Sorry this took awhile... I had another idea that wouldn't get out of my head until I wrote it down and ended up publishing it...
Elphaba lead Galinda through the streets of Shiz to the Warehouse, getting her by the bouncer with a simple look and taking her back to the room that Galinda had followed her to last time. The unusually colored girl went around the room, removing and replacing bricks as she became Alpha, finally coming to stand behind Galinda, wrapping her arms loosely around her waist as the blonde looked at her set list.
"So these are the songs for tonight; you'll be singing all of these? Don't you get to choose?" Elphaba cocked her head away from Galinda's ever so slightly.
"I do get to choose, these are just my options. The band collaborates together to rehearse some songs and then they give the vocalist of the night a list. The vocalist chooses the song and all they have to do is tell the band, then they're good to go. Although they do take requests as long as the artist tells them what they want at least a week ahead of time."
"The band must be really busy all the time then huh?"
"Yeah, but their pay is pretty good."
"And yours?"
"Meh. A bit above minimum wage, but if you recall I usually work two jobs."
"Why do I never see any money on your side of the room?"
"Well, unlike some I prefer to keep it out of sight and on my person." The raven haired girl kissed the blonde on the cheek to sooth the sting from her little jibe. "Now my sweet, I do believe that you should be heading out. I've given strict instructions tonight that you be watched by some friends of mine, but if you could stay close to the stage it would be easier for me to keep an eye on you." Elphaba gently pulled Galinda to the door with her, walking with her down the hallway and showing her a door that she hadn't seen last time. "Go through this door," The blonde looked at her with an arched brow. "well if you come out with me then they'll think that you are either here to replace me or I'm introducing you as a companion." Galinda rolled her eyes but went through the door as asked. Elphaba smiled at her back and sighed before turning and exiting onto the stage. A cheer went up for her and she smiled shyly, blushing slightly. The blonde was close to the stage and found this to be incredibly and endearingly adorable, wondering what she was so shy about while at the same time liking that the girl got some positive feedback from people. Elphaba walked to the mic.
"So how is everybody doing tonight?" There were varied responses and quite a few along the lines of 'I'm better now that you're here' roared around the petite blonde at the edge of the stage. Elphaba smiled more openly. "Alright, well, I'm gonna start off with another Kelly Clarkson song for a... friend, and then it's all up to you guys." They cheered their agreement and Elphaba smiled again before turning and looking to the band for them to start. The introduction started playing and Galinda noticed Elphaba's fingers tapping on her thigh to the beat and rhythm, she was counting herself in, but the movement of her graceful green fingers was straight up beautiful and oddly entrancing.
"I don't wanna be left behind,
Distance was a friend of mine
Catching breath in a web of lies
I've spent most of my life
Riding waves, playing acrobat
Shadowboxing the other half
Learning how to react
I've spent most of my time,"
"Catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the
sake of the show
Now that you know, this is my life, I won't be told what's
supposed to be right!
Catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the
sake of the show
Now that you know, this is my life, I won't be told what's
supposed to be right
Catch my breath, no one can hold me back, I ain't got time
for that
Catch my breath, won't let them get me down, it's all so
simple now
Addicted to the love I've found
Heavy heart, now a weightless cloud
Making time for the ones that count
I'll spend the rest of my time
Laughing hard with the windows down
leaving foot prints all over town
Keeping faith kinda comes around
I'll spend the rest of my life
Catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the
sake of the show
Now that you know, this is my life, I won't be told what's
supposed to be right
Catch my breath, no one can hold me back, I ain't got time
for that
Catch my breath, won't let them get me down, it's all so simple now"
Her eyes locked with Galinda's.
"You helped me see
The beauty, in everything!
Catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the
sake of the show,"
Her eyes left Galinda's as she continued through the stanza, leaving the blonde to smile at the 'thank you' hidden so close to the surface of those words.
"Now that you know, this is my life, I won't be told what's
supposed to be right
Catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the
sake of this show
Now that you know, this is my life, I won't be told what's
supposed to be right
Catch my breath, no one can hold me back, I ain't got time
for that
Catch my breath, won't let them get me down, it's all so
simple now
Catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the
sake of the show
Now that you know, this is my life, I won't be told what's
supposed to be right
Catch my breath, no one can hold me back, I ain't got time
for that
Catch my breath, won't let them get me down, it's all so simple now!"
The song finished and Elphaba leaned on the mic a bit, panting slightly. The crowd cheered for her, but Galinda didn't hear that, she was too busy watching Elphaba, noting the light sheen of sweat on her body that made her seem to glow. Elphaba continued through the other songs while Galinda attempted to dissect the lyrics of the song to find whatever Elphaba had meant for her to find, yet by the time Elphaba was walking off the stage and Galinda to the door to meet her green friend in the hallway just off the stage, she still had no answer. Galinda met up with Elphaba and took her hand, lacing their fingers together and only letting her go when they reached the dressing room.
"You were amazing tonight Elphie." The green girl turned at least three shades darker and Galinda found it captivating.
"Thank you, my sweet." Elphaba squirreled her stuff away, turning to Galinda as Elphaba, and even though Alpha looked nice, Galinda wouldn't really have her any other way... Except for maybe...Galinda blushed furiously and Elphaba looked at her curiously. "Are you alright Galinda?" The green girl touched her arm and Galinda snapped out of the little fantasy she had sucked herself into.
"Yeah, I just, um, got lost in my head." Elphaba smiled scandalously
"Galinda Upland! You were thinking something pervy weren't you?"
"N-no! I would never-"
"Oh please, it's written all over your face." Elphaba came closer, stopping within a foot of the smaller blonde.
"I never-" Elphaba wrapped an arm around her friend's petite waist, bringing her lower body flush with the blonde's as she bent her torso down, her face close to Galinda's, lips almost brushing.
"Oh really? Not even once?" Elphaba's voice was quiet and slightly husky, making Galinda gulped as she stared into darkened eyes. The blonde didn't respond and Elphaba chuckled, releasing her and stepping back even though she missed the warmth immediately. "It's alright Galinda, I was only teasing. Come on, we should go." She held out a hand to Galinda, and the blonde took it, blushing furiously from head to toe. Elphaba smiled at her, laughing and pulled her through the hallway and back out the door, waving to the bar maid and the children playing on the upper level. They walked through empty streets and Elphaba took them both over the garden wall to stand amidst crocus and other early spring flowers. Elphaba smiled again, looking up at the full moon as it emerged from behind some clouds, illuminating her breath in a silvery cloud. "It's a beautiful night."
"Yeah..." Galinda felt an incredible urge to add 'but not as beautiful as you.' to that, and it was true, Elphaba was beautiful, silvery moonlight pooled across her features and made her eyes appear to glow amber, her naturally feral grace reminding Galinda of the wolves that she heard about in the Gillikin, she seemed... peaceful though, like somehow a large weight had lifted from her shoulders, and as Galinda thought about it, Elphaba had been acting... lighter, all day. Galinda laced her fingers with Elphaba's again, wondering how they had come apart in the first place, and the green girl turned her attention to the gesture briefly before looking back up at Galinda and smiling again. Galinda smiled back and hugged her, catching her off guard. "Thank you Elphie." Elphaba wrapped her arms around Galinda and the blonde loved how they felt, enjoying their protection and warmth just as much as Elphaba enjoyed the feeling of the petite blonde against her.
"For what my sweet?"
"Being so amazing, being you, taking me out, sharing your world with me..." She felt the taller girl sigh a little and chuckle into her blonde hair.
"No, thank you for not running at the first sign of trouble." Galinda looked up at her, there noses were inches apart. The blonde smiled and gently kissed the tip of a sharp green nose, which scrunched in a teasing and adorable way at the contact.
"Who knows what would happen if I did." They laughed lightly before Elphaba took her hand.
"Come on, we should head back, it'll start raining soon." Galinda looked at her quizzically.
"How do you know?"
"It's a skill I've developed over time," Elphaba smiled at her over her shoulder. "it comes in handy when you're allergic to water y'know." They reached the tree and Elphaba made Galinda go first, telling her they still had a little time before it started to rain and since she was the one that asked Galinda to go out with her, she should play the guy and allow her lady to enter first. Galinda dropped gracefully through the window and Elphaba jumped silently through just as the first drops started falling. She turned slightly, looking out the window behind her. "Wow, looks like we made it just in time." Lightning flashed and was quickly followed by thunder, drawing a squeak from Galinda. Elphaba turned to look at her curiously, noting her reaction and drawing her own conclusion. "C'mon, we should change out of these clothes." They separated to change, Elphaba moving quickly, enjoying the absence bandages to complicate the process, once she finished she moved to the bathroom door and heard Galinda muttering about the laces on the corset. "Here." Elphaba gently pushed the door open, walking forward and moving Galinda's hands away from the laces, undoing them with deft fingers. After a few seconds the corset dropped to the floor and the blushing blonde turned around to look at her taller counter part.
"Um, thank you..."
"Well it's my fault you got stuck in that thing in the first place, so it's only fair." Thunder sounded again and Galinda bit the inside of her lip."I'll be waiting for you when you're done changing, alright?" The blonde nodded and Elphaba came closer to her and kissed her forehead gently. "I'll be right outside." Galinda nodded again, letting the girl walk away. Elphaba shut the door behind her and leaned against it briefly before pushing off of it and moving to lean against the wall next to it instead. Galinda stripped quickly, out of her clothes from that evening and into her night gown before the next thunder clap. She exited the bathroom and jumped when she saw Elphaba leaning against the wall. The green girl held her hands up in a placating gesture, trying to soothe the fear she created. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I just wanted to be nearby in case you needed something." She pushed off the wall, coming to stand in front of Galinda, gently taking her hand and squeezing it."Fresh dreams, I suppose." The green witch let go of Galinda's hand and went toward her bed. Thunder clapped again and Galinda squeaked, rushing forward and wrapping her arms around Elphaba's scrawny waist. Elphaba looked over her shoulder at the small blonde, her suspicions confirmed. She took Galinda's hands in her own where they rested against her stomach. "I'll stay with you, if you want." Her voice was quiet, soft and soothing. Galinda nodded into her back and moved backward.
"Do you mind if we go to my bed?"
"Not at all." Galinda let go of her briefly so that she could turn around and they moved to Galinda's bed. They lay down on their sides facing each other. The thunder clapped again and Elphaba saw tears welling in Galinda's eyes. She moved forward on the bed and wrapped her arms around the petite girl, Galinda's arms rested against her stomach and her forehead against a green chest.
"Elphie?"
"Little child, be not afraid
The rain pounds harsh against the glass
Like an unwanted stranger
There is no danger
I am here tonight,"
Elphaba's voice floated through the air and vibrated in the torso that Galinda was resting her head on. The blonde was distracted from the thunder by it, but she was still afraid.
"Little child
Be not afraid
Though thunder explodes
And lightning flash
Illuminates your tear-stained face
I am here tonight
And someday you'll know
That nature is so
This same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you see
In the morning
Little child
Be not afraid
The storm mask your beloved moon
And its candlelight beams
Still keep pleasant dreams
I am here tonight
Little child
Be not afraid
The wind makes creatures of our trees
And the branches to hands
They're not real, understand
And I am here tonight
And someday you'll know
That nature is so
This same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you see
In the morning
For you know, once even I
Was a little child
And I was afraid
Buta gentle someonealwayscame
To dry all my tears
Trade sweet sleep for fears
And to give a kiss goodnight
Well, now I am grown
And these years have shown
Rain's a part of how life goes
But it's dark and it's late
So I'll hold you and wait
'Til your frightened eyes do close,"
Galinda's eyes slid shut as she listened, thankful that Elphaba was doing this for her even though she was running the risk of a sore throat in the morning after how much she had sung tonight.
"And I hope that you'll know
That nature is so
This same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you see
In the morning,"
Galinda's breathing evened out against Elphaba's chest and the green girl smiled as she quietly finished the song.
"Everything's fine in the morning
The rain will be gone in the morning
But I'll still be here in the morning."
Elphaba sighed into golden locks, thinking how wonderfully strange it was that this was the second night in a row that they had fallen asleep together in the blonde's bed. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was the stirring of something that she had thought to be long dead within herself; hope.
Enjoy the short fluffy chapter while you can my pretties... You only have it because Galinda would've killed me if I didn't give Elphaba a break and get those bandages off soon. She really wants to see her girl in that dress...
NOTICE: THIS STORY WILL BE MOVING UP TO AN M RATING WITH THE NEXT CHAPTER.