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Chapter Text

Elphaba was born different. There was no denying, no mistaking it. You couldn’t. One look and you would instantly tell that something was off. Something was different. 

There were many ways she was strange, unusual even. The first being the most obvious. Her skin. It was not what one would deem a ‘normal’ skin tone like you or I, but a soft green. Like one would see on a leaf, or perhaps an apple. 

It was unique and odd, but yet it was what she was. Green as ever, and no water or soap could ever wash it off. 

Then there was…the other thing she had. It was like a little addition to her already strange livelihood. She was born afflicted with a condition.  Condition that not many knew of. 

For there was no such thing in Oz, not until she was born. Her teeth sharp, her eyes red, and the most deadly of all…was her hunger. 

It was not for any sort of food that one could place on the table, nor some mineral or object. But the liquid that sustained most life. Dark and crimson. 

Blood. 

She found at an early age that she craved it, she needed it, or else she would wither away. Like a plant without sun or water. 

Dulcibear, her Bear Nanny, had been the first to discover it. She had accidentally nicked her paw and little Elphaba had attacked her. Suckling on the injury like it was milk. 

She had been horrified, and when she had brought it up to her parents, it did not bode well. 

They nearly attempted to rid Elphaba, but Dulcibear was able to somehow convince them that she would take care of Elphaba’s affliction. 

For some Bats did consume blood much like she did. 

The Bear had done her best, finding help from other Animals, using vials to keep her hunger away. Unfortunately it never truly went away, this ever crawling, gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach. 

Like a beast that was never satisfied. 

She learned to cope with her affliction. Finding herself to be much stronger, faster and filled with this power as she continued to grow. 

And now she was alone. Without the help of Dulcibear. With beating hearts all around her. She never meant to cause a commotion. Never meant to have Madame Morrible of all people cast her sight on her. 

Especially never meant to be housed with that blonde brat. 

But here she was. Destiny continues to yank her around like some hurricane. Unable to stop the spinning of the world, wishing to just stay still for a single moment. 

She was a commotion, and like every commotion, it had its consequences. 

Part of her was thrilled to be allowed to stay in Shiz, to experience something normal for a change. But it also brought a terrible fear to her. 

For she was not at the luxury to have Dulcibear provide her with what she needed. She had stockpiled on vials for the journey, but now that she was living at Shiz, she would not have an entire supply to keep her satisfied for the year. Or however long they would allow her to stay.  

She had sent a letter home with her father to have Dulcibear bring her more, but silence was the only thing she received. It worried her greatly, so she did her best to ration the blood she did have on her person. 

Sure it would be more challenging, but she could not allow herself to feed on her fellow students. 

Keeping it carefully tucked away from prying eyes. Those prying eyes being Galinda Upland and her snooty behavior. The blonde had made it her personal goal to make life at Shiz harder than it already was. 

Not that Elphaba cared, no, this was not her first experience with bullies, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. 

She would push through, like she always has. Ignoring the sneers and terrible comments of her peers. Hiding her true identity despite having a walking target on her back because of her green skin. 

If she did not take care of her condition the more it would show. The more she could not control. It worried her greatly, but did the students of Shiz need to know there was more to her than just her green skin? That she was secretly a monster under all her oddness? 

Elphaba was certain that they would hunt her down with pitchforks and torches. 

Madame Morrible had taken an interest in her, saying that if she proved herself…she might be able to see the Wizard. The Wizard of Oz. 

The great leader of this country, able to grant anyone worthy’s heart desire. 

But just what was her heart’s desire? 

To be degreenified? To take this affliction from her? 

Or perhaps…something else. 

Her thoughts swirled with ideas of what the Wizard may do when she proved herself worthy. Elphaba worked hard, studied more and kept to herself. 

Elphaba’s only friend in this school was her history teacher, a kind old Goat by the name of Dr. Dillamond. At least he did not judge her by her skin, kept her company while she ate her lunch avoiding the wizateria in case Galinda wanted to be snotty. 

But lately, the tension between the Animal teachers and Human ones has been tight. Dr. Dillamond was the only Animal teacher left, most leaving the school due to harassment, but he refused to leave. 

Even with the horrible words written on the chalkboard. 

‘Animals should be seen, not heard.’ 

What a terrible thing to say, let alone see. He had been distraught, dismissing class and Elphaba wished to try and comfort him. 

Only to find a secret meeting between some of the Animals still on staff. 

Animals were going missing, losing their voice. Their ability to speak. A horrific tragedy that was on the horizon. Why was this happening? Who was causing such a thing? 

Did the Wizard know? Surely he didn’t or he would have done something. That is what a Wizard is for. That’s why they had him, to help the unlucky, the unfortunate. 

The outcasts. 

Perhaps if she proved herself, she could bring the topic up with the Wizard. See if it was something he could help with, fix what was broken. 

Being late outside she decided to travel back to her dorm room, trudging through the thick forest that wraps around the school. Elphaba always enjoyed being out in nature. It was so calming. 

But she was so focused in her thoughts that she did not hear the sound of galloping hooves, and nearly tumbled over when she realized how close she nearly was to getting trampled. 

She crashes to the forest floor and hears a loud crack, as she lands on her bag. The crackle of glass fills her ears and the smell of blood suddenly hits her nose. 

No…oh no. No! 

Panic floods her system, hearing a voice stammer behind her. 

“I am so sorry Miss! We didn’t see you there, you must have-“ 

Elphaba rises up, ready to give a full berating at the one who nearly crashed into her. Her braid swings as she turns, seeing a young man staring at her. But she halts at the sight of him.

His eyes are wide, but not of shock, or terror, but what looked to be fascination. 

“Blended with the foliage.” He finishes, the words just tumbling out of his mouth. He gathers himself, clearing his throat as he flicks his eyes around as if realizing he was staring. 

Elphaba narrows her eyes, seeing him turn around as the Horse snickers behind him. The man shushes him, before turning back and giving a small smile. 

His eyes are a bright blue, the brightest she has ever seen. He wears a deep blue vest that makes his eyes pop even more, with beautiful, intricate embroidery. 

Blue diamonds peek out of the unbuttoned collar, showing a bit of his skin. 

A Vinkun then? Not many from the Vinkus traveled outside of their country. She only recognized the tattoos because of the visitors her father would receive. 

“Is this how you go through life? Trampling everyone you meet?!” She asks her voice cold as ice, she can smell the potent blood that is seeping in her bag. She feels dizzy, but holds herself together. “Just running amuck??” 

The man blinks multiple times, his face shocked before he recovers. “No. No. Sometimes I’m asleep.” He stammers, giving a tilt of his head a sly smirk on his lips as if he was attempting to woo her. His dirty blonde hair falling just slightly in his eyes, shining in the moonlight that filters through the trees. 

She just stares, and gives a small unfazed noise. He’s closer to her now, she can hear his heartbeat in her ears. The simple rhythm that nearly sends her in a trance, seeing the pulsating veins that travel under his skin. Unable to take her eyes away from the skin that peeks out of the collar of his opened shirt.

His scent was all she could smell, as if the forest had gone away. This earthy cinnamon scent that makes her reel back and give a loud huff, pushing down the urge to just sink her fangs into his flesh. 

The thought nearly spins her off her axis. What was she even thinking?! 

“Miss? Are you alright?” The man asks and Elphaba takes a deep breath, her brows furrowed. 

“Let’s get this over with. No, I am not seasick.” 

“Neither am I.” 

“No, I did not eat grass as a child.” 

“You didn’t? I did.” He remarks back, getting Elphaba to twist her lip, narrowing her eyes at the man. Was he making fun of her? 

“And yes, I have always been green.” 

The Vinkun man just looks at her, head tilted for a second, “And the defensiveness? Is that a recent development?” He quips, his lips curling into a lopsided grin. 

Once more Elphaba is stunned by this man, but she keeps herself from showing such an emotion. “Mm.” She says instead, trying to block all the unnecessary thoughts that rattle in her head. 

How she wanted to wrap her arms around him and dig her fangs into his neck. Drinking his blood. Would it be sweet? Salty? 

These thoughts horrify her, and she realizes she needs to leave. She has to get out of here before these urges start to take over. 

So she puts her hand over her nose, trying to block out the scent. Turning her heel she rushes off. 

“We are about to do some more trampling, might we give you a ride?” The man calls out and Elphaba groans, continuing to walk faster. 

“No thanks! Get stuffed!” She replies back before rushing out of the woods, her head spinning at the encounter. 

Just what was that? Never had she felt such an urge, was it because she was so low on blood? This was dangerous. Whoever that was, she would have to avoid him at all cost. 

Him, and his Horse. 

•••••

Turns out she could not avoid him, because he was the newest student. A Winkie Prince, by the name of Fiyero Tigelaar. Judging from how loud Galinda squealed when she saw his face the front of the school’s newspaper, he was very popular.

A bad boy that had been kicked out from multiple schools, trouble following him wherever he stepped. 

And he had waved at her in the library. 

Galinda already had an arm draped around him, wrapped like a snake on a tree. She was showing him the library, and he had caught her eye. 

Elphaba had been sitting with Nessarose, distracting herself from the twisting of her stomach by studying, and looked up to immediately catch eyes with him. 

He tilted his head, and gave a dopey smile before wiggling his fingers at her as if to say hello. 

She huffs, and rolls her eyes immediately returning to her studies. 

“Elphaba why did the Prince just wave at you?” Nessarose hissed under her breath, elbowing her right in the rib. 

Elphaba sighs, shaking her head, “He nearly ran me over on his Horse,” She whispers back hearing a bit of commotion deeper in the library. Oh Oz, could she just get some peace and quiet? Was that too much to ask? 

“He talked to you?” Nessarose asks a bit surprised and if Elphaba truly cared, she would have been offended by her question. 

She shrugs in response, “Barely. It’s not that big of a deal. He’s just some idiot Prince.” 

“An idiot Prince that has Galinda going ga-ga over.” 

Elphaba rolls her eyes again, “Like I care what she thinks. They’d be perfect together. Two airheaded brats.” 

“Geez you’re crankier than usual. Did you eat?” Nessarose comments and Elphaba grunts slamming her book and moving out of her seat. Nessarose blinks at her abrupt movement, eyes following Elphaba as she goes to gather her things. “Where are you going??” 

“Somewhere quieter. I can’t hear myself think,” She mutters feeling her stomach twist a bit. “I’ll see you in History, Nessa.” 

Nessarose just nods, too entrapped in this Prince making a fool of himself. Elphaba shakes her head, quickly leaving the library before it gets worse. The school was already eating out of the palm of Fiyero’s hand. 

And if Galinda had sights on him, she just knew he was going to be more trouble than it’s worth. 

It would be best if she didn’t bother anyways, she had far bigger things to worry about than some dropout Prince who was dancing in the library of all things. 

She had to keep focus, he had broken her blood vials when he just about trampled her, and she only had a few left now. The hunger was really starting to get to her. 

So much so that she doesn’t even notice who she bumps into. 

“Oh Oz!” A shrill voice cries as books scatter and Elphaba crashes to the floor. Glasses tumbling off her nose. 

“Watch where you’re going!” 

She groans knowing who exactly she ran into, moving to grab her glasses, “Maybe if you-“ 

She pauses when seeing a tan hand held out to her, and a gentle voice breaking through the fog that seemed to settle in her mind. “Are you alright?”  

Elphaba glances up when seeing Fiyero, the Prince, extending a hand, his eyes having a smidge of emotion before the lopsided smirk is plastered onto his face. 

“It seems we continue to run into each other like this, dreadfully sorry.” 

She ignores the hand, standing up and brushing herself off. “Maybe instead of dancing about, you should watch where you’re going.” 

Galinda makes a noise about to argue with her, but Fiyero gives a chuckle reaching down to pick up some of her books. “Yes, how silly of me.” He says holding out her books, and she takes them with a narrowed look. 

“Say, a few of us are going to a party later tonight, would you perhaps like to join us?” Fiyero asks earnestly, hearing giggles and jitters from Galinda’s little posse. He glances over for a moment before his eyes turn back to her, head cocked to the side 

Elphaba freezes, this was a trick. It had to be. A way to make fun of her. For them to all laugh and point. His face seems earnest but she doesn’t trust it. So she bristles, seeing ShenShen and Pfanne just giggling and whispering to Galinda who has her own lips twisted into a grin. 

“No. I don’t do parties. Now if you excuse me, I actually have studies and classes I need to attend to.” She snaps, her teeth slightly bared before she pushes past him feeling that terrible hunger grip at her stomach. 

She can hear Galinda hum as she walks away, talking to Fiyero. 

“She’s a lost cause, I wouldn’t worry too much about her.” The blonde whispers as Fiyero watches Elphaba leave. 

“I suppose,” He says, his face twisting for just a moment before it smooths over, his arm interlocked with Galinda’s, “Where were we? Ah yes, you were to show me the rest of this fine establishment?” 

Galinda titters and Elphaba rushes far enough away to not hear the rest of the conversation. Of course, why was she not surprised? Why would he even care about someone like her? 

Galinda already had her claws in him, whispering things. She should have known better. 

No point in even bothering to think about the Vinkun Prince and his soft eyes, and even softer heartbeat. 

She groaned, gripping her head, these thoughts just had to stop! What was wrong with her?! Elphaba turns a corner finding a small alcove where she usually hid when she needed a moment. 

Leaning against the cool stone she gulps for air, clenching her eyes shut as if that would rid of the image that continues to haunt her mind. 

Of his eyes, brighter than the blue sky, and the diamonds hidden under his outfit.

Her breath quickens, heart hitting her ribcage harder than ever. This was dangerous, she could feel herself slipping. She had only been hungry like this once, and it led to something terrible. 

She had to find blood, and fast. But how? Dulcibear wasn’t answering, and her father didn’t seem to care to try and help either. 

Elphaba was on her own. Just like she always was. 

•••••

Things got worse before they got better. After the library encounter with Fiyero she stayed in her dorm, quietly researching ways to satisfy her hunger without biting some random student or staff. 

So far she was hitting dead end after dead end, unable to find a quick and easy solution. 

She was starving at this point, going days without drinking blood. She needed it, but she had no way of getting it. After all, she refused to feed on another person, or an Animal even. 

The vials were donated, and she couldn’t imagine just asking anyone to just bare their veins and let her drink from them. 

The idea was absolutely absurd. 

And then, to make matters worse…Galinda was now dating Fiyero. A whole week of him prancing about and she already caught him in her sparkly pink net.

Elphaba shouldn’t care, it was expected. The princess of Shiz is now dating the hottest new commodity. They were meant for each other. Birds of a feather and all that. 

So why did her heart burn in anger? Why did she feel like her insides were on fire? Her pulse quickening at the sight of Galinda draped around Fiyero, her head resting on his chest as he sauntered around the school. 

It must be her hunger, causing her head to spin and this aching feeling in her bones. How tired she was feeling, how weak. 

The sun was starting to hurt her, far too bright and judgmental. 

She wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and just wither away. But part of her hung on. Held tightly, she had to live. To spite everyone. 

“Another party? Fifi! You just don’t know when to quit!” Galinda’s voice rings through the classroom as they all move to sit down, ready for Linguification class.

“What’s the point of living if not to have a little fun?” Fiyero drawls, causing Galinda’s posse to giggle and croon at him. He just smirks, almost as if he’s basking in the attention, but yet it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. 

Elphaba watches him take a seat next to Galinda, surprised the prince even showed up, he often did as he pleased, especially around the halls of Shiz. It was as if the man did not have to follow the rules. 

Well of course he didn’t, he was a Prince for Oz’s sake. 

Blue eyes meet green, and Elphaba sees a soft smile twitch on his lips, before it disappears as soon Galinda sits next to him. She was already moaning about class, just about hanging off him like he was a coat hanger. 

His face smooths, and it’s like he’s a whole other person. Just listening and laughing as Galinda makes a comment on their professor. His eyes however told another story. 

Why did they look so sad? So tired? So bored of what he was experiencing.

She shakes her head, what was she even thinking? And why was she even thinking about him? Since when did she care about people like him? 

Elphaba huffs, another party which meant Galinda would come in late giggling and sneaking into the room with Shenshen and Pfannee. They would stay up all night not caring that Elphaba would like some peace and quiet, and actually sleep. 

But of course, Galinda did not have a single care what she thought about in the matter. 

Maybe it would be best if she just stayed in the forest for the night. Would keep her ears away from the beating hearts, and the scent of blood. 

The temptation of it all. 

The class goes by smoothly, Elphaba too bothered to even attempt to try and talk. Her head felt like a thick cloud had settled in, trying to ignore the overstimulation of it all. 

How loud everyone’s heartbeat was in her ear, or the jittery feeling she had in her stomach. 

As soon as class is dismissed she rushes off ignoring ShenShen making a little comment about her, once again making the same joke about her being a green vegetable. You’d think they’d move on with that one. 

•••••

She had to stay away from everyone. Just to be safe, just to keep herself from doing anything stupid. 

The forest was quiet, calm and serene. If she needed to clear her head, this was the place to be. She was so hungry, just about starved at this point. 

Sure she could consume food, but this was different. It was as if without blood, she would just fade away. Turn into nothing but a withered husk. 

Her nails dig into the bark of a tree, trying to hold herself together. She pants heavily, a thick fog starting to wrap around her vision. 

Was this it? Was she facing the consequences of not eating? 

She was so hungry. She had to eat. 

She had to feed. 

This festering hole inside her  twists like a slippery eel in her stomach. Thrashing and gnawing at her, ravenous. She couldn’t be around anyone, for if she was, she feared the worst.

She couldn’t even think straight, her mouth so dry it was as if she swallowed a bunch of hot sand. She whines, the sound vibrating in her throat. 

And then, she smells it. 

This earthy scent, metallic and sweet. A hint of cinnamon hits her nose, and she can’t ignore how it’s making her mouth water. 

She hears it. 

A pulse, a beat that sounds like a symphony in her mind. Like a thread dragging her, she crawls and stalks the source of the sound. Blending in the shadows of the thick ferns. 

Something drunkenly staggers through the thicket, swiping away the large leaves humming softly and Elphaba watches on the prowl. 

Like a terrible hunter. Her mind not her own. Too consumed by the urge to swallow the red sticky substance that pumps in her prey’s veins. 

Her target pauses, garbled words exiting their lips before she pounces. 

Nails dig into flesh, her prey falls crashing into the earth. Elphaba wraps her entire body around them, like a snake crushing its dinner.

And then she strikes. Her fangs elongate and dig into the side of their neck, puncturing the surface. Hot liquid hits her tongue and it feels like she’s drinking the nectar of the gods. 

It’s not sweet, but it’s earthy, salty even. It’s nothing she could ever describe, but it’s addicting and she wants more. 

She drinks, and drinks, feeling her prey no longer fight against her, falling limp in her arms. She swallows and gulps down the liquid, with every drop her mind gets a bit clearer. 

It’s not until she can barely feel her dinner’s pulse that she realizes what she’s doing. 

Clarity hits her like a sledgehammer, realizing she has her fangs into someone’s neck. Her face is covered with blood and she pulls away panting heavily. 

Crimson liquid spills down her chin, dribbling onto her victim’s chest and she looks down realizing who she had just fed on. 

Fiyero Tigelaar.

The Vinkun Prince. 

Her mind shatters, panic flowing in like a terrible wave crashing against the shore. She scrambles off him, trying to process what she had just done. Fiyero just lays against a tree, weakly breaking in and out, his eyes half-lidded as if he’s in some sort of trance. 

His salty blood coats her mouth and she gags, but her stomach refuses to give up the precious blood that sloshes in her stomach. 

Oh Oz. What has she done? Did she kill him?! She moves her hand to his mouth, feeling his breath. Okay so he wasn’t dead. 

He was just very pale and his neck and shoulder was covered in blood. She didn’t realize how messy she was, but then again….

This was her first time consuming any sort of blood that wasn’t from an Animal. 

The taste was divine, exquisite even. She doesn’t realize she’s lapping up the blood on her fingertips until she’s too late. 

Elphaba cries out, her nails digging into her scalp. What was she doing?! What had she just done?! She fed on the Prince! The man dating her roommate! 

He breathes shallowly, giving a weak groan as his body goes slack and he slumps to the side, face crashing into the dirt.

Quickly she rushes forward, feeling his warm skin against her cold hands. He mumbles something, this soft word that she doesn’t understand. 

“Oh Oz, what do I do? I can’t…I can’t just leave him here!” She stammers, biting her nail as she looks around. Her mind is clearer than ever.

Fiyero’s blood was intoxicating, the way it tasted and went down her throat, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. She had to focus! Focus! This was a serious predicament she had herself in.

She had to stop thinking about his blood, and how smooth it was. Like she was drinking the alcohol her father would have when there were big parties. This spicy earthy liquid that was just so…

“Stop, stop,” she begs to no one in particular. Taking a deep breath, she slowly begins to reach for Fiyero, lifting him up just slightly. Her hands grabbing at his shirt, careful not to scratch him. 

He limply falls against her chest, promptly causing her to fall over with the man on top of her. She gives a squeak, her face burning as his face is buried into her skin. 

He’s cold to touch, and that worries her greatly. He’s still breathing, but he definitely passed out. His lips slightly parted and his hair in his face, his skin smooth. There’s no lines in his face, but she notices dark circles under his eyes. Despite the haggard look…

He looks so gentle, so soft. 

She moves to brush some of the strands out of his face before realizing what she was doing. Immediately pushing Fiyero off her she groans just about to rip her hair right out of her scalp. 

“What is wrong with me?!” She hissed before staring at the poor man slumped on the floor, face right in the dirt. He didn’t deserve all that. Here she was, sitting in the forest, nearly drained the poor man dry, and dumped him into the dirt. 

She didn’t mean to…she didn’t…oh Oz. 

“I’ll just take him back to his room. No one should be up, and then…we can pretend this never happened.” She whispers to herself, “But his shirt..” 

His shirt was completely ruined, and she couldn’t just toss him in with it on. It would definitely cause some suspicion. 

Without thinking she is quick to tear it off him, her nails easily shredding the fabric as if it was made of nothing. For a moment she pauses, looking at her hands. 

Since when could she just rip fabric so easily? This was expensive, she could tell considering that this was the Prince’s shirt. 

Pushing these confusing thoughts aside she pries off his bloody and now torn shirt. His tan skin gleams in the moonlight, showing intricate tattoos across his chest. Diamonds covering his neck, some resting at his collarbone, the geometrical lines that have this deep blue coloration to it. 

She can’t take her eyes off them, wondering if they hurt when he received them. She did not know much about Vinkun culture, but she did know that the people of the Vinkus marked their skin at every milestone. Each at a different spot that was more sensitive than the last. 

And she ruined it by attacking him, his shoulder just covered with blood. 

Elphaba swallows and begins to wipe away the blood with his shredded shirt, doing her best to try and rid of any evidence that he had been attacked. 

Only when the blood was eventually smeared away, two pinpricks across his neck were far more prominent now. She had marked him. 

Elphaba sucks in a breath, feeling guilt wash over her. Shame drowning her thoughts. What was she doing? Ogling over him while he lay in the dirt, barely breathing because she nearly killed him. 

She couldn’t leave him in the forest. Not with no shirt and a battered neck. Maybe she could drag him back to his dorm and place it like he had some wild night and just crashed back at his place. 

Then maybe he wouldn’t remember her attacking him, forget about this entire encounter. Beg Dulcibear to please get her more vials, and hope to Oz that this doesn’t happen again. 

With a newfound determination, she grabs his arm, feeling the lithe muscles under her fingertips.

“Elphaba focus!” She hisses to herself, hoisting him up, it was a bit of struggle since he was very much taller than her.

His feet drag against the ground as she carries him along, finding that he wasn’t heavy, but it was just awkward and strange. 

His face falls against her shoulder, feeling his gentle breath tickle her neck. At least he was breathing, she didn’t have much time to think about what she had done. And what the consequences were. 

One thing at a time, and this time it would be getting  Fiyero back to his dorm, and making sure no one spots her. 

Thankfully it was in the dead of night, perhaps only a few people still wandering about. Mostly the university’s security as they made their rounds. If they caught her, she could just pretend he got a little wild and was taking him back to the dorm. 

She knew Fiyero had a roommate, since there were no open spaces he did not get a private room. She could imagine that was upsetting for the prince, and it complicated things further for her. 

At least she knew where his room was, since Galinda often visited there. And who his roommate was as well. 

Boq Woodsman. The meek little Munchkin who seemed to have a massive crush on the blonde. He was often seen trailing her with a lovestruck expression. 

Hopefully he wouldn’t notice Elphaba tossing Fiyero into their room. 

She grunts as she drags Fiyero around, realizing that she had lost one of his shoes. Was he not wearing boots this time around? 

Oh well, she was certain he had many shoes. He was a prince after all. 

Seeing the window of Fiyero’s dorm room, she hoists him up closer to him, his face buried in her chest for a second while she attempts to push open the window. 

This was ridiculous, she should have just knocked on the door and dumped him off. Saying she found him in the woods. 

But the bruising on his neck and the lack of shirt was very suspicious, and she did not want to come up with some far-fetched lie. Boq was certainly not an idiot. 

She did not want to incriminate herself, after this she definitely needed to stay under the radar. Madame Morrible planned to start her sorcery studies, so she had to just lay low. 

Keep quiet, which infuriated her, but it had to be done. She could not be outed out as a monster, she already was the talk of the school because of her skin. But being found out that she was a blood sucking fiend was a whole other story. 

With a grunt she lifts the window up, still having Fiyero draped on her, limp in her arms. Thankfully the windows weren’t locked, for there was not much need for security here at Shiz. 

Not when Madame Morrible, the Storm Sorceress, was the headshiztress. No one dared to break in with her around. 

She peers into the window, seeing the room. It was a bit smaller than her room, but she can see the items around that no doubt belonged to Fiyero. The blue tapestries, the silver items. The diamonds splayed across the room. 

This was definitely Fiyero's room. 

With a small noise, she lifts him up further, doing her best to just about shove Fiyero into the small window. Him being a tall muscular man, it was a bit more difficult than she expected. 

She pushes and shoves limbs into the tight space, hoping that she doesn’t accidentally break or hurt him even more so. 

Well he definitely had some scratches and bruises from being dragged around in the forest. And…her little bite. 

Little was an understatement but she didn't have time for logistics right now. 

Eventually she is able to get Fiyero through the door hearing him just about crash into his room unceremoniously. She lifts her head up just a bit, peering into the room seeing Fiyero tangled up in his own limbs still passed out. His face pressed against the wooden floor, a bit of dribble falling off his lips. 

He looks cute, but Elphaba does not have time for that.

A light turns on and Elphaba crouches down hiding in the bushes below the window sill. She leans against the brick wall, hoping her verdigris would help her blend into the foliage. 

She nearly kicks herself for that line of thought.

She can hear the sounds of footsteps, and then a voice. 

“Wha-Fiyero?!” It’s Boq, his voice still a bit tinged with sleep, “Are you kidding me? Do you know how late it is?!” 

There’s silence and Elphaba puts her hands over her mouth to keep herself from being heard. She can hear Boq step forward, peering out the window. 

He sniffs a bit, looking around before muttering under his breath. “Honestly…getting stuck with this guy.” He grumbles before shutting the window door and Elphaba is alone with her thoughts. 

It’s fine! She got him back in his room, he wouldn’t think anything of it! This was fine, she was fine. She wasn’t hungry, and Fiyero was alive. 

This wouldn’t have any consequence whatsoever. 

Right? 

She slinks off into the night, easily slipping into the room with Galinda snoring softly, the pink glow of her nightlight once again filling the room. 

Elphaba shuts it off and quietly eases herself into her bed, having gotten rid of her bloody clothes while she had been sneaking around. 

Her hands clasped on her chest as she looked up at the ceiling, his blood still coating her mouth. It tingled her throat, the salty liquid making her crave it. 

Her stomach was full, but how long would it be until she needed more? 

She turns over, clenching her eyes shut in hopes that she could fall asleep. Hoping, praying that Dulcibear would answer her, and give her the vials she needed. 

And then, she could get the Vinkun Prince out of her damn head. 

Chapter Text

It’s not the first time Fiyero wakes in a haze, and it certainly won’t be the last. He wakes up sore, his entire body feeling like lead. The only reason he does wake is his roommate shouting his name exclaiming that it was time for classes. 

Fiyero wants to hide, curl into his blankets only to find he is not in his bed. Instead he opens to find that he was curled up on the floor.

Hold on. 

How did he get back to his room? 

He remembers going off campus with Galinda and her friends, they had some drinks, danced a little and he took off to take a piss as they walked back to the university. 

Only…he remembers stumbling in the thicket a bit drunk on bubble wine…and then…nothing. 

Ah, well. Getting blacked out drunk was a normal occurrence for Fiyero. But he could have sworn he didn’t drink that much. 

After all he didn’t really enjoy waking up with a hangover, but yet here he was. 

He feels a slight tap to his side and he groans curling into himself just a bit, swiping at Boq’s foot feebly. 

“Come on, you better get up. If you continue to act like some drunk party animal, they’ll kick you out of this school soon enough.” Boq quips, but his words feel like garbled nonsense to Fiyero’s ears. 

Why must he be so loud? 

He huddled into himself for a moment, a searing pain hitting his neck. He winces, opening his eyes once more to see Boq standing there with his foot tapping rapidly. 

The Munchkin was an odd little fellow, well not so little. He was a bit taller than most Munchkins Fiyero had met. He had the signature curls and bright hair, but he was a bit bulkier and taller than the average Munchkin. 

Fiyero didn’t have the heart to ask him why that was, it seemed a bit insensitive to even think of such a question. 

Boq was kind, but also a bit snippy around most times. No doubt because of Fiyero’s antics, being up all night never truly doing work. Fiyero found Boq to be a bit tightly wound, complaining about smells and loud noises every now and then. 

And he would get extremely cranky at times, leaving the room and not coming back until the next morning saying he was sick and would close himself off in their little makeshift divider. 

“Wha happen?” Fiyero mumbles the words just tumbling off his lips as he groans, wincing at the fierce pain in the neck. 

“Once again you having a party and being an idiot. Come on, it’ll look bad on me if I don’t get you ready for classes. Miss Galinda will be so upset.” 

Fiyero grunts at that as Boq lifts him up, surprisingly easily, or maybe he just feels like jelly. “Don’t remember…coming in.” 

“Oz, you had way too much then. I woke up to your butt stumbling through the window. You had leaves and dirt all over you, and you lost your shoe! And your shirt!” 

The Vinkun Prince looks down at his indeed bare skin, seeing that there were patches of dirt and leaves stuck to him. “How I lose my shirt?” He asks, though it’s more of a slurred set of words while Boq hauls him up. 

“Oz! Fiyero! I am not your nanny,” Boq growls and heaves him over to the bed so the man can get dressed. “You’ve got ten minutes before the bells ring.” 

Fiyero groans, “Not so loud, must you be so loud?” His voice was booming in his ears, his head pounding. Ugh what a night. And he didn’t even remember half of it. 

A shame, really. 

“I’m not even shouting.” Boq retorts, obviously not too keen on Fiyero whining and nursing his aching head. 

The Vinkun Prince glances at his foot, a bit of a pout on his lips, “I lost my shoe.” He says a bit mournfully. Those were his dancing shoes too. 

Boq gives a hefty sigh as Fiyero slumps into himself falling back against his bed, “Everything huuurts.” Fiyero whines and Boq rolls his eyes at the man. 

“Well, this is what happens when your actions catch up to you. This is why it’s forbidden to go out and party like that.” 

“Where’s the fun in that? What is this school? A prison? Trapping these poor people, forcing them to study…” 

“These ‘poor people’ are here to learn, and for some of them it costs a lot of money to get there. Now are you going to class or not?” 

Fiyero just mumbles into the blankets before sighing melodramatically, “Yes…yes…I will face my torture for today.” 

“Honestly, you are the most dramatic person I’ve ever met.” 

“Ah, but you love me.” 

“I most certainly do not!” Boq stammers, shaking his head, and Fiyero chuckles sliding off the bed to go and change into his uniform. He loved making Boq squirm. 

He groans, rubbing his neck, finding that to be the center of all his pain. A bundle of nerves tightly wound right on the crook of his neck. He must have slept on it wrong. Or perhaps tumbled headfirst into the room and landed on it funny. 

He was honestly surprised he hasn’t broken his skull from all the stumbling he had done in the past few days. 

“Oz! What in the..” Boq stammers as Fiyero rubs the base of his neck with a hiss. “What even happened?!” 

Fiyero blinks, “What? What is it?” 

Boq moves closer, his eyes peering right where Fiyero had his hand attempting to massage the afflicted area. There were two strange bumps under his fingertips, perhaps some sort of bug bite? 

The Munchkin sniffs a bit, before he pulls away, eyes wide for just a moment before he clears his throat. 

“What’s wrong? Does it look bad?” 

Fiyero rushes to a mirror, seeing he had quite a lot of bruising near these two marks. Twin puncture marks right on his neck, with purplish red bruising surrounding it. It wasn’t a pretty sight. He leans his neck forward staring at it with a confused look. 

What in Oz? 

“It looks like something bit you.” Boq says a bit worriedly. 

“How can you tell? You think it was some sort of bug? Some kind of creature?” 

Boq swallows, looking a bit pale, “I..I am not sure! Maybe I can look into it. But I should go, now. To class. You think you’ll be okay?” 

He seems more antsy than usual, Boq was a bundle of nerves for most of the time, but this was different. Almost like he was jumpy, perhaps even…scared? Did he know something? 

“Eh I’ll be fine, just go on I’ll catch up.” 

Boq stares at him, brown eyes looking at him up and down. He bites his lower lip, the gears turning in his head while Fiyero begins to get dressed for the day. 

“I’ll wait for you.” He says after a moment while Fiyero is buttoning up his shirt. 

“You don’t have to, wouldn't want you to be late by my account. I couldn’t care less, but you do care about this place.”

Boq’s face twitches, showing that he’s conflicted and Fiyero wonders why he’s so suddenly worried. Was it because of his neck? It was just a bite. Probably some creature he encountered in the forest that wrapped around Shiz. 

Considering that he had dirt and leaves in his hair, and a lack of memory, it’s probably the best conclusion to this mystery.

Fiyero wondered if there were perhaps little beasties in the woods. He had heard about the jitterbug in this area, but he was pretty sure they would make you dance to death. 

Which was something he already planned on doing.

Fiyero tugs on his school jacket, hissing at the bite that flares in pain when the material hits his skin. He moves it carefully, trying to hide the hideous thing but it wasn’t much use. It was right there in the open, this large heavy bruise in the middle of his neck. 

There wasn’t much else he could do about it, aside from maybe asking Galinda if she had some makeup to cover it up. No doubt the blonde did, with that pink purse that always seemed to have something for the occasion. 

“Let’s go before I decide to crawl back into my bed,” Fiyero says, giving a smirk as he places the mask of indifference tightly on. How it easily it clicked right on, able to slip into the persona he so carefully designed. 

Boq just scans him for a moment, as Fiyero ducks by him heading out the door, the Munchkin quick to follow as they both gather their things. 

•••••

The sun was far too bright for his liking, wishing he grabbed his sunglasses. Hangovers, why did they have to be so cruel? 

“We are going to be late!” Boq whines as they briskly walk through the courtyard, people immediately catching Fiyero’s eye and giving their good mornings. 

Only to see the large bruise on his neck, and start whispering amongst themselves. 

Fiyero doesn’t care, he knows how schools are. How easily things can spread. What was he going to say, that it was a bug bite? Let them talk, it wasn’t like he was planning on staying in this school for long anyways. 

Boq looks a bit more flustered than he usually is, head ducked down, hands gripping his satchel. Like he was nervous about something, but Fiyero doesn’t get to ask what as he sees Galinda with her posse right behind her. 

Shenshen and Pfannee were fine. They liked gossip, and enjoyed making sure Galinda was the center of attention. Basking in the pink glow that Galinda provided, allowing them to be a part of the elite. 

Pfannee gives a gasp when he sees Fiyero, his brows disappearing into his elegant hairstyle. He leans over and whispers to Galinda as Fiyero strides over with a smirk wide on his face. 

“Galinda, you won’t believe-“ 

He doesn’t finish his sentence as Galinda slaps him right in the face, so hard it echoes the courtyard and everyone freezes. All eyes on them as Fiyero reels back in pure shock, his hand over his burning cheek with wide eyes. 

“I cannot believe you!” Galinda cries her eyes wide and filled with tears. 

“Galinda what-“ 

“Who was it hmm? How dare you! Necking with someone else are we?!” Galinda accuses as her face gets red from anger. “I thought we had something special!” 

“I-I-Galinda it’s not what-“ 

“Don’t even try to give me excuses! I can see it right there! You didn’t take me to my dorm last night! I waited, and waited, and now I can see why you disappeared!” Her voice trembles as she looks at him with big wet brown eyes. 

Fiyero doesn’t know what to say, it’s like his entire world just tipped over. He opens his mouth to explain but Galinda doesn’t let him. 

“Was it you Bick?! With those little fangs of yours?!” Galinda shouts, now turning her anger at Boq who squeaks in surprise, taking a step back. His hands waving as his face turns a bright red.

“N-no! Miss Galinda I would never-“ 

“Stay away from me! The both of you! I never want to see your face again! We are through Fiyero Tigelaar! And to think I almost-“  Galinda shakes her head, and gives a strained sob before she runs off, her heels clicking as ShenShen and Pfannee follow suit. 

“Unbelievable!” ShenShen hisses before chasing after the sobbing Galinda. 

Fiyero stands in the courtyard, hand still nursing his stinging cheek. The crowd around them whispers louder and louder, and Boq gives a whine gripping at his curls. 

“Ohh! This is your fault!” He shouts looking to Fiyero who just stands there frozen in place, “You had to be stupid and wind up with some bite that looks like some fucked up hickey! And now you dragged me into this! Oh Miss Galinda…” 

Boq growls in frustration before he takes off, his shoulder hitting Fiyero’s and the Vinkun Prince just stares off into the distance, his eyes wide and his lips part. 

What just happened? 

Did…did he just get dumped? 

He just stands there motionless, his eyes wide as the crowd whispers and mumbles around him. He feels his chest suddenly tighten, his mouth going dry as he picks up his bag that had slipped off his shoulder when Galinda had hit him. 

Then he starts to walk, ignoring everyone’s stares, acting as if he did not just get humiliated by that display. His head was reeling, and everything just seemed to go wrong in the span of a few minutes. 

Maybe he could find a way to talk to Galinda and tell her this was some misunderstanding. That he had not cheated on her. He may be a lot of things, but he was not a cheater. 

He just hoped she would actually listen before jumping to conclusions. 

•••••

Elphaba arrives early to class, she always has, and always will. Today she feels better, so much better. Her mind is clear, her stomach isn’t twisting itself into knots. 

She doesn’t feel like she was wasting away, bit by bit. She hated that her body felt lighter, like she had finally gotten a good night’s sleep. 

No longer starving, no longer dragging herself along. 

The gnawing of her stomach was satisfied, but a new emotion crawled into the pit of her abdomen. Guilt. She felt terrible for what she had done to Fiyero. The poor man did not deserve that, even if he was some stupid Prince. 

She sits down in the seat, moving her braid behind her and hears the clicking of wheels nearby. Glancing up she sees Nessarose rushing towards her, her eyes wide.

“Elphaba!” She hisses as she parks her chair in the spot next to her sister hands on her open book as if to stop Elphaba from reading. “Did you hear? Did you hear?” 

“Hear what?” Elphaba asks as more people start to file into the room. Whispers follow the crowd, all muddled and broken, unable to truly understand what was being said. 

“It’s about Fiyero, and Galinda they-“ 

Nessarose stops when she sees Galinda step into the room, the blonde’s eyes were wet, and her mascara was runny under her eyes. ShenShen and Pfannee stand by her like two walls, keeping any and all students away from her. 

Immediately they sneer at Elphaba as Galinda goes to sit down, taking her reserved seating and immediately opening her makeup bag to fix herself up. 

“What happened?” Elphaba leans closer to Nessarose, curious to know why Galinda looked like she had bawled her eyes out, and Fiyero was nowhere to be seen. 

Nessarose leans closer, her eyes never leaving Galinda, “I’ll talk to you about it later.” 

Elphaba chews on her lower lip, hating the suspense of what exactly was going on. Galinda looked devastated, and her two little guard dogs seemed more on edge than usual. 

“Would everyone just mind their own business?! Oz!” Pfannee barks getting students who were staring at Galinda to turn their heads away, staring at anything but the pink clad blonde. 

As she wonders just what happened, Fiyero steps into the room. The whole classroom goes deadly still, and Fiyero stands there for a moment. 

His eyes look tired, dark circles more prominent. And then the bite. 

It was quite obvious, this dark bruising that from far away would look like some terrible hickey. Oh. Oh dear. Did she…cause a dispute between the two of them? 

Fiyero steps cautiously, the sounds of his boots just about echoing the room. He ignores the whispers, the jeers and makes a beeline straight to Galinda who sniffs. He moves to open his mouth mic but Pfannee immediately slams his hand on the seat next to him. 

“Absolutely not.” He growls, “Haven’t you done enough already? This seat, is taken.” 

Fiyero just stands there, his eyes wide as he tries to look at Galinda but she has her head looking to ShenShen. “Go away.” Shenshen hisses before helping Galinda with her hair. 

He takes the hint, dipping his head and steps down the stairs seeing everyone had sat down, and the only seat left…

Was right next to her. 

Elphaba stiffens, as Fiyero quietly makes his way to her. Placing his bag down he slowly sits down, his eyes never leaving the floor. Elphaba watches him do so, only to get an elbow from her sister. 

She swallows and immediately focuses on her textbooks, eyes sometimes glancing to the Prince sitting next to him. He looks so tired, so lost. The mask of indifference was slipping, cracks in his armor and Elphaba felt absolutely terrible. 

She caused this. She didn’t care for Galinda, but she didn’t mean to just ruin their relationship.

The professor steps in and that is enough of a distraction for her to focus on the task ahead. Every now and then looking at Fiyero who just stares off into space. 

Eyes clouded as if he isn’t truly there. Completely dissociated from the world. His pen slightly taps against the table, knee bouncing up and down as the professor goes on and on. 

She can’t focus from his constant tapping, the sound irritating her very nerves. The smell of Fiyero is more potent than ever, smelling the hint of cologne, how he breathes and his heart ramming against his chest. 

It’s enough to make her hit her hand on the desk, loud enough to make a Fiyero just about jump out of his skin glancing over at her. 

His blue eyes wide, and Elphaba shakes her head, “Can you not do that?” She gestures to the tapping of his pen, and the tapping stops. 

“Oh, right. Sorry.” He says quietly, his eyes flicking to Galinda who sits with poise, trying her best not to look upset. He looks absolutely distraught, his mask just barely clinging on. Elphaba can see that whatever happened, it was truly affecting him. 

Elphaba feels that guilt churn in her stomach. This aching feeling that twists like someone is yanking her arm too tightly. Dragging her into this syrupy world of lies and trickery. What was she supposed to do? Tell Fiyero it was her that bit him? That she had been so hungry her body and mind deemed him to be a right snack. 

And a right snack he was. She did not know why she wanted to taste more of his flesh, his skin, his blood. It was intoxicating, and also a bit horrifying. This sudden obsession was starting to worry her, she needed to stay away from the Vinkun Prince, but it seemed fate refused to listen. 

Constantly placing him right next to her, as if a test. A way to avoid temptation. 

She does her best to focus on the lecture at hand, writing down what she needed and avoiding all looks from the other students. It seemed both Fiyero and herself were now outcasts in the making. It was truly ridiculous how quickly the school could turn against you because of a simple statement from a girl wearing all pink. 

The bell chimes, and immediately Fiyero springs up. Elphaba watches him grab his things and chase after Galinda trying to talk to her, despite Pfannee and ShenShen doing their best to try and block the blonde. 

Elphaba watches them all leave the classroom, ready to get up herself but is completely blocked by Nessarose’s wheelchair. Her sister crosses her arms, thin brows furrowed as she looks at Elphaba. “We need to talk. Now.” 

She knows the conversation, after all Nessa was the only one to know her secret. That she was some monster who fed on blood, some being that did not belong here. One of a kind. 

So she follows Nessarose into an alcove, vines and ivy wrap around the pillar as Nessarose stops her chair, swinging it around to face Elphaba. She was obviously upset, and Elphaba just waited for her to start shouting. 

“Elphaba.” 

“Nessa.” 

“Elphaba!” Nessarose hisses, “You saw Fiyero, what he had on his neck. Did you have anything to do with this?! Did you bite Fiyero?!”

Elphaba makes a noise, “Keep your voice down!” She takes a deep breath, “I…I didn’t mean to-” 

“Oh Oz! You did! You did bite him!!” 

“Not on purpose!” 

“On purpose?! Elphaba you took a chunk out of his neck!! What were you thinking?! You’re not supposed to attack anyone, let alone students, and a PRINCE!” Nessarose hisses, getting Elphaba to wince knowing that she was right. 

This was absolutely unacceptable, she should have better control of her urges. That should not have happened and now she had a taste for human blood. It was tingling in the back of her throat, making her wish to sink her teeth once more. 

She shakes her head, “It was not my intention. I just..I lost control, I…Dulcibear has not answered my letters. I am out of vials, and father won’t answer either. I just..I-” 

“You were supposed to take care of it! And now, now you went and bit someone! Sure Galinda thinks of it as some hickey, but Elphaba what if people find out?!” Nessarose points at her, making Elphaba’s throat go dry. 

“This was supposed to be the moment, the only time where I could be normal! But once again you ruin it. If people find out you are some bloodsucking monster, what are they going to say about me?!” 

Elphaba bristles, “Oh  I am sure that will be the least of your problems Nessa. Don’t worry, I have it under control.” 

A part of her wants to scream, to shout at Nessarose. Obviously her sister did not care that she was just about starving herself because no one would help her. It was not the first time Nessarose ignored her problems, acting like she was just a nuisance who continued to get in the way of having a normal life. 

There was nothing normal about the Thropps. That, she would have to learn on her own. 

“Good, please Elphaba. I just…I just want to do stupid normal things. Not have to worry that my sister is chomping down on hot princes' necks.” 

Elphaba sputters, “He is not hot!” 

Nessarose just stares at her, a brow raised hiding in her curly hair. Elphaba feels her face heat up as she looks away. “Sure, sure. Well you’re in luck, because of your stunt Galinda broke up with him.” 

She blinks looking at her sister, “She did?” 

“Mhmm, she thinks he cheated on her because of your little bite.” 

Elphaba straightens, what an…idiot. She would believe him to do such a thing? Well, he did seem to flirt with anyone that could walk, but he didn’t seem the type to cheat. That was why he looked so distraught. He didn’t do anything wrong, it was all her fault. 

“Oz, what a mess this has all been! I didn’t-I didn't want this to happen! He had just been in the forest while I was trying to clear my head, and then I..I find myself over his body.” 

“You need to be more careful. Oz Elphaba! I swear if I see more bites on people-” 

“It won’t happen.” She says firmly, her brows set in a line. She refused to let herself get to that point again. “I’ll send another letter, and hope for the best.” 

“I wonder why she hasn’t replied. Father’s been answering my letters, maybe I can ask?” 

Elphaba feels her heart clench, of course he hasn’t replied to her but has to Nessarose. He wanted nothing to do with Elphaba, and no doubt was extremely happy that she was no longer in the Thropp residence. 

Maybe if Nessarose made some mention about her vials, he might actually respond. 

Though, she highly doubted it. She lost all faith in her father some time ago, knowing it was easier to depend on her own. Perhaps she could confide in Dr. Dillamond, perhaps he could help her in the same way Dulcibear did. 

Only she would have to confess to him that she was some sort of monster. 

“I’ll see what I can do, in the meantime…keep those fangs to yourself. I..will have to say you look a lot better now. Healthier.” 

Elphaba shrugs at the statement, she certainly felt better, but she wanted to keep her fangs away from Fiyero’s neck anytime soon. 

She is about to mention that she has a class soon when she hears the scraping of shoes against stone. Books flying and tumbling to the floor getting them both to turn, and in the small hall they see Boq Woodsman standing there frozen. His items scattered across the stone. 

“I-I…oh Oz!” He stammers, scrambling to pick his items up and then rushes off. Elphaba looks at Nessarose with wide eyes. Was he…was he eavesdropping?! 

“Go get him!” Nessarose urges, not wanting Elphaba’s secret to be let out. She waves her hand and Elphaba takes off, holding her bookbag tightly as she races to find Boq and see what he had heard. 

Her thoughts race as she runs down the hall, if Boq knew what she was, he would certainly not keep it a secret. There was no denying the fact that he liked Galinda, and if he told her, Elphaba’s life would get more complicated than it already was. 

Not to mention he might tell Fiyero, and her whole body shudders at what he might think of her. Would he hate her? Look at her with disgust? It wasn’t her fault! Why did she even care what he thought of her?! 

She turns the corner seeing the wild curls of Boq, “Stop! Wait!” She calls out and Boq yelps, skidding to sharply turn down the twisting halls of Shiz. Students clinging to the wall as she runs down the hall, all of them giggling and jeering at her as she does so. 

Ignoring the looks, she has one goal. To corner Boq and see what he had heard. 

“Leave me alone!” The Munchkin cries as they travel down the hall, nearly reaching the courtyard. 

“Stop! Please, I..I just want to talk!” 

“Then stop chasing me!” 

“Then stop RUNNING!” 

Boq doesn’t stop, rushing another corner and Elphaba is nearly there to catch up, her boots skidding to a halt when she is faced with an empty courtyard. As if Boq had just disappeared. She steps into the circular area, looking in the bushes and around the pillars to see if he was hiding, but he was nowhere to be seen. 

“How did he?” She whispers looking around once more, as if she would see the redhead jump up from his hiding spot and take off in the opposite direction. But no, the courtyard was empty, the only sound being the water fountain that dribbles next to her. 

She huffs, wondering how he escapes her, giving a small sniff as if she might catch his scent. But she only receives the smell of the flora all around her. He got away, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t find him later. 

He was in many of her classes after all. 

The bell rings once more, meaning she was late for classes. She groans, holding the strap of her bookbag and races off leaving the courtyard empty once more. 

Only it isn’t. 

Boq grunts as he holds onto the roof railing, surprised that he was able to jump that high. He slips off the roof, landing on his feet. He looks around checking to see if Elphaba truly had gone. 

Once the coast was clear, he sighs loudly just about collapsing onto the stone. That was close, way too close. Elphaba had chased him for a good time, and he was grateful he was able to leap from such a height this time around. She did not even notice him holding for dear life on the side of the building. 

The only problem was that she would be after him. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop. He had heard Nessarose talking about Fiyero’s bite and wanted to see if they perhaps knew something he didn’t. 

And they did. 

Elphaba had been the one to bite Fiyero. Now Boq did not know why, or how she had done such a thing, but he was familiar with bites. Bites were not good, and if it was anything like his own, it meant trouble. 

Big trouble. 

Elphaba was a monster, and he had to make sure Fiyero didn’t just get dragged into this mess by her. He had to figure out just what she was, and how truly dangerous she might be. Boq always knew something was different from her, and it was not because of her skin. 

It was because perhaps, she was like him. 

And that was never good. 

He takes a deep breath and begins to walk to his next class, on high alert for Elphaba and her sister. He did not wish to encounter them again, at least he could make up some lie and say he didn’t hear much. 

Not that Elphaba would believe him. 

“Oh what in Oz have I gotten myself into?” 

•••••

It was lunch time now. The worry of Boq knowing something still ached in the back of her mind. She knew that Munchkin would blabber, all Munchkins did. With their tiny minds, and equally tiny ways of thinking. So quick to judge her, despite her not doing anything but existing. 

Well, this time she actually did do something. She bit the Vinkun Prince, and accidentally knocked him off his throne. 

She had seen the poor man wandering around like a kicked puppy. Rumors already started to form on who exactly it was that he had cheated on. If they only knew, that their favorite resident green girl had been the one to bite the neck of the beloved Winkie Prince. 

Only she had not been making love marks, but nearly drained him of all his sweet, sweet blood. 

Shaking her head at the thought of it, she grips her lunch tray deciding to try and find her little spot she would normally eat at. It was right by the waterfall, where she could watch the little billywogs and faelillies play.

It was peaceful, and not a lot of people ventured in the little corner of heaven she had found. 

Only someone did find it. 

A familiar face was sitting on a rock, lightly throwing stones into the water, hearing them skip across the surface before plunking into the deep. His stare was far off, eyes were tired and whole body just looked exhausted. 

She felt terrible, she had done this. Just about drained his life dry, and now he was an outcast. Shunned by the school because of some misconception. 

“What are you doing here?” The words suddenly burst out of her lips, surprising herself. He seems genuinely surprised as well, scrambling up from his spot as if he had been caught with treats. 

His whole body stiffens before realizing who is before him, and he relaxes face smoothing over just a bit. “I am enrolled here, you know.” His voice is softer than usual, instead of the low drawl he would have when speaking, it was gentle and quiet. Barely above a whisper. 

“Yes, I know that,” She muttered with a roll of her eyes, “But what are you doing here?” 

“Relaxing? Skipping rocks? Do I need a permit?” He asks, tilting his head a bit, showing off the dark bruising of his neck peeking out of his collar. The bruise ruining the diamond like patterns and she feels terrible. 

He catches her gaze, a hand reaching to cover the bite. He clears his throat and Elphaba swallows.

“No, but this is my spot. I like to eat my lunch here.” She gestures to her lunch and Fiyero’s eyes glance to the tray before flicking up to her. 

Fiyero chuckles, tugging at his ear a bit, “Ah, my apologies then. I must have missed the sign that says this was your spot. Do forgive me.” His tone is snarky, and Elphaba rolls her eyes again, wishing that he would not hide behind this mask he held on so tightly. 

She could see the cracks, and wished to know what was under the surface. What he was truly like. 

“Well, don’t mind me. Plenty of room for the both of us.” He gestures to the wide space, and begins to grab another stone, tossing it into the water with a small grunt. 

Elphaba stares at him for a moment, watching him flick the stone with precision, though his face is scrunched every now and then. Like he is ridding his frustration by throwing rocks into a pond. She didn’t blame him, suddenly losing all social status must be hard. 

She never had any to begin with, but with Fiyero being so loved from the beginning only to immediately get thrown to the bottom of the totem pole…it must be jarring for the Prince. Not getting what he wants, being sneered at. 

Quietly she sits down, eating quietly as Fiyero continues to throw rocks. 

“You know you’re scaring the creatures that live here.” Elphaba remarks seeing that little beings that were usually here were nowhere to be seen. 

Fiyero pauses his throw, hand hovering in the air. His eyes scan the pond before him, and then quietly places the rock back onto the floor beside him. “I did not realize.” He says after a moment looking blankly at the pond. 

They sit in silence once more, the tension thick and tense. She feels like she should get up and leave, but she is stubborn to a fault. She would not cause suspicion by running away. She had to deal with this, and perhaps being close to him would stop her from thinking about him so much. 

“I didn’t do it you know,” Fiyero whispers after a moment, his blue eyes a bit glassy as he looks up at her. His fingers twisting against the fabric of his jacket, picking at a stray string as a way to distract him. 

“Did what?” 

“Cheat. I did not cheat on her. I…would never do something like that. I swear. I..I don’t know what happened. I was attacked, or something. But I wasn’t out doing what everyone says I was doing.”

Elphaba flicks her eyes to Fiyero, seeing his face showing how much anguish he has in his eyes. As if he is begging for someone, anyone to believe in him. How many people just blindly assumed Galinda was right? That Fiyero would do such a thing? 

“And why would I care?” She asks curious to why he was trying to defend himself to her. 

“I…I just- I just don't wish for you to think of me that way! Cheating…is a horrible crime, and I should know. My parents had an affair. And it was…messy. Very messy. I would /never do that to someone.” Fiyero stammers, as if he was placed in court pleading for his life. Did he…truly care what Elphaba saw in him? Or was it just him wishing for anyone to believe his case. 

Elphaba stares at him, seeing him squirm under her gaze. This was really affecting him. Guilt chokes her throat and she swallows the rock embedded in her esophagus. “People will believe anything they tell you. Quick to judge someone even if they don’t have all the facts.” 

She should know, everyone immediately judged her because of her skin. Calling her a monster, disgusting, evil. 

Maybe she was, but they didn’t know that. They just took one look and assumed. 

Now Fiyero was seeing this side of things. 

“Do you?” 

“Do I what?” 

“Believe in it?” 

Elphaba swallows, shrugging her shoulders, “I like to learn all the facts before making any judgement.” 

Fiyero’s face falls, looking like she had just kicked his puppy. How his shoulders slump, and his hair falling into his face. He gives a sigh and nods, as if accepting the truth. As if he just knew that she would believe such a thing. 

“I don’t by the way. Galinda is…she jumps to conclusions quickly. Letting others tell her what to think so she doesn’t make any hard decisions.” Elphaba tells him after a moment, watching him lift his head to look her in the eyes once more. “It’s easy to just let others whisper in your ear.”

“I’ve tried to talk to her, but she won’t listen. ShenShen and Pfannee won’t let me even near her. I swear it's all a big misunderstanding.” His voice is tinged with frustration and Elphaba can’t blame him. He had just lost his girlfriend, his social standing, just about everything all in one swoop. 

Like the rug had been pulled under him. 

And it was all her fault. 

“Give them time, maybe this will all be some silly situation you all will laugh about. You’ll be invited into her pretty pink circle once again, and things will return to normal.” 

Fiyero snorts at that, “You really don’t like her, don’t you.” 

“She doesn’t like me. I am…indifferent. I just wish to study, and she makes it hard at times.” 

Fiyero nods, “Galinda…I think she is jealous of you.” 

That makes Elphaba laugh, a quick cackle rising out of her throat, “Galinda? Jealous of me?” Now that was something. The pretty princess of Shiz is jealous of the green girl? Doubtful. 

Fiyero just shrugs, not really elaborating further. His hands resting on his lap as he leans forward on the rock he was sitting on, staring at the reflection that ripples and waves with the stray wind that blows through. 

He looks so sad, conflicted. Lost even. 

“I wouldn’t put much thought into this. It’s not the end of the world, if they jump to conclusions and think the worst of you…do they truly have any right to be called your friends?” 

This causes Fiyero to lift his head once more, blue eyes scanning her up and down, as if looking for something. She didn’t know what, but she finds this conversation to be nice. Despite the banter, and the sad looks…this was the first proper conversation she had with Fiyero. 

And perhaps it wouldn’t be the last. 

“I didn’t expect to see such a side to you Elphaba,” Fiyero whispers, the way he says her name sends a shiver down her spine. She pushes that feeling down into the deep abyss that was her heart, not wishing for this to continue to bubble up to the surface. 

Why did he always get such a reaction out of her. 

“I don’t know what you mean.” 

Fiyero chuckles, “You have quite the soft spot.” 

“I do not.” 

“If that is what you believe. But…thank you.” 

Elphaba moves to stand, not wishing to stay in this conversation in fear of what she might do to this man. “You’re welcome.” 

“Leaving so soon?” 

“I have things to do, and…I think you need this place more than I do.” She says with a soft smile of her own, watching his eyes widen ever so slightly. His lips part and Elphaba dips her head, gathering her things as she steps away. 

Fiyero watches her leave, watching how her braid sways back and forth as she walks. How strong she was despite everything. It was quite admirable. 

He glances back to the pond, seeing little creatures start to make their way to the surface. Butterflies start to flutter and land on the large lotus flowers that sit on the water. No wonder Elphaba liked this place so much. It was so peaceful. 

He looks at his hands, and then back to the entranceway. “Huh,” He whispers inquisitively before gathering his own things and leaving the small oasis. He would just have to suck it up, and deal with things with his head held high. 

Do whatever it takes to clear his name, Elphaba was right, this wasn’t the end of the world. He would not let this take him down. No. He would be fine! This was just a rough patch! He would be okay, he’ll be happy

That’s one thing he always be. Happy.