face, but it wasn't a terrible plan. Or rather, no worse than all Galinda's. "But I can't control what happens. I might blow you up, or turn myself into a walrus or something."

"I thought about that." She snickered again, and he huffed. "Are you going to do that every time I say thought?"

"Or read," she admitted, and he leaned back. "Sorry. I shouldn't-"

He cut her off. "It's fine. I know you're kidding. Mostly." His words made her even more apologetic. "And I know I'm brainless, but I really think I might have something here."

"I think so, too."

Her agreement surprised him. "You do?"

"I do." Though she didn't dare hope it might work.

"Anyway, I've been thinking, and you say you can't control it, but I think we can…maybe guide it." She wrinkled her forehead. "You wanted them to leave Nessa alone, and you pulled everyone away from her. So we just need to make it so you really want to see."

She sighed. "I think if facing a Galindafied makeover didn't work, nothing will."

He pulled her to her feet. "Not fear. With another strong emotion." He gulped. "I hope."

"Okay, what?"

But rather than answer her confusion, he led her after him. She didn't recognize this direction, or the door he led her through. The smell of dirty socks and empty beer bottles assaulted her, and she realized they must be in the boy's dorm.

Up they climbed, his patient hand never faltering and never demanding, until they reached wherever he'd taken them. He fumbled out a key, and she realized where they must be.

"Your room?" Her forehead crumpled. "I mean, sure I'm a little curious, but I hardly think that would elicit strong emotions enough to magically cure myself just to see it."

He huffed a sigh, and locked the door behind her. "Take off your shawl."

She frowned. "What-" but his lips stopped hers with a kiss. Oz, this again. Didn't anyone know kisses didn't have to be sneak attacks?

"Off."

"I-" Again, he stopped her with a kiss, this time taking her shawl off himself. She set a hand on his chest. "We've tried this."

"Have we?" he murmured, his fingers gliding down her bare arms. "Maybe I just want to kiss you."

Her heart rate picked up. "I think Galinda might have something to say about that."

"She let me kiss you first." He stepped back, his tone distorted by his cotton shirt being pulled over his head. "She'll be happier about the blindness being gone than angry about the kissing."

"I wouldn't bet on that."

His shoes clunked on the ground. "Well, that's my problem, not yours. Yours is getting that blindness gone so you can see."

She disagreed, but he stopped her words with another clink that must have been his belt. Oz. What was he thinking?

His voice came from behind her now, and she startled. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"No," he moved her braid to settle his lips on her neck. "Heightened emotion. Remember?" A soft trail of kisses up to her earlobe. Ohhh. That was some emotion all right.

And then he was gone. She huffed. "Frustration is common with you, too, you know. If that worked I'd be able to see already."

His laugh was on the other side again, and she whirled to face it, even if she couldn't see.

"Stop moving around. It's…"

"Disorienting?"

She frowned. "How do you do that anyway?"

His fingertips on her waist made her jump. "Arjiki hunter." She huffed. "I'm not even particularly good." His lips found her collarbone. "My talents lie elsewhere."

She rolled her eyes. "In seducing airheaded girls to your bed, you mean?"

He chuckled against her neck, vibrating the skin. "Just airheaded girls?" Then he was gone again. She bit her lip. Which was worse, not knowing where he was, or feeling him warm and firm against her.

"This was a bad idea," she said, but the last word was lost in a gasp as he undid her zipper. She clutched her dress to her. "Fiyero!"

"What?" his grin tilting the words. "You're still dressed. If you want to be."

"That's enough." She fumbled for the clasp and redid the zipper. "I don't know what you're trying for here, but I'm done with your idiocy."

"You know exactly what I'm trying for." He stood before her, and she tried to stalk around him. His arm reached out to hold her still. "And you're afraid it'll work."

She gave a derisive snort.

"Too afraid to actually try." He sighed. "But if you'd rather be blind…"

He let her go, and she fled to the door. But her hand stilled on the knob. What kept her there? She should run, screaming, to Galinda, but there she stood.

He didn't answer. Didn't move. Not a breath to know where he would be.

"If we did…try this."

His voice came from across the room. He'd given her space to choose, at least. "Nothing too major." He set a careful kiss to her lips. Oz, when had he gotten here? He leaned back to soothe her lips with a gentle thumb. "I'd say we'd follow your lead, but I think that would defeat the point. But you can trust me."

The breath she hadn't meant to hold rushed out of her. "Galinda-"

"Sent half of Shiz flying at you, lips first, starting with me. She'd be mad you liked it? Come on."

She worried her lip. "You really think?" Galinda's desperation did seem absolute. Perhaps she'd forgive them yet.

"I do." His fingertips traced over her lips. "But if you won't try, won't let go enough to want it, it definitely won't work."

She tilted her head where she hoped his face was. "You're so sure I want you?"

"Hope." His lips drifted over hers. "After that first time, I know I sure want you."

She blushed, hard and hot.

"And you must be at least a little curious." He set her hand on his bare chest, so firm and warm. "You're an inquiring mind, after all."

Her fingertips twitched to feel him, her palm flat on the smooth skin.

His lips followed the outline of her ear. "Don't you want to know what I have etched here?"

Her forehead wrinkled. "You have a tattoo?"

He traced her finger weaving down his torso. "Not your name, I'm afraid. But you want to see it still, don't you?"

She did, at that. What could it be?

"You don't like not knowing." He circled behind her, hands smoothing over her sides. "Don't like living in the dark." He kissed her neck again, soft and smooth and insistent. She sighed.

His fingers wound in her hair, tipped her lips back to meet his. His tongue teased hers, and that fluttery feeling in her stomach came back. He pulled back, but she caught his face in her hands to bring him back for another kiss. He responded at once, wrapping his arms around her with a fierce, hot kiss that left her gasping.

He walked her back, and she clung blindly to him. He filled her senses, the spice of his cologne, the feel of his warm skin, the taste of his lips. And then he was gone.

Her frustrated groan sounded pathetic to her ears.

"I could show you," he offered, and she spun to face him. "Come here."

She felt for him, arms outstretched in the unfamiliar space.

"Here," he breathed, just behind her now, but before she could turn, he pressed her forward into the desk. She half-fell forward, and he followed her, arms wrapped tight around her. The position had him flat against her, her hips pressed up into him, and his hands flat against her stomach. He let one hand grip her hip as the other crept up.

She swallowed a shudder, unsure if she wanted him to reach her breast. But he rolled their hips together, and she moaned. Her body arced back against him as his lips found her neck again.

"Oz, I want you," he growled into her neck, the evidence of it pressed hard into her. She felt a wave of heat at his words, and she rolled her hips against his again. He spun her, lifting her onto the desk, and stepped between her legs.

She reached up to him, both arms hauling him to her in a blistering kiss. His hands held her flat to him, and she threw her head back to catch a breath. His lips skated down her neck.

"Look at me," he commanded, and she brought her sightless back to face him. "See me."

She stretched for a kiss, but he pulled back. His hands coasted down her sides, and he stepped back. A noise too like a whimper for her pride escaped her, and she leaned toward where he had been.

"Come on, Fae. You've always been able to see me, no matter what I thought was hiding it."

She turned toward his voice, desperate to get his hands on her again.

"See me, and I'll show you," he promised. She clamored down from the desk. "I'll show you how much you can feel, how fast your heart can beat." She followed the voice, heedless of the sharp pain as her shin met the chair. "I'll show you everything you want."

She grasped at the empty air where he'd been. "Yero," she groused, and his lips slid down her throat. She spun, but he was gone again.

She wanted to stamp her foot like a child. This wasn't fair. She was trying, damn it. Why did he keep moving?

She turned her pout into a glare. Fine, he wanted to frustrate her. Fine.

She grabbed the zipper of her dress and yanked. Before the material could slide from her, he was there, strong arm hauling her against him. "Cheater," he growled, and she wound her body around him, unable to hold still.

"Am I?" She hiked a leg to pin him to her, and his hand fell to her thigh.

His mouth was hot and wet and insatiable, and he pressed her hard against him. She buried her fingers in his hair. He felt incredible. Her pulse pounded in her ears. Maybe she'd magicked herself after all.

And then he drew a hard breath and pulled back. She held tight, but he freed himself anyway. "Please," he sighed, his ragged breath giving away his location no matter how soft his steps. "See me, Fae. See."

She wanted to, Oz, how she wanted to!

"See me, and I'll finish what we started. I'll find every place on that gorgeous body of yours that makes you sigh. Makes you shiver. I'll kiss every inch of you, damn the consequences, and I'll show you what thorough really means."

Need coursed through her, hot and heavy. It was all she could think, flooding her, consuming her, and then exploding out of her. And with a shudder, she opened her eyes.

There he stood, half-dressed and panting. "Diamonds," she whispered, swallowing hard. "You have, um, diamonds."

For a moment, he stared, slack-jawed, and then he clutched her to him in a fierce kiss. Color flooded her vision for the first time in weeks, but she could only shiver.

She looked down. "What am I wearing?" Oz, pink?

He barked a laugh. "Here, let's get that off you, then." She narrowed her eyes, and he bent in for a long, slow kiss. "If you want."

She pressed up into him. "I think you know how much I want."

His hands fell to her at that, restless and impatient, and she gave in to the amazing feelings her drew out in her. After so long without her sight, she should be drinking in the view, but his lips found her neck. Her eyelashes fluttered closed.

Seeing was overrated.