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Glinda took a deep breath, smoothing the fabric of her dress with trembling fingers. The deep emerald green shimmered under the soft whisper of the string lights she had painstakingly arranged earlier that afternoon. Everything had to be perfect. No, beyond perfect.
She stole a glance at the rooftop around her, heart pounding as she took it all in. The skyline stretched endlessly, a canvas of twinkling city lights against the darkening sky. A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of roses, the petals she had scattered in a delicate trail from the stairwell to the candlelit table at the centre of it all. The flames flickered, casting golden halos against the crisp white tablecloth. Two glasses stood ready, beside an open bottle of wine she had picked out after what felt like hours of deliberation. The music, soft and slow, floated around the space.
She could already picture the moment, her moment. The way their eyes would meet, the way a tentative, adorable smile would spread across her love’s lips. The way she’d reach for her hand, maybe let out a breathless little laugh because she’d see. She’d know.
Glinda pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady the racing of her heart. Any second now, the door would open.
The door creaked open, and Glinda turned sharply, breath catching in her throat. There she was, Elphaba, framed in the doorway, her silhouette outlined against the dim stairwell light. For a moment, she just stood there, taking it all in. The rose petals. The candlelight. The table set for two. And then, finally, her.
Glinda watched as Elphaba’s sharp green features softened, her usual stony expression slipping into something beautiful and bright. Her dark eyes flickered between the carefully arranged details, lingering on the wine, the softly playing music, the city wrapped around them like a dream.
Glinda swallowed, suddenly unsure. “Well?” she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Elphaba’s lips parted, but no words came at first. She took a slow step forward, then another, her boots barely making a sound against the rooftop floor. Finally, she let out a breath, long, shaky. “Glinda… what is this?” She didn’t sound upset, merely admiring the work she’d put in.
The blonde’s heart swelled in her chest and she ached to hold her.
So Glinda smiled, stepping closer, feeling the warmth of the candles against her skin. “It’s for us,” she said simply. “And it’s perfect.”
Elphaba let out a quiet laugh, the sound barely there, but it was real, and it sent warmth flooding through Glinda’s chest. Elphaba was still looking at everything, but this time, her gaze kept circling back to her. And then, finally, she closed the last bit of distance and reached for Glinda’s hand.
Glinda’s breath hitched as Elphaba’s fingers curled around hers, warm, steady despite the way they trembled just slightly.
“You really did all this?” Elphaba murmured.
“For you.”
Elphaba’s throat bobbed with a swallow. Then, a slow smile, a real one, small but unmistakable, broke across her lips. “It is beautiful, my love.”
Elphaba turned, taking in the view properly for the first time. The city stretched out before them, endless and glittering, the stars above barely competing with the flashes and shine of the buildings below. The rooftop, bathed in candlelight, felt like its own little world, just the two of them, wrapped in warmth and quiet music, away from everything else.
She shook her head in wonder, then glanced down at Glinda, who was watching her with that nearly hidden little smile.
“How were you even allowed up here?” Elphaba asked, squeezing Glinda’s hand.
Glinda only giggled, pressing herself closer. “Oh, you know me. A well placed smile, a little charm, a few well crafted words…” She traced a finger lightly over Elphaba’s wrist. “And people just happen to say yes.”
Elphaba huffed a laugh, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable.”
“It’s a talent.”
There was no denying that. Elphaba turned fully toward her now, sliding her hands to Glinda’s waist, feeling the warmth of her beneath the silky fabric of her dress. Glinda’s fingers trailed up her arms, resting lightly at the back of her neck, and for a moment, they just looked at each other. The candlelight flickered between them, but nothing else mattered.
Then Glinda stood on her toes, tilting her face up, and Elphaba met her halfway.
It was one of those rare moments where Elphaba let herself melt completely, let the world blur until there was nothing but the press of Glinda’s lips against hers. Glinda sighed into it, her fingers threading into Elphaba’s dark hair, and Elphaba pulled her closer, breathing her in, savouring every second.
When they finally broke apart, Glinda let out a breathless little laugh, resting her forehead against Elphaba’s. “Worth it,” she murmured.
Elphaba let out a quiet hum of agreement, running a flat palm along Glinda’s back, tracing the curves. “Definitely.”
She pulled Glinda even closer, her arms wrapped tightly around her, as if holding onto something she never wanted to let go of.
Glinda pulled back just enough to beam up at Elphaba, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “Alright, alright, enough standing around, sit, sit!” She tugged Elphaba’s hands, practically bouncing on her heels as she guided her to the table.
She huffed a quiet laugh, letting herself be ushered into a chair, her fingers still tingling from where they had just been wrapped around Glinda’s waist. She watched as her partner practically floated to the other side of the table, grabbing the bottle of wine with a flourish.
“Now,” Glinda said, focusing intently as she poured, her movements delicate and precise. “This is a very special wine, only the best, of course.” She shot Elphaba a playful smirk. “You should feel honoured.”
Elphaba smirked right back. “Oh, deeply honoured,” she said, taking the glass Glinda handed her. “Did you charm the shopkeeper into giving you this, too?”
Glinda giggled. “I’ll have you know I paid for this one.”
Elphaba snorted. “For this one.”
Chooksing ignored that, Glinda instead lifting her glass. “To us,” she said, her voice suddenly softer.
Elphaba looked at her for a moment, then lifted her own glass, clinking it gently against Glinda’s. “To us.”
They each took a sip, and then Glinda, satisfied, reached for the plates and began uncovering the food. “I made everything myself,” she said proudly.
Elphaba raised a brow. “Did you now?”
Glinda shot her a glare that was almost convincing. “Yes. I mean, mostly. I supervised a lot of it.” Of course she did.
Elphaba chuckled, watching as Glinda eagerly passed her a plate, eyes bright with anticipation. She picked up her fork and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully as Glinda leaned forward, waiting.
“…Well?”
Elphaba swallowed, then sat back, crossing her arms. “I suppose it’s edible.”
Glinda gasped, eyes wide with outrage as she kicked her shin under the table. “Elphaba!”
Elphaba let the teasing linger for just a moment longer before she cracked a grin. “Alright, alright. It’s good. Really good.”
Glinda huffed, but she couldn’t keep from smiling as she took a bite herself. “Honestly. You’re impossible.”
Elphaba just smirked, sipping her wine. “You’re the one Wining and dining me on a rooftop.”
Glinda’s expression softened. She set her fork down and reached across the table, fingers brushing lightly over Elphaba’s hand. “I am,” she murmured.
Elphaba looked at her, at the way the candlelight danced in her hair, at the warmth in her eyes. She turned her hand palm up, lacing their fingers together.
“I love you,” she pressed, squeezing Glinda’s hand gently.
Heat crept up her neck to her pale cheeks as she said it back.
Elphaba hadn’t known what to expect when she arrived home that evening, only to find a small note waiting for her on the kitchen counter. The handwriting had been unmistakably Glinda’s, elegant, looping letters spelling out a cryptic little clue that had sent her on a slow, curious journey up the stairs, through the building, and finally onto the rooftop.
And now, sitting here across from her, she realised she had never expected this. She was hoping they would do something together, having been too busy to plan it herself, she was beyond elated that Glinda had done something so special. No one had ever treated her with such thoughtfulness before.
Glinda was radiant. The soft glow of the city lights caught in her hair, making it shimmer like spun gold. Her dress, a breathtaking emerald green, was a perfect match for Elphaba’s own skin, and the sight of it sent something hot through her chest. But more than that, it was her. The way her blue eyes twinkled with delight. The way her smile, ever present and beautiful, never wavered. The way she looked at Elphaba with a slight tilt of her head.
Lurline, she was stunning.
Elphaba exhaled, shaking her head with a small, incredulous smile. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
Glinda grinned, clearly pleased with herself. “Oh, please, like you’re really that surprised.”
Elphaba smirked, taking another sip of her wine. “I mean, I should be. But I suppose nothing about you should surprise me anymore.”
Glinda let out a soft, delighted laugh, tilting her head slightly. “And yet, I still manage to.”
Elphaba set her glass down, watching as Glinda toyed absentmindedly with the stem of her own. “You do,” she admitted. “You always do.”
Glinda bit her lip, then reached across the table again, her fingers finding Elphaba’s. “Good,” she murmured. “Because I like surprising you.”
Elphaba squeezed her hand gently, her thumb brushing over Glinda’s soft skin. She let her gaze flicker over the scene once more. It was all so much. And yet, it was perfect. Because it was Glinda.
And because, as she sat there, she realised, she had never been happier.
Glinda raised her glass, grinning as she locked eyes with Elphaba. The candlelight flickered between them, and the city faded softly in the background, nothing felt quite as warm as the moment itself.
“To us,” Glinda began grandly, lifting her chin. “And to our very first Valentine’s Day together, where I have clearly outdone myself, if I do say so.”
Elphaba snorted, shaking her head fondly but lifting her glass. “Naturally.”
Glinda beamed, undeterred. “To this stunning rooftop setting, which took a lot of charm and persuasion to acquire-”
“Oh, I’m sure,” Elphaba muttered into her wine glass.
“-to the exquisite meal, which I definitely helped prepare-”
Elphaba raised a brow. “Define ‘helped.’”
Glinda waved her off with a dramatic flick of her wrist. “And most importantly,” she continued, “to the two of us, because somehow, against all odds, you’re mine, and I am absolutely keeping you.”
Elphaba’s teasing smirk slipped as she let Glinda’s words sink in. Her chest ached in that quiet, wonderful way it always did when Glinda said things like that, so effortlessly, like it was the most natural truth in the world. To her it was.
After a moment, eyes never leaving Glinda’s she spoke softly. “To us.”
Their glasses met with a soft clink, and as they each took a sip, Elphaba couldn’t help but chuckle. “You really are ridiculous, you know. But thank you.”
Glinda sighed dramatically, setting her glass down. “Yes, well, you knew that about me before you starting dating,”
“You mean when I was cornered.”
“Semantics, dearest.”
“Sure sure.”
As the evening stretched on, the sky above them deepened from navy to inky black.
The candles flickered in the shifting breeze, and Glinda, ever attuned to the smallest of changes, glanced up with a small frown.
“Elphie…” she said slowly, setting her wine glass down. “That doesn’t look entirely friendly.”
Elphaba, who had been quite happily watching Glinda with her chin resting on her hand, turned lazily to follow her gaze. The clouds had thickened slightly, rolling slow and heavy, but she merely shrugged. “It’s fine.”
Glinda’s frown deepened. “Is it?”
“Yes, Miss Terrified of a Slight Breeze, it is,” Elphaba said dryly, reaching for another bite of food. “The forecast said it would clear up. We’re not about to be swept away in some grand, tragic rooftop romance disaster.”
Glinda huffed, crossing her arms. “Well, I wouldn’t call it tragic, but it would be a highly inconvenient way to end the evening.”
Elphaba chuckled as she gave Glinda’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Trust me, my love. We’re fine.”
Glinda sighed, still eyeing the sky as if she could intimidate it into behaving. “Fine. But if it so much as drizzles, I expect you to carry me inside.”
Elphaba smirked. “Oh, I will. But just so we’re clear, I’m not responsible if I accidentally drop you.”
Glinda gasped, scandalised. “Elphaba Thropp!”
They just laughed, bringing Glinda’s hand to her lips for a quick kiss. “Relax, my sweet. This night is too perfect for anything to ruin it.”
Glinda, though still skeptical, softened at that. With a huff, she finally turned back to her food, letting Elphaba’s confidence soothe her nerves.
And so, under a sky that threatened mischief but held its peace, for now.
But not for long.
The first raindrop landed squarely on Glinda’s nose.
She stopped, mid bite, blinking as another plopped onto her cheek. Then another. And another. Within seconds, the soft, golden lit rooftop transformed into a damp, drizzly mess.
A shriek pierced the air.
“Elphaba Thropp!”
Elphaba, who had barely lifted her glass to her lips, wondered how it’s not her fault since she can’t control the weather, winced at the sheer volume of Glinda’s outrage. She had precisely one second to react before a full on downpour descended, soaking them both instantly.
“Oh, would you look at that,” Elphaba deadpanned, blinking raindrops from her lashes. “It appears the weather forecast was wrong.”
Glinda gaped at her, dripping. “You locked me into trusting you! With your forecast nonsense!” She threw her hands up. “Oh, it’ll clear up, she said! We won’t be swept away in a grand, tragic rooftop romance disaster, she said!”
Elphaba wiped her face with both hands, then smirked. “Well, technically, we’re not being swept away. Just lightly marinated.”
Glinda let out an indignant squawk, scrambling to stand. “You absolute…UGH!” She grabbed her bag, clearly preparing to make a dramatic run for it, but Elphaba was faster.
Laughing, she caught Glinda by the waist, spinning her back around. “Oh, no, no, no,” she teased, holding her close as the rain came down harder. “You said, and I quote, that if it so much as drizzled, you expected me to carry you inside.”
Glinda gasped, eyes going wide. “Elphie, don’t you dare!“
Too late.
Elphaba swept her up effortlessly, cradling her in strong arms as Glinda let out a screech. “PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!”
“In the rain?” Elphaba grinned. “Oh no, my delicate, high maintenance princess, we wouldn’t want you to get more soaked.”
Glinda huffed, crossing her arms, completely unimpressed. “I hate you.”
Elphaba chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to her rain slicked forehead. “No, you don’t.”
Glinda sniffed dramatically but said nothing, choosing instead to sulk against Elphaba’s shoulder.
Elphaba had intended to take them inside this time. She really had. But then Glinda let out this ridiculous, exaggerated sigh against her shoulder, so full of drama, so her, and something mischievous sparked in Elphaba’s chest.
Instead of making for the door, she spun them.
Glinda let out a startled yelp, gripping onto Elphaba’s shoulders for dear life. “ELPHABA!”
Elphaba only laughed, soaked and giddy, tightening her arms around Glinda as she spun them again, faster this time, sending droplets flying off their drenched clothes. The rooftop lights blurred into streaks of vibrant colour, and Glinda, despite herself, giggled.
“You menace,” she gasped between laughs, clutching at Elphaba’s damp collar as her head tipped back, rain slipping down her throat. “You, you utter disaster of a person!”
Elphaba only grinned, slowing just enough to look down at her. “I’ll drop you.”
“Elphie..”
She slipped down her biceps and Glinda shrieked.
“Stop it this instant!”
Curling her biceps she pulled her closer to kiss her cheek, chuckling as they flamed and twirled them again.
Glinda, still breathless from laughter, narrowed her eyes at her. “Put me down this instant, or so help me, I will-”
But before she could finish, Elphaba dipped her.
Glinda squealed, gripping Elphaba even tighter as her back arched toward the rain. But she was safe, Elphaba held her steady, firm hands keeping her from slipping even an inch. Their faces were impossibly close now, raindrops clinging to Glinda’s lashes, her breath warm against Elphaba’s lips.
For a moment, everything else faded, the rain, the city, the ruined dinner, the cold creeping into their clothes. It was just this. Just them.
Glinda’s eyes flickered over Elphaba’s face, and then, without a word, she surged up and kissed her.
Elphaba made a quiet, startled sound before melting into it, one hand slipping up to cradle Glinda’s rain slicked cheek. Glinda sighed against her lips, tilting her head, fingers tangling in Elphaba’s damp hair as the rain poured around them.
The kiss was slow and deep, full of laughter and warmth and the kind of love that felt too big to be contained in words.
Finally, breathless, Glinda pulled back just enough to whisper, “Okay. Maybe this was worth getting drenched for.”
Elphaba grinned. “Told you.”
Glinda rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as she tapped a finger against Elphaba’s nose. “Fine. But now you’re taking me inside, and you’re getting me the fluffiest blanket in the apartment.”
Elphaba chuckled, hoisting her up slightly. “Yes, dear.”
And this time, still laughing, still soaked, still feeling like the luckiest fool in the world, stepped towards the rooftop door.
Elphaba hadn’t even set foot more than five steps in that direction when Glinda, still cradled in her arms, suddenly gasped.
“Wait!”
Elphaba froze. “What?”
Glinda wiggled. “Put me down!”
Elphaba raised a sceptical brow. “A second ago, I was a menace for keeping you out here.”
“Yes, well,” Glinda sniffed, twisting slightly. “I reserve the right to change my mind. Now put me down!”
Elphaba huffed but obeyed, setting Glinda gently on her feet. The moment her heels touched the drenched rooftop, Glinda twirled away from her, arms spread, head tipped back as the rain soaked through every inch of her already ruined dress.
Elphaba stared. “What… are you doing?”
Glinda opened her eyes and grinned at her, all mischief and delight. “Dancing.”
Elphaba scoffed. “In the rain?”
“Yes, Elphaba, that is where we are currently standing.” Glinda grabbed her hands and tugged. “Come on.”
Elphaba shook her head, skeptical. “We’re already soaked.”
“So what’s a little more?” Glinda challenged, stepping in close. “Or are you too grumpy for a dance?”
Elphaba narrowed her eyes. “I am not grumpy.”
Glinda hummed, unconvinced. “Prove it, then.”
Elphaba sighed dramatically but let herself be pulled her closer. Their fingers laced together, the smaller pale free hand finding its place on Elphaba’s shoulder, Elphaba’s resting lightly at Glinda’s waist. The rain softened, a cool mist against their skin, and despite herself, Elphaba let Glinda sway them in slow, easy circles.
Her head rested against her chest, her hair damp against Elphaba’s collarbone. She let out a little hum of contentment. “You know,” she murmured, “this is kind of nice.”
“I told you the rain wouldn’t kill us.”
Glinda huffed. “Oh, shut up and dance.”
And so they did, the world melting away into nothing but the rain and their laughter.
By the time they finally made their way inside, dripping and breathless, Glinda was still grinning. “Alright, now I want my fluffy blanket.”
Elphaba chuckled, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Come on, my dramatic little rain soaked princess. Let’s get you warm.”
They hurried down the stairwell, their clothes clung to their skin, their hair was dripping, and Glinda, despite her earlier giddiness, was very suddenly aware of just how cold she was.
She let out a long, theatrical shiver the second they stepped inside. “Alright, that’s it. I demand warmth. Immediately.”
Elphaba smirked, locking the door behind them. “I told you we should’ve come in sooner.”
Glinda shot her a glare as she kicked off her heels, peeling her damp dress away from her skin. “Don’t act so smug. You’re the one who danced with me in the rain.”
Elphaba, shrugging out of her jacket, raised a brow. “I distinctly recall you starting that.”
Glinda huffed, shuffling toward their couch, still shivering dramatically. “Irrelevant.” She flopped down onto the cushions and stuck out her arms, fingers wiggling. “Blanket. Now.”
Elphaba snorted but humoured her, disappearing into their bedroom for a moment before returning with their fluffiest, softest blanket. She draped it around Glinda’s shoulders with an amused shake of her head. “There. Warm enough, Your Majesty?”
Glinda sniffed, pulling it tighter around herself with a satisfied little hum. “Better.”
Elphaba rolled her eyes fondly and disappeared into the bathroom, returning a moment later with a towel for her hair. She plopped onto the floor beside Glinda, rubbing the towel over her own damp locks.
Glinda peeked at her from beneath the blanket, then scooted closer, pressing herself against Elphaba’s side.
Elphaba glanced down. “Comfortable?”
Glinda sighed, nestling further into her warmth. “Much.”
Elphaba chuckled, wrapping an arm around her. They sat there in content silence for a moment, the rain still pattering softly against the windows, the city outside still alive and beating.
Then, after a second, Glinda murmured, “That was a pretty good first Valentine’s Day.”
Elphaba smirked, pressing a kiss to the top of her damp head. “Yeah,” she agreed. “It really was.”
Glinda shifted against Elphaba’s side, sighing dramatically. “Of course, it could’ve been perfect if someone hadn’t insisted that the weather forecast was reliable.”
Elphaba groaned. “Oh come on, you’re not still on that, are you?”
Glinda turned to face her, blue eyes narrowed. “I trusted you, Elphaba. I put my faith in you.”
Elphaba scoffed. “Faith? It was a weather app, not divine intervention!”
“Well, I hope you’ve learned a valuable lesson about blindly trusting technology over my impeccable instincts.”
“Impeccable instincts?” Elphaba gave her a look. “Glinda, you thought a pigeon was flirting with you last week.”
“It was!” Glinda insisted, pointing a finger at her. “It kept puffing out its chest at me!”
Elphaba groaned, rubbing a hand over her face. “It was a pigeon.”
“A bold pigeon,” Glinda corrected, sniffing. “It was courting me.”
Elphaba exhaled, looking at her with something between exhaustion and adoration. “You are so lucky I love you.”
Glinda smirked, leaning in closer. “Oh, I know I am.”
Elphaba rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at her lips. “You are impossible.”
Elphaba sighed dramatically, but her arm tightened around Glinda’s waist, pulling her in closer. “Yeah, yeah. I’m hopeless.”
Glinda beamed, burrowing further into her embrace. “You are. But at least you’re my hopeless disaster.”
Elphaba chuckled, resting her chin against Glinda’s hair. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She murmured, pressing another kiss to her forehead.