Heh heh...Basically, I'm writing the fic I want to read, which makes it fun for me and apparently everyone else too. ^_^
Don't Let Go
Chapter Eleven: Don't Let Go of This Moment In Time
Sarah sensed him before she even closed the door to her room. Sheepishly, almost ashamed, she turned to face the Goblin King-
Who lounged very comfortably on her bed, leaning against her big pile of pillows and stuffed animals. Mercifully, his boots didn't seem too dirty, though she wondered idly how he managed that with the city he ran. His shirt was an almost translucent white today; she could see just enough of the skin beneath that she flushed. The sensuous smile and those black tights didn't help the way her breath caught in the back of her throat. She had to try frantically to unlock her windpipe while resisting the urge to bathe in the sight, to indulge herself in the very, very appealing visual confection on her bed. The part of her mind that was bolder went further and started wondering if he tasted as good as he looked, and her blush turned an almost painful red.
The Goblin King's eyes were at half mast as he slid his gaze lazily over to Sarah. "Hello Sarah."
Sarah took a deep breath and tore her gaze away. "I hate being a teenager," she muttered, blaming her hormones for her reaction.
"I know," he purred, and she couldn't help stealing a glance at him. The knowing smirk on his face told her everything she needed to know, and she avoided staring at him, trying to keep her gaze somewhere in his vicinity yet not falling directly upon him. He stirred and closed his eyes, reaching one slender arm behind his head. "The social politics," he commented dryly, mercifully changing the topic,"Of your particular age group can be so..." He licked his lips and opened his eyes,"-difficult."
Sarah sighed and leaned her head against the door, her body perpendicular to both the door and the Goblin King.
"You didn't take my advice," he commently softly, eyelids sliding partway down.
"No, I didn't." She stared ahead into space. After a pause, she asked quietly,"Would it really have made a difference?"
The Goblin King gave one elegant shrug, twirling a crystal ball with his free hand. "Define difference," he mused.
She turned to him and smiled ruefully, averting her gaze. She shook her head. "Never mind."
As the silence stretched, the tick tock of Sarah's clock increased in decibel until it intruded on every sense as the two tried not to pay attention to each other. Finally, the Goblin King tossed the crystal ball up and caught it, eyeing it absently. "They would not have challenged you so openly and so soon. But it wouldn't have made a difference." His eyes slid over to catch hers, and she inhaled sharply at the drowning blue and green. "But it would have, to you."
Sarah tilted her head back in an attempt to halt the sudden overflow of saline in her eyes. "Right," she whispered. "It would have."
The Goblin King sat up, his arms draping over his knees lankily. He tilted his head to the side, considering her with an amused look on his face. He shook his head slightly, grinning, showing sharp teeth. "You've come so far and yet have such a ways to go, dear, dear Sarah," he said in a soft singsong. "How long before the maze you've created reaches its end, and all the mice roam free only to find that the prized cheese does not exist?"
She turned slowly to look at him, cautious and wary and yet safe and secure. She knew this danger, had faced it once a long time ago. The danger beyond the door, the danger that awaited in the world outside- that was the unknown. The Goblin King was the oddly stable part of her life. Which is probably not a good sign. She raised her chin stubbornly and stared evenly at the Goblin King, feeling her throat constrict. Why did the mere sight of him have to pull at her heartstrings like she was a damn violin? "The only maze I know of is your Labyrinth-"
"Your Labyrinth," he corrected sharply, eyes narrowing.
Not true! Sarah swallowed her retort. "It doesn't belong to me."
The Goblin King shrugged lazily, smiling dreamily at Sarah. "It belongs to me; it belongs to you. And you and I both belong to it."
She shook her head. "You're not making much sense."
"On the contrary," he drawled, raising one eyebrow. "I make perfect sense. You're the one who doesn't understand."
Sarah stared at him, trying to understand and perversely not being willing to concede an inch. Her brain took the two conflicting desires, shook them about, and tossed them to the side with disgust. As a result, she merely shook her head. "I don't believe I ever understand you, Goblin King."
A curiously odd look settled on his face. "No," he said slowly,"I don't suppose you ever do." Then he tilted his head and said archly,"But you, Sarah, are a puzzle becoming all too easy to decipher."
He vanished, and she shook her head, simultaenously confused and annoyed. "He always has to have the last word," she muttered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: *waves* Okay, okay, it's short, but it's J/S interaction. I'm back! Aren't you glad? And the weekend's coming up. I should be able to churn out some stuff. Happy Samhain, everyone, and be safe.