For A Candy Cane A Day on the Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.
In a land far from Oz, Elphaba and Fiyero stand on a wooden porch and watch as heavy rain pounds against dirt. Elphaba sighs, leaning against Fiyero. His strawed arm winds against her waist and, although she should be used to it by now, it's a sensation that makes her skin burn.
"I can't believe it worked," Elphaba said. She reached out, letting the raindrops fall on her bare hand. "Only a fool would believe that water could kill a witch."
Fiyero hummed, his fingers rubbing small circles on her side. "There are a lot of fools in Oz."
He says it with such sincerity that Elphaba can't help but laugh. He starts and gives her a curious look, the corners of his lips curved up into a smile.
"What?"
"Nothing." Maybe Elphaba is just easily amused these days. The prospect of a lifetime in exile can do that to a girl. After a moment, she says quietly, "I miss it sometimes."
"You miss Glinda," Fiyero corrects without hesitation. "I miss her too."
Elphaba supposes that might be true. She pulls her hand back into the shelter, drying it quickly by swiping it on her dress. She curls into Fiyero, pressing her face into the crook of his neck. It isn't that she isn't happy—being with Fiyero has gifted her more happiness than she had ever hoped before—but there is a dullness in Elphaba's heart that she can't shake. It's a dullness that she's sure would be fixed with a Glinda-esque sparkle.
"It hurts now," Fiyero says softly. "It'll hurt for a while, but eventually it will pass."
Elphaba wonders when Fiyero became so philosophical.
"I'm sure it will."
As soon as the words leave her lips, she wishes she could take them back. It feels like a lie. And Elphaba knows that lying is a wicked thing to do.