Checked for continuity, grammar, and spelling: May 3, 2011.
Chapter Thirteen: Wants Discovered
Marcus stood aside as Jareth helped Sarah into her coat then walked with them to the entrance. As Sarah paused to look at a painting hanging in the foyer, he turned to Jareth. "It was certainly a pleasure meeting you both. Perhaps you will return again soon?"
"Perhaps," Jareth offered. "It would depend on a few things, of course," he added under his breath.
Marcus glanced surreptitiously at Sarah, and gave a knowing nod. "Of course. Well should you decide to return, remember what I said earlier. If I am unavailable, simply mention your name and all will be taken care of." Though unsure of what, exactly, was meant by that comment, Jareth gave a small nod of consent. Marcus raised his voice slightly, directing his next comment toward Sarah. "I do hope you enjoyed the evening, Miss Williams."
Sarah smiled at him, once again unaware of the whispered conversation. "Yes, thank you. Everything was wonderful."
"Splendid, splendid." He opened the door for them. "Good night, Mr. King, Miss Williams."
"Good night, Marcus," she replied. Jareth merely nodded once again, this time adding a mild grin. At the bottom of the steps, she turned to face him. "Well," she began.
"It grows late," he interrupted, looking at the sky. "Would you allow me to escort you home? I would not leave you to face the dangers of the city if I can help it."
Sarah blinked, nodding mutely. Regardless of his somewhat odd and slightly archaic turns of phrases, she was constantly taken aback at the way he asked permission for things. Others she had been out with either assumed she desperately needed their protection even though she desperately wanted to be rid of them, or they left her alone in seedy parts of town. The fact that Jareth, of all people, would ask was surprising. And touching. He gestured for her to lead the way, falling in step beside her when she did.
They caught the streetcar then walked to her dorm. The whole way, they traveled in silence, she not sure what to say, he simply enjoying her presence at his side. Finally they reached the steps leading to the front door of her building. She never really understood the point of them, there were only two and a slight incline would have been more logical. Still, the steps were there, and they walked to the landing. Large bushes lined the stairs and the walkway.
Sarah looked at Jareth. They stood in silence, he seemed to be waiting for her to say something, though she did not know what. She found herself caught in his smoldering gaze, unable to look away and unsure if she could handle the intensity. Abruptly, she turned away from him, one hand at her temple. "I don't know if I can do this."
In an automatic response to her seemingly random and foreboding statement, he schooled his features to show no emotion. "Do what, Sarah?" Though suddenly terrified at the possible answer, it was a question he felt compelled to ask.
"This." She made a rather large, encompassing gesture including the both of them. "You, here. After all these years. With me. Tonight was, oh, it was lovely. And I do not mean to imply that, in these past few days or months, you have said or done something wrong. But I..." She turned to look at him, her green eyes expressing a pain-filled confusion that tore at Jareth's heart. Still he met her gaze without moving, readying himself for the inevitable. Not wanting her to see the reaction when she would tell him to leave, his mask of indifference remained in place.
She shook her head, turning away again. Walking a few steps to the bushes, she plucked a single leaf and twirled it between her fingers. "I can't trust you, Jareth," she continued softly. "I wish I could, but... I can't. You," she threw up her hands and began pacing in front of him, "you took Toby. And I know that you did not do it unasked for, that I asked for it to be done. Though I still think you should have known I did not mean it, I did ask. And then you kept changing the rules, and acting so, I don't know, cruel. As though nothing mattered. But all that I think I could have forgiven in time, I think I have forgiven. Because I wanted it. Well, not really for you Toby to be taken away by Goblins, but everything else. Sort of. I mean, I did. And you gave it to me. But then you took it away. And I know you said those were the rules, but still. How do I know you won't do it again? That this all isn't actually another dream? Or just some sick joke on your part, making me feel like... only to crush that as well?"
Gradually, Jareth began to understand what she was telling him, not the words she was saying, but what lay beneath them.
She deliberately stopped two feet away from him and turned suddenly, looking at him, unconsciously pleading with her stance and expression. "You come here. Now. And you do all those things. And you are so..." She flicked one hand in his direction and looked him up and down. "So you. I don't understand it. I don't understand you, or what you are doing here, or what you want. What is it, Jareth? Why are you here? What do you want with me? Why are you just letting me ramble on and on and not saying anything at all?" Clearly embarrassed, she looked away, shoulders minutely slumped.
"Sarah." He took a step toward her, pretenses and masks fading for he knew he could have none with her if he had any hope to succeed.
Though she wanted him to do so, the interruption caught her off guard. Sarah looked up to find him directly before her, and found herself drawn into patient, gentle eyes. There was something in them she could not read, she did not understand. She opened her mouth to speak again, but, before she could, he lightly pressed the tip of one gloved finger against her lips.
"Is this what has been on your mind all night? Making you so nervous and jumpy at times?"
She nodded. "Well, that and the fact that you're-" Eyes widening at what she almost said, she blushed and looked down at her feet. "Never mind."
He placed his finger under her chin and gently tilted her face up so he could meet her eyes. "Sarah," he said again, quietly, "What I want is your trust. I want your friendship." I want your heart. And I want you. "But I know those things must be earned. For now, I only ask that you give me the chance. That is all." For now.
She saw glimpses of insecurity and uncertainty flashing through, two emotions contradicting with his usually collected and controlled demeanor. Out of nowhere, it dawned on her that he was deeply afraid of something. "What are you afraid of, Jareth?"
"That you will tell me no," he replied simply, once again tucking a wayward strand of her hair behind her ear. "That you will tell me to go and not return."
"I don't want you to do that." As the words left her mouth, she began to realize how deeply the truth in them ran. Unsure what to make of that, and of the relief flickering in his eyes, her brow furrowed. "How do you manage to confuse the hell out of me at the same time as making everything seem so simple?"
He gave an elegant shrug. "I do not know. But rest assured it is completely unintentional."
Sarah found that comment surprisingly funny and could not stop her laughter. In turn, Jareth did not know what she found amusing. Still, the sound of her laugher was music, reassuring and calming. The moment passed all to quickly, after which neither of them were sure what to do or say.
"I have an early meeting tomorrow morning."
"Perhaps you should go inside then."
"Yeah, I guess so. I'm on duty all week, too."
"On duty?"
"I have to stay on campus, lock up the building and what not."
"Ah. It sounds rather time consuming."
"Yeah, I guess so," she said again.
He paused, not wanting to take the chance at sending things back a step, but needing to ask the question. "Sarah?"
"Hm?" She looked up at him, not quite sure what she was hoping he would ask.
"May I call on you again?"
She hesitated briefly. "I... I would like that."
"Thank you."
She nodded, worrying her lower lip. "Um, Jareth?"
"Yes, Sarah?"
"I can't promise anything."
"I am not asking for a promise."
"I know. But trusting you... it will take time, you know. And I don't know how long."
"I know," he murmured, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. He cupped the side of her face and leaned closer. "Luckily, I have all the time in the world." He gently kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Sarah," he whispered, backing down the steps, fingertips slowly trailing across her cheek before he let his hand fall to his side.
She turned and unlocked and opened the front the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she found him watching her. "Good night, Jareth." He bowed slightly, then turned and walked down the path. She slipped inside, watching his retreating form through the glass as it disappeared around the corner and into the trees.