Chapter Text
Elphaba was thrown into the dungeon hours ago, the heavy iron door slamming shut behind her with a final, echoing clang. The room was small and suffocating, its stone walls cold and rough beneath her fingertips. A faint flicker of torchlight barely pierced the thick darkness, casting long, trembling shadows that danced across the damp floor. Time felt endless here, each minute stretching like an eternity as the silence weighed down on her, broken only by the distant sound of dripping water. She wasn’t quite sure what it was about this cell that dampened her powers. The stone perhaps? But she found her powers to be damn near worthless.
After what felt like an endless stretch of silence, the door burst open. Elphaba prepared for the harsh grip of a guard to grab at her already bruised arm, but it never came. Instead another figure was thrown into the cell, landing hard on the cold stone floor. Elphaba’s breath caught as she scrambled forward, her eyes searching the shadows until they landed on the bloodied and battered form.
“Sweet Oz” Elphaba breathed out
It was Fiyero. Her heart pounded as she knelt beside him, reaching out to steady him against the unforgiving darkness.
Fiyero groaned softly, struggling to lift his head. Elphaba’s eyes widened with worry as she gently pressed her hand to Fiyero’s bruised face. “You’re hurt bad. I told you to stay put” She glanced around the dark cell, desperate to find something to help ease his pain. “It’s just a measly concussion Fae. I’m alright.” He tries to manage a crooked grin in hopes of providing her with some comfort.
Elphaba’s brow furrowed deeper as she shook her head. His grin doing little to calm her “The lighting may be faint but I can see those bruises. Don’t lie to me.” She says sternly “And a concussion isn’t something to brush off, Fiyero. You could get worse if you don’t rest.” She tightened her grip gently on his arm, her voice soft but insistent. Fiyero chuckles “Yes doctor Thropp”
Elphaba didn’t find him funny. Or at least if she did she didn’t show it, too preoccupied with finding anything that could be of use, though her efforts were wasted. It was just them two in the cell unless you counted the leaky pipes.“Nothing but these damn pipes,” she muttered, frustration creeping in. She sank down beside him, leaning her back against the cold wall, the silence between them heavy but somehow comforting. It was nice to finally not be alone anymore, despite how annoyed she was that be blatantly disobeyed her. “You shouldn’t be here” she mumbles. “I told you to stay. That it was dangerous. Why don’t you ever listen?”
Fiyero’s gaze dropped, the usual spark of mischief dimming as he met her eyes. “I know,” he said softly, voice heavy with regret. “I wanted to be here. With you. Even if it was dangerous.” He swallowed hard, wincing slightly from the pain. “I couldn’t just…I had to do something.”
Elphaba’s expression softened, the edge of frustration giving way to something more tender. “I get that,” she whispered, her fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “But you’re not invincible, Yero. You don’t have to prove anything to me—or anyone.” The silence stretched again, but this time it felt less heavy, like a fragile bridge forming between them in the cold, dark cell.
They stayed that way for a while until the distant sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, sharp and deliberate. Both of them tensed, eyes flicking toward the door as the lock clicked open, breaking the fragile calm that had settled between them.
Elphaba instinctively pulled Fiyero closer to the shadowed corner of the cell, their breaths shallow as the guard’s footsteps grew louder. The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside, holding a flickering lantern that cast eerie shadows on the walls. They both held their breath, waiting to see what fate had brought with the visitor.
The guard’s eyes scanned the cell, lingering on Elphaba and Fiyero as if sensing something was off. Then, with a gruff voice, he said, “You’ve got a visitor.” Before they could react, the door swung open wider, and a shadowy figure stepped inside—someone neither of them expected.
The figure stepped forward into the dim light, revealing a familiar face—someone from their past who might hold the key to their escape, or maybe even more trouble. Elphaba and Fiyero exchanged a quick, wary glance, unsure whether to hope or brace themselves for what was coming next.
“Well this is a mighty unfortunate situation we find ourselves in now isn’t it?” The wizard sighs, voice sounding board, while brushing a cobweb from his shoulder
Fiyero’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of defiance sparking despite the pain. “Unfortunate, maybe. But not hopeless.” Elphaba stepped forward slightly, her voice steady. “What do you want from us?” The wizard’s gaze softened for a moment, but the weight of the situation hung heavy in the air.
“Oh nothing new” he responded, voice raising an octave as if it were obvious what he wanted. When he was met with two defiant glares he sighed looking to Elphaba “I want you”
Elphaba’s eyes darkened, a flicker of anger mixed with resolve. “You won’t have me,” she said firmly, stepping protectively in front of Fiyero. “I’m not yours to take.” The wizard’s smile twisted, but there was a hint of respect in his eyes. “We’ll see about that,” he murmured, the tension in the room thickening like a storm about to break. “Guards” he calls. A swarm of troops enter the cell, pushing past Elphaba and her now powerless form with ease and grabbed Fiyero roughly, pulling him away as he reached out desperately toward Elphaba. “No!” he shouted, struggling to break free. Elphaba’s eyes blazed with determination as she shouted back, “Let him go!” But the guards tightened their grip, dragging him toward the door. The wizard watched with a cold smile, knowing the real battle was just beginning.
Elphaba’s breath hitched, knowing she couldn’t call on her magic. But she planted her feet firmly, eyes blazing with determination. “I won’t let you take him,” she said quietly, ready to use every ounce of strength she had to hold the line.
The wizard barked out a laugh waving a finger towards her “Ah I’ve missed you and your cute determination” he takes a step closer to her “but there will be no need for violence if you chose to cooperate” Elphabas glare intensifies, her eyes fixed on the wizard while making certain Fiyero didn’t get dragged away any further “I am prepared to offer you a deal” he sighs “you.” He points to her “join me” he points to himself “and he” he points to Fiyero “goes free”
“No” Fiyero grumbles out, pulling against the guards “Fae no, don’t-“ he gets cut off by a guard sending a sharp jab to his stomach causing him to double over in pain with a groan that send tears to Elphabas eyes. Ones she’d never let fall as long as she kept her eyes locked on the Wizards speaking a firm “No”
The Wizard sighs in obvious disappointment “very well” turning to the guards “have your fun” the door slams shut before Elphaba can react and a pained yell echoes off the dungeon halls just outside her door. Fiyeros yell. Elphaba claws, pounds, begs at the door “Yero!!!”