So come and hold me darlin' cause you captured me/
and oh come and love me darlin', cause you move me/
You make me glad to be here, you help me to believe
~o0o~
Elphaba backpedaled from the carriage and dropped her school bag. Nothing mattered. Absolutely nothing mattered.
She climbed into the back seat, plopping herself into Fiyero's lap.
He snorted and lifted his head, his eyes widening.
"Av, don't buy the absinthe again," he said. "I'm still seeing the green fairy."
"Not a fairy," she said and stuck out her hand. "Hi there, Elphaba Thropp."
He looked at her over his sunglasses and shook her hand.
"Fiyero Tiggular. What can I do for you?"
"I'm stuck in a time loop and have decided to do whatever I can to make something happen," she said. "Want to make out?"
"Wow," Av scoffed.
Fiyero tipped his head. "I dunno…"
"Fair enough," she said and started to get up.
"Well, that wasn't a no," said Fiyero quickly.
"Wasn't a yes, either," she countered, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not going to force myself onto you, no matter how deranged I get with this time loop."
"Are you really green?" he asked.
"Uh-huh."
"But you're not a fairy?"
"My parents aren't," she said. "I was just born like this. It's not contagious. I was tested extensively for the cause."
"And they didn't find any mental issues with that?"
She didn't blame him for being suspicious, she did sound nuts.
"Not unless you count abnormally fast development," said Elphaba. "I was talking and reading pretty early. Half the people in town thought it was because I was a demon. As far as I know, this time loop is not a result of mental illness, but it sure is causing it."
"Fair enough," he said and looked thoughtful for a moment. "Okay. Why not? Let's make out."
Elphaba scooted closer and simply pecked him on the lips to give him the chance to back out.
Fiyero barely considered it and pulled her back in, kissing her deeply.
The air seemed to rush out of her all at once and she was glad she was sitting down because her knees went weak and her brain was going 'whee!'. Her arms slapped around his neck, nothing quite so graceful as the grand kisses she'd been an uncomfortable witness to.
They broke apart after what felt like both an eternity and much too soon.
Elphaba's glasses had fogged up and Fiyero's sunglasses had gone askew.
Instead of simply satisfying her curiosity, Elphaba was hungry for another taste. She felt the absence more strongly than before and wanted to feel his arms around her once more. To kiss those lips again and again.
Get a grip. His curiosity could very well be satiated.
"Huh. So that's what all the fuss is about," she said nonchalantly.
"Yeah…" He blinked slowly and removed his sunglasses. "So, uh… when do you find out if the time loop is broken?"
"Ten a.m. tomorrow."
"Then… we should probably do that again," he said. "Just to be sure. I am a prince, I have a natural ability to break curses."
Elphaba tittered, a sound she'd swear she never made in her life, thrilled he also wasn't satisfied with just one long kiss.
"Is that true?" she asked.
"Actually, most curses in fairytales end with time, violence, or death than a kiss from royalty," he admitted.
"I've already died a couple times and it didn't work," said Elphaba.
"Kissing it is," he said and drew her back in.
Elphaba leaned into him, threading her fingers through his curls. They were as soft and fluffy as she thought they'd be.
Fiyero leaned her back onto the seat.
His driver was making himself scarce, so this must've been a normal occurrence. Elphaba frankly didn't care if it was or not.
For this moment, someone was kissing her and kissing her and kissing her and she was kissing them back. Her heart had never beat so fast and her hands seemed to have minds of their own.
Fiyero broke away from her lips to press his own to a pulse point on her neck. The sensation made her gasp and shiver.
He groaned softly as her nails dragged down his back and he recaptured her lips.
Each moment spent kissing him pulled her farther away from the girl who was okay with never knowing physical affection. She didn't know when Fiyero would decide he had enough, but for as long as he wanted to explore her, she was perfectly happy to do the same.
Hell, she might just go all the way right there in the back of the carriage where anyone could see. Any sense of control she had was gone, not that she had a great grasp of it to begin with.
And Fiyero, Fiyero, Fiyero filled up her senses. His cologne enveloped her; he touched her without hesitation or fear; his lips were soft, yet left her weak all over.
"Ahem!"
Fiyero removed his hand from Elphaba's thigh to wave off whoever was standing there.
Not now, no one could stop them. Elphaba cupped his cheeks and nipped his lower lip. She felt him grin just before he crushed back into her.
"Your Highness? Your Highness!"
Pulling apart with a funny sounding 'pop!' Fiyero looked up in annoyance and Morrible's eyes widened, her lips pinching in shock.
"Miss Elphaba?!"
Snapped back to reality, Elphaba got a hold of herself. Time to leave before she crossed a boundary.
"Morning, Madame Morrible," she said and sat up.
The crowd that had gathered to watch and judge the people making out in public gasped upon seeing her. She did look pretty rumpled.
Her hair had come out of its braid, her hat was missing, her blouse was starting to become unbuttoned, and one of her garters had become unclasped.
Fiyero was no less rumpled: there was an imprint of her glasses on his cheek, his vest was half off, and his face was flushed. He had more tattoos on his chest.
Elphaba untangled her hair from the rings on his right hand. He grinned sheepishly, his eyes flickering over her in a way that made her excited.
"Elphaba?!" Nessa squawked. "What are you doing?!"
"Rolling out the welcome wagon." She climbed out of the carriage and scooped up her bag. "Well… bye."
"You're just gonna leave me?" Fiyero pouted.
"I don't need a tour of campus," she said.
"What are you doing tonight?" he asked.
"If you can find me, we'll do whatever you want," she said and reached into her hair.
She swapped her boots for her skates and left.
Fiyero watched her leave—her long, curly hair bouncing and swaying behind her—and sighed dreamily, resting his chin on his hand.
"I think I'm gonna like it here," he said.
"Ahem."
Oh. Yeah.
Fiyero climbed out of the carriage, still a little weak-kneed and flushed.
"Your Highness," said Morrible. "Allow me to welcome you to Shiz University. I see you are already… acquainted with Miss Thropp. I have selected her to help you get up to speed in your lessons. She is my prized pupil. Please allow her to influence you rather than the reverse."
It was amazing her mouth didn't go lop-sided with her need for emphasis. The way she said 'prized' sent a chill down Fiyero's spine.
"Yes, ma'am," he said for a lack of anything else, especially since making out wasn't even his idea.
"Now, I believe a tour is in order, and while we are at it, your professors have been kind enough to put together make up work for you that will affect your score for the remainder of the semester."
No. The longer he was here, the farther away that girl would go. What did she say her name was again? That's right. Elphaba.
Elphaba.
It was a pretty common name. He ran into some variant of an Elphaba or three at every school he ever attended, but this one was anything but common.
He'd never had a stranger ask to kiss him before. They usually just pounced and kissed him as if that would make him fall madly in love with them. It was never a pleasant experience no matter how attractive the girl was.
The fact that Elphaba asked and was going to accept a 'no' was probably why he agreed. Even if this time loop thing was a ploy or some delusion, she still seemed to have a line that she didn't cross.
And damn was he glad he said yes. He hadn't enjoyed kissing that much in a long time. Not since—
"Oh, Madame Morrible!" a beautiful blonde called, stepping forward. "I would be more than happy to give His Highness a tour."
"Then I will leave him in your hands, Miss Galinda," said Madame Morrible. "Good day."
Fiyero dragged his fingers through his hair and exhaled slowly.
"Who was that?" he asked and looked around, trying to remember which direction Elphaba left in.
"You poor thing!" Galinda cooed, slipping her hands around Fiyero's bicep. "Getting attacked by the Artichoke like that."
"The what?"
A girl who seemed to be a poor man's Galinda snickered.
"She is a 'what', isn't she?"
"Do you mean Elphaba? The green girl?"
Another satellite nodded.
"All she ever does is make people miserable."
If that was misery…
"I dunno," he said. "I thought she was pretty groovy."
Did he throw his usual party and hope she attended? Strangely enough he could recall having his heart set on it before he fell asleep in the carriage, but now it just seemed… boring. He was much more interested in chasing after Elphaba.
"Any idea where she might have gone?" he asked.
Galinda paused, her grip loosening.
"No. We're roommates, but we don't really talk to each other."
"She's a freak," said Satellite One. "Just forget about her, Your Highness. She's got private lessons from Morrible, she probably put you under some spell."
"I'm immune to love spells," said Fiyero, taking a step back. "Any kind of magic that affects the brain, actually. Guess I'm too stupid for them to be effective."
"I heard her skin was contagious," the third satellite piped up.
Fiyero hated when people put down others to make themselves seem amazing by comparison.
"Well, on with the tour," said Galinda, taking his arm once again. "Much to see and I hear your parties are the thing of legend. Do you always throw one when you arrive at a new school?"
"Usually," he said and was unable to shake from his senses the smell of lavender, the faint taste of peanut butter, the way his hair lay mussed up from fervent fingers, nor the sight of eyes that carried a weighty sadness briefly relieved by human connection.
He could take the tour tomorrow. Get his assignments later. He wasn't sure why he wanted to find Elphaba so badly. After all, he'd kissed a lot of beautiful girls. Even some who were bold and asked him out instead of posturing and hoping he would notice them 'first'.
Never had a person claim he had to kiss them because she was trapped in a time loop, though. Not that she said he had to, she said she just wanted to make something happen.
Fiyero spun around and headed back to where he met her. He needed to find out why he wanted her so much. It couldn't be magic, they had done so many tests on him. Hypnosis, love spells, love potions, spells to induce insanity, none of them ever worked.
He stood back at where the carriage once was and wiggled his hands, trying to think of the direction she went.
If he was a green woman with a reputation for being studious and was stuck in a time loop, where would he go? He adjusted his satchel and went left.
The path seemed kind of familiar. He hadn't been to Shiz in a while, but he was confident he could find his way around. The problem was that Shiz was huge and she was on roller skates. He checked inside a secondhand shop and a few cafés and several bookstores before ending up at the library.
He approached the creaky old librarian who had been there since his sisters would drag him here when their parents brought them to meetings. City Hall was right across the plaza, so meetings were held there with government officials sometimes. Fiyero and his sisters had to stay within the area.
He always voted for the park while Pip and Tzennia always outvoted him in favor of the library.
"Hi there," he said. "You haven't happened to see a woman with green skin, have you?"
"Oh, yes," said the old lady. "Comes in once a week or so. She left just a moment ago."
Fiyero was elated.
"Thanks!" he said and left.
Okay, he would have passed her if she had gone his way, so he continued to the park and walked along one of the trails, looping around and keeping an eye out for her.
Finally, he stopped and backpedaled, spotting a willow tree that seemed just a touch too green and lush for autumn.
Taking a chance, he approached and saw someone sitting inside. His heart leaped for joy upon seeing green skin.
Elphaba had changed clothes. She now wore a pale yellow dress and a battered but swankified cobalt blue leather jacket. She sat on the trunk of the tree, which was twisted up into a near perfect chair. Her shoes and stockings lay on the ground, leaving her long legs deliciously bare.
She looked so elegant and delicate. Fiyero recalled a set of books his sister (and he too, but he would have rather died than admit it) read when they were children. The Adventures of the Duchess of Beverdosa. He recalled the illustrations depicted a lithe nymph with pale green skin and golden flecks on her cheeks.
Fiyero would never, ever admit this even if he was dosed with truth serum, but he had a crush on those illustrations.
"There you are, duchess," he said breathlessly.
She jumped slightly and looked up at him.
"You looked for me," she said in wonder.
"How could I not?" he replied, bracing his hands on the branches so he could stoop and kiss her.
She wasn't nearly as receptive as an hour ago.
He pulled away and she gazed up at him with those gorgeous eyes, magnified slightly by her glasses. They were dark grey, almost black, sparkling like a pond in moonlight.
"And you said we could do whatever I like," he said, adding a suggestive tone.
She cleared her throat. "I did say that, yes. I believe I also specified this evening."
"That you did," he agreed. "What's on your agenda?"
"Well, I was going to continue my goal of reading every book in Shiz," she said. "I take it you want to take me to a party tonight?"
"Good guess, but no," said Fiyero. "I think I'd rather just be with you. How's dinner and a movie sound?"
"Movie," she murmured, furrowing her brow. "I wonder why I never considered going to one before."
"Have you ever been to a movie?"
"Well, no," she said. "I tried once, but someone snitched to my father and he dragged me out of the theater before the movie could start. Something about them being sinful and an affront to the Unnamed God, I don't know, I stopped listening. I only saw a couple cartoons and a short starring three stooges."
Unionist household. Fiyero wasn't typically comfortable around Unionists due to the ones he interacted with insisting that his people needed to 'see the light.' Vinkuns had an entire Festival centering around lights and Unionists had none, so what light they wanted him to see, he wasn't sure.
"Not religious?" he probed, just to make sure she wasn't going to start preaching at him.
"No," she said, simply. "I'm an atheist. I have read books on other religions, but nothing really sprung out at me. I think I'd rather focus on the wonders of the universe through a scientific lens. What about you? I know you know all of the old legends and all like Grandmother Snake and the fae, but we never really…"
Fiyero was taken aback that she knew even that much about him. He usually liked to stick with shallow subjects with people he didn't know.
"I participate in rituals and festivations," he said.
She twitched an eyebrow and Fiyero decided to move the conversation back around.
"So, what would you like to do until dinner?" he asked. "Please, say lunch."
"Well, I was planning on just reading here until dark," she said. "But if you want, there are food carts nearby. I haven't eaten, either."
"Then I will get us something to eat," he said and kissed her lightly. "Don't go anywhere or you forfeit your activity choice."
She tittered and the sound was like music to him.
"Staying right here," she promised.
Fiyero jogged off and found the food carts as she said. They had a pretty good selection. Arms laden with food, he headed back to the willow tree and just felt a great sense of relief. Like he had been stuck in a canyon-sized rut and someone finally pulled him out.
That had been the kiss of death for half his schools. He'd just feel himself slowing down until he could barely get out of bed to eat or use the toilet. If he hadn't met Elphaba, would he have just gone to his dorm and collapsed, unable to even plan the parties that usually motivated him?
Elphaba was still there as promised, though she had moved to the ground. A blanket was spread out and weighted down.
"Your feast, milady," he said, plopping down and setting the food out. "I hope you like lemonade."
"I do like lemonade," she said, accepting the carton.
She really wasn't the usual type of girl he went after. He always picked a Queen Bee. Someone adored/feared by everyone else. A protection for him and someone he couldn't fall in love with.
There was just something about Elphaba. Her green skin like spring leaves, her impossibly long, curly hair, her dark eyes that just looked so incredibly sad… She talked of time loops, yet she seemed genuine. He didn't have to do mental gymnastics to figure out what she was thinking, she was direct.
That was the problem when he began school. His father was Deaf, so Fiyero grew up learning to get straight to the point. Be direct. Blunt. There was no beating around the bush when signing was so exhausting.
People rarely said what they meant and even less often meant what they said.
"You're staring," Elphaba sighed softly.
He thought of an excuse.
"That's a really cool jacket," he said.
She smiled slightly.
"Thank you. I only bought it because you like it so much. Seems a waste that it will just sit in that shop each loop. Now, I keep a version with me."
"How?"
"My portal," she said, demonstrating it.
She reached into her hair and removed a second book from it.
"Can people go inside?" he asked, wondering if there really was a time loop, then he could be spared.
"No, just things."
He hummed and gathered their trash together so it wouldn't blow away.
"So… what book are you reading?"
"I could read it to you," she said.
"Alright."
Elphaba turned to the beginning and cleared her throat.
"No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood for eighty years and might stand for eighty more."
Fiyero settled down on the blanket and listened to her read. He liked her voice, cool and deep with a slight rasp to it. She didn't do voices like some storytellers, but she put the emotion into it and he could tell who was speaking within the story. He could listen to her read for hours.
When her voice started to crack from the strain, Fiyero took over reading to give her a break, though he stumbled through the words. He was better at telling them from memory; he knew a lot of stories by heart.
Still, Elphaba didn't seem frustrated by it, just quietly listening and fidgeting with some ribbon attached to her dress, twirling and untwirling it around one long, slim finger, her toes flexing and curling. Fiyero was starting to envy that ribbon.
When the sun began to set and it was getting too dark to read, Elphaba declared it was his turn to decide what they do.
She stuffed the book and blanket into the portal. It must have been nice to carry everything around like that. He couldn't tell how many times he was holding something only to look down at his hand and find it no longer there. Carrying a satchel or purse around helped, but then he had to make sure he didn't misplace that.
He couldn't help but watch as she rolled those stockings back up her legs. His breathing hitched slightly as she hooked her garters, which made her look up and him quickly turn to feign interest elsewhere.
"So, where do you want to go?" she asked.
'Back to my place,' was on his lips. Instead he said, "I know a place."
Fiyero took her to Roan's Kitchen. It was his favorite restaurant in the city.
"I like this place," said Elphaba.
"Come here often?" he asked.
"No," she admitted. "But you took me here when I was having a bad day."
It was strange to have her talk about things he couldn't remember, but she said it with such conviction that he wasn't sure he could dispute it. He'd had people try this before. People who tried to insist that they knew him. That they did this or that together. Even some who genuinely believed it.
He was thinking about this too hard, wasn't he?
"So, what do you like to do to pass the time?" Fiyero asked.
"Well, first I started off practicing my magic," she said. "I thought maybe my problem was that I wasn't skilled enough."
She twirled her spoon in her hand effortlessly, turning it to a flower and back.
"Then I hit a wall and you gave me some pretty good advice about expanding my horizons," she continued. "So I learned to roller skate, play the guitar, and like I said earlier, I'm reading through every book in Shiz. I'm thinking of focusing on cooking next. It's been a while and I should really keep my existing skills sharp."
"Sure," said Fiyero. "I gave you that advice?"
"Mmhm. You know, for the longest time, I couldn't understand why you'd throw those parties," she said. "But I get it now. I still don't agree with your Dancing Through Life schtick, but I get why you do it."
"And why do I?" he challenged, wanting to see if she really knew him or just thought she did.
"Because you're lonely and unhappy," she said. "And the only time you feel relief is when you dance."
Before he realized it, Fiyero was walking out the door. He paced around outside, clutching his chest. He rummaged around his satchel and brought out the paper bag, breathing into it a few times.
No one knew that, not even his parents. Not even his twin and she was clairvoyant! The last person to ever see through him like that was Pháidín.
The fact that someone he just met this morning would know him so well terrified him.
Maybe she was crazy. Maybe it was just a lucky guess. Maybe she was one of those people he read about in detective stories who could tell everything about a person from a single glance.
It would be easier to just leave now. Maybe crash a party someone else was hosting.
Fiyero started walking, made it halfway down the street, then stopped. He looked over his shoulder and she wasn't there. She wasn't running after him, getting mad that he left so suddenly. She wasn't demanding he care about her just because she happened to know these things.
He imagined her sitting at that table, alone. Stuck with the bill. Those sad eyes staring at the empty space across from her.
"What am I doing?" he muttered and ran back to the restaurant.
He'd take her to a movie, escort her back to her dorm, then go with that Galinda betty. He didn't like the box he was in, but it was safe and at least he knew it.
When he stepped back into the restaurant, Elphaba was still there and their food had been served. She was back to reading her book as she slowly ate the curry.
Fiyero sat down.
"Sorry about that," he said with a charming grin. "Just needed some air. Aw, you're continuing the story without me?"
She closed the book but didn't look up.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't intend to upset you like that. If you want me to leave you alone from now on, I will. I'll understand."
She seemed so sincere. Crazy or not, he didn't meet a lot of sincere people.
"You just… caught me off guard," he said. "Let's talk about something else."
Despite all that, conversation flowed. Elphaba was pretty easy to talk to. She really wanted to know his thoughts, not a confirmation of the image he presented to the world. He felt like if he wasn't a prince then she would still give a damn about him as a person.
After dinner, they went to the movies, buying tickets for the next showing.
The place wasn't terribly crowded being a week night. Fiyero didn't really go to the movies much himself, but he thought he might have read about this one in the papers or heard an ad for it on the radio.
It ended up being a musical about a silent film star faced with the first talking pictures and pursuing a chorus girl who gave him what for.
During a romantic dance between the two leads, Fiyero stretched, raising one arm up, then exhaled and let it drop across the back of her chair. He glanced at her, but she didn't seem to notice, entranced by the movie.
"I wish I knew how to dance," she murmured wistfully.
'But I'm content the angels must have sent you and they meant you just for me,' the singer crooned.
Fiyero scooted closer to Elphaba.
Overall, it was hilarious, but no one laughed louder or more joyously than Elphaba. Fiyero found himself smitten with Elphaba's laugh. It was a loud, harsh chortle interrupted by snorts made worse by her attempts to stifle them. It was one of the most beautiful sounds he'd ever heard. As she laughed, her nose would wrinkle and her lip would curl back, revealing a gap between her two front teeth.
The ending of the movie was happy and heartwarming and a few people clapped during the closing kiss.
As the pair headed back to Shiz, Fiyero danced down along the way. He hopped onto a lamp post and spread his arm wide.
"I'M HAPPY AGAIN!" he belted.
"Shh! Do you want to wake the entire city?" Elphaba laughed.
Fiyero grinned and hopped down.
"You're very good at that," she said. "Dancing."
"It is my favorite thing to do," he said. "Say! Maybe I should run away to the Emerald City and become an actor! I think I got the looks for it."
"No doubt, but you'd have all those scripts and lines to memorize," Elphaba pointed out.
Ah, yeah, reading through all that would be a pain.
"How hard can it be?" he joked. "I just have to say 'I love you, I love you, I love you!'"
He realized he could have chosen a different line and quickly moved on before either of them could think about it too much.
"They can just stick a scarecrow on the throne in my place," he said. "I doubt anyone would notice. I'm just that stupid."
"Ah, you're not stupid," said Elphaba. "You just think differently and people are trying to judge a fish for climbing a tree."
Fiyero stopped suddenly.
"Yes…" he breathed and looked at her in wonder. "That's exactly what it feels like."
"I will admit," she said. "I was just like everyone else when I first met you. I only saw what you presented me. I'm glad I got a chance to see this part of you."
It had been so long since someone bothered to look. Maybe it was his fault for not reaching out, but he never really knew how. Maybe he had during this girl's time loop and he just didn't remember.
They stopped at the courtyard between the start of the Girls' Dorms and the start of the Boys'.
"I had a great time," said Elphaba. "Well, goodnight."
Fiyero grabbed her hand. He didn't want to say goodnight yet. He was going against all his rules.
And yet…
"You might not believe it, given my reputation," he said, his heart pounding hard, "but I don't normally do this. Would you like to come up?"
Maybe they wouldn't do much more than canoodle on his couch and she would stay the night rather than disturb her roommate by coming home super late, but he didn't want their time together to end just yet.
Elphaba studied him a moment, as if waiting for him to bail, then slowly nodded when he didn't.
They went up to his private suite. It was one of the nicer dorms he'd had. It had a kitchenette, a sitting area, and the bedroom was separate. Boxes were stacked everywhere, but he knew his clothes would be put away and the bed would be made.
"I wish my private suite had this set up," said Elphaba, looking around with interest. "I could sleep in the living room, so Galinda could have the bedroom to herself."
"You share a private suite?" Fiyero asked, not sure he heard her right.
"There was an error and she accidentally volunteered to put me up," said Elphaba. "We could be friends, it's just… the conditions have to be right. Most days she loathes me."
There was that sad look in her eye. He'd do anything to make it go away. So he'd see her eyes sparkle, so he'd hear her laugh.
Fiyero drew her into his arms, stretched on his toes, and kissed her softly. She leaned into him, resting her hands on his chest.
Kissing her was like an answer to a question he didn't know to ask, but things seemed to click into place.
His fingers found the ribbon lacing up her dress in the back and excitement surged through him as he felt her bare skin. Fantasies raced through his mind, riling him up.
"May I have you?" he murmured against her lips.
"Yes," she breathed.
Fiyero didn't know if he wanted to move fast or slow. Release this moment or savor it. For a moment, all he could do was hold her against him, hooking his fingers into the loops of the bow.
Elphaba dipped her head and kissed the crook of his neck, her dark hair spilling into his face. He inhaled her subtle, flowery scent and groaned deep in his throat.
He tugged off her jacket, tossing it aside so it landed on the couch and not on the floor. She noticed and laughed.
"You really like that jacket, don't you?" she asked.
"It's so swankified," he said.
She chuckled softly. Her long fingers swiftly, eagerly unbuttoned his vest and then his shirt.
"Oh, wow!" she whispered as she pushed the fabric aside.
Fiyero was proud of his tattoos. The ones on his chest had been finished only three seasons ago. He'd known many who didn't like the look of his tattoos and avoided looking at them or, worse yet, asked him why he'd destroy his skin like that. He'd had a few who asked if they could be washed off.
Elphaba's eyes glimmered as she took them in, her fingertips tracing them and sending shivers across his body.
It'd been so long since he'd been truly excited to explore someone. He eagerly untied the bow at the base of her back and marveled at just how tall Elphaba was.
The fabric of her dress went slack and she paused. Fiyero paused too, wondering if she was changing her mind.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Just… I am green all over, you know," she said.
He didn't know the right thing to say. Did he try to be funny? Just tell her he was prepared for that? Should he kiss her? Touch her?
"I just mean…" she waved her hand as she struggled for words. "I can't—I can't be beautiful for you."
Ah.
"You are beautiful," he said, brushing her hair behind her ear. There was so much of it, it made her ear stick straight out from the weight. "I want you as you are. Listen, if you're uncomfortable we don't have to. We can just make out again."
The pink tips of her ears turned a delightful shade of red and she looked away.
"Well, if Morrible hadn't interrupted us I don't think I would have stopped," she muttered.
"Then let's ease into it," he suggested and guided her to his bed.
They sat on the edge. Elphaba adjusted her hair so she wasn't sitting on it. When they sat, she didn't seem all that tall, all the height being in her legs, which stretched out in front of her.
"So, what do you want?" Fiyero asked.
"Kiss me?"
"I can do that very well," he said and scooted closer to her.
Her head was still tipped away from him, so he kissed her jaw, then her neck, then her shoulder. She inhaled softly and closed her eyes.
"Touch me?" she breathed.
Fiyero pulled her closer by her waist. He ran a hand up her thigh and eagerly unclasped those garters. He found that spot on her neck that made her gasp so beautifully.
Sure enough, she made that noise then suddenly leapt to her feet as if she were burned.
Fiyero jerked his hands back, wondering if he did something wrong. Her hands waved, shaking out colorful sparks of magic.
Elphaba didn't look at him for a moment, then she shrugged, allowing her dress to drop to the floor. Fiyero scooted farther back onto the bed and grinned when she turned around.
He took her in and whistled appreciatively. She guffawed and covered her face with her hands for a moment before peering at him through her fingers. Ah, she was just shy and nervous. He'd let her decide the pace and he would follow.
He crooked his finger at her. She pounced on him, kissing him fiercely. Suddenly it didn't matter that they both still had their boots on and were only half undressed. He wanted—no—needed her right then and there or he was going to lose his mind.
It'd been so long since he felt connected like this. Moving her beneath him, he ran his hand up her forearm and linked their fingers together, losing himself completely.
"Fiyero," she gasped in his ear and the sound filled him with an emotion he hadn't felt in years.
Maybe this school would work. Maybe this time he'd have a reason to want to make it work. Maybe this time he'd have a reason to want to stay.