Chapter Text
It had become something of a habit to find Elphaba under the oak tree in the fields behind the university. Galinda was not at all surprised when the tugging in her midriff led her there.
Just fifteen minutes ago, her dragon had immediately nagged the moment Elphaba left the room.
Homo, she's running. What are you waiting for? Chase.
I will.
With a wave of her hand, all her things were locked up firmly in their respective trunks and arranged in their original places.
After changing, she walked out of the dorm with a bag of money and a long wool-and-cotton blend trench coat folded over her left arm, letting her feet and instincts guide her to wherever her roommate was.
She’s up there. At the place we pounced.
I know.
Let’s go, let’s goooo.
From afar, she could see the green girl hunched under the tree, hugging her knees like a small child. Seeing it caused an odd, painful twinge in Galinda’s heart.
She’s sad? Her dragon took a step back.
Yes, Draco.
Because you called her beautiful?
Because no one has ever called her beautiful.
She’s kind and beautiful.
She is, Galinda smiled wistfully.
“Elphie,” she elected not to address the reason the green girl ran. “Let’s go to town. We have to pick up something.”
“What is it?” Elphaba latched on to the conversation, seemingly glad that Galinda was not going to rehash what had just transpired in their room.
“You’re freezing,” Galinda shook out the coat in her hands and helped the green girl into it. Her hands brushed the lapels as she smoothed the fabric, tugging gently at the collar.
Elphaba looked as though she was holding back tears again.
“Come on. Let’s walk,” She slipped her hand into the crook of the green girl’s arm and led her down the grassy path towards the main road.
“Ask me anything, Elphie,” Galinda broke the drawn-out silence. “I’ll answer without you having to make concessions. It’s a one-time offer.”
Elphaba laughed, finally relaxing her posture, “Do you consider yourself young, middle-aged or old?”
Middle aged? Old? Draco fainted over in shock.
Galinda paused, “I’m about your age, actually. In dragon reckoning.”
Young. We are young. Tell her, her dragon pleaded.
“How old, exactly?”
“Twenty. Momsie says I still act like a teenager.”
Galinda saw the small smile forming on Elphaba’s lips, “Hey, I’m full grown. Show some respect.”
She furtively stared as Elphaba tilted her head back and laughed. The green girl looked so young and carefree.
Draco swelled until his entire golden body covered her stomach.
Drop it, Draco. It hurts.
I’m full grown.
They continued walking along the familiar road. It was mid November and most trees had lost their foliage although the grass was a still a dull green. Galinda asked about the animals that Elphaba saved, taking note of the way her roommate’s eyes lit up with fervour and excitement. She mentally sighed, knowing she had to design and build an entire building on their property dedicated to animal care.
“I’ve wanted to ask something for the longest time,” Galinda began, as they crossed the canals and a bridge, signalling the beginning of the sprawling Gilikinese capital. Under the bridge, gondolas floated by, ferrying goods and people to the island-town of Shiz. “But I want you to be honest with me.”
Elphaba looked at her, surprise by the shift in her tone.
“You don’t have to answer me now. Think about what you want to say,” she clarified.
“Okay. What’s the question?”
“Back when you were thirteen and you brought me food, were you punished for it?” Galinda twisted her head to see Elphaba’s reaction.
There was another long silence before the green girl nodded.
“Will you tell me later, what exactly happened? I know someone hurt you. Someone hit you.”
Galinda could feel the muscles in her roommate’s arm tense. She added quickly, “Don’t reply now. It’s just something I’ve thought about all these years. I can wait a little longer.”
There was silence and so Galinda plunged into the subject of architecture, pointing out the designs of Rafael Iri that was embedded into Shiz’s buildings. Much like their university, the buildings were made of cream stone and the corners of every block had towers. Arches were heavily featured over the Main Street, unlike the small alley where White’s was located. Most painted facades had faded, but there was enough blue and yellow paint harking back to a past of extreme grandeur.
“He was talented, yes. But he was famous for being arrogant and absolutely convinced that his design was the right one. Most architects of his calibre usually are.”
“Are they?” Elphaba was amused. “Why?”
“To be absolutely convinced that a design in one’s head should be built on a large scale? Lurline help us all if it’s an eyesore.”
“And what about you?”
“Me?”
“Have you designed anything?”
“A few buildings in Frottica. Nothing on Rafael’s scale,” Galinda said as they walked by an imposing courthouse, with symmetrical columns, pediments and domes reminiscent of ancient Lurlinist palace-cathedrals.
“Did you ever dream of becoming a great architect?” The green girl stopped to pull Galinda flush against her side as a carriage careened into their path.
“No,” Galinda shook her head, trying to shake off her sudden blush. “I like designing smaller projects. I get complete control and I don’t have to attend mind-numbing meetings with the local council.”
“What drew you to become an architect? I assume it’s not what your mother wanted,” A green hand slipped into Galinda’s naturally.
“Oh, Momsie was absolutely livid. She can’t believe that an Upland of the Upper Uplands got into trade. She had her heart set on me getting married.”
“So, what drew you to it?” The green girl stopped suddenly to look at her.
“Just…” Galinda shrugged, at a loss when she realised just how green her roommate’s eyes were when they were looking at her just like that.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” she realised with a self-conscious laugh. “No one’s ever asked me that before. Why do you ask?”
“I want to know you. You’re so very different from everything I assumed. It’s very… disconcerting.”
“In a good way?” She leaned over to tease.
“Yes,” Galinda had to hold herself back from whooping at the quiet affirmation.
They continued walking down the main road, walking past more arched cream windows and loggias until they arrived at Quincey’s.
“Your spectacles were ready last week,” Galinda decided to stop herself from explaining why they hadn’t picked it up last week (They were still ignoring each other!) “It was a little hard for them to get my specifications just right.”
Elphaba had completely forgotten about the spectacles. That had been a month and a half ago.
“Come on, Elphie,” Galinda pushed open the door, with Elphaba in tow.
They were greeted politely by Quincey and his assistant, both whom Elphaba recognised from her last visit.
To everyone’s surprise, as Elphaba was trying on the lightest pair of spectacles she had ever worn, Galinda handed over a sketch, “Please adjust the curve of the earpieces. Her old pair wasn’t fitted well.”
“You are very lucky to have a friend like her, Miss,” the assistant who adjusted the frames with a delicate plier told Elphaba when Galinda was out of earshot, speaking to Quincey.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve it,” Elphaba confessed.
“Friendship isn’t about what one deserves, Miss. Judging from these spectacles alone, I daresay your friendship means a lot to her.”
“What is this metal?” Elphaba wanted to know. “It’s so light.”
“It’s very rare, it is, Miss. Your friend came back three times to insist that the frames ought to be thinner and lighter. We had to send it back to the forge every time. The smiths weren’t happy.”
“Won’t it break easily?” Elphaba dangled one earpiece, testing the weight of the spectacles.
“It’s titanium,” Mr Quincey walked over together with Galinda. “These frames can bend but will never break. And the lens, well, I’d say it’s cutting edge.”
Elphaba couldn’t help noticing Galinda ignoring her pointed stares. The dragon was examining her fingernails intently for some reason. She turned to ask Quincey, “What is it?”
“It’s sapphire crystal. It’s almost scratch resistant and since it has a higher refractive index than glass, it can be cut thinly.”
“Your old pair was dreadfully scratched, Elphie,” Galinda spoke up, running an exploratory finger down the tip of her left ear, and then another finger down the tip of her other ear. The smile she gave Elphaba felt like warm afternoon sun.
“You won’t get a stronger pair of spectacles than this, Miss Elphaba. I’ve heard you lead an active lifestyle,” Quincey said with a twinkle. “Everything, from the material and design of the frames down to the cut of the lens was all Miss Glinda’s idea. She even suggested I edge my blade with diamonds for maximum precision.”
Elphaba was speechless.
“Well, if that is all,” the blonde played with her fingers nervously. “We have places to go and things to do.”
They were bowed out of Quincey’s - Elphaba was still in shock over the custom made spectacles. Her old pair was still her first, and admittedly, one of the lenses had blurred a long time ago, giving her headaches if she read for too long.
Young Elphaba had tried asking for another pair but had gotten shouted at for spoiling her vision from reading too much. Needless to say, she did not get new lenses.
“Galinda,” she began, her gaze falling on everything in the Main Street. Everything was vivid and sharp. She could actually read the smaller prints from afar. A strange emotion welled up in her chest.
No one had ever seen her like this. Dulcibear had come closest but the bear was only a servant and could not interfere. Nessa followed their Father’s footsteps and treated her like help. Everyone else thought that she was the Governor’s daughter, therefore privileged even though green.
But Galinda saw. Galinda had seen to her needs. Even in the early weeks when their friendship was hazy, Galinda had made sure she had the most basic necessities. A deep feeling of shame mixed with gratitude filled her. It was strange to be seen and cared for in the smallest ways without having to ask.
“Yes, Elphie?” The blonde looked over warily, as though bracing herself to be dragged into a conversation about money.
“How did you know about titanium and sapphire crystal? How did you get your hands on these materials?”
“Any architect worth their salt would know, Elphie,” the blonde launched into an explanation happily.
“Your old glasses leave marks on your nose (Galinda reached over and tapped the green nose twice, eliciting a smile) - I thought you needed something lighter. Titanium isn’t a conventional material but it’s light and durable. Then, I thought that glass would be too heavy for the frame thickness I had in mind, so I remembered that sapphire crystals have the same properties as glass but with greater hardness. I brought some with me and so I had them delivered to the shop for Mr Quincey to cut.”
Elphaba squeezed the blonde’s hand in unspoken gratitude, “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
“You know me,” Galinda leaned back to toss her hair. “I like the finest things only.”
Galinda’s phrase seemed to allude to the twenty two portraits in their room. Elphaba fell silent as they walked back, trying to work through the tangle of conflicting emotions she felt towards her roommate.
Back in their room, Elphaba was relieved (to be honest, slightly disappointed) to see that the portraits were out of sight. With a wave of her hand, Galinda placed their study tables together at the centre of the room.
“Finals are in two weeks, Elphie,” she said seriously. “We need to work on your trigonometry.”
Elphaba, who had struggled with it the entire semester, gaped, “We?”
“Well, I’m not going to let you do badly,” Galinda had a very determined set in her jaw.
“You’re not?”
This was how the next two weeks passed in a blur. Galinda, Elphaba found out, was very hard on herself. She was single-minded and driven. Once she set her mind to focus on her finals, nothing could distract her.
The other thing Galinda set her mind on was to make sure Elphaba aced her mathematics. Once the blonde had gone through the basics with her, the green girl was given a hundred questions to drill every single day.
“You’re naturally brilliant, Elphie,” Galinda would flop down next to her at night, exhausted after an entire day of studying. “You do well in your other subjects because they all involve reading and arguing.”
“The polite term is ‘debating’.”
“Oh hush. We know arguing comes to you as naturally as scowling. Or breathing.”
“Galinda!”
“See? You won’t let me say something without trying to refute it. Anyway, as I was saying, Mathematics is a different beast. You can’t read or argue with it. You must do it.”
Elphaba had groaned, sure that her skull was going to explode from the sheer amount of problems Galinda was throwing at her.
By the end of the first week, Elphaba was sure that the exam stress was getting to Galinda. She had taken the most subjects among the first years and it was now crunch time. The blonde studied feverishly through the night, as though she was going to fail every exam.
“You don’t need to study so hard, Galinda,” Elphaba told the tense blonde gently.
“I do. I can’t fail.”
“You’re already the top in our year,” Elphaba reminded her.
“No, I’m not. You are.”
There had to be something. Something that was driving her roommate to the point of exhaustion. Elphaba wondered every night, right before she too fell asleep, exhausted.
When Galinda was not studying, she openly laid out her drawing board, tracing paper, strangely shaped rulers and stencils in their room, and drew. Elphaba found herself fascinated by the intense focus the blonde had. From the way her eyebrows furrowed to the little mutters under her breath to the way she knew exactly which instrument to use.
Elphaba felt that Galinda was especially beautiful to watch when she was doing something she clearly loved.
Galinda was designing something and every so often, Elphaba would find their eyes locked onto each other. Elphaba flushed whenever she got caught staring.
From the portraits, Elphaba knew she was Galinda’s muse, but it was strange to see someone looking at her for such a long period of time with anything but revulsion. The blonde seemed to look at her for ideas and it was slightly discomfiting.
“You’re all I think about. I’m obsessed with you,” Galinda had said on the day she showed her the portraits and Elphaba was starting to realise that the dragon was telling the truth.
Galinda seemed to find her worth staring at and worth paying attention to. It made her deeply uncomfortable at first but then she got used to it. Somewhat.
For the first time in her life, someone saw when she was tired. Someone brought her small pastries before she even got hungry. Someone stepped in when the conversations were too loud or pulled her away when Nessa seemed angry. Someone dragged her out for an evening walk just to get fresh air before they resumed studying again.
Elphaba had never felt so seen. Galinda genuinely looked beyond the green and cared for her as if she really was worth caring for. She listened to her intently, nodding her head at whatever Elphaba was saying.
Elphaba tried to look back calmly whenever Galinda stared thoughtfully and although she would still flush dark green, there was something genuinely tender in the way Galinda smiled softly back, dimples and all.
The wistful smile made Elphaba’s heart skip a few beats every time - a reaction which her brain reminded her, was one that should never occur with a friend.
A quiet possibility bloomed in her heart as she let herself learn to be taken care of. The possibility that just maybe, she was worth caring for. Worth more than Frexspar and Nessa’s jaundiced view of her. Worth more than a potential sorceress that Morrible wanted to perform for the Wizard.
In a bid to drag Galinda’s focus away from the finals, Elphaba decided to ask one night, “What are those blueprints? What are you working on?”
Galinda looked up and actually blushed a deep red.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to intrude,” Elphaba backpedaled, wondering why the blonde looked terribly shy.
Galinda shook her head, still red, “No, you’re not intruding. These aren’t blueprints, Elphie. I’m still in drafting stage.”
“May I take a look?”
“Sure,” Galinda moved to the right to allow Elphaba to share her seat.
“These are my sketches,” The blonde flipped through a thick sketchbook which had remarkably detailed drawings of ceilings, walls and rooms. “These just give me an idea of how I want the space to look like.”
Elphaba looked as Galinda pointed from one of the sketches to the drawing board, where there was a floor plan and an elevation plan of a room, “Then, I have to draw those sketches to scale. This is my favourite part.”
“Once done, it’ll be inked for permanence. That will be my master copy. And only then, after exposing it to light and chemicals, that I’ll get something like this,” Galinda unscrolled something from a metal tube. “This is a blueprint.”
“What are you designing?”
“A house,” Galinda said bashfully.
“A house?” Elphaba repeated stupidly.
“Well, the foundations, load bearing floors, columns and beams are complete. I have sketches of the entire thing, but I’ve had to scrap the whole interior design and exterior facade because….”
The blonde blushed again, when she noticed Elphaba staring.
“You’re looking at me,” she complained breathlessly.
“You’re very attractive when you talk about architecture. I’ve never seen you talk like this about anything else,” Elphaba breathed, unaware of the effect her words had on the blonde as she admired the sketches.
“You’re very talented.” She liked everything about it - the clean lines and spaces that seemed to meld indoor and outdoor spaces. There were tiny nooks near windows with window seats that looked absolutely cozy.
“I make mistakes, Elphie,” Galinda ducked her head, her blonde hair falling to shield her face. “And when it happens, I have to start again from drafting.”
Elphaba held out her hand, palm upwards. This had become something of a habit. Galinda immediately laced her fingers, rubbing her thumb over her skin.
“You don’t believe me when I say you’re talented,” Elphaba squeezed Galinda’s hand tighter.
“I still have room for improvement,” Galinda mumbled, unable to meet her eyes.
“Galinda. Is this why you’re studying so hard?”
The blonde rose from the chair, pulling Elphaba until they flopped sideways onto her bed.
“Elphie, I’m so tired,” Galinda confessed, stretching herself on the bed like a cat.
“Take more breaks, Galinda. Eleven hours a day is too much,” Elphaba tucked a stray golden lock behind one ear.
“I can’t.”
“Why?” Elphaba asked gently. “You’re two hundred and thirty eight years old. You’ve studied these subjects before. Why can’t you take a break?”
Dark brown eyes stared at her with something inscrutable.
“I’m the last true born dragon in Frottica. My parents have always reminded me of that.”
“What does that mean?”
Galinda made a face, “It means I have a legacy to live up to. That’s what it means.”
“What does it mean to be true born?”
“I’m not human. I was fire-hatched and that’s because my parents are also true-born dragons.”
“You said you’re the last. Why is that?”
Galinda sighed.
“We had the Great Kinslaying and no ceasefire, no negotiations for peace. Many dragons died and well, we’re not known to be terribly social. Technically, the war is still on. The day I met you, I could have been killed by a Viridis for trespassing into Munchkinland.”
Elphaba mulled over this titbit from dragon history. She tried to recall what was written in the hugely unhelpful book : A Comprehensive Guide of Dragons in Oz about the green dragons.
Firepower : Unreported
Character : Holds the longest grudges
Avoid at all costs.
“Most dragons fell in love with humans, since we shapeshift into human form. Few seek out another dragon to mate, because it’s so dangerous.”
“Why is it dangerous?”
“If you try to claim the wrong mate, you die.”
“One day,” Elphaba propped her head up on two hands, staring at Galinda. “I want to hear everything about dragon history.”
Galinda looked away, unable to hold the gaze and the strange pooling of heat in her stomach.
“That’s what Crope and Tibbett are then,” Elphaba deduced. “They are half-human.”
“You’re too smart for your own good,” Galinda tapped a green cheek.
“Galinda, you need to relax. You’ll keel over from studying.”
“I’m a dragon, dearest. I never keel over.”
Elphaba blushed at the endearment. Galinda constantly peppered their private conversations with them and looked genuinely confused whenever she tried to protest.
Galinda shot off the bed suddenly, eyes wide, “Oh Oz, I still have thirteen pages of Ozian Law Reforms to memorise before tomorrow.”
“Galinda.”
The blonde was already seated at her study table.
“Stop distractifying me, Elphie.”
“I’m not distractifying…,” Elphaba corrected herself. She had gotten used to Galinda’s strange words too easily. “…. distracting you.”
“Yes, you are. You’re too pretty.”
The next day, Elphaba decided to try a different tactic to calm her roommate down. She knew from experience that Galinda would seek her out if she was missing. She also knew that the blonde seemed to relax and unwind only when she was near.
She took the usual left turn outside the university main gate, up the path that led to the hills. Elphaba loved the huge sprawling oak tree and she was sick of studying in the room or in the library. Lectures had ended a week ago, and with study week upon them, tensions were high.
Even Fiyero, Pfannee reported over breakfast, had been seen in the library.
Elphaba settled down under the tree. It was still November, and though most days were grey, the skies were blue today. She pulled out a lunchbox from the paper bag, eating her mushroom risotto with relish.
She made it through an hour of reading before she felt something. Somehow she must have developed a sixth sense or spent too much time with her roommate, because she knew that the blonde was moving very quickly towards her direction.
“Elphie!” Galinda called halfway down the hill. “Elphie, I know you’re up there.”
“I’m here!” Elphaba called out.
“Why weren’t you in the room? I looked for you all over the book place and you weren’t there,” Galinda’s eyes were wide as she made it up the hill. For a moment, Elphaba thought she looked terribly anxious.
“I wanted a break from studying.”
“A break?”
Elphaba stared into brown eyes. They were shadowed from lack of sleep. Studying and all the extra things Galinda did - including the final touches to the Lurlinemas Ball - was running her ragged.
“Why don’t you sit with me?” Elphaba asked impulsively, loving the simple yellow dress and flats her roommate wore.
“Now?”
“Yes, now.”
“I have to go back. There’s too much to study.”
“Have you eaten lunch?”
Galinda shook her head, “I haven’t had time.”
Elphaba pointed to the huge root beside her wordlessly.
To her surprise, the blonde sank down on the root, one dark brow arched in question.
Reaching for the paper bag, she retrieved another takeaway box of food, “I bought enough for two. Have the rest.”
“I’m really not…”
“Here,” Elphaba insisted, pushing a lunchbox into her hands.
Galinda opened it dubiously.
“You always look at food like I’ve poisoned it,” She handed over a cup of coffee.
They settled down and Elphaba read as her roommate ate her risotto in silence.
“Elphaba Thropp,” Galinda asked once she finished her food. “Please don’t tell me that is a novel you’re reading.”
“I’m not as driven as you. I need a break from all that studying or I’ll explode.”
To Elphaba’s surprise, the blonde stretched out onto the grass and laid her head on her lap, saying “Read to me.”
She shook her head, “I’m not an entertaining reader.”
“Please, Elphie. For me.”
Elphaba’s heart softened when she realised how extraordinarily tired Galinda was. So she read in a measured tone, occasionally stealing a glance at the blonde head in her lap.
The more she read, the more Galinda settled deeper into her lap. By the end of the chapter, she did not need to look to know that she was asleep.
Her chest rose and fell in an even rhythm. This was the first time Elphaba could view Galinda at her leisure.
Even though they lay down next to each other every night (before returning to their own beds), just talking and sometimes just in companiable silence, seeing Galinda completely still like this was rare.
The blonde was even more beautiful asleep, in Elphaba’s opinion, when the perfect posture was gone and the mask of perfection she wore for others was stripped away. She preferred this honest version of her roommate, the one that looked like a girl lost in a dream.
The wind teased a lock of golden hair loose. Unable to resist, Elphaba tucked the stray lock behind her ear. The blonde nuzzled sleepily, chasing her fingers.
A solid hour and a half passed. It wasn’t silent out here, there was a rustling of leaves and the occasional birdsong, but Galinda continued sleeping.
As she contemplated the sleeping blonde who always sought her out and never shied away from her touch, Elphaba asked quietly, “What am I to you?”
Galinda awoke with an inarticulate murmur. She stretched out, rubbing her face deeper into her pillow saying, “Nothing like gold for a good…” before cracking one eye open.
She looked around with confusion. The usual glitter of pure gold absent.
All she could see was green. Green leaves. Green grass. Green skin.
Green skin!
She sat up with alacrity.
That’s not a pillow.
Draco was also blushing fiercely. Her skin was unnaturally hot.
Homo, did we just rub our face….
Her face was fiery red. The flush spread to her ears.
“I’m so sorry,” she blurted hastily.
Elphaba smiled a relaxed, toothy grin.
Galinda felt her heart swoop in her chest. She lifted one hand to pat her hair. It was flat.
Oh, Oz.
“Elphie?”
“Yes?”
“How long - ?”
“About an hour or two. I didn’t keep track,” her roommate shrugged.
“I’m sorry,” Galinda apologised again. “I really shouldn’t have napped on you.”
You didn’t just nap. You nuzzled.
Galinda turned redder.
“I don’t mind,” Elphaba said, stretching out her legs with a low groan.
“They’re numb, aren’t they?” Galinda felt guilty.
She was a heavy sleeper when it came to gold. Her sheets at home had gold thread, for better sleep but it was such a dead giveaway to have them here at Shiz.
To sleep like this, out in the open, on Elphie’s verdant lap!
Elphie, Galinda now knew, was not just dangerous for her little smiles, wry turn of lips and flirtatious words. Elphie was deep restorative sleep. Elphie was rest. Elphie was calm.
Galinda knew for certain, for all the gold in the world, that she would never have better sleep again now that she knew what sleeping with Elphie near was like.
Goodbye, sanity.
Good luck, homo.