Archive of Our Own ^beta

Galinda sighed, flipping her golden curls over her shoulder as she strode toward the library. The workload at Shiz was insufferable. Every moment of her day was swallowed up by assignments, readings, and lectures. She barely had time to breathe, let alone socialize, and it seemed like everyone else was somehow managing to keep their heads above water while she was drowning.

And, of course, Pfanne had his usual solution.

"You just need to get laid, Galinda," he had said for the third time that week, smirking over his cup of tea in the dining hall.

She had rolled her eyes so hard they nearly got stuck. "Oh, of course! Silly me. Because the moment a woman expresses even the tiniest bit of frustration, it obviously means she’s just sexually deprived. Brilliant insight, Pfanne. Truly, you should write a dissertation."

He had merely chuckled. "I’m just saying, darling, you’re a little... tense."

"Tense? Tense?! Pfanne, I have three essays due by week's end, a practical exam in sorcery that I am not prepared for—"

"And a dry spell that could rival the deserts of Quadling Country."

She had gasped, swatting him with her notebook before storming off. But, as she walked to the library now, the thought lingered.

It had been a while.

Not that it mattered, because the options at Shiz were dismal. Half the student body couldn’t keep their mouths shut for five minutes, much less be discreet about a private rendezvous. And as for finding someone actually worth her time? Please. She had standards.

Still, as she stepped into the library, scanning the quiet rows of bookshelves, she found herself sighing again.

Pfanne was an insufferable gossip, but... was he wrong?

Galinda barely glanced at the books as she plucked them from the shelves in the sorcery section, her frustration mounting with every passing second. Summoning, summoning, summoning—it didn’t matter. She’d be lucky if she could conjure so much as a flicker of light, let alone something useful, like a dazzling flare to blind that woman.

She checked out the books, stacked them in her arms, and made her way back to her room, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floors of Shiz. Oh, how she hated school. The endless work, the draining expectations, it was all so tedious. The moment she stepped inside her dorm, she locked the door behind her, tossed the books onto her desk, and let out an exhausted sigh.

She had a plan: draft an outline for her essays first, then tackle sorcery practice. That seemed like a reasonable split. So, she set to work, putting her pen to paper and scribbling ideas, trying to make sense of the nonsensical theories her professors insisted were crucial.

Once she had scrawled enough to satisfy her academic guilt, she set the essays aside and grabbed two of the sorcery books from the pile. She climbed onto her bed, fluffed her pillows into something passable, and cracked one open.

Immediately, she was annoyed.

Pages upon pages of nonsense chatter before anything useful.

Why is there an author’s note? You wrote the damn book—must you still harp on?

With a dramatic sigh, she flipped to the table of contents. She hummed in mild interest, tapping her finger against the page. Curious. No option for a ball of light to blind the wicked. Pity.

Still, she supposed she could skim through the fundamentals. If she had to suffer through this wretched course, she might as well be somewhat competent at it.

Resigned, she turned to the first chapter and began reading.

Finishing the first chapter, Galinda frowned. Some of this material sounded vaguely familiar—probably because she had half-heard it in lectures. Ugh. She really should pay more attention, but she refused to give that woman the satisfaction of seeing her look eager to learn.

With a sigh, she flipped another page, finishing the chapter. Most of this is intuitive, really. Summoning depended on intent—obviously. The most apt thing to summon would be based on needs—well, yes, naturally. She briefly entertained the idea of summoning something to solve her real problem at its root, then rolled her eyes. If this was the so-called "fundamentals," she might as well write the book herself.

Her thoughts drifted as she absentmindedly turned pages. Pfanne’s voice nagged in the back of her mind. Should she take that matter into her own hands? Oh, please.

She was pulled from her musings by the memory of Madame Morrible’s cold, assessing gaze from the other day. That, more than anything, made her serious again. If she wanted to survive this course, she needed something concrete—something useful.

Reaching for the second book, she flipped through it and was relieved to find it far more beginner-friendly. She scanned the pages. Floating objects... hmm, manageable. She figured she might as well start somewhere, even if it was something as unimpressive as a floating pen.

Moving back to her desk, she placed a pen in front of her and took a deep breath. She focused, visualizing it rising into the air, willing it to lift, trying to feel the energy push outward from her.

She cracked an eye open.

The pen sat stubbornly on the desk.

"Ugh, useless," she muttered, flipping more pages. She found the section on conjuring light and straightened. Yes. This.

Holding onto the intent, she skimmed both books, comparing methods. There must be a spell, an incantation, something more concrete. She didn’t care if she had to blow cinnamon and stomp on the floor—she needed something tangible.

Finally, she found a passage, her eyes catching on a little set of italicized words. That seemed promising. Taking a breath, she whispered them under her breath, tracing her finger along the lines of the book as she read.

Her fingertip crackled.

She gasped, jerking her hand away. A tiny, startled oh escaped her lips.

For the first time that night, Galinda felt something close to excitement.

Galinda turned the book over in her hands, scanning the back. Four little words, and already she had conjured more magic than she ever had in one of Madame Horrible’s classes. How interesting.

There was nothing particularly remarkable about the book itself. It wasn’t bound in ominous black leather or inscribed with arcane symbols—just an ordinary thing, albeit with one small disclaimer:

"This is not for amateurs. Proper protections must be in place."

She paused. Protections?

It wasn’t as if she had just uttered something that would make wings tear from her back. And really, if magic was about intent, then surely nothing could happen against her will. Right?

…Right?!!

Brushing the thought aside, she snapped the first book shut and tossed it onto her desk. It had been completely useless compared to the second one, which had actually produced results. A crackle of light on her fingertips wasn’t much, but it was something. An improvement. And honestly, this was more progress in one night than she had made in an entire semester.

The essay outlines were swiftly abandoned as she tidied up her desk. Then, gathering the sorcery book, she climbed back onto her bed, determined to study until sleep claimed her.

The more she read, the more fascinated she became.

Why had no one taught any of this in class? There were entire sections on magic she’d never even heard of. She had to stop herself from muttering any of the italicized words aloud—just in case they did something unfortunate. The last thing she needed was to actually sprout wings because she carelessly mumbled the wrong phrase.

Some sections had diagrams of the things one might summon. She skimmed past creatures and objects until she landed on… food? She raised an eyebrow. Apparently, summoning fruit required an ungodly number of conditions. Who knew peaches were more complex than a flicker of light?

Yawning, she finally acknowledged how late it was. She paused to change, slipping into an oversized T-shirt and opting to forgo pants—she hated being too hot while sleeping. Then, back to the book.

Flipping to the index, she searched for light. Page 47 had the passage that had caused her fingers to crackle. Page 56, however, was a little different. This one was meant to create a steady glow.

She hummed in thought, flipping between the pages. Then she noticed something odd—nowhere on these pages did it explain how to stop them. What if she didn’t want to glow anymore? What if someone cast a spell and then had no way of undoing it? She stared at the page, tapping her fingers against the book. That seemed like a glaring oversight.

It was getting steadily later, and Galinda finally had to turn on her lamp to keep reading. The soft glow cast warm light over the pages as she impulsively flipped to the back of the book, landing in a section labeled Subservience.

Her brows lifted in interest. Enchanting objects to do one’s bidding? Summoning things to do one’s work? According to the text, she could even enchant a pen to write down everything she said. Now that would be useful.

She wasn’t sure she had the skill for it yet, but she reminded herself: intent. That was the key. If she believed she could do it, then surely she could?

Intrigued, she kept flipping through page after page absorbing every bit of knowledge she could. Then, she landed on a section about beings; summonable entities.

She quickly skimmed past most of the diagrams, unwilling to see them, instead focusing only on the names and descriptions. But then—

Her eyes caught on an illustration. It was a woman, but not quite.

Horns curled from her head. Large, dark wings extended from her back. A long, forked tail curled behind her, and she was on her knees. Galinda swallowed thickly as she read the header.

"Succubus."

Her fingers twitched as she hesitated, torn between closing the book entirely or staying on this page. She flipped forward and sure enough, there was a male counterpart. She barely looked before flipping back to the first image, her eyes scanning the text beneath it.

She pointedly skimmed over the italicized section. She was only looking to see how long the spell was. That’s all. Just curiosity.

She sighed, closing the book. There was absolutely no way Madame Morrible would be teaching this in class. Setting the book on her bedside table, she turned off the lamp and slipped under the covers. She turned onto her side, curling into herself, eyes fluttering shut.

But she was hyper aware of her body. The warmth of her own skin. The lingering tension in her stomach. She let out a slow breath, pressing her face into her pillow. Then, as if on impulse, she let her hand drift down, fingers grazing over her stomach before slipping beneath the hem of her shirt.

She bit her lip.

Her fingers slid lower, between her legs, teasing herself lightly before pulling away only to bring them to her mouth, gathering spit. She lifted herself slightly, careful not to let anything drag on her shirt, then let her hand slide back down. Her fingers met soft heat, and she exhaled, her breath shaky. A thought flickered through her mind. She pressed a little harder, gasping softly into the quiet of her room.

For a fleeting moment, Galinda considered slipping out of her panties entirely, but she quickly dismissed the thought. It wasn’t that serious. She just needed to take the edge off, get herself off, and go to sleep.

Her fingers moved in fast, deliberate circles over her clit, a shiver running through her as she sank further into the mattress. Her breath hitched. The initial touch wasn’t quite enough, but it was enough to keep her going, keep her hips shifting against her hand. She needed more. With a quiet sigh, she slid a finger inside herself, her body immediately responding to the stretch. A slow roll of her hips followed, and before she knew it, she was humping against her own palm, seeking friction, her movements becoming more desperate.

Oz, I must look like an animal in heat , she thought hazily, the realization making her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

She sped up.

Now that she was wetter, the slide was easier, more fluid. She added a second finger, curling them inside herself as she chased her release. Her free hand fisted in the sheets, gripping tightly as pleasure built and coiled, sharp and hot.

Her breath came quicker, little moans spilling from her lips despite herself. She barely registered them, too lost in sensation. A final press of her fingers against that spot, and the coil inside her snapped.

Her mouth fell open on a quiet gasp, body tensing as her orgasm hit. A wave of pleasure rolled through her, her legs clenching around her hand as she rode it out. She nodded slightly to herself, panting softly as she came down.

After a moment, she exhaled, long and slow.

She pulled her fingers from herself lazily, wiping the wetness on the curve of her ass, smearing it onto her panties. There. Handled. She stuffed her damp fingers beneath her pillow and let sleep take her.

She wished she could say the rest of the night was uneventful. But she all night, she was haunted by echoes of her own moans, of phantom touches, of heat pooling low in her stomach over and over again. It was frustrating, unrelenting.

When she woke up, it was still dark.

She felt vaguely sore, rolling onto her back with a sigh. Well, that was pointless. She was supposed to feel better, less pent-up. Instead, if anything, she felt worse.

And the worst part?

Pfannee had been right. She scowled at the ceiling, utterly furious at the universe. Men should never be right. Galinda lay there in the dim quiet of her room, staring at the ceiling, frustrated, restless, pent-up—until she heard it.

A soft creaking, like the shifting of weight on floorboards.

Her blood ran cold.

She shot upright, eyes wide, immediately scrambling backward until her back hit the headboard. There was someone in her room.

Her hands fumbled for the lamp. The second the light clicked on, she gasped, instinctively pushing herself further against the headboard.

It wasn’t just someone. The thing—the woman—whatever it was from the book.

Galinda’s eyes darted to her bedside table, her stomach twisting when she saw the book open. She knew she had closed it before bed.

The succubus stood before her, green skin, horns curling from her head, large wings slightly unfurled, casting deep shadows across the room. And sure enough, a long, forked tail wrapped snugly around her leg as she stood.

Galinda wanted to look away. But she couldn’t. Her heart pounded against her ribs. Her throat felt tight, dry, useless—until the succubus spoke.

"How can I be of service?"

Galinda’s face contorted in confusion.

It spoke again, clearer this time. "How can I be of service?"

Galinda opened her mouth, then immediately closed it. Was she supposed to answer that? She forced herself to look away, tried to ground herself. This is my room. I’m in my room. But then her eyes drifted back.

Galinda shook her head. Then laughed—high-pitched, bordering on hysterical.

“No. No, no, no—what?”

She sucked in a breath. This is a dream. It has to be a dream.

She muttered to herself, “I’m just horny and it’s been a while. This isn’t real. It isn’t real.”

But then footsteps. She jerked her head up as the succubus moved closer.nGalinda tried so hard not to look. But then she realized… she’s barely wearing anything. The succubus’s wings twitched, as if reacting to her staring, before she repeated—this time, a little softer, a little more insistent:

"How can I be of service?"

“Stop!” Galinda shouted.

And the succubus did. Immediately, she brought her wings forward, almost like she was shielding herself. Galinda, still hugging the headboard, edged toward the bedside table and snatched up the book. She looked down and there it was.

The same image. The same creature. The same thing standing in her room. She looked up, disbelief coursing through her veins. The succubus looked back, her piercing green eyes meeting Galinda’s. A rush of heat shot through her.

Galinda snapped the book shut and scrambled off the bed, putting the book between them as if it could physically keep distance.

She gestured wildly. “What are you doing here?!”

The succubus blinked. Then, almost hesitantly, looked down, as if she was confused or had to think about it.

Finally, she spoke again. "I’m here to—", she paused, then cleared her throat as if she was reading from a script but had gotten the line wrong. "I’m here because you summoned me."

Galinda’s stomach dropped.

She inhaled sharply, voice coming out shrill. “Me? Me? Galinda Upland, who couldn’t even make a pen float—I summoned you?!”

She nearly threw the book in frustration. Instead, she flipped through it, frantically searching for answers. She glanced up. Her legs—Oz, her legs.

Galinda snapped her eyes back down and muttered a curse under her breath before flipping straight to the index. She found the section and landed on the entry but it was the one for the male version first.

She slammed her eyes shut and flipped again, blindly searching until her face fell and her stomach twisted into knots. Her hands tightened around the book as she let out a strangled sound.

"Do you want me to read it to you?"

Galinda’s head snapped up, utterly scandalized. The succubus was tilting her head slightly, a calm, neutral expression on her face—like this was just normal.

Galinda barely had time to process before she realized the succubus had started rounding the bed, moving closer.

She shot out a hand. “No—stay where you are! Stop!”

Her tail flicked, curling slightly at the end.

A pause.

Then, in a tone that almost sounded… patient? She asked, "Some mortals want me to read material to them. Is that what you’d like me to do?"

Galinda was so utterly lost, her mind still scrambling to catch up.

“What?” she breathed.

She swallowed, gripping the book tighter. Her eyes flickered down. Movement. She swore the succubus must be crossing her arms beneath those wings, like she was just waiting.

The succubus took a step back. Her expression was unreadable, but when she spoke, there was the slightest pause, like she was carefully choosing her words.

“What is the nature of what you are reading?” she asked, tilting her head. “Is it to help in reaching your—” She hesitated, then glanced downward as if searching for the right word. “…goal?”

Galinda nearly sank into herself, shaking her body as if she could physically dispel this entire situation.

Her wings unfurled for a moment, stretching slightly before tucking neatly behind her again. Now, her arms were crossed over her chest. And—oh Oz, Galinda immediately looked away, face burning.

The silence stretched between them before the succubus cleared her throat.

“Uh… Do you have a sweater?”

Galinda blinked. Her mind stalled completely. That was such an utterly normal thing to ask, as if this was just a regular guest in her room. She found herself looking around like she might actually have a sweater to offer, then stopped, utterly bewildered by her own actions.

Finally, her eyes landed on her bedsheets.

She grabbed them and bunched them up in her hands before thrusting them forward.

“Um, no,” she admitted. “But you can have this.”

The succubus took a careful step forward, her tail briefly sliding across the floor before curling at her hip. She reached for the offered sheet and threw it over herself, the smooth, skin-tight material she had been wearing disappearing from view.

She adjusted the sheet, holding it loosely, then asked, once again, “How can I be of service?”

Galinda, still clutching the book, hesitated before glancing down. Her eyes landed on a particular sentence.

"They will appear in the form they believe most pleasing to their intended."

Her grip on the book tightened.

This—this green woman—was what the spell had thought she would find pleasing? She looked up again. Arms crossed. Eyebrows drawn together. Green eyes. Amongst other things. No. This information was obviously incorrect. Galinda snapped the book shut, dropping it onto the bed.

“I’m sorry to have, um—disturbed you,” she said, shifting her weight. “But, well, I don’t need you for anything.”

She placed her hands on her hips, standing firm, determined to put an end to this nonsense.

Her tail uncurled from her hip and dragged across the floor, her shoulders dropping slightly. She looked down, as if considering something. Then she glanced back up, her brows drawing together in slight confusion.

“Well, it’s just—” she started, then hesitated. She swallowed before continuing, “I was summoned. You can’t just… not need me.”

Galinda exhaled sharply, irritation bubbling beneath her skin.

She carefully moved across the room, making sure not to turn her back on the thing still standing in her bedroom.

“I’m sorry, but you must be mistaken—I didn’t summon a succubus.”

“I have a name, you know,” she interrupted, her expression shifting slightly. Then, almost as if she felt guilty, she glanced away.

Galinda, thrown off by the reaction, looked down at her desk, then back up. “…What is your name?”

“Elphaba.” Elphaba’s eyes flickered back to her.

Galinda nodded slightly, repeating it under her breath. “Elphaba.”

She was about to continue her argument, but Elphaba interrupted again.

“But you can call me whatever.” 

Galinda frowned. “No, you don’t underst—”

“I am here to serve you.” Elphaba stepped forward slightly, holding both hands out, palms up, as if making an offering.

And in doing so the sheet dropped. Galinda squeaked. Her brain completely short-circuited. She forced herself to look directly at Elphaba’s eyes and only her eyes.

Elphaba, completely unfazed, continued, “You can call me whatever it is that would bring you pleasure.”

“Okay—well—” Galinda rushed, stepping back and throwing her hands up as if warding off the sheer implications of that sentence. “That won’t be necessary because I did not summon you!”

Elphaba’s expression remained unreadable, but there was a hint of disbelief in her eyes.

“Well,” she said, matter-of-factly, “whether you meant to summon me or not, I am here. And I am here to serve you.”

Galinda let out an exhausted breath, rubbing at her temple.

“Serve me how?” she asked, exasperated.

Elphaba glanced toward the book still lying on Galinda’s bed. She hesitated for a brief moment before bending down to pick up the sheet that had fallen to the floor.

Galinda’s entire body locked up.

Her head immediately snapped away as she caught an unfortunate glimpse of Elphaba’s chest before she bent fully.

She took a deep breath, willing herself to not spiral.

Elphaba straightened, adjusting the sheet once more, then tilted her head.

“I should let you know,” she said carefully, “I am… in tune with you. Tethered, so to speak.”

Galinda turned sharply, her brows furrowed.

“You can’t be tethered to me if I did not summon you,” she insisted.

Elphaba merely shrugged, as if to say believe what you will, then stayed silent, watching Galinda expectantly.

Galinda groaned and ran a hand through her hair, done with this nonsense.

“You know what? No ,” she muttered, shaking her head.

She took one last glance at Elphaba—or whatever her name was—before turning on her heel and moving toward her closet.

The first hints of sunlight were creeping through the curtains. She grabbed what she needed, then threw a look over her shoulder.  She’d just get an early start on her day.

“By the time I come back, you shouldn’t be here,” she said firmly. “I didn’t summon you. I’m sure someone else will by the time I’m back.”

Elphaba said nothing. Just watched her with an expression Galinda could not place.

Determined to pretend none of this ever happened. Galinda made her way to the bathroom, she made sure to close the door behind her lest Elphaba suddenly materialize beside her, asking to serve her again. She took a quick shower before grabbing her toothbrush. 

She shook her head at the absurdity of it all, holding her hair back as she spat. This was not happening. This was just a very weird, very vivid dream. She grabbed a brush, running it through her hair quickly.

When she was done, she grabbed her bag and pointedly did not look at the succubus still lingering in her room. She left without a word, heading straight to the dining hall.

Once inside, she went through the line, grabbing breakfast—waffles, eggs, some fruit—before sitting down at an empty table.

She ate quietly, her foot tapping against the floor.

She tried not to think about the thing in her room. She tried not to keep glancing over her shoulder, half-expecting Elphaba to appear out of thin air. After a while, Pfannee and Shenshen came in, waving as they grabbed their trays before heading over to sit with her.

Pfannee immediately launched into a story about some guy he was talking to.

“—and listen to this, right? He is so good at contributing in the bedroom, but when it gets to the classroom? Ugh.”

Galinda looked up, laughing at that.

But then—mid-laugh—she nearly spit out her mouthful of grapes. Shenshen immediately patted her back.

“Are you okay?” she asked, concerned.

Pfannee frowned, glancing at her. “What is your problem?”

Galinda gasped, quickly swallowing, then looked from Pfannee to a point just above his shoulder. Her face went pale. This was not happening. She looked down at her plate and when she finally worked up the nerve to flick her gaze up again… Oh, sweet Oz .

Elphaba was standing there, just watching her, as if this was all completely normal. Galinda pushed back her chair immediately.

“Guys, I’ll see you in class,” she said quickly, standing up so fast she nearly knocked over her tray.

Pfannee stared at her. “What the hell—”

She ignored him, glancing at the thing above his shoulder, then turned toward the exit and forced a tight smile. Then she booked it.

Pfannee watched her go, brows raised.

“You know,” he said, turning to Shenshen, “this is exactly what happens when you have no life outside of studying.”

Shenshen nodded solemnly.

Meanwhile, Galinda was panicking. Because Elphaba was following her.

Through the halls. Through the damn school. She didn’t even care if people saw her practically running back to her dorm. She burst inside, and, sure enough Elphaba followed her in.

Galinda whirled around, yanking the door shut behind her. “What,” she hissed, “are you doing?”

Elphaba stared at her, looking almost as bewildered as Galinda felt.

“I am tethered to you,” she said, voice calm but firm. “Where you go, I go.”

Galinda let out a sharp breath, barely restraining a frustrated groan.

“I did not summon you,” she snapped, stomping forward.

Elphaba flinched. It was subtle—a slight bracing of her shoulders, a tightening around her eyes—but Galinda saw it.

She paused.

For a split second, she wondered why Elphaba looked like she was preparing for something—like she was expecting physical force. But Galinda didn’t have time to dwell on that. Instead, she turned away, stalking over to her desk and yanking the summoning book from her bag. She flipped through the pages, her fingers moving frantically.

“How do I unsummon you?” she demanded.

Elphaba hesitated before answering. “Once I’ve served my purpose.”

Galinda’s head snapped back. “And what would that be?”

Elphaba looked almost bashful.

Her wings slowly curled in around her, shielding her body once again, and—was she blushing?

“My purpose is usually dependent on the basis in which I was summoned,” she said carefully, clearly hoping Galinda would understand.

Galinda pressed her hands together, exhaling through her nose. “I do not know how I summoned you.”

Elphaba swallowed, shifting her weight. “Well… um…” she started, glancing away.

Her tail flicked once, curling behind her before lazily swishing forward. Galinda’s eyes involuntarily followed it. She quickly swallowed and refocused.

“How did I summon you?” she asked, quieter this time.

Elphaba sighed, rubbing at her arm.

“You have an… intense amount of desire surrounding you,” she admitted.

Galinda stiffened. Elphaba cleared her throat, her tail flicking again.

“I usually help to… pleasure mortals,” she continued, her voice a little softer now. “And because we’re tethered, I can feel just how much desire is lingering around you.”

She gestured toward Galinda, as if it  was something visible in the air. Galinda had no idea what to do with that information. The succubus—Elphaba, she reminded herself—was literally saying that she could sense Galinda’s pent-up sexual frustration. She suddenly felt hot. Galinda spun toward her closet, ripping the door open. She needed to regain control of this situation.

She yanked out a pair of grey sweatpants, then reached for a shirt—but hesitated. How would that even work with wings? Her fingers tightened around the fabric before she finally turned and held the pants out toward Elphaba.

“Here,” she said, voice clipped. “If you’re going to be following me around, can you at least not be naked?”

“Thank you,” she said sincerely, taking them and slipping them on, she looked almost relieved.

The waistband sat a little low on her hips, her tail flicking absently over it.

She looked back at Galinda, expectant. “I can’t leave until you are satisfied .”

Galinda noted the shift in wording. But she wasn’t about to acknowledge it.

She lifted her chin. “Can I give you some silly task to do instead?”

Elphaba tilted her head, considering.

“If that is my purpose, then… yes.”

Galinda nodded, mostly to herself. “Then I want you to make my bed.”

Elphaba turned slightly, glancing over at the already mostly made bed.

She looked like she was about to say something—but Galinda was already stuffing the summoning book back into her bag, slinging it over her shoulder.

“Thank you for your service,” she said firmly.

Then she slammed the door shut behind her before Elphaba could respond. Elphaba just watched her go, tail flicking idly above the waistband of the sweatpants. After a moment, she sighed and moved to do as she’d been instructed.

Elphaba barely had time to blink before she felt it—an invisible pull yanking her forward. When her vision settled, she was suddenly behind Galinda in a classroom. She exhaled sharply, wings snapping in around herself, arms crossing tight against her chest.

Her tail twitched, curling up toward her stomach as she surveyed her surroundings. Galinda was at a desk, head ducked slightly as she wrote. Elphaba furrowed her brows.

She shifted, stepping between two tables before coming to a stop directly in front of her. Galinda’s eyes dragged up her body, moving slow enough that Elphaba instinctively tightened her wings further around herself.

Galinda pretended to write. Her foot tapped rhythmically against the floor. Elphaba let out a quiet sigh. She glanced around. A woman was leaning against the board, speaking to the class, but Elphaba couldn’t be bothered to listen.

She turned back to the blonde and muttered, “You didn’t summon me to make your bed.”

Galinda stiffened. Her eyes flickered to the side, as if checking to see if anyone heard Elphaba’s words. Then, after a second, she nodded.

Elphaba tilted her head slightly, watching her. She couldn’t tell if she was nodding to acknowledge her or if she was pretending to listen to the instructor. Either way, it didn’t matter.

Elphaba exhaled and moved to sit, deciding she’d simply wait. It couldn’t be helped.

Galinda swallowed. She tried—tried—to keep her eyes on the board, but her gaze kept drifting toward Elphaba as she leaned against her desk.

The succubus had her tail curled in her lap, absently flicking the tip against her own palm. Was she doing that on purpose? Galinda wasn’t sure. But the movement caught her attention, and she glanced down before she could stop herself. She became hyper-aware of just how much skin Elphaba was showing. How exposed she still was, despite the sweatpants.

The curve of her bare shoulders. The deep green of her skin. Galinda’s foot stopped tapping. She just stared. Then a tap on her shoulder. Galinda jerked upright, Shenshen was looking at her with mild concern.

“What is it?” she whispered. “You’re zoning out.”

Galinda swallowed, shaking her head quickly. “Nothing,” she muttered. “I’m just… a little dazed.”

Shenshen gave a skeptical hum before turning back toward the board.

Galinda hesitated, then risked another glance down. Elphaba was looking up at her now. Her green eyes burned into Galinda’s. Galinda quickly turned back to the board. Galinda started tapping her leg again, counting the minutes until class was over.

Then she felt it. Something snaked around her calf, wrapping firm and warm. She jerked, slamming her foot into the floor with a bang as she scooted back in her chair.

A couple of heads snapped toward her. 

Galinda forced a smile, tossing her hair like nothing had happened. She looked back at the board, picked up her pen, and scribbled something—anything—to make it look like she was focused.

Beneath her desk, she felt Elphaba’s tail retreat. A deep sigh nearly slipped from her lips, but she swallowed it. It seemed she’d have to endure this all day.

And she did.

Her next classes were even worse. Elphaba had taken to standing over her, peering down at her work like an overbearing instructor. Galinda had no choice but to keep taking notes, trying her hardest to ignore the succubus looming over her.

Finally her last class of the day ended.

Linguification.

Galinda gathered her things quickly, making a beeline for the library.

She silently thanked the universe that she didn’t have sorcery today—because if Elphaba showed up in that class, she wondered if Madame Morrible would be able to sense her. The last thing she needed was for anyone to find out that she had accidentally summoned a succubus.

She went straight to the sorcery section, heading for summoning. She needed to undo this. Without… compromising herself. Galinda cringed at the implication.

Her fingers skimmed over the spines of books, searching, when she felt a presence at her side. Of course Elphaba had followed her. She paused, looking at a shelf, when Elphaba suddenly spoke.

“That’s not how it works,” she said.

Galinda sighed, lowering her voice to a hushed whisper. “How do I get rid of you?”

Elphaba looked at her, wings tucking neatly behind her back.

Galinda hesitated, looking away for a beat, before forcing her eyes back. Elphaba was watching her carefully.

Then she said, “What was the nature of my summoning?”

Galinda huffed, crossing her arms. “I don’t know—for the last time.”

She glanced around, making sure no one was listening, before turning back to the shelves, pretending to read along the spines.

“Can you tell me?” she asked, twirling a hand in vague exasperation.

Elphaba stepped behind her, voice low as she said, “The nature of my summoning was sexual.”

Galinda froze. She felt a slow, creeping heat crawl up her neck.

Elphaba continued, voice smooth and unbothered, “My summoner was in the throes of pleasure when I was summoned.”

Galinda’s stomach flipped. She turned around, and Elphaba’s gaze flicked back up—clearly having just been somewhere lower. Galinda’s breath hitched. She took a quick step back, shaking her head.

“I—I might have—” She cut herself off, huffing. “I didn’t mean to summon a succubus.”

She gestured vaguely toward her. Toward Elphaba.

“The book said it’s about intention,” she argued.

Elphaba shook her head, stepping forward slightly. “Sometimes,” she said, “the unconscious can be powerful.”

Galinda pressed back against the bookshelf, gripping the edge.

Elphaba tilted her head. Then, in a softer voice repeated. “So, again…”

She took another step closer. Her eyes darkened. Her tail flicked behind her.

“How can I be of service?”

Galinda was losing patience.

"I don't need any service!" she hissed in a hushed whisper, glaring at Elphaba. "And stop unfurling your wings, it's—it's—"

She cut herself off, shaking her head furiously before turning away. It was too much. The presence of this succubus, this... Elphaba, her casual proximity, the way she moved, how she looked at her—Galinda felt like she was being studied, like some fragile, nervous thing, and she hated it.

She needed to fix this. Without another word, she yanked a book off the shelf and flipped straight to the index, her eyes scanning rapidly for the term succubus.

There. She turned to the page, expecting some grand insight, some explanation, some loophole that would get her out of this mess. Instead it was all depictions. Illustrations of ritual circles. Descriptions of summoning rites. Pages upon pages detailing the proper way to call forth a succubus, as if this were some hobbyist’s guide.

Galinda gritted her teeth. This was useless. She hadn’t done any of these things. No incantations, no offerings, no carefully drawn sigils. She had just… she had just fingered herself. Her face burned at the admission.

Frustrated, she flipped the page, hoping for something—anything—to tell her how to reverse the summoning. And yet, all she found was a detailed guide on how to do it again.

Galinda let out a sharp, exasperated sigh and shoved the book back onto the shelf.

"Okay," she muttered under her breath, dragging a hand down her face. "So—if I… if you serve your purpose, then you’ll leave?"

Elphaba nodded once. "Yes."

Galinda inhaled deeply, then exhaled just as sharply. "Okay."

She spun on her heel and stormed toward an empty corner of the library, dropping herself into a chair. Elphaba followed at a leisurely pace, watching her curiously. Galinda ignored the scrutiny, digging through her bag until she pulled out the summoning book. The cause of all of this. 

She hadn't even gotten to work on her essay today. This whole situation had utterly derailed her. She flipped back to the chapter on summoning, her fingers finding the incantation. Muttering under her breath, she let the words roll off her tongue, hoping that she might have misread something.

The moment the last syllable left her lips, she heard a sharp intake of breath. She glanced up. Elphaba was watching her. Waiting.

Galinda's stomach twisted. She looked around the library, making sure no one was paying attention before returning her gaze to Elphaba.

"So," she whispered, "what do you do, exactly?"

Elphaba tilted her head, considering her. 

"I please," she said simply.

Galinda's fingers tightened around the edge of the book.

"You aren’t like most mortals who summon me," Elphaba continued, pacing slightly around the table. "Even the ones newer to it are more..." She trailed off, lifting a hand before shrugging.

Galinda refused to acknowledge the implication. Instead, she took a steadying breath, forcing herself to focus.

"Okay," she murmured, her voice firmer this time. "I'm a student first."

She reached for her essay outline, pulling it from her bag.

"I should at least get some work done," she muttered, as much to herself as to Elphaba.

Elphaba didn’t protest. Instead, she sat patiently across from her, silent as Galinda worked.

Mostly, she seemed to be watching other people as they passed by—though, admittedly, not many did, given that Galinda had intentionally chosen a secluded corner at the back of the library.

By the time Galinda finished one of her essays, she found herself marginally less irritated by Elphaba’s presence. At the very least, she had stopped appearing out of nowhere—instead choosing to trail behind her like some peculiar shadow.

It was a small mercy.

Eventually, she packed up her things and headed toward the dining hall, determined to at least try and act normal around Pfannee and Shenshen. She sat with them, eating quietly as Pfannee kept glancing at her, his expression somewhere between curiosity and suspicion.

She refused to acknowledge it. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Instead, she listened as he droned on about sorcery.

"I heard that energy can help with your sorcery," he said suddenly, glancing at her meaningfully.

Galinda furrowed her brows. "Well, that’s… nice?"

Pfannee smirked, leaning in.

"Maybe if you actually—I don’t know—got laid, you could use that energy for your practical," he suggested, waggling his eyebrows. "Loosen you up a bit."

Shenshen giggled, shimmying beside her, nudging her with an elbow. Galinda pointedly ignored the way Elphaba’s interest in the conversation sharpened. Instead, she exhaled slowly, gripping her fork

"I am genuinely stressing about this," she said flatly, "and your solution is to tell me to—what? Hook up with someone?"

Pfannee shrugged, unbothered.

"I mean—when you put it like that—" He gestured vaguely. "Well, it’s exactly how it sounds, actually."

Galinda gave him a look.

"Guys," she said firmly, "I don’t need to get laid."

Pfannee and Shenshen exchanged a long glance.

She rolled her eyes. "You know what?" she said, setting her fork down with finality. "I’m calling it a night."

She stood, grabbing her bag.

"Love you so much," she added, her tone dripping with exaggerated sweetness, "but yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Then, as an afterthought, she added, "Make sure you edge that guy until he actually contributes in class."

Pfannee barked a laugh. Shenshen gasped, scandalized, before giggling behind her hand. They waved her off as she left, calling out their goodbyes.

Galinda strode away, feeling their eyes on her until she disappeared down the hall. She exhaled sharply. She really needed to get rid of this succubus.

When Galinda finally reached her dorm, she closed the door behind her with a deliberate click, pressing her back against it as she exhaled slowly. She needed a moment.

A moment to gather herself, to think. But, of course the moment she turned around, Elphaba was already there waiting. Galinda let out a sharp sigh, dropping her bag onto the nearest surface with a thud.

They stood there for a long moment, simply looking at each other.

Elphaba’s expression was unreadable, her eyes steady as she watched Galinda—unmoving, patient, expectant. Galinda squared her shoulders, forcing herself to breathe before turning sharply on her heel and striding toward the bathroom.

She closed the door firmly behind her, bracing her hands against the sink. Then, gripping the edges of the porcelain, she let out a quiet, frustrated groan before turning the faucet on and splashing cold water onto her face.

"Okay," she muttered under her breath, "okay."

She needed to stop freaking out. She needed to fix this. And if the only way to do that was to go through with it, then… then fine.

Steeling herself, she turned off the water, dried her face, and stepped back into the room. Elphaba was still standing there, just as she had left her.

Galinda walked straight up to her. The succubus made a slight movement but Galinda noticed it immediately. It was a flinch. Not quite fear, but something close to wariness, as if Elphaba were bracing herself.

Galinda swallowed. She didn’t know why that made her hesitate, but it did.

"What do I do?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Elphaba blinked, her expression shifting. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly as her lips parted in thought.

"Well," she said slowly, as if choosing her words carefully, "whatever you’d like."

She stopped for a moment, eyes flicking over Galinda’s face, before amending, "Once you—"

Another pause. Then, softer. "Once I serve my purpose."

Galinda nodded, exhaling sharply.

"Right," she murmured. Then, more firmly, "And how do we do that?"

Elphaba’s wings twitched slightly before folding neatly behind her.

"You’ll have to be satisfied," she said evenly, "sexually."

Galinda felt a sharp spike of something hot and humiliating in her stomach but pushed past it, keeping her voice steady.

"So—" she took a slow breath, "—once I come, you’ll leave? And you’ll stop following me around?"

Elphaba nodded, her eyes dark and steady.

Galinda inhaled deeply, letting that reality settle over her.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "So... what do we do?" She gestured vaguely between them, feeling absurdly awkward. "I don’t really—" she trailed off, gesturing again, her movements stiff and uncertain.

Elphaba’s wings suddenly shot out, a sharp, instinctive movement. Her tail flicked slightly, betraying something in her otherwise composed demeanor.

"What would you like me to do?" she asked, her voice almost too controlled.

Galinda dragged her eyes up and down Elphaba’s form, as if searching for an answer somewhere on her.

"I... don’t know," she admitted.

Elphaba tilted her head slightly, studying her.

"Remember," she said, voice softer now, more measured, "we are tethered."

She gestured lightly in Galinda’s direction. "I can see the enormity of your desire."

Galinda stiffened. That was mortifying. Her arms folded across her chest, as if that could somehow conceal what Elphaba was claiming to see.

"Well, that doesn’t mean I know what to do!" she snapped, shifting uncomfortably.

Elphaba’s gaze flickered slightly—just for a moment—before she composed herself.

"What do you want to do?" Galinda pressed, tilting her head.

Elphaba’s wings dipped slightly before coming around her. "That doesn’t matter," she murmured. "I’m here to please you."

Galinda studied her. Her narrowed eyes traced the subtle tension in Elphaba’s posture, the way her wings curled inward, the way her tail—so expressive—moved with an almost self-conscious flick. This creature who claimed to exist for the pleasure of others, was standing here, nervous and self-contained, unwilling to admit what she might actually want.

Galinda parted her lips slightly in realization, letting out a quiet, "Oh."

Elphaba looked up, confused at the shift in her expression. Galinda hesitated, then slowly reached out a hand.

"Can I touch you?" she asked softly.

Elphaba’s breath hitched slightly, but her expression remained neutral.

"If it would please you," she said carefully.

Galinda tilted her head. She reached forward, deliberately slow, watching as Elphaba stayed perfectly still. At first, she reached for her hand, brushing her fingertips against the material covering her palm. The fabric was impossibly smooth, like something not quite silk, not quite leather—something otherworldly.

Elphaba inhaled sharply at the touch, subtle but unmistakable. Then, as if instinctively attuned to Galinda’s movements, she pushed her hand out more, offering it fully.

Galinda swallowed. She could feel the warmth beneath the thin material, the way Elphaba’s fingers flexed slightly under her touch. She had expected—well, she didn’t know what she had expected. Something carnal, something overt.

But instead, here Elphaba was—reserved, hesitant, waiting. Galinda hesitated, her gaze drifting over Elphaba’s form before settling on her wings.

They were large, dark, and folded protectively around her, giving her a certain untouchable air. But now that she was standing so close, she could see the way the light caught against the edges, the faint iridescence hidden in their darkness.

She dropped her head for a moment, inhaling slowly, then looked back up, steeling herself.

"Okay," she murmured. "I’m doing this."

Then, carefully, she asked, "Can I touch your wings?"

Elphaba’s eyes flickered slightly, but her response came steady and even. "If it would please you."

Galinda’s hand twitched slightly at her side before she pulled back. She let her arm fall, taking a step away.

"When you’re with... mortals," she asked carefully, "what do you do?"

Elphaba’s tail curled slightly at the question, but her voice remained composed.

"I please them," she answered simply.

Galinda studied her. "How?"

A small flicker of something unreadable passed over Elphaba’s face. "Does it matter?"

"Yes," Galinda pressed, tilting her head. "Knowing that would bring me pleasure."

Elphaba’s lips parted slightly, her expression caught between something wary and intrigued. "It depends on what said mortal likes," she finally admitted. "I do what they like."

Galinda gave a slow, measured nod. "Well, what do you like?"

Elphaba’s wings twitched slightly, then curled around her. "That’s not of importance," she said, voice softer now. "I’m here to do what you like."

Galinda took a deliberate step forward. This time, Elphaba didn’t brace. Galinda took that as progress.

Taking a slow breath, she murmured, "Doing what you like would bring me pleasure."

Elphaba didn’t answer immediately. She simply stared at Galinda, her eyes flicking over her face, as if trying to decipher something hidden beneath her words.

Then, finally, her lips parted. "Can I touch your wings?"

Elphaba exhaled, then nodded. "Sure."

Galinda stepped forward again, reaching out.

Her fingers met smooth, almost velvety texture. Warm. Surprisingly soft. She dragged her fingers lightly down the edge, tracing the faint ridges, feeling the way the muscles shifted beneath her touch.

"So," she murmured, "again—what do you like?"

Elphaba’s wings gave a tiny, involuntary shudder beneath her hands.

"I don’t know."

Her voice was quieter now. Her wings flicked back slightly—only a little—but enough for Galinda to feel the resistance. She let go on instinct, pulling her hands back as she studied her carefully.

Then, almost without thinking, she asked, "Can I touch your tail?"

Elphaba’s tail, as if summoned, rose swiftly to face level. It hovered there, as if waiting. Galinda’s eyes flicked over it before she slowly reached out, pressing her fingertips against its length.

It was smooth, warmer than she expected. She brought her other hand up, cradling the tip, then slowly ran her fingers along the end. Galinda’s eyes flickered up, searching her face, then back down at the tail in her hands.

"Does it act on its own accord?" she asked, her fingers still ghosting over the surface.

Elphaba’s tail twitched slightly in response.

"Can you feel this?"

A pause.

Then Elphaba’s voice, quieter this time. "What do you think?"

Galinda looked up at her again. "I don’t think anything unless you tell me."

She traced her fingers slowly down her tail, watching it move beneath her touch.

"So tell me."

"Yes," Elphaba admitted, her voice quieter now. "I can feel it. It’s an appendage."

Galinda’s fingers tightened slightly, pressing in with a small, experimental squeeze. Immediately, Elphaba’s tail flicked sharply out of her grip.

"Don’t do that."

Galinda blinked, startled. "Why?"

Elphaba’s gaze flicked away, just for a moment. "It’s sensitive."

Galinda swallowed. " Oh. "

Galinda inhaled sharply, watching the way Elphaba’s tail curled slightly before retreating back around her hip. She had asked if it felt good, and Elphaba, in that same quiet, reserved way, had simply lifted her tail and said, "I don’t know. Not particularly."

Galinda nodded at that, unsure what to make of it. Her gaze flickered upward, landing on the other thing that differentiated them.

She hesitated before asking, "Can I feel your, um… horns?"

Elphaba’s expression barely shifted, but Galinda saw the subtle way her muscles tensed, that brief flinch she seemed unable to suppress.

Still, her answer was the same as before. "Sure."

But something about the reaction made Galinda second-guess herself.

"Actually, um… never mind," she murmured, stepping back slightly.

Elphaba only nodded, unfazed. "Okay."

Her tail flicked slightly before settling once more around her hip. Then, quietly, she asked, "What can I do to please you?"

The question made Galinda swallow hard. She realized then that Elphaba had never once said her name. And for some reason, that felt… strange.

"You can call me Galinda," she said.

Elphaba’s eyes flickered, then she nodded. "Okay."

Galinda exhaled, looking down.

Her mind was caught somewhere between thoughts—between the knowledge of what Elphaba was meant to do and the sheer, inescapable fact that she had been followed by this succubus all day because of an act she hadn’t even meant to perform as a summoning.

And yet, she had to finish this.

She had to get Elphaba to leave. Her gaze flickered downward again. A sudden, creeping heat spread through her chest. She took an instinctive step back, only to watch as Elphaba, seemingly taking that as permission, shed the pants she had been given.

Galinda’s breath hitched. The action was fluid—natural, unhurried. Elphaba stepped out of them, straightening to meet Galinda’s gaze, as if waiting. Galinda’s mouth felt suddenly very dry.

"Okay," she said, clearing her throat. "Well, what’s the easiest way to get this over with?"

Elphaba considered for a moment. "I would say repeating the action of the summoning."

Galinda nodded. And then immediately wished she had done something less… that.

An incantation. A spell. Something. But no, apparently, she had thought about sex too intensely and now had a succubus bound to her. And now, the only way to undo it was to…

Okay. Owning it. Owning it. Galinda exhaled sharply, moving toward her bed. She threw the covers over herself, heart pounding, and Elphaba simply watched her.

Galinda swallowed, then reached down, moving to slip out of her clothes.

"What are you doing?"

The words were so abrupt, so bewildered, that Galinda startled slightly.

"Repeating the basis of your summoning," she said, as if that were obvious.

Elphaba had come to stand directly at the side of her bed now, looming slightly over her, and Galinda suddenly felt very, very small.

"I need to be a part of it," Elphaba said, and her voice was still careful, measured. "Otherwise, I can’t leave."

Galinda squeezed her eyes shut. She took a breath, willed herself to keep going.

"Okay, fine," she murmured. "But we’ll do what you like, okay? So tell me. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck here."

Elphaba’s tail curled slightly.

"I don’t know," she admitted.

Galinda frowned. "Have you not done anything pleasurable?"

That question seemed to strike something. Because suddenly, Elphaba’s wings moved. Not unfurled in full, but swept—large and powerful—until Galinda felt herself sinking slightly into the mattress beneath their weight.

She sucked in a breath.

Elphaba’s gaze flickered downward, then back up.

"I’m normally not pleased," she murmured. "I’m there to please."

She shrugged, as if that simple, factual statement explained everything. Galinda sat up slightly, her breath uneven. Elphaba, as if sensing the shift in position, took a single step back.

But Galinda didn’t let her go.

"Well," she said, watching her carefully, "pleasing you would please me. That’s what would get me off."

She didn’t break eye contact. And for the first time, Elphaba actually paused. Her wings twitched slightly—uncertain, unreadable.

Then, voice softer than before, she said, "Okay."

And slowly, with a deliberateness that sent something curling deep in Galinda’s stomach, Elphaba reached for the material covering her body.

Galinda wanted to look away. She really did. But somehow, she couldn’t. Elphaba bent down, dragging the thin fabric down her body, and Galinda inhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay composed. She could see the way Elphaba’s muscles moved beneath her skin, could see the subtle shift of her body as she undressed, and she pulled the fabric down her legs, and the material practically disappeared.

But Galinda barely noticed. Because she was still staring. Still watching

Elphaba stood before her, utterly bare, her body on full display.

Watching her undress had been one thing—seeing her in the process of peeling away layers, revealing herself piece by piece—but now? Now she was completely exposed, her emerald skin gleaming under the dim light, and the sheer realness of it sent Galinda scrambling.

She couldn’t stop herself—she crawled to the other side of the bed so fast she nearly tumbled right off of it, her hands grasping for balance as she hastily put as much space between them as she could.

Her breath was uneven, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.

"I’m not sure I can—" she started, but then chanced a glance.

And that was her mistake. Because the moment she did, she saw the full, undeniable breadth of Elphaba’s form, her wings unfurled in full, casting dark, stretching shadows against the walls. And worse they only served to draw her gaze downward. To the center of her body. To the unmistakable truth that Elphaba was green everywhere. Galinda nearly choked. Her throat tightened, heat rising violently up the back of her neck as she swallowed a noise she refused to name.

She squeezed her eyes shut. "Listen," she said, voice an octave higher than normal, "in theory, this makes sense, but—" She opened her eyes again, gaze flickering up to meet Elphaba’s, "you’re naked."

That was the difference. Summoning a succubus had been an abstract concept. Something whispered about, a hypothetical indulgence! But Elphaba was standing in front of her, tangible, real, looking at her with those green, all-seeing eyes, waiting.

And Galinda didn’t know how to handle that.

"That I am," Elphaba agreed evenly, tilting her head just slightly.

Galinda exhaled sharply, retreating further until her back hit the wall. She practically hugged it, pressing herself against the cool surface as if that alone could somehow keep her grounded.

"Can you, um…" she gestured vaguely, "get dressed?"

Elphaba didn’t argue. "Okay."

And just like that, the bare skin was gone.

Galinda barely even had time to process the shift before Elphaba stood before her once more, wrapped in that same impossibly tight black material. 

It clung to her, contouring seamlessly over her form, and if Galinda hadn’t felt it earlier, she might have thought it was simply a second skin. She inhaled through her nose, trying to compose herself.

"I don’t know what you want me to do," Elphaba said at last.

Galinda let out a breathless, humorless laugh. "Well, I don’t know what you want me to do."

Elphaba tilted her head, something almost exasperated flickering across her expression. "You should know. You summoned me."

Galinda groaned, pressing her forehead against the wall. "I’m supposed to own it," she muttered, mostly to herself.

Elphaba shifted slightly. "We made such progress," she pointed out, almost delicately. "You touched me."

Galinda turned her head slightly, side-eyeing her. "No, no—" she waved a hand frantically, "that was—that was just—" She exhaled sharply, then, "Is there no other way?"

Elphaba blinked, clearly confused. "Did you not say the—?"

She gestured slightly, as if to indicate the book in question, and Galinda immediately knew she was talking about the incantation.

Galinda let out a breath and turned, crossing her arms over her chest. "I never said it," she admitted. "I just—" she hesitated, "I just looked at the picture, and I—"

She broke off, feeling her face burn.

Her voice was almost strangled as she admitted, "I masturbated, okay?"

Her heart pounded violently in her chest.

"Is that a crime?" she demanded, throwing up her hands. "I sure as hell didn’t whisper any spells into my pillow hoping some—some—"

But she didn’t finish.

Because she saw it again—the way Elphaba’s wings reacted. How they withdrew, curling inward, wrapping around her body in a way that almost seemed… defensive. Galinda swallowed, suddenly realizing—truly realizing—that she was beginning to read her.

These movements weren’t random.

They weren’t meaningless.

They were tells.

Elphaba’s wings unfurled when she was open, when she was pushing forward, when she was speaking directly and without hesitation. But now, in this moment—when Galinda’s voice had risen, when frustration had laced her words—her wings had retracted.

She was closing herself off. And that realization made Galinda’s own frustration evaporate. She took a slow, steadying breath.

"I’m…" she hesitated, "um… sorry. Okay?" Her voice was softer now, less raw. "I just—I am not really sure how or why this is happening."

And then, as if responding to that, Elphaba’s wings shot out again. Galinda flinched slightly, pressing back against the wall once more. Elphaba’s tail moved, swaying slightly behind her, a slow, controlled motion.

Then, carefully, she spoke. "May I speak in regard to your desire?"

Galinda blinked. Her mouth opened slightly, then closed.

She wet her lips. "I thought you were already speaking freely."

Elphaba glanced down, then back up, her expression unreadable. "Well…" her voice was measured, "I am not really inclined to speak my mind. I am only here to serve."

She stepped forward, rounding the bed slightly. Galinda swallowed, keeping her back pressed to the wall.

Then so carefully Elphaba said, "But you…"

She hesitated, cleared her throat, then continued. "You are attracted to me, yes?"

Galinda swallowed hard, her mind racing. "I'm sorry," she blurted out, half-thinking she must have misheard, that she was misunderstanding something, that Elphaba couldn't have actually said that.

Galinda died. Or at least, that’s what it felt like. Because how was she supposed to respond to that? But Elphaba's wings shifted behind her, folding neatly at her back, her expression as unreadable as ever.

"Your desire , " she said again, raising a hand slightly, gesturing toward Galinda as if reaching for something unseen. Then, curiously, her gaze lifted above Galinda’s head, her eyes scanning the space just above her.

"I have never seen such a thing before," she admitted, sounding genuinely intrigued.

Galinda stiffened, unsure if she liked where this was going.

Elphaba continued, shifting slightly as her wings came forward again, framing her as she turned in place. "Most of the time, when people summon me, their desire is... concentrated."

Her voice was thoughtful, deliberate.

"It pools within them centralized and focused always tied to their own pleasure." She turned again, walking slowly, the dark, gleaming expanse of her wings curling at the edges. "It is a singular thing. A need, a want, a hunger for themselves."

She stopped, facing Galinda again. "But yours..." She tilted her head slightly. "Yours is different."

Galinda swallowed thickly.

"You exude it," Elphaba said plainly. "It surrounds you like an aura. It is... abundant." She paused, considering her words, then added, "And I am assuming it extends beyond a simple need to pleasure yourself."

Galinda's face burned.

Elphaba's gaze never wavered. "As I said earlier—" her voice was smooth, steady, "—it is not just about achieving satisfaction. It is not just about, as you put it, coming."

Galinda made a small, strangled noise at that, and she was absolutely certain Elphaba had chosen to repeat her words just to watch her squirm. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know where to look—Elphaba was still speaking.

"It extends beyond your own pleasure," Elphaba continued, stepping forward, "because it is an attraction for me."

The breath she had been holding stalled in her throat.

"Throughout the day," Elphaba went on, still advancing slowly, "your desire simply existed around you—like a field, lingering, humming beneath the surface."

Galinda backed up instinctively, shifting along the wall.

"But now—" Elphaba's lips curled slightly. "Now, it is something else entirely."

And then she laughed. A soft, quiet, amused sound.

"It is..." she chuckled, "...pink."

Galinda squeaked. She pressed herself further against the wall, her hands splaying out against the cool surface as she desperately tried to keep distance between them.

She needed space. She needed air.

It was getting late, she reasoned, and none of this was necessary. She just needed to end this conversation and go to bed, and tomorrow—tomorrow, she could deal with it.

"I’m not attracted to you, per se," she rushed out, her voice unsteady. "This form, maybe—"

She let out a nervous, breathy chuckle, praying that would somehow diffuse the tension.

"The book said—" she continued quickly, "that spell or not since I didn’t actually say it, that you would take the form most attractive to me."

That made sense, right? That was logical. 

Elphaba tilted her head and suddenly her wings shot out. The sharp snap of them expanding filled the room, and before Galinda could react, Elphaba looked down at herself. Then her gaze flickered up. Straight back to Galinda. 

Galinda’s stomach turned to liquid. She knew exactly what Elphaba was looking at. Exactly what she was implying. And suddenly, Galinda was burning alive.

Elphaba blinked at her. "This is my natural form," she stated simply.

And Galinda, in a desperate attempt to save herself, scrambled to change the subject.

"When you say other people's desire is concentrated," she rushed out, "and mine is—" She cleared her throat. "—exuding, does that mean..."

She hesitated. Then—more carefully—she asked, "Is that why you keep bracing yourself?"

Elphaba’s wings dropped for the first time. Not in retreat. Not in defense. Not to hide.

They just fell, heavy and loose at her sides.

"I’m not sure what you mean," Elphaba said, her voice quiet. "Nor do I see the relevance."

Galinda hesitated. She was no longer pressed against the wall.Instead, she stepped forward.

"I just mean..." she started, searching, "...there were moments, earlier—when I came close—that you flinched."

Elphaba remained silent.

"And your, um..." she cleared her throat. "Your little—"

Elphaba's tail flicked sharply behind her.

Galinda hesitated again, then forced the words out. "Your horns."

Elphaba’s gaze flickered to the side, avoiding hers. "Like I said," she murmured, "I am here to serve. I am not here to be pleased."

Galinda exhaled. "Oh."

And suddenly just like that the tension in the room broke.

Galinda's entire body seemed to deflate. All that lingering heat, all that buzzing, heavy awareness gone. Elphaba watched it happen. She stared at her, eyes unreadable, taking in the way Galinda's desire simply dissipated.

It was quiet for a long moment.

"What is it?" Galinda asked.

Elphaba hesitated. "It’s your—" She stopped. "Nothing."

Galinda exhaled, rubbing a hand over her face. "It’s, uh... late," she muttered, suddenly exhausted. "I’m sleepy."

She turned, waving a hand dismissively. "We can attempt this again in the morning. If you want the pants back, you can have them."

She gestured toward them, still crumpled on the floor.

Elphaba's gaze flickered down to them.

Then, quietly. "Okay."

And with that, Galinda turned on her heel and made her way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. As she did, she heard the soft rustle of fabric as Elphaba reached down, retrieving the pants. 

Galinda peeked out from behind the bathroom door as she saw Elphaba pulling the pants on. The way the material clung to her still made her a little lightheaded, so she quickly looked away, instead focusing on something, anything else.

"Will you come in here if I’m in here?" she asked hesitantly. "It’s just… I know you tend to teleport, and I—I need to be alone."

Elphaba, adjusting the waistband of the pants, simply nodded. "Okay."

Galinda opened her mouth, intending to tell her to sit somewhere, do something, but all she managed was a lame, "Make yourself at home."

She cringed at herself immediately and shut the door before she could hear any kind of response.Turning to the sink, she let out a breath and looked at herself.

There had to be some indication that this was all just some weird, insane dream, right? Some distortion in her reflection, some inconsistency in her own face—something to tell her this wasn’t real.

But all she saw was her own face. Her own tired, flushed face. She huffed and stripped quickly—just in case Elphaba did have the habit of materializing where she wasn’t wanted—and climbed into the shower.

The water was hot, and she moved fast, avoiding wetting her hair. Then she brushed her teeth with almost manic energy, scrubbing her mouth as if that could somehow erase the last few hours of her life.

When she finished, she cursed under her breath. She had forgotten to grab pajamas. She wrapped the towel around herself and carefully cracked the door open to peek.

Elphaba was sitting on her bed. Galinda hesitated, tried to amp herself up, she could handle this—she stepped out quickly, moving to her closet.

She grabbed underwear. A t-shirt. Some old shorts. She pivoted, snatching up longer pants instead, and practically rushed back into the bathroom before she could see Elphaba watching her. She got dressed, hung her towel back up, took another deep breath, then forced herself to go back out there.

Sure enough, Elphaba was watching her. Green eyes followed every movement as Galinda climbed onto the bed, sitting near the pillows. The silence stretched.

Finally, Galinda cleared her throat. "Do you need to, um... sleep?"

Elphaba blinked once, then answered, "Sometimes."

Galinda frowned. "Are you sleepy right now?"

Elphaba shook her head slightly. "Not particularly."

Galinda nodded. "Okay."

Another pause.

"We’ll deal with this tomorrow," she muttered, pulling the blanket up and shifting around to get comfortable.

Which was hard.

Because at the foot of her bed, awkwardly poised like some kind of dark winged sentinel, was the actual succubus she had accidentally summoned, whose entire purpose was to help her have an orgasm, and who was now just... sitting there.

At the edge of her bed… Her tail flicking idly against the mattress.

Galinda squeezed her eyes shut. Eventually, the flicking stopped. And—miraculously—she fell asleep. But the moment she drifted off, she shot back up, gasping, her eyes flying straight to the edge of her bed. She had dreamed of a solid weight, a presence pressing down. A feeling she couldn’t quite grasp, heat pooling low in her stomach, something warm. Her breath was short as she looked to the side.

Elphaba was leaning on her arm, watching her.

Galinda barely registered that her tail—Elphaba’s tail—was resting flat on the bed, near her own leg. The realization made her tense.

"You were—" she started, throat dry.

Elphaba barely reacted. "Tethered," she said simply.

Galinda stared at her for a long moment. Then without a word she turned over, flopped onto her stomach, and shoved her face into the pillow.

After a long moment of silence, Galinda exhaled into the pillow. Then, muffled, she muttered, "Is there any way you can stay out of my dreams?"

Elphaba didn’t respond immediately. Then, evenly, she said, "I will try."

Galinda nodded against the mattress. With that assurance, sleep came easier. At first, it was peaceful—soft, quiet, dreamless. But then the same sensations as the night before. Phantom touches that made her breath catch. Soft sounds that echoed in the depths of her mind, some of them hers, some of them distinctly not.

She stirred. A shift. A hazy warmth spreading through her body. A gentle, curling pressure at the base of her spine—

She woke abruptly, rolling over onto her back. Elphaba was still in the same place. Still perched at the foot of the bed. Still watching her. Her tail was curled, resting against the back of her own neck, moving ever so slightly. Galinda blinked rapidly, suddenly very aware of herself. Between her legs, she felt slick.

Oh.

She had woken up aroused before, sure, but—this. She shifted, and heat coiled deep in her belly. She had never been this turned on in her life.

Elphaba tilted her head slightly and said, "Good morning."

Galinda swallowed hard. She forced her eyes up then quickly looked away.

"Good morning," she mumbled back.

Elphaba observed her for a moment, then asked, "Are you okay?"

Galinda didn’t answer at first. Then, forcing a bright, sharp smile, she said, "Yeah, I am. I’m okay. Just great."

She swung her legs off the bed with a little too much energy, standing quickly. "Um—no teleporting this time, okay?"

Elphaba nodded.

Galinda, making absolutely sure to grab her clothes, practically fled to the bathroom. It was still early, but there was no way she was going to sit with this slickness between her legs for even five minutes longer. Still she wasn’t about to hop into the shower immediately upon waking up again, either. So she sat on the toilet instead, sighing, trying to recall her dreams. She knew Elphaba had been in them. But the specifics—besides the... general idea—were elusive.

Maybe it was her presence, Galinda thought. Maybe just having her near made it impossible to separate her mind from the effect she had. Galinda frowned. At this point, she’d risk asking Madame Morrible for some clarification, just in case.

And then, before she could stop herself, she was thinking of Elphaba again. She did say that was her true form, didn’t she? Galinda shot up. Nope. Nope. Not even going to entertain that thought. Not even going to let it start. Even though, last night, she had been more than ready to do more than just—

She shook her head violently. She stripped quickly and climbed into the shower, turning the knob to cold. The shock of it helped. She scrubbed herself down as quickly as possible, ears alert for any sudden appearances.

When she was done, she changed into her clothes inside the bathroom, slipping on her dress in record time. It was strange, she thought, to be so flustered about changing in the same space as someone, considering she had already seen Elphaba naked. Her brain very helpfully decided to recall that particular memory in stunning detail. And immediately, she felt hot all over again. She squeezed her eyes shut. If she went out there like this, Elphaba would know. Would see. She forced herself to think of something else. Her essays. Her sorcery practical.

Anything that wasn’t a certain green-skinned, winged, very naked— She groaned, opening her eyes.

But then the realization hit Galinda like a crashing wave. She had a magical being in her room… she swiftly exited the bathroom.

"Can you do magic?" she asked immediately.

Elphaba, looked startled for a moment. Then, she nodded. "Yes."

Galinda smiled, all her teeth showing. Without another word, Galinda turned, grabbed a book off her desk, and practically thrust it in Elphaba’s face. "Can you help me do this?"

Elphaba blinked down at the book. Galinda watched as her expression flickered from mild curiosity to something that almost resembled confusion. She turned the book slightly, reading over the spell Galinda was pointing at.

It was a simple one—a conjuring spell. A bulb of light.

"You can’t do this?" Elphaba asked, genuinely surprised.

Galinda frowned. She pulled the book back, flipping it toward herself. She glared at the text. Then, determined, she held out a hand and whispered the italicized word aloud. For a moment—a spark. A brief, flickering crackle of energy around her fingers.

When she looked up, Elphaba was regarding her with an expression Galinda had never seen before. Then, slowly, she reached out a hand, fingers ghosting over Galinda’s. Galinda inhaled sharply, instinctively ignoring how warm her hand was.

"How peculiar," Elphaba murmured.

Galinda blinked. "What?"

"Have you used any large amounts of magic recently?"

Galinda frowned. "I—no, I told you, I didn’t summon you. And I’ve never really been any good with magic, so I couldn’t have used large amounts."

Elphaba’s fingers lingered for a second longer before she pulled away.

"Interesting," she said, mostly to herself.

Galinda exhaled sharply, her patience wearing thin. "How is that interesting?"

Elphaba’s gaze flickered back to her, amusement dancing behind her eyes. "Well," she began, "the crackling would suggest that you don't have enough energy to properly conjure the light. You summon it, yes, but it does not fully form."

Galinda furrowed her brows.

"What does that mean?" she asked, genuinely confused.

She shook her head before Elphaba could respond. "Never mind—how can I get more energy?"

At this, Elphaba's lips twitched—just barely—but Galinda caught it. The succubus looked like she was fighting a laugh.

"It replenishes over time," Elphaba explained, clasping her hands behind her back. "For example, when I am first summoned, I have no energy so to speak to, well... leave."

Galinda’s eyebrows rose at that. She filed the information away, committing it to memory.

Then, without hesitation, she pointed back down at the book still hanging loosely in her other hand. "Can you do this?"

Elphaba regarded her carefully, then extended a hand. Without so much as a word, a bright bulb of light materialized in her palm.

Galinda gasped. "Oh my God—*"

The light was brilliant. It illuminated her entire room in a soft, golden glow.

She turned back to Elphaba, stunned. "I thought you said you didn't have any magic when you were summoned?"

Elphaba glanced at the light in her hand, then flicked her wrist. It vanished instantly. "To leave, I need a lot of energy," she clarified smoothly. "But simple spells? They don’t require as much."

Galinda tilted her head, considering that. Then she asked, "Well, when you do leave—where do you go?"

Elphaba’s fingers twitched, something about her posture changed. Then, with an unreadable expression, she said simply, "That’s not really important."

And just like that, the conversation was closed. Galinda frowned slightly but chose not to push.

Instead, she switched gears. "Okay, fine. Then tell me—" she gestured at her, "how did you do that? You didn’t even say anything."

At the change in topic, Elphaba smiled—small, but present. "Sometimes," she said, tilting her head, "you don’t need to say anything."

Something in her voice sent a strange shiver down Galinda’s spine. She had a feeling they weren’t just talking about magic anymore.

And then Elphaba's wings shot out again. The force of it sent a light gust through the room. Galinda didn’t flinch. She didn't shy away. She found herself... more in awe than anything else. She shook her head slightly, grounding herself.

Then, she moved toward her desk, setting the book down with a firm thud. "Teach me how to do that."

Elphaba’s head tilted again. "What do you mean?"

Galinda tossed her hair over her shoulder and stepped closer. "I want to do that. I want to make a light that ;ights up the whole room."

Elphaba exhaled softly. "I can’t help you," she murmured. "You have to—"

Then she stopped and something changed in her face. She took a slow breath. Her wings wrapped around her. Then, to Galinda’s absolute shock, she said, "Your friend is right. You need to get laid."

A hand reached out from the darkness of her wings, gesturing vaguely.

Galinda felt the heat creep into her face. "Why is everyone telling me that?!"

Elphaba’s lips twitched again. This time, her smile was smug. Then Elphaba took a step closer. She unfurled her wings again, keeping them relaxed behind her. She didn’t say anything at first.

Then, in the same neutral tone as before, she said, "The same way you summoned me—" She hesitated, but pushed through. "—when you... touched yourself."

Galinda stared.

"The same way," Elphaba continued, "if you had some other supply of energy, you could create light."

"You want me to—" She cut herself off, mortified.

Elphaba’s eyes flicked upward, as though looking at the ceiling. Galinda noticed her wings flicker—a brief, involuntary movement—before settling again. When she looked back down, her expression was neutral once more.

"I'm not saying anything," she said smoothly. "I'm just saying your friend was right."

Galinda, still flustered beyond belief, snapped her hand out and whispered the spell under her breath. It was more of a knee-jerk reaction than anything. She had said it so many times now. A small bulb of light—no bigger than a marble—flickered to life in her palm. For a moment, she just stared at it. Then Elphaba’s tail curled upward, hovering around the tiny light with ease.

Galinda gasped, immediately pulling her hand back. "I—I’ve never—I’ve never—"

She didn't even know what she was trying to say. Elphaba simply sat back down on the edge of the bed, looking entirely too pleased with herself. Her wings folded neatly behind her.

Galinda stood there, holding her own hand, utterly dazed. Then, shaking her head aggressively, she backed up. "I—I have classes. I’ll—I’ll see—"

She stopped and at the exact same time she tried to say I’ll see you later, Elphaba said "Tethered."

Galinda groaned loudly and grabbed her bag.

Galinda inhaled sharply, adjusting her bag over her shoulder before squaring her stance. "Okay, let’s go," she said, her voice even, if not a bit hurried.

Before stepping toward the door, she raised a hand between them.

"Ground rules." She held up a single finger.

"No talking." A second.

"No touching." A third.

"No hovering." Each rule was delivered with firm, deliberate emphasis.

Elphaba, who had merely been watching her until now, finally moved—standing effortlessly and stepping forward. And despite all of Galinda’s ground rules, she immediately dropped her hand as Elphaba approached.

She cleared her throat, hastily grasping for something to say. "Do you have any rules?"

She hesitated.

"Or, um... things for the day."

Elphaba tilted her head slightly before replying, "Well, I’m not really—"

Galinda cut her off before she could finish. "If you’re going to be here, I’ll respect you. So do you have any rules?" Her voice was firmer this time, steadier. "Things you’d like for me to do? You aren’t here to—well—to please, so you might as well—"

Elphaba’s wings unfurled slightly before curling around her. She seemed to consider it for a moment.

Then, in a quieter voice, she admitted, "Well... I don’t want to go the entire day without talking." Her gaze flickered to the side before settling on Galinda again. "If you wrote in your book, I could read it," she offered.

Then, somewhat unexpectedly, she added, "I’m not sure what you’d have to say to me, but... I don’t like the silence."

Galinda swung her bag absently at her side, considering.

Then she nodded. "I can do that."

She paused, shifting her weight slightly. "So no one but me can see you? One hundred percent?"

"Yes."

"No one else?"

"Only my summoner."

Galinda exhaled, then sighed, "Okay, great."

Then, "What about hearing you?"

"Same thing," Elphaba replied. "Just you."

Galinda nodded once more. "Is that it?"

"Yes."

"Okay," she said, smoothing down the front of her dress. "Well—let’s go."

She stepped forward, exiting the room, and felt the ever-present awareness of Elphaba’s presence just behind her.

The walk to the dining hall was thankfully, uneventful. Upon arrival, she spotted Pfanne and Shenshen almost immediately. Opting for a light breakfast, she grabbed some fruit before making her way over to sit with them. She had barely taken a seat before Pfanne was already talking.

"That Fiyero boy keeps asking about you."

Galinda blinked. She turned slowly toward Shenshen instead. "How is your morning going?"

Pfanne laughed. "What? It’s true."

Galinda, still pointedly ignoring him, turned back to her food.

Pfanne, ever persistent, leaned forward slightly. "I just think it’s relevant," he teased. "He’s cute. And the two of you would make really cute babies—"

Galinda rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "No thanks to him."

Shenshen, thankfully, pulled the topic away. "Anyway," she said with a sigh, "I barely slept last night. I have so much work to do."

Galinda hummed in understanding. "I know the struggle."

But even as she spoke, her eyes flickered sideways Elphaba was watching her. The easy lie passed between them, unspoken. Galinda moved on quickly, focusing on finishing her breakfast. 

Her first class of the day was, unfortunately, her least favorite. History. Elphaba, as she had the day before, had taken up place beside Galinda’s desk. But unlike yesterday she seemed to be listening. Galinda only realized it because her tail was absentmindedly banging against the floor. She wasn’t just standing around—her head was turned, her gaze fixed on the professor.

Curious, Galinda flipped to the back of her notebook and scribbled: Do you find this interesting?

She coughed lightly, enough to draw Elphaba’s attention. When she looked up, Galinda subtly tapped her book. Elphaba rose effortlessly from the floor, leaning over her desk to read it. Galinda really needed to get her a shirt.

After a moment, Elphaba whispered, "Yes. Mortal history has always fascinated me. Though I don’t necessarily agree with most mortals, I do find them... interesting."

Galinda tried not to perceive that as Elphaba considering humans to be something to be studied rather than understood. She shook her head slightly and wrote again.

Okay. Do you like what we’re talking about now?

Elphaba glanced up at the board before replying, "I don’t know about like... but I find it interesting."

Galinda moved to write again, but before she could, Elphaba simply sat back down.

She took that as the end of the conversation.

Her classes went on in similar fashion. But Elphaba had taken to walking around the classroom. She was always watching people. Maybe she had never been around this many mortals before. Galinda tried to focus on her lecture. Tried to ignore the way Elphaba’s wings would spread slightly as she moved. Tried to ignore how sometimes she would use her tail to lift the waistband of Galinda’s pants when they slipped too low on her hips.

She remembered that Elphaba could see her desire. She immediately averted her gaze, forcing her thoughts elsewhere. I have to finish another essay today. I still can’t do magic. That sobered her up quickly.

Any lingering thoughts of the succubus were quickly pushed to the back of Galinda’s mind as the rest of the day unfolded. After her last class, she found herself sitting with Pfanne and Shenshen on one of the benches outside, enjoying the fresh air. It was a moment of reprieve—a chance to relax before she inevitably had to dive back into her assignments.

Elphaba was nearby. She had settled on a bench just a few feet away, her wings spread out behind her, absorbing the warmth of the late afternoon sun. Her tail was lazily wrapped around her leg, flicking slightly at the tip as she gazed up at the sky.

Galinda found herself glancing over more than once.

She wasn’t even sure why.

There was nothing particularly unusual about Elphaba being there; she had been following her around all day, after all. But something about the way she sat, so seemingly at ease and yet restless at the same time, kept drawing Galinda’s eye.

She must have done it one too many times, because eventually, Shenshen noticed. "Are you looking for someone?"

Galinda snapped her head back toward her so quickly she nearly gave herself whiplash.

"No!" she said a little too quickly. Then, grasping for a more reasonable explanation, she cleared her throat and added, "I just—I have a crick in my neck. I was stretching."

She immediately dropped her gaze to the book in her lap, focusing on the rough outline of the next essay she wanted to tackle.

Pfanne didn’t look convinced. "Right, right," he said in a knowing tone.

Galinda ignored him.

He chuckled, shaking his head slightly, before leaning back against the bench. "We should do something this weekend," he said. "A pick-me-up, you know? I know that sorcery practical is coming up—"

Galinda groaned. "Oh, I love being reminded of that." Her voice was thick with sarcasm.

Pfanne grinned. "Hey, I’m just saying that’s exactly why we should go out."

Galinda sighed, shaking her head. "I’ll think about it. But I always have work to do. I’m sure I’ll have eight new assignments by then."

The conversation lulled after that and at some point, their work was forgotten entirely, left abandoned in their laps as they talked about anything but school.

The afternoon passed easily.

At least until Elphaba moved. Galinda wasn’t sure when she had gotten up, but suddenly she was there, standing beside her, peering down at her. She could feel Elphaba’s gaze on her, but she would not meet it. She refused to look up.

By the time she finally retired to her room that night, she was antsy. It was an itch under her skin—a restless energy she couldn’t quite shake.

She just needed a shower. And sleep.

Elphaba, on the other hand, didn’t seem tired at all.

She had taken to moving—shifting, adjusting, stretching. Occasionally, she would flick her wings out behind her in short, controlled movements. The first time she did it, Galinda thought she was about to start flying, but she never did—just continued looking around the room, almost as if she were restless, too.

Galinda, in an effort to ignore her, moved toward her window. She normally kept them closed during the day, but the nights had been getting hotter. She unlatched them and pushed them open, allowing the cool night air to filter into the room.

As Galinda pushed open the window, Elphaba moved toward her, silent and fluid, like she always did. It made Galinda’s skin prickle, the weight of her presence. She stuck her head out the window. Galinda’s eyes flickered downward before she could stop herself, tracing the smooth lines of green skin, the sharp angles of Elphaba’s body, the curve of her—

Elphaba moved suddenly, standing straight, looking directly at her.

"This is the longest I've been around a mortal aimlessly," she said.

Galinda swallowed, nodding, trying to recover from whatever the hell that had been. "What’s the longest with an aim?" she asked, attempting to keep her voice even.

Elphaba turned to look back out the window, and for a moment, Galinda assumed she wouldn't answer. But then, in that same steady tone, she said, "A week."

She hadn’t allowed herself to think too deeply about the implications of Elphaba’s nature, but now it settled heavily in her chest.

Galinda cleared her throat, unsure of what to say. "...Oh."

Elphaba nodded. "Yes."

The silence stretched between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Galinda found herself staring again, but this time it was her eyes that had her captivated. Green. Not just green, but deep , endlessly so, like pools she could drown in.

She took a step forward before she even realized she had moved. Elphaba immediately pulled back, retreating to sit on the bed, wings folding around her like a shield.

Galinda exhaled sharply. A sudden and overwhelming desire to kiss her had crashed over her like a tidal wave. Galinda sucked in a breath and forced herself to take a step back.

Her foot caught on something, and she glanced down to see a stray shoe. She kicked it aside before hastily turning toward the bathroom. "I’ll be back," she muttered, not trusting herself to say anything more.

She didn’t even bother grabbing a change of clothes before stepping inside and shutting the door behind her. As soon as the lock clicked into place, she stripped off her dress and tossed it aside, then stepped into the shower and turned the water on. She needed cold water.

The icy stream hit her skin, and she sucked in a sharp breath at the shock of it, but she didn’t move away. She needed this. She needed to wash this feeling off. Her thoughts, her body, her skin—it all felt too alive, too sensitive, too aware of the succubus in her room.

She focused on the simple act of cleaning herself, dragging the cloth over her arms, her shoulders, her stomach, her hips but when her hands slid lower, she realized just how sensitive she really was.

A sharp inhale left her lips as her fingers ghosted over herself. It was unbearable. The second her fingers found her clit, her knees nearly buckled.

She pressed herself into the corner of the shower for support, parting her legs just enough to slip her hand between them. Her breath hitched as her fingers found her clit, slick and swollen, as if her body had been waiting for this. She let herself sink into the sensation, shifting against the corner of the tub for better leverage, one hand bracing against the wall while the other worked in quick, tight circles over her clit.

Gods, she was soaked .

A knock at the door made her gasp.

Galinda gasped, jolting away from the wall like she had been caught stealing. Her heart hammered as she yanked her hand back, muttering, "Shit" under her breath.

Heart pounding, she quickly turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. She dried her feet hastily, wrapping a towel around herself, and moved toward the door. She had intended to just lean against it and speak from the other side, but some unexplainable pull made her open it instead. And there stood Elphaba. Her wings spread out behind her, her expression unreadable. She was looking down, avoiding eye contact, but Galinda could see the tension in her posture, the way her wings twitched slightly. 

And then, softly, she said, "Galinda."

The way she said her name sent a shiver down her spine.

Elphaba shifted, wings twitching slightly, before she continued, "We are tethered. That means a lot of things, but one thing especially…"

She trailed off for a moment, her tail flicking behind her. Then, with clear effort, she forced herself to meet Galinda’s eyes. "I can feel when you…" Her tail wrapped loosely around her own thigh. "When you feel good. Sexually."

Her mind stalled, too mortified to function, too stunned to do anything except shut the door in Elphaba’s face. She pressed her forehead against the wood and closed her eyes. "Sorry."

On the other side of the door, Elphaba remained still for a moment before exhaling softly.

Her tail rubbed slowly against her thigh.

Galinda hadn’t moved from where she was pressing her forehead against the bathroom door. Her skin was still damp, the towel loosely wrapped around her, and she was burning —not just from the heat of the shower (or shame), but from something much deeper, much more impossible to name.

She needed to do something about this.

She could do this.

She had seen Elphaba naked , had been given an overwhelming amount of energy just by being in her presence. If she just—took care of it—she was sure she could be done in five minutes.

Resolute, she turned back toward the shower, stepping under the water again just long enough to rinse off the sweat from the day. She focused on her breathing, on the way the water cascaded over her shoulders, on the simple task of washing her hair—anything that would ground her.

When she finished, she wrapped the towel around herself again and stepped out of the bathroom.

Elphaba was still sitting on the bed, her wings partially unfurled, her tail moving idly behind her. She had been watching the door, and when Galinda stepped forward, her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Galinda swallowed.

Elphaba’s eyes met hers. “What can I do for you?”

Galinda nearly groaned. That was such a tamer version of How can I be of service?

She thought about how Elphaba had expected her to just do whatever she wanted when they first met, how she’d made assumptions about why she had been summoned. It made her blush all over again. But she forced herself to push through, to focus on the words she was trying to say.

"Would you like to kiss me?" she asked.

Elphaba’s expression shifted to one of mild confusion.

Galinda licked her lips, searching for the right way to phrase it. "Would you like that? Is that something you find..." She glanced around the room, as if the right word might appear somewhere in the air, before finally settling on, "Desirable?"

Elphaba’s tail twitched behind her, something Galinda couldn’t see. What she also couldn’t see was the way it was shaking madly against her back.

After a beat, Elphaba responded, her movements measured. “I wouldn’t mind it.”

Galinda swallowed again. Wouldn’t mind it? The mighty have fallen indeed, she thought wryly.

But she didn't let herself dwell. Instead, she moved to sit next to Elphaba on the bed. A brief silence stretched between them—something hesitant, something waiting—until Elphaba shifted, turning slightly toward her. Her tail curled loosely into her lap, her wings adjusting.

Galinda leaned forward first.

Elphaba met her in the middle.

The kiss was brief, barely a second. Galinda had been about to pull back, unsure of what to do next, when Elphaba leaned forward, one hand pressing against the mattress, keeping Galinda from putting any distance between them. Eventually she pulled back, breathing heavily, her mind racing. For a moment, Elphaba just watched her, unblinking.

Then Galinda said, "Are you the reason why everything feels so heightened?" Her voice was breathless, demanding. "Like—some succubus power I don’t know about?"

Elphaba tilted her head slightly. "I’m not doing anything," she said. Then, after a pause, she added, "Intentionally."

Galinda wasn’t sure why that answer didn’t soothe her.

As Elphaba sat up fully, straightening her posture from where she had leaned forward for the kiss, Galinda’s eyes snapped down. Elphaba noticed and her wings immediately shifted, coming around her to cover herself.

Galinda cringed. She almost apologized. Almost.

She was sitting across from a succubus.

And so, instead of apologizing, she simply said, "You’re a succubus."

Elphaba blinked, as if confused by the obviousness of the statement. "Established."

"No," Galinda pressed, shaking her head slightly. "It’s because you seem so—like, just now, when I—" She wrinkled her nose but confessed, "When my eyes drifted down. And now you’re covering yourself, almost like you’re... shy?"

Elphaba’s tail flicked sharply behind her.

Galinda pushed on, frowning slightly. "But you just told me that you were once with a mortal for a week."

Something in the air shifted.

Elphaba stood abruptly. "It’s—it’s different."

Galinda gawked at her. "How?" she demanded, her tone bordering on incredulous. "You were literally naked last night! I don’t think it’s a big deal if I stare."

She stopped speaking. Elphaba was blushing again. That faint dusting of darker green along her cheeks.

"It’s different," Elphaba said, voice quieter, "because, like I said, this is my natural form. I have never been with a mortal while in it."

Galinda frowned at that. "You said—"

"I am usually summoned as an ideal version of a partner," Elphaba interrupted, almost impatiently. Then she exhaled sharply, her wings shifting again before she sat back down on the bed.

She hesitated, then continued, "And also—your desire. Like I said before, it goes beyond an innate need to pleasure yourself."

Galinda felt something coil in her stomach at that.

Elphaba sighed again, her wings settling more comfortably behind her. "When a mortal’s desire is that concentrated, they do not care about me. It is just the pleasure that’s important. And only theirs."

Galinda’s chest tightened.

"But you —" Elphaba gestured broadly, as if indicating something intangible.

Galinda had no idea how much of her desire was on display, but she suddenly felt exposed.

Elphaba continued, relentless. "I know you are attracted to me. You feel desire for me."

She extended a hand, gesturing toward herself.

"For me."

Galinda’s breath caught.

Elphaba let her words settle for a moment before adding, "And it’s different."

The silence between them stretched.

Finally, Elphaba exhaled, shifting again, almost awkwardly. "I only got naked because you said you were ready," she muttered.

Galinda’s mouth opened. Then closed.

She had no idea what to say to that. Elphaba continued speaking before Galinda even had the chance to respond.

"And I’m not usually summoned," she said, her voice firm. "It takes a lot to summon me, which is why you —not even able to conjure a simple ball of light—managing to do it is… disturbing."

Galinda almost laughed at the way she said disturbing, but she held it back, nodding along instead. Elphaba seemed completely serious about it. Galinda shifted her towel, tightening it slightly around her body, then cleared her throat.

"Are you attracted to me?" she asked.

Elphaba’s eyes flickered over her, gaze trailing from head to toe, slow and considering.

Then, finally, their eyes met again, and Elphaba said, "For a human."

She nodded, as if that settled it.

Galinda blinked. She would’ve taken it as a compliment, but something about the phrasing made her hesitate.

"For a human?" she repeated, puzzled.

Elphaba must have found her expression amusing because she smiled—one of those small, rare ones Galinda had barely seen—and said, "You don’t have a tail. Or wings. Or horns." She shrugged lightly, as if it were obvious.

Galinda made a small noise of understanding. "Oh. Do you, uh… date other succubi?"

"It’s allowed," Elphaba said. Then, shaking her head, she added, "I never have. It’s not for me."

Galinda nodded, filing that information away.

The room was starting to darken as the last rays of sunlight dimmed against the walls. She glanced around, then instinctively held out a hand, murmuring the spell to summon a light.

To her shock, the light appeared.

It was almost bigger than it should’ve been, though she thought she might just be imagining it. Before she could process it fully, Elphaba’s hand wrapped around her wrist. The light pulsed. Elphaba let go, her gaze flickering toward the glow in Galinda’s palm.

"Told you," she muttered.

Galinda, stunned, grabbed her own wrist. Nothing happened. The light stayed, flickering, but stable.

She looked up at Elphaba, then back down at her hand. She pushed out her palm again, concentrating, but the spell didn’t quite take.

Elphaba moved.

This time, as Galinda leaned forward slightly, trying to steady herself against the bed, Elphaba’s tail brushed between the gap of her arms, barely skimming her wrist.

And immediately, Galinda was hyperaware of everything.

The warmth of the room, the dampness of her skin, the pulse of energy in her palm. She sucked in a breath, but—the light grew. Her bed was bathed in a soft, golden glow—not as big as the light Elphaba had conjured before, but still larger than anything Galinda had managed on her own.

She closed her eyes briefly, trying to focus.

Then, voice quiet, she asked, "What form do you usually take?"

Elphaba’s tail withdrew from her wrist, curling back into her lap.

"Well," she said, thoughtful, "I’m usually a mortal. Sometimes I have my horns, but I look different."

She hesitated, then brought a hand to her chest, gesturing vaguely. Galinda pointedly did not look down.

She nodded. Then, without thinking, she said, "Well, I think you’re perfect as is."

She barely realized the words had left her mouth before Elphaba opened her mouth, eyes wide.

Galinda felt hot all over, suddenly flustered. "I just mean—your natural form is… enough."

And somehow, that felt worse. Elphaba’s tail shot out, wrapping around Galinda’s wrist, holding her there.

"I know what you mean, Galinda," she said, voice quieter.

Galinda swallowed. She didn’t know why she felt like this. Like she was balancing on a thin edge of something unknown.

She shifted again, trying to ground herself. "What do you mean you aren’t doing anything intentionally?"

Elphaba’s tail slowly unwound from her wrist, retreating back to her lap.

"Like I said," she murmured, "it’s established. Our attraction is mutual. And, well… I have never felt desired before."

Her head dipped slightly, her wings twitching.

"So I don’t know if, subconsciously, I’m… exuding subliminal energy."

Galinda tilted her head. "Subliminal?"

Elphaba nodded.

"They make my summoner feel good," she explained, "or help things along. It’s part of the reason why I knew you were—" She stopped.

Galinda swallowed hard, then quietly filled in the gap. "Doing the thing that brought you here."

Elphaba nodded. Her tail flicked once, twice, curling in her lap. Galinda’s eyes drifted toward it, watching the movement.

Without thinking, she asked, "What does that mean?"

Elphaba’s response was immediate.

"Nothing," she said, far too quickly.

Galinda arched a brow.

Then—before she could talk herself out of it—she reached out, wrapping her fingers around Elphaba’s tail. Elphaba stiffened. Galinda turned her grip slightly, examining the texture, the way it moved in her grasp.

"Do you want to kiss again?" she asked, watching closely.

Elphaba’s tail twitched wildly in her hand, betraying something raw and unguarded. Elphaba’s fingers wrapped around Galinda’s, prying them apart, freeing her tail from her grasp. For a moment, their hands remained clasped, Elphaba’s fingers still lightly curled around Galinda’s own.

Slowly Galinda pulled back. Elphaba cleared her throat. The silence between them stretched. Elphaba stood, the weight of Galinda’s words settling into the air between them. And then, with measured movements, she began to remove her pants. The room felt heavier, charged with something unspeakable.

She met Galinda’s gaze as she straightened. “How can I be of service, Galinda?”

Galinda’s throat tightened, her pulse thrumming loudly in her ears. “Stop,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. “You aren’t serving me.”

Elphaba tilted her head slightly, considering this, before she repeated herself. “How can I be of service to you?”

Galinda swallowed.

Elphaba opened her mouth to continue but hesitated. Then, after a beat, she amended, “If it would please you—”

“Anything you want would please me,” Galinda interrupted firmly, watching her closely.

Elphaba’s expression shifted as she searched Galinda’s face, as if trying to decipher something beyond the words themselves. But she didn’t respond.

Galinda took a breath. “Elphaba, I’ve adjusted to your presence, but I still didn’t summon you,” she admitted, speaking slowly, as if sorting through her own thoughts as she went. “And… well, it’s weird to have you around with no resolution. So that’s why I came out.” She licked her lips. “I think we should… well, complete the basis of your summoning.”

Elphaba’s tail twitched.

“The way I want to do that,” Galinda continued, “is by doing what you want.”

She moved backward on the bed, reaching for the sheet and throwing it back before slipping underneath. With slow, deliberate movements, she unwrapped the towel from her body and placed it above the sheet, leaving herself bare beneath the covers.

Elphaba watched every movement, her wings shooting out involuntarily.

Galinda reached for the edge of the sheet, moving to pull it back in invitation—but Elphaba stopped her.

“No,” Elphaba said, voice firm. “I am here to serve you.”

Galinda’s jaw tightened. “That’s too bad,” she said simply.

Elphaba’s tail flicked again, betraying her uncertainty. Then, after a pause, she said, “Galinda, I would feel more comfortable if you would let me just do that.”

Galinda shook her head. “I will only be satisfied if you are.”

Elphaba exhaled sharply, her wings folding tightly against her back. “If you really wanted me gone, you would let me do what I have to,” she said, her tone bordering on frustration. “You’re being unreasonable.”

She stretched a hand toward Galinda, something almost exasperated in the gesture.

“This, in a way, is selfish .”

Galinda gawked at her. “Selfish?”

She caught herself before her emotions ran away with her. She forced a breath in, calmed herself, and then said, “Okay. Okay.”

She sat up slightly, the sheet slipping lower, revealing more of her bare skin.

Elphaba’s gaze shifted to her, and this time, she was the one staring.

Galinda didn’t bother covering herself. Instead, she said, “We’ll just… repeat the basis of your summoning, okay?”

Elphaba let out a quiet breath. Then, she nodded. “Okay.”

Galinda tilted her head slightly. “Do you have to cause it?”

“Yes.”

Galinda inhaled deeply, steadying herself. Then, with a slow exhale, she said, “Okay. Come here.”

She pulled back the sheet again, leaving space beside her.

Elphaba hesitated only a moment before she finally moved, peeling away the last remnants of that second skin that had been covering her.

Galinda throbbed at the sight. This time, she didn’t want to run from it. Elphaba tucked her wings behind her, trying to keep them controlled, and then moved onto the bed, settling beside Galinda.

She rested against the headboard, and Galinda mirrored her movements.

For a moment, they simply sat there .

Galinda swallowed, trying to clear the lump in her throat. Then, finally, she said, “Let’s just get this over with.”

Elphaba nodded. Then, after a second, she turned slightly toward her and asked, “Would you like to?”

Galinda nodded in return.

She leaned forward, and Elphaba met her halfway.

The kiss started slow, tentative. They lingered, finding a rhythm, but as time passed, Galinda’s movements grew increasingly desperate, increasingly sloppy. Elphaba, on the other hand, remained composed.

Galinda pulled back, eyes scanning Elphaba’s face, searching for any sign of real, visceral desire.

Breathlessly, she asked, “Do you enjoy this?”

Elphaba nodded.

Galinda huffed. That wasn’t exactly an enthusiastic response.

She sighed in frustration. “Elphaba, I won’t be able to enjoy this if you aren’t.”

Elphaba hesitated. Then, after a moment, she admitted, “I do enjoy it.” A pause. “I just… don’t know what I’m doing.”

Galinda’s frustration softened. She exhaled, then said, “It’s fine. It’s fine.”

She reached up, fingers brushing against Elphaba’s neck, and gently pulled her back into a kiss.

Elphaba gasped, but Galinda pulled back again before deepening it. “Wait.”

Elphaba blinked at her.

“There are no expectations,” Galinda said firmly. “So just—do what feels natural.”

Elphaba held her gaze, something unreadable flashing in those deep green eyes. Then, after a beat, she nodded.

“Okay.”

Her tail whipped against the sheets, betraying her nerves. She simply leaned forward again, pressing their lips together. This time, Elphaba relaxed into it. Galinda deepened the kiss, licking into her mouth and she immediately pulled back, eyes widening slightly.

Elphaba tasted faintly of something sweet .

She opened her mouth to say something about it, but before she could, Elphaba’s tail wrapped around her wrist. She barely had time to process that before Elphaba guided her hand and placed it against her chest. At the same time, Elphaba leaned in for another kiss. Galinda let out a deep breath through her nose, feeling Elphaba’s skin beneath her fingers.

When Elphaba finally pulled back, she simply murmured, “I know .”

And Galinda realized, with a sharp, electrifying thrill, that Elphaba knew exactly what she was referring to. Galinda swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. Her hand was still resting against Elphaba’s breast, unmoving, unwilling to move. She wasn’t sure if it was shock.

Elphaba glanced down at where Galinda’s fingers were pressed against her skin. A slow, knowing smile curled at the edges of her lips.

"Seems like I’m not the only one who doesn’t know what to do," she murmured.

Galinda scowled, rolling her eyes before snatching her hand away.

"Let’s just get this over with," she muttered, forcing her voice into something resembling irritation rather than the tangled mess of nerves twisting in her stomach. She spread her legs slightly, shifting where she sat on the bed.

Elphaba watched her for a beat before tilting her head. "You should sit between my legs."

Galinda stiffened, immediately wanting to argue, but the truth was—she didn’t want to draw this out. She wanted it done. Finished. Over.

So, with a dramatic huff, she lifted herself up and clumsily maneuvered over one of Elphaba’s legs, settling between them. The moment she did, Elphaba’s tail draped itself over Galinda’s thigh. A shiver ran up her spine at the unexpected weight of it, the way it moved so effortlessly against her skin. For a moment, neither of them moved. And then, finally, finally, Elphaba touched her.

Galinda sucked in a sharp breath as Elphaba’s hand drifted down her arm, slow and deliberate, slipping beneath the covers and between her legs.

"What did you do that night?" Elphaba asked, her voice quiet.

Galinda coughed, shifting slightly against her. "Is that really necessary?"

Elphaba’s shoulders lifted in a lazy shrug.

Galinda exhaled, forcing her eyes shut. "I told you already," she muttered. "I just… masturbated."

A hum of amusement. "No," Elphaba corrected. "What did you do?"

Before Galinda could respond, Elphaba’s fingers slid against her clit.

Her entire body tensed .

She pressed back against Elphaba instinctively, gasping softly at the sudden sensation. Touching herself had been one thing. But this —Elphaba’s hand on her, deliberate, precise—it was entirely different.

She barely processed the soft words Elphaba murmured under her breath, the spell subtle but effective. Galinda only realized what had changed when she felt Elphaba’s nails retract completely, her fingertips now smooth as they traced against her heated skin.

Galinda tried to keep her breathing steady, tried to suppress the shiver threatening to rack her body, but then Elphaba’s tail moved again, coiling securely around her wrist.

It was maddening.

And then Elphaba’s hand dipped lower, her fingers sliding effortlessly between Galinda’s parted thighs, brushing against her, Galinda let out a breathless noise, barely more than an exhale, and then Elphaba’s fingers came away damp.

Galinda cringed, mortification washing over her all at once. But before she could even think about pulling away, Elphaba was dragging two fingers through the wetness, spreading it with slow, deliberate intent. Galinda let out a soft, unsteady breath, her head tipping back slightly against Elphaba’s shoulder. Without thinking, she rolled her hips, chasing more friction, more of that sensation that sent pleasure curling deep in her belly.

Elphaba let out a small, surprised “oh,” barely more than a breath, and Galinda turned her head slightly, tilting it up to catch her expression.

For a second, she felt exposed—laid bare not just physically but in a way that made her heart pound. She swallowed.

"Shouldn’t you be used to this?" she asked, voice a little hoarse.

Elphaba’s eyes flickered down to hers, holding her gaze for a moment before she glanced away.

"It’s… different," she admitted.

And then she shifted, stretching her arm a little further, fingers pressing forward—and with no resistance at all, she slid two fingers inside.

Galinda gasped, a moan slipping past her lips before she could stop it. Her body responded instinctively, her hips rising again, seeking more, desperate for more.

Heat burned beneath her skin, not just from the pleasure but from a sudden, mortifying thought. "I’m not usually this sensitive," she murmured, barely able to catch her breath.

Elphaba coughed, her fingers still buried deep. "That would be because…"

Galinda nodded, already understanding. It was her. Elphaba . The nature of her being. The way desire pulsed between them like a tangible force.

The hand Elphaba’s tail had wrapped around shot down, grasping onto Elphaba’s wrist, as if grounding herself. She squeezed as she rocked her hips, grinding down on those perfect fingers. Elphaba curled them, and Galinda’s grip slackened for a brief moment, her body reacting to the sensation. And then—Elphaba’s other hand found her clit.

Galinda barely had time to process it before the pleasure hit her hard , crashing over her in an overwhelming rush. It was sudden and all-consuming, forcing a strangled cry from her throat as her body trembled, as she came apart in Elphaba’s hands.

The aftershocks left her dazed, soft and pliant, her limbs heavy with the weight of it.

When Elphaba finally withdrew her hands, she rested them on the bed—but then, to Galinda’s mortification, she wiped them absently against her own thigh.

Galinda’s eyes flickered down, watching as the slickness glistened against the green skin of her leg. She blushed.

"You’re still here," she said, suddenly aware of the quiet.

Elphaba, who had seemed lost in thought, glanced at her. "I was technically summoned through a dream," she explained, voice level again, "so I’ll be sent back the same way."

Galinda nodded faintly, only half-listening. Her breath caught slightly as her eyes roamed over the curve of her body, the smooth lines, the way her breasts sat perfect and bare, her nipples still peaked from the earlier tension.

Galinda licked her lips before she could stop herself. Elphaba’s wings flexed slightly behind her.

With a slow inhale, Galinda leaned up, shifting onto her knees. "Oh. Okay."

Then, hesitantly, she turned fully, facing her.

"Do you want me to… uhm…" She trailed off, feeling awkward, but she gestured vaguely toward Elphaba’s body.

The sheet slipped down further as she moved, and Galinda barely resisted the urge to stare.

The girls at Shiz had nothing on this.

Elphaba, still watching her with unreadable eyes, tilted her head slightly. "My task is fulfilled," she said simply. "You don’t have to."

Galinda processed that slowly.

Then, almost absently, she reached out, murmuring the incantation under her breath. Sure enough—a ball of light bloomed to life in her palm, glowing softly in the dim room. She stared at it. Her stomach sank. He was right.

Elphaba laughed, a knowing, amused sound, and her tail came up to brush gently against Galinda’s arm, the touch oddly soothing. Galinda let out a breath, dropping her hand. The light flickered, then faded entirely.

Still, she didn’t look away.

"What if I wanted to?" she asked quietly.

Elphaba’s expression shifted. Galinda tilted her head, searching her gaze.

"How can I serve you?

Elphaba swallowed, her throat working as she kept her gaze steady on Galinda. There was a tension in the air—charged, thrumming between them like an unspoken spell.

Galinda reached out instinctively, her fingertips grazing along Elphaba’s legs. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but the fine hair beneath her touch surprised her. She hummed softly, dragging her fingers upward, feeling the warmth of her skin.

Elphaba’s wings twitched slightly, but she didn’t move away. Instead, she met Galinda’s gaze.

"What do you want to do?" Elphaba asked, voice lower than before.

Galinda didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she let her eyes wander, taking in Elphaba’s form—the way her body seemed sculpted, a blend of sharp and soft. Then, deliberately, her gaze drifted lower. Elphaba’s breathing seemed to slow as she realized what Galinda was looking at.

Galinda wet her lips. “Can I—”

She didn’t finish the sentence. The question hung in the air, her eyes said the rest. Elphaba didn’t move for a moment, her expression unreadable, her wings curling slightly behind her. Then, slowly, she shifted, settling back against the pillows, resting against the soft span of her own wings for support.

"Yes," she murmured. "You can."

That was all the permission Galinda needed.

She lowered herself onto her stomach, positioning herself between Elphaba’s thighs. From this vantage point, she took a moment to simply look—admiring the sheer power in those strong, lean legs.

Then, slowly, she leaned in.

The first stroke of her tongue was exploratory, a slow drag through Elphaba. And oh—Galinda moaned against her, startled by the taste. Something rich, slightly sweet, dark like spiced honey melting on her tongue.

She pressed in closer, eager for more.

Galinda wanted to ask if all succubi had a distinct taste—if they all carried that same dark, spiced sweetness on their skin—but her curiosity was lost in the moment. Before she could help herself, her mouth was on Elphaba again, her tongue gliding over her, pressing in, tasting more. Elphaba’s legs tensed, then fell open against the bed, muscles flexing beneath Galinda’s hands. A note of satisfaction hummed through her—Elphaba was sensitive.

Galinda pushed her tongue deeper, reveling in the way Elphaba groaned above her, the sound low and raw. She flicked her tongue, tasting her, learning her, and when she looked up, she found Elphaba’s hands braced against the headboard, gripping tightly.

Then she started grinding against Galinda’s mouth.

It was mesmerizing—the way she moved, the way she lost herself to pleasure, how her wings shuddered slightly, her tail curling and uncurling against the sheets.

Galinda shut her eyes, focusing only on Elphaba’s taste, the slick heat of her, the way she clenched around her tongue.

And then—Elphaba tensed, her entire body going taut for a single, breathless moment before she fell apart. Galinda stayed with her through it, only pulling away when she felt Elphaba go slack against the bed.

Crawling up her body, she pressed a lingering kiss to her lips before rolling onto her back beside her.

For a long moment, there was only silence.

Then Elphaba let out a long breath. "That was… nice." A pause. Then, almost thoughtfully, "I’d never imagined a mortal being my—"

She cut herself off abruptly.

Galinda moved to prop herself up on one elbow, glanced at her curiously. But she didn’t ask.

Instead, Elphaba exhaled, her voice softer when she said, "I enjoyed it."

Galinda nodded. "So… you’ll be gone?"

Elphaba turned her head slightly to look at her. "Yes."

Galinda rolled onto her stomach, propping her chin on her hand. "Okay." A beat. Then, more softly, "I’m glad I could complete the basis of your summoning."

She hesitated, then glanced over at Elphaba. "And, um… I hope you return safely."

There was a quiet, breathy exhale.

For a moment, Galinda wondered if Elphaba was laughing.

"Goodnight, Galinda," Elphaba said, her voice quieter than usual.

Galinda let her head drop onto her pillow, exhaling a soft, whispered, "Bye."

She didn’t fall asleep immediately. She could still feel Elphaba’s presence in the room, and something told her that Elphaba knew she was still awake too. But eventually, sleep took her, pulling her under with dreams that were all breathy gasps and heat against her skin.

This time, she didn’t fight them.

She let them come, wave after wave, let them wash over her until the second she woke up.

It felt like surfacing from deep water, gasping into her pillow as her consciousness returned. She turned her head slightly, blinking against the soft golden rays filtering into her room. Morning.

She moved to roll onto her back—but there was warmth beside her. Heat curled in her chest as she scrambled, her hands fumbling to find someone else in the bed.

Elphaba. She was still there.

Galinda’s jaw dropped. "Why aren’t you—?"

She cut herself off at the look on Elphaba’s face. Even she looked confused.

"I don’t know why I’m still here," Elphaba admitted, glancing at Galinda like she might somehow have the answer.

Galinda didn’t.

Elphaba’s expression shifted, like she was turning something over in her mind. "I thought I would go back," she said slowly. "That’s usually what happens."

She sighed, crossing her legs where she sat on the bed.

"When I told you it takes a lot to summon me, I meant it. I’m usually not summoned," she added, her eyes flicking to Galinda once more.

Something about the way she said it made Galinda’s stomach twist. There was a weight in those words, something unspoken that she wasn’t sure she wanted to understand. But she didn’t have any more answers than Elphaba did.

She moved to sit up—but then she remembered.

She wasn’t dressed.

Heat crawled up her neck, and something about the energy in the room felt… different now. She hesitated, fingers curling around the edge of the sheet, pulling it up slightly before slowly resting her head back down.

If Elphaba noticed the shift, she didn’t say anything.

Galinda swallowed, voice quieter than before. "What are you going to do?"

Elphaba sighed.

And Galinda took that as her answer. Galinda sat up slowly, fingers curling around the edge of the sheet as she considered her next words.

"Maybe I can talk to my sorcery professor about... unwanted—" She stopped herself, suddenly aware of how that sounded, then quickly corrected, "Accidental summoning."

She glanced at Elphaba, hoping the correction went unnoticed.

Elphaba’s face remained unreadable.

Galinda exhaled and pressed her lips together, gripping the fabric a little tighter as she observed the succubus before her. She was back in that impossibly tight outfit, the one that clung to her like a second skin.

Galinda really needed to suggest some actual clothes.

She sighed, pulling the sheet around herself as she stood.

"I have her class tomorrow, so you’ll have to stay here for a while," she informed her, turning to face Elphaba fully.

Elphaba tilted her head slightly. "This professor—she’ll be able to help?"

Galinda paused at the foot of the bed, considering. "Well... I think so. She’s quite known for her sorcery prowess. Renowned, even."

Elphaba hummed in acknowledgment.

Galinda stepped to her side, grabbing her discarded towel from the night before. She frowned, realizing she’d need to grab a fresh one.

"We’ll talk to her, then," Elphaba said, watching her.

Galinda caught the way Elphaba’s gaze flickered down her frame, lingering on the sheet still wrapped around her body. Heat crept up her neck, but she ignored it, feigning nonchalance.

"Well, I’m going to go get ready for the day," she announced, clearing her throat.

Elphaba didn’t say anything, just watched her retreat.

Galinda backed toward the bathroom, refusing to turn her back, and only once the door was firmly shut did she finally exhale.

She let the sheet and the towel drop into the hamper before stepping up to the mirror, meeting her own gaze. Her face was flushed.

Of course it was.

She turned her head, examining her expression from different angles, before sighing and turning on the shower.

She forced herself through the motions— lathering her skin, brushing her teeth as her hair dried. She pulled it into a ponytail, methodically going through her routine, grounding herself in the normalcy of it all.

By the time she stepped back out, a fresh towel wrapped securely around her, she felt slightly more composed. She grabbed her clothes and dressed quickly, not sparing a glance at Elphaba as she moved about her room.

If Elphaba thought she was being ridiculous, she didn’t voice it.

When Galinda was finally ready, she took a deep breath and forced a smile.

"Here’s to another day," she said, half to herself.

Elphaba rose smoothly from her spot, her tail swaying slightly behind her.

Galinda didn’t address the tension that lingered between them. She could feel it, though—something unspoken, something thick enough to weigh down the air itself. Elphaba seemed a little disappointed she was still here, and Galinda was acting like she hadn’t just had her mouth between—

No.

She physically shook her head, clearing the thought as she stepped out into the hall.

Breakfast. Yes. Breakfast sounded like a good idea.

Before Galinda could even think about what to get for breakfast, she walked straight into someone. She took a step back, already cringing before she even looked up.

Fiyero.

He grinned down at her, his expression smug, the kind that suggested he had been expecting this interaction.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice smooth, casual.

Galinda forced a pleasant smile, waving a hand in greeting. "Hi."

She subtly took another step back, hoping the movement would create some distance between them, but he only leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if they were already sharing some kind of private conversation.

"I’ve seen you around campus," he said. "I think we have a class together."

Galinda nodded, though in truth, she had barely registered him in any of her lectures. The only time she had really noticed him was when she was actively avoiding him. Not that it mattered—Fiyero didn’t seem particularly concerned with whether she could name the class in question.

He smiled at her, confident, unwavering.

"I was wondering if you’d like to grab lunch with me," he said, tilting his head slightly.

Galinda hesitated, allowing herself a moment to actually look at him.

He was conventionally attractive—tall, well-dressed, his features sharp in a way that wasn’t entirely repulsive. He had only recently transferred, meaning no one had yet staked their claim on him.

She gave him a small, measured smile. "Sure. I can meet you here at lunch."

Fiyero ran a hand through his hair, drawing her attention to the movement before she flicked her gaze back to his face.

"Well," he said, voice playful, "I was hoping we could have lunch outside—if the weather allows it."

Galinda nodded again. "Sure. I’ll see you then."

He left, looking thoroughly pleased with himself, and Galinda let out a slow breath.

She was about to turn her attention back to breakfast when she spotted Pfanne watching her from across the dining hall, eyes gleaming with mischief.

Rolling her eyes, she snatched an orange from a nearby bowl before making her way over.

Pfanne wasted no time.

"So," he said, leaning forward with a conspiratorail grin, "his dorm or yours?"

Galinda groaned. "Please. He just asked me to have lunch." She tilted her head for emphasis, as if that would drive the point home.

Shenshen smirked. "Right. And what’s on the menu besides you?"

Galinda flushed, her mind betraying her almost instantly. Her friends were only teasing, unaware that their playful innuendos weren’t far from the truth in an entirely different context.

Little did they know, Galinda had definitely eaten something last night. She shook her head quickly, desperate to change the topic.

"My sorcery practical is tomorrow," she announced. "I shouldn’t have even agreed to lunch, truthfully. I don’t even know why I said yes."

She made a point of sounding performative, almost dramatic, as if her decision had been made on impulse alone.

Pfanne, however, wasn’t buying it.

"Oh, I can tell you why you said yes," he said, grinning. "But you won’t like it."

He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, but before he could elaborate, something in his expression shifted. His grin faltered slightly as his eyes narrowed, and he raised a finger toward her.

Galinda’s stomach twisted.

She immediately lifted a hand to her face, panic rising in her chest. "What? What is it?"

For a second, she was convinced there was a bug on her—a stray leaf, a smudge of something embarrassing—but Pfanne just studied her, then slowly smirked.

"Where were you last night?" he asked.

Galinda’s hand dropped instantly.

"In bed," she said smoothly.

Before she could process her own response, something flicked past her peripheral vision. She knew what it was before she even looked.

Elphaba’s tail. The thought alone sent heat rushing to her face.

Pfanne, of course, was completely oblivious to the actual reason behind her reaction. He pointed at her triumphantly.

"Aha!" he declared. "You’re blushing. Galinda Upland doesn’t blush unless something’s a lie."

She would have argued that she never blushed, period. But in that moment, she didn’t quite trust her voice. Galinda cleared her throat, willing herself to remain composed, and without hesitation, passed the orange to Shenshen.

"Be a doll, please," she said, her voice as airy and unbothered as she could make it.

Shenshen plucked the orange from her hand with a knowing smirk, but before she could say anything, Pfanne leaned in, undeterred.

"Ah, ah—whose bed?" he pressed, his grin widening.

Galinda rolled her eyes. "My bed, Pfanne."

Pfanne squinted at her, clearly unwilling to let it go. "Were you alone?"

Galinda tilted her head slightly, giving a saccharine smile. "There was no other human in the bed with me."

Behind her, she heard a sharp exhale of breath—a barely stifled laugh. She didn’t turn to look, but she knew. Something about making her laugh sent a thrill through Galinda, even if she pretended not to acknowledge it.

Pfanne, however, wasn’t convinced.

"We’ll see about that," he said, eyes narrowing in speculation. "Was that just a performance? Have you and him been talking this whole time?"

Galinda’s jaw nearly dropped.

Truthfully, the sheer absurdity of the accusation was offensive.

She scoffed. "I’m not even going to—" She gestured vaguely in Pfanne’s direction, exasperated, before continuing, "validate this with a response. But he’s… okay."

Pfanne gasped in mock betrayal. "Didn’t you just say that if you two had cute babies, it would be no thanks to him?"

Galinda huffed, reclaiming her orange from Shenshen before peeling apart a slice.

"Aha, ah," she said, wagging a finger, "I never said he was ugly. But that is true. I mean, look at me. I’m completely out of his league."

She sighed, popping a piece of fruit into her mouth, then suddenly groaned.

"Am I really making a sports metaphor right now?"

She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, visibly unimpressed with herself, but Pfanne barely paid her lament any mind. He was too busy studying her, lips pursed as if he had just uncovered a great mystery.

"Well," he said finally, "you do look different. You have a glow."

Galinda blinked at him, deadpan.

"I have a glow?" she repeated slowly, as if he had just told her she had grown horns overnight.

Shenshen, to Galinda’s absolute horror, nodded. "You do."

Galinda’s gaze flicked between them. She briefly considered whether she was being punked—whether there were hidden cameras around, recording this moment for someone else’s amusement.

But before she could dwell on it, Elphaba leaned in, her voice low and smooth, just for her.

"They cannot see a glow. There is no proof of your satisfaction from last night."

Galinda nearly choked.

She had to cover it up with a quick cough, shaking her head as she forced herself to remain nonchalant.

"Guys, I’m fine," she assured them, plucking another slice of orange from her hand. "I actually slept last night. I didn’t study that much, so I’m just… rejuvenated, that’s all."

She nodded to herself for emphasis, then casually slipped another piece of orange into her mouth, pretending she wasn’t thinking about Elphaba’s words at all.

To make matters worse, Elphaba had moved closer to her—so close that Galinda could feel the presence of her body without even looking. She hadn’t stepped back, hadn’t given her any space, and suddenly—

She wasn’t tasting the orange anymore.

She was tasting Elphaba.

That same intoxicating sweetness, that rich, almost honeyed flavor that lingered on her tongue.

Galinda had to fight the immediate, violent urge to spit the orange out. She forced herself to chew, to swallow, even as her stomach fluttered with something she refused to acknowledge. Her eyes squeezed shut as she swallowed, and the motion was so unbearably slow that she almost moaned.

When she opened her eyes again, she found Pfanne watching her closely, a slow, knowing smirk creeping onto his lips.

"You okay?" he asked, far too amused.

Then, worse… he smiled.

It was an all-teeth, smug expression, and Galinda’s stomach nearly turned. At that same moment, something soft curled around the crook of her elbow, wrapping itself there with gentle, deliberate possession.

Elphaba’s tail. Galinda had to fight a shiver. The sheer, overstimulating feeling of it all—Elphaba’s scent in her mouth, her warmth at her side, the tail pressing against her skin. She needed to breathe.

"Take a deep breath," Elphaba murmured so quietly that if she wasn’t so close she might not have heard it.

Galinda nodded, barely able to keep herself from gasping. Then, regaining some semblance of composure, she quickly said, "I’m fine. I’m fine, thank you."

She hoped—desperately—that Elphaba knew that last part was meant for her.

Pfanne didn’t seem convinced, but he let it slide with a dramatic, "Fine, fine, but—I do hope your lunch goes well."

Galinda took the escape and nodded. "I just remembered I have an essay to write… so I’m not sacrificing my precious glow"—she gave them both a sharp look—"as you two have so politely pointed out. He’ll just have to deal with it. And honestly, that’s a good test."

She lifted her chin, exuding confidence, even as she still felt like she was vibrating inside. "I’m not about to entertain someone who gets in the way of my academics."

Pfanne raised his brows, intrigued. "Oh? So you’re thinking of entertaining him, then? Interesting."

Galinda waved a dismissive hand. "I use that word loosely, okay? Everyone be calm."

They laughed, but Galinda hardly heard them.

She glanced down at the rest of her orange, hesitating. Her stomach clenched at the thought, because what if she bit into it and tasted Elphaba again?

She swallowed against the dryness in her throat, snuck a glance at Pfanne and Shenshen, who had both turned their attention to their breakfasts, and pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek.

She needed to get rid of this stupid orange.

"Shenshen," she said, voice smooth, "do you have a napkin?"

Without looking up, Shenshen pulled two from beneath her tray and passed one to her.

Galinda quickly, subtly wrapped the orange slice inside, pressing it into her palm as she rose to her feet.

"I’m going to head to class," she announced, forcing herself to sound casual. "I have history. I’ll see you guys at linguistics."

They bid their goodbyes, and without sparing another glance at Elphaba, Galinda turned and walked away, far too aware of the phantom taste still lingering on her lips.

Galinda didn't bother checking if anyone else was in the bathroom—she just needed to get Elphaba inside. With a firm grip, she pulled open the door to a stall, pushed Elphaba in, and stepped inside after her. Only once the door clicked shut behind them did she realize just how much space Elphaba took up.

Okay, she thought, her pulse hammering in her throat. Maybe this wasn't my brightest idea. Close proximity. Enclosed proximity. And after everything that had just happened? She barely had time to process the decision before Elphaba leaned in, her voice low and close.

"I know what happened," she murmured. "I'm sorry. That was me."

Galinda blinked, mouth slightly parted. "What?"

"That was the subliminal thing I told you about," Elphaba admitted, pulling back slightly.

Galinda swallowed. "You can make things… taste like you?"

Elphaba’s gaze flickered, then she nodded. "Well, yes."

For a moment, Galinda just stared at her, as if that was the most absurd thing she’d ever heard. And honestly? It kind of was. A slow, incredulous laugh bubbled in her throat, but she held it back, pressing her lips together. Instead, she gave a clipped nod.

"Mhmm. Okay," she said shortly.

Elphaba hesitated, then tilted her head. "You're attracted to men."

Galinda’s eyes snapped up to her face.

"What do you mean?" she asked, carefully measured.

Elphaba studied her, unreadable. "I'm just… curious."

Galinda's breath caught slightly as she scanned Elphaba’s expression, searching for something—anything—but her face was infuriatingly unreadable.

So, instead, she whispered, "I thought you could see my desire."

Elphaba stepped forward, closing the already minuscule space between them. "I just wanted to know how you'd answer."

Galinda felt every muscle in her body lock. Oh, this was—this was such a bad idea.

She should have taken Elphaba back to the dorms. She should have put more distance between them, not less. But instead, she found herself leaning forward, bringing her lips to Elphaba’s ear, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Not really."

Elphaba stiffened at that, but she nodded. Then, she turned her face slightly, and there it was—that little blush. Galinda ached to smile at it. She was so beautiful. Before she could stop herself, she was leaning in.

But then— Woosh .

Elphaba pulled back so suddenly her wings flared out, rattling against the sides of the stall. Galinda froze, her pulse thundering in her ears. For a second, neither of them moved.

Then, Elphaba reached out, her smile a little crooked, a little uncertain. "Sorry. That was on impulse."

Galinda nodded slowly, exhaling through her nose. Then, she reached out a careful hand, brushing over the smooth curve of Elphaba’s wing.

"Are you okay?" she murmured.

Elphaba’s gaze softened. "Yeah."

Galinda almost wanted to stay longer. But she shook herself and stepped back. "Come on," she said.

She peeked outside first—thank goodness the bathroom was empty—then quickly moved to the sink, washing her hands, fixing her bag strap, and slipping out the door toward class. 

Galinda picked a seat toward the back of the classroom, far enough to talk to Elphaba without drawing too much attention while Dr. Dillamond droned on. She took her chance.

“Let me ask you something,” she murmured.

Elphaba, who had been idly watching the professor, turned her head slightly.

Galinda leaned in. “Has there ever been a time when you didn’t leave?”

Elphaba looked at her, then flicked her gaze toward the board, as if to tell her to pay attention. But Galinda had already read ahead in the chapter—she knew this material.

Elphaba exhaled and answered anyway.

“I usually leave once I’ve served my purpose. Sometimes when the summoner falls asleep, or when the thing that brought me here is undone.”

Galinda nodded, but before she could say anything else, she asked the question that had been nagging her since last night.

“And why does it take so much to summon you?”

Elphaba hesitated.

“I wasn’t always a…” she trailed off, eyes flicking toward Galinda as if debating how much to say.

Then, finally, she continued, “I wasn’t always a succubus. And there’s a hierarchy. Let’s just say I’m at the top.”

The way she said it sent a shiver down Galinda’s spine. She leaned back in her seat and swallowed. Elphaba was feisty. It was… well, hot, frankly.

Instead of responding, she simply turned back to the lesson, tapping her fingers against the pages of her book.

When class ended, she was the first one out. By the time she got to Linguistics, she wasted no time dragging Pfanne and Shenshen toward the back of the room. Elphaba, as usual, had taken to wandering around, lingering near bookshelves, reading the spines of old books, looking at students' notes over their shoulders.

So Galinda spoke freely.

“I need to get out of this lunch.”

Pfanne groaned. “Galinda, he likes you. He’s nice. Just give him a chance.”

Galinda pressed her lips together. “No, you don’t understand—he’s not really my type.”

Shenshen laughed.

Galinda turned sharply toward her.

But Shenshen just gave her a knowing look, then flicked her eyes toward the front of the room before turning back.

“It’s just…” she started slowly, like she was easing Galinda into something, “…since this semester started—since we’ve been at Shiz, actually—you’ve never talked about anyone.”

Galinda frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve never mentioned a crush. Never mentioned a boy. Or anyone else .”

Galinda’s stomach did a slow, odd flip. She turned to Pfanne, as if hoping for support, but he just nodded in agreement, giving a little shrug.

She scowled. “There was that one boy last year, for the dance.”

Pfanne immediately cut in.

“Galinda, you literally said—and I quote —‘I just need someone to match with.’” He raised an eyebrow. “At that point, you could have gone with me .”

Shenshen snorted.

Galinda sighed , crossing her arms.

Her eyes flickered toward Elphaba.

She was near the front of the room now, back turned, leaning slightly to read some boy’s book, though Galinda could feel the weight of her awareness.

Galinda exhaled sharply. “Fine. I’ll have lunch with him.”

She pouted as she said it, still staring at Elphaba. And then, as if drawn by the weight of her gaze, Elphaba looked up. Their eyes met across the room.

Elphaba didn’t say anything—just held her gaze for a second longer than necessary before turning back to the book in front of her.

Galinda swallowed hard.

What the hell was she getting herself into?

Galinda decided to change before her lunch. The sun was warm, high in the sky, and the heat called for something light and airy. She slipped into a soft floral dress, its fabric breezy against her skin. The back of the dress was open, with delicate strings that needed tying.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, she took a few steps toward Elphaba, then hesitated before turning fully to face her.

“Can you tie this for me?”

Elphaba, who had been lounging comfortably on Galinda’s bed, propped herself up on an elbow before standing. “Sure.”

Galinda felt her move behind her, the warmth of her presence so close. Then, gentle fingers brushed the strings, tugging them into place. She shivered slightly at the light touch against her bare back, acutely aware of just how little fabric was between them.

“You can just do a little knot,” she murmured.

Elphaba hummed in response. “Okay.”

As soon as the knot was secured, Galinda pulled away, suddenly feeling too warm. She grabbed her bag and rummaged through it, removing unnecessary books—no point in lugging them around when she only had one class left for the day.

Then, she headed to the cafeteria.

To her surprise, Fiyero was already waiting at the entrance, flashing her a bright, easy smile as soon as he spotted her.

“Hey,” he greeted, running a hand through his hair. “I was thinking we could sit toward the dorms—there are some benches over there.”

Galinda nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”

He gestured for her to go first, and she did, aware of the way she was being paraded by him. It was… nice, she supposed. Inside, they grabbed food. Galinda settled for a simple tofu pasta and juice, while Fiyero loaded his salad with an ungodly amount of chicken. She didn’t comment on it. 

As they walked toward the benches, he started asking about her major and what she wanted to do after university. She prattled on, comfortably filling the space with her voice. When they sat, however, he surprised her by taking the seat next to her instead of across from her.

And apparently, Elphaba took that as an invitation to join. She slid into the seat opposite Galinda, but her gaze was fixed on Fiyero, cold and unreadable.

Before Galinda could even begin to dissect that look, Fiyero spoke again.

“So, what classes do you take?”

She listed them off, and when she mentioned history, he scoffed.

“Oh, I took that last semester. Dr. Dillamond is so boring.”

Galinda smiled despite herself. “Yeah, but he’s thorough. Once you actually know what he’s talking about, it’s not so bad.”

Fiyero tilted his head. “Sure, sure,” he said, then leaned forward slightly. “But I’ve heard about you.”

Galinda paused, setting down her fork.

“All good things, I hope.”

Fiyero swallowed, his eyes flickering around for a brief moment before returning to her.

“Nothing bad,” he assured her. “Just… I know you always have your head in a book.”

Galinda nodded, feeling a sense of pride at the statement.

But then, he smirked, lowering his voice slightly. “I’m surprised you even agreed to have lunch with me.”

Galinda forced a laugh, though truthfully, that made two of them. Instead, she stabbed at her food and said, “What do you mean?”

Fiyero shrugged. “It’s just like I said. I’ve seen you in that book place all the time.”

Galinda looked up, raising an eyebrow. “I’m sorry?”

He nodded as if confirming something to himself. “Yeah, the place with all the books. I’ve seen you go in there sometimes.” He chuckled before correcting himself. “A lot, actually.”

Elphaba spoke aloud what Galinda couldn’t quite bring herself to say.

“I think he means the library.”

Galinda turned toward her, locking eyes. “Yeah,” she said, then looked down before turning back to Fiyero, though it felt like she was still speaking to Elphaba. “Yeah, I do spend a lot of time there.”

Fiyero chewed his food, looking like he was in the middle of some internal battle. His jaw worked as if he was fighting for his life.

Galinda tilted her head. “Are you okay?”

He looked up quickly, nodding, then raised a hand over his mouth. “Yeah.”

Then, he casually shifted, swinging one leg over the bench so he was sitting in a way that bracketed her.

Elphaba watched this with an analytical gaze, utterly unimpressed. She was above such mortal displays—but the way he took up space, so entitled, like it didn’t even cross his mind that his movements were intrusive—it made her tail flick.

Without thinking much about it, she sought Galinda out.

Galinda didn’t seem to mind Fiyero’s closeness, but still… when Elphaba’s tail wrapped around her leg, pressing against her knee, she waited for a reaction.

Galinda didn’t flinch. Didn’t visibly react.

She coughed lightly, reaching for her juice, but her glare at Elphaba was sharp before she turned back to Fiyero with a smile.

Elphaba’s confusion deepened.

Fiyero wasn’t even saying anything of substance, and yet Galinda was entertaining him, smiling as if she were genuinely engaged. Galinda took another sip of juice, nodding along to whatever Fiyero was saying, but beneath the table, her palm pressed against her dress, reaching down, brushing lightly against Elphaba’s tail.

Fiyero spoke again.

“What about you?”

Galinda’s fingers wrapped around Elphaba’s tail.

“Huh?”

Fiyero repeated himself, smiling. “I was asking if you took any phys ed classes. Maybe yoga’s more your thing? I know Shiz offers a variety of classes.”

Galinda hummed, as if in thought, her grip never tightening, just holding Elphaba’s tail. “I was planning on taking combat classes, actually.”

Fiyero’s brows lifted. “Okay, I see you. A little self-defense?”

Galinda smiled, releasing Elphaba’s tail, her hand returning to her food.

Elphaba’s tail moved up her leg.

Higher now—just above her knee, curling lightly around her thigh.

Galinda’s breath hitched slightly, but she covered it well, nodding at Fiyero as if she were still listening. She flicked her gaze back to Elphaba, but she wasn’t looking at her.

She was still watching him. Galinda rolled her eyes, exasperated, and turned back to Fiyero with another smile.

“So, are you in any clubs on campus?”

He grinned, happy to talk about himself. “Yeah, mostly sports. I’ve played representing Shiz a couple times.”

He looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to be impressed.

Galinda gave a little shrug, amusement creeping into her voice. “Well, I probably wouldn’t have been to your games. Like you said—I’m always in a book.”

They both chuckled.

Galinda could only sit there for so long.

Elphaba still had her tail under her dress, wrapped snugly around her thigh, and Fiyero—bless the head on his shoulders—didn’t even know the name of the library.

“Well, that’s okay,” he was saying. “It’s just a little hobby thing.”

His cheeks went a little pink, and Galinda hummed noncommittally, finishing up her food.

Then he asked, “What about you?” before taking another bite and chewing away.

“I’m not really in any clubs on campus,” Galinda admitted.

He nodded, still chewing, and Galinda took the reprieve to look at Elphaba.

She was finally looking at her.

Elphaba was watching her intently, eyes searching her face.

Her tail inched higher.

Then, tightened.

Galinda wanted to scream.

How fucking long was her tail, anyway?

Fiyero had finished eating and wiped his mouth, oblivious. “We should do this again. I know you’re done, and I won’t keep you—I’m just trying to get some protein in, you know?”

Galinda smiled at whatever the hell that meant. “We should. This was nice.”

His smile widened. “Maybe next time, I can take you off-campus?”

He looked almost shy, and Galinda bit her lip, grabbed her juice, and considered it before saying, “I’ll try and fit you into my tight schedule.”

The moment the word tight left her mouth, Elphaba’s tail squeezed around her thigh. Galinda coughed.

Fiyero immediately leaned in, concerned. “Are you okay? You might be coming down with a cold.”

Galinda shook her head quickly. “No, I’m fine, truly.”

She cut herself off when Fiyero reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

And just like that Elphaba’s tail withdrew.

Galinda’s head snapped toward her, alarmed, before she could help herself.

Fiyero followed her gaze, frowning. “What is it?”

Galinda blinked, forcing herself to relax. “Nothing. I thought I heard buzzing.”

He glanced around again but saw nothing and let it go. “Well, again, um—I hope you enjoy your day, Galinda.”

She was about to grab her tray and bowl when he stopped her. “Leave it—I’ll carry it back.”

Galinda smiled and stood, grabbing her bag and the rest of her juice. As she walked past him, she let her hand drag lightly across his shoulders. Fiyero turned, keeping his eyes on her, watching as she moved away.

She glanced back, a teasing smile on her lips. “Bye, Fiyero. I’ll see you around.”

He smiled back. “Bye, Galinda.”

Galinda’s smile dropped the moment she turned in the opposite direction. She practically raced back to her dorm. The second the door shut behind her, she spun on her heel, arms crossing as she glared at Elphaba.

She didn’t even know where to begin.

Should she ask what the hell her deal was? Or if her tail had been acting independently?

Instead, she huffed and dropped her arms, moving toward her bed and falling onto it with a sigh.

“I didn’t take you for the possessive type,” she muttered.

Elphaba hovered near the bed before finally sitting beside her, mumbling, “I’m not.”

Galinda sat up, about to fire back—

But the next thing she knew, she was kissing Elphaba. Or maybe Elphaba was kissing her. It didn’t matter. What mattered was how their lips pressed together, hard, and how Elphaba immediately shifted, straddling Galinda’s lap.

Her wings shot out, stretching wide, and Galinda gasped at the sight before surging forward, her hands moving under them, fingertips pressing into warm skin.

Her lips trailed lower, her mouth sucking hard, Elphaba panted above her, breath hitching, and her tail curled tight around Galinda’s arm.

“Don’t you have a class?” she murmured, a little breathless.

Galinda barely heard her.

Elphaba laughed, teasing, “I’m thankful you could fit me into your tight schedule—”

Her words broke into a high moan as Galinda’s hands gripped her ass, pulling her closer, her mouth moving even lower. Elphaba’s breath stuttered, her fingers tightening in Galinda’s hair before she suddenly pulled back, grabbing her face and kissing her again.

Then she pulled away, eyes dark, voice low.

“His desire is coiled tight,” she murmured. “He wouldn’t do you—”

“I don’t care about him,” Galinda cut her off.

Her hands pressed against Elphaba’s hips, urging her up, standing along with her.

Elphaba rose, wings retracting, eyes never leaving hers. But then Elphaba pushed back, palms pressing firmly against her arms, guiding her back down onto the bed.

Elphaba suddenly pulled Galinda back up, laughing, her fingers tugging at the delicate straps of her dress.

“Take this off,” she murmured, snapping the fabric back against Galinda’s skin.

Galinda shivered, her breath catching in her throat.Elphaba’s voice was low, firm, but there was something playful in her tone, something challenging. Galinda didn’t need to be told twice.

She reached up, gripping the fabric, and began to pull the dress over her head. The soft material brushed against her skin as she lifted it higher, baring more and more of herself, and when she finally tossed it aside, Elphaba was already naked.

Galinda froze for a second, her pulse hammering.

Elphaba stood there, watching her with a dark, hooded gaze, completely at ease in her own skin. Galinda’s breath hitched.

Then, as if something clicked inside her, she turned on her heel and rushed to the door, twisting the lock until she heard the click.

She pressed her palms flat against the wood, exhaling sharply. The last time she had been in this exact position she had been terrified. Now, she was shaking for an entirely different reason.

Elphaba moved to sit on the edge of the bed. She just sat there, her piercing eyes locked onto Galinda, gaze unreadable, unreadable yet so consuming… Galinda swallowed, then slowly moved forward.

She placed one knee on the bed, the mattress dipping slightly beneath her weight. Then she lifted her other leg, bracketing Elphaba’s thighs, her body pressing close as she straddled her.

For the first time since this started, she hesitated.

“…Is this okay?” she asked softly.

Elphaba didn’t even pause .

“Yes.”

Galinda smiled, something warm curling in her chest. She reached out, brushing a hand under Elphaba’s chin, tilting her face up ever so slightly.

“So cute,” she murmured, thumb tracing the sharp line of Elphaba’s jaw.

Then she paused, searching her eyes, her expression turning serious. “…But I need to know something.”

Galinda’s breath was steady, but her heart was really anything but. She searched Elphaba’s face, scanning her expression for hesitation, for reluctance, for any trace of uncertainty.

Instead, she found only wanting.

She licked her lips and asked, “Where can I touch you?”

Elphaba swallowed, the muscles in her throat working, and then she answered, “Anywhere.”

Galinda didn’t break eye contact.

“Anywhere is a bit ambiguous,” she murmured, tilting her head.

Elphaba’s lips parted, and without missing a beat, she said, “I mean it.”

Galinda searched her eyes one last time, waiting for any flicker of doubt—there was none. So she lifted a hand, slow and deliberate, and gently pressed a single finger to Elphaba’s lips.

Elphaba didn’t hesitate.

She opened her mouth and sucked.

A sharp breath left Galinda’s lungs. Her lashes fluttered as she closed her eyes, just for a second, just to steady herself. But when she opened them again, she felt it—felt the slick warmth, the slow pull of Elphaba’s mouth, the soft press of her tongue against her fingertip.

She exhaled, her breath shallow. Then, slowly, she withdrew her finger.

A thin string of spit clung to her skin, glistening in the low light, and Galinda already knew what it would taste like. She barely resisted the urge to place it against her own tongue.

Instead, she refocused. Testing, she lifted her hand once more, but this time, she reached higher.

“What about here?” she asked, fingers brushing against the smooth curve of Elphaba’s horns.

Elphaba didn’t even flinch.

Didn’t bat an eye.

That was all it took.

Galinda’s restraint snapped like a fraying thread.

She surged forward, crashing back into Elphaba with the same intensity, the same hunger—with the same vigor that had been thrumming through her veins since the moment this started.

Galinda pressed Elphaba down onto the bed, their lips still locked together, breath mingling between them. This time, there was no hesitation, no questioning—just heat, just want. When she finally pulled back, Elphaba’s breathing was heavy, her pupils blown wide, her lips slightly parted.

Galinda chuckled, unable to help herself, and leaned in to press another quick peck against her lips before trailing lower.

She moved down to Elphaba’s jaw, pressing kisses along the sharp line, then down to her neck, where she sucked lightly, earning a shaky breath in response.

Elphaba squeezed her eyes shut.

Her tail moved along Galinda’s back, the unexpected sensation making her break into laughter against Elphaba’s skin. “That tickles,” she admitted, her voice breathy and amused.

From beneath her, Elphaba mumbled a quiet, “Sorry.”

Galinda reached a hand down, wrapping her fingers around Elphaba’s tail, feeling the warmth, the smoothness of it.

Her attention shifted downward. She pulled back just enough to get a proper look at Elphaba’s chest, the curve of her breasts, the way her skin flushed ever so slightly and her nipples. Galinda’s mouth went dry. She leaned up, sitting more firmly on Elphaba’s thighs, and reached both hands out, cupping her breasts, squeezing lightly.

A quiet sound left Elphaba’s throat. Galinda hummed in appreciation, barely aware she had mumbled, perfect, under her breath. Elphaba arched into her hands, pushing her chest out, silently urging her for more. Galinda laughed softly, amused by the desperation, and reached up to push her own hair behind her shoulders before leaning back in. This time, her mouth latched onto a nipple, tongue flicking, lips sucking—drawing out a sound that sent heat curling low in her stomach. Galinda’s mouth was hot and insistent against Elphaba’s skin, sucking deep, open-mouthed kisses onto one breast before moving to the other. Her hand replaced where her mouth had just been, fingers squeezing, rolling the sensitive flesh between them.

Elphaba's breath hitched, her hips pressing up instinctively, seeking contact.

Galinda flicked her tongue over a hardened nipple before looking up, her cheeks damp from the slick trail she had left across Elphaba’s chest. Her voice was thick with amusement and desire as she murmured, “Will this leave marks?”

Elphaba swallowed hard, her gaze flickering to the ceiling like she was trying to focus on something, anything, before nodding.

Galinda’s lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile.

“Good,” she murmured, before latching back onto her breast, sucking harder this time, her teeth grazing against the sensitive peak.

She bit down, just enough to draw a gasp from Elphaba, her tail twitching around Galinda’s arm, tightening.

Heat curled low in Galinda’s stomach at the reaction. She soothed the bite with her tongue, pressing her palm against Elphaba’s other breast, feeling the way her body arched into every touch, every tease. She was completely undone beneath her, and Galinda had never felt more powerful.

Galinda shifted, a little clumsily, adjusting her weight as she settled herself more firmly against Elphaba. She took a breath, steadying herself, then asked, “Are you fine with penetration?”

Elphaba’s eyes flickered with something unreadable before she answered, voice low and sure, “Yeah.”

Galinda nodded, processing that, before moving. She straddled one of Elphaba’s legs, pressing her weight down just enough to feel the warmth of her skin against her own. Then, without breaking eye contact, she reached down and lifted Elphaba’s other leg from beneath her knee, adjusting her position with deliberate care.

Her gaze finally drifted downward, drinking in the sight of Elphaba beneath her, spread out and waiting. Galinda bit the inside of her cheek, fighting off a grin, then rested her hand against Elphaba’s stomach.

Slowly, she dragged her fingers lower, her palm gliding over the taut muscles there.

At the same time, Elphaba released her tail from Galinda’s grip, and it slithered around her ankle instead, a slow, curling movement that sent a shiver up Galinda’s spine. When her fingers finally reached Elphaba’s clit, sliding there from their slow descent, Elphaba’s breath hitched.

Then—soft, almost reverent—she exhaled, “Galinda.”

Galinda snapped her eyes up at the sound of her name, warmth pooling in her stomach at the way Elphaba had said it.

She smiled. “I’ve never really skipped a class before,” she admitted, voice teasing but fond.

Then, she leaned down, closing the distance between them again, pressing her lips to Elphaba’s in a kiss. Galinda’s fingers dipped lower, slipping through the wetness pooling between Elphaba’s thighs. The moment she made contact, Elphaba let out the most beautiful, breathless sound—a sharp exhale that melted into a moan.

Galinda bit her lip, grateful she still had her panties on, because she could feel how soaked she was, how her arousal had been steadily building with every one of Elphaba’s little gasps and whimpers. She pressed her fingers in just a little deeper, teasing, before swiping them up, gathering the slickness there.

She hummed in approval, rubbing slow, deliberate circles over Elphaba’s clit, watching her unravel beneath her touch. Then, without breaking eye contact, she brought her fingers to her mouth. Elphaba’s eyes snapped up, her pupils blown wide as she watched Galinda’s lips part around her fingers. She swallowed hard, her breath uneven.

Galinda pulled her fingers free with an exaggerated hum of appreciation, smirking as she licked the last traces away. “If I can eat an orange that tastes like you,” she mused, tilting her head, “I might as well get it straight from the source.”

Elphaba made a strangled sound in the back of her throat, her wings twitching where they were folded against the bed.

Galinda dragged her nails lightly over the soft skin of Elphaba’s thigh, letting her touch wander in lazy circles. “What else can you do?”

Elphaba blinked. “What?”

Galinda smiled, her fingers still tracing idle patterns along Elphaba’s leg. “I mean with the subliminal stuff. Or in general. What else?”

Elphaba leaned up slightly, bracing herself on her elbows, and Galinda’s gaze flickered down instinctively, catching the way her chest rose and fell. She bit her lip, forcing herself to meet Elphaba’s eyes again, only to find that hint of a blush dusting her face.

“Well…” Elphaba started, glancing away for a moment before meeting Galinda’s gaze again. “We’re both more receptive. And I can… influence your senses.”

Galinda nodded, biting her lip harder to keep from grinning. “Go on.”

Elphaba looked back at her, voice calm and almost clinical, like she was giving a lecture—but there was something simmering underneath.

“Well, touch I already said,” she began. “Vision—I can impair your sight. It's said that when humans lose access to one sense, the others become heightened. Not seeing what’s happening makes the anticipation better.”

Galinda nodded, eyes wide, locked on her.

Elphaba continued, tilting her head slightly, her tone dipping lower. “Smell—I can make myself smell more desirable.” And she did—subtly, but Galinda felt it. That warm sweetness, like honey and spice, filling the air between them.

Elphaba kept going. “Taste—that’s what I did today. I can influence what you taste.”

Galinda blinked slowly, like the world was softening around the edges.

“And hearing—again, when you heighten the others, it can make you hear things that aren’t really there—"

But she didn’t finish.

Galinda swooped down mid-sentence, closing the space between them in a heartbeat. “Is that what you were talking about?” she asked, her voice a whisper against Elphaba’s skin, her lips brushing just under her jaw.

Elphaba let out a short laugh, soft and surprised—but it died as soon as Galinda looked up at her.

“You smell good,” Galinda said, so reverently it made the air feel heavier.

And she wasn’t looking at her with idle admiration—she was seeing her, entirely, like something to worship. Elphaba could only nod.

“I know,” she replied, barely above a whisper.

Galinda nodded back, like she was under a spell—one she didn’t mind staying under. Slowly, she leaned in again, rubbing her cheek against Elphaba’s neck like a cat claiming something. Then, she turned her head and dragged her tongue in a deliberate stripe—from Elphaba’s collarbone all the way up to her cheek.

Elphaba’s breath hitched. And Galinda smiled.

She continued to rub her face against her, trailing lower, across Elphaba’s collarbone and down to her chest. Her mouth was everywhere—soft and wet, devotional.

Then, all at once, she blinked like waking from a dream. Her eyes still held that dazed glow as she pulled back. “How do you do that?” she asked, almost bewildered.

She reached up instinctively to wipe the spit from Elphaba’s skin, cheeks coloring. “I’m sorry.”

Elphaba laughed softly, shaking her head. “It’s fine.”

Galinda smiled, relieved, and leaned in to kiss her. It was slow, deep—more grounding than apologetic. She reached around her back mid-kiss, unhooking her bra in one practiced motion and tossing it aside.

Elphaba was already staring.

Then she gasped quietly, pupils dilating. Her tail curled tight around Galinda’s thigh.

Galinda looked down, chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. She felt flushed, feverish, almost drunk on the tension between them.

Elphaba’s voice dropped to a murmur. “Your desire has reached… an absurd amount.”

Galinda nodded, whispering, “I know, thanks to you.”

Elphaba exhaled a quiet “Oh,” like it punched the air out of her.

Galinda moved a hand to Elphaba’s thigh, grounding herself, and slid the other down between her legs. Elphaba’s wings unfurled without warning, a sharp snap of movement.

Galinda looked up, still stroking gently. “Does it hurt to lay on them?”

Elphaba’s eyes fluttered. “Not really,” she whispered.

Galinda smiled, slow and sweet. “Okay.”

And then she finally pushed a finger in.

Elphaba’s whole body arched beneath her, lips parting in a silent moan as her tail tightened and her wings flared wider, curling at the edges. The air around them felt charged, electric—like something was being called into the room just by the way Galinda touched her.

Elphaba was tight—so wet, so impossibly warm—and it didn’t feel anything like when Galinda touched herself. It was more. And when she slid just one finger in, the way Elphaba reacted—her body clenching, breath stuttering—Galinda’s brows rose in surprise. It was almost like she could feel it too, like the heat between them had blurred the line between her own pleasure and Elphaba’s.

Elphaba spread her legs a little more, the motion deliberate, almost needy.

Galinda let out a soft laugh, lips quirking. “I’m going to add another,” she warned.

Elphaba nodded, eyes hooded.

Galinda withdrew slowly, then pushed in again with two fingers this time, mindful of the stretch. She moved carefully, gauging Elphaba’s face, every twitch of muscle, every catch in her breath. But Elphaba didn’t pull away—if anything, she arched her chest higher, as if offering more of herself.

Galinda glanced down, half in awe. For all Elphaba’s horns, wings, and tail, her body she was still so human. So familiar.

She blinked, marveling. “You’re… the same.”

Elphaba’s tail coiled tighter around Galinda’s thigh in response.

“Right,” Galinda murmured, refocusing as she curled her fingers just so.

The sounds of her hand moving between Elphaba’s thighs grew louder, wetter, rhythmic. Galinda picked up the pace, her fascination giving way to instinct. Elphaba’s tail squeezed tighter, almost to the point of pain, but Galinda didn’t stop.

She couldn’t.

Not when Elphaba’s legs began to tremble. Not when her breath came in ragged little bursts. And when her thighs locked, her tail tightening sharply around Galinda’s leg, Galinda froze for just a second, until she realized Elphaba was close.

She moved her fingers faster.

Elphaba whimpered—whimpered—a sound Galinda had never heard from her before. Her whole body tensed like a string about to snap. Then it happened. She came hard—legs seizing, back arching, wings flaring wide behind her in a rush of movement. Her head tipped back, horns bumping the pillow, a strangled moan spilling from her lips.

Her inner walls clenched tight around Galinda’s fingers, pulsing, rippling like waves. Her tail jerked once, then loosened.

Galinda didn’t stop until the spasms faded—until Elphaba’s thighs stopped shaking and she fell back to the bed, breathless. She pulled her hand away gently, watching the slick on her fingers glisten. She looked up, and Elphaba was staring at her with wide, stunned eyes, her face flushed darker than Galinda had ever seen it.

Elphaba blinked up at her, dazed and flushed, and let out a soft, almost stunned “Wow.”

Galinda tilted her head, lips quirking as she caught her breath. “Good wow or bad wow?”

Elphaba flopped back onto the pillow with a satisfied sigh. “Definitely good.”

Galinda grinned, brushing sweaty hair off her own forehead. She glanced down, catching sight of Elphaba’s tail, which had gone almost limp, curled loosely on the bed. “Your tail…” she said thoughtfully, fingers lightly brushing it. “It’s reflective of your pleasure, isn’t it?”

Elphaba cracked one eye open, still breathless. “Yeah. Emotions, pleasure—kind of everything.”

Galinda smiled wider, a little proud of herself, and reached for the tail again, stroking it gently. It twitched weakly beneath her touch, sensitive even now.

She shifted up, fully straddling Elphaba’s hips, looking down at her like she couldn’t believe her eyes and that she got to see her like this—flushed, wings spread and soft, eyes half-lidded.

“I’ve never…” Elphaba started, voice low. Her wings dipped a little lower at the start of the admission.

Galinda leaned down slowly, silencing her with a kiss. A long, tender one.

But then it hit her—that scent again. Faint, but still there. The same warm, heady one from earlier, that made her stomach twist in the best way.

She pulled back slightly, eyes narrowing with amused realization.

Elphaba saw the look and beat her to it. “It’s not as strong as before,” she said, a little sheepish.

But Galinda didn’t let her finish. She kissed her again—hurried, needy kisses all over her face, her cheek, her jaw, her nose. Elphaba just laid there and let her, a bemused smile tugging at her lips.

Then Galinda reached for her hands. She guided them to her legs first, grounding both of them in touch. Then her own hands slid up to Elphaba’s shoulders but she paused, then grabbed Elphaba’s wrists gently and pulled them lower. She placed them firmly on her ass.

Elphaba’s eyes went wide. “Oh.”

Galinda just smiled, leaned in, and kissed her again—deeper this time, a clear yes in her body, her breath, the way she pressed in closer. Elphaba’s hands squeezed lightly. Her tail gave a little flick.

Yeah. She was definitely recovering.

Galinda pulled back just slightly, just enough to meet Elphaba’s eyes—and then, slowly, deliberately, she reached down. She took Elphaba’s hand, warm and still resting behind her, and guided it beneath the waistband of her panties.

Elphaba’s brows lifted as her fingers slid through slick heat.

Her eyes flicked down, then up, visibly stunned. “Oh,” she breathed, genuinely bewildered.

She swallowed hard, her throat working, and looked back at Galinda like she’d just discovered something sacred. Galinda wrapped her arms around Elphaba’s shoulders again, pulling herself close, pressing their bodies together. One arm slid down Elphaba’s back, fingers gliding between her wings, resting right where her spine curved. She let out a soft breath, both grounding herself and urging Elphaba on.

Elphaba’s hand moved tentatively at first, fingertips brushing over Galinda’s clit in a slow, testing circle. Galinda gasped, her hips grinding down in response, chasing the pressure with an unconscious ease.

She pressed her nose into Elphaba’s neck, nuzzling in instinctively. That scent was stronger now—richer, warmer, like her desire itself had a signature. Then, without thinking, she turned her head and bit —soft but unmistakable—against the base of Elphaba’s neck.

Elphaba’s hand paused, stunned again, but Galinda only laughed, breathless against her skin. A short, giddy sound that buzzed down Elphaba’s spine.

And then she started moving again. Confident now. She slipped two fingers inside, easily, sliding deep and slow, the way Galinda’s body opened up for her making her head spin. Galinda moaned, low and open-mouthed, her breath stuttering against Elphaba’s skin as she moved with her, hips rolling, body flush and eager.

“You’re…” Elphaba started to say something, but Galinda cut her off with another kiss, this one messier, needier.

The scent bloomed again.

Everything about her said more .

Galinda’s voice was breathy, urgent— “Go faster.”

Elphaba didn’t hesitate. Her fingers moved quicker, thrusting and curling with more purpose now, her palm pressing against Galinda’s clit in just the right rhythm.

Galinda kept grinding down to meet her, hips moving in messy, desperate circles. Her head tipped back, a groan catching in her throat—half dazed, half delighted.

And Oz, maybe Pfanne was right. Maybe she did need to send him a thank you basket or something. Because if she’d been tense before? Now she felt like she was melting right through Elphaba’s hands.

Without thinking, she brought a hand up, fingertips grazing over the base of Elphaba’s horn, then slowly sliding to trace along its curve. The reaction was immediate—Elphaba shivered, a sharp exhale leaving her lips.

Galinda grinned. Interesting .

She sat up a little, still grinding down on Elphaba’s hand, and used her grip on the horns to gently guide Elphaba’s head downward—right to her chest. Elphaba didn’t need instructions. Her lips parted, wrapping around Galinda’s nipple like she’d been craving it, her tongue moving in slow, practiced swirls.

Galinda let out a shaky sound, pleasure spiking fast. She dropped her hand back to Elphaba’s shoulder and pushed her chest forward, wordless encouragement.

“Faster,” she gasped again.

Elphaba obeyed—fingers curling deeper, rhythm picking up. Her free arm wrapped around Galinda’s back, holding her steady, grounding her.

And then Galinda came.

It hit her all at once—a rush so strong her entire body tensed. Her fingers dug into Elphaba’s back, nails pressing in as she let out a moan that filled the room, raw and unfiltered. Her thighs shook around Elphaba’s hips, her whole body pulsing with it.

Elphaba didn’t stop—not until Galinda slumped forward, boneless, her forehead resting on her shoulder, breath coming in shallow gasps. They stayed there for a moment, tangled and still.

Then Galinda let out a low, spent laugh. “Okay,” she breathed, “Pfanne’s getting a fruit basket.”

Elphaba just blinked, still processing. “…I don’t know what that means.”

Galinda kissed the corner of her mouth. “Don’t worry.”

Elphaba slowly eased back onto the bed, guiding Galinda with her, still held close. Galinda didn’t resist—just stretched her legs out with a lazy sigh, her body melting into the warmth beneath her.

She nuzzled into Elphaba’s shoulder, eyelids heavy, until her hand wandered up and touched the pillow above Elphaba’s head. Her finger poked through something—soft, but not quite right.

She raised her head with a tired, amused groan. “Your horn must’ve torn my pillowcase,” she said, holding the fabric up with a crooked finger.

Elphaba craned her neck to look, blinking slowly. “Oops.”

Galinda laughed, shaking her head, and dropped her face back down. Elphaba laughed, but before she could say anything else, Galinda reached up and brushed her cheek with the back of her fingers. The touch was soft—absentminded, maybe, but full of quiet affection.

Elphaba’s eyes fluttered, smile softening, and Galinda couldn’t help but mirror it.

A breath passed between them—steady, warm.

Then Elphaba moved, wrapping her other arm around Galinda’s waist, holding her more securely, like she wanted to keep her there forever. Their bodies pressed together—chests flush, legs tangled like roots. Galinda rested her hand over Elphaba’s heart, feeling the steady beat beneath her palm.

And that was it. No big declarations, no dramatic magic—just breath and warmth and the feeling of being wanted.

Galinda drifted off without even realizing it. Her body relaxed fully for the first time in what felt like ages. She wasn’t sure she’d ever fallen asleep so quickly—or so content.

Elphaba kept stroking her back in slow, rhythmic motions, even long after Galinda had gone still and quiet. The room settled around them enveloping them.

And sleep had Galinda in its depth.

Galinda groaned as she woke, stretching her legs with a luxurious yawn—until she realized something was off. She was alone.

Her eyes opened fully, and she blinked around the dim room. The sun was low, casting a soft amber glow across the floorboards. Her sheets were rumpled, the scent of the evening still faint in the air—but Elphaba was gone.

She sat up fast, tousled hair falling into her face. “Elphaba?” she called, scanning the room. Her voice echoed back at her, quiet and unanswered.

She peeked over the edge of the bed, half expecting to find Elphaba perched at the foot of it, watching her with those sharp, curious eyes. But the space was empty. She stood, her bare feet hitting the floor with a soft thump, and padded toward the bathroom, her chest tightening.

The room was empty there too.

“Oh…” she breathed, barely louder than a whisper.

Back in the room, she paused, her eyes catching on the mess they’d left behind. Her dress crumpled in a soft heap. Her bra tangled on the floor. The faint indent of Elphaba’s body still warm in the sheets. All of it real. All of it happened.

But the ache in her chest said something else.

It was around evening when everything glowed but nothing was quite clear. How long had she been asleep? And where had Elphaba gone? Galinda turned to her desk and pulled open her summoning book, her fingers suddenly less steady than usual. She flipped with urgency now, turning pages until she reached the one she wanted .

She scanned it, eyes darting past the ornate lettering and illustrations. She muttered the small incantation at the bottom of the page under her breath… but nothing happened.

She looked around her room again. Elphaba would’ve come if she wanted to, wouldn’t she?

Right?

Galinda slammed the book closed and dropped it on her desk with a frustrated grunt. She stood there, arms crossed over her bare chest, eyes unfocused.

She didn’t like the way this felt. She turned back to the bathroom, intent on washing up—but paused in the doorway.

The idea of rinsing Elphaba off her made her stomach twist. She grabbed her bra instead, tugging it on with less care than usual. She pulled a cardigan over her bare shoulders, grabbed the nearest skirt she could find, and threw her hair into a decent-enough twist.

Pfanne and Shenshen were probably in the dining hall. They’d know what to say. Or at least how to distract her.

She took one last look at the room before slipping out.

Galinda didn’t even bother pretending to care about the food when she walked into the dining hall. She went straight to Pfanne and Shenshen, plopping down with a dramatic sigh and immediately leaning into Pfanne’s side.

He barely hesitated before setting down his fork and draping an arm around her. “Hi,” he greeted, half amused, half wary.

Galinda sighed again, heavier this time. “Hi.”

Shenshen arched a brow. “What is it now?”

Galinda buried her face into Pfanne’s shoulder. “Let’s just say I’m dealing with a serious case of rejection right now.”

Pfanne gasped, clutching his chest like she had just told him the most scandalous gossip of the century. “Hello? From who?” He pushed her upright to get a better look at her face.

Galinda bit her lip. “The world.”

Pfanne rolled his eyes and pulled her right back against him. “Melodramatic as always,” he said, picking his fork back up and resuming his meal. “Instead of worrying about how the world is treating you, maybe you should focus on your classes.”

Galinda huffed. “Weren’t you the one saying I needed to get out of my books more?”

“Just trying to help,” he said, smirking.

Galinda hummed noncommittally and eventually grabbed a veggie wrap, nibbling at it absentmindedly. She was chewing, she was talking—she was present. But the unease wouldn’t leave her.

What if she never saw Elphaba again? What if she couldn’t accidentally summon her again? What if that was just… it? The thought made her chest tight, like she had been given something wonderful and then had it ripped away.

She barely tasted her food, and as soon as she was finished, she pushed up from the table. “I have to practice for my practical tomorrow,” she announced, before any of them could stop her.

Pfanne didn’t even question it, just waved a lazy hand at her as she practically ran off. But when she reached her room, she didn’t grab any of her study materials. She grabbed the summoning book. With a huff, she flopped onto her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows, and flipped straight to the page with the incantation.

She stared at it for a moment, lips pressing together. She pushed a hand down beneath her skirt, still a little wet from earlier. Her fingers slid easily over her skin, but it didn’t feel the same. Not like when Elphaba had touched her. Not even close.

Galinda squeezed her eyes shut, trying to recreate it—repeating the same movements Elphaba had used. She circled her clit slowly, imagining the press of green fingers instead of her own. Her other hand moved lower, slipping two fingers in at once this time. No teasing, no slow buildup. She was already there, already aching.

She gasped softly, her legs tensing, the sound of her breath the only thing filling the room.

The book lay open beside her on the bed, waiting. Galinda glanced at it, her pulse quickening as she read the incantation aloud. Her voice faltered at first, then steadied, stronger, needier.

She repeated it, again and again, until the words curled in her mouth like heat. And when she came—sharp, sudden, body curling tight—she said Elphaba’s name like it was part of the spell. Her back arched. Her lips parted in a moan that was more plea than satisfaction.

Then silence.

Galinda fell against the sheets, her chest heaving. She looked around the room. Nothing. No shimmer of magic. No shift in air. No Elphaba.

“Okay,” she whispered to herself, trying to believe it. “Okay.”

She wiped her hand on and shoved the book under her bed, like it might disappear if she didn’t have to see it. Then she pulled the covers up over herself, still flushed, skin damp, her heartbeat too loud in the quiet.

Maybe when she woke up, Elphaba would be there.

She shut her eyes tight, whispering her name again. But sleep didn’t come. She tossed, turned. Stared at the ceiling. She almost debated getting up to run laps around her room just to tire herself out.

Instead, she curled tighter under the blanket, trying to picture Elphaba’s face. The sharp lines of her jaw, the curve of her mouth, the glint in her eyes when she teased.

Could she even remember it right… Galinda whispered her name again. And waited.

Eventually, sleep took her.

It wasn't deep, and it wasn’t restful—just heavy enough to pull her under, to dull the ache behind her eyes and quiet the thoughts that wouldn’t stop repeating themselves.

She didn’t dream. No visions. No sound or flickers of green skin. Just darkness. Somewhere in the thick silence of her mind, she clung to the hope that when she woke, Elphaba would be there. Just like before—sitting at the foot of her bed, her tail lazily curled, wings tucked in like she hadn’t just torn Galinda’s world apart.

But a colder thought crept in, curling tight around her chest.

I guess she left, Galinda thought, even in sleep. She did complete the basis of her summoning, didn’t she?

A sour frown tugged at her lips. Her body shifted restlessly beneath the covers, fingers curling into the sheets. She tried to fight it—tried to not let it feel like loss—but her heart stung anyway. Her last drifting thought, just before the darkness pulled her under completely, was of Elphaba’s wings. The way they’d wrapped around her.