"Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people's legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world."
Sarah Addison Allen
The trio looked over, their faces all betraying surprise. The two holding Toby's arms released him and appeared ready to bolt. The third, Shawn, recovered and stood up straighter.
"Who's this then? Your boyfriend?"
He was roughly the same height as Jareth, and decidedly thicker. He evidently wasn't bright enough to recognize the inherent threat.
"Hardly," Jareth lips twisted briefly. "I'm just curious why it takes three to handle a skinny boy of thirteen."
Shawn's face turned ugly. He eyed Jareth's finely cut suit. "You're no teacher. Why don't you fuck right off before we decide to stick it to two faggots instead of one?"
The not-king laughed openly. "How your words betray you, boy. How about instead you and your friends walk away from here while I'm still feeling generous."
Shawn sneered. "How about I wipe that smile off your face."
Toby was following the exchange with wide eyes. His lip was noticeably split.
"Did your sister ask you to do this?"
Shawn looked confused for a minute. "What?"
"Your sister. Did she ask you to protect her from this boy?"
The older boy scoffed, patting Toby's face patronizingly. "Like he even knows what to do with a girl."
"I see. Then you've decided your sister's wishes don't matter." Jareth pointed a gloved finger. "This is all about you."
"What the fuck are you even on about?"
"You're doing this because you can. Because it's easy. Because it makes you feel powerful. That's a desire I can understand. The problem is, Shawn, in actuality, all you've done is make yourself look weak. Such a pity your sister didn't think to wish you away."
Toby's broken lip trembled in confusion.
"You're wasting my time, dude." Shawn's friends had abandoned all pretence of having their friend's back, their latent prey instincts warning them to flee. "whatever, if I don't take care of this little fag now, I will later, eh Toby?"
"Oh, I don't think so, Shawn." Jareth's face took on a serious cast. "All I have is time. And I assure you that you won't be bothering my young friend again."
Shawn laughed. "What are you gonna do, tell the teachers? I've been suspended before. I've already got a football scholarship. I'm their star player. They aren't going to do shit."
"No doubt. But I have every intention of handling this myself."
Shawn eyed him up and down and then spread his arms wide mockingly. "Give it your best shot."
Sarah, curiosity finally getting the better of her, had likewise excused herself. She'd wandered until she'd heard voices. She'd been on the point of rounding the corner when she'd caught the snippets of the exchange. Her first instinct had been to run in and defend her brother. Her anger had been palpable as she'd taken in her brother's abused condition. Something made her hesitate however. To dip back into the recess and watch.
"I don't hit children." Jareth looked bored.
"I'm eighteen. Scared now?"
"Not in the least. You very much should be."
Shawn snorted and then, using his athletic skills, swiftly turned and sucker-punched Toby. The boy doubled over and gagged. "How about now?"
"You shouldn't have done that," Jareth t'sked.
Before he could do more, Sarah - unable to do nothing any longer - swept between them. She punched Shawn without hesitation, with enough force to make his head jerk back.
Used to hits he recovered quickly, his face turning smug. "Assaulting a student?" He rubbed his jaw. "See you in court, bitch."
"I look forward to it," Sarah hissed.
"Oh, I don't think that will be necessary." Jareth appeared amused at Sarah's outburst.
Shawn levelled a thick finger at her. "Wait… I know you. You're his big sister. This just gets better and better. Need a girl to fight your battles for you, Toby." He faked towards Toby and then swung for her instead.
Two things happened at once. Sarah ducked and Jareth caught the youth's arm in a bruising grip.
Shawn looked shocked, but vainly tried to free himself.
"You really shouldn't have done that." In a flash, Jareth was every bit the Goblin King. The glamour, which had muted all his otherworldly features, fell. Shawn sucked in a breath and his neck bobbed.
Toby's eyes widened as everything finally clicked into place.
"I'll see you later," the Goblin King promised darkly. And then Shawn disappeared.
Sarah spun, her own eyes wide.
Jareth, "normal" again, adjusted his cuff links as though none of it had happened.
"What did you do?" There was panic mixed with approval in Sarah's voice.
"Just given him a little coronation as the prince of the land of stench."
"You didn't!"
"Never doubt me, Sarah. Be thankful I restrained my creativity."
She chewed her lip. "But his parents…"
"Will enjoy their first Christmas in… what was it? Eighteen years in relative peace I suspect." He sighed at her pointed expression. "I'll let him go. After a little chat I think."
"But the smell…" Sarah still sounded like she wasn't sure which way she wanted it to go.
"Will fade," he replied easily. "But don't let that particular secret out. Makes the threat less effective. Of course, a little something always remains. He'll spend his life always feeling like he didn't apply enough deodorant. Always wondering if something around him has spoiled. It should serve as a very healthy reminder."
"You have all the answers don't you."
"Just never the ones I want," he replied seriously.
"You…" Toby trailed off. "I do know you."
Sarah looked panicked.
Jareth sighed. "Fine." He smiled at Toby, and straightened his shirt, brushing the blood from his shirt like it was dust. "Not yet, you don't. It really is exhausting living up to your expectations."
Toby's face grew blank and then cleared. He winced and touched his lip. "What happened?"
"You stood up to someone called Shawn."
Toby turned white and looked around. "Oh my god. I did? He's going to kill me."
Jareth began leading them back to the auditorium. "Not likely I think. He had a change of heart so that I suspect when next he sees you he'll keep his distance."
Toby's parents and Lizzie met them in the hall, all of them looking concerned. Sarah jogged up to reassure them.
Toby looked doubtfully at the not-King. "Really? My head feels kind of fuzzy."
"You hit it on the lockers."
Toby nodded slowly. "Right. I remember. But Sarah always says never use violence to solve your problems. It's the sign of a weak mind."
"Does she," Jareth sounded amused. "I know an entire city that would beg to differ."
"What?"
"What? Go see your parents, Toby." Behind them a girl was watching, her face easing into relief when she spotted Toby. "Ah, I think someone else is waiting for you too, young man." Toby touched his lip in embarrassment. "Don't fret on that account. In fact, I'd suggest milking that for all it's worth."
Toby received the requisite amount of unwanted fussing from his mother and the perfect amount of much desired fussing from the unfortunate sister of Shawn.
When they arrived back home for a late dinner, the atmosphere had returned to the bright expectation of Christmas.
Sarah kept favouring her right hand. Jareth took it and massaged it gently. "That was a rather impressive hit."
She winced. "Yes, remind me not to do that again."
"It is the sign of a weak mind."
Sarah sputtered indignantly and then laughed. "We don't all have bogs at our disposal." She grew serious. "Thank you. By the way."
"You're welcome. It was the least I could do." He sounded almost disappointed. Like he would have relished doing much more.
Before she could think better of it, she leaned in kissed him. Not on the mouth, though truth be told it had been tempting. Instead her lips found the sharp edge of his cheek. It was brief and not in the least salacious. Just lips to skin. The not-King sucked in a breath nonetheless, his eyes strangely dark and hooded when she pulled back. Like it had moved him more than their living room fumbling.
He leaned in, his intention writ large in his expression. Sarah realized in the same moment that she wasn't going to move away.
"Supper," Lizzie announced sternly from the doorway, her eyes castigating them both. "Though what heathens eat their tea at this hour, the Good Lord only knows!"
Karen's late supper was a delicious casserole, and they all tucked in. Robert was particularly happy to wash the taste of "orange waste water" out of his mouth with a full bodied Merlot.
Dinner talk mostly centered round the concert, with Toby equal measures embarrassed and chuffed by their praise.
"So I hear you both enjoy Renaissance Art," Lizzie said as they enjoyed after supper drinks.
"Um, yes," Sarah replied carefully. "But no one wants to hear about that."
"Oh, but I would. Did I never mention that I taught art history at the convent?" She sipped her sherry thoughtfully. "My favourite was Titian. How do you like him?"
"Er… he's wonderful of course."
"And yer favourite?"
"Um…" her mind blanked, "probably da Vinci."
"Hmm. A rather predictable answer." Her sharp eyes turned to Jareth. "And yours?"
The not-King considered her. "I enjoy Titian but I prefer the dark realism of Caravaggio. He captured the grotesque quite well, don't you think?"
Lizzie nodded, her brows rising. "I do in fact. But what do you think of Brunelleschi's style?"
They continued back and forth until Sarah was pretty sure he'd almost made a convert of Lizzie. He at least was matching her equally. Her aunt had not bothered to seek her opinion at all in fact. Robert began to doze at the table. Toby and Karen had begun a game of Rummy.
"Ah, but I don't think you'd be such a fan of Tintoretto had you known him in person," Jareth remarked. "He was call Il Furioso by the Venetian prostitutes as well. He also had the worst breath at all times."
Lizzie's eyes narrowed. Sarah's widened. Robert snored on undisturbed.
"I'm sorry, how would you know that?"
Sarah panicked. "He's read about him extensively."
Lizzie frowned. "Has he?"
Jareth grinned, a little too widely, at the older woman and said nothing whatsoever.
Once back in the bedroom, Sarah rounded on him. "You have to stop doing that!"
"Doing what?"
"Don't play innocent with me. You know exactly what. We just have to make it through another few days."
Jareth's face hardened. "And then what? And then you'll have used me again at your convenience."
Sarah bristled. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Who's playing innocent now, Sarah?"
"This was a contract. Nothing more." Only partially a lie. Perhaps more than partial. One she was inexplicably clinging to.
"Was it? Yes," he replied darkly. "I suppose it was. Let's not forget we haven't established payment."
She pulled covers from the bed and dropped them on the floor. "Use your magic to find somewhere else to sleep."
"Perhaps I'll actually get some them. Without your needy little body fastening itself mine so desperately."
Sarah recoiled and disappeared to shower. When she returned the room was empty. And when she finally fell asleep in the bed, the small double had never felt so large.
Jareth was back by breakfast. She was admittedly relieved. Whether he'd slept on the floor or elsewhere, he'd certainly not been in the bed. He was dressed impeccably again but his expression was closed, shuttered. Enough that Karen kept directing them both worried looks.
As always Robert's practice was having its annual Christmas Eve party. Complete with catering, music and dancing. Karen hated it, quite rightly pointing out that the 24th was never a good night for families. But it had become tradition. And the libations drinks were plentiful. Lizzie insisted that if they were to go to the "den of iniquity" the family must attend midnight mass afterwards. She'd looked pointedly at Jareth as though she expected him to recoil like a vampire. Karen agreed quickly, using it as an excuse to leave the festivities at a reasonable hour, earning her rare points in Lizzie's book.
Despite the frostiness between the two, Christmas Eve passed as it always did, in that disparate place between time standing still and moving almost too quickly towards Christmas. Karen flew about the house putting last minute sprigs of holly in every nook and cranny. Robert had disappeared to wrap what Sarah hoped was something tasteful in gold and not a waffle iron. Karen owned three. Toby had been tying up the phone all day, disappearing with a red face when anyone passed him. Lizzie, between naps with Peaches, had started to make some of her own Christmas delicacies, ready with a spoon to affectionately slap anyone who dared sneak a taste. The snow had even started falling softly, in those big fluffy flakes that seem to defy physics. In short, it was a sickening pastiche of the perfect Christmas.
Enough that Sarah had begun to mellow. She felt a shade of guilt. Not that she trusted him entirely. Far from it. But she'd enjoyed his presence more than she'd expected to. Certainly more than was probably wise. And it would all end eventually. Like a dream. A few days after Christmas. When time sped up again and the magic waned again.
She found herself searching for him before she could think better of it. When she did, it was in an unlikely space. He was standing outside, wrapped only in a coat and scarf, staring up at the sky. He was so still he looked as though he was a part of the winter scene. His short hair was lifted in the wind and covered in large flakes of white. She could easily imagine it longer. Trade his modern coat for a cloak.
Sarah pulled on a coat and slipped outside, siding up to him silently.
"It's beautiful." She spoke softly. Not meaning to startle him or disrupt whatever solitude he sought.
He nodded.
"… about last night…"
He waved a hand, as though cutting off her train. "I'm not what you wanted."
Sarah's breath puffed out in a thick mist. She wanted to say that being home was magical and stressful at the same time. That it, and he, had frazzled her nerves. That she'd had too much wine.
"Not the average boyfriend you wanted to bring home for Christmas," he qualified, but his vague more loaded statement remained.
"No, you're not," she said carefully. "But it's… better I think. And you've been," she thought of Toby's performance, Karen's Joy and her father's ease, "wonderful. In your way. It must be hard to be somewhere so mundane compared to what you're used to."
Jareth looked down at her owlishly, his eyes still guarded. "I've enjoyed myself too, Sarah. In ways I'd thought no longer possible. It's been… peaceful. I quite expect to return chaos, in fact. I've been so," his eyes flicked down, "distracted here, I even forgot to perform the Winter Solstice ceremonies on Long Night."
Those would prove to be prescient words, but in the moment they were forgotten when a hard lump of snow connected with the back of Sarah's head, exploded, and showered them both in a spray of cold and wet.
Sarah turned and scowled at her brother. He crowed back. The Goblin King turned slowly. Toby's smile faltered.
What followed was an epic battle by any standards. Despite the initial volley striking both Sarah and Jareth, as with Risk, there proved to be no allies in snow ball fights. It was every mortal and king for themselves.
Sarah tackled Toby at one point, forcing his face into the soft bank. She then dashed away from him, laughing.
Despite having more practice, the Williams were no match for a king, who seemed to be quite impossibly adept at striking them at all times. At one point Toby blinked snow out of his eyes, and cried, "how was that curve even possible?! It was a ninety degree angle around the house!"
In another instance the tree above Toby and Sarah's head conveniently decided to relieve its load at that exact moment, burying them both with enough force to knock them off their feet.
"What the he-" Toby mumbled through a mouthful of snow.
Intent on revenge, Sarah dove for the laughing king and drove them both to the ground. Jareth could have easily avoided the attack, but never one to overlook an opportunity when it so generously launched itself into his arms, let himself be tackled. He caught a stray elbow to the ribs for his troubles, but otherwise the soft weight was rather welcome.
She laughed at the impact they made, snow shooting up around them fireworks. She tossed a mittful of cold flakes in his face, her expression triumphant. He gripped her elbows and rolled them, Sarah squealing as she ended up with the cold bed at her back instead.
Her cheeks were red from the wind and exertion; her dark hair forming a halo against the white. Her eyes were dancing. She looked happy. The Goblin King found his breath stolen by something other than the cold. Without waiting for permission, his head dipped and he kissed her.
Their breath mingled warmly, despite their frigid skin. Jareth felt her still for a moment before she softened, her mouth opening in invitation. Her hands curled into his sides - clutching.
And then they were both showered again by a deluge of snow. This time with a few chunks of ice in it. She saw Jareth jerk back, his lips curling into something almost feral.
Toby was holding a now empty shovel, laughing in deep bursts, like he couldn't quite catch his breath. "Get a room!"
For a moment, Sarah was certain she was once again going to become an only child.
Her hands tightened on the king. "It's Christmas," she warned.
"Lucky for him."
Sarah slid out from underneath him. He looked like he very much wanted to drag her right back again. It made her heart do that ridiculous flutter again.
She dragged her brother back inside.
The family dressed for the party not long after. Sarah stared at her closet, hands on hips. She'd brought an array of clothes, several of them fancy. One in particular - a deep red, almost burgundy sleekly cut dress. The length was modestly cocktail, and it was a high boat neck, but the back dipped dangerously low. The fabric was covered it tasteful wrought crystals of the same colour. Just enough to always catch the light. It has cost more than her rent. She left her hair down and her makeup was tastefully done to compliment. She donned slinky heels to match.
When she made her way downstairs, Karen beamed.
"You look gorgeous, Sarah." She was secretly thinking that if ever a dress would get her grandchildren that would be it.
Robert murmured something fatherly. Even Lizzie had been complimentary, deeming it respectable enough. She'd crossed herself when she saw the back.
Jareth's face, however, had made Sarah's pulse skip. He'd offered her a slow grin, one that had started in his eyes before reaching his mouth. It was a purely hungry look that made Lizzie cross herself again.
Sarah had been dressed in mostly jeans and sweaters, not to mention penguin pyjamas, until now. It was somehow gratifying to see his reaction to her "all dolled up," as her father had said.
For his part Jareth was equally decked to the nines. His black tailored suit was cut to the inch. His shoulders look broad and his waist narrow on his lithe frame. The fabric had a subtle sheen to it, so that when he turned it shone almost blue. On anyone else it wouldn't have worked. His cufflinks were a deep jeweled black.
They both recoiled at the flash. Karen lowered the camera, grinning ruefully. It was like her prom all over again. Sarah felt a moment of panic.
They all filed into two cabs a few minutes later and were off to the party. Sarah felt a bit like a character in a snow globe. One that was about to be shaken.
AN: What's that? A ball?
I totally borrowed the snowball fight from Tanglewood (and like every Hallmark movie ever). It is a truth universally acknowledged that snowball fights and flirting go hand in hand. #truestory #notsorry
Of course it was Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah last chapter! It's Cohen's song (as much as I love other versions too) and he is Canadian. We like to represent :)
Shout out to the yellow flower for bringing up Winter Solstice. It ties into an upcoming scene.
My high school had a few bullies like Shawn – yes, he was a little trope-y and hyperbolic – but sadly kids do get beat up for THE worst reasons. It really can be Lord of the Flies. Enjoy the bog, Shawn.
I can't wait for the party scene next chapter, not to mention MASS, and gifts on Christmas morning. What could go wrong? *rubs hands together*
p.s. I saw Mary Poppins today with the kiddos tonight. I highly recommend.