Title: Atrocious- Chap 11
Pairing: Gelphie
Location: Shiz
Rating: T+
Timeline/Universe: School years/Booksical
A/n: A second chapter. Because I like you all a lot! Hope this long chapter makes up for the two day delay ^.^
"I AM OZ! I AM OZ! THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE! WHO ARE YOU?" The giant golden head flashed and fumed.
Elphaba felt her hands tremble slightly. "If you please, I am Elphaba Thropp from Shiz University. I've come to talk to you about the Animals."
"Oh, Elphaba Thropp that is you. The green girl from Munchkin land?" A normal voice answered, a man dressed in a grey coat stepped out from behind the suddenly inactive giant head.
"It's nice to see you." He greeted, holding out his hand.
Elphaba gladly shook it. "You've heard of me?"
The wizard nodded. "Why of course. You're the daughter of the minister of Munchkin land." He smiled warmly. "Now, no need to tell me why you're here. I know of course."
Elphaba was stunned. "You do?"
"I am the Wonderful Wizard of Oz; I know everything." He winked. "You're here about the Animals being stripped of their rights. You were working with Dr. Dillamond up at the university."
Elphaba nodded. "Yes, and we discovered something together. Something that ultimately lead to the doctor's death and I can't help but beseech you to see what's going on right under your nose!"
The wizard shook his head and held up his hands. "The Animals are fine."
"But the Bann! And the fact that Animals are being told not to speak out! Something has to be done!" Elphaba insisted passionately.
"Of course, of course. Something already is being done. After all, I am the Wizard. But, if I am to explain further you must see that some of these Animals are perfectly fine." He pulled back a curtain to show caged monkeys climbing about. One monkey stepped forward. "This is Chistery; he's my personal assistant. He watches the birds and longs to fly, perhaps you can give this certain Animal his wish, and then we will talk details of giving the Animals more rights."
"But what can I do?" Elphaba asked, glancing down at the monkey who clearly couldn't speak. Things were worse than she had feared.
The wizard pulled out a battered old green book. "I was thinking a levitation spell."
Elphaba nodded, cracking the book open and beginning to read. "A toom a take a toom ave takae a tum a take aven takae..."
"Chistery, you're in for a treat!" The wizard beamed.
Suddenly, the monkey servant began to screech. Two blue-ish wings sprouted from his back and he writhed in pain.
"Oh no!" Elphaba cried. "What have I done?"
The wizard's eyes widened. "More than I could've imagined." He said in awe, noticing that the rest of the monkeys had sprouted wings as well.
"Your power is great! You must work with me, together we can keep track of all subversive Animal Activity."
Elphaba's jaw dropped. "It's been you all along. You're not wonderful, you're causing all of the problems here in Oz."
The wizard shrugged. "Well, I am a politician, dear."
"Don't call me dear!" Elphaba shouted, throwing up her hands. "I will never work for you or with you! I will fight you 'til the day I die!" She rushed off, the book of magic spells in her hands.
The wizard fumed, jumping behind his disguise and summoning his guards.
"THERE'S A WICKED WITCH IN THE CASTLE! FIND HER! SEIZE HER! AND LOCK HER IN THE DUNGEON!"
"Yes your Ozness!"
Elphaba hurried up flights of stairs, coming to a stop once she reached the attic. She glanced around, unsure how she was going to escape this. She rummaged through the things in the attic searching for something, anything that could help her get out of there. In no way did she want to be locked up. The only thing that seemed remarkably useful was a dirty old broom. The words of the levitation spell spilled from her lips like music and the broom began to rise, floating in mid-air. Just as the guards burst in she straddled the broom, taking off through the open attic window and into the sky.
~~ Galinda was sitting on her bed, flipping through a book. She had intended to study, but the book was just so boring and she couldn't concentrate at all. She sighed, twirling a curl around her finger and letting it bounce back. Suddenly, there was a tap on the window that made her shriek. She walked over, only to see Elphaba hovering outside their fourth-story window.
"Elphie? What are you-"
"Move!" Elphaba insisted, waiting for Galinda to step aside before coming to a rough landing.
"Where did you get that? How did you? Oh!" Galinda stopped her barrage of questions as soon as she noticed two angry red streaks marking Elphaba's cheeks. "Elphaba, have you been crying?"
"It's nothing." The green girl insisted, adjusting her cloak and finally taking in a deep breath for the first time since she escaped the city.
"What happened? How did you get here? What's going on?"
Elphaba shook her head at the blonde's relentless questions. "I can't stay. There's no time and the Wizard's guards will be looking for me."
"You're leaving, already?" Galinda's heart sank, her head was reeling.
"I have to. There's no time." Elphaba paused as she noticed the pain on her roommate's face. She shoved a piece of crumpled paper into the blonde's hand. "Meet me here, tonight. Would you do me a favor and bring me a suitcase of my things and some food?"
Galinda nodded, gripping the paper tightly.
Elphaba stepped forward, caressing her friend's cheek. "Don't leave until nightfall, and make sure you are not followed."
Galinda nodded once more before throwing herself at Elphaba, hugging her tightly. "Call me your sweet." She insisted, not sure what had come over her other than a surge of unexplainable emotion.
Tentatively, Elphaba slid her arms around Galinda. She pressed a light kiss to the blonde's cheek. "I'll see you tonight, my sweet."
Galinda nodded, fighting tears as she allowed Elphaba to break free of her tight embrace. The green girl straddled her broom and took off through the open window.
Galinda felt her heart ache at the sight. She shut the window quickly and glanced down at the directions Elphaba had handed her. It would be a good while until nightfall, regardless, Galinda found herself packing her roommate's things in a hurry and planning what food she would bring. Anything to pass the time.
~~ The place where Galinda was to meet Elphaba wasn't that far, but given the cold weather it seemed like a longer journey than it was. Galinda came upon the small, secluded cottage. Smoke rose from the chimney, and the blonde knew she had found the right place. She hurried to the door and knocked rapidly.
"Come in." A hushed voice replied.
Galinda couldn't help but smile the second her eyes took in Elphaba, even though the green girl seemed agitated, and her face still bore those red streaks.
"You must be freezing, please come in." Elphaba gestured for Galinda to join her at the small wooden table for two. The cottage included that table, a bed, some pots and pans, and a fireplace.
Galinda set down the suitcase she brought and a brown paper bag. "There's some apples, a salad, some cold noodles, and I made you a couple sandwiches."
Elphaba dug through the bag and pulled out an apple, helping herself.
"I packed you some extra clothes, your oils, and the little money I found." Galinda explained; she glanced at Elphaba sheepishly before mentioning, "I added some funds of my own."
Elphaba nodded her thanks and propped her feet up on the table, boots and all, to warm them by the fire.
She flashed Galinda a weary smile. "Thank you. I knew I could count on you."
Galinda nodded, feeling her heartbeat begin to speed up. "Now, are you going to tell me what this is all about?" The blonde pressed.
Elphaba sighed, twining her fingers together. "You know I went to see the Wizard. Well, it turns out he tricked me into hurting some of his Animals."
Galinda saw the anger and hurt fill Elphaba's eyes.
"The Wizard couldn't help me. He's behind all the dreadful things that are happening to the Animals. For all I know, he is responsible for Dr. Dillamond's death!" Elphaba ranted, her anger bubbling over. She covered her face with her verdant hands. "I used a levitation spell, on the Animals and on the broom. That's how I returned."
Galinda took everything in, feeling disappointment overtake her, and profound sympathy for Elphaba, who had believed so strongly in the Wizard's ability to help, and had been so let down.
She stood and walked over to her friend, placing a pale hand on an exposed green shoulder. "What are you going to do?"
Elphaba sighed, removing her hands from her face and straightening up. "I'm uncertain."
Galinda nodded, wrapping her arms around Elphaba's shoulders. "Everything will be all right."
"You're positive outlook never ceases to amaze." Elphaba chuckled wryly.
Galinda held her friend tighter. "I wasn't so positive when you were gone..."
Elphaba turned, freeing herself from Galinda grasp. "What do you mean?"
Galinda shook her head, tears betraying her emotions. "I missed you so much, even with Fiyero. I can't explain it, but I feel like... like maybe I need you..." Galinda admitted; her cheeks flushing brightly as she stared at the floor.
"Oh, my sweet." Elphaba breathed, standing and pulling the blonde into her arms. She held her friend tightly, rubbing the blonde's back as she sobbed.
"Missing you hurt so much, and I don't know why." Galinda managed to articulate through her tears, willing letting Elphaba sit her down on the bed and continue to rub her back.
"Oh sweet, you feel something. Something strong." Elphaba tilted Galinda's chin up with her fingers gently and stared into watery blue eyes.
Galinda shook her head, trying to break their gaze. "But I can't. It can't be..."
Elphaba leaned forward, staring at Galinda seriously. "I've felt it for a long time now. I haven't wanted to push."
Galinda's eyes widened at this admission; she wiped away her tears and stared into Elphaba's heated chocolate gaze. She felt her hands begin to tremble, her pulse begin to rush as she leaned forward and closed the gap between her lips and Elphaba's.
The kiss was chaste at first, but Elphaba's lips were so soft, and she made such a wanting sound as Galinda continued to kiss her. Elphaba tangled a hand into Galinda's soft curls, flicking her tongue against Galinda's bottom lip and kissing her passionately.
Galinda was the first to pull back to catch her breath. Her cheeks were flushed and her whole body felt hot suddenly. Elphaba was grinning at her, grinning happily. Galinda trembled again as a shiver of pleasure rolled down her spine. "Am I yours?" She asked quietly, uncertain what all this meant between them, what it would do to their friendship.
"Only if you want to be." Elphaba replied, a hand absently caressing Galinda's knee.
Galinda nodded, biting her bottom lip. She reached up, tracing the tear marks down Elphaba's cheeks. "Will it make you happy?"
Elphaba paused, not sure if Galinda would want to hear the truth. She pulled the blonde into another kiss. A sweet, caring kiss.
"Yes, so very happy." Elphaba replied after breaking the kiss.
Galinda smiled, suddenly feeling completely relaxed, comfortable with the situation. The hand on her knee tickled and made a certain fire tickle between her legs.
"Are you leaving me again?" Galinda whispered, knowing the answer once she caught sight of Elphaba's eyes. But the response was not what the blonde expected.
"Not tonight."
Galinda nodded, feeling at ease for the moment.
Elphaba pressed a light kiss to Galinda's temple, rising to find her nightdress. "We should rest, it's late."
Galinda nodded, averting her eyes as Elphaba changed and feeling a strange stirring within her, imagining suddenly what Elphaba looked like without the nightdress on. Once Elphaba had dampened the fire, she snuggled down into bed, gesturing for Galinda to follow suit.
Galinda regretted not bringing along any nightclothes for herself, but kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed nonetheless.
Elphaba made a soft contented sound in her throat and wrapped her arms around the blonde, holding her as close as humanly possible. Galinda mulled over the strange events of the day, oh how things could change so quickly. She took the green hand that was on her stomach and entwined spindly fingers with her own. Elphaba squeezed lightly before kissing Galinda's clothed shoulder.
"Sleep well, my sweet."
A/N: well? good? bad? or ugly?