Content Advisory: Weapon Use, Phobia Related Panic, Smoking Mention, Animal Cruelty/Imprisonment (minor), Profanity
✉ Chapter Twenty-Five: The Code Green ✉
"Fae?"
Elphaba heard a match strike and she slowly stepped off of her cot as an oil lantern illuminated Fiyero Tigelaar's features in a warm, orange glow.
"Hi," Elphaba blurted out.
"Hey."
"…Hi."
"Nice digs," Fiyero gestured to her cell.
"I've had worse."
Elphaba and Fiyero paused before immediately erupting into heated, overlapping dialogue.
"Where have you been?!" "Why are you engaged to Glinda?!"
"What?! "What?!"
"I've been in Ev enjoying the oceanside," Elphaba charged forward to confront him at the bars. "Where do you think I've been?!"
"Well, The Wizard forced Glinda and I into that engagement so things haven't exactly been peachy keen over here either!"
"So…you're not engaged to Glinda?" Elphaba clarified.
"No! Of course not!" Fiyero blurted out. He registered the look on Elphaba's face and blinked. "Fae…you couldn't possibly think that—"
"Your guards are imbeciles, by the way," Elphaba cut him off, reaching through the bars to flick at Fiyero's captain insignia. "I had to hold their hand through my entire abduction."
"Would you prefer I put competent people in charge of hunting you?"
"At least it'd give me a challenge!"
They heaved labored breaths as they stared each other down, their hands both gripping at the iron bars that kept them apart.
"I'm going to get you out of here."
Elphaba cackled and Fiyero frowned.
"Wha—what are you laughing at?"
"I don't need your help getting out of here," Elphaba said. "The bucket of water? I spill and freeze it on the stones to make the guards slip. When they're knocked unawares I summon the keys off of their jacket. I grab my conveniently placed bag and broom and fly out the cellar doors I spotted when the guards took me down here—unblindfolded by the way. Amateurs. I set a diversion and sneak into the throne room where I'll free the Monkeys and flee before The Wizard is wise to any of it."
"Is that all?" Fiyero asked.
"No. That's just the fun way."
"What's the easy way?"
"This."
Elphaba snapped her fingers and the exterior lock of her cell gave way with a loud click. She removed the lock off of the door and strolled out of her cell, turning to place the lock in Fiyero's hands.
"Nice."
"I've been at this for a while."
"Funny thing about your cell. Us guards constructed it with you in mind," Fiyero leaned casually against the bars. "Lieutenant Fox proposed a more secure prison system but I convinced him that rusty exterior locks were the only things proven to contain witches. The bucket was easy to convince him of, he's still freaked out from the water episode at Shiz. I think he thinks you're after him."
"He wishes."
"The light left on over your cot? A precaution I added. Witches are more powerful in total darkness, didn't you know that?" Fiyero stepped away from the bars and gently placed the padlock back into Elphaba's hand. "I know that nothing can hold you, Fae. I learned that a long time ago."
"Clever as ever, Fiyero," Elphaba admitted approvingly. "The years haven't changed everything, I see."
"The years have changed nothing."
Their eyes met and Elphaba glanced away.
"Your plan is good, but it doesn't account for everything," Fiyero hinted, strolling over to pick up her broom. "We'll need Glinda."
"Glinda? No."
"Glinda, yes," he said casually, twirling her broom around a few times.
"Careful! She's temperamental," Elphaba warned him.
"Ah, she won't hurt me," Fiyero shrugged. "She's an extension of you."
Thinking fast, Fiyero tossed the broom straight at Elphaba.
"Yero!" Elphaba hissed with a startled inhale as she caught the broom midair. She narrowed her eyes and jabbed the handle in his direction. "And how can you be so sure that I won't hurt you?"
"Because you just called me Yero."
Elphaba paused.
"Irrelevant," she cleared her throat. "You are not getting involved, Fiyero. You or Glinda. I forbid it."
"I forbid it. Ooh, so scary," Fiyero mocked. "Scary witch lady."
Elphaba shoved the tip of her broom handle against his jugular.
"Okay," Fiyero wheezed. "You're still a little scary."
"I am here to free the Monkeys," Elphaba relayed as she lowered her broom. "That's all I'm here for."
"I won't get in your way. If you stopped being so stubborn for a clock-tick you'd see that I could even help you!" Fiyero said. "Let me help you, Fae."
"Help with what?" she snorted.
"Your plan won't work."
"And why not?"
"The Wizard has moved the Monkeys to a different holding cell since you've last been in the palace. They're not behind the throne room anymore."
Elphaba was quiet.
"Didn't account for that in your plan did you?"
"Shut up. What's the fastest way there?"
"Oh, it's much easier if I show you. You've got a man on the inside, Fae. Embrace it."
"…Fine."
"Okay, first up. Get back in your cell."
"Huh?"
"Get back, witch!" Fiyero yelled in a voice that admittedly would have chilled Elphaba if it weren't for the wink he added.
Elphaba held up her hands in compliance and backed into the cell for Fiyero to lock her back in. He held a finger to his lips as footsteps bounded down the steps.
"Need back up, Captain!?"
"Why is there only one bucket of water here?!" Fiyero asked, turning sharply towards Lieutenant Fox. "We're going to need more, as much as you can carry! I need every man on this."
"But—but Captain, the other men are patrolling."
"Didn't you hear me? Take them off patrol! Each of them needs to fetch three buckets of water—at least. But don't let them come near her cell. They may get bewitched."
"Captain, are you sure you should be left alone with her?" Lieutenant Fox alluded uneasily. "Considering, well…you know…"
"You think you can stop me?" Elphaba taunted in a shrill voice before making Lieutenant Fox jump with an earsplitting cackle. "You have no idea who you're dealing with!"
"Go! Can't you see? We can't waste any time! Oh! And Lieutenant? Inform my fiancée at once that there's a code green in place. Tell no one else."
Fiyero and Elphaba watched Lieutenant Fox stumble out of the dungeon before nonchalantly dropping their guises.
"Nice voice," Fiyero mentioned as he yanked the lock free again.
"It's what I do," Elphaba shrugged. "Bewitched, huh?"
"Yeah," Fiyero grinned, handing Elphaba her bag and broom. "I know something about it."
"Why so keen to help your ex, Fiyero?"
"Funny…" Fiyero hummed, offering his hand to her. "I don't recall us ever breaking up."
Elphaba eyed Fiyero's hand before taking it, all the while struggling to uphold a scowl that desperately wanted to be a smile.
Having The Captain of the Guard on your side during stealth missions was an admitted advantage Elphaba could not deny. Fiyero seemed to know every nook and cranny of the castle as well as which halls to avoid based on the time of day.
"Have you practiced this route or something?" Elphaba huffed as he pulled her along. "It's as precise as a fire drill."
"No comment."
Fiyero gently shushed her as he checked that the coast was clear before pulling her across the hallway to a large, locked door.
"Do your thing," Fiyero nodded.
Elphaba clicked open the padlock and they stole away into a large atrium room with a gargantuan cage.
"Oh—" Elphaba mourned. Seeing the sorry state the Monkeys had been living in knocked the wind out of her. Some of them screeched weakly to see her while others were chillingly silent. "How do we open the cage?"
"The Wizard has a lever," Fiyero scoured the area.
"Seems like a security risk," Elphaba clicked her tongue.
"Well he's all about the showmanship," Fiyero shrugged. He spotted the lever and darted over to it, waving to get Elphaba's attention. "It's over here!"
"Do the honor," Elphaba granted. She turned her attention to the Monkeys. "Get ready!"
Fiyero yanked on the lever with effort and Elphaba laughed victoriously as the cage began to rise. The Monkeys began looking up, nudging each other to pay attention to what was happening. They began to scramble out the moment they had enough room to slip out from under the bars, looking around at each other as if they couldn't believe what was happening.
Elphaba dropped to her knees and opened The Grimmerie. Fiyero moved to kneel beside her, watching as she flipped the pages in her spell book before finding her desired incantation.
"Stay low! Stay down!" Elphaba called to the scattering Monkeys before setting her eyes on Fiyero. "Stay close, Fiyero. This one is going to make a stir."
She leaned down to squint at the page and began mumbling the lost language with practiced precision. She said the last word and reached out to put her hands on Fiyero's shoulders. There was a great shake as if The Wizard's palace had endured a short but strong earthquake. Things went silent for a moment and Elphaba called to the Monkeys.
"Cover your heads!"
In a sudden explosion, each window pane shattered with an earsplitting sound and fragments of exploded glasses rained down upon the room. Elphaba grabbed Fiyero's shoulders and pulled him practically into her lap, hunching over him to protect him from the dangerous downpour.
As things settled Elphaba lifted her head and watched as the Monkeys who'd been shielding themselves with their magnificent wings lifted their heads as well. There were a few uncertain screeches as they stretched their wings and registered the broken gap in the windows leading to the open air.
Elphaba stood with an excited laugh, shards of glass tinkling off of her brimmed hat.
"Yes, you're free! Fly, go fly!" she cried. "Fly, Monkeys! Fly!"
One Monkey went first. He gave a great, glorious screech and flapped his wings tremendously before taking flight towards the western sky. Elphaba threw her hands out and laughed in celebration as the Monkeys burst off towards the setting sun.
"You're free! Be free!" she yelled before turning to see Fiyero's awed face.
"You did it…"
"I did it!"
Before they could stop themselves Elphaba flung her arms around his neck and he captured her waist, lifting her feet off the floor and giving her a great spin in the air. When he set her back to earth their eyes met in a long, telling look. Elphaba picked a piece of glass out of his thick hair and Fiyero brushed his thumb across a shallow scrape on Elphaba's cheek. Their breathing grew heavier. Fiyero dug his fingers deeper into her hips. Elphaba gripped at the fabric of his captain's jacket.
"Get the Captain! Find the Captain!" shouted voices in the hall. "There's been a breach in the castle!"
"Shit," Elphaba and Fiyero whispered in unison.
"Did your spell only affect this room?" Fiyero asked nervously.
"Nope. Every window in the palace—if I did it right," Elphaba explained. Fiyero gave her a wild look and she shrugged defensively. "What's the good of doing good if it isn't big?!"
"Sweet Oz. They're going to be after us!"
"Yeah, I figured. Are you new to this or something?" she teased, slipping The Grimmerie into her bag as she prepared for the chase.
Fiyero grabbed her hand again and yanked her out of the atrium. He opened a door which gave way to a dimly lit service hallway off the beaten track.
"How did you even find this hallway?" Elphaba asked as they dodged cobwebs.
"It's where I sneak off to smoke."
"Oh, Fiyero. You started smoking again?" Elphaba chided.
"It's been a stressful couple of years, okay!?"
Elphaba and Fiyero halted as they heard guards around the corner from where they were headed. They turned but heard guards around the corner from where they came from.
"Lots of guards on smoke break, huh?"
"We're surrounded…" Fiyero said through a dry throat. He spotted a utility closet and yanked the door open. "Quick, get in."
He pulled on Elphaba's hand but she stayed firmly planted, her face pale and eyes wide as she eyed the closet with dread.
"Come on!"
"No…" she muttered weakly. "It-it doesn't have a light."
"Fae!"
She shook her head. "I'd rather take my chances with the guards."
Fiyero looked back at the closet then back to Elphaba's face. The years had only strengthened her tenacity. Since their reunion in the dungeon alone she'd faced explosions, rifles and threats abound without an inkling of distress. Yet there she stood before him, the Wicked Witch of the West, shaking in her boots at the prospect of hiding in the dark.
"Look at me—hey, look at me. I'll hide with you. I know you're scared but please trust me, Fae," Fiyero whispered hoarsely. He stepped inside the closet and extended his hand desperately. "Do you trust me?"
Elphaba gripped her broom tightly as her eyes sought alternatives and for a heart stopping moment Fiyero feared that she was about to make a run for it. Then, with a nervous groan, Elphaba seized Fiyero's hand with a nod. Fiyero pulled her inside and swiftly closed the door, thrusting them into complete darkness save for the feeble light from the bottom crack. Fiyero could hear Elphaba's breath quickening and felt as her hands grasped blindly at his jacket. Fiyero placed his hands over hers as they fumbled to assure her that he was there.
"Hey, I've got you," Fiyero promised in a hushed tone. "I've got you."
He pulled her flush against him and deftly removed her hat so that he could tuck her head beneath his chin and thoroughly wrap his arms around her trembling form.
"Close your eyes," he whispered against her hair. "I'm right here."
Fiyero felt Elphaba turn her head into his chest and cling to him as tightly as her arms could muster. Racing footsteps and shouts of 'The Witch on the loose' soon echoed beyond the thin closet door, and Fiyero instinctively held Elphaba closer still. His blood pumped anxiously, and he envisioned what action he'd take to protect her were the door to suddenly burst open. However, his fear, though extreme, was secondary to the sensation of holding Elphaba in his arms again.
The storm of steps at last subsided and, satisfied that the threat had passed, Fiyero cautiously opened the door.
"It worked."
Elphaba hastily detached herself from him and exited the closet as if nothing had happened.
"Where's my hat?" she asked, but Fiyero was already placing it back on her head.
"What is it with us and closets, hm?"
"Right," Elphaba said with a curt nod. She gestured towards the direction they were heading. "Where are you leading me?"
"The attic."
The guards followed a false trail that led them down to the throne room to 'defend The Wizard,' providing a clear enough path for Fiyero and Elphaba to flee upwards. Elphaba had a keen sense of déjà vu as she busted into the room to make a speedy escape, but stopped in her tracks upon seeing they weren't alone. Elphaba blinked, at first wondering if she was seeing things. It wouldn't be a far stretch, considering what had transpired between herself and the unexpected guest in this very room.
The room where it all began. The room where it all ended.
"Elphie?"
Elphaba was nearly knocked backwards as Glinda the Good collided into her for a suffocating hug. Elphaba, crushed by layers of tulle, spat blonde curls out of her mouth as she embraced her best friend.
"It's good to see you, Glinda."
"Oh, Elphie. I didn't dare let myself believe it, but it's true! We've rehearsed it so many times," Glinda pulled out of the hug and looked at Fiyero. "A code green, Fiyero! An actual code green!"
"What is a code green—ow!" Elphaba flinched as Glinda suddenly snatched Elphaba's broom and whacked the handle against her arm. "What the hell?"
"That's for shattering all of my windows, you dreadful witch! I oughta confiscate this broom of yours, missy! I'll need it to sweep all of that glass off my balcony."
"Greater good, Glinda," Elphaba reminded her as she snatched her broom back.
"Greater good schm-ater good. My peonies fell right off the windowsill!" Glinda pouted.
Elphaba sized Glinda up, ballgown and all, and took a deep breath.
"You've grown into yourself, Glinda. Pictures simply don't do you justice," Elphaba expressed fondly. "How I've missed you."
Elphaba straightened her shoulders and turned towards Fiyero to speak, but all of the words she'd planned on saying got stuck in her throat the moment their eyes locked.
"Fiyero…you…" she trailed off, which was just as well. Nothing she could say would be sufficient, so instead she said, "…thank you."
Elphaba turned and dashed towards the broken attic skylight. She felt shaky and sick as she fixed for flight and forced herself not to look back.
"Thank you?"
Elphaba stopped and closed her eyes, the willpower she'd mustered flooding out of her at the mere sound of his voice.
"Yes," she replied simply without turning around. "Thank you."
"You burst your way back in here after years of silence and now you're leaving me with thank you?"
"Fiyero—" Glinda put a hand on his arm.
Elphaba braced herself and slowly turned to face Fiyero.
"What would you have me say?"
"Anything! Anything—Oz, Fae. Anything. Anything to explain to me how you can turn your back on me now," Fiyero urged, his voice trembling.
"I am not turning my back on you," Elphaba glared, dropping her broom and heatedly advancing his way. "How dare you say such a thing?"
"How dare I?" Fiyero laughed wildly. "How dare I? Five years ago you left on a train and you took my heart with you. Now you're walking out of my life again like it's nothing—"
"Nothing?!"
"—like it's easy!"
"You think this is easy?!" Elphaba's face screwed up in fury. "You think it's easy for me to leave you?!"
"You sure make it look that way."
"You think that I haven't spent every single night thinking about you, thinking about what I would say, agonizing over what I would do if I ever saw you again?! Losing you was the single hardest thing that has ever happened to me so don't you dare stand there and talk about easy!"
"Why are you leaving then!?"
"BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE YOU!" Elphaba screamed. "I can't have you, Fiyero! I can't stay!"
"You're not staying, you impossible woman!" Fiyero shouted. "I'm coming with you!"
Elphaba stilled as Fiyero's proclamation echoed through the attic.
"You don't know what you're saying," Elphaba said in a hushed tone.
"His bag is packed, Elphie," Glinda spoke up quietly, revealing a small rucksack she'd brought to the attic. "It's been packed for years. You're the code green."
Elphaba, disarmed, searched Fiyero's eyes. "You…you still…"
"Yeah," Fiyero confirmed her unasked question. "Still."
"Fiyero—"
"I love you, Fae."
"Don't."
"I never stopped. Not for a day, not for a moment, not ever."
"Stop it," Elphaba begged, covering her ears with her hands. "Stop it now."
"No!" Fiyero insisted. "I need to say it and you need to hear it. You need to know how I feel. You need to know what your leaving means."
Elphaba abruptly turned her back to Fiyero and shook her head frantically.
"I thought surely…" she muttered to herself, wringing her hands. "I thought that surely by now…"
Elphaba trailed off into silence as her eyes fell upon her abandoned broom. Her arms stretched towards it…then fell limply at her sides. Her head hung low and her feet stayed locked in place. Of course they did. She was stuck. She'd gotten too close and now she was caught.
Caught in his pull.
"I'll stay if you tell me to," Fiyero finally spoke.
Elphaba turned in a flood of relief. "Good because—"
"But it has to be what you want."
"What does that mean?"
"Exactly how it sounds. If you decide to leave here without me I won't try and stop you. But before you do, look me in the eyes and tell me that we're through. Tell me that you do not want me to come. You owe me that much."
"You can't come," Elphaba asserted.
"That's not what I said," Fiyero stepped towards her. "Tell me you don't want me to come."
"You'll slow me down. You'll compromise the cause."
"Tell me," Fiyero crossed closer. "Look me in the eye and tell me."
"It's dangerous. It's far too dangerous!" Elphaba insisted madly.
"Fae," Fiyero stopped in front of her. He reached forward and took her face in his hands. Elphaba's lips quivered and she jerked her head to the side to avoid his gaze. He gingerly tilted it back and Elphaba's breath flew out of her as their eyes met, really met, at last.
"I'll stop waiting," Fiyero whispered, stroking Elphaba's cheekbones with his thumbs. "I'll stop looking for you. I'll even try my best to live a life without you. But my heart can't handle more of the same. If what we have is over…tell me now. Just tell me. Tell me that you don't want me to come."
Elphaba opened her mouth to produce the words Fiyero requested of her, but nothing came out. She couldn't say it—she knew she couldn't say it…and so did he. He'd called her bluff, as he so often did. There were no more tricks for her to try.
"I can't, Yero," Elphaba finally surrendered, covering his hand with hers in a yearning grip. "You know I can't tell you that."
"Still?" Fiyero asked softly.
"Yes," she whispered back. "Still."
A sudden sob broke the moment and they turned to see Glinda weeping where she stood.
"Ignore me! Ignore me, please—" Glinda waved an embarrassed hand. "I'm just…it's just…"
Fiyero rushed towards her pulled her into a strong, parting hug.
"Sweet Oz, Glinda. I never could have gotten through this without you, you know?"
"I always knew this day would come. Oh, Fiyero, I'm so terribly happy!" Glinda sniffled, leaning back to straighten Fiyero's captain jacket. "And so dreadfully sad."
"You're too good for me," Fiyero reminded her before pressing a grateful kiss to her forehead. "Always have been."
"Obviously."
"And you'll be okay?" Elphaba asked.
"Oh, yes. My place is not out there…I knew it years ago and I know it now. I really can't sleep in the dirt, Elphie," Glinda chuckled tearfully. "I'll hold down the fort on the inside…play the jilted fiancée whose no good prince ran off with a wicked old witch. My greatest role to date."
"You have earned your title, Miss Glinda the Good," Elphaba said affectionately. She approached Glinda and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'm sorry about your peonies."
"Now off with you, the both of you!" Glinda cleared her throat and shooed the pair off. She handed Fiyero his rucksack and lifted her chin. "I need to get into character."
"Yes, we should go," Elphaba agreed.
She squared Fiyero's shoulders towards her and tore open his captain's jacket with such force that the buttons clattered off of it. Fiyero couldn't hide his amused smirk as she yanked the garment off his shoulders and tossed it aside, leaving him in his under shirt and suspenders.
"Sheesh, Fae. Wait until we're in private," Fiyero teased.
"Too much wind resistance. You'd better say goodbye to palace living, Tigelaar," she muttered, making sure his rucksack was secure. "There's no goose feathered beds where we're headed. No straight razor shaves either."
"Will you still think I'm sexy with a beard?"
"I'll have to see what it looks like first," Elphaba replied coolly. She positioned her broom to take the lead and nodded for Fiyero to sit behind her. "Don't get precious with me if you're motion sick. I won't be slowing down just because you're new to flying."
"Yes ma'am," Fiyero answered, wrapping his arms tightly around Elphaba's waist.
They turned their heads to Glinda and Elphaba blew a kiss her way.
"I hope you're happy," Elphaba said genuinely.
"You too, Elphie."
Elphaba kicked off the ground and Fiyero wobbled, holding onto Elphaba for dear life as they lifted into the air.
"I'm warning you now," Elphaba turned her head to murmur to Fiyero privately. "This is your last easy out…and there's a long road ahead."
"Will I travel that road with you?"
"Yes."
"Then I say…let's fly."
