A Lazy Afternoon
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Chapter 5
Fiyero sat on the stool that Elphaba had just vacated. She had been reading an essay on the imprisonment of Animals. He poured another glass of wine and downed it quickly, settling to read the parchment, when a crack of thunder rang through the air. He sprang to his feet, seeking his satchel. She couldn't have made it home yet. Without a goodbye to the others he flew out the door. The rain was now coming down in sheets. Visibility was awful. Several times he slipped and fell. He was drenched and muddy, searching for Elphaba. Finally, he spotted a form underneath a large willow tree. It was her. She sat clutching her knees, rocking back and forth. He bounded up to her, careful not to drip too much. The tree provided decent cover, but not enough.
"Elphie!"
"Don't touch me!" she sounded terrified.
"Don't worry, I won't. In my bag, Elphie, dry, is my slicker. It even has a hood, put it on."
"Why didn't you wear it?"
"You need it more than I."
Quickly, he opened the bag, and she grasped it, and put it on.
"I need to get home."
"I'll walk with you to make sure you're okay. That should cover you up pretty well."
"I'm already pretty weak."
Fiyero nodded, and slid his arm around her waist. They ventured out into the rain. What a strange day this was. Sun. Rain. Sun. Rain. Suddenly, Elphie slipped and fell, her gloved hands landing in a puddle.
"Ow! Oh, shit, that hurts."
Fiyero scooped her up, and spun her to face him. Carefully her lifted her. "I've got you."
He proceeded as quickly as he could. The girl's dorm was still a ways off, but they were approaching Ozma Towers. And that he decided was their destination. Finally, he slid through the doorway, and paused to catch his breath.
"How are you?"
"O…kay."
Fiyero quickly brought her up to his room. He was at a loss for whether to dry her first or himself. He'd be no help if he was wet. Fiyero grabbed an armful of towels and handed a few to Elphie, who struggled with them. He pulled off his wet clothing, and toweled off, replacing the wet with dry items. Elphaba had made little progress getting out of her wet clothes. Her hands were clenched into fists. He swiftly undid the slicker, and pulled it off, followed quickly by her dress. This was no time for modesty. Her head fell against his chest.
"You still with me?"
"Yes…" she managed.
He dried her quickly and pulled a pair of his flannel pajama bottoms out of a drawer. He started them on her ankles, then awkwardly pulled her to her feet, to pull them up. She could barely stand. He pulled her close with his left arm, to support her, and with the right, grabbed blindly into the drawer for a shirt. Finding one, he sat her on the bed. For a moment he stared at the smooth green expanse of her back. His reverie broke as his gaze traveled north to the red and angry looking skin on her shoulders. Carefully, he put the shirt over her head. He didn't want to hurt her anymore. He gently guided her fisted hands through the sleeves. Getting the gloves off was going to be a challenge. He grabbed her under the arms and lifted her further back to lean on the pillows.
Fiyero looked down at her face. She was watching him, albeit somewhat blankly. He kissed her on the forehead and quickly crossed the room to fetch his medicine chest. He lay it on the bed, and propped each of her hand on a pillow.
"How are you doing?"
"Still…here."
"Good," Fiyero flashed her a quick smile of encouragement. He retrieved a bottle of the strongest anesthetic he had, and soaking a cloth, proceeded to swath each of the hands, struggling to get some under the clenched fingers.
"I'm going to let that sit, and work on your shoulders."
"Okay."
"Your hands are going to go numb. Don't worry if you can't feel them for a little while."
"It'll be a nice…change…from…blinding pain."
Fiyero nodded, pulling her upright again, and crossing to sit behind her.
"Do you need a pillow to lean on?"
"I'll…be…fine."
Fiyero was unconvinced, but set to work. Her hair hung in his way. He glanced around the room, lighting upon a rope belt on the doorknob to the closet. Quickly, he bounded over to it, and he tied her hair atop her head. It was awkward looking, a far cry from Glinda's pretty braids, but it worked. He stroked her back gently before patting some anesthetic onto her shoulders.
He was unsure how to proceed. Standard first aid for burns was to begin by washing with soap and water, obviously that wouldn't work in this case. He rooted through his box, finding a bottle of antiseptic solution. Cautiously, Fiyero saturated a small cloth.
"This may sting a bit."
"I doubt it…I can't…feel a thing."
"Well, good. Cause this would hurt. I have to clean the wound so it doesn't get infected."
"Do what you need to."
Her voice seemed to have a bit more life in it."
Painstakingly, he removed the rough, dead skin. That completed, he generously rubbed a thick salve on, laying handkerchiefs on top, and taping them in place.
"That's done."
"Good. Yero, do you have anything in your box of tricks that would help a headache?"
"Uh, yeah." He searched again, procuring a reddish bottle. He twisted it open, and filled the cap. "Swallow," he commanded, holding it up to her lips.
"Ugh…that's disgusting."
"I didn't say it was tasty. But it'll work."
He set about delicately removing the gloves. He didn't want them to pull off more sking than absolutely necessary. It was a slow process of tugging and sliding, but eventually the gloves were off. The hands underneath were raw and broken from such a long exposure to water. He spread out her fingers, and they involuntarily curled back in on each other.
"Is the anesthetic wearing off?"
"A little bit."
"Okay." He applied a bit more, before gingerly rubbing her hands with the antiseptic. She watched him, intrigued. His manner was so confident in this, yet the concern leaked through. Fiyero scooped a bit of the salve into a small bowl, and poured in a few drops of each of five vials.
"What's that?"
"Your hands are hurt more than your shoulders, so I added some nutrients and minerals to help rejuvenate your skin."
He swathed her hands in the softest fabric he could find, then helped her put a pair of his gloves over it.
Finally done, he replaced the chest to the closet, and returned to the bed.
"Okay. Get settled in, you need to sleep. There's certainly no going outside for you tonight."
Elphaba curled into his plush, blue blanket. Fiyero sat in a chair beside the bed.
"Fiyero…" she stumbled. "I can't make you sleep in a chair in your own room." She started to get up.
"Sit down. You are not sleeping in the chair, or on the floor. Absolutely not."
"But…"
"I'll be fine."
They locked eyes for a good minute. Elphaba patted the bed beside her.
"Just stay here. I'm not shy. You saw me at my weakest earlier."
Hesitantly he climbed into the covers beside her. Absently, they curled closer together.
"You're right, this is fine," he smiled, but she was already asleep. He lay awake for a while, watching her back rise and fall rhythmically.
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