Positvely Obssesulated 🩷💚🫧

“How what?” She asked, giving the blonde a quizzical yet slightly concerned look at how out of breath she was. A part of her did empathize with what Glinda was feeling, knowing how much of a strain flying could be on the muscles in the back and chest. How much it still was sometimes. Especially for someone like Glinda, who wasn’t accustomed to long distances.

“How…do you do this all the time…without passing out?” Glinda finally straightened after having spent the last few clock ticks with her hands braced on her knees.

“Because I do this all the time.” Elphaba said candidly. “It wouldn’t feel nearly as bad if you would come with me regularly and not once a month.” Elphaba pointed out. The part of her that didn’t empathize with Glinda however, was eager to yell out, ‘I told you so.’ She decided to not remind her of the last time she waited far too long in between flights. Glinda was so stiff the next day she could hardly get out of bed.

“No, it’s because your wings are bigger. You don’t need to flap every few minutes to stay in the air.” While Glinda was being a touch dramatic, she did have a point. Elphaba found she was comfortable soaring for long stretches, but Glinda wasn’t able to maintain it in the same way. However, Elphaba was almost positive the problem was exacerbated by her lack of willingness to fly altogether.

“Elphie, trying to do this on a regular basis would almost certainly result in my untimely demise. Which, I might add, would be all your fault.” Glinda huffed, rubbing at her aching shoulders.

“Oh, is that right?” The older witch snorted in amusement, letting the wind currents push her towards the ledge Glinda was on until she was perched near the edge. “Let’s not forget whose idea it was to go out in the first place.”

Glinda rolled her eyes, yet stepped closer and wrapped her arms around the other, pulling her into an embrace. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember saying we should fly until one of us drops from a heart attack.” She dropped her head rather dramatically into the crook of Elphaba’s neck. Her heart thudded against her ribcage, though now it had less to do with their previous exertion. “This is what I get for showing my undying love as your wife and indulging in your interest.”

Elphaba laughed, and Glinda could feel the vibration of it rumble in her chest. “A truly brave sacrifice, my sweet. I’ll see to it personally that your funeral is every bit as dramatic and over the top as you were in life.”

Glinda looked up from her previous position with a glare. “You’re not funny.”

She smirked, leaning forward to press a chaste kiss to Glinda’s nose before moving to run her long nails across the abundant white feathers. “I find myself hilarious actually.”

Glinda couldn’t stop the reluctant smile from creeping onto her lips. Finally, she giggled and her wings fluttered. “You mean green thing…” She cupped Elphaba’s face in her hands, leaning forward for their lips to meet in a kiss.

Elphaba was the first to move away, despite being met with a small whine from the blonde in protest, that one small step sending her over the edge and back into the air with one smooth motion. She beat her wings a few times to steady herself, then held out a hand to Glinda. “Still want to turn around?”

Glinda gave a hum of faux contemplation. “Actually…” She took Elphaba’s outstretched hand, getting herself back in the air before letting go. “I think I can keep going.”

They started off again at an easy pace, using the thermal winds to slowly rise in altitude. “What changed your mind?”

Glinda twisted her body so she was gliding backwards beneath Elphaba looking up at her from below. “Second wind I suppose. ” She chuckled, and Elphaba smiled. Surprised and pleased all at once. “Well in that case…I’ll race you to the train station.” A glint in the witch’s eye was the only warning Glinda got before Elphaba took off straight ahead.

“Elphie-!” An excited laugh burst from Glinda’s lips as she righted herself, beating her wings and grinning wildly as she hurried to keep up.

Perhaps more frequent flights wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all.

End.

Over time, Glinda slowly built up a resentment towards Elphaba for cursing her with these things. She couldn’t see the beauty in what they were, and only saw a reminder of the woman who meant everything to her. However, when Elphie did come onto the scene, and Glinda saw how horrified and regretful and apologetic she was, any anger was gone and she broke down on the spot. Months of pent up emotions being brought to the surface at the sight of her. Elphaba held Glinda close while stroking her wings, the first time anyone dared to touch them gently. And whispered tender apologies and reassurances.

Fast forward when they’re actually able to be together. Elphaba uses the knowledge she’s gained from being with so many Animals to help Glinda, while also calling on other Birds to come show Glinda the things she can’t.

Preening is something Elphaba does for Glinda quite frequently, because once getting used to and accepting the wings as a whole, she insists on keeping them as put together as the rest of her.

They do this thing where they puff up if she’s agitated. Elphaba thinks it’s funny, Fiyero, (I love to see the three of them still portrayed as close friends in fics post Shiz, so I’ll include him if scenario warrants. Because despite my rock solid devotion and bias to gelphie, I’m still rocking with him as a character) who I like to think remains their guard captain and subsequently their friend, also thinks it’s funny when Elphaba finally shows him she’s not exaggerating. Glinda does not find it nearly as amusing as they do.

Flying isn’t something Glinda does regularly. It takes a lot of energy and quite frankly she doesn’t like what it does to her hair, so the bubble is still her preferred method of travel. But Elphaba is very insistent that she does do it occasionally so her wings don’t get stiff and cramped.

Winged!Elphaba 💚

Elphaba’s wings come from a spell she made herself, because she wasn’t sure how to keep it from getting out of hand like the last few times. When she does figure it out, it’s incredibly painful like it was for the monkeys. She’s so sore all she can do is try and sleep it off.

They’re big, and heavy, and it takes her time to become adjusted. They change the way she has to distribute her weight when she walks.

Hammocks become her best friend because for the first time in a while she can sleep on her stomach and back without having her wings at strange angles and fully stretched out for a change. The Birds and Winged Monkeys are also very helpful whenever she has a question about feathers or flying. Elphaba watches and picks up on their habits quickly.

Flying without her broom the first couple of times did result in very rough crash landings. She knew it would be different, but not that different.

Hearing her fly in the night and seeing nothing but these massive black wings is terrifying, especially for the Emerald Guards. She can fly quietly when she wants to, but sometimes she’ll use those loud wingbeats as a form of intimidation.

Now, up until the point where she and Glinda reunite on the balcony, Glinda hadn’t properly seen Elphaba. She’d heard rumors about her appearance, and even seen passing glances. But never seen her up close until that night.

Elphaba expected her to be taken aback, similarly to how she reacted when first confronted with her verdigris. When Glinda didn’t say anything, Elphaba turned away, unable to look her in the eye. But when she felt a gentle tug on her wing, Elphaba looked over her shoulder to see Glinda running her fingers through the feathers with a look filled with so much admiration, affection, and respect, along with a whispered; “You actually did it…”

When they manage to be together, Glinda of course, has a million questions. All of which are answered very patiently while they’re laying together and Elphie has her wings wrapped around Glinda like a protective cocoon.

Speaking of, Glinda loves it. They’re soft and silky, and an added warmth to the one Elphaba’s body already supplies when they cuddle.

Glinda’s also adamant of feather upkeep. Elphaba doesn’t do much besides pick out the loose feathers she can reach, or try and shake any dirt out, but Glinda’s the one who has incorporated preening into their nightly routine. It’s relaxing for both of them.

Winged!Gelphie 🩷💚

So the two of them together have very different uses for their wings. Elphaba’s are used more for flying, while Glinda very much values aesthetics. On top of the morning routine Glinda already goes through, she’s added meticulous wing care to the mix. It’s already a long process for her every day routine, but when they have public appearances together as the leaders of Oz, it’s to an entirely different level.

As stated in Glinda’s section, the girl does not like to fly. Elphaba has to practically beg to get her up in the air for a little while.

I like to think that for this particular version where they both have wings, Elphie had them first, and still gave them to Glinda unintentionally. Perhaps by trying to enchant something for Glinda to ride like she had her broom (or the bubble) and it backfiring. With this, comes the guilt and Elphaba having to teach Glinda how to cope with them.

Between the two of them, there are. Feathers. Everywhere. If they have a particularly rough night in bed and they’re both restless, or move their wings too much in their sleep, it looks like bird lost a fight with an electric fan. I’m talking black and white tufts all over. It’s especially rough during molting season, where Glinda is convinced she’s going to lose every feather she has.

Speaking of beds, they really needed time to figure that out. When it was just Elphaba with wings, it was manageable. Elphaba didn’t usually need to stretch them out at night, but on the odd chance she did, Glinda actually kind of liked it. Though when they both have them, they eventually get a much bigger bed, and are able to sleep more comfortably together.

I know I’ve mentioned in the last two, but preening. It’s is very important to them as a couple. It’s a special bonding time for the two of them just like birds irl. There are times when Elphaba comes back from a particularly rough crusade of freeing Animals and her wings are so full of dirt and leaves and twigs that Glinda spends the better part of an hour cleaning her up. Or after a party or event where Glinda’s added all sorts of glitter and/or oils to her feathers, and Elphaba takes it off for her before bed.

They will use their wings to give social cues to one another, especially when out in the public eye or amongst other figureheads in Oz. A nudge on the back without breaking posture as a go ahead for the other to speak, spread slightly outwards as a signal one wants the other close, even thrown up as a barrier of sorts when they want to have private sidebars.

While it’s definitely an adjustment, the changes and shared experiences have done nothing but strengthen their bond. It makes sense that it would given a lot of birds mate for life after all.