Author's note:

So I wrote this little scene while procrastinating working on my exposé for my master thesis and other things. I was literally sitting in the institute where my lab is, pretending to work, and wrote this one-shot. My procrastination has come out of hand! So yeah, here it is.

I hope you enjoy it! :)

Elphaba was sitting on the step of the fountain, her long hair open, glasses on, and a book in her hands. She wasn't really reading though. Her eyes kept wandering off the page, to Fiyero. He was explaining and demonstrating a traditional Arjiki dance to eager onlookers.

A smile tugged at her lips. He was so natural and easy-going in everything he did. She knew, of course, that he wasn't always as happy as he liked everyone else to believe, but he was clearly enjoying this. Dancing. And he was an excellent dancer. His movements were simultaneously relaxed and elegant, a combination only he could master. The way his feet quickly stepped on the floor, the swift movements of his hands, and his body pirouetting, was mesmerizing.

"This is a dance you can either dance on your own," he said, "or with a partner."

He turned around, still dancing, and came to a halt in front of Elphaba, who had hidden behind her book. Fiyero gently took it from her hands and placed it on the step next to her. He was still smiling, unfazed by his friend's glare, and held a hand out to her.

"What are you doing?" Elphaba asked, eyeing his hand distrustfully.

"I'm asking you to dance with me, obviously."

"I'm busy reading."

"You and I both know that you have been 'reading' the same page for twenty minutes now," he whispered, smirking at her.

Elphaba blushed. He was more perceptive than she thought. "Why are you asking me?" she tried again, looking past him to the onlooking students, "Ask someone else. I'm sure they are much more eager to dance with you than me."

Fiyero's gaze remained fixed on her. "What a pity, because it turns out that you are just the perfect partner for this."

"What a pity indeed," she deadpanned but Fiyero wasn't deterred by that. He opened his palm a little bit further, raising his eyebrows expectantly at her. Elphaba sighed and finally took his hand. "What am I getting myself into..."

He gently pulled her to her feet and began walking backwards a few steps, pulling her with him. "Into the magical land of Arjiki dancing," he announced with a dramatic bow, making Elphaba laugh despite herself.

They came to a halt in the middle of the crowd, and Elphaba could feel every single gaze burning into her. She stiffened. Her eyes flitted over several faces, some hostile, others indifferent or even intrigued.

"Rule number one: Don't neglect your partner," said Fiyero, tugging lightly at her hand.

Elphaba's eyes snapped back to him. "I didn't know you were one for rules."

"I'm not. Except when it comes to dancing. Also," he added with a mischievous smile, "If you know the rules, you can break them." He raised her arm above her head and made her twirl once, before he pulled her towards him.

"As long as you don't break my neck or anything…" she trailed of when she came to a halt just a step away from him.

"In this dance, the partners start in front of each other like this, both hands held between them...yes, perfect." Their palms touched, hands held at chest level. Elphaba's eyes drifted off to the side again when whispers erupted from some students. "Remember rule number one, Elphaba."

She sighed but looked back up at him. "What's rule number two, then?"

"Relax."

Elphaba hesitated. "Is that the rule or a request?"

Fiyero chuckled. "Both. Now quit distracting, I'm not letting you off the hook so easily. You can return to your 'reading' after this dancing lesson."

"I can't believe it: Fiyero Tiggular, Mr. 'Who needs lessons?', is trying to teach me something!"

"Now, jump to the side like this…" he said, ignoring her comment, and Elphaba tried her best to mimic the complicated steps he was doing. She was failing miserably but Fiyero was patient. "There, almost perfect. Try not to look too much at your feet, remember rule number one, it will make everything much easier, perfectly leading into rule number two."

Elphaba groaned. ""Why do I get the feeling that you're making these rules up as you go?" She let go of his hands to do something resembling a pirouette, stumbling over her own feet. She swore under her breath.

Fiyero caught her hand, stabilizing her. "Rule number three: Don't question the rules."

They made some quick steps to the side and pirouetted, and Elphaba stumbled again. "Oz, I'm so bad at this."

Fiyero chuckled, gently taking her hands and guiding her through the next steps. "Relax, it's just a dance."

"Easy for you to say."

"Stop thinking so hard."

Elphaba snorted. "Said Mr. Brainless."

"You're so charming, Miss Thropp."

"I thought that was your job."

Elphaba uttered a sound of surprise when he dipped her. For a moment she thought she was going to fall but his hold on her was secure. His arm supported her back and his other hand was still holding hers. Their faces were merely a few inches apart. "Yes, it is."

"Are you trying to kill me?" squeaked Elphaba and looked away from his blue eyes, her heart racing.

"With my charms, yes."

She looked back up at him. He winked at her, and she just rolled her eyes. "You'll have to work on your charms, I'm not dying yet," she said, though she could feel her blood rushing to her face.

Fiyero pulled her up again. "I guess I'll have to put in more effort, then, Miss Thropp."

Elphaba blinked, trying to keep her breath even. Their faces were still close, too close, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from Fiyero's face as they continued their dance. His lips were curled into a soft smile, and their was a boyish expression in his eyes. She blamed her racing pulse on the exercise and the high amount of concentration she needed to not make a complete fool out of herself.

A snicker from the audience was a welcome distraction. Her gaze slipped from his face, to the students, and she tripped over Fiyero's feet before she could glare at them.

"Damn, sorry. I'm sorry," she said, stopping them both, "I just can't seem to get this right."

Fiyero shook his head and gently nudged her into the next turn, but it was difficult. Elphaba had stiffened again. "Don't think about the dance moves, just feel."

"The music? The embarrassment?"

"I could sing for you, if it makes it easier."

"Oz, please don't."

Fiyero pretended to be hurt. "Why, do you think I'm a horrible singer?"

Elphaba shook her head. "I never heard you sing, so who knows?"

"Oh, my chance has come to sweep you off your feet!" Fiyero exclaimed and Elphaba snorted.

"Just try."

And suddenly she was lifted up, his arms supporting her under her knees and her back.

"Swept you off your feet," he sang, a triumphant and self-satisfied look on his face.

Elphaba squirmed in his arms, surprised and very cross. "Put me down, Fiyero, now."

"Miss Thropp?"

Elphaba's and Fiyero's heads turned. Dr. Dillamond had approached them, and, to Elphaba's utter mortification, found her in the prince's arms of all places.

"Dr. Dillamond," Elphaba said breathlessly, her face heating up, pushing against Fiyero to let go of her. He gently lowered her down, mumbling a quick 'sorry about that'. Elphaba straightened her skirt hastily before she dared to look the professor in the eye.

"Dr. Dillamond, how do you do?" Fiyero said more casually.

Dr. Dillamond seemed amused, which didn't help lessening her embarrassment. "I'm sorry to interrupt you two, but I need your help with an experiment." He shot Fiyero a curious look from over his spectacles. "I hope, young Fiyero can spare you for a while?"

"Yes, he can," Elphaba said before Fiyero could come up with another way to embarrass her, and stepped away from him. "You have come just in time, Dr. Dillamond, for the end of my last dancing lesson." She glared at Fiyero before she walked to the professor, trying not to look like she was fleeing from the prince.

"See you later, Elphaba!"

Elphaba suppressed an eye roll at the cheerful tone in Fiyero's voice. She was sure that he was waving and grinning like an idiot. Dr. Dillamond was looking at his student from the corner of his eyes, as they walked down the path to the science building.

"He's a charming young man, this Fiyero," he commented, after a while.

"He's a friend," Elphaba said too quickly, feeling the need to clarify that.

Dr. Dillamond chuckled. "I didn't question that."

Author's note:

This was fun to write, I hope it was fun to read! Please leave a review :3

PS: I've totally invented and improvised Fiyero's "traditional dance", so I hope you were not too confusified :P Take Fiyero's advice, don't think too hard about the steps, just feel it ;D