It Couldn't Happen Here In Oz (3/5) by blowers_daughtr
Title: It Couldn't Happen Here In Oz (3/5)
Author: blowers_daughtr
Rating: R
Summary: Part 1, Part 2
A/N: I apologize for the wait, the stress of school work has already begun crippling my creativity x_x;
ps. I really appreciate comments. It's a little more motivating when I know people are reading :) Thanks to a_clocktick, lfae, aithnekeelie, alexis_davis02, kdx_night, incaseineedyou, ellowyntinuviel, and flopthedrop2 for keeping me motivated so far!
Getting into the dorm the following afternoon was cumbersome. On her right, Elphaba balanced a tray between her hand and her hip, whilst kneeling to retrieve a second tray from her left beside her feet. She held the door open with her left shoulder and pushed her way inside the dormitory.
Galinda was showering, and not for the first time that day.
Elphaba sat one of the trays of food on her own desk and the other on Galinda’s. She poured a glass of cranberry juice for Galinda and opened a carton of milk from herself. Elphaba fretted over the presentation. She wondered if Galinda would prefer her meal in bed rather than at her desk. She couldn’t remember whether the blonde favored cranberry or grape juice, though she had a vague recollection of Galinda attempting to explain the miracles cranberry juice did for her complexion.
The sound of running water faded to a dull and numbing silence.
“Are you alright?” Elphaba called out.
“Yes,” Galinda responded a little later than expected, “I’m fine, Miss Elphaba, how are you?”
“I’ve just been by the cafeteria and I brought you back a few things.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I’m afraid I haven’t an appetite.”
“You haven’t eaten in two days.” Elphaba countered.
“Has it really been that long?” Galinda sighed distantly as the bathroom door opened and she appeared, wrapped tightly in a plush white bathrobe.
“Yes, and I think you should at least try to eat something. It’ll be good for you, and it may make you feel better.”
Galinda was silent. She walked, zombie-like towards her desk where Elphaba pulled the chair from beneath it for Galinda to sit. Elphaba took her own tray to her bed, eyeing Galinda as she shifted her food around with her fork.
After a few moments of staring blankly at the contents of her tray, Galinda curled her fingers loosely around her spoon. She dipped it into one of the two small bowls of pudding on her tray.
A small smile curved her lips following the first bite. She ate slowly at first, then ravenously, devouring both bowls in a span of a few minutes.
Color came to her cheeks, and she raised her large blue eyes to gaze across the room at Elphaba.
“The pudding is my favorite. How did you get them to give you two? They never give me two.”
“I have my ways.” Elphaba smiled.
Galinda looked from her own tray to Elphaba’s tray, which was missing its pudding.
“You…” Galinda began, “You didn’t have to do that, Elphie.”
“Somehow I knew it was all you’d eat, so the more the better.”
“How do you know me so well?” Galinda asked, and it was a genuine question.
“Well, my sweet,” Elphaba began, stabbing at her salad, “We do live together.”
“Yes, but we’ve never been particularly…friendly.” Galinda said as she scraped at the sides of her pudding bowl. Her energy was returning, and the natural rosy hue of her cheeks had returned.
“It is regrettable Elphie, that I judged you soon. I suppose I mistook your shy and reserved demeanor as an arrogant superiority complex.”
“You mean it wasn’t my verdigris that put you off?” said Elphaba with a slight chuckle.
“Oh, no, Elphie,” Galinda said with a wave of her hand, “that wouldn’t be right. The color of one’s skin says nothing about one’s character. Others may judge you because of the color of your skin, but I wouldn’t ever. Besides, I think it’s pretty. I’ve always thought that. It’s beautiful in an unconventional way.”
Elphaba’s lips parted and her breath caught for reasons she was unsure of.
“Why did you hate me, then?” Elphaba wondered.
“I never hated you. I always felt like you underestimated me, everyone does and I thought maybe you’d be different because you knew what it was like to be judged based solely upon your appearance. Everyone thinks that because I’m pretty and blonde that that’s all I am, and when you thought so too-I…I had just hoped that you wouldn’t...”
Elphaba was overwhelmed by the sincerity with which Galinda spoke, by her confession of the bond she’d hoped to forge with Elphaba, and by the way Galinda’s robe had fallen open, revealing the smooth pale skin of her chest and shoulders.
“I admit that I didn’t give you a chance,” Elphaba said, attempting to keep her voice steady, “and I hope you’ll be able to forgive me.”
“Forgive you? I more than forgive you, my darling Elphaba, you’ve been so wonderful to me these past few days. I don’t know what I’d have done without you, thank you!”
Elphaba shuddered under Galinda’s loving gaze.
“It was…” the green girl stammered, avoiding Galinda’s eyes and exposed collarbone, “…it was nothing.”
“Oh, Elphie!” Galinda exclaimed jumping up from her chair and joining Elphaba on her bed. “It was more than nothing, it means everything to me!”
Galinda gently removed the tray from Elphaba’s lap and held her hands, “thank you so very much.” She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Elphaba’s lips.
Elphaba sat still and expressionless. Her heart beat uncontrollably in her chest, so rapidly and loudly she swore the blonde beside her could hear. Galinda jumped up from the bed and made her way to her wardrobe.
“I feel silly deciding what to wear,” Galinda began as she flipped through countless dresses, skirts, and blouses, “because I know I’ll never go anywhere.”
“But you seem to be feeling better,” Elphaba noted, “and you’d probably feel even better if you’d eat something other than pudding. You seem well enough to attend your classes now.”
“No.” Galinda said quietly. “I don’t want to go out there.”
“But you-“
“Please don’t make me,” Galinda’s still had her back to Elphaba, but it was clear the small girl was on the verge of tears, “I won’t feel safe… I can’t…”
“You don’t have to go anywhere,” Elphaba soothed, “not any time soon, at least.”
“Sometimes I don’t even feel safe here.” Galinda said in a small voice. “When you’re gone…It’s why I was in your bed.”
Elphaba’s chest tightened. She was touched by Galinda’s faith in her, by the way Galinda needed and relied on her. Elphaba was torn between two desires, each as compelling as the other: the desire to touch, comfort, and love Galinda, and the urge to seek and destroy he who hurt her. Somehow, Galinda had become the center of Elphaba’s being. She existed to love her, to protect, and look after her until she was well enough to take care of herself.
But Elphaba didn’t believe in love. She was convinced she was mistaking some other emotion for love, and this feeling of uncertainty dropped uncomfortably into the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Galinda as she dropped her robe and slipped into pink silken pajamas. She didn’t want to move from the spot she was in as she watched Galinda massage soft lavender-scented lotion into her skin.
Finally Elphaba tore herself from her position, deciding that such infatuation with her roommate was unhealthy, and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Galinda spun around to stare at Elphaba, whose slender hand already gripped the doorknob.
“To speak with Doctor Dillamond.” Elphaba answered, having only just thought of such an answer.
“Elphie, don’t go…” Galinda pleaded.
“I shan’t be gone long.”
“Do you promise?”
“I promise.”
-[~]-
Elphaba rapped lightly on Doctor Dillamond’s door that evening, casting sideways glances every few seconds to assure she wasn’t being watched. She heard the sound of hoofs near the door, and, seconds later, heard the Goat’s scruffy voice.
“Miss Elphaba, is that you?”
“Yes, Professor.” Elphaba replied quietly, “I’m sorry to bother you so late at night, but may I have a word?”
“Certainly.” He quickly unlatched the door and ushered his pupil inside.
“It’s dangerous roaming the grounds at this hour, especially coming to see an Animal, no less. They’ll think-“
“I don’t care what they’ll think.” said Elphaba. “I must speak with you, it’s urgent.”
“What is it?” asked Doctor Dillamond as he brow furrowed in concern. Elphaba began to pace.
“It’s the damned Gale Force.” Elphaba spat venomously. “Galinda was raped.”
The Goat’s black eyes widened. “What? When? How did this happen?”
“She attended the ball last night,” Elphaba began, keeping her voice low in an effort to remain calm, “and midway through she stepped out for air and never came back because she was attacked by one of the Wizard’s filthy little spies!”
The green girl’s voice had risen steadily, and she attempted to quiet herself, “I need to know if there’s a way to find out which member of the Gale Force was assigned to the ballroom.”
“Galinda needs to report the incident.” Doctor Dillamond said. “This isn’t a matter to be taken into your own hands, Miss Elphaba.”
”She won’t. She barely admits it even happened, besides who will she tell? Another member of the Force? It’ll be her word against his! They’ll tear her apart!”
“Galinda told you she was raped by a member of the Gale Force?” wondered the professor.
“Well, no.. not exactly. But it’s obvious! She told me she was stopped and that she wasn’t doing anything wrong.” Elphaba explained all but coolly, “Whoever did this to her isn’t going to get away with it, not if I can help it!”
“The Gale Force is difficult to reckon with,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “The Wizard himself stands behind them….I....threatening them is not advisable.”
“With all due respect, Doctor Dillamond, I am not asking your advice. I’m asking you to help me, or at least point me in the right direction. I’ll fight the entire Gale Force and the Wizard himself if I have to.”
“Miss Elphaba, you mustn’t speak of such things, not as loudly as you do now! They’re listening!”
“I’m not afraid of them!”
“You would be risking your life!”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take! Galinda, she’s so afraid, she’s not herself, they’ve broken her, they’ve extinguished her spirit, the spirit I’ve come to-- !” Elphaba stopped short.
“Doctor Dillamond, you’ve got to help me! Give me a place to start, at least. I need to find him and punish him for what he did and insure that he’ll never touch her again! She’s terrified, she’s-she’s…I promised her I’d protect her, I promised her everything would be okay!”
“You’re willing to risk your life for her?” said Doctor Dillamond in the tone of a statement rather than a question.
Elphaba opened, then closed her mouth. Her abdomen tightened, and her mind’s eye drifted to Galinda, her porcelain skin, her golden locks, her clear, oceanic azure eyes and the emptiness within them.
“I…” Elphaba began, reluctant to voice the feelings she had so long suppressed. “I’d die for her.”
Her words were that of a whisper, spoken so softly she herself barely heard them.
“Will you help me?” Elphaba was unable to disguise the desperation of her tone.
“There is a file in the desk of the headmistress containing the assignments of the Gale Force.” said Dillamond in a low voice.
“There’s no way I’ll be able to get to it unless I were to jinx her.”
“You mustn’t. Any use of sorcery on the grounds without instruction will be traced by the Gale Force and reported the Wizard.”
“But how else can I gain access to her office without-“
“I shall act as a diversion.”
“Doctor Dillamond!” Elphaba exclaimed breathlessly, “Oh, Sweet Oz, thank you! Thank you so much!”
The Goat nodded and approached his pupil.
“Tomorrow, between the hours of four and five o’clock the headmistress will be out of her office. That should be ample time to find what it is you seek.”
Elphaba thanked the Goat profusely, and headed for the door.
Author: blowers_daughtr
Rating: R
Summary: Part 1, Part 2
A/N: I apologize for the wait, the stress of school work has already begun crippling my creativity x_x;
ps. I really appreciate comments. It's a little more motivating when I know people are reading :) Thanks to a_clocktick, lfae, aithnekeelie, alexis_davis02, kdx_night, incaseineedyou, ellowyntinuviel, and flopthedrop2 for keeping me motivated so far!
Getting into the dorm the following afternoon was cumbersome. On her right, Elphaba balanced a tray between her hand and her hip, whilst kneeling to retrieve a second tray from her left beside her feet. She held the door open with her left shoulder and pushed her way inside the dormitory.
Galinda was showering, and not for the first time that day.
Elphaba sat one of the trays of food on her own desk and the other on Galinda’s. She poured a glass of cranberry juice for Galinda and opened a carton of milk from herself. Elphaba fretted over the presentation. She wondered if Galinda would prefer her meal in bed rather than at her desk. She couldn’t remember whether the blonde favored cranberry or grape juice, though she had a vague recollection of Galinda attempting to explain the miracles cranberry juice did for her complexion.
The sound of running water faded to a dull and numbing silence.
“Are you alright?” Elphaba called out.
“Yes,” Galinda responded a little later than expected, “I’m fine, Miss Elphaba, how are you?”
“I’ve just been by the cafeteria and I brought you back a few things.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I’m afraid I haven’t an appetite.”
“You haven’t eaten in two days.” Elphaba countered.
“Has it really been that long?” Galinda sighed distantly as the bathroom door opened and she appeared, wrapped tightly in a plush white bathrobe.
“Yes, and I think you should at least try to eat something. It’ll be good for you, and it may make you feel better.”
Galinda was silent. She walked, zombie-like towards her desk where Elphaba pulled the chair from beneath it for Galinda to sit. Elphaba took her own tray to her bed, eyeing Galinda as she shifted her food around with her fork.
After a few moments of staring blankly at the contents of her tray, Galinda curled her fingers loosely around her spoon. She dipped it into one of the two small bowls of pudding on her tray.
A small smile curved her lips following the first bite. She ate slowly at first, then ravenously, devouring both bowls in a span of a few minutes.
Color came to her cheeks, and she raised her large blue eyes to gaze across the room at Elphaba.
“The pudding is my favorite. How did you get them to give you two? They never give me two.”
“I have my ways.” Elphaba smiled.
Galinda looked from her own tray to Elphaba’s tray, which was missing its pudding.
“You…” Galinda began, “You didn’t have to do that, Elphie.”
“Somehow I knew it was all you’d eat, so the more the better.”
“How do you know me so well?” Galinda asked, and it was a genuine question.
“Well, my sweet,” Elphaba began, stabbing at her salad, “We do live together.”
“Yes, but we’ve never been particularly…friendly.” Galinda said as she scraped at the sides of her pudding bowl. Her energy was returning, and the natural rosy hue of her cheeks had returned.
“It is regrettable Elphie, that I judged you soon. I suppose I mistook your shy and reserved demeanor as an arrogant superiority complex.”
“You mean it wasn’t my verdigris that put you off?” said Elphaba with a slight chuckle.
“Oh, no, Elphie,” Galinda said with a wave of her hand, “that wouldn’t be right. The color of one’s skin says nothing about one’s character. Others may judge you because of the color of your skin, but I wouldn’t ever. Besides, I think it’s pretty. I’ve always thought that. It’s beautiful in an unconventional way.”
Elphaba’s lips parted and her breath caught for reasons she was unsure of.
“Why did you hate me, then?” Elphaba wondered.
“I never hated you. I always felt like you underestimated me, everyone does and I thought maybe you’d be different because you knew what it was like to be judged based solely upon your appearance. Everyone thinks that because I’m pretty and blonde that that’s all I am, and when you thought so too-I…I had just hoped that you wouldn’t...”
Elphaba was overwhelmed by the sincerity with which Galinda spoke, by her confession of the bond she’d hoped to forge with Elphaba, and by the way Galinda’s robe had fallen open, revealing the smooth pale skin of her chest and shoulders.
“I admit that I didn’t give you a chance,” Elphaba said, attempting to keep her voice steady, “and I hope you’ll be able to forgive me.”
“Forgive you? I more than forgive you, my darling Elphaba, you’ve been so wonderful to me these past few days. I don’t know what I’d have done without you, thank you!”
Elphaba shuddered under Galinda’s loving gaze.
“It was…” the green girl stammered, avoiding Galinda’s eyes and exposed collarbone, “…it was nothing.”
“Oh, Elphie!” Galinda exclaimed jumping up from her chair and joining Elphaba on her bed. “It was more than nothing, it means everything to me!”
Galinda gently removed the tray from Elphaba’s lap and held her hands, “thank you so very much.” She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Elphaba’s lips.
Elphaba sat still and expressionless. Her heart beat uncontrollably in her chest, so rapidly and loudly she swore the blonde beside her could hear. Galinda jumped up from the bed and made her way to her wardrobe.
“I feel silly deciding what to wear,” Galinda began as she flipped through countless dresses, skirts, and blouses, “because I know I’ll never go anywhere.”
“But you seem to be feeling better,” Elphaba noted, “and you’d probably feel even better if you’d eat something other than pudding. You seem well enough to attend your classes now.”
“No.” Galinda said quietly. “I don’t want to go out there.”
“But you-“
“Please don’t make me,” Galinda’s still had her back to Elphaba, but it was clear the small girl was on the verge of tears, “I won’t feel safe… I can’t…”
“You don’t have to go anywhere,” Elphaba soothed, “not any time soon, at least.”
“Sometimes I don’t even feel safe here.” Galinda said in a small voice. “When you’re gone…It’s why I was in your bed.”
Elphaba’s chest tightened. She was touched by Galinda’s faith in her, by the way Galinda needed and relied on her. Elphaba was torn between two desires, each as compelling as the other: the desire to touch, comfort, and love Galinda, and the urge to seek and destroy he who hurt her. Somehow, Galinda had become the center of Elphaba’s being. She existed to love her, to protect, and look after her until she was well enough to take care of herself.
But Elphaba didn’t believe in love. She was convinced she was mistaking some other emotion for love, and this feeling of uncertainty dropped uncomfortably into the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Galinda as she dropped her robe and slipped into pink silken pajamas. She didn’t want to move from the spot she was in as she watched Galinda massage soft lavender-scented lotion into her skin.
Finally Elphaba tore herself from her position, deciding that such infatuation with her roommate was unhealthy, and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Galinda spun around to stare at Elphaba, whose slender hand already gripped the doorknob.
“To speak with Doctor Dillamond.” Elphaba answered, having only just thought of such an answer.
“Elphie, don’t go…” Galinda pleaded.
“I shan’t be gone long.”
“Do you promise?”
“I promise.”
-[~]-
Elphaba rapped lightly on Doctor Dillamond’s door that evening, casting sideways glances every few seconds to assure she wasn’t being watched. She heard the sound of hoofs near the door, and, seconds later, heard the Goat’s scruffy voice.
“Miss Elphaba, is that you?”
“Yes, Professor.” Elphaba replied quietly, “I’m sorry to bother you so late at night, but may I have a word?”
“Certainly.” He quickly unlatched the door and ushered his pupil inside.
“It’s dangerous roaming the grounds at this hour, especially coming to see an Animal, no less. They’ll think-“
“I don’t care what they’ll think.” said Elphaba. “I must speak with you, it’s urgent.”
“What is it?” asked Doctor Dillamond as he brow furrowed in concern. Elphaba began to pace.
“It’s the damned Gale Force.” Elphaba spat venomously. “Galinda was raped.”
The Goat’s black eyes widened. “What? When? How did this happen?”
“She attended the ball last night,” Elphaba began, keeping her voice low in an effort to remain calm, “and midway through she stepped out for air and never came back because she was attacked by one of the Wizard’s filthy little spies!”
The green girl’s voice had risen steadily, and she attempted to quiet herself, “I need to know if there’s a way to find out which member of the Gale Force was assigned to the ballroom.”
“Galinda needs to report the incident.” Doctor Dillamond said. “This isn’t a matter to be taken into your own hands, Miss Elphaba.”
”She won’t. She barely admits it even happened, besides who will she tell? Another member of the Force? It’ll be her word against his! They’ll tear her apart!”
“Galinda told you she was raped by a member of the Gale Force?” wondered the professor.
“Well, no.. not exactly. But it’s obvious! She told me she was stopped and that she wasn’t doing anything wrong.” Elphaba explained all but coolly, “Whoever did this to her isn’t going to get away with it, not if I can help it!”
“The Gale Force is difficult to reckon with,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “The Wizard himself stands behind them….I....threatening them is not advisable.”
“With all due respect, Doctor Dillamond, I am not asking your advice. I’m asking you to help me, or at least point me in the right direction. I’ll fight the entire Gale Force and the Wizard himself if I have to.”
“Miss Elphaba, you mustn’t speak of such things, not as loudly as you do now! They’re listening!”
“I’m not afraid of them!”
“You would be risking your life!”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take! Galinda, she’s so afraid, she’s not herself, they’ve broken her, they’ve extinguished her spirit, the spirit I’ve come to-- !” Elphaba stopped short.
“Doctor Dillamond, you’ve got to help me! Give me a place to start, at least. I need to find him and punish him for what he did and insure that he’ll never touch her again! She’s terrified, she’s-she’s…I promised her I’d protect her, I promised her everything would be okay!”
“You’re willing to risk your life for her?” said Doctor Dillamond in the tone of a statement rather than a question.
Elphaba opened, then closed her mouth. Her abdomen tightened, and her mind’s eye drifted to Galinda, her porcelain skin, her golden locks, her clear, oceanic azure eyes and the emptiness within them.
“I…” Elphaba began, reluctant to voice the feelings she had so long suppressed. “I’d die for her.”
Her words were that of a whisper, spoken so softly she herself barely heard them.
“Will you help me?” Elphaba was unable to disguise the desperation of her tone.
“There is a file in the desk of the headmistress containing the assignments of the Gale Force.” said Dillamond in a low voice.
“There’s no way I’ll be able to get to it unless I were to jinx her.”
“You mustn’t. Any use of sorcery on the grounds without instruction will be traced by the Gale Force and reported the Wizard.”
“But how else can I gain access to her office without-“
“I shall act as a diversion.”
“Doctor Dillamond!” Elphaba exclaimed breathlessly, “Oh, Sweet Oz, thank you! Thank you so much!”
The Goat nodded and approached his pupil.
“Tomorrow, between the hours of four and five o’clock the headmistress will be out of her office. That should be ample time to find what it is you seek.”
Elphaba thanked the Goat profusely, and headed for the door.