Work Text:
The shoemaker's elf sat cross-legged in the sticky mud. Their outfit had turned brown with mud, and she drummed her fingers on the hat in its hand. While Sugarplum Fairy questioned the whereabouts of Gingy the gingerbread man, Elf's attention was on a figure across the swamp. Fairy Godmother also sits in the mud, brown streaks in her blond hair. Elf sighed. Form eyes were on Fairy Godmother and Fairy Godmother alone. Sugarplum Fairy kicked it in the ankle, and it flinched and snapped to attention.
The fairytale creatures had hijacked the ogre Shrek's house. Elf made performself comfortable on the side of the stump. She lowered her head on her hands, staring blankly at Fairy Godmother. She was talking to Sugarplum Fairy, who was showing off some ballet moves. There was a scream from right beside Elf. A cookie sheet collided with it, and it flinched to the side. A legless Gingy was clinging to the edge of the sheet. He stared at Elf, his face changing from anger and fear to a knowledgeable and sympathetic expression. He pulled himself off the tray, leaning against Elf's side.
"You've got it bad for her, don't you?" he asked them quietly. Per flushed red enough to rival the makeup per wore.
"Is it that obvious?" Gingy huffed a laugh. The reaction caused Elf to press its head into its hands.
"Just tell her," Gingy insisted. Elf shook her head.
"What if she's straight?" she asked, "I don't want to ruin our friendship." Gingy crossed his arms.
"If she's really a good friend, your friendship would stand this even if she doesn't like you back." Elf groaned and leaned back.
"I know, I know! I'm just worried about ruining everything and I've been overthinking this for months!" Per sat up, once again watching the two fairies, and said,
"I'm pretty sure Sugarplum Fairy is getting sick of me talking about it. Papa Bear, too." Sugarplum Fairy noticed the two talking, and came to retrieve Gingy, fussing over the state of his legs.
And so Elf was left with longing and still no confidence to ask out Fairy Godmother. When everything returned to normal (as it had no doubt everything would) it likely wouldn't see her often. But there wasn't much per could do. So she pulled it together and hid their feelings. Oh well, maybe someday the Fairy Godmother would learn of Elf's feelings. Today was not that day, though, and it seemed the ones coming soon wouldn't be either.