Somewhere

I Belong

Chapter 9

Off Balance

Elphaba stood rigid before Atlas, her eyes wide as saucers. Trembling, her mouth flapped open, a muttered squeak skipped along the soft tendrils of silken smoke and mist.

"I…I…him…me…he…and I…me…and him…he…and…and…I…train…I" stammers Elphaba.

"Is she normally so eloquent with her speech?" jokes Quirk, though he quickly regrets his little jibe, at the icy glare being shot his way by Atlas. "Sorry" he murmurs, bowing his head.

Turning, he arches an eyebrow back at Quirk and sneers. "Bad timing my friend…really baad timing"

Whimpering in fear, Quirk takes a cautious step away from the Mage, fear sparkled in his dark emerald eyes as his hand rose and fisted protectively against his chest.

"Don't hurt me!"

Sighing, Atlas slaps the palm of his hand against his forehead, and shakes his head.

"I'm not going to hurt you" muttered Atlas, his words muddled by his hand.

"Oh good" gasps Quirk in relief. Shaking out his limbs, his hand rises and cups the back of his head as he lets out a strangled laugh. "For a moment there…I thought you were going to set me on fire or something"

"No" chuckling, Atlas threw an arm around Quirks shoulders. Roughly, he pulled him closer and clasped his hand against his arm, making him wince in pain. "Setting one on fire is mere child's play"

Chuckling, Atlas led Quirk away from the door, and ignoring the green witch; babbling nonsensically in the corner, led him down the hall.

"Err…where are we going?" asked Quirk.

"Don't worry about it" smiles Atlas. Turning, he leads Quirk down another set of hallways and stops. Grabbing his shirt, he slams him against the wall. "What the hell are you up to!?" he demands.

"I don't know what you mean!" squeaks Quirk.

"Not you" growls Atlas. Annoyed, he rolls his eyes before slamming the Messenger against the wall. "What are the High Elders up too?"

"How in Oz should I know" grunting in annoyance, Quirk grumpily pushed Atlas's hands off his personage, and straightening, he absently wiped away the none-existent dirt from the front of his dress shirt.

"What do you mean you don't know!?" growls Atlas irritated.

"Just as I said" standing tall, Quirk daringly leans in closer, his face but a mere inch away from Atlas's.

"You challenging me boy?" asked Atlas. Growling he steps closer, the tip of his nose bumps hard against Quirks.

"So what if I am" growls Quirk through clenched teeth.

Growling, both men's hands tighten into fists and rising, quiver in the air. A sharp intake of breath and their fists fly.

A sudden high pitched whistle stops both in their tracks. Clenching their eyes, they cringe. Turning, Atlas all but glares at Elphaba, standing a few feet away, two slender fingers pressed tight in her mouth.

"Oz my ears!" cried out Quirk in pain. Clenching his eyes closed, his trembling hands rose and cupped his ears.

"Oh can it you fruit bag…your ears are fine"

"There bleeding!" whined Quirk in mock pain.

"Is he always like this?" asks Elphaba, frowning back at Quirk writhing in pain.

"Unfortunately yes" sighs Atlas. Turning, he stares back at Elphaba, leaning casually against the wall, her slender arms crossed tight against her chest. Sighing, he lifts his gaze towards the heavens, and murmuring a silent prayer, steps over to Elphaba's side.

Immediately, Elphaba stiffened at Atlas's close proximity. Arms falling away, she awkwardly takes a clumsy step back.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" smirked Atlas.

Straightening, Elphaba fists her hands against her hips, and hardening her gaze, takes a threatening step. Determination shined in her eyes to not let this man see her vulnerability, nor her fear.

"No" replies Elphaba in an air of confidence.

"You can't fool me Elphaba" smirked Atlas. Daringly, he steps closer. His smile grew wider, seeing the raven haired witch stiffen. Smiling, his hand rose, and the tips of his fingers lightly ran down the length of her arm. His heart thundered, watching the raven haired witch shudder beneath his touch. Methodically, he leans closer, until his lips were but a whispered breath away from hers. "I can see it in your eyes"

Scoffing, Elphaba angrily pushed Atlas away from her, and standing tall, fisted her hands against her hips.

"Enough playing around" growled Elphaba. "When does my training begin?"

"Now" smiles Atlas.

Aeryella, who had stayed hidden in the shadows, rolls her eyes before smacking the palm of her hand against her forehead.

"What's wrong Arrie?" came a voice. Startled, Aeryella spins on the tips of her heels.

"Bonileea! What in Oz name are you doing…sneaking up on a person like that" scolds Aeryella.

"Sorry" shrugs Bonileea. Stepping closer, a wide, mischievous grin pulls at the tips of her lips. "So…whatcha doing?"

"What business is it of yours?" hisses Aeryella.

"Why…I'm hurt" gasping, Bonileea's slender hand rose and clutched her chest. "Here I am…a concerned friend wishing to make sure that you're alright…and you bite my head off at my good deed" crying, her other hand rises and dramatically presses against her forehead. "I'm so hurt"

"They should have given you the title of 'Drama Queen'" sighs Aeryella. Rolling her eyes, she takes a step closer to Bonileea, and eyeing her, smacks her hard upside the head.

"Hey!...What was that for?" pouting, she rubs the back of her head, as she eyes Aeryella, laughing back at her.

"That's for nothing so you better watch it" quips Aeryella.

"Meanie" sighing, Bonileea's hand slaps down at her side. "Seriously Arrie…what are you doing?"

"What does it matter to you?" bites back Aeryella. Oz, she really wasn't in the mood for this.

"I'm just curious" whimpers Bonileea.

"If you must know" sighing, she turns and watches Atlas and Elphaba disappear down the hallway, leaving a very frazzled Quirk alone, shaking in the shadows. "I was keeping an eye on them" whispers Aeryella, nodding towards the two's disappearing figures.

"Atlas and Elphaba?" asks Bonileea confused. "Why them?"

Turning, she smiles back at the younger Spryte. Winking, she taps the side of her nose with her finger.

"Oh" giggling, she steps closer to Aeryella's side. "This is so exciting!" squeals Bonileea.

Sighing, Aeryella shakes her head.

"What…what is this place?" asks Elphaba in amazement. Her dark chocolate eye stare shocked at the room of mirrors.

"The Chamber of Mirrors" answers Atlas, as he takes a step closer to Elphaba.

"Err" leaning forward, Elphaba's face becomes drawn, and her eyes stare listlessly back at Atlas. "Chamber of Mirrors?" she asks dryly.

"Yes" smiles Atlas.

"You sure it's not a place for you to admire your strong physique…whilst you pose before the mirrors?" jokes Elphaba, straightening.

"No…the mirrors are a tool…a way to watch your movements…to find your weak points and strengthen your stance" answers Atlas, ignoring the snickers behind him.

Sighing, he turns and grabbing onto her arm, pulls her closer and standing her before one of the mirrors, steps away.

"Do you see your stance?" he asked, eyeing her.

"Yes" answers Elphaba, unsure of where Atlas was going with this.

"No you don't" sighs Atlas.

"Yes I do" huffing, Elphaba fists her hands against her hips, turning, glares back at Atlas.

"No…if you did…you would see that your off balance"

"No I'm not" sniffing, she crosses her arms tight against her chest. "I'm perfectly balanced"

Smirking, Atlas steps closer to Elphaba, a mischievous smile crests along his lips as he glares back into warm chocolate.

"Really?" he asks.

"Yes" huffs Elphaba.

Smiling, Atlas suddenly reaches out and pushing her, watches as the young witch stumbles and falls to the ground.

"Perfectly balanced huh?" laughs Atlas.

"Hey! I wasn't ready!" protests Elphaba.

"Sure you weren't" laughs Atlas. Straightening, he stands tall before emerald witch. "Your training begins now"

"Good" growling, Elphaba rises defiantly to her full height. "I'm ready"