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"What are you reading?" Elphaba's voice suddenly sounded next to his ear and Boq startled so much that he dropped his book.
The book luckily landed on it's side, the pages avoiding being bent and creased. As Boq rushed to pick it up, Elphaba managed to get a look at the cover, her brows furrowing.
"Is that a shirtless man on the front of that book?" She asked and Boq could feel his face heat up.
"I— Yeah, it's— it's a romance novel." Boq admitted, brushing any dirt from the book and holding it against his chest, "I read them sometimes."
"Oh, I'm not surprised by that." Elphaba gave a small smile when Boq gave her a look. "Just a bit surprised you'd be reading about shirtless, charming men when you have one out here?"
"Better not let Fiyero hear you say that about him, he'll never let you live that down."
"Yeah, why do you think I said it while he wasn't here?" Boq chuckled, watching as Elphaba took a seat next to him on the courtyard bench. "My question still stands."
"Well... I kinda wanted to…" Boq's blush only got worse as he prepared to explain his reasons for the novel, "Fiyero is always, ya know, sweeping me off my feet and making these grand gestures… I wanted to figure out how to do the same."
Elphaba tilted her head as she connected the dots and lifted an eyebrow, "So you're taking dating advice from the most ostentatious books ever written? Actually, wait, that could work on him." She placed a hand on her chin as the plan started to make more sense the longer she thought about it.
Boq perked up, suddenly more confident in his idea than he was before, "Exactly, I plan to flirt with him and do some sweeping of my own." The munchkin smiled and nodded his head, his chest puffing out slightly.
"Well, good luck, though I'm pretty sure you don't need any book tricks to woo Fiyero…" Elphaba shrugged, but she would admit, it was pretty sweet how hard Boq was trying despite the fact that Fiyero was already so smitten with him.
Boq knew it already said a lot that Fiyero and him were even dating in the first place, but he still felt like he should do something. Fiyero was always the one to bring a blush to Boq's face, make him feel like he was in an actual fairytale. Boq wanted to do that for Fiyero too!
♡♡♡
Boq wasn't sure how he was able to hide the books, and by extension his plan, from Fiyero, but he was grateful for whatever force had given him this luck. Slowly over the following days since Elphaba found out about his plan, Boq had been doing small gestures for his boyfriend here and there. Giving him bouquets, being more overly complimentary, suggesting date ideas under the stars.
Each time, Boq could see that Fiyero was obviously enjoying the attention. The prince had been a bit confused when the first couple of acts had happened, but seemed to have adapted to the change quickly. Boq was ecstatic.
Fiyero was chatting with Nessa in the library when Boq found him next. The two were looking over the latest issue of the Shiz Gazette, laughing about the ridiculous gossip they had come up with.
"This could be classified as fantasy all on its own." Nessa commented, closing the paper and giggling as Fiyero waved his hand dramatically.
"Truly an insult to journalism, even I could do better." Fiyero grinned as Nessa laughed and nodded her head.
"Oooooo, the Tigelaar Files. Oh! Or maybe, the Princely Private Eye." Nessa held up her hands, sliding them across the air like she was miming a huge headline floating before them.
"Oh darling, please, obviously it would be Thropp and Tigelaar, two minds are better than one!" Fiyero and Nessa giggled more before Boq walked up, immediately taking Fiyero's attention just by his presence, "Dearest! Good evening, how was class?" Fiyero stood to give Boq a kiss on the cheek before sitting back down.
"It was great, Dr. Dillamond started a lesson on the history of Oz's infrastructure." Normally Boq would go off on a ramble about what he had learned that day, and Fiyero would be hanging onto his every word. But this time, Boq had come with other plans. "However, I came to ask you something."
"Oh? Please do." Fiyero smiled warmly and Boq's heart did a flip.
"I wanted to know if you would join me on a rendezvous tonight?"
"Rendezvous..?" Nessa mumbled, looking confused at Boq's vocabulary shift.
"You know I would." Fiyero grinned, a gleam in his eyes.
"Excellent, by the docks, around 7?" Boq smiled.
"It's a date~" Success!
♡♡♡
The boat was waiting by the time Boq got there, and it didn't take long for Fiyero to show up afterwards. Unsurprisingly, he was dressed beautifully, one of his signature blue and gold jackets resting nicely on his figure. Boq adjusted his bowtie as the other approached, taking Fiyero's hand and kissing the back of it before helping Fiyero into the boat.
As the boat driver began their trek down the river, Fiyero spotted the small case next to Boq's feet. "What's that?" He asked.
"You'll see." Boq tried to look nonchalant, but there was an underlying giddiness to his posture that he was sure Fiyero would clock.
When they made it to their destination, Boq helped Fiyero out of the boat, grabbing the case and leading them down a path to a beautiful clearing. There was a massive tree with its leaves hanging down like curtains, making the area almost look like a hiding place for the flowers surrounding it.
Boq led Fiyero under the branches, the bright moon lighting their way. He let go of Fiyero's hand to place his case on the ground, opening it up. Inside was a record player, and next to it, the few records Boq had brought with him from home.
Fiyero peeked over Boq's shoulder, marveling at the record player as Boq placed a record inside. He didn't say anything, merely watched as the music began to play and Boq stood back up, bowing and offering a hand to his boyfriend.
With a chuckle and a returned bow, Fiyero took Boq's hand and let the other pull him into a dance. It started out slow, the two just swaying together before the music started to pick up a bit, as did Boq's leading. They got a few seconds into the song before Boq perked up, "Oh! I almost forgot!" Fiyero watched as Boq reached into the inside of his suit jacket, pulling out a rose. The munchkin went to place the stem of the rose in his mouth before immediately sputtering and pulling it back out. "Shiz—"
"Boq?" Fiyero asked, worry taking over his expression.
"I'm okay! Just… just didn't realize there was thorns…" Boq mumbled out the last part and Fiyero had to bite his bottom lip to stop himself from laughing.
"Does it hurt?"
"No.. no I managed to notice before it did any damage." Boq sighed and tossed the rose to the side.
"I see… so no need for me to kiss it better?" Fiyero grinned as he watched Boq's face whip back to his with wide eyes.
"No! I mean— ow, ow it hurts a lot." Boq frowned and feigned a pained look on his face.
"Oh you poor baby, come here." Fiyero cooed, placing a hand on Boq's cheek as he guided the man forward, pecking a soft kiss on his lips. Before he could pull away, Fiyero suddenly felt gravity shift, and this time he couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. Boq had wrapped his arms around Fiyero's waist and turned them so he could dip Fiyero, deepening the kiss ever so slightly.
"Thank you." Boq murmured against Fiyero's lips and Fiyero just hummed in response.
They stayed like that for a few seconds before Fiyero spoke up, "Did you get this from one of your books…?"
Boq blinked, staring at Fiyero, "… what?"
Fiyero beamed, looking over Boq's slowly growing nervous expression, "Oh, Oz, you did."
"N-No!" Boq's face ignited in pink, and Fiyero couldn't help but pepper kisses all over it. "Yero!" Boq yelled, straightening the two of them back up, but still kept his arms around Fiyero.
"I'm so sorry dearest, I didn't mean to embarrass you, you're just being the sweetest thing." Fiyero chuckled, fiddling with the ends of Boq's hair on the back of his neck. "I love how much trouble you're going through just to flirt with me." Boq was finding it hard to keep eye contact with Fiyero. "But you know…" Fiyero's fingers gently rested on Boq's chin and turned his gaze back to Fiyero's face. "You don't have to do all of this… I already find myself swooning every time I see you."
Boq blinked, staring at the soft, smitten look on Fiyero's face. He tightened his hold on the other before quickly surging forward and kissing Fiyero. The prince grinned, returning the kiss, wrapping his arms securely around Boq's neck.
They stayed like that for what felt like forever before the music slowly pulled back their attention and the two were swaying together once more.