Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom of the Opera or Wicked.
Remember: Keep your hand at the level of your eyes, and nothing matters but knowing nothing matters.
Chapter II: Similar Differences
"Fiyero became a revolutionary, and the talk was that he was murdered by the Wizard's soldiers," Elphie concluded.
Erik sorted through the layers of emotion in her eyes. "Why do you believe differently?"
She hesitated. "Because… because I love him."
Erik felt a connection with Elphaba that he had never felt with anyone. They were both outcasts of society. They both lived quite reclusively. They both refused to believe that those they loved were gone forever.
Elphie's love for Fiyero hit home.
Erik massaged his forehead with his fingertips. "My love was stolen from me," he said. "She chose a man's money over a man's heart."
Elphie nodded sympathetically.
"Perhaps we can make this – relationship – work."
Erik's head snapped up. "Relationship?"
She rolled her eyes. "That's what they call it when two people get to know each other, help each other… isn't it?"
He sighed. "I suppose."
Elphie shivered. "I can't believe you live on a lake."
Erik glanced out over the water. "What's wrong with it?"
"Oh… nothing." She looked at her hands. "I remember when we first met Fiyero… he came to class late and was almost butchered by a pair of magicked antlers." Elphie giggled. "I fell in love with him the moment I saw him… Blue diamonds were all over his face, like sparkling tattoos. I found out later that they followed a pattern down his chest as well…"
Erik raised an eyebrow and she blushed deep green, making him laugh.
"Christine has the most beautiful voice in the world," he began, and she looked up, interested. "I taught her to control it, and she became the most celebrated diva this theatre ever knew."
"You sing?" Elphie asked eagerly.
He gestured wordlessly through the door toward the enormous ivory-keyed organ and mahogany violin in his room.
"I love to sing!" she said, hopping up to examine the organ.
Now it was Erik's turn to be interested. "Would you like to?"
She watched him closely. "What should I sing?"
He shrugged. "Anything. Something about Fiyero, perhaps…"
Elphie closed her eyes and thought for a minute.
Don't wish… don't start
Wishing only wounds the heart
I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl
There's a girl I know
He loves her so
I'm not that girl
She looked up to find his head slightly bowed.
"That was before he fell in love with me," she explained. "He asked my friend Glinda to the dance. It was a little off-putting: Glinda had Fiyero, my sister Nessa went with a Munchkin boy named Boq, and I got a black hat. This hat, in fact," she said, drawing it out of her cloak. Erik thought the hat could use retirement: it looked like it had been to hell and back, battered as it was.
"Glinda gave it to me, that night at the dance," she sighed, turning the material around in her hands.
As interesting a combination of green and black was, Erik looked back at Elphie.
"How did you get here?"
Elphie paused in her evaluation of the old hat. "Well… I'm not really sure. I left Oz to look for Fiyero… I don't know how I got here."
Erik nodded. "Do you have any idea as to his whereabouts?"
Elphie wanted to laugh. "Not the slightest. I searched the entire western hemisphere though, so he must be here somewhere."
Erik blinked. "You searched the entire west? How?"
"I began in the middle of the United States, and worked my way up and down the continents from there." She eyed him. "I don't like how this is turning into twenty questions, so it's my turn. What will you sing for me?"
Erik was taken aback. "What?"
"You heard me. I sang for you, now it's your turn."
Erik shook his head ruefully.
Angel of Music,
You denied me
Turning from true beauty
Angel of Music,
Do not shun me
Come to your strange Angel
Elphie looked stunned. "That was amazing. You'd definitely give Fiyero a run for his money."
Erik nodded at the compliment. "Now, is there something we can do for each other?"
Elphie paused. "Well… This is going to sound stupid. When I ran into you, I felt this connection; like whatever needs to happen, we can do it… together."
She faltered as he turned away.
"Sorry, mademoiselle." His voice was suddenly brusque. "I was never one for teamwork. I do things alone."
That got Elphie fired up. "Well, I did too, but now… we need each other. Can't you see? We just need to figure out what we should do."
No reply.
"Didn't you ever have any friends?"
The question stung him. "My own mother was repulsed by me. There is only one woman in the world I would deem a 'friend', and she is long gone by now."
"Oh. Well, if you don't want help, could you please help me?"
He considered her for a moment. Regret danced in her eyes like he had never seen before.
"Oh, alright then. Perhaps there is some way we can… collaborate."
