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“hey, coach.”

“number eleven—hey, did you hear the girls are calling you and glinda ‘7/11’ now?”

“wh—n-no, i hadn’t. do you think they’re just missing slushies?”

lust shrugs. “maybe! it’s probably because you’re inseparable. don’t worry about it too much.”

elphaba nods. she looks like she’s worrying about it.

“what’s up, kiddo? i’m sure you had something you actually wanted to talk about.”

“i just. i—“ she sighs, visibly trying to collect herself. “i’ve—do you remember when you brought your little brother to practice?”

“of course. we let him wear viktor’s hat, you all called him coach. he had a great time, he talks about it to me like once a week.”

“oh,” elphaba blushes. “that’s so sweet. i’m so happy we were able to do that for him.”

“me too.”

“i was wondering, um, when you went to high school, i mean, when he went, did he, did the school assign him an aid?”

“they did, yeah, but i told them he didn’t need one because it was—“

“—your job to take care of him?”

lust looks at her. “yes. but, eleven, i’ve met your sister at games. she doesn’t need an aid; she needs more ramps.”

“and they won’t build them.”

“i know.” lust sighs. there’s a look in elphaba’s eyes she’s far too familiar with. like she’d do anything for her younger sibling, even at great cost to herself. maybe it makes lust a hypocrite, but she says, “it’s good you’re looking out for her, but you gotta look out for yourself too. you can’t follow her around helping her with curbs and stairs all day—you have to take your own classes.”

“i know it’s just—“ and then elphaba laughs. it’s a high, almost hysterical cackle.

lust realizes somewhat belatedly she’d been wearing her educator hat and not her stranded in the woods hat. she shakes her head and chuckles, too. “i mean once you’re back at school. obviously.”

“obviously.”

“is this the longest you’ve ever been apart?”

elphaba nods, taking in a long breath. she doesn’t quite look like she’s going to cry, but she’s shakier than lust has ever seen her. elphaba’s defense—solid, protective, always strong for everyone else. especially her sister. lust doesn’t have to imagine what she’s feeling; she’s living it too.

“me too. gluttony lives a block and a half away, i—i don’t think i’ve gone more than a week without dinner or a blockbuster night.”

“you miss him?”

lust puts her hand over her heart. “like hell.”

“yeah. i miss nessa, too.”

“hey,” lust says, trying to catch elphaba’s eye, “nessarose is gonna be okay. she’s tough. she learned it from you.”

“oh,” elphaba answers, and lust is less confident about the not crying thing. “i hope so.”

lust nods. “i know so.”

“gluttony, too.”

“that’s kind of you to say.”

“it’s just true.” elphaba clears her throat. “thanks, coach.”

“always. you need me, you just say so, okay?”

“alright. you, um, you too.”

lust smiles. “thanks.”