Elphaba was aware that something was different. For one thing, she felt better rested than she'd ever been, which she quickly attributed to the ordeal of the previous night (which came screaming back to her) and the softly luscious bed she now occupied (which she adjusted a little in, feeling the coziness of it envelope her). But, no, she thought, as her gaze found her hand resting on Fiyero's knee, and felt a light presence on her head, her sleep wasn't the only thing. She felt safe. It had never really occurred to her before that she wasn't safe elsewhere, but the feeling of being mostly alone in the world left her with an uneasy sense that she was vulnerable.
She was not vulnerable here. She looked up at the slumbering young man, his hair unruly, but a peaceful look on his face. That wouldn't last, she decided, when he awoke and felt the pain of having slept in that position. She recalled sleepily telling him to sleep next to her, but clearly he hadn't wanted to get too close. How could she have been so foolish? Inviting him to lie next to her, as if anyone in the universe would want to do that? Despite the consideration he'd shown for her the night before, Fiyero was still miles out of Elphaba's league. But then why was that the presence of his hand she felt on her head? She was acutely aware of the fact that his fingers were, in fact, in her hair, not just resting on it.
Panic. That old feeling of panic started to rise, and she tried to wiggle her way away from him without waking him, but to no avail. When she'd guessed he hadn't slept well, she'd been right, but not only because, for the first time in his life, he'd had to try it in anything but generous surroundings, but because he'd had an ear open for any disturbance, and that included now, as her felt her slipping away from him. He woke with a start, and looked around, blinking in the light of day. He usually drew the curtains at night, but had been transfixed with watching her, grateful for enough time to stare without her turning her head or snapping "What?" at him, or both.
Was this how bright his room was in the morning? Or was it later than they both realized?
"Elphaba," he said, noting she was now halfway off his bed. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Back to my dorm," she answered. Struck by her desire to stay, her first impulse was to run.
"I'll walk you," he said.
"Really, that's unnecessary."
"I'll walk you," he repeated.
She yielded. "Uh... Oh, I should get dressed," she said, looking down at her form draped in Fiyero's clothing.
"That color looks good on you," Fiyero said before he could help it. He instantly knew a compliment was the wrong thing to say.
"No it doesn't," she answered, as if she were correcting an error on a paper he had written.
He chuckled.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"As soon as I said that, I knew you'd be upset. And I was, like, kicking myself for daring to compliment you. ...It's not often a girl dislikes being complimented."
"I'm just...a stickler for fact."
"But what about the fact that you're wrong?"
"I suppose that's a matter of opinion," she said, and he opened his mouth to declare victory, "of which you are wrong," she finished.
He clamped his mouth shut but the smile remained on his face. He had the sneaking suspicion that she could read the dictionary to him and it would amuse him to hear her voice it.
She quickly disappeared into the bathroom and he stretched, instantly groaning as his muscles protested, and sinking down so that he was stretched out across his side of the bed. His side, he thought, mocking himself, as if Elphaba would ever deign to sleep there again.
She returned to the room, fully dressed, and took in the sight of him stretched lazily across his bed, a strange look on his face, almost like he was inches from a really good meal but had been told he had to wait. Excitement and disappointment. Her heart fluttering at the sight, she paused and allowed herself to look at him, only for a few moments, before resuming her bustle through the room.
"Hey!" he called, as she was placed his neatly-folded clothing on the back of a chair and made to exit. "I'm walking you back."
"You're quite stubborn," she chided.
"I'm used to getting my way," he admitted.
"I bet." There was no judgement, it was simply stated, with the same ease of informing him she wasn't attractive. "You might want to...smooth yourself out a little," she advised.
He raised his eyebrows at her, and she quickly heard the words she'd spoken and regretted the phrasing. "You look great, you always do," she said, a flush creeping into her cheeks. "But you also look...rumpled. Not like you went home by yourself and slept alone," she added, and he caught her drift.
"Good call," he said, and pulled off the shirt he'd worn to the ball (and to sleep the night before) and rustled around in his chest of drawers for another one. Elphaba, despite her best efforts, couldn't help taking in his strong body and feeling a heat creep over her, a tightness in her chest. It occurred to her how lucky Galinda was to be able to reach out and touch that body whenever she wanted, and then, there was guilt unlike any she'd felt in recent months.
"We should've told Galinda," Elphaba murmured. She'd occaisionally let her mind wander to thoughts of this kind and handsome boy in the many hours she spent with him, or in the hours following the hours she spent with him...and sometimes before those hours, in anticipation of the sparkling blue eyes and easy, amiable grin. But they'd only been thoughts, there was nothing harmful about them. She'd hated that she thought of him, but convinced herself that it was just a world inside her brain, and that, like everything else she subtley yearned for, it would remain an unfulfilled former fantasy. But now, taking in his ease in front of her, displaying his body, and knowing they'd slept near to each other the night before, her hand on his knee, his hand in her hair, she felt like she had somehow willed it into existence. Her thoughts had brought about, from Galinda's point of view, her boyfriend and best friend disappearing into the night and not returning until morning.
"There wasn't time," Fiyero said casually.
"We should've made time. We should've invited her to come, too," Elphaba said, an edge to her voice. Nothing was to be taken casually in regards to the first friendship she'd ever had. And with that, Elphaba realized that Fiyero would never be hers, even if he someday lost his mind and fell for her, because it would simply hurt Galinda too much.
"We should go," he said, taking in how serious her face now was, and feeling a sickening dread that their time together was not only at a close for the day, but for quite some time. A fierce loyalty to Galinda shone from Elphaba's face, and Fiyero, afire with shame, realized that ferocity only made him want to take her in his arms, and kiss her until she vowed to be that loyal to him.
He reached to open the door and winced at the attempt to move his hand, which Elphaba saw again, and remembered. It was obviously worse than he had let on, and Elphaba felt guilt and pride mingle in her. He was obviously tough, she thought. "You should get that checked," she said, trying to maintain a distant tone.
He examined his hand, and decided that he should, at least, wash it up. "Hold on," he said, and ran to the bathroom, rinsed off the dried blood from his cracked knuckles, and swathed his hand in a towel.
"I'll fix it up when we get to my dorm," Elphaba said, clearly not satisfied with the job he'd done in taking care of himself.
They exited the room and found the hallway to be fairly empty, as were the grounds. They were silent, unsure of what they would discover upon reuniting with Galinda, unsure of how to now deal with the stirrings of young love, unsure what to say about anything.
Elphaba had certainly never fallen asleep so near to anyone before, let alone a young man, let alone a young man who had the ability to make her a little weak in the knees. She told herself she'd never slept better because she'd never slept IN something better, after such a stressful night. She told herself this with each step, swore it had nothing to do with the company she had kept while she slumbered.
Upon reaching the dorm shared by Galinda Upland (of the UpperUplands) and Elphaba Thropp, both the Winkie prince and the green girl hesitated, unsure of what would come next. Would Galinda be angry, would she be hurt, would she accuse them of things they did not do? Would she accuse them of feelings they really had? Could they lie to her face? Elphaba took a deep breath and took the plunge of opening the door and stepping in. Fiyero followed, eyes on the ground and his hand innocently sliding up to scratch the back of his head.
"Oh, ELPHIE!!" Galinda greeted them. "I knooowwwww you're probably mad at me for not visiting you in the infirmary, but I tried, I swear, and it was all locked up for the night!!" Galinda threw her arms around her friend, then leaned back, hands still clutching Elphaba at the elbows, and examined her. "They must've taken great care of you, you look great. All rested and happy!! Oh, Fiyero!" she said, noticing the man who stood behind Elphaba.
Galinda rushed to him and planted a nice little kiss on his lips. "It was so nice of you to take care of my Elphie for me," she cooed. "And to bring her back..." Galinda again fought the nagging feeling that Fiyero cared for Elphaba out of more than just loyalty to her, but the optimist in her couldn't comprehend it. And, as much as she saw the beauty in Elphaba, she couldn't fathom being threatened by her when it came to romantic matters.
"I was awake early, and thought I'd walk her back. Though Avaric's probably still sleeping off his date with Ms Vodka last night. I'm glad you're alright, Elphaba," he said, trying to keep his voice even.
"Thank you, Master Fiyero," she responded. He reached out and touched her shoulder lightly, and then Galinda noticed his hand, bruised and swollen, at the same time Elphaba was reminded of it, and moved to her little first aid kit, which contained, among other things, gauze and soothing cream.
Fiyero went to Elphaba's side with no hesitation, and she quickly and efficiently wiped the cream on his hand and then wrapped it tenderly with the gauze. Galinda watched this, and saw very little change in her friend, only that she was being nice to someone other than Galinda. She was intent on her work, a perfectionist as usual, and did a neat and tidy job of assisting someone who had previously assisted her. But Fiyero, Galinda saw, was watching her intensely, and his eyes closed ever so briefly when Elphaba would move her hands over his.
"Thank you," he said softly, as Elphaba packed up her supplies.
"Don't mention it."
Galinda swallowed hard, wondering how long she'd been oblivious to the way Fiyero was acting now. Had he been looking at Elphaba like this for days? Weeks? Months? Galinda felt a little sick.
Fiyero approached her, kissed her on the forehead, and said, "I'll see you later. Take care of each other, girls," before exiting.
Galinda watched the door close behind him and then turned to her friend, mostly sure of the answer she was going to get from Elphaba, if Elphaba had the heart to tell her the truth.
"Elphie," Galinda started. "Can I ask you something about Fiyero?"
