AN: I'm sorry for the wait. Thanks to Ultimate Queen of Cliffies for the encouragement.
"I'm telling you," Elphaba flopped beside Zephyr. "They're still following us. Why? There's no bomb. And anyway, when they could have taken it, they didn't. What do they want?"
He eyed the caravan from their copse of trees on the outer edge. "Perhaps you should focus on the more pressing concern."
She sighed. "He's just using the bathroom."
"So you say." He didn't spare her a look. "But you've not proven yourself the most reliable, either."
"Now you think I'm a double agent?"
"Lower your voice."
She did, leaning forward. "Yes, because I ran into someone from university and couldn't lie my way out, clearly I must be a master deceiver."
"I don't think you're a double agent. I think you're naïve."
She glared. If she were naïve, she'd hate to see experienced.
"But genuine." The soft words came without matching expression, but from Zephyr, he might as well have hugged her. "I said as much to command."
She stiffened. If ordered, she knew Zephyr would put a bullet between her eyes no matter what grudging affection he seemed to have for her. But he stuck his neck out for her, nonetheless. She gruffed her thanks as awkwardly as he received it.
"Perhaps you should go locate your beau."
She rolled her eyes. "Beau? How old-fashioned are you?"
His eyes flicked up, and back away.
She huffed. "Fine, I'll go find him." She dusted the dirt from her pants as she stood. "But not because he's my beau. I haven't got a beau. Or a corsage to the cotillion. What will my Ama say?"
"He'll say stop jabbering and get moving."
She burst in laughter at the image of him in a stuffy Ama's dress. He shot her a look, and she backed away, hands up and still fighting a wave of mirth.
She left him to his vigil and ducked through the underbrush. Avaric. How had she been so wrong about him? Not that he was a spy, necessarily. A liar, definitely, but maybe not a double agent.
Maybe he wanted to spare her feelings. Had another girl on the side or something.
Or maybe he was lying in wait to murder her for the Wizard. Even odds.
She swung around a thick oak, and nearly smacked into the back of the tall man pursuing them. With a jolt, she threw herself flat against the trunk out of view. Her heart pounded, but no one came after her.
"They're over that ridge," came the girl's voice, approaching from the far side. "Looks like setting camp for the night."
A rustle of grass and feet.
"Not the worst idea."
It fell quiet. But she'd guess they hadn't left. Not without some noise at least.
She dropped low and peeked around the tree trunk. Inch by cautious inch she ducked low to blend in to the bracken. She edged around without so much as a blade of grass whispering against another.
Her stealth was unnecessary. The pair was so wrapped up in each other, she could have danced by in an elephant costume with sparklers for all they'd notice.
"Taking notes?"
She spun around with an elbow out, but Avaric caught her. He tipped her against the bark, covering her mouth.
"Shh, I know. I shouldn't have snuck up on you," he whispered so close to her ear that she felt his lips move. "But I'd rather not be caught. They're more aware than they look. They followed me halfway across the forest. Finally had to piss with an audience."
She shifted, and he loosened his grip. But didn't move back. She glanced down at his hand and lifted her eyebrows. He grinned.
"You're right. We're much better." He dipped down for a kiss, and his lying, treacherous face still made her want to let him.
She pinched his shoulder, and it jerked up painfully. She shoved him back.
"Okay, fine," he whispered, rubbing the sore muscle. "That's a little overkill for a kiss considering I've seen you naked, don't you think?"
"What was that?" The couple broke apart, and she ducked against the tree trunk, Avaric flat over her.
She elbowed his ribs, and he glared at her. He flung a hand out, as if asking where she expected him to go.
The man chuckled. "If I have to tell you the answer to that-"
"Not you." The grass rustled again. "Over here."
Avaric flattened her into the tree trunk, but she glared at him before the kiss could land. "Every time," she mouthed. Oz, learn a new move already.
He pouted.
They'd been in pursuit for days by now. Kissing her would hardly make her less recognizable.
Wait it out or run? She weighed the options, and landed on the side of freezing. They could always run if seen. She tugged Avaric closer to pull him out of sight, but he misunderstood. His lips fell on her collarbone, and she rolled her eyes.
Well, if it kept him quiet, she supposed it wasn't torture.
The scratchy bark dug into her back as he pressed his warm body over hers. Her leg hitched on its own toward his hips. She had to admit, he really did fit her body perfectly.
Avaric's thumb trailed over her stomach in soft circles, his hand flat on her hip. She felt herself responding to his touch, and shoved him away. If they hadn't been caught by now, they weren't going to be.
A gasp on the other side of the thick trunk sent them both skittering back. It seemed the other boy had the same idea as Avaric, only with a much more willing partner.
She felt lecherous just hearing.
They toed through the grass until past the lovebirds' hearing. "Never thought we'd be part of an orgy."
She strode ahead without response.
"Hey." He caught her hand and tugged her back. "What gives?"
She tucked her head forward. "About what?"
"Are you still mad about before? Look, sorry, but I'm not sorry. It's nothing against you as an agent. I just didn't want you to get hurt."
He seemed so genuine. How could he be this good at lying? "It's fine. Whatever."
"It's not fine." He reached for her, and she jerked away. "See? Why are you so mad at me?"
She so longed to snap at him, vent exactly why. But if he were a double agent, they'd need to use him. He'd have to believe her. He couldn't know she knew. "Not mad."
"Then why are you suddenly acting like you'd rather eat live eel than let me touch you?"
"Look, you had your shot. It was fun. You're a fairly good screw, even." He narrowed his eyes at the course language, recognizing it for what it was – a distancing tool. "But it got in the way, so it's over."
"Weren't kidding about the little girl and her doll, then, huh."
His face flushed, and she adopted a cool tone. "Yep. If you're done boring me now, let's get back to camp so I can get some sleep."
He flung a hand out in mock submission, and she led him back toward Zephyr. He let her get several steps as a head start before saying, "You'd be better rested if your doll hadn't been fucking you, huh?"
She whirled on him. Of all the gall. He was the liar. He didn't deserve to feel angry. "Never said you weren't a good lay. Just not a good partner."
"You want to talk good partner?"
She matched his step forward, and they stood nearly toe-to-toe, eyes defiant. "Feel free. I've saved your ass as much as you've saved mine."
His hand came toward her face, and she flinched. But he only cupped her cheek. "I know."
The change in his tone unsettled her. It was…sad. Hurt. She preferred angry.
"Zephyr's waiting. Oz knows what tragedy he'll think we've committed if we're gone another ticktock."
"Right. Zephyr."
She let him move back, even though every part of her screamed to pull him close. Her anger bled into guilt, worsening by the devastated acceptance in his eyes. She wanted to confess her fears, and let him explain himself. She couldn't help but think this whole disaster was her fault now. Like it was all some silly misunderstanding that she should let him clear up.
But she couldn't. He'd lied. And if she couldn't trust him now, it was his own damn fault.
"I told you they were following us," she announced as they reached camp. "Cornered Rho. That's why he was late."
Zephyr glanced over his shoulder. "Ah."
She expected Avaric to retort, but he took a seat without speaking.
"So why haven't they rejoined the Force, then? It's not like we're doing anything interesting."
"Certainly not like they are," he murmured under his breath. She shot him a look, but he turned to Zephyr. "What if they aren't Gale Force after all?
"What do you mean?"
"Who says the Resistance is the only resistance?" Avaric propped himself against a tree. "Maybe there are others after the Wizard."
She bent forward. "Maybe they're not following us at all." She replayed what she'd overheard. They hadn't specified who was setting up camp.
"Maybe they could help."
Zephyr's eyes snapped up at that. "So you'd announce our presence to them?"
"Oh, please. They already know we're here. We could capture them, if it's only two. See what they know."
"Offering to interrogate again? You were fairly adamant last time."
He flushed. Elphaba pushed away the image of him, blood-speckled and hollow-eyed. "Let's strike first. Steal Calypso, or disable it, or whatever. If we're pursued, they can take the fall."
"A bit heartless."
She shrugged. "Shouldn't be stalking us if they aren't willing to accept the consequences."
Zephyr eyed the caravan for a long moment. "Alright, Fae, we'll try it your way."
They both stared at him in shock. Zephyr listened to someone? Particularly her? On a wild, risky idea like this?
"Once they settle down."
"Now? We should at least send for back up first." Was that fear in Avaric's eyes? No time to warn anyone, at least without them seeing.
Zephyr shook his head. "I won't have us miss our chance. Tonight."
"If we sent word now, maybe-"
"We're not sending for anyone." The finality in Zephyr's tone made Avaric deflate. Was it frustration at their risk, or disappointment he wouldn't learn how to reach other cells? If the Wizard knew that, he could dismantle the entire Resistance in one fell swoop.
"We don't need back up." She studied the edge of the camp. "But we could use a few weapons."
"Maybe you and I could sneak up in the meantime? Grab a couple guns from those men on the outskirts." And warn the rest of the camp.
She scoffed. "You? Sneak up? You couldn't sneak up on a blind hippo."
He glared at her, and she tossed back a falsely broad smile.
"No one's going to steal weapons," Zephyr dusted his hands on his pants. "Including you, Fae. I don't care how stealthy you are." She shrugged noncommittally. "We'll go at first watch change."
He rummaged in his pack for some canned meat tins, which they each opened, lounging against the tree trunks. The smell of rain hung in the air with the threat of a storm. She tipped up the collar of her jacket and hoped it would hold off.
"So what's our objective? Steal the Calypso, or kill the Wizard?"
Zephyr swallowed a mouthful. "I'll find and neutralize the Wizard, while you and Rho do likewise with Calypso." He met her eyes, and she nodded. If Avaric was a double agent, Zephyr was putting her in charge of him.
They finished their dinner, and Elphaba stood up to stretch. "Much longer?"
"Another circuit."
They toed along the treeline, and watched in silence.
The guard ambled around the camp. He seemed in no hurry to wander far before shift change. Hurry up, she willed him. Think of the warm bed waiting. The tension crept up her spine, and she rocked her head. Loose. Relaxed. That's what made for stealth.
Finally, he turned the corner, and Zephyr led them down, tucked low in a half-crouch. Her pulse sped up despite her intentions. So they strolled into the lion's den? Just pluck out its mane, and run back out, easy as pie. Not suicidal at all.
Zephyr turned right at the first aisle without a backwards glance. She turned left. They edged through the shadows to reach the aisle between tents. Then she bolted across, a burst of silent energy. No one saw, and she edged toward the next. They worked through row after row this way without incident.
She sprang forward on the fourth aisle, and the guard turned. She flung herself back flat. Had she been seen? She didn't think so. She turned to Avaric to warn him back, but he wasn't there.
She frowned. Where had he gone?
A shadow shifted a couple rows back, too dark to tell. It must be him. He hadn't time to get farther.
She slid through the shadows, too quick to be stealthy, but too lithe to be caught. Or so she hoped. She tucked around the tent, and he passed under a light. Avaric, alone. No gun to his head. No excuse. Only a purposeful stride that brought a sinking feeling to her gut.
"What are you doing?" she hissed, too soft to be heard. "Idiot."
As she sprinted after him, a guard crossed the aisle. Damn. Damn. Damn. She dove into roll. Between the tents again, she tucked into the shadows. She slowed her breath and peeked up from the ground.
He squinted in her direction, but the guard didn't move to investigate. She willed him to dismiss her. He took a step toward her.
"Hey, Yier. Got a light?"
He turned back to his friend, and she sagged back in relief. She crawled up and out of view completely, backtracking to the past aisle.
No one walked here, but a flap fluttered three rows down. She slipped closer, with more caution this time. It might not be Avaric, even, but she didn't have any other lead.
The tent loomed larger than those around it, and the pit in her stomach churned. The Wizard's tent, if she had to bet. Or Calypso. Maybe he stayed on mission, and planned to destroy it.
Or she was a fool, and Zephyr had been right all along.
She longed to rush in, see for certain as much as she dreaded the truth, but as she neared, several officers bustled past. This must be a central path. A guard cut off one approach, and she ducked back, almost straight into another's view.
"Go away," she hissed in frustration. Even below a whisper, she kicked herself for the noise.
They didn't hear, and certainly didn't listen. In fact, the one approaching from the left would see her in a moment or two. She pressed as close against the tent fabric as she dared. She shut her eyes. The green of her skin might pass for shadow, but not the white of her eyes.
The steps thunked closer on the hard dirt. She held her breath. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Her lungs screamed for air. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. She chanced a whisper of air out, and in. No shout. No sharp metal tearing through her. She opened her eyes. The guard waved at the other from a dozen paces ahead.
She let out the breath, and toed the edge of the shadow.
"Smells like rain."
"Nah, that's Yertl's cooking."
Their chatter washed over her as she studied the tent. What was Avaric up to? Would she be too late?
Then the first guard patted the other's back. "Warm thoughts, huh?"
She'd be damned if she waited a second more. Reckless from her frustration, she darted across. Too fast. The first guard turned, squinted.
With a silent curse, she through caution to the wind and threw herself into the tent, out of sight. Avaric whirled on her, eyes wide, as she fell to her hands and knees from the inertia of her dive. She peeked up at him. "Alright, I guess I'm not so stealthy either."
He didn't laugh. "What are you doing here, Fae?"
She took in the knife he had pressed to Zephyr's throat, and the otherwise empty tent. "Um, I don't think that's the question."