xoxo
Glinda woke up gasping.
Her chest tight, hands trembling, the weight of something crushing down on her ribs. She sat up too fast, her body sluggish, head spinning, trying to breathe, trying to force air into her lungs.
It wasn’t working.
Her apartment was too big, too empty, too silent, and the feeling of nothingness around her only made the panic worse.
Her hands fumbled for her phone, shaking as she pressed the call button.
One ring.
Two.
Three—
Then—
A sleepy, scratchy voice, warm but immediately alert.
“Glinda?”
A choked sound left her throat.
“Can you—” she sucked in a sharp, staggered breath, pressing a hand to her chest like she could physically hold herself together. “Can you just—come over? Please?”
There was no hesitation.
“I’m coming. Right now.”
By the time Elphaba arrived, Glinda was curled up on the couch, knees tucked tight to her chest, fingers white-knuckled around the edge of a blanket.
Her breath still shaky.
Her mind still spinning.
Then—Elphaba was there.
Hair messy, pajama pants slightly askew, wearing one of those stupid oversized shirts she only ever slept in—but she was there.
She crossed the room instantly, kneeling down in front of Glinda, touching her before even asking.
A warm palm on her knee. A firm, grounding squeeze.
“Breathe with me.”
Glinda tried.
Elphaba took a slow breath in.
Glinda mirrored it.
Elphaba exhaled, slow and steady.
Glinda tried, but it shook.
Elphaba gave her another squeeze.
“Again.”
And they did it again. And again. And again.
Until Glinda wasn’t gasping anymore.
Until the air didn’t feel so sharp in her lungs.
Until she could feel Elphaba’s warmth next to her, fully wrapped around her, the steady, quiet comfort of her body pressed close.
Until she wasn’t alone.
Elphaba thought Glinda was drifting off.
Her breath had evened out, her grip relaxed, her body molded against Elphaba’s, fingers loosely curled in the fabric of her shirt.
Then—
“Elphaba, can you stop the nonsense and just move in with me?”
Elphaba froze.
Glinda’s voice was sleepy, soft, but not uncertain.
“I miss you every night.”
Elphaba’s heart twisted.
Glinda sighed, pressing her face into the crook of Elphaba’s neck, nuzzling in, her lips brushing against skin without thinking.
“I can’t stand sleeping without you anymore.”
Elphaba swallowed hard.
Her arms, already around Glinda, tightened just slightly.
She exhaled slowly.
And finally—finally—she gave in.
“Okay.”
Glinda stilled.
Pulled back just enough to look at her.
“Okay?”
Elphaba nodded.
Glinda blinked.
Then—her entire body melted, a long, relieved sigh escaping her lips as she pressed fully into Elphaba’s chest.
“Good.”
And with that, she let her eyes fall shut, finally relaxing—as if, for the first time all night, she actually felt safe.
Elphaba pressed a kiss to her hair.
“Elphie, if you drop that box, I swear to Oz—”
“I am not going to drop it, Glinda.”
“Mmhm. That’s exactly what someone about to drop a box would say.”
Elphaba gritted her teeth, adjusting her grip on the too-heavy box as she maneuvered into Glinda’s new apartment. She wasn’t even sure what was inside, but judging by its weight, it could have been bricks.
Crope and Tibbett trailed behind, carrying far lighter loads—because of course they had “accidentally” grabbed the easiest items first.
“You know, if you let me use the dolly, this would go much faster,” Elphaba grumbled.
Fiyero, lounging against the kitchen counter with a beer in hand, grinned. “I dunno, I’m enjoying the view.”
Glinda, perched on the arm of the couch, arched a brow. “Are you flirting with my girlfriend?”
Fiyero’s grin widened. “What, can’t a man appreciate some fine lifting form?”
Boq, actually attempting to be helpful, rolled his eyes and dropped a stack of books onto the coffee table. “You’re all insufferable.”
Crope huffed dramatically, flopping onto the couch. “And yet, here we are.”
Tibbett perched next to him, grinning. “Where else would we be? It’s the end of an era. No more sneaky dorm visits. No more poorly disguised sleepovers. No more—”
“Alright, out.”
Elphaba, who had finally set the box down, gestured toward the door.
“You’ve all done your good deed for the day, and I’d like to actually unpack without an audience.”
Crope gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. “How rude.”
Glinda giggled, standing and tugging Elphaba toward her, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. “Thank you, boys. You’ve been immensely helpful.”
“Someone appreciates us,” Tibbett said, standing. “Shall we leave them to their domestic bliss?”
Fiyero smirked. “As long as it doesn’t get too blissful.”
Elphaba narrowed her eyes at him, but didn’t deny anything.
Boq just sighed, already halfway out the door. “I’m never helping anyone move again.”
Crope gasped. “That’s what you said last time!”
“And I meant it!”
The door shut behind them.
Silence.
Glinda turned toward Elphaba, her smile soft, warm, fond.
“Well,” she said lightly, stepping closer. “Looks like you officially live here now.”
Elphaba huffed, looking around at the half-unpacked apartment.
“I suppose I do.”
Glinda tilted her head, watching her carefully.
Then—
“Do you regret it?”
Elphaba blinked.
Then, without hesitation, she cupped Glinda’s face and kissed her.
It started slow.
Easy.
A confirmation, a reassurance, a promise.
But Glinda wasn’t interested in slow tonight.
She pressed closer, her hands sliding up Elphaba’s back, curling into the fabric of her sweater, tugging her in.
Elphaba exhaled sharply, her hands dropping to Glinda’s waist, gripping, anchoring.
And then—
Glinda bit her lip.
A small, teasing nip.
Elphaba’s grip tightened.
Then she was, backing her against the nearest wall, pressing into her, their bodies aligning perfectly.
Glinda gasped, her hands slipping under Elphaba’s sweater, seeking warmth, seeking skin.
“Elphie,” she murmured, breathless, head tilting back, inviting.
Elphaba didn’t hesitate.
Her lips found the delicate skin of Glinda’s throat, trailing, teasing, pressing.
Glinda shivered, gripping tighter, pulling closer.
“Bedroom,” she whispered, urgent, needy.
Elphaba grinned against her skin. “That impatient?”
Glinda whined, nipping at Elphaba’s jaw. “Yes.”
Elphaba laughed, a low, satisfied sound, before lifting her fully, letting Glinda wrap around her, legs securing at her waist.
“Lucky for you,” Elphaba murmured, voice thick with amusement and intent, “I don’t mind giving you what you want.”
Glinda shivered.
And then—
They didn’t make it to the bedroom.
The couch would do just fine.
The morning came too soon.
Glinda stirred first, tangled in the sheets, tangled in Elphaba.
Her face was buried against Elphaba’s shoulder, her arms snug around her waist.
Elphaba was still asleep, her breathing deep, steady, her fingers curled loosely against Glinda’s hip.
Glinda smiled softly, pressing a small, sleepy kiss to Elphaba’s collarbone.
Elphaba murmured something unintelligible, shifting slightly, pressing closer.
Glinda sighed happily, letting her eyes close again.
This was it.
This was home.
And nothing had ever felt better.