Love in Oz (Scarecrow x Reader (Wizard of Oz fanfiction))

Chapter Sixteen: Spending some time with Scarecrow

I woke up the next morning quite early. I did my morning routine and ate something before going to Scarecrow's room to see if he was awake. But I met him on the way there already awake so we went to his study to do all the work he was backed up with. Scarecrow looked around for things he thought would be easy for me to do. It was mostly requests people had made to make whatever country they're from a little better, recent letters asking for equipment and workers to help fix the damages the Jester had made, and a lot more.

I read through them and asked Scarecrow what he wanted to do and I wrote the reply. He handled the more complicated things that I honestly didn't understand. But with the two of us doing half of the work each, we got it done rather quickly. By that, I mean we were done by the time night fell. Scarecrow would've overworked himself with all this if I didn't offer to help. There was just one thing left but Scarecrow told me it was a project he was working on and that it was a surprise.

In other words, I'm not allowed to help with it. I was fine with it. He thanked me for helping him and told me to get some rest as it's been a long day. So, that's what I did. When I woke up the next morning, I didn't know what to do. I've helped Scarecrow, he's probably still working on that project, I don't really know what to do now. Actually, I could take Scarecrow away from his work for a while at the Badminton court today. So, I got ready and went to his study to ask him to join me but he wasn't there. Strange.

I asked the next person I saw where he was and they said he was in the Wizards Chamber. So, I went there and knocked on the door. I only did that because I assumed that he was working on his secret project in there. I heard him panic a little before going to the door.

"Hey," Scarecrow said catching his breath.

"Hey," I say chuckling at the state he was in

"How can I help you this morning," Scarecrow asked clearly trying to hide what he was working on

"Well, I was wondering if maybe I can take you away from your work for a few hours and go to the Badminton court."

"What's that?"

"It's a sport. I used to play it back in Kansas."

"Oh! Well, I can join you but... um... I don't know how to play.."

"Then I'll teach you. Meet me in there when you're ready."

I left him to finish up what he was doing and went to the court. I rented some rackets and shuttlecock for the day and waited for Scarecrow. I got ready while I was waiting. He soon arrived looking ready. I started to show him what to do. How to hold the racket, how to hit the shuttlecock, and how to serve it. He thought it was so simple that he wanted to serve first. We weren't playing a game just so he can get some practice first. Just for fun, I let him serve first. He failed the first few times until he finally got it over the net.

But not enough for me to hit it back. So, I just took it and showed him how to do it. I could tell he was calculating what I was doing. It's something I've noticed him doing and he told me what it was when I asked about it. So, he tried again and we were finally just hitting it back and forth. He was having so much fun. I soon asked if he wanted to play an actual game. Feeling more confident, he said yes. As he was still a beginner, we made it three games and whoever got to twenty-one points wins.

We started the game with breaks in between each game. Scarecrow managed to win two games of Badminton and he couldn't have been happier. I'm glad he had fun. I've won a few games before so I don't mind losing. We then sat down for a bit.

"You're really good at that," Scarecrow said smiling as I had a drink of water.

"I used to play competitively back home so I've done this for a while," I said smiling

"So, this is something people would come and watch two people compete for what?" 

"Trophies, medals, for fun, money, and fame."

"Have you ever won a trophy or a medal for Badminton?"

"Never. Not because I lost, just because it wasn't a national thing. Along with the fact I'm not a man."

Scarecrow was confused at my last statement.

"Back in Kansas and the rest of the world I'm from, women don't have it easy," I said, "We got the right to vote nineteen years ago but we still have it hard, we're not allowed to have most jobs men have, we're paid very little compared to men with the jobs we do have and it only got worse after the great war. A war that killed a lot of people and lasted for four years. After that was something we're calling 'The Great Depression' where the whole world was struggling with money. Back home is just a mess."

"So men have it easy while you have it hard because of gender?" Scarecrow asked

"Because women are seen as people who do things like cook, clean, take care of the kids, and don't do any heavy lifting while men are seen as superior, and more powerful than women. That's how women have been seen as for years."

"That's just cruel and degrading. You're a strong person and anyone of any gender should be treated equally and not like this. I mean, look at what you and Dorothy have done for Oz twice. You've saved us from evil while me, a male who would be seen as powerful and superior in your world, couldn't do half of what you two did in a few days. It took me years to make the decision to bring you two back to Oz to help while you two would've made that call a lot sooner than I did. Your world is so hard and cruel to you."

"You're forgetting the part where you helped us with the Wicked Witch of the East."

"You two did most of it. We don't treat you like everyone in Kansas treats you. We're all equal even though we're all different in so many different ways. In fact, I'm going to do something that might make you happy. I'm going to host a Badminton competition for anyone to join. Whoever wins will get a trophy for best player in Oz. And you can join too."

"You'd do that for me?"

Scarecrow nodded. Well, I couldn't say no to this. I've always wanted to do something like this ever since I started playing. I said I would do it. Scarecrow was happy that I said yes and promised that I wouldn't regret it. I know I won't and I won't care if I win or not. At least I'll have fun.

(A/N: Sorry if all the historical parts of these chapters aren't accurate. I did do research but it was a quick look through. So I'm happy if anyone wishes to correct me because I'm bad when it comes to history. See you in the next chapter)