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Fiyero was getting antsy. He hadn’t seen Elphaba in a week and it was the night before the engagement party with Glinda. He really couldn’t go through with this wedding, but if everything went according to plan tomorrow, hopefully they would never get to that. He regretted that there was no way for him not to hurt Glinda over this. As much as he wanted to blame Glinda for continuing to work for the wizard, he couldn’t put all the blame on her. He should have been clearer about his wishes. About his love for Elphaba.
He sighed and downed another glass of whatever the hell was in his glass by now. His fellow soldiers had invited him to get a drink or two since it was the night before the engagement party. After extensive questioning about his whereabouts over the past two days after the opening of the yellow brick road, he wondered if it was to keep an eye on him. He wasn’t dumb. He knew they were still side-eyeing him despite seemingly accepting his answer that he had simply been injured in the woods. Knocked unconscious for a long time before struggling to find his horse.
If they had found out he had been with Elphaba the whole time, he would be dead. Which was exactly what the two of them suspected would be the case if they were found out. So they had agreed that he would go on pretending like the engagement was still happening while preparing entryways into Emerald City. Allowing her plan to go through more smoothly. She didn’t let Fiyero in on it. Something that frustrated him a lot because how could he be of any help if he didn’t know the plan?
“The less you know, the better. The safer it is for you,” Elphaba had told him before they had parted ways from her hideout in the woods.
“What about your safety?” he had asked, holding her cheek in his hand. Her hands clenched in his coat. Not wanting to let go, but knowing they had to part ways.
“I can take care of myself. Besides, as long as you are able to do the things we have planned, that is helping me. That will do wonders when it comes to letting the animals loose,” she had assured him.
She had tried to kiss his worries away and while it might have worked for a few seconds, it didn’t work in the long run.
As he finished his drink, he sighed and stood up. It had been more than one drink, but at least he wasn’t falling-over drunk. He had just needed to do something to keep him too busy to see Glinda.
“Not going to call it a night already, are you Captain?” one of the men, Orin, called to him, giving his shoulder a hard squeeze. That man hated him as much as he hated him in return.
“It’s been a couple of rough days. I should be resting for tomorrow. You know. Engagement party?” he raised an eyebrow.
“Mhm, I do know,” Orin gave his shoulder a push. One that could be read as a friendly push, but Fiyero knew better. He sighed and made his leave before any more of the soldiers could hold him back.
The sun had gone down, but the streets of Emerald City were still alive with preparations for the following day and for shoppers in general. Some greet him respectfully, some greeting him much like how he was greeted at Shiz. He glanced up at the tower where Glinda’s apartment was high up. He couldn’t tell from down here if she was there, but for all he knew she was probably with Madam Morrible planning tomorrow. Still ignoring the fact that her best friend was on the run from the very same people she mingled with.
He grumbled under his breath before crossing the courtyard to his apartment. He was a bit unsteady, but not nearly drunk enough to make a fool of himself. Just enough to settle his nerves a bit. At least one perk of having an apartment in this cursed city was that it was quite a distance from Glinda’s despite being her chosen “swain” or whatever the hell Morrible called him.
It was a few floors up, not nearly as big as Glinda’s, but it was quite nice anyway. It wasn’t really something he cared much about anyway. His favorite feature was that his balcony faced the landscape of Oz outside the city and not the courtyard.
He unlocked the door and let himself in. Locking the door behind him.
“Don’t turn on the lights,” a soft voice spoke in the dark and Fiyero jolted in surprise. Accidentally knocking an umbrella stand over as he turned around, back pressed against the wall.
“It’s just me."
He could hear the smile in her voice.
“Elphaba?” he frowned, watching as she stepped out of the dark by the closet near the entry door. Broom and hat sat aside, and her beautiful long hair cascaded down her shoulders. The sparse light from the balcony illuminated her beautiful emerald skin. She was devastatingly beautiful as usual and finally seeing her now was just what he needed.
“I wanted to see you,” she whispered. Her arms wrapped around his waist as his arms came around her shoulders. She sighed and welcomed the warmth and comfort of his hug. Ever since they had slept together, her mind kept going back to that night. She knew it was as natural as breathing when one was in love, but she wasn’t used to being in that position. It had been the encouragement she needed. Knowing she finally wasn’t alone made her work even harder to plan things. Harder to get something done, knowing she now had someone on the inside that would help her.
And she was deeply in love with him.
“I know it’s only been a week, but I’ve missed you,” Fiyero whispered, pulling back before their lips melted together.
“You’re here a day early, you know,” he said. The two of them stood there in the dark for a long moment just basking in the much-sought-after intimacy of their embrace.
“It’s past midnight. So I would say I am right on time. I never specified the time I would be here,” Elphaba smirked, lifting a hand to touch his face. Fingers played over his lips as they slowly moved away from the door without breaking apart.
“True, you never did because you never let me in on your plan,” Fiyero reminded her, his nose circling hers and his hands gripping her close.
“All you need to know is that so far everything seems to be going according to plan. I checked the escape routes. The sewers and the towers. You did your job well,” she assured, stretching a little to kiss his lips tenderly. He had been able to get around unlocking doors and cages unseen by the looks of things.
“More animals have escaped little by little over the past week,” he explained between the kisses.
“But there are so many,” he sighed, closing his eyes when her hand rested on his cheek.
“I know,” she whispered, throwing a glance over his shoulder to see that they had slowly moved closer to his living room.
They kissed more and their hands started to wander some. Even when their lips moved to kiss each other’s faces and throats, it didn’t take long before they sought each other out again.
The kisses were deep and eager and far more confident now than their first kiss.
“It’s risky for you to come here,” he pointed out, allowing her to unclasp the cross belt of his uniform.
“It was a risk I was willing to take,” she said, starting to unbutton his uniform as well.
“Your uniform is like unlocking a safe,” she sighed, laughing softly as their lips crashed together again. Both moved further into the dark apartment. Some smaller lights were still on, allowing them enough to see each other and where they were going, but not enough to alert anyone that someone was home.
“It has been useful before I reunited with you,” he sighed, shivering a bit as she pushed the coat off his shoulders and his suspenders soon came down too. His own hands having worked on the front of her long black coat. Pushing it off her shoulders as well. Revealing her slender and muscled arms.
“I’m getting a feeling you want something from me?” Fiyero quipped while she pushed him against the wall. Taking him by surprise.
“Only if you want it,” she whispered again, their lips meeting again. Her smile was contagious and perhaps a little wicked? Their breaths started to become shorter. Mingling with one another as they undressed. She grabbed his hands from where he had unbuttoned the front of her top and moved them to over his head. Holding them against the railing there until she could see him grab a hold of them.
“I always want you,” he sighed, fists clenching around the railing of the half floor above them. Her hands slid down his sides as they kissed before hiking his shirt out of his pants. Palming his stomach as their teeth clashed in rough kisses while her hands slid back down.
“I know,” she said, smiling while removing the belt from his trousers.
“Be a good boy and keep your hands there,” she whispered against his lips while her hand slipped into the front of his underwear.
While he wanted nothing more than to touch her too, the way she dominated the situation was such a turn-on. He gladly did as he was told. The tipsiness mixed with pleasure made his world spin for a moment. So he closed his eyes and dropped his head back against the wall. His hands were holding onto the railing while she worked him up. Her free hand was sliding around his waist. Her lips on his throat and jawline.
Elphaba pressed up against him while she pleased him. Watching him responding so well to her and his groans sounding just divine in her ears.
They naturally end up in his bed farther into his apartment. A little teasing while their naked bodies moved under the silk sheets that happened to be the topic of her teasing.
“It’s not like I picked them,” he defended with a snort. The thrusting of her hips riding him caused the bed to knock against the wall.
“Sssh,” Fiyero whispered between soft moans.
“Sorry,” she snickered,
“I feel like I might slip off you and then the bed,” she joked, leaning down to capture his smiling lips in a breathless laugh.
“Stop it, it’s not that slippery,” he laughed.
She felt safe with him despite being in the middle of her enemy’s city.
Little did they know when the door to his apartment unlocked from the outside. Without making a sound, the door opened and two people entered just as silently. One held a finger to their lips to make sure the second person remained as quiet as possible to keep them from being discovered.
They walked through the apartment, following the sounds of moaning and laughter. When they peeked around the corner by the living room, they spotted the gale-force uniform on the ground next to the witch’s long, black coat.
Then further in, they finally spotted the wicked witch herself on top of their own Captain of the Guards. While neither person sneaking in the room found pleasure eavesdropping on this, they were here for proof of there being a traitor among them.
Watching the way their Captain looked at the green witch and the way he responded to her, there was no denying who the traitor was. There was no love spell on him. No curse. By the sounds and looks of it, he was gladly participating in this.
When the second man went for his gun, the first one stopped him. Shaking his head. They had been sent to look for proof. Not to kill. Not to bring them in. So they backed off and left the apartment as quietly as they entered. The two lovers were none the wiser about it.
The next morning when the sky was painted purple right before sunrise, the two lovers were back on their feet and dressed. As prepared for the day as they could be.
“Elphaba. If something happens to me, don’t risk yourself,” Fiyero said quietly, holding her broom in his hand while she buttoned up her coat.
“What? No way. You think my plan doesn’t involve getting you out of here too?” she asked, stepping back up to him once she was ready.
“I understand that, but if something goes wrong—”
“No. No, that is out of the question, Fiyero. I do not abandon my friends and allies when I finally have one,” Elphaba reminded him. Holding him by the waist as they stood there a moment longer.
“I get that, but you have worked so long for this. I am not worth the risk,” he whispered.
“Yes, you are,” she countered,
“We are in this together now. That doesn’t mean you risk everything and I don’t.”
“Very well. Just promise to be careful,” he sighed, cupping her face and admiring her beautiful green eyes as they talked.
“I can say the same thing to you,” she said, parting ways with a final kiss.
It would be tough to go through the day acting like everything was normal until it wasn’t. He knew he would be fighting the urge to look around for Elphaba all day. He tried to go down and get some breakfast, but his stomach was turning just thinking about food right now. So he supposed if there was any time for Glinda to find him, it was right then.
“Fiyero! Over here! Hey! Darling?” she called from down one of the endless hallways.
He took a deep breath and held his head high as he joined her. He felt terrible yet again when he was greeted by her embrace and kiss on the cheek since he decidedly avoided letting her reach his lips.
“Where have you been? I was hoping you would come to my apartment last night,” Glinda smiled, her fingers brushing over his chest.
“Why? Isn’t it like bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” Fiyero asked. Playing dumb came so naturally anyway.
“No, silly. It’s bad luck to see the bride in the wedding dress before the wedding, not the engagement party,” Glinda laughed, taking his hand so they could head wherever. He hadn’t really been listening to half of the plans for the day.
“I wanted to see you. Have some fun, you know?” she grinned, looking up at him with her dove-like eyes. He knew he was an awful human being. Not only had his fiancé hoped to spend the night with him, but he had spent the night in Elphaba’s company. The sooner she found out about this, the better. He didn’t want to continue to hurt Glinda like this or accept working for the wizard. His opinion on Glinda had changed long ago and there was no going back to that.
The morning was spent going over the plans for the day even though both the wizard and Morrible were notably absent where at least one of them would have been present. So at about midday one of the soldiers came and found the couple while they were finishing up a late lunch.
“The Wizard wishes to see you,” the young soldier explained to the couple. His face was giving away nothing, but Fiyero felt a knot in his stomach. It could be anything.
They headed to the throne room and Glinda was chatty the whole way, barely noticing that she had to tug Fiyero’s hand on the way there. He tried hard to not look worried when they got there and found two soldiers stationed outside the throne room while the Wizard, Madam Morrible and two other soldiers awaited them inside.
“We are here!” Glinda declared happily to Morrible, who, as usual, didn’t give two figs about her. Fiyero watched the one soldier in the room. Orin. The man he knew hated him so much. He looked too smug for this to be good. Fiyero closed his eyes for a moment and silently begged that Elphaba was somewhere safe.
“The wicked witch has been spotted in the city,” Morrible said, looking at Glinda when she said that. Glinda dropped her hold on Fiyero’s hand and clutched her chest instead. Trying to mask the worry that came to her face.
“Last night,” she continued and looked to Fiyero, showing a folded piece of paper in her hand without opening it yet.
“Fuck,” Fiyero gritted his teeth. His stare bore into Orin’s as he snorted at his reaction.
“No, no. You already did that part, remember?” Orin came closer. Ignoring Glinda’s confused expression.
“What’s going on?” Glinda asked, looking between Fiyero and Morrible, then to the Wizard, who was staying out of the drama for now.
“I’m afraid your handsome swain here is unfaithful, dear Glinda,” Morrible faked disappointment as she unfolded the paper in her hand. Holding it up for Fiyero, Orin and Glinda to see.
The evidence against Fiyero was undeniable. A very grainy, zoomed-in photograph, obviously taken from outside through the window of his apartment's balcony, captured an intimate moment between him and Elphaba. In the image, Fiyero stood with his back against the wall, his arms raised above his head, while Elphaba pressed herself closely against him, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. If one looked closely, it was even possible to make out her hand reaching down into his pants, removing any chance for Fiyero to talk his way out of the situation. The photograph left no room for explanation or denial, cementing the truth of their relationship in the eyes of those who saw it.
“What?” Glinda’s face fell as she looked at the photograph. There was no mistaking Fiyero or the long, black braids down the woman’s back. It was Elphaba.
“He’s fucking the wicked witch,” Orin grinned,
“Don’t try to deny it.”
“I had high hopes for you, Prince Tigelaar,” Morrible hushed the soldier as she came closer to Fiyero,
“But ever since you came back from being missing for two days, we have been keeping an eye on you. We had a sneaky suspicion that something was indeed going on, so we sent in a couple of your soldiers to check on you last night.”
“What? You can’t do that,” Fiyero barely found his voice, humiliation drowning him, realizing what this meant.
“You are in our city, Tigelaar. Seem like we were right to be concerned. Orin here confirmed that you were sleeping with the enemy. I really am curious how you want to explain that in a way to work in your favor,” Morrible said, walking over to Glinda and wrapped an arm around her shoulders like a caring mother would do.
Fiyero dared to look at Glinda, his heart breaking when he saw the tears run down her cheeks. It was unavoidable, but this was the worst way to find out about them.
“She is not the enemy,” Fiyero took a deep breath and raised his chin,
“She is my friend.”
“Seem like she is much more than that. Is she that good in bed she is worth this?” Orin snorted, shutting quickly up when Morrible glared at him.
“She used to be your friend too before you left her to fend for herself and decided to work for these tyrants,” Fiyero turned on Glinda as Orin and the other soldiers came and grabbed his shoulders and restrained his arms behind his back.
“I never wanted to hurt you, Glinda. I came here to have your back, bu—" he was cut short as the butt of a gun hit the back of his head. Almost sending him to the floor if Orin hadn’t held him upright.
Glinda gasped when Fiyero was hit, but while she took a step forward, she stopped herself. Despite her heartbreak, it hurt even more to hear him groaning in pain.
“How long have you two—” she trailed off, watching as Fiyero reluctantly looked up at her.
“I am so sorry,” he closed his eyes rather than answering his question. Instead, Orin grabbed his throat and held him tightly, so he started choking.
“Yes, yes. Enough of that. Can we go torture him for information now?” Orin asked, kneeing Fiyero in the gut to make him comply more.
“Stop it!” Glinda yelled. She felt so conflicted and the thought of Fiyero getting hurt was too much to think about right now.
“Just go. Make him spill where the witch is,” the Wizard finally spoke up.
“Lock him up in the dungeons once you’re done. No one needs to hear about this yet,” Morrible warned. Watching as Fiyero was pulled out of the room.
Morrible didn’t give Glinda any time to mope around. Turning her attention to her the moment the door closed.
“Chin up. You have got a job to do. Get the wicked witch to come for you. Finally you can show me what you are good for. I will send soldiers to wait outside your apartment,” Morrible said. Glinda, still clutching the photo in her hands, hesitated for a moment before raising her head.
“No. If she suspects we are onto her, she will know better than to come to my room. She will surely be keeping an eye out for Fiyero and look for him when she can’t find him,” she swallowed and tried to put a lid on her emotions,
“Send them to Fiyero’s room. She was there last night. She thinks it’s safe.”
“Now if you excuse me,” she muttered before leaving through another door.
Meanwhile, in the dungeons, Orin found out pretty quickly that Fiyero wasn’t about to give up any information about the wicked witch. Watching Fiyero kneeling before him. Stubborn and loyal to the wicked witch to the end, it seemed.
“Well, this might have been a waste of time, but it sure was fun,” Orin walked closer before he kicked Fiyero in the head. Throwing him backwards, knocking him unconscious.
“Let’s get him in the cell. We have a witch to catch,” he ordered and two other soldiers dragged the unconscious prince into the cell before locking up.
A few hours passed and Glinda saw nothing of Elphaba. As she stood on the balcony of her apartment, looking down, she saw guests arriving at the engagement party. How long Morrible and the Wizard were going to drag this out before announcing the truth, she didn’t know, but she was done waiting. With a final glance at a specific tower in the city, she turned and left her room. One goal in mind.
She hiked her dress up as she walked at a brisk speed. At first, halfheartedly greeting the guests she passed, straight up ignored as Shenshen and Pfannee tried to get her attention. By the time she made it to the tower she was going to, she was ignoring the few that were still around.
She tried to make as little sound as possible as she climbed the stairs until she reached the top. The sound of animals screeching inside made her stomach turn with guilt. Pushing the door open, she wasn’t even surprised to see she had indeed finally located Elphaba. To her actual surprise, all anger she had felt the past few hours flew out the window. If only for a moment. She was here. She was safe. Sort of.
“I should have known you would come here,” Glinda smiled a little, eyes still puffy from crying.
Elphaba froze. She was in the middle of updating the animals there about what was going on when Glinda came through the door. She relaxed for a moment and was genuinely happy to see her friend when she noticed her red eyes.
“Elphie. They know you’re here,” Glinda said, closing the door behind her.
“I know. I released the monkeys earlier before coming here,” Elphaba swallowed.
"No—” Glinda almost didn’t let her finish the sentence.
“They know you were here last night too,” she said shortly. If it weren’t for the photographic evidence or Fiyero’s admittance, the reaction on Elphaba’s face gave away the truth too.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Elphaba quickly busied herself, watching a few birds fly up and out of their cages. Past the winding staircase and out the very top of the building to freedom.
“They have Fiyero,” Glinda choked.
At this, genuine fear crossed Elphaba’s face. She gave up the pretense of being too busy to talk and stalked over.
“What do you mean?” she asked and Glinda shoved the photograph into her hands. Green hands reluctantly unfolded it to see what it was. She and Fiyero in a very compromising position. She pressed her eyes shut before daring to look at her friend.
“So I don’t need you to tell me it’s not what it looks like because you are clearly kissing him and with your hand down his trousers too, so I don’t know, Elphie. Color me surprised. Seems a bit intimate to me. I never thought you would go behind my back and steal my fiancé from me,” she said. Voice shaking. Hurting.
“Where did you get this?” Elphaba asked.
“Does it matter? You were spotted. With Fiyero. Making him appear a traitor. How long has this been going on? How long have you been sleeping with my fiancé?” she asked.
“You can cut that out right now. I am terribly sorry for having done this to you. You have no idea. I never meant for it to get this far, but when I…” Elphaba swallowed hard, deciding she had to be truthful now,
“There was an accident in the woods when he and the gale force were looking for me. He got knocked out. I helped Feldspur and him. We reconnected. He told me everything,” she said.
“Everything?” Glinda challenged quietly.
“How you and Morrible surprised him with an engagement he made very clear he did not want. That he has been looking for me. That he even tried to bring you along too. He loves me. He has done so much more for me over the past year than you have. I know what this looks like. That I slept with him to get back at you, but it’s not that at all. I fell for him a long time ago. When he came to and revealed he felt the same way… I couldn’t push him away. Not when I needed him the most. I needed you. I needed my friend. Yet you never came,” Elphaba felt tears in her eyes too now,
“I am so tired, Glinda. Of being alone. Of fighting all of Oz on my own. I would never ask you to come with me again because I know what you risk by doing that, but now? You are working for them. You are actively painting me as the villain,” she grabbed her broom and stepped closer to her old friend. Seeing the tears running down Glinda’s cheeks.
It took a long time for Glinda to say anything. Taking in what she was hearing. Fiyero had called her out on it too. For not standing up for Elphaba. She knew she had been a coward. She knew she hadn’t done nearly enough to help her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered,
“I really am. That’s why I needed to find you. I’m still mad at you, but. You are right. I haven’t been there for you. That’s why I am here now. You need to help him. You need to get to Fiyero. They won’t let me down to the dungeons.”
“You let them take him?” Elphaba asked.
“You have to understand. I have no power here. My words mean nothing to the wizard or to Morrible. Not even the soldiers. I couldn’t stop them even if I wanted to. What I could do was to pretend I hated you enough to want to get you into a trap,” Glinda explained. At this Elphaba looked alarmed at the door behind her friend.
“They are guarding Fiyero’s apartment. Probably mine too. As mad as I am, I don’t want them to get either one of you. You need to get him. In the dungeons. I’ll show you where,” Glinda walked to the door.
“I know a way. Goodbye, Glinda,” Elphaba mounted the broom and flew up towards the exit of the tower high above before Glinda could stop her.
“Elphie!” she yelled.
Elphaba knew the risk of being seen was extremely high now that they were aware that she was there. Forcing herself not to think about the fact that she was spotted with Fiyero like that. That was the absolute worst way Glinda could have found out about them!
She flew out of the city and hid in the nearby woods for as long as she allowed herself. Which wouldn’t be long if Fiyero were in danger. Once she was certain nobody had noticed her, she left her hat and broom hidden by a tree near one of the sewer entrances. She covered the bottom half of her face with a cloth wrapped around her head before entering. Using magic to keep the nasty sewer water from reaching her and instead flow past her on the side of the walls.
Trying to remember the details on Fiyero’s map over the sewers. She had been studying them specifically for an occasion like this, whether she needed to get in or out.
It was taking too long before the sewer finally led her to somewhere else. She felt the stone walls as she entered what was part of the dungeons. Walking in the dark for a while until lights down the corridors alerted her that she was getting closer to where perhaps some animals were being held.
She dared a smile when she entered a room with open cages. Most were open, but some of the larger ones still held animals like badgers, goats and even deer.
“It’s Elphaba!” one of the animals whispered as she quickly unlocked the remaining cages to let them out.
“Just follow where the water runs,” she told the animals. About to continue through the badly lit dungeons.
“There is a young man who has helped us for a long time locked up here,” A young badger explained before he’d leave. Making Elphaba pause.
“He should be in an old prison further down the hall. I would much like to see the man be set free. He deserves better than to die in here for helping us,” the Animal explained before heading on his way to freedom.
She continued on through the hall until she came to what looked more like a prison for humans. Quickly hurrying over to look through the bars, hoping to find him. Almost continuing past the second cell when she spotted something moving in there and a flash of pale skin.
“Fiyero,” she whispered. The movements stopped and she hovered a hand over the locks. Her magic made the door unlock and allowed her inside.
When Fiyero thought he heard his name, he stopped moving. Looking towards the door, he recognized the dark silhouette of his woman.
“Elphaba,” he groaned as he pushed himself a little further up against the cold, stone slab called a bed in there. He smiled at the sound of her coat swishing against the floor as she ran over to him.
“You’re here,” he sighed, immediately wrapping his arms around her when she knelt next to him.
“I was afraid I’d lost you,” Elphaba sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck and held him close to her chest. Both needed a moment to gather themselves.
“Glinda knows. Everyone knows. About us,” Fiyero whispered against her neck as he sat back, allowing her to look him over.
“I know. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come here last night. You told me it was too risky,” Elphaba closed her eyes. Feeling fury build in her chest seeing the various bruises, cuts and wounds left on his body.
“How did you know I was here?” he asked, watching her touch the purpled skin on the side of his chest.
“Glinda told me. Showed me a photo of us in a rather compromising position,” she sighed, silently apologizing as she pressed her hand against what felt like broken ribs on his side. Having to ignore his moans of pain as she whispered a spell to start the healing process.
“Ugh, yeah,” he let his head rest back on the stone bed as he dealt with the pain.
“I swear I didn’t know anyone could see us. Apparently, someone was in the room too at some point. I never noticed. I am so sorry, Elphaba,” he sighed when he opened his eyes to her gentle hand holding his face.
“Someone was in the room when we were having sex?” she whispered, cringing at the thought of someone seeing them.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“Fiyero, it’s not your fault they wanted a damn show. Look, I hate the idea of someone watching us as much as you, but we need to get out of here. None of this is your fault, okay?” she assured.
Not for a second did she suspect him of having any knowledge of this anyway. He had proven to her time and again that he had her back.
“Can you walk?” she asked and he nodded. He had no idea, but he didn’t have any choice right now. So with her help he got his feet back under him. Her arm around his waist kept him from toppling over as dizziness took him. Besides a number of his ribs, it didn’t feel like anything else was broken.
“I’m good. I’m fine. Wonderful even,” he groaned, a pained smile on his lips when the look on her face gave away that she wasn’t amused by his attempt at humor.
“I will take a better look at you when we get away from here, alright?” she sighed, pressing a quick kiss on his lips.
“Alright,” Fiyero sighed, letting her head out of the cell first before following. Unsteadily, but staying up. He didn’t really remember anything from the interrogation. He certainly felt it, though.
“This way,” she led the way back the way she had come from. That’s when they heard the sounds of footsteps coming closer and Elphaba quickly pulled him into the room.
Before she had a chance to slam the door closed, the butt of a gun hit her right in the head, and Fiyero moved on instinct. He rushed forward and grabbed her around the waist at the same time as he used his body weight to slam the door shut on the soldiers on the other side. He slammed the lock on before turning his focus on Elphaba.
“Elphaba!” he gasped. She was limp in his arms. Hanging over his arm like a ragdoll and it made his heart jump into his head as fear spread through him. He swayed a bit, but now he absolutely had to ignore his own issues. He touched her face and throat, quickly making sure she was just knocked out. The soldiers were slamming against the door and while he wanted nothing more than to check on Elphaba more closely, it had to wait. He scooped her up in his arms, one arm under her knees and tucked her head under his chin as much as he could as he started on his way through the sewers. It was a good thing she was as petite as she was, as even in his state, she wasn’t too difficult to carry.
It was dark and wet in the sewer and it was impossible to keep her head from falling back over his arm. At least being unconscious saved her from this horrid smell. Going slower than he usually would have so as not to risk hitting her head on something on the way out. Only picking up speed once he saw the light from a torch at the end of the tunnel.
Once at the opening, he carefully peaked outside. It was dark now and while he felt many eyes on them, they were only Animals.
“Over here,” a badger hopped around the entrance and showed him the way to where Elphaba’s hat and broom had been hidden. Clearly having been located by the Animals she had let out before finding Fiyero. None of them had gone further while knowing their rescuers were inside.
“Is she—?” a deer asked as they watched Fiyero carry the unconscious witch over to the safety of the trees.
“She’ll be fine,” Fiyero insisted a little too harshly as he collapsed to his knees and finally had time to check on his lover. Laying her down on the soft grass, he quickly checked on her pulse and her breathing. He opened her coat for it to be less restricting, but was relieved when she was waking up moments later.
“Oh, thank goodness,” he sighed and held her head in his hands. Brushing his thumb over her cheek as her eyes settled on him after looking around at their surroundings.
“It’s okay. We’re out,” he whispered. Carefully checking the bruise she now had on her temple. Luckily it wasn’t bleeding.
“We save each other, right?” he whispered, lying down next to her and resting his head against hers. Feeling exhausted now that the adrenaline was seeping out.
“Exactly,” she sighed, lifting her hand to wrap around his wrist. The two stayed there for a long time while their Animal friends protectively looked over them.
“We should get going. The guards will know where to find us,” Elphaba said, slowly sitting up while holding a hand to the side of her head.
“I can’t just leave. Feldspur is in there. Who knows what they will do to him knowing I am their traitor now,” Fiyero looked horrified at the thought. Elphaba hesitated. She knew he was right. They couldn’t leave him in there. Neither of them had the conscience to abandon their friend like that.
They didn’t get a chance to plan anything as two of the monkeys came flying. Landing on the ground near them. Fiyero attempted to pull her back from them, but Elphaba quickly caught both his hands in hers.
“Don’t worry. I freed them. They are not working for the wizard anymore,” Elphaba assured. Only looking away from Fiyero once she knew he understood.
“Chistery, what is it?” she asked, seeing that the monkey tried to speak, but with no luck. Instead, he pointed back towards the city. An incredible number of Animals flying through the sky and escaping through the streets where the commoners lived around the city.
“Did you free them all?” Fiyero asked, stepping away from the trees to try and see if he could recognize any animals. Only after a short while did he see a few horses escaping too, one decidedly turning in their direction.
“Most, but not all,” Elphaba said quietly, spotting the horse running towards them. A soft smile formed on her lips.
“It has to be Glinda. No one else would let him loose,” she explained, seeing as it was obviously Feldspur coming their way. The only way he would know where to potentially find them was if Glinda told him.
“Fiyero!” Feldspur came to a sliding stop near them, tossing his great head,
“Time to go. All the animals are leaving. Glinda let the remaining animals out,” he explained, confirming Elphaba’s suspicions.
“Do you remember the way to my home?” Elphaba asked, grabbing her hat and her broom.
“I do. Fiyero. Go with her. It is faster. I will follow soon after,” Feldspur assured, throwing his head around as the soldiers soon followed on horseback out of the city. The other animals around them scattered as well and Elphaba grabbed Fiyero’s hand.
“We will see you there,” Elphaba assured, then turned to Fiyero,
“Close your eyes and hold on tight,” she warned. He was a bit reluctant, but mainly because she had just had a good knock to the head. The look she gave him assured him it would be fine.
Making sure he had a good hold around her waist, she took off into the sky.
Fiyero kept his eyes pressed shut for a while as they soared through the sky. It was once they seemed to slow down a bit, and he felt almost weightless for a moment that he opened his eyes.
“You won’t fall,” Elphaba assured. Having slowed down so they were just hovering in the sky once they were safely away from anyone. She let go of the broom in favor of covering his arm around her waist with one and used her other hand to rest on his cheek. Holding his face as he rested his head on her shoulder.
“You are not even holding the broom right now,” Fiyero pointed out, his scruff tickling against her cheek. She was sure she was just imagining things, but it felt like she could feel his heart beating against her back.
“I don’t need to. The same way I won’t let you fall no matter what. My magic would never let you fall,” she assured, adoring the way she could feel his head move just a little as he was looking around. She could tell he was a little frightened, but trusted her enough to listen to her reassurances.
Despite them both hurting right now, it was a beautiful moment, and she could feel him slowly relaxing a little more against her. The night sky was littered with stars and Oz below them hid the atrocities that had been going on there for too long.
“This is the first time I am not flying alone,” she whispered, turning her head a little to press a kiss to his cheek. Her hands entwined with his on her stomach.
“The first time?” he asked, surprised, turning his head just enough to catch her in a little corner-of-the-lips kiss.
“The first,” she confirmed, leaning back so she could rest her head on his shoulder and close her eyes for a moment. Her head was still thumping, but she felt wonderful right then. Feeling perfectly safe even so high in the sky, enough to just let him hold her. The man with no magic would have found a way not to let her fall even from up here.
“Maybe we should get home so you can rest,” he whispered. Feeling his hand slide up past her chest to her touch her cheek. Understanding he was just concerned.
“Rest sounds wonderful,” she agreed.
