Vows

“Like when you loved me taking care of you more than you’d like to admit,” Elphaba said, a teasing glint in her eyes.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ flashback starts

Elphaba had survived the Great Galinda Plague of Last Week, during which Galinda dramatically teetered on the brink of death (had a mild cold) and demanded round-the-clock care. Elphaba had dutifully provided said care, because despite having the emotional range of a teaspoon (according to Galinda), she had a weakness for blonde-haired disasters with too many fluffy blankets and an alarming number of scented lace handkerchiefs.

Galinda had been ”sick” for so long that she loved Elphaba's presence more than she’d like to admit. She had been pretending to sleep so often that it had become part of her daily routine. It started innocently enough—on days when her cold left her “drained”, she’d close her eyes and feign sleep just to feel Elphaba’s presence beside her. Without fail, Elphaba would slip into bed, her bony arms hesitantly but tenderly wrapping around her, offering a comfort neither of them could quite put into words.

But now… she wasn’t sick anymore (as if she really was in the first place). It was the weekend. No classes, no responsibilities. Just the quiet hum of life outside their dorm room, birds chirping faintly, and the occasional burst of laughter from students enjoying their free time.

And yet, here she was. Galinda lay perfectly still, her breathing slow and even, waiting for the familiar sound of Elphaba’s cautious footsteps approaching her bed. She cracked one eye open just the tiniest bit, peeking through her lashes to see Elphaba sitting at her desk, scribbling furiously in one of her many notebooks, her brows furrowed in deep concentration.

Galinda pouted internally. Ugh, school again?

She shifted slightly, letting out a soft, dramatic sigh—a classic move. Sure enough, Elphaba’s head snapped up, her sharp green eyes flickering with concern. Galinda quickly squeezed her eyes shut, returning to her “peaceful slumber” pose.

A chair scraped softly against the floor. Footsteps approached. The mattress dipped slightly under Elphaba’s weight, and then—yes!—strong arms wrapped around her, hesitant at first, then relaxing as Elphaba settled in behind her.

What Galinda didn’t know—or maybe pretended not to know—was that Elphaba had been onto her for days. She’d noticed the way Galinda’s breathing wasn’t quite as steady as real sleep, the faintest twitch of her lips when Elphaba’s hand brushed against her arm. But Elphaba didn’t say anything. She liked this too much. The warmth, the closeness, the permission to hold Galinda without pretense.

Elphaba rested her chin lightly against Galinda’s shoulder, letting out a soft sigh of her own. “You’re still sleeping a lot,” she murmured, her voice dripping with faux concern and the faintest trace of amusement. “Maybe you’re not fully recovered…”

Galinda had to suppress a snort. Recovered? I could do a cartwheel right now if I wanted to!

But she didn’t. She stayed still, basking in the warmth of Elphaba’s arms, the way her thumb traced lazy, unconscious circles against Galinda’s arm. It was addictive.

Elphaba smiled to herself, knowing full well that Galinda was probably biting her lip to keep from laughing. She tightened her hold just a little, her breath warm against the back of Galinda’s neck. “Poor, delicate thing,” she whispered dramatically. “So fragile. Probably too weak to do anything today…”

Galinda’s eyes flew open. That was a challenge if she’d ever heard one.

She twisted around suddenly, grinning triumphantly. “Ha! Knew you were awake,” Elphaba said, arching an eyebrow.

Galinda flushed, caught red-handed. But she recovered quickly, flipping her hair over her shoulder with mock indignation. “Well, maybe I was faking, but it’s only because you’re so adorable when you think I need you.”

Elphaba snorted. “Oh, please. You just like being coddled.”

Galinda gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. “How dare you! I’ll have you know I am a very independent young woman.”

Elphaba rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Sure you are.”

Galinda sat up suddenly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “In fact, I feel so independent and healthy that I think we should go on an adventure.”

Elphaba groaned, flopping back onto the bed. “I knew this was leading somewhere.”

Galinda grabbed Elphaba’s hand, pulling her up with surprising strength. “The Ozdust Ballroom. Today. Right now.”

Elphaba blinked. “Isn’t that place loud and… sparkly?”

“Exactly!” Galinda chirped. “Now get dressed. We’re going to dance.”

Elphaba sighed dramatically but allowed herself to be dragged out of bed, secretly thrilled.

Galinda, her excitement radiating in every exaggerated motion, said “we must look our absolute best. No—better than our best. We need to sparkle like the stars themselves!”

Elphaba groaned, burying her face into Galinda’s now-abandoned pillow. “I was reading, Galinda.”

Galinda wasn’t listening. She was already rifling through their shared wardrobe, flinging dresses and shawls into the air like a tornado made of silk and sequins. “Elphie, should I wear the emerald-green gown to match you? Or would that be too on the nose?” She held it against herself, twirling with dramatic flair. “Or maybe the pink one. It is my signature color.”

Elphaba peeked over the pillow, her expression deadpan. “I’m wearing trousers.”

Galinda paused mid-twirl, staring at her like she’d announced she was growing wings. “Trousers? To the Ozdust Ballroom? Elphie, you’re trying to give me heart palpitations.”

Elphaba shrugged lazily. “Good. That way you won’t be able to drag me there.”

Galinda gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. “How dare you. You know what? Fine. Wear your drab little trousers. I’ll be the star of the evening, as usual.” She stuck her nose in the air, but her eyes were glittering with playful delight.

Elphaba rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. She sat up slowly, crossing the room to where Galinda was now buried in a pile of dresses. Without a word, she picked up a soft, light pink gown—less extravagant than Galinda’s usual choices but with delicate embroidery along the sleeves.

“This one,” Elphaba said quietly, handing it over.

Galinda stared at it, then at Elphaba. “But it’s… simple.”

Elphaba gave a small shrug. “It’s beautiful. Like you, without all the extra glitter.”

Galinda’s heart flipped in her chest. She opened her mouth to argue, but the words melted on her tongue. Instead, she simply whispered, “Okay.”

Elphaba smirked. “And I’ll wear something that won’t cause your heart to explode.”

Galinda’s laugh burst out like sunlight. “Thank Oz.”

The Ozdust Ballroom was a shimmering kaleidoscope of lights, laughter, and music, its crystal chandeliers casting rainbows across the polished floor. Students from Shiz twirled and laughed, the air thick with perfume, polished shoes tapping in time to the lively band.

Galinda entered like she owned the place—head high, the soft pink gown Elphaba picked flowing around her like a cloud. Her blonde curls bounced with every step, though she’d insisted on redoing them three times before they left. Beside her, Elphaba walked with her usual reluctant grace, dressed in simple black with emerald accents that caught the light when she moved.

Galinda squeezed Elphaba’s hand tightly. “Isn’t this wonderful?” she squealed, eyes sparkling.

Elphaba scanned the crowd, unimpressed. “It’s loud.”

Galinda rolled her eyes but didn’t let go of Elphaba’s hand. “That’s the point, Elphie. It’s alive! Now, dance with me.”

Elphaba blinked. “Dance?” She looked down at their intertwined fingers like they’d been possessed. “Galinda, I don’t—”

But Galinda was already pulling her toward the dance floor, weaving between couples with reckless delight. “I didn’t drag you here to stand in a corner like a grumpy little goblin. You’re dancing with me.”

Elphaba sighed dramatically but allowed herself to be spun into the crowd. “For the record, I’d rather face a flying monkey swarm.”

Galinda beamed. “Noted. Now, put your hands here,” she instructed, guiding Elphaba’s hands to her waist, her own resting lightly on Elphaba’s shoulders.

Elphaba swallowed hard, suddenly acutely aware of every point of contact. “This isn’t dancing. This is… standing… closely.”

Galinda laughed—a bright, musical sound that somehow made Elphaba’s heart stutter. “It’s called swaying, Elphie. Baby steps.”

Elphaba reluctantly swayed, her awkward stiffness making Galinda giggle even harder. “You’re terrible at this,” Galinda teased, voice soft and fond.

Elphaba’s lips quirked into a smirk. “And yet, here you are, dancing with me anyway.”

Galinda’s teasing faded into something warmer. She leaned in, her voice a breath against Elphaba’s ear. “That’s because there’s no one else I’d rather dance with.”

Elphaba’s heart felt like it might actually combust.

And so, they swayed—not gracefully, not perfectly—but wrapped in the kind of warmth that didn’t need chandeliers or music to feel magical.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ flashback ends