Chapter Text
They Don't See (the parts of you that make me want to stick around)
By Vinkunwildflowerqueen
"I just don't get it."
An utterance said by almost everyone in reference to the relationship between Fiyero Tiggular, (formerly?) scandalacious Vinkun prince, and Elphaba Thropp, Oz's resident green girl.
The exact words differed, as did the tone. But the sentiment was always the same.
"It's just… I can't see how the two of you have anything in common," Nessa had said to Elphaba when she'd found out Elphaba had agreed to a date with Fiyero; in the tone of someone who had spoken without thinking, realised their words might be considered offensive and was now trying to justify their statement and take away any offence.
And on paper, sure. Elphaba could see how that might seem true.
Fiyero was known for being cheerful, outgoing; words never used to describe Elphaba. He loved going out dancing at the OzDust or drinking with friends at the campus bar; and while Elphaba wasn't opposed to having a glass of wine with dinner, she more often than not had to be coerced, bribed or that one time, blackmailed into going to the OzDust. He wasn't in anyway regarded as scholarly or studious, words which were most often used to describe Elphaba- after "green", naturally.
So Nessa's bewilderment was almost fair. Almost.
And as much as Elphaba didn't entirely disagree with her sister, the comment still stung.
"We've been friends for nearly a year," she pointed out quietly.
"Yes," Nessa acknowledged. "But I suppose I always thought that was just because you're both friends with Glinda. I've never heard of the two of you doing anything alone."
Elphaba bit back a retort that the reason for that was because it was awkward to be alone with your best friend's ex-boyfriend for whom you had feelings you weren't supposed to have.
"It may not come to anything," Elphaba pointed out reasonably, giving voice to the thought that had been dwelling in her brain since she'd agreed to go to dinner with Fiyero.
Nessa nodded as though she'd expected nothing less.
"Coffee?" Fiyero asked her as they walked through town after dinner, which had seemed to go surprisingly well as far as Elphaba could tell. She'd never been on a date before, so she hardly had anything to judge it by. And the advice Glinda had passed on before Fiyero had arrived didn't seem that helpful in this case.
"Sure," Elphaba agreed without hesitation, grateful for the thought of a warm drink. It was only early October, but there was already a hint of winter in the air.
By silent agreement, they headed towards The Wilted Rose, their usual standard. But as the café came into sight, full of Shiz students enjoying their Friday night, Elphaba drew to a stop unconsciously. She attracted enough attention at the best of times, she didn't really need anymore vouyers for her first date.
Fiyero came to a stop too, glancing back at the café and then to her.
"We could go to my suite?" he offered. "Pretty sure I at least have coffee things."
From anyone else- or if Fiyero had been speaking to anyone else- Elphaba would have dismissed it as a line, a ploy. But she knew Fiyero- and he knew her.
"Sure," she nodded, falling into step alongside Fiyero as he changed direction.
"Since when do you know how to make coffee?"
He grinned at her. "I said I have coffee things, I never said it would be any good," he replied and Elphaba chuckled.
As she settled herself on the couch, Elphaba spotted the book lying on the coffee table, and seized upon it as opportunity to break the awkward silence that had come over them the moment they entered the suite, while Fiyero made them coffee. Well, it was awkward on her end, she felt. Fiyero seemed perfectly normal and relaxed, as far as she could tell.
"You're reading The Widow's Will?"
Fiyero grinned at her as he approached the couch. "Are you proud? There's no pictures or anything."
Elphaba shot him a look as she accepted the mug he handed her. "That wasn't what-"
"I know, Fae," Fiyero cut her off. "I was kidding."
Elphaba cradled the mug in her hands, staring into the depths of it and biting her lip.
"Have you read it?" Fiyero asked her, gesturing towards the book.
"I'm actually reading it at the moment," Elphaba replied, her shoulders easing slightly. "I picked it up at the bookstore in town last weekend."
Fiyero grinned. "Is that what you were doing while Glinda bought shoes?"
"I had to do something before violence occurred," Elphaba said dryly.
Spending twenty-five minutes in a shoe store while Glinda debated between two pairs of shoes that she insisted were different colours, but looked exactly the same to Elphaba… it was not exactly her idea of a good time. And in the end, Glinda had caved and bought both pairs of shoes, so what did it even matter in the end?
"So," Fiyero said casually. "Who do you think did it?"
Elphaba was a few chapters ahead of Fiyero, but they were both sure that the murderer was the estranged son.
"It all adds up," Fiyero insisted, almost spilling his coffee as he gestured vehemently. "The missing will, the thing with the dog, the photograph."
Elphaba cackled. "I don't know who you're trying to convince here. I agree with you," she reminded him.
Fiyero paused, tilting his head slightly. "Oh. Right."
"I never would have picked you for the type-"
"To read?"
"To read mysteries," Elphaba finished pointedly.
Fiyero shrugged, grinning. "I like puzzles."
Elphaba's eyebrow arched. "That's a bit rich coming from the guy who called me a nerd for doing the crossword in the paper, but sure."
"Hey the next time a crossword is going to tell you who killed an old lady, I won't say anything," Fiyero promised and Elphaba snorted with laughter, setting aside her nearly empty mug.
"Honestly, that sounds like a good plot for a mystery novel," she pointed out and Fiyero considered that thoughtfully.
"I would read that," he agreed. Then he reached over and nudged Elphaba's thigh with his knuckles.
"You're smart. You could write it."
Elphaba scoffed. "Not likely."
Elphaba could have told Nessa about Fiyero's almost sheepish admission about the detective agency he and his friends had started when they were twelve.
"Our biggest case was the mystery of 'who ate the cookies Corin's mom made us for a snack?' which… well, it turned out it was Corin, so not much of a mystery. And Micah and I selflessly decided not to turn him in, which really affected the review Corin's mom gave us."
"Yes, because your decision not to rat out Corin really put an end to your detective career," Elphaba teased him and Fiyero grinned.
"You never know!"
He sobered slightly, cocking his head thoughtfully as Elphaba swallowed the last of her giggles.
"I kinda almost forgot about that. I can't remember the last time I told someone about that," he said quietly.
Elphaba's heart did an odd flutter, but she ignored it.
"Well, I suppose 'aspiring childhood detective' doesn't really fit your 'scandalacious' reputation now, does it?" she said lightly.
Fiyero smiled at her then. "I guess I wasn't always so scandalacious," he replied quietly.
Elphaba knew what they were both thinking of then.
"Your secret's safe with me," she said quietly.
Her heart fluttered again as his smile spread. She ignored that one too.