Chapter Text
Fiyero was leading the group through a beautiful poppy field, similar to the ones Boq grew up with in Munchkinland. He didn’t know how, but Fiyero had managed to convince them all to leave Shiz in the evening for a picnic. Normally, Boq would stay in his shared room and study, but it was such a gorgeous evening, that it would be a shame to miss it. Fiyero stopped at a clearing, spinning triumphantly “come on, Woodsman! Show us what you can do with that axe of yours!” Boq sighs, making his way to a rotting tree. Looked easy enough to chop down, shouldn’t take too many swings. He rolled up his sleeve and took his first swing. After a few swings, he watched the rotting tree fall. Fiyero laughed, yelling “timber!” which made Boq laugh. Once the tree was on the ground, he kicked it, making sure it was sturdy enough to lean against “ok, that’s good” Galinda collapsed against the tree dramatically, complaining of her feet hurting. Elphaba, who was holding Galinda’s pink heels, walked up and sat on the tree “it’s not our fault you decided to wear heels” she huffed and kicked Elphaba. Boq helped Nessa out of her chair with permission and sat her down next to Elphaba, checking if that was an ok spot. Fiyero spotted a nearby lake and threw his shirt off “come on, Boq!” Boq turned, his cheeks instantly turning red. Fiyero’s chest had a sprinkling of dark hair, a few moles, beautiful and chest scars under his pecs. They were a jagged shape, which kinda reminded Boq of lightning strikes. He also happened to have three blue Dilamond tattoos on his shoulder. They seemed to almost glow in the light, making Fiyero even more attractive. He snapped out of his staring when Fiyero grabbed his hands, pulling him to the lake “I…I don’t know if I should-“
“Come onnnnn!” Elphaba was giving him an encouraging thumbs up. Boq wasn’t exactly self conscious, but he wasn’t confident either. He could be confident, but taking his sweater vest and shirt off in front of his friends? He wasn’t that confident. Fiyero gave him adorable puppy dog eyes which Boq tried to resist but couldn’t. He gave in and started to take off his sweater vest and unbutton his shirt. He slipped it off, revealing his green chest and arms. He didn’t notice Fiyero gulping and staring, his confidence seeming to disappear. Fiyero bit his lip, looking Boq up and down. He couldn’t help imagine how those green arms felt around his waist, how lovely it would be to trace every freckle on Boq’s pecs.
-•
He snapped out of it and grabbed Boq’s hand “race you!” Boq rolled his eyes and chased Fiyero, leaving the girls, who cheered Boq on. Fiyero jumped into the lake, making a huge splash. Boq laughed and sat on the bank instead, rolling his trousers legs up and taking his shoes and socks off to dip his feet in the water. Fiyero emerged, shaking his head like a dog, making water droplets fly everywhere “you didn’t jump in!” Boq smiled softly “I’m not really a ‘jumping’ kinda guy” Fiyero frowned and swan up to Boq, grabbing him and pulling him in “Fiyero-!” Fiyero laughed as Boq fell in. Boq gasped as he emerged, his curls in his eyes and sticking to his forehead. Fiyero found it adorable and funny, pushing out the wet curls from Boq’s eyes so he could see. Boq splutterd, giving Fiyero a glare before splashing him. Fiyero have a mock gasp, acting wounded “Boq Woodsman, did you just splash my perfect face?”
“Serves you right for dragging me in” Fiyero laughed and splashed him back. Both men ended up having a splashing competition, making the girls at the tree watch and laugh, cheering them on and making bets on who will win the splashing competition. Boq felt safe, it felt right. Fiyero made him feel safe. Fiyero grabbed his waist, pulling him in and splashing his face. Boq coughed and spluttered “you can’t do that!” Fiyero grinned “I just did” that’s when Boq realised how close he was to Fiyero. So close in fact, that Boq could put his hands on Fiyero’s chest and lean up to kiss him- what? What was he thinking? Kissing Fiyero? No way, fiyero was annoying and stuck up. Why was Boq wanting to be so close to him? He gulped and untangled himself from Fiyero’s arms, climbing out of the lake “are you ok?” He nodded quickly “y-yeah, ju…just getting cold” he quickly returned to the girls, grabbing his shirt, putting it back on. Fiyero shrugged and lazily lied in the water, not bothering to get out just yet. Boq sat next to Elphaba, who nudged him “what was that all about?” He cleared his throat “n…nothing” she and Galinda shared a look and Galinda piped in “we saw you blushing! You turned almost as pink as my shoes!” Boq blushed again and waved off the claim “did not, you two were just seeing things!” Elphaba smirked “Boq, there’s no shame in admitting you have feelings for Fiyero” Nessa gave a small smile, taking Boq’s hand and squeezing it “it’s cute, if you think about it” could Boq have feelings for Fiyero? No, no, not possibly. There’s no way. He didn’t even know if Fiyero was into guys and he didn’t want to assume. Lucky for him, fiyero was still in the lake and couldn’t hear this conversation. While Fiyero did in fact annoy the living daylights out of Boq, he often found himself thinking about him. What would it be like to be in his arms? What would it be like to run his fingers theough Fiyero’s hair? It did look soft. He’d often push those thoughts aside, but maybe, they could lead to something?
-•
It was starting to get dark and Nessa had helped Boq gather firewood for a camp fire. Elphaba and Galinda were laughing about something, to the point where Galinda was crying from laughter. Nessa was showing Fiyero one of her books, which he pretended to be interested in, but found it boring. And Boq had never felt so loved and free in his life. Never had he thought that he could have his own friend group. He didn’t come to Shiz looking for friends, but he ended up having some and that was amazing to him. He ate some strawberries, looking at the fire. Fiyero noticed him being quiet and crawled to him, nudging him “what you thinking about?” He looked at Fiyero, noticing how the fire was reflected in his blue eyes. It was beautiful. He cleared his throat and fiddles with his shirt “just… how peaceful it is here” Fiyero nodded and lied down, looking at the sky. Boq followed suit, lying next to Fiyero. The sky was turning dark, the sun setting and it created gorgeous hues and colours. Oz, what a beautiful place. Fiyero hummed, looking at the sky and Boq wondered what he was thinking about. Maybe nothing? Maybe he just wanted to lie there in comfortable silence. Boq was ok with that, more than ok. He kinda wanted to lie on Fiyero’s chest, cuddling him and watching the sky. But he couldn’t, he knew he couldn’t. He noticed Galinda getting restless and sat up “we should probably head back before it gets dark” Elphaba nodded “that’s a good idea” Boq stood and started to gather everything they had brought with them. Fiyero lied there for a couple minutes before getting up himself and helping Boq. They worked together to get everything in one space and making sure they didn’t leave anything behind. Nessa put out the fire and Elphaba put on her own shoes on Galinda’s feet, knowing she won’t be able to walk back in heels. That didn’t seem to matter though because Elphaba ended up carrying Galinda. Before they started to leave, Boq collected some poppies, planning to give them to Dr Dilamond. As they walked, Fiyero started to hun a tune, similar to ‘Dancing through life’. Boq listened, walking up the hill. He twirled dramatically “all of our life, we’ll be together!” Boq rolled his eyes but Elphaba joined in, carrying Galinda who was practically falling asleep “five friends forever, me..” Fiyero pointed to each member “you, you and you…” and he eventually pointed to Boq “and you!” Boq chuckled, pushing Nessa up the hill as she was starting to struggle “such a quintet, there has never been yet!” He linked his arm with Boq and Elphaba. Galinda took Nessa’s hand sleepily “bring us life, and watch us dance on through…”