A/N: Hope you guys had lovely holidays! :)
Disclaimer: Pretty sure I don't own Labyrinth.
A Writer Required
Chapter Eleven
Safe and warm.
That was how I felt when I eventually woke up.
The fire was crackling a sleepy conversation in the fireplace, catching my attention with its intricate sounds. After listening to it for a moment, I opened my eyes.
The first thing I saw was the fire in the fireplace, and the back of Jareth's head resting on his arm upon the edge of the couch.
Following his arm with my eyes, I raised my eyebrows at our joined hands. My cheeks went a lovely shade of pink, and I looked to Jareth.
His eyes were closed, his face without lines and his expression peaceful. It took my breath away to see him so. He never looked like this around me, normally, and I was bewitched.
I continued to study his expression, going as far as to move my head closer to our hands to better see him. But then a certain necessary need made itself known to me, and I squirmed in discomfort.
I had to go. As in, right now.
I tried delicately to remove my hand from his, and was stopped when his hand tightened firmly around mine.
I held my breath, looking at his expression.
His forehead had wrinkled, a frown beginning to touch his lips.
I looked at my and Jareth's joined hands and tried again to carefully pull my hand out of his, but Jareth didn't seem to want to let go of my hand.
His hold remained firm, even tightening a little. I winced-both at his grip, and at my own personal discomfort.
I had to wake him up.
"Jareth…" I said, lifting my head to hover it above our hands and moving closer to his face.
Jareth's hand twitched slightly when my long hair brushed over the back of it. I glanced at his hand, but it regained its firm hold, albeit with a gentler grip.
I returned my gaze to his face and tried again. "...Jareth, wake up."
Slowly Jareth opened his eyes, blinking in the morning light with a wince before his eyes found mine.
"Hello." I murmured warmly with a smile, studying his face.
He just looked back, his sleepy expression making him look surprisingly sweet, and an odd emotion entered his eyes.
It was nothing negative; he looked at me as though he were taking me in.
It was a look that made my heart warm and jump at the same time, and my smile grew with the warmth in my heart, though I felt rather breathless at the same time.
He smiled a little crookedly at me, and when his eyes flit down to my lips, his smile fell slightly.
My cheeks filled with color and my heart fluttered.
"Jareth?" I hurriedly prompted him.
Jareth blinked.
"Ah-yes. Good morning, Amelia. Did you sleep well?" Somehow, even his sleepy voice sounded sweet. How did he do that?
I nodded, and my hair brushed over our hands to hang over the edge of the couch.
His hand loosened a little and I replied. "I did. Did you sleep alright?" I glanced at the rest of him before my eyes returned to meet his own. "I'm sorry you had to sleep on the floor."
Jareth raised a mischievous eyebrow. "Oh? Would you rather I join you on the couch next time?" He queried with a light, seductively teasing tone.
My face went beet red, putting my previous blushes of the morning to shame, and my jaw dropped in speechless shock.
Seeing my reaction, Jareth grinned and laughingly assured me. "I'm teasing you, Amelia."
Relief and a bewildering disappointment hit me, and my blush faded a little.
I rolled my eyes a bit, though it was not at its full attitude level, because I was not entirely over my shock.
A faint smile danced over my lips. "Sheesh."
My earlier discomfort increased and my smile vanished-replaced by embarrassment. "Um… I need to go."
I sat up carefully, and so did Jareth; though his earlier amusement was at once replaced by disapproval.
His hand still held fast to my own. "Go? You cannot be serious. How could you go out in your current condition?" He scowled and added. "Absolutely not."
My eyebrows went up and I let out a small, sheepish laugh and an equally sheepish smile.
"That's not what I meant."
Confusion added to his already disapproving air, and I explained in a quieter voice.
"I meant that I need to go use the bathroom."
There was silence.
Then, more silence.
Finally Jareth's own eyes widened and his cheeks filled with a faint pink color. "Oh. I see."
He cleared his throat, saying, "I suppose there's no harm in that." his tone was stiff and cool, and tinged with embarrassment at the misunderstanding.
I grinned wider in amusement, then dropped the smile to feign seriousness. "You're probably right."
I nodded my head as if he'd spoken wise words.
He cast me a light glare, knowing this, and looked away again.
I moved to slide off the couch to stand up, when I noticed Jareth had yet to release my hand.
He also was not looking at me, his eyes fixed on the fire.
I couldn't exactly take him with me.
"Jareth?"
His questioning eyes met my own. "Yes?"
I glanced down at our hands. "I kind of need you to let me go first."
He looked down at our hands, then carefully removed his. "Ah-yes, forgive me."
I smiled softly. "It's fine. I'll be right back."
Jareth offered an uncertain nod, and I felt his eyes on me until I disappeared into the bathroom.
It was while I was drying my hands that I heard my phone ringing, and I came out just as Jareth had hesitantly called my name.
I came into the kitchen to see him getting to his feet as if to answer the phone, and I quickly waved him down.
"I'll get it. I'll be just a second." I told him, and his concerned expression grew more so when I turned to my room, one hand holding onto the counter for support when my eyes decided to have different views of the room.
One tried to magnify while the other to make everything seem farther away.
It was upsetting, to say the least, and it made me feel nauseous.
I shut my eyes and went by memory and touch to get to my room. It wasn't hard, being that my kitchen was a short galley kitchen.
My phone continued to ring-and I recognized it as my boss's ringtone. My brow furrowed. He knew I was out sick for the week-so why was he calling me now?
Entering my room, I removed my phone from the charger and began again toward the living room. The turn around almost tipped me over, and my hand slapped onto the dresser when I steadied myself.
I hoped Jareth hadn't seen that.
I ignored the increased nauseous feeling in favor of looking at my phone. I answered it with a greeting and slipped through the kitchen to make my way back toward the couch.
Jareth was half on his knees when I saw him; one booted foot planted firmly on the floor like he was about to stand up.
Beyond Jareth I could see my two goblin guards. One was fogging up the window with their breath from outside as they peered in at the commotion, while the other had just poked his head and shoulders through the door, looking between me and the king as though awaiting orders.
I shook my head minutely at the goblin and waved a hand to silently tell him it was fine, and he and the other guard looked satisfied.
The one at the window ducked down, while the other retreated back out the door, both disappearing from sight.
I hadn't seen them inside this morning-had they been patrolling outside all night since Jareth was with me?
I rested my hand on the couch arm nearest to me, momentarily lost to my thoughts, and hesitant to sit.
"Hey, Amelia. Sorry to call you so early. How are you feeling?"
My eyebrows came together, and I answered honestly. "Not much better."
Was he going to ask me to come in? That was usually the only reason for a sudden call like this.
"Do you think you're well enough to come in for a little while today? We're short staffed."
Dismay filled me, and I stared in disbelief.
First out the window, then down at Jareth.
The king's brow furrowed at my likely thunderstruck expression, and his heavy brow accented a severe frown that was already upon his lips.
Had he heard what my boss said? Or was he going by my own reaction?
I exhaled a deep breath as I sat on the couch and laid down slowly to keep from jarring my head.
"What about the substitutes? Aren't they able to come in?" I questioned, closing my eyes and putting my free hand over them, rubbing my temples.
There were easily six substitutes, if not more.
"None of them can come in." He explained regretfully, and a little too quickly.
I scowled at his swift answer, but replied after a moment of consideration. "Oh…" Did I really dare to go to work?
My stomach turned with indecision, the majority of it demanding that I remain home, while the smaller half wondered if I couldn't stay for at least a while. "...I don't know…I guess-"
I never got to finish my sentence.
Jareth made a sound not unlike outrage and disbelief combined, and snatched my phone from my hand as he lurched to his feet.
My hand over my eyes flew away in surprise, an expression which quickly turned to wide-eyed panic when I realized what he was about to do.
"Jareth, don't-!"
He cut me off with a mild glare and soft, firm words that stopped me from protesting.
"I told you before, Amelia. You're not going anywhere until you're better."
I gaped like a fish, trying to find the words.
He lifted the phone and turned his eyes to a spot beneath the window. I felt sorry for that spot; his glare was regal and ice cold.
I snapped out of my stupor as Jareth spoke through the phone with such authority, that even the flames of the fire in the fireplace seemed to turn humbly subdued.
"Are you Amelia's employer?" The king demanded.
I heard my boss's voice respond with a hesitant, "...Yes." before he paused again, indignation touching his next words. "Who is this I'm speaking to?"
Jareth didn't skip a beat, and continued in the same authoritative tone. It was the kind of tone I could see him using in official settings in his own kingdom.
It made me feel a little sorry for my boss.
He was dealing with a king; a king with a wicked sharp tongue adept in sarcasm, and a frightening lack of fear.
This authoritative tone was powerful, making even me wary as I watched him.
"I am a friend of Amelia's. She will be staying home today, and for some time afterwards. It is my understanding you were already aware of her situation?" Jareth pressed, danger lining his words like a wolf skirting the underbrush of a forest, just out of sight of its prey.
"Yes…I was made aware of her situation." My boss's tone was almost able to be called indignant, but it was overshadowed by his quite prominent irritation at being reminded of something he already knew.
"Then I would have thought you had planned accordingly, to allow her time to rest and recuperate." The accusation was biting, and I winced.
From where I was, I could feel the anger being held back on the other line.
"Jareth…" I began in a whisper, though whether it was to caution him against my boss's possible future anger, or to warn him to speak with more respect, was unclear.
It felt more like a combination of the two, and Jareth's eyes pierced mine with a look that made me feel surprisingly reassured.
My shoulders relaxed.
It was like he was telling me with that look that he knew what he was doing, and I needn't worry.
At least, I hoped that's what that look meant.
His eyes still fixed on my own, he continued speaking into the phone. "I understand your position; however Amelia requires time to get well, and it is crucial to her health that she gets it."
The anger on the other line deflated some, and I didn't hear it, but my boss said something.
As the deflating anger continued to drain away as he spoke, Jareth's hard expression lessened, and his entire person gained an air of satisfaction as he replied. "It is."
Again my boss spoke, the anger now nearly gone, but his words still too quiet for me to hear.
"Good." Jareth stated. "Amelia will contact you when she is well again." He paused to allow my boss to reply, then finished with a curt. "Good bye."
Jareth stretched his hand out to me, offering me the phone.
I reached out to take it back, but before I could do more than that, the screen darkened to show my boss had hung up.
My eyebrows rose high in surprise and some indignation. He hadn't bothered to say goodbye to me? But then…
I peeked at Jareth's authoritative expression as he settled back down next to me on the floor.
He was still clearly furious.
Jareth probably scared my poor boss to the point that he didn't think he needed to say anything more to me.
There was really nothing for me to say to Jareth, except...
"Thank you."
An upswept eyebrow lifted in question at my thanks.
"I think I might have gone in, if you hadn't said something." I put my phone down on the couch and lifted my hand to wave away his smug expression.
"But maybe next time don't be quite so harsh, ok?" It came out almost pleading, and his smug look faded. I went on as I settled down into my pillow. "I would rather you try to be a bit more…diplomatic. This job has been really good for me."
Jareth frowned and spoke with sharpness. "It's his own fault, Amelia. I wouldn't have had to intervene at all if he had taken measures to give you the time you needed." In a quieter voice he added. "Clearly he lacks the amount of intelligence needed to oversee the place properly."
Wrinkles settled upon my forehead and I shook my head. "Whether or not he prepared accordingly, he's showing that he values my work." I realized in saying it, that it was true. He'd made the comment more than once about how he appreciated how well I worked with our clients.
Jareth's grudging response pulled my attention back to him. "It is good that he recognizes you," His grudging tone turned darker and he gently took my hand and squeezed it carefully. "but that doesn't excuse him from asking you to come in when you are unwell."
He was right; it really wasn't ok.
I thought on his words before I nodded in agreement. "You're right-"
I was cut off when a knock at the door sounded, and Andrew's voice called.
"Amelia, it's me."
I felt the magic around Jareth before I saw it, and it wasn't until I turned to look at him that I saw the reason for the magic. His clothing and physical traits had been transfigured.
His ears were rounded and his long hair was cut short and stylishly tamed, his mismatched eyes now matched to a piercing, icy blue. He wore a cream dress shirt and navy blue trousers.
Black socks were on his feet, and glossy black dress shoes were sitting before his chair, and on the back of that was draped a navy blue dress coat.
I made to get up to answer the door, when Jareth squeezed my hand again to get my attention.
"Be still. I'll answer it in a moment."
With some uncertainty, I settled back down onto the couch, and watched him quizzically.
Jareth scowled at the door. Single strands of his short cropped hair seemed almost to stand on end before he shook his head once to settle it.
The king met my eyes with his own, then took in the rest of me with his gaze.
Seeing my blanket had been pushed to the far end of the couch, he released my hand and reached out to take hold of the blanket. Putting his other hand on the couch next to mine, his fingers brushed the side of my hand; but I didn't bother to move it.
For whatever reason, his touch was soothing to me-and I didn't want to lose the peaceful feeling it brought.
Jareth tugged the blanket up with a flick of his wrist, until it reached past my shoulder and brushed my cheek. This all took but a moment, and then Jareth was on his feet.
He quietly reassured me. "I'll get the door now."
I lifted my head enough to see over the couch arm and watched him answer the door.
Andrew's eyes were focused where my head ought to have been, had I answered the door.
Blinking in surprise, his gaze flew up to meet Jareth's instead.
"Who are you?" He questioned, though the question on his face looked more like a demand the longer he took in Jareth's polished appearance.
He made Andrew look scruffy by comparison.
"Jareth Hendersen. I am a friend of Amelia's. And you are…?" The king's cool tone made Andrew's eyes widen slightly.
Part of him must have recognized that the man before him was not someone to be trifled with.
"Er-Andrew." His voice gained more confidence. "I'm Amelia's boyfriend."
Jareth remained silent as a response, unmoved by the man's status.
Instead I watched in mortification as his eyes swept over Andrew as though measuring his worth.
"Hmm." He harrumphed, and indignant anger entered Andrew's eyes.
Before more could be said, Jareth stepped back against the door, opening it further and keeping his back to it.
Giving a slow gesture of invitation into the room, Jareth waited while Andrew's eyes sought out, then found me on the couch.
Concern filled his gaze and he hurried inside, not bothering to kick the snow off of his shoes or brush off his coat.
Jareth hesitated in closing the door as one of the goblin guards scurried in. Even with the extra addition to the house, the king was able to close the door before my boyfriend was even halfway to the couch.
The goblin's armor rattled, and my eyes flew to Andrew before I remembered that Jareth had made the goblin guards invisible and silent to everyone but the two of us. The goblin settled near the door, keeping his eyes fixed on the situation.
My attention was turned to the king, as I heard him walk up behind the furniture I occupied and felt the weight change when he placed his hands on the back.
I turned onto my back, moving subconsciously towards him as he did.
Andrew knelt down before me and held my hand in his. He cast a look up at Jareth with a frown of mistrust, then ignored him in favor of speaking to me.
"Babe, how are you feeling? Are you feeling any better?"
Jareth made a sound of either disgust or contempt. I wasn't entirely sure until I fleetingly cast my eyes up to see his face. It was a combination of both-though contempt was definitely winning the battle against disgust upon his features.
Apparently Jareth didn't approve of Andrew calling me 'babe'.
In truth it wasn't my favorite pet name either-but it was an endearment that Andrew preferred, so I had reluctantly allowed it.
Seeing Jareth's reaction made me wonder if I didn't need to revisit that conversation with Andrew later.
"I'm doing a little better." I told Andrew, and cast a look back at Jareth in silent reproval of his earlier reaction.
An eyebrow quirked up unrepentantly and one corner of his lips turned up as though amused.
For some reason I found that funny, and I found myself having to fight down a smile. Though I wasn't sure I was entirely successful, because his eyes startled to sparkle when he saw it.
His expression eased and I was reminded of how kind he had been to me the past few days. He had stayed with me when he didn't have to, and been incredibly kind.
My smile fell a little and my gaze softened with these thoughts, and I turned my attention to Andrew as I spoke to him. "Jareth has been very kind and has looked after me."
While my own features had softened, Andrew's had hardened. "How nice of him." Frosty sarcasm layered his words.
This response was surprising to me, but more than anything it was frustrating and terribly unkind of him, and I retorted with considerable reproval.
"Yes. It was. And he deserves thanks for his help, not sarcasm."
Andrew's eyes widened at me and his lips twisted in an attempt to hide a scowl.
I returned the look with a stern frown he had grown to know well.
I would not be moved on this point.
Andrew scowled fully at me, but despite that, he forced himself to look at Jareth, speaking stiffly. "Thank you, for taking care of Amelia." The sincerity was there, though the displeasure in his countenance nearly swallowed it whole.
Silence fell.
I looked up to see Jareth studying Andrew's face.
At length he tipped his head in a slight nod of acknowledgement. "Of course." His pale blue eyes flit to meet mine. "I care a great deal for Amelia."
My heart nearly stopped, and my mouth opened slightly.
The blue gaze shifted reluctantly from mine to pierce Andrew's. "Her well being is important to me."
My heart sank. Was he really just concerned about my health because I was writing his story? Did he not really care for me as a person?
My heart sank further, and pain accompanied its descent, until I frowned internally at the thoughts. That couldn't be-not after how he had been treating me the last two days.
Despite fighting those thoughts, I still struggled to believe it fully.
Andrew's response cut short my tumultuous internal debate.
"I appreciate it," He then glanced at Jareth's shoes and coat. "But now that I'm here, you needn't stay any longer."
Jareth hesitated and I could feel his eyes on me; probably expecting me to insist that he stay.
But my heart was now aching, and my emotions were roiling such that I found that I couldn't look at him.
I could feel Jareth's expectant air between us turn surprised, and there was hurt, before it was smothered by a gradual bitter darkness.
I kept my gaze straight ahead at Andrew's chest, my own heart beating faster as regret sliced through my chest like a steel headed arrow.
Jareth removed his hands from the couch with care and took a step back. "Perhaps you are right." He agreed, his tone turning cool. Walking round to the head of the couch where Andrew was, Jareth spoke. "You might take care of the tea, then, before I go."
My eyebrows came together, and Andrew looked purely confused.
"The tea-?" Andrew questioned. The whistle of the instant tea pot on the counter called our attention.
I couldn't see it from where I was, but Andrew leaned back to look.
"Oh… Right, I'll take care of it." He patted my hand, "I'll be back in a minute." and stood, casting Jareth a look of warning before hurrying to the kitchen.
I watched him go, letting my face betray my bewildered thoughts. When had the kettle been turned on? Had Jareth used magic to distract Andrew-?
My thoughts screeched to a halt, and my heart nearly leapt free of my chest, when Jareth bent down and placed a feathery light kiss on my forehead.
"Be well." He murmured, and there was a magical cadence to the words.
Peace settled over me, and my eyes blinked sleepily. As unexpected as the gesture was, it also seemed familiar, and in that moment I remembered the night of my fever.
I had wondered whether or not that had really happened; now I knew for sure that it must have.
I focused on his eyes as though trying to read something complex-and at the same time I felt a bit of amazement.
He had actually shown up then to heal me and help me feel better-that hadn't been a fever-induced dream.
I suddenly found myself reaching for his hand, and held it in mine. "Thank you, Jareth."
Jareth sent me a gentle smile as he held my hand and offered it a light squeeze before he softly spoke. "I will see you later."
Letting go of my hand with care, Jareth then gathered his navy blue dress coat and slipped on his polished black shoes.
He spoke next directly to Andrew with the same authority he'd used on my boss. "Amelia will need more rest. It's best that she sleeps as much as possible."
A hesitant, stormy silence came from Andrew, and he replied a moment later. "I'll make sure she gets everything she needs."
Slipping on his coat, Jareth afterwards gave a nod, his tone remaining powerful. "Good."
Turning to me, Jareth added. "I'll come by again tomorrow to see how you are doing."
I felt Andrew's tense silence as he listened in, and I ignored him for the moment to answer Jareth.
"Ok. Thank you again."
The king gave a graceful bow and a light smile. "Of course, Amelia. Until later."
Jareth then slipped past me without a word of farewell for Andrew.
I watched as he stepped out to meet the cold winter morning air, closing the door quietly behind him.
A/N: If you guys were wanting more Jareth VS. Andrew conversation/confrontation, don't worry. There's going to be more later.