AN : I have not posted anything in more than one year due to various reasons (work, writer's block etc). And I'm going back to school soon which means even less time to write.
So here's something that was posted on Tumblr on July 2021 in response to a writing prompt.
"#9 - things you said when i was crying" bonus if it's Fiyero crying ;)
"She's dead," he said the moment she opened the door.
He stepped into the room without waiting for her permission and sank into the nearest seat.
"Yero?" Her primary question - who - remained unasked.
Fiyero did not say another word. Instead, he shoved a piece of paper to her.
It was a telegram, with two short sentences.
"SARIMA DEAD. COME HOME IMMEDIATELY."
He groaned, and buried his face in his hands.
Elphaba wanted to ask what happened, but she kept quiet. She did not know much about Sarima - if she had a weak constitution, or if she had any preexisting illness. Fiyero hardly mentioned her name or anything about her. She was like that shadow in their peripheral vision, always there but never acknowledged. Her existence influenced their thoughts, determined their actions, chained their emotions, more than any rules and regulations.
A sob escaped from behind the pair of diamond-tattooed hands, followed by another. His shoulders began to shake, and the engagement ring hanging from the necklace around his neck swung and sparkled in the dim light.
"Yero." She put a hand on his shoulder, not knowing what to say, how to comfort him.
He pushed her hand away.
She let him be.
He raised his head after a while. his eyes were bloodshot, and she wiped away the tears on his face.
But they kept coming.
He tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace.
"I should be happy, shouldn't I? I got my wish. I wished she does not exist, and there's no one between us, and now she's dead." His hand went to the ring, fingering it like a talisman. He had bought it three months ago. He had told the charmed circle that it was for the love of his life, and he would wear it until he could give it to her. The rest had all thought that it was for his betrothed back in Vinkus and teased him mercilessly about it. Nobody noticed the side glance that he gave Elphaba. Nobody commented when she excused herself and fled.
"So why am I not smiling, Fae? Why am I not laughing and dancing in the street? I should be celebrating. I'm free." He gave a bitter laugh. He reached out for her, and she took a step forward, letting him press his forehead against her stomach as the tears started to fall again.
"Why aren't I happy? Whyyy?"
He pulled her closer, his hands gripping her hips, his fingers digging into her skin. She winced at the pain, and her hand went to his hair.
"She's your betrothed, Yero." She stroke his hair gently. "She's the one you knew you have to marry since young. You knew her since young. You watched her as she grew up." Her hand went to his neck, kneading the knot there. "She's not just the one you were supposed to marry. She's also your kinswoman. It's no shame to grieve her death. You don't have to keep it all inside." Her hands rested on his shoulders, drawing circles until the tension left him.
She wiped his tears away with her thumb when he looked up, and this time the tears did not come again.
"I have to go immediately. I'll leave tonight," he spoke after a while.
She nodded.
"And…" He reached behind his neck, fumbling with the clasp of his necklace until it came off. He kissed the ring and placed it on her palm, necklace, ring and all.
She nodded again.
There was no need for words.