Of Love and Loathing, Part 8/? by elphies_galinda, PG
Title: Of Love and Loathing, Part 8/?
Author: elphies_galinda and galindas_elphie <3
Rating: PG (default rating :P)
Pairing: Gelphie
Summary: What is this feeling, so sudden and new? My heart is pounding, my head is spinning, and all I can think of is you…. Elphaba helps Galinda through her illness, all the while bringing them closer to friendship than before.
Disclaimer: Wicked shouldn't be mine. I'd rewrite the history of the characters and the universe itself. :P
A/N: Ack!!! SCHOOL!!! >.< ....That's my excuse for not posting, lol. Senior year has been BUSY so far, and Galinda's Elphie is now in COLLEGE.... Yeah. It's been strange. Hopefully you approve of this part of our story nonetheless. ^_^
A Collection of Links for Those Who Aren't Caught Up:
Part One Part Four Part Seven Part Two Part Five~PART EIGHT~ Part Three Part Six
Elphaba returned a short while later, a steaming cup of hot chocolate in her hands. She closed the door quietly, her gaze immediately going to Galinda’s bed. The blonde was still there, sleeping quietly. Good.
The green girl hung up her cloak, silently crossing the room to sit down on her roommate’s bed. She set the cocoa down on the nightstand, trading it for the shower cap that lay there. Gently she felt the compress that rested on Galinda’s head; it was as hot now as the skin beneath it.
Elphaba sighed softly, almost pitying her roommate. Strep throat, put lightly, was no fun at all. She took the washcloth into the bathroom to rinse it with cold water again, coming back to lay the fresh, cool material on Galinda’s forehead.
There was no such thing as darkness behind her closed eyelids. There was only red light, heat, burning through her mind in a ceaseless torture. It was maddening….
Galinda flinched-consciously or subconsciously, she wasn’t sure-when she felt something ice-cold settle on her searing flesh. She moaned softly in her pleasure nonetheless, thanking the Unnamed God and all that existed that she was able to feel something other than fire. However, it did nothing to soothe the ache in her throat or the dryness in her mouth; if anything it enhanced it. The blonde whimpered, her eyes barely opening.
There was Elphaba looking over her. Galinda simply looked at her for a moment, not knowing what to say. What was there to say to someone whom she had gotten in a fight with only the night before? “Thank you,” she grated out despite the tension that she felt develop within herself. She closed her eyes again, sighing. “You don’t have to….”
Elphaba smiled softly, gently brushing the blonde curls away from the washcloth with slender, verdant fingers.
“Don’t talk,” she soothed, her fingers running sympathetically over Galinda’s cheek. “Sit up,” she said softly, reaching for the cocoa. “This will help your throat.”
The blonde shivered involuntarily at her roommate’s touch, almost leaning toward her fingers. She stopped herself from doing so; she instead forced herself to pay attention to Elphaba’s words and act accordingly. Galinda strained herself into a sitting position, whimpering at the pain that laced each movement her body made, and allowed her eyes to run down the length of the green girl’s arm to the mug that rested on her bedside table. Her eyes lit up. Not disgusting medicine, not a potion of some sort, but hot cocoa? The girl is a saint, the blonde couldn’t help but think.
Elphaba passed the drink to her roommate, meeting her eyes for a split second before looking away. Taking care of her was one thing, but anything beyond that was still awkward… especially when the green girl was still unsure as to what exactly was going on.
“Careful,” she said, looking down at her hands and playing with them almost nervously. It was weird, so weird… They were supposed to DETEST each other… But Galinda had always intrigued her; Elphaba couldn’t deny it. Even in the midst of loathing, a part of her had been drawn to the blonde. At the most basic level, her roommate interested her. And although it scared her to death to pursue that interest, the taller girl forced herself to look back up at Galinda.
“It’s hot,” she cautioned.
Galinda grasped the mug carefully; the scent of chocolate engulfed her senses, followed by the smell of sandalwood that transferred from Elphaba’s skin. She could feel her roommate’s gaze on her as she brought the ceramic container to her lips. As she took a sip of the cocoa, she noticed for the first time that Elphaba’s eyes were the same color and consistency of the liquid that filled her cup. The blonde was always one to notice people’s eyes first before anything else. With this realization, Galinda felt another pang of guilt hit her.
She barely tasted the hot chocolate as she thought about her earlier treatment toward the green girl. She hated how she always treated Elphaba as less than human when right now the green girl was helping her instead of leaving her to suffer. Now was the time when things had to change. She should be kinder to Elphaba instead of keeping her at a distance. She should treat her as a friend rather than just someone she talked to….
She cautiously put the mug to the side, licking her lips before looking into Elphaba’s chocolate-colored eyes. The blonde smiled softly at her. “Thank you,” she whispered as she laid back down; she ignored the searing pain that ripped at her throat. She once again snuggled into her covers, a new sort of relief passing over her. She would be alright as long as Elphaba was with her.
Galinda yawned…but then she felt something assault her throat. She wrinkled her nose, trying to force it back, to no avail. A series of horrible coughs suddenly escaped her, shaking her body with their intensity. She whimpered, burying her face in her pillow when they were over. Oh, how she hated this!
Elphaba gently returned Glinda’s smile, trying unsuccessfully to keep a light blush from her cheeks at the blonde’s thanks. She went back to toying with her fingers while Galinda laid down, and she could almost feel the relief coming off the blonde.
Her head shot up, however, as deep, scratching coughs wracked her roommate’s body. She placed a hand on Galinda’s back, rubbing in small circles while she looked on worriedly, unable to do anything but watch. She wished she could do more… Elphaba was hardly conscious of the wish, much less the reason for it, but she wished she could help…
Her small, soothing backrub continued after the coughing fit ceased, a small whimper rising from the blonde. Elphaba’s heart twisted with sympathy. She knew exactly how Galinda felt.
The blonde slowly felt relief come to her as Elphaba rubbed her back, as well as appreciation for what the green girl was doing. She smiled softly into the pillow, sighing. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything--her throat felt like thousands of needles were cutting through it. The only thing she had the strength to do was reach over to gently rest her hand on Elphaba’s free one and lightly squeeze it.
A small spark went through her--more of a tingly feeling, really--at the contact. Galinda paused, wondering for just a moment what this was all about. But she then let it be, and she resumed gently stroking the cool flesh. It was probably due to her not being used to physical contact. Although she was the most popular girl in school, that rarely meant that anyone could touch her…. It was sad how she could be such a recluse in that way, but that was how life went, she supposed.
Elphaba bit back a gasp when Galinda touched her, one whose origins were as clear as the Quadling marshes. At the same instant as her roommate, the electricity jolted through her body, shortening her breath in a barely noticeable way for only a moment. She blinked in surprise and confusion, unknowingly chalking up the reaction to the same thing as the blonde did - she was unaccustomed to other’s touches, for reasons much more obvious than those of her roommate. Galinda squeezed her hand gently, and Elphaba tentatively squeezed back, her mind racing. What on earth…?
A brisk knock came at the door, interrupting Elphaba’s thoughts. She absentmindedly squeezed Galinda’s hand once more before getting up cross the room and open the door for the nurse standing behind it.
“I assume this is the patient?” the nurse asked, and Elphaba merely nodded. The brunette gave Galinda what was supposed to be a reassuring smile while she dug through her bags. Her hand finally emerged, closed around what looked to be a single-ended, very long Q-tip.
“Miss Elphaba tells me that she thinks you have strep throat, and I have every reason to believe her. You should have seen her and her sister when they were younger,” the nurse chuckled, taking Elphaba’s previous seat at the blonde’s side. “They had it all the time! I mean, really, I may as well have lived at the house, always caring for one or the other… of course Nessa, the poor dear, was much more frail than your roommate here,” she continued. Elphaba’s cheeks flushed a deep pine at this retelling of her childhood, wishing her nurse wasn’t always so outgoing and generous with her personal information.
“Now, open up,” the nurse coaxed, the Q-tip ready in her fingers.
Galinda eyed the cotton swab carefully, then looked up at the nurse. She raised her eyebrow, a trademark antic of her anti-social roommate that she just happened to pick up on. “You’re kidding me,” she rasped out, wincing slightly at the pain she felt.
Elphaba bit back a smile at the look on Galinda’s face. Her arched eyebrow and wary eyes made the green girl both want to laugh and also to make sure that whatever was causing the blonde to be wary would be dealt with and eradicated. Elphaba tilted her head for a moment, considering her confusing feelings. Was this what it felt like when you had a friend?
Galinda and I…? Friends…?
At first glance, the thought seemed utterly ridiculous. But then, upon closer inspection… things certainly had changed between them over the past few weeks. Maybe, despite - or was it because of? - their best efforts, they were slowly becoming… friends.
“It’ll only hurt for a moment,” the nurse assured Galinda; Elphaba sighed as her thoughts were again shattered. “And your friend is right here.”
Okay, although she had begun to consider it, the green girl was definitely quite uncomfortable for the relationship… or whatever was between her and her roommate… to be publicly referred to as a friendship.
“Open up,” the nurse again insisted, and Elphaba stood by with Galinda’s hot cocoa. She knew all too well the pains and ailments of strep throat, and she knew that having cotton swiped over your tonsils would definitely NOT help.
Elphaba gave the blonde a soft, reassuring smile, hesitating before gently touching her fingers to Galinda’s. She supposed she could try, at least, to have a friend.
Galinda blushed lightly. And your friend is right here…. It was strange how the notion of them being friends, when actually put into words, could make her feel so warm…. With Misses Pfannee and Shenshen there was always a sort of hesitation, like the word should never really apply to them. But with Elphaba…. The blonde looked up at the green girl, pondering what she really felt about their relationship changing so suddenly. Treating her kindly was one thing. But to actually treat her like a close companion and confide in her with everything…was she really willing to cross the lines into that territory?
Yes, was the answer automatically spoken in her mind, and she didn’t have the strength to argue, so she left it at that.
Galinda saw the corners of Elphaba’s mouth quirk up in a smile-the warmth she originally felt spread throughout her body. She felt her roommate’s fingers brush her own, and she smiled as well. This could definitely work out.
She eyed the cotton swab again and wrinkled her nose. The sacrifices that must be made…. Galinda squeezed her eyes shut and opened her mouth wide with a small noise of protest. Something told her that she was not gonna like this.
The nurse quickly swiped the cotton over Galinda’s inflamed tonsils, and Elphaba squeezed the pale hand involuntarily. She thrust the mug forward as soon as the brunette pulled the swab back, unknowing of the sympathetic wince that was upon her face.
“There,” the nurse smiled. “All done. I’ll take this down to the nursing lab for testing, and I’ll come back with antibiotics if it’s positive.” The door closed with a quiet click as she left the pair, Elphaba swiftly sitting in her former place at Galinda’s bedside.
Galinda almost gagged as the cotton swab roughly swiped her tonsils. As soon as it left her mouth she ducked her head away from either person and coughed violently. She was vaguely aware of any words, any movements, anything at all as she was suddenly left to deal with her own pain….
There was a dip in the bed, most likely from the weight of another person. The blonde looked up at Elphaba, her eyes stinging with tears. There was sympathy in her chocolate-colored eyes, a sympathy that Galinda would have never acknowledged if she had chosen to simply stay out of the green girl’s life. But seeing it now made her feel both strong and weak all at once. Once again there was nothing to say, but for the first time it bothered her.
“Here,” Elphaba said softly, handing Galinda the cocoa. Her heart went out to the poor little blonde. She was so sick… Elphaba’s tonsils had been removed at a young age, but not before she had had strep throat numerous times. The surgery ended the chronic illness, but the pains and symptoms were firmly embedded in her mind.
Galinda looked at the mug of hot chocolate that still rested in Elphaba’s hands. She gently took it with a nod of thanks and began to drink from it. The warm liquid helped to soothe her throat only a little, but it was better than having nothing at all. With her other hand she pressed her fingers to the skin of Elphaba’s palm, tracing soft patterns on it. Her eyes returned to the green girl’s, and she set the mug down. “Why are you helping me,” the blonde whispered, “when you could get sick as well?”
Elphaba smiled softly, fighting back a shiver while Galinda’s fingers moved over her palm. The green girl wasn’t sure if she was ticklish or not… it wasn’t like anyone had ever tried to find out.
“I can’t,” she explained, her voice low and quiet. “Nessa and I had it all the time, as I’m sure you’ve gathered.” She rolled her eyes, silently wishing that she had nurse that didn’t know everything about her childhood. “I had to have my tonsils removed when I was twelve. That took care of it.”
She looked down at the hand that wasn’t holding Galinda’s, feeling very awkward. What more could she say? It was so much less complicated when they loathed each other… but surprisingly, the green girl didn’t miss that at all.
The blonde nodded. She looked down at the half-empty mug and frowned. “That’s…tragic,” she whispered. Galinda bit her lip. What else could she say to follow that? Of course, everything about the green girl spelled “tragedy”….
A yawn suddenly escaped her. She shook her head to rid herself of the air of exhaustion that struggled to claim her. She couldn’t fall asleep-she had to get well as soon as possible. There were so many things to do….
Fiyero.
Galinda frowned. He could screw himself for all she cared. She only claimed him as a partner to the Ozdust just to prove that she could. But that didn’t negate the fact that there were so many things that had to be done in so little time. So little time….
Elphaba cleared her throat softly, toying with her fingers. An awkward silence loomed over the pair, and the green girl felt compelled to fill it. She opened her mouth to speak - what she would say was still unknown - but then Galinda’s own lips parted in a yawn.
Elphaba patted her hand. “You should get some sleep,” she suggested, standing with the half-empty mug. Most likely it wasn’t warm anymore, and Galinda would surely need some more by the time she woke up.
Galinda shook her head slowly, the weight of sleep quickly catching up with her. Her eyes drooped closed, and she felt herself collapse onto the mattress. The darkness pulled her deeper toward unconsciousness against her will. Although…sleep did sound pretty nice….
The blonde curled into a tiny ball in the center of her bed. She sighed softly. “Stay with me,” she whispered before she realized what she was saying. But the words were out. There was nothing she could do but wait for Elphaba’s response as the blonde drifted toward slumber.
Elphaba performed what could only be described as a double take when Galinda’s request finally registered in her head. It wasn’t exactly like she had planned on leaving, but the blonde’s humble appeal surprised her nonetheless. The cocoa momentarily forgotten, the green girl picked up her latest criticism of Animal psychology and sat down among her own scarce, dull sheets. She stared at the blonde for a moment, but the confusion and emotion of the past few days threatened as a dark cloud pressing in on the edges of her mind. Elphaba pushed it away, absently removing her worn bookmark from its place among the pages. Galinda was right. The blonde needed her, and Elphaba should be there when she woke up.