Chapter Text
“You’re kidding,” Elphaba said. “Him?”
Mrs. Pondley, the school’s tutor program director and only swan on staff, gave her a nod.
“Yes,” she said. “After some consideration from the team, we’ve decided you two would be the most productive choice to pair together.”
Shiz University’s library ran a program in which students could volunteer as tutors and then paired with academically struggling students. Madame Morrible’s magic lessons had been taking so much of Elphaba’s time that she realized she needed other credits to help her graduate. And with her impressive grades, many of Elphaba’s professors had recommended her to assist other students in their studies. It seemed like a good match.
However, Elphaba immediately regretted her decision when she was told who she’d been paired up with for the program: Fiyero Tigelaar.
Just her luck. Of the dozens of students that attended the program, Elphaba got stuck with the one person who was about as interested in studying as he was stubbing his toe.
“Are you sure there’s no one else?” Elphaba asked. “I’d be willing to tutor two people if I could have anyone else.”
“Everyone has already been paired off, I’m afraid,” Mrs. Pondley said.
It was clear the swan was a little confused by Elphaba’s reaction. Any of the other tutors would be begging for an opportunity like this. But then again, Elphaba was not like other students. Mrs. Pondley leaned her long neck over the desk.
“Miss Elphaba,” she said. “You’re one of the brightest students currently attending Shiz. And his highness is…” She paused for a moment, to find the right words that wouldn’t offend a Vinkus king. “...not the most academically rigorous young man.”
Understatement for someone kicked out of several schools, Elphaba thought.
“It’s my strong belief that you are the best candidate to assist his highness,” the advisor continued. She leaned forward over her desk. “And I’ll be blunt with you, Miss Elphaba. Nearly everyone at Shiz is completely infatuated with Mr. Tigelaar. I fear most of our tutors will end up giggling or twirling their hair in his highness’s presence and little studying will get done.”
She gave Elphaba a small, encouraging smile.
“Besides,” she said. “To tutor one of Oz’s royal heirs is quite the honor. It’s the kind of thing future superiors would be impressed by.” Her eyes gleamed. “Madame Morrible told me about her plans to get you to the Emerald City. An advisor to the Wizard and a tutor to the Vinkus prince? It’s quite a resume, wouldn’t you agree?”
Despite herself, Elphaba couldn’t argue against that. As much as she hates to admit it, having connections to power helped if you wanted to change things. And if she had the support of a Vinkus royal on her side, perhaps she could better persuade the Wizard to support her future Animal Rights campaigns. Tutoring a perpetual party boy seemed like a small price to pay for such a thing.
Besides, while most of her classmates had backed off since she became friends with Galinda, Elphaba noticed how many still gawked and whispered about her when Miss Upland wasn’t around. Despite gaining some acceptance with Galinda’s friendship and Madam Morrible’s praise, Elphaba still felt like an outsider.
But Fiyero on the other hand, was the only person who wasn’t immediately repulsed by her appearance when they met. He seemed to see her green skin as a quaint novelty rather than a disgusting display. If Elphaba were paired with any other student, she may have had to deal with even more scrutiny. Despite the confusing feelings curling in her stomach, Fiyero was the best choice for this.
Elphaba sighed and pursed her lips.
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll do it.”
The advisor’s face brightened.
“Wonderful,” she said.
~
Growing up, Fiyero’s parents had hired some of the best tutors in Oz to educate him (many of whom quit out of frustration after a few months). Fiyero never really cared for them, but this time, he was committed to doing some good. On the first morning of the tutoring program, he woke up nice and early (he even paid off a rooster to caw outside his door), ate a hearty breakfast at the mass hall, and left on schedule with books, pencils and everything.
“Lie-berry,” Fiyero tried to read the word on his school map. “That just be the place with the books Galinda mentioned.”
He’d only been to the library once, when Galinda gave him a tour his first day on campus. He hadn’t been back since, which likely explained why he was mandated to participate in the tutoring program
One more flunked test, and you’re out, his academic advisor had told him
Fiyero would have rather done anything else—perhaps even read a book. But unlike his previous schools, he was quite fond of Shiz University, and wasn’t ready to be expelled just yet. The Ozdust Ballroom was too funny, and classmates like Galinda and her lot kept things much more fun.
So, for the sake of enjoying the place a little longer, he agreed to some tutoring.
A boy and girl walked by. Fiyero threw a sparkling smile at them.
“Excuse me,” he said. “I think I’ve gotten myself lost. Do either of you know where the lie-berry is?”
The boy and girl both paused and smiled at him. It was a look Fiyero was used to. The shining eyes, the giggly smiles. If only charm were a school subject, Fiyero would be able to graduate on that A-plus alone.
“It’s past the mess hall,” the girl said.
“The brownstone buildings with all the clocks on the side,” the boy said.
Fiyero flashed them one last smile. The boy and girl nearly started giggling, smiles so wide their cheeks turned pink.
“Thank you very much,” he said.
He folded up the map and followed the pair’s directions. He could feel their eyes watching him as he went, and let them enjoy the view.
~
The library (not “lie-berry,” as Dr. Dillamond corrected him on the front steps) smelled dusty as Fiyero stepped through its grand double doors. His eyes glazed along the towering walls of shelves. Students were spread about, whispering at tables, curled up with books in chairs, climbing a wheeled ladder up the higher shelves. Fiyero had the thought that a place like this would make a magnificent ballroom if it wasn’t used for something as boring as studying,
Fiyero approached the librarian’s desk where the program’s director, a swan named Mrs.Pondley, was waiting. She looked delighted when she saw him, perhaps in part because she was surprised he showed up at all.
“Good afternoon, your highness,” the swan said with the delicate bow of her long neck.
Fiyero flashed her that charming smile.
“You as well, Mrs. Pondley,” he said. “If it’s not an imposition, I must say your feathers are looking especially luminous today.”
The swan chuckled, and would have blushed if she were able to.
“It’s the new shampoo,” she said. “I found a shop that makes it specifically for birds. Miracle elixir, I swear it is.”
“I’m here for the tutoring program.
“Yes, you’re highness. We’ve already selected a tutor for you.”
Mrs. Pondley flipped open a notebook with her beak. After a few pages, she found the tutor listing written in blue pen down a whole page.
“Your tutor will be Miss Elphaba Thropp,” the swan said. “She is seated at a table in the corner.”
Fiyero’s eyes widened and his eyebrows raised.
“Elphaba Thropp,” he said.
Mrs.Pondley nodded.
“You’re quite lucky,” she said. “She is Shiz’s brightest. One could not ask for a better academic guide.”
Fiyero had only spoken to Elphaba once. He had accidentally run into her while he was riding Feldspur onto campus. He recalled she had been quite defensive, colder with him than he was used to as a prince. She was notable as the only green-skinned girl at Shiz, as well as being the Munchkin governor’s daughter. But recently, he only knew her as Galinda’s roommate who was too busy burying her nose in a sorcery book to pay much attention to him.
At first, he thought perhaps she was just shy. But she seemed quite assertive when she first spoke to him. It wasn’t hard to imagine why. Since arriving at the university, he never heard positive things about the green girl except a few charitable remarks from Galinda.
No matter. Fiyero had the skill to charm even the frostiest of classmates. Surely, Galinda Upland’s roommate would be no different. Besides, she was his tutor now. She was stuck with him.
Fiyero adjusted his satchel on his shoulder and gave the swan a bow.
“Thank you, Mrs. Pondley,” he said.
There were several tables arranged around one corner of the library. The other students seeking help were seated with their tutors, buzzing like honeybees over their thick volumes. Several of them glanced up when he walked over, throwing him smiles and waves. One girl tried to say hi until one of the other librarians shushed her.
And there, in a small table in the furthest corner, was Elphaba.
She already had a book open in front of her and a quill in her hand. Her tutoring partners had not even arrived yet, and already she was swimming in a lesson. Fiyero suddenly felt himself a bit self-conscious in a way he wasn’t used to. He ran a hand over his hair, adjusted his blue coat and approached the table.
Fiyero dropped his heavy books onto the table. The sound was a loud thump that made Elphaba jump in her seat. That earned him another shush from a librarian. He gave her a reassuring smile, then pulled out a chair and sat across from Elphaba.
“Well,” Fiyero said. “It seems despite your best efforts, Miss Elphaba, that you have not avoided me entirely.”
Elphaba unclenched her shoulders and gave him a cold look.
“And despite the smell of elixir on your breath, you actually showed up,” she said.
“Everyone at this school carries a flask around with them.” Fiyero gave her a mischievous grin. “Except you, I presume.”
“And that’s why I’m tutoring and not being tutored.”
Elphaba meant the words as a slight, the kind that might get her in trouble for saying to a prince. But Fiyero just threw his head back and chuckled.
“Well, regardless, we’re partners now,” he said. “I’ve been told I’ve been assigned Shiz’s brightest to help me.”
“Lucky me,” Elphaba deadpanned.
She sighed. There was no point in dragging this out any longer. She was stuck with Fiyero, so she might as well get this over with. The sooner they were done, the sooner she could get back to her sorcery practice and the sooner he could go back to getting wasted and falling in some bushes somewhere.
Elphaba tapped her long nails against the table.
“So,” she said. “What subject do you need help with?”
“Well, all of them,” Fiyero said. He pulled out the thick red textbook at the bottom of his pile. “But the most pressing at the moment is law and government. I have a big exam in that class next week. According to my advisor, if I flunk it, I will be kicked out of Shiz permanently.” He gave her a smile. “No pressure.”
Elphaba gave him a look.
“Fiyero, you’re a prince,” she said. “You’re the heir to a throne. Shouldn’t you of all people understand laws and government? Considering you’re…”
The heir to an entire kingdom?
“Of course!” Fiyero said. “But I don’t intend to inherit the throne until many years from now. Why waste my youth learning things I don’t have to know until I’m older and grayer?”
Elphaba looked at him for a long moment. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Well, you have to learn eventually,” she said. “So it’s time to start.”
This was a man who was going to run a country one day. Elphaba wondered for a moment if there were any spells in Madame Morrible’s book that could poof the prince out of existence without anyone noticing.
Elphaba thought the worst outcome was Fiyero getting expelled. She would never see him again, which she didn’t mind the thought of too much, albeit Galinda would be crying about it for weeks. But she realized quickly that if she failed, she would be sending a man who knew nothing about how laws worked to head a whole kingdom one day. There was a good chance she may be the only person to actually show him how these big things worked.
Fiyero was right about one thing: Much pressure for a tutor.
“I guess we should get started then,” Elphaba said, reaching across the table to take Fiyero’s textbook from his pile.
Fiyero gave her that sickly sweet grin, the kind that must have been charming to everyone else. He laced his fingers together and set his chin on them.
“So we shall,” he said. “Tutor me, Miss Thropp.”