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AN: This is rather short--- sorry Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth
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Strangely Devine: Chapter Twenty: Socks?
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Sarah decided that even Goblin Kings would like Macaroni and Cheese, and she was amused to see that it was, besides copious amounts of cereal, the only real food Emily kept. She set the water to boil on the stove and as she turned around nearly ran flat into Jareth.
"Christ! You scared me---" she mumbled, backing away.
He raised an amused eyebrow "Sorry, luv"
"It's fine" she looked down at what he was wearing and wanted to laugh. In fact she had to concentrate very hard on the floor not to laugh.
"Are you quite all right, Sarah?" he smiled.
"Er-yeah" she exhaled and smiled too. Flannel pj bottoms and cotton t- shirts were not often seen on Jareth, King of the Goblins. Or, she realized, socks. "You're wearing socks?"
"I'm wearing socks" he rolled his eyes, "If that is what they're called"
"Yeah" Sarah sighed and looked up at the great fluffy mass of blonde hair that encircled his pretty face. "I--- we have to do something with your hair, Jareth."
Jareth leaned against the kitchen counter behind him and raised an eyebrow. "It's very hard being accepted as normal in another world, isn't it?"
"Yes--- well I had to wear a corset and big dresses" She said irritably
Jareth held his hands up in defence "I know, Sarah. What do you suggest?"
"Er--- we'll leave that one to Emily in the morning. Oh-I'm making Macaroni and Cheese"
"Which is-" Jareth made a gesture for her to elaborate.
"You'll find out" she said wearily. "Want to learn about the joys of Television?"
Jareth glanced into the family room. "That box?"
"That box" Sarah nodded
"Wonderful--- could we maybe talk instead?"
Talk? With Jareth? Alone? Bad things had happened when she talked to Jareth alone before. Sarah wasn't sure if she wanted to find out how many more ways he could seduce her when she was so unsure about her feelings. Christ, when she was so unsure about his feelings. But, on the other hand, in the past few hours several key things had happened that had nothing to do with their relationship.
"Perhaps we should talk" she agreed as she made her way to the couch where she promptly flopped down.
Jareth watched and couldn't help feeling entertained. "Why do you slouch about like that?" he asked
"Like what?" she asked, her eyes discreetly following his form from the kitchen into the family room.
"I'm not demonstrating" he sat primly on the edge of the couch.
Sarah laughed, "Have it your way. Do you want to meet a few more mere mortals like Emily tomorrow? Or would you rather we left and er--- did something" Oh god why was she blushing again. She desperately wanted him to stop staring at her so she clasped her hands around her knees and looked at a blank spot on the wall.
"Emily is---- different" he said slowly, a grin tugging on his lips.
"You like her?"
"She's amusing," he conceded with a shrug. "But this isn't want we need to talk about Sarah."
"Oh okay" Stare at the wall, don't look at him, stare at the wall.
"What happened with Dacian?" he asked softly.
Sarah looked at him and exhaled. She didn't mind talking about the prince of vampires; it was more appealing then some other topics. "Oh erm--- you know, I was kidnapped, put in an iron cage--- which I suppose generally removed any magic I *had*. We got to the stones and then you showed up--- good timing really"
Jareth shot her a confused look. "How did he kidnap you? Why didn't you call for me then?"
"Ah--- gee," Sarah said sarcastically "What with the being slammed into a wall and having my neck sucked and passing out--- sorry I didn't think of you--- hey!"
Jareth slid over to her side of the couch and was sitting much to close for Sarah's sense of sanity. He tipped her head back. "He drank your blood"
"Um, yes" she said, her voice sounded distracted as she batted his hands away from her neck.
"Have you looked at this, even?" Jareth asked, tipping her head forward so she was looking right at him.
"Oh no--- I generally ignore puncture wounds to my jugular" she said dryly.
"Don't be so hostile" Jareth said, his lips curling into a grin.
"Stop holding my head" she shot back.
He rolled his eyes. Although generally amusing, she was being very stubborn. "Do you want me to fix it?"
"Can you do that?" Sarah didn't bother to hide her surprise. "You're not going to go all lethargic like when you read minds?"
"No" Jareth said softly. He placed his hand on her throat and his eyes flicked up to her face. They stared at each other and Jareth couldn't help feel a bit superior as he felt her pulse beat beneath his palm. Sarah shuddered and cast her eyes down at her hands again.
"There" he said, moving back to his side of the couch. Jareth watched her silently for a moment as she touched her healed neck. "He didn't do anything else, did he?"
"What?" Sarah glanced up in his general direction but didn't look right at him as usual. "Like what? Oh--- oh---- no" she started blushing again. "No he didn't touch me like that. Well, he kissed me"
Jareth's eyes narrowed "He kissed you?"
Sarah backed further away from Jareth on the couch. "Yeah, but it was sort of my fault. I did let him"
"Oh" he said softly and the subject was uncomfortably but obviously dropped.
They sat in silence and when Sarah opened her mouth to speak she realized there was bubbling macaroni on her stove. She swore furiously and ran to the kitchen. Jareth raised an amused eyebrow at her antics and after a bit of time followed her.
"That's what we're eating?" He peered over her shoulder at the neon orange mass in the pot she was stirring.
Sarah sighed "Stop sneaking up on me, like that"
"I'm dreadfully sorry" he smiled, not sounding the least bit sorry and backing up into the opposite counter.
Sarah doled it out into bowls and offered him one. Jareth took it apprehensively. "Are you sure this is food?" he asked, his voice laced with distaste.
"I'm sure" she laughed, swallowing a few forkfuls. "God, I'm starving. I haven't eaten since ---- wow --- since the feast day before yesterday" That long? She ate faster and ignored the way Jareth was staring at her.
"Do you not eat enough?" he asked.
Sarah shot him an annoyed look. "I'm thin. I know. Don't patronize me, everyone else does."
"I wasn't patronizing you, luv" he smiled and poked at the macaroni wearily. He had never even seen this colour in nature, let alone food. "Gwen's always on me about the same thing"
"What? Eating?" she asked, he nodded and she accidentally let her gaze trip over his form. Jareth decided to ignore it and not comment on her appraisal.
She laughed and pulled a face, "Maybe we might actually have something in common, then"
"Never" he said sarcastically.
"Well it's a very remote and strange thing," she continued
Jareth snorted. "I don't think the *only* thing you and I have in common is the fact that we appear emaciated and have friends who worry about our health"
"What else?" she asked and then made an exasperated sound "Jareth, it isn't going to hurt you-just eat it" Before she thought about what she was doing Sarah strode over to him and took the bowl and fork out of his hands. She then held up a forkful of neon orange macaroni and cheese to a very surprised Goblin King. "Open your mouth" she commanded in a soft voice.
He raised his eyebrows in amused surprise and opened his mouth slightly. Trying not to fork him to death, Sarah shifted the utensil the slightest bit forward and after a moment's hesitation Jareth finally ate it.
"There, that wasn't so bad" Sarah moved back to her side of the kitchen quickly.
"Er---- it's not terrible" he admitted after swallowing and shooting a sly glance her way.
Sarah waved her fork at him "Don't think I'm going to feed the rest to you"
"I think I can manage," he said pleasantly "So will I have the pleasure of meeting your nymphomaniac friend tomorrow?" he grinned crookedly
Sarah laughed "No, she's not in town. Fiona and Timothy are much more boring. Well--- he's a boring teacher, she's a drug addict"
"And I assume you won't be introducing me as Jareth, King of Goblins"
"Er--- no." Sarah shrugged "I was thinking more along the lines of a friend from London"
Jareth ate a few more bites of his dinner, "How do we know each other?"
"College or something, they won't care. Tim's very unassuming and Fiona doesn't know what's going on half the time." Sarah's eyes slid over to the clock, it was nearly midnight. She knew they needed to go to bed but she didn't quite want to yet. "If she hits on you, just tell her you have a girlfriend."
"Someone I'm courting?" Jareth asked
Sarah shot him a look "Right, but don't say courting--- actually we can just pass off most of your weirdness as being English"
Jareth had the grace to look offended "I beg your pardon, my weirdness?"
"I didn't mean that" Sarah laughed, "I just meant your ---- underground- ness, you know"
"I'm insulted" Jareth sighed, "I think you should feed me more of this orange goo"
"I can't believe you don't like it" Sarah shook her head sadly "When I go back to the Underground I'm bringing a few boxes with me"
Jareth looked up at her in surprise "You're coming back?" he asked
"Well" Sarah avoided looking at him "To see Gwendolyn and Gaeton---"
"Of course" he said shortly.
Was that insecurity Sarah detected? "Well, and to see you" she added slowly
"Me? Darling, Sarah, whatever would we do?" his face was innocent enough but his tone held hidden meaning and Sarah flushed again.
"Oh shut up, come on I'll make up the couch for you"
"The couch?" Jareth sounded dismayed as he followed her from the kitchen.
"This isn't a castle if you haven't noticed, two bedrooms. Three people" She stopped walking and he came up behind her much to closely again.
"I've noticed" he said softly, his hands closing around her wrists. Sarah felt her heart drop into her feet as he slid his hands up her arms to her shoulders. He was talking into her ear again. Why did he always do that? It was annoying, the effect it had on her.
"Erm---" she twisted away and clasped her hands in front of her. Jareth made his face blank again, which surprisingly, was easier to talk to. "Look I---" She couldn't think of a single thing to say so she blurted the first thing that came to mind. "I'll just get the duvet then"
He nodded and watched her leave the room. As we've said before, Jareth was not one to deal with feelings. He knew what he wanted. He wanted Sarah. He also knew that he had wanted her since she left the Labyrinth six years ago. She was making it unbearable on him though. Obviously it would not do to just have a quick one on her settee, but that didn't make the idea any less tempting.
Gwendolyn said he was in love her. He trusted Gwendolyn to know more what he was feeling then he did himself. But if Jareth did love Sarah, then what did that mean? Did that mean he wanted to marry her hand make her his Queen? The prospect of living with any woman for the rest of his life (eternity, if you haven't forgotten) was to be honest, frightening. One of the only things that frightened the Goblin King. Sarah made the prospect less frightening, though.
She returned with a fluffy green duvet and pillows bundled high up in her arms and promptly tossed them on the sofa. "Okay, good night"
Jareth glanced at the pile of blankets and then back at her. He raised his eyebrows. "Goodnight"
Sarah fidgeted with her hands for a moment. This was the part where she left. So why wasn't she leaving, she wondered. "Look, I just wanted to say thank you" she said in a rush.
"Thank you?" he asked innocently "For what?"
"Well, for saving me from Dacian"
"Oh," he said softly "Yes, of course"
She made a humming sound and nodded. "Well, yes, thanks" As an after thought, she placed her ands on his thin shoulders and gave him a quick kiss. "Night" she mumbled,
Jareth felt a smile playing about his mouth. "Good Night"
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AN: I lied, hair cut next chapter--- :D
AN: This is rather short--- sorry Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth
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Strangely Devine: Chapter Twenty: Socks?
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Sarah decided that even Goblin Kings would like Macaroni and Cheese, and she was amused to see that it was, besides copious amounts of cereal, the only real food Emily kept. She set the water to boil on the stove and as she turned around nearly ran flat into Jareth.
"Christ! You scared me---" she mumbled, backing away.
He raised an amused eyebrow "Sorry, luv"
"It's fine" she looked down at what he was wearing and wanted to laugh. In fact she had to concentrate very hard on the floor not to laugh.
"Are you quite all right, Sarah?" he smiled.
"Er-yeah" she exhaled and smiled too. Flannel pj bottoms and cotton t- shirts were not often seen on Jareth, King of the Goblins. Or, she realized, socks. "You're wearing socks?"
"I'm wearing socks" he rolled his eyes, "If that is what they're called"
"Yeah" Sarah sighed and looked up at the great fluffy mass of blonde hair that encircled his pretty face. "I--- we have to do something with your hair, Jareth."
Jareth leaned against the kitchen counter behind him and raised an eyebrow. "It's very hard being accepted as normal in another world, isn't it?"
"Yes--- well I had to wear a corset and big dresses" She said irritably
Jareth held his hands up in defence "I know, Sarah. What do you suggest?"
"Er--- we'll leave that one to Emily in the morning. Oh-I'm making Macaroni and Cheese"
"Which is-" Jareth made a gesture for her to elaborate.
"You'll find out" she said wearily. "Want to learn about the joys of Television?"
Jareth glanced into the family room. "That box?"
"That box" Sarah nodded
"Wonderful--- could we maybe talk instead?"
Talk? With Jareth? Alone? Bad things had happened when she talked to Jareth alone before. Sarah wasn't sure if she wanted to find out how many more ways he could seduce her when she was so unsure about her feelings. Christ, when she was so unsure about his feelings. But, on the other hand, in the past few hours several key things had happened that had nothing to do with their relationship.
"Perhaps we should talk" she agreed as she made her way to the couch where she promptly flopped down.
Jareth watched and couldn't help feeling entertained. "Why do you slouch about like that?" he asked
"Like what?" she asked, her eyes discreetly following his form from the kitchen into the family room.
"I'm not demonstrating" he sat primly on the edge of the couch.
Sarah laughed, "Have it your way. Do you want to meet a few more mere mortals like Emily tomorrow? Or would you rather we left and er--- did something" Oh god why was she blushing again. She desperately wanted him to stop staring at her so she clasped her hands around her knees and looked at a blank spot on the wall.
"Emily is---- different" he said slowly, a grin tugging on his lips.
"You like her?"
"She's amusing," he conceded with a shrug. "But this isn't want we need to talk about Sarah."
"Oh okay" Stare at the wall, don't look at him, stare at the wall.
"What happened with Dacian?" he asked softly.
Sarah looked at him and exhaled. She didn't mind talking about the prince of vampires; it was more appealing then some other topics. "Oh erm--- you know, I was kidnapped, put in an iron cage--- which I suppose generally removed any magic I *had*. We got to the stones and then you showed up--- good timing really"
Jareth shot her a confused look. "How did he kidnap you? Why didn't you call for me then?"
"Ah--- gee," Sarah said sarcastically "What with the being slammed into a wall and having my neck sucked and passing out--- sorry I didn't think of you--- hey!"
Jareth slid over to her side of the couch and was sitting much to close for Sarah's sense of sanity. He tipped her head back. "He drank your blood"
"Um, yes" she said, her voice sounded distracted as she batted his hands away from her neck.
"Have you looked at this, even?" Jareth asked, tipping her head forward so she was looking right at him.
"Oh no--- I generally ignore puncture wounds to my jugular" she said dryly.
"Don't be so hostile" Jareth said, his lips curling into a grin.
"Stop holding my head" she shot back.
He rolled his eyes. Although generally amusing, she was being very stubborn. "Do you want me to fix it?"
"Can you do that?" Sarah didn't bother to hide her surprise. "You're not going to go all lethargic like when you read minds?"
"No" Jareth said softly. He placed his hand on her throat and his eyes flicked up to her face. They stared at each other and Jareth couldn't help feel a bit superior as he felt her pulse beat beneath his palm. Sarah shuddered and cast her eyes down at her hands again.
"There" he said, moving back to his side of the couch. Jareth watched her silently for a moment as she touched her healed neck. "He didn't do anything else, did he?"
"What?" Sarah glanced up in his general direction but didn't look right at him as usual. "Like what? Oh--- oh---- no" she started blushing again. "No he didn't touch me like that. Well, he kissed me"
Jareth's eyes narrowed "He kissed you?"
Sarah backed further away from Jareth on the couch. "Yeah, but it was sort of my fault. I did let him"
"Oh" he said softly and the subject was uncomfortably but obviously dropped.
They sat in silence and when Sarah opened her mouth to speak she realized there was bubbling macaroni on her stove. She swore furiously and ran to the kitchen. Jareth raised an amused eyebrow at her antics and after a bit of time followed her.
"That's what we're eating?" He peered over her shoulder at the neon orange mass in the pot she was stirring.
Sarah sighed "Stop sneaking up on me, like that"
"I'm dreadfully sorry" he smiled, not sounding the least bit sorry and backing up into the opposite counter.
Sarah doled it out into bowls and offered him one. Jareth took it apprehensively. "Are you sure this is food?" he asked, his voice laced with distaste.
"I'm sure" she laughed, swallowing a few forkfuls. "God, I'm starving. I haven't eaten since ---- wow --- since the feast day before yesterday" That long? She ate faster and ignored the way Jareth was staring at her.
"Do you not eat enough?" he asked.
Sarah shot him an annoyed look. "I'm thin. I know. Don't patronize me, everyone else does."
"I wasn't patronizing you, luv" he smiled and poked at the macaroni wearily. He had never even seen this colour in nature, let alone food. "Gwen's always on me about the same thing"
"What? Eating?" she asked, he nodded and she accidentally let her gaze trip over his form. Jareth decided to ignore it and not comment on her appraisal.
She laughed and pulled a face, "Maybe we might actually have something in common, then"
"Never" he said sarcastically.
"Well it's a very remote and strange thing," she continued
Jareth snorted. "I don't think the *only* thing you and I have in common is the fact that we appear emaciated and have friends who worry about our health"
"What else?" she asked and then made an exasperated sound "Jareth, it isn't going to hurt you-just eat it" Before she thought about what she was doing Sarah strode over to him and took the bowl and fork out of his hands. She then held up a forkful of neon orange macaroni and cheese to a very surprised Goblin King. "Open your mouth" she commanded in a soft voice.
He raised his eyebrows in amused surprise and opened his mouth slightly. Trying not to fork him to death, Sarah shifted the utensil the slightest bit forward and after a moment's hesitation Jareth finally ate it.
"There, that wasn't so bad" Sarah moved back to her side of the kitchen quickly.
"Er---- it's not terrible" he admitted after swallowing and shooting a sly glance her way.
Sarah waved her fork at him "Don't think I'm going to feed the rest to you"
"I think I can manage," he said pleasantly "So will I have the pleasure of meeting your nymphomaniac friend tomorrow?" he grinned crookedly
Sarah laughed "No, she's not in town. Fiona and Timothy are much more boring. Well--- he's a boring teacher, she's a drug addict"
"And I assume you won't be introducing me as Jareth, King of Goblins"
"Er--- no." Sarah shrugged "I was thinking more along the lines of a friend from London"
Jareth ate a few more bites of his dinner, "How do we know each other?"
"College or something, they won't care. Tim's very unassuming and Fiona doesn't know what's going on half the time." Sarah's eyes slid over to the clock, it was nearly midnight. She knew they needed to go to bed but she didn't quite want to yet. "If she hits on you, just tell her you have a girlfriend."
"Someone I'm courting?" Jareth asked
Sarah shot him a look "Right, but don't say courting--- actually we can just pass off most of your weirdness as being English"
Jareth had the grace to look offended "I beg your pardon, my weirdness?"
"I didn't mean that" Sarah laughed, "I just meant your ---- underground- ness, you know"
"I'm insulted" Jareth sighed, "I think you should feed me more of this orange goo"
"I can't believe you don't like it" Sarah shook her head sadly "When I go back to the Underground I'm bringing a few boxes with me"
Jareth looked up at her in surprise "You're coming back?" he asked
"Well" Sarah avoided looking at him "To see Gwendolyn and Gaeton---"
"Of course" he said shortly.
Was that insecurity Sarah detected? "Well, and to see you" she added slowly
"Me? Darling, Sarah, whatever would we do?" his face was innocent enough but his tone held hidden meaning and Sarah flushed again.
"Oh shut up, come on I'll make up the couch for you"
"The couch?" Jareth sounded dismayed as he followed her from the kitchen.
"This isn't a castle if you haven't noticed, two bedrooms. Three people" She stopped walking and he came up behind her much to closely again.
"I've noticed" he said softly, his hands closing around her wrists. Sarah felt her heart drop into her feet as he slid his hands up her arms to her shoulders. He was talking into her ear again. Why did he always do that? It was annoying, the effect it had on her.
"Erm---" she twisted away and clasped her hands in front of her. Jareth made his face blank again, which surprisingly, was easier to talk to. "Look I---" She couldn't think of a single thing to say so she blurted the first thing that came to mind. "I'll just get the duvet then"
He nodded and watched her leave the room. As we've said before, Jareth was not one to deal with feelings. He knew what he wanted. He wanted Sarah. He also knew that he had wanted her since she left the Labyrinth six years ago. She was making it unbearable on him though. Obviously it would not do to just have a quick one on her settee, but that didn't make the idea any less tempting.
Gwendolyn said he was in love her. He trusted Gwendolyn to know more what he was feeling then he did himself. But if Jareth did love Sarah, then what did that mean? Did that mean he wanted to marry her hand make her his Queen? The prospect of living with any woman for the rest of his life (eternity, if you haven't forgotten) was to be honest, frightening. One of the only things that frightened the Goblin King. Sarah made the prospect less frightening, though.
She returned with a fluffy green duvet and pillows bundled high up in her arms and promptly tossed them on the sofa. "Okay, good night"
Jareth glanced at the pile of blankets and then back at her. He raised his eyebrows. "Goodnight"
Sarah fidgeted with her hands for a moment. This was the part where she left. So why wasn't she leaving, she wondered. "Look, I just wanted to say thank you" she said in a rush.
"Thank you?" he asked innocently "For what?"
"Well, for saving me from Dacian"
"Oh," he said softly "Yes, of course"
She made a humming sound and nodded. "Well, yes, thanks" As an after thought, she placed her ands on his thin shoulders and gave him a quick kiss. "Night" she mumbled,
Jareth felt a smile playing about his mouth. "Good Night"
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AN: I lied, hair cut next chapter--- :D