First off, I want to deeply apologize for the long wait. I've been stuck on what to do for this chapter, but with motivation from some current events (I'm going to see Wicked on Broadway!) I've finally stopped procrastinating and got of my lazy arse to do it!
I also apologize for all the typos/mistakes in my work—my spell check doesn't always work, and I type way too fast sometimes, so don't always catch it. My apologies for that.
Also, thanks to MyLittleElphie, MusicGal, ElphabaLover101, woodland59, Elphaba'sGirl, RavenCurls, victorria17, NymeriaFae, and James Birdsong for the lovely reviews! You guys are awesome!
Anyway, here goes.
"Well?"
Fiyero winced for a moment, trying to find the right words. "I was hoping that if I acted like, well… a jerk, maybe my parents would notice me a bit more."
He only earned a glare from the green girl, so he continued in hopes of redemption, "My parents, being the king and queen, were always busy… growing up, I was lucky to have them remember they had a son. Every time I tried to be good, they assumed I was perfectly fine the way I was. So I tried acting bad in hopes of them finally giving me the time of day… but that didn't work either. I guess it was a bit stupid to think it would work, but they were always occupied."
"A bit stupid? More like entirely brainless!" the emerald witch muttered. Fiyero groaned, "I was desperate, okay? I was just tired of them always shutting me out!"
"They were running a kingdom, Fiyero," Elphaba groaned, giving him a frustrated look, "you should have understood that."
"You wouldn't know what it was like to have your parents ignore you, so don't say I should have understood that," the pale boy retorted, returning the glare. His eyes softened within seconds, noticing how she cringed at his words and turned her head away.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
Fiyero scoffed, "I don't believe you, Fae."
"Fae?" Elphaba repeated, her eyes narrowed dangerously, although anyone could see the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. Fiyero shrugged, "Elphaba sounds too long, and Fae suits you."
"Can you do me a favor when you call me that?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't," she scoffed. Fiyero groaned, "At least you're not getting called Fifi." There was a moment of pure silence, before Elphaba started to cackle. "Fifi? Who came up with that?"
"Glinda," Fiyero stated plainly, "now stop laughing. At least you didn't have to suffer her nicknames." Yet he couldn't stop himself from snickering either. "Oh, but I did," Elphaba grinned, "I was Elphie for the longest time at Shiz." Fiyero gave off a smug grin, "Elphie? If you don't like Fae, may I call you that instead?"
"How about you just call me Elphaba?" she groaned. Fiyero could tell she was holding back her giggles, so he pressed on. "That isn't exactly up to you, Elphie," he teased.
"On second thought, Fae is perfectly fine… Fifi."
The boy's face lit up bright red, "Don't you start with me, Elphie." "Then don't you start, either!" she retorted. Fiyero just smirked, "Come up with something original, then. Or I'll be forced to use Glinda's nickname as well." He was acting as though her nicknames could kill, which only added to Elphaba's difficulty in suppressing her laughter. She had no idea why she was so giddy right now, considering normally she would just snap at people for annoying her. But for some reason, Fiyero made it impossible for her to be sarcastic. It was like he was bringing out that silly, bubbly side she could have been.
Or he was just channeling the inner Glinda in her, she wasn't sure which.
Elphaba thought for a moment, "Captain?" Fiyero bantered, "Aww, you respect my authority over you." "Nevermind," she scoffed, giving him a playful glare, "how about Brainless?" Fiyero just groaned, "I said an original nickname, half the population in Oz calls me that!" A few giggles slipped out, "Seriously?"
"Well… maybe I was exaggerating. Probably more than half."
She chuckled again, not quite sure why she was laughing at all. "Would Yero work?" Fiyero was silent for a moment, as if processing what she said. It was after a few seconds he smiled, "Yero and Fae? I like it."
"Good. Can we stop goofing off now?"
"You know you're enjoying the goofing off though."
"Am not!
"Are too!"
Elphaba groaned, "Don't you even start this with me, Yero." There was a long pause, both of them staring in different directions.
"… Are too."
Then she busted out in unstoppable giggles. She couldn't figure out why she found this so funny. It wasn't even that funny, yet she couldn't stop her giddy behavior.
Perhaps she was starting to really like this guy…