Just Friends Wicked Boq x reader Oneshot
So.... I haven't written x reader in years and not ever on this platform, but when I saw Wicked movie and thought Boq was low-key hot (I guess Ari and I have same taste lol) I couldn't find ANY fics for him I knew it was my duty to write this. I am rusty and this was in a single sitting but... enjoy, This is in an AU where Nessa never liked him, reader was written in mind as female but can be read as gender neutral :)
TW reader has anxiety and a panic attack
Shiz University was blooming with life. Ozians from all walks of life buzzed down the hallways chattering away about the new student, Elphaba, who was the most beautiful shade of green. Everyone seemed so lively and bright like they were dancing through life. I was not so lucky.
I had been at Shiz for a week now and I still was perpetually scared everywhere I went. Everything was so loud and disconcerting. During orientation, there was an altercation with Elphaba and for some reason Madame Morrible cast a huge spell to keep us on our toes, at least that’s what she told us. Pieces of the building flew clean off! I nearly passed out because my Oz, I am pursuing a higher education I should not be afraid of being crushed! There was a stunning girl named Galinda Upland who I was so intimidated by I had not uttered a single word in any class we shared in fear I would somehow upset her. Elphaba had gotten on her bad side, and I did not want to be 2nd on that list.
So, I stuck to the edges of Shiz, trying my best to stay focused on study. I people watched, admiring them from a safe distance. It was a quiet life, a simple life. Today, I sat in the library rewriting a history assignment for Dr. Dillamond. I just couldn’t seem to find the words. My body gravitated back to my beloved shelves. Our library had the most amazing rotating shelves I had ever had the honor to behold. I reached for a reference book and turned the page,
In the years after the arrival of our Wonderful Wizard of Oz…
My book and I were sent hurling towards the ground. Panic. First for the book, it was not my property, and then for the warm body under me. More panic. Dear Oz, LET IT NOT BE GALINDA!
“I am so sorry!” I spurted out, tumbling off the poor person I landed on.
“It’s okay, it was my fault.”
I looked up to see a shock of curly red hair. Huh. The stranger held out his hand and helped me to my feet.
“No. I shouldn’t have been walking with a book in my face.”
“You were just killing two birds with one stone.”
“My third bird was not using another student as a landing pillow, but I’ve never been a good multitasker.”
The joke was simple and not very funny, but he laughed. A genuine boyish laugh.
“You’re in my class, right? Dr Dillamond’s?”
He remembered me? I was a statue in that class.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to freak you out. I just never forget a face.” He giggled in his lovely tenor, “And you have a great face! Oh wow. That’s even weirder of a thing to say…”
I felt a tingle in my chest, light airy. But one I hadn’t felt in a long while.
“(Y/N).” I spat, “I guess we’ll find out if you ever forget a name.”
“Boq Woodsman,” He stretched out a bit to appear taller, “at your service.”
“Really? I’ve always thought it was a bit stupid.”
“No. It’s a strong name. It suits you.” I looked down when I said it. How could I let such cheesy words come from my mouth?
“Is your book, okay?” He stumbled the words, his face a bit red. Had I embarrassed him?
“My book? OH, my book!” I retrieved my wayward copy of Oz history from the ground, “I think she’ll make it. Just barely.”
“Good, because I think we have class in like 2 minutes.”
Damn! I had lost track of time.
“Wanna make a run for it?” He grinned.
We both entered Dr Dillamond’s class heaving and gasping for air, somehow on time. We couldn’t stop laughing.
From that day on, Boq and I formed an allyship of two awkward college kids just trying to get by. We started sitting by each other in class, eating lunch together, and studying night after night. After a few weeks, I had even started feeling comfortable around Galinda. Kind of. Boq informed me of his crush on her, which apparently went away very quickly. I wanted to believe him, but I just thought he was saying that because he knew she freaked me out. Boq had even given me the courage to make another friend, Nessarose, who was so sweet. Of course, there was also this very inconvenient feeling in my chest whenever I saw Boq. It was getting to be very annoying. So, like most of my life’s issues, I ignored it. I was not about to mess up my strongest college friendship over stupid, most likely one-sided feelings.
“Boqqqqqqq.” I ran up to him outside in the courtyard.
“Whatttttttttt.” He drew the word out to match me.
“I’ve been looking for you!” I smiled, “What do you think about the new guy? Fiyero. It makes so much sense he’s a prince!”
“A prince?” He grimaced, “I don’t know if it fits him.”
“What do you mean? He’s so charismatic, it’s scary.”
“Are you going to the thing tonight at the Oz Dust ballroom?”
“Are you?” He blurted out.
“I think it’s more of a date thing.”
“Do you want to go through?”
“Yeah, kind of.” There it was. That stupid feeling in my chest.
“I could take you…” He stammered over the words like tripping on molasses.
My shoulders sunk, “of course…”
Music exploded from every corner of the room. It was piercing. I held myself together. Couples in lavished gowns and suits danced under the watery glow. Ever since earlier that day when Boq corrected this to be a friend’s date, something was off between us. We had hardly spoke on the way over. When I saw Galinda looking ever so enchanting in her dress with Fiyero, I worried Boq was off because he wished he was there with her. I couldn’t blame him, she was the light of every room she was in and I was just… there.
I was determined to still have fun. Even if all the people and the loud music was wearing me down. I danced next to Boq yet he seemed to zone out, like he was somewhere else. I frowned.
“Maybe we should take a break. Get some fresh air.”
“(Y/N)” He turned to me suddenly, “there’s something that’s been weighing on me, I need to tell you-“
Before Boq could finish a man stepped out of the crowd and took me by the hand,
“May I have a dance lovely?”
He was a guy I had seen around Shiz and in Dr Dillamond’s class. He was broad, always brooding and gave me a bad vibe. Still, he had never spoken to me at length in any sinister way. He had never spoken to me at lengh once so ever. There was a chilling ache in my head under his gaze, I blamed it on me just being too anxious for my own good.
“Oh sorry. I’m okay.” I smiled polite as possible.
“Come on. You’re always so quiet. But I think you’re amazing. I see the real you.”
Dread ate away at my composure. The music seemed to blare into me like a siren.
"It's a party, you should dance with someone fun."
Did I lead this guy on in some way? I don’t want him to hate me. There are so many people around… I don’t want to cause a scene. He touched my shoulder. His hands were so cold.
“They said no.” Boq corrected his voice a light in my growing panic.
"Come on, man. They're not your partner or anything. Let me have a shot."
Boq shoved away the guy and put himself between me and him.
"Stay away from them." Boq spoke the words with a bitterness I had never seen from him.
People began looking at us, whispering. I couldn’t handle it. All those eyes. I ran out of the room without thinking.
It’s okay. It’s okay. I breathed in and out.
“(Y/N)!” A familiar voice called. Boq.
“I’m sorry,” beyond my control, tears poured down my face, “I shouldn’t have ran like that.”
“What do you need?” he was sweet, low, gentle.
“Let’s sit.” He led me to a soft patch of moonlight. I felt safe again. We sat for a few minutes, watching the world go by. It made me think, think about what really mattered. I couldn't let this moment pass me by.
“Boq. I need to tell you something.”
“Anything. Anything from you.”
“I like you, like as more than just friends.”
“Are you serious?” his eyes were big and round like he was going through heart attack. Oz, did I send him into shock?
“I’m sorry! It’s silly. I just needed to tell you.” I turned away, "Forget I said it."
“No. It’s not. I like you, like really like you (Y/N). Since I’ve been at Shiz, I feel the happiest when I’m with you, like I can really be myself.”
"I feel that way with you to." I grinned, warmth flooding my body.
"Can I kiss you?" His face was as red as his hair. It was adorable, handsome, all the good things! And it was for me.
I sprung forward and planted my lips on his. He was melted honey. And I was more than just a friend.
"I am so glad you couldn't keep your face out of that book..."
