Candies and Pumpkins (Part Two)
On Sarah's twenty-fourth Halloween, the Goblin King came to find Sarah angrily slicing through the jack o'lantern, wielding a knife with expert—if frightening—precision. He watched quietly for a moment as Sarah muttered to herself and threw aside bits of orange pumpkin flesh, laid the lid down, and began shoving her hand inside and taking out handfuls of seeds.
Now that the knife was safely on the kitchen counter, Jareth said, "I sense something is amiss, Precious. Did something happen?"
Sarah jumped. She'd been so caught up in her own thoughts, she hadn't noticed Jareth there. But, when she saw the Goblin King, the initial happiness was quickly engulfed by her earlier unhappiness. Before she knew what she was saying, she snarled, "What do you care, Jareth? You're only a once-a-year friend anyway."
Jareth blinked, his expression souring. He flicked his fingers and a crystal appeared cupped in his palm, glowing with a soft light. "Excuse me," he said, coldly, "I seem to have arrived at a bad time. I'll take my leave."
Sarah froze, surprised, and her mind sputtered to her: Don't let him go! You won't see him again for a whole year!
"Wait!" Sarah said, holding out a hand as if she could physically stop the Goblin King from disappearing in a puff of magic and glittery smoke. But, Jareth did pause, glancing at her even if his expression didn't change. His mismatched eyes were guarded, his cupid's bow of a mouth tilted downwards. Oddly, Sarah had the most delicious urge to kiss him.
She ignored it and said, "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. I—I've had a rough few days."
Jareth hesitated, as if weighing his options, or perhaps he was unsure whether to broach the subject, but finally he began juggling the crystal as he did before, when Sarah had first met him. The ball slid easily over his knuckles and the back of his hand, before he would give a quick jerk and send the crystal back to his palm.
"Care to talk about it, Precious?"
Sarah watched the crystal ball. It was almost hypnotic. "I lost my job yesterday."
Jareth stopped juggling, the crystal vanishing just before it finished its trek back to his palm. She noticed a bit of glitter shined on Jareth's glove, the only testament that the crystal sphere had ever been there. "I'm so sorry, Precious."
The way he said it was genuine, and it made Sarah seek his eyes. She looked into them and found comfort and a gentleness that seemed to belay what she knew about the Goblin King—and yet, the expression sat easily on his features. Sarah nervously looked away and muttered, "Yeah, well, it was only a matter of time. The theater's been losing money. People would rather pay for a movie ticket than see a play, it seems." Sarah sighed. "But I really loved that job. And now I'm twenty-four and unemployed with few skills and—god, if I have to work at some horrible fast-food joint, I may cry."
In fact, she could feel the tears now and even as she struggled against them, the first teardrop slid out of the corner of her eye and down her cheek. Jareth didn't say anything, just came up to her silently and put a gloved hand on her shoulder. It was a simple gesture of friendship and comfort, and it made the tears come faster. Before Sarah knew it, she was pressed against the Goblin King's shoulder, sobbing her frustration and anger away.
At length, her tears spent, she quieted, which is when she realized Jareth's arms were around her and he was soothingly rubbing her back. She froze, breathing deeply. He smelled like cinnamon and wilderness; like a long walk in a wood while the morning dew was just evaporating—a fresh, clean, untamed smell. She wanted to press her nose closer and take deep whiffs.
His shirt was also surprisingly soft. It seemed to be made of silk. Sarah lifted a hand and fingered the material on his arm. Yeah, definitely silk.
Jareth stiffened, then drew her back and stared at her, frowning with worry. Sarah smiled at the expression. In just a couple of dozen minutes, how many expressions had she seen on the Goblin King's face? This really was a special night.
They stared at each other for a few long moments, and then Sarah reached up, hypnotized by his otherworldly appearance—the sweep of his eyebrows, the angular features, those curved but thin lips, the magical yet mismatched eyes, and the golden blonde hair in its outrageous dandelion-puff style. Sarah ran her fingers through the hair, finally answering a question she'd had since she was fifteen.
His hair was soft. Maybe he held it in that style by magic, but it certainly wasn't hair styling product that kept it puffed out and around his face. In fact, it felt as soft as a dandelion.
She reached up with her other hand and ran it through the other side of his hair, relishing the feel of the soft strands against her skin.
Jareth sucked his breath in and murmured, "Precious…?"
Sarah froze, her eyes widening. She jerked her hands back to her side and stared at Jareth like a deer caught in headlights. What did I just do? I ran my hands through the Goblin King's hair! What's wrong with me?
Sarah licked her lips and shuddered when Jareth's eyes followed the motion. He took a deep breath. He's going to ask me something important, Sarah thought. Here we go…
And then she felt a tug on her jeans and looked down to see Jeebo staring impatiently up at her. He said, "Where's candy, Lady?"
Trust a goblin to horribly ruin a moment. Sarah blinked and stepped back from Jareth, and he turned and glared at his subject, then glanced around and noticed the lack of Halloween decorations, the absence of candy apples. He frowned and said, "Actually, that's a good question, Precious. Where is the usual candy?"
"Well, since I had some extra time yesterday and I didn't want to think, I made my candy already." Sarah went to fridge and took out a tray of candy apples.
Jareth's frown deepened. "There's only a dozen there."
"Right. I just don't feel up to the whole thing this year," Sarah said. She sighed, hating the way admitting that made her feel. Halloween was her favorite holiday, perhaps even more so than Christmas. She'd always loved the imaginary quality of it; the fact a person could be anyone they wanted to be. She loved making candies and decorating and carving jack o'lanterns, but she just wasn't in the mood this year. She'd only picked up a pumpkin because she thought carving it would be therapeutic. "I made just enough for you, me, and ten goblins."
Jareth's lips twitched into the beginnings of a smile. "Ten?"
"After last year when they ate me out of house and home, plus left quite a mess in the bathtub—did you think I wouldn't notice that, by the way?—I've decided I'll only allow ten goblins into my home at one time."
"While I did not know about the bathtub," Jareth said, glaring at Jeebo, who had the decency to look sheepish, "I can't imagine how you will enforce that rule, Precious. Goblins have a way of…appearing when you least expect them."
Like just a few minutes ago? Sarah thought, wondering if she should feel relieved or frustrated by Jeebo's timing. Instead of trying to decide the answer to that complicated question, Sarah passed Jareth and Jeebo candy apples.
"So what will you do tonight if not entertain trick-or-treaters with your confectionaries?" Jareth asked, unwrapping the cellophane.
"Scary movies. I've got a pile of them. Want to join me?"
"Oooh!" Jeebo said. "Yes!"
"I think she was asking me, pipsqueak," Jareth said, rolling his eyes. "And yes, I think I will stay. Is this another Halloween tradition?"
"You could say that. A good scary movie is pretty fun."
So, Sarah and Jareth sat on the sofa while goblins began appearing—climbing out from underneath furniture and closets, much to Sarah's dismay—until there was a veritable crowd of them clustered in front of the sofa. Sarah popped in Halloween first—the original one—thinking to start off with a classic. Jareth found the movie amusing if not very scary, and Sarah had seen it before, even if the music always managed to make her shiver. The goblins, on the other hand, were the true entertainment. Every time a scary moment happened, they would squeal and grab at something—each other, Sarah or Jareth's legs, the carpet, the furniture. During moments of tension, various goblins would shout at the television:
"Don' go there! He there in closet!"
"This lady stupid!"
"Why make out now? Jeebo don't understand!"
"Ah! What that? What that in corner? Is that him? That's him, isn't it? Look out!"
Sarah giggled at the running commentary, and Jareth rolled his eyes and kicked away goblins when they grabbed at his boots. The candy apples were quickly eaten, and then the goblins munched happily on the wooden sticks.
After Halloween, there were a few other scary movies: The Haunting, The Exorcist, and finally The Asylum. She hadn't seen all of them and there were a few truly scary moments where she yelped along with the goblins, pointed at the TV and told the characters what to do…and grabbed the Goblin King. He didn't kick her away, instead he seemed rather pleased when she jumped and clung to his arm during particularly horrifying moments. He munched on the popcorn she'd made after Halloween, seemingly unaffected by the scary movies, although he did pause and wince at a few moments in The Asylum, his lip curling distastefully.
At first, there were knocks on the door and Jareth would stiffen at each one, glancing at Sarah, but she ignored them and soon the knocks lessened. It was the first time in the years she'd lived there that she hadn't made candy apples, and the neighborhood children were still hopeful that even if the porch light was off, Miss Williams had apples ready for them. Eventually, just before midnight, the knocking stopped.
By the early morning, they finished the last movie. The goblins were blinking sleepily and, for once, were happy to head back to the Underground. Sarah wondered what kind of beds goblins had. Maybe chicken-feather stuffed ones? She glanced at Jareth, who was finishing the last of the popcorn, and wondered what his room would look like. Probably dramatic and imposing, with deep colors and lots of fabrics.
Sarah yawned and said, "I guess I should call it a night."
"Yes, Halloween is technically over. I should go back to the Underground before the veil between worlds strengthens too much. It's always such a more…annoying process to crossover when the veil is in the way. I enjoyed this Halloween, Precious, even without trick-or-treaters."
"Come next year, I'll be in a better mood, promise."
Jareth smiled, and it was truly dazzling. Sarah felt transfixed by that smile, by the way it transformed the Goblin King's face. She blushed, realizing this was really the first time she'd invited him to visit her. Jareth said, "Next year, then."
"Or…" Sarah stopped. "Or stay," the words hung on her tongue, wanting to shimmy out of her mouth like silvery fish, but she held them back. Her heart pounded and she wasn't sure what was stopping her, exactly, but something in her heart just wasn't sure and without the sureness, she let the words fade away.
Jareth waited for a moment, then said slowly, "Next year?"
"Yes." Sarah smiled and then she did something bold. She stepped closer to the Goblin King, leaned forward, and gave him a chaste, friendly kiss on the lips. Jareth's eyebrows rose, inquisitively. She said, "Just something for the remainder of the year. A goodbye…amongst friends."
Jareth hesitated, then nodded and said, "Yes, friends." He leaned forward and gave her a small kiss, as well. "Things will be better soon, Precious."
"I know…thanks, Jareth. Thanks for the company."
"Always. Just call when you need me," Jareth said. He paused, then added, "Truly, Precious."
Sarah nodded, but she already knew she wouldn't call, not when she wasn't sure yet. But, she said, "Of course. Take care of yourself."
Jareth smiled, and with a puff of glittery smoke, he was gone.
Author's Notes: So, yeah, apparently this will be a three-shot. :) Next time, the conclusion! Yay! So, how's it going? Choking on the sheer amounts of fluff and JxS sweetness yet? If so...then I've done my job. :P Like I said, I'm aiming for a nice Goblin King with this one. I just need a little sweetness and fluffiness right now.
Thank you everyone for your reviews, well-wishes, and comments! They encouraged me to get this next part out faster, but it's very late in my corner of the world and I should have been tucked up in bed an hour ago (I'm going to feel this in the morning) so I'm going to sign off. Please review and tell me what you think! All comments/suggestions/questions are welcomed and I will reply to each and every one, even if it takes me a day or two. Hope you're enjoying this little tale!
Disclaimer: Still do not own anything in regards to the Labyrinth, I can only lay claim to my own original characters.