Feeling refreshed from their shower and their meals, the pair set out to explore the Emerald City. Feeling liberated by both what she and Fiyero had shared with each other and the green glasses that everyone in the city wore, Elphaba let herself relax for the first time, finding it easier to hold Fiyero's hand. To lean into him as they walked. To let him kiss her.

Smiling at other couples they passed, the two explored a small section of the city. Fiyero was overjoyed to watch Elphaba drink in the culture of libraries, museums, art galleries and legislative buildings. "Look at the architecture," she sighed dreamily. He chuckled to himself, wondering how he'd managed to fall for someone so brainy, and then, dishearteningly, wondered how someone so smart could love him. He tried not to let it plague him as he watched her joy.

They found their way into a beautiful building, a public law record, and made their way through, seeing busts of famous barristers, old maps of territories, and proclamations behind glass. On the top floor was a large balcony, and they went out there. It was nearing the end of the day, and the sky was hazy with pinks and oranges. "Hello, beautiful," he murmured, watching her.

She smiled briefly. "It's such a nice view."

"So are you."

She chuckled. "Don't be too kind to me, Yero. It makes me nervous.

"Why?"

"Because I feel like it can't last, it feels foreign, and its newness feels brief."

"It's not," he promised, wrapping his arm around her waist as they stared out over the city. "It's not."

"I'll try to believe you," she vowed. "I really will."

He kissed her temple, and she smiled. If he'd made a big show of pulling her close and kissing her passionately, it would have felt forced. But his casual nature, his genuine promise, felt real because they didn't seem over-the-top. He knew how to convince her, she realized. He knew what it took to really get through to her. How, so soon, had he developed this skill?

"We should head back," she said after awhile. "It's getting late, and I'm a little hungry."

"Shall I take you for dinner somewhere?"

"Do you think the people of the Emerald City wear the glasses in restaurants at night?"

Fiyero paused. "Why should that matter?"

Elphaba examined something he couldn't see on the bannister in front of her. "Knowing you, it'll be somewhere nice... I'd hate to have a fuss made in a nice place."

"Let them fuss," he murmured. "I fuss over you," he reminded her with a smile.

"That's different," she whispered, her mind flashing through the dozens of times he'd held a door, put a hand on the small of her back when they were in crowd, helped her carry something...

"Well we'll peer in a window on the way to the hotel to get changed, and -"

"Oh, damn," she interrupted. "I don't have anything to wear, anyway."

"Can I take you shopping tomorrow?"

Elphaba chuckled. "You want to go shopping?"

"I want to buy you things. It's manly, I swear." He grinned at her, boyishly. "And then I'll take you for dinner."

"Perhaps," she allowed. "Let's head back."

They passed a restaurant on the way back. Everybody was wearing the green glasses. Elphaba smiled, and Fiyero tried to find the same amount of joy.

But it was hard for him, to smile about Elphaba suddenly being the same as everyone else. That wasn't why he loved her. That wasn't why at all...

AN: Alright, so I know that I should write because I want to write, but I went on an updating FRENZY a couple weeks ago, with a oneshot, two-shot, new chapter on Whirl... and then a Fiyessa. And... uh... the response was... minimal. So I felt a little uninspired. Apologies that it took so long to get this up, and that it's so super short. But I have more written after this, I'm just trying to bridge the gap to get there! Also, desirae, get an account so I can reply to your review!! Just do it. lol