A/N: I do hope folks are enjoying this. I swear Jareth has eaten every other plot bunny. He looks plump and self satisfied.
Labyrinth property of Jim Henson and Disney
Jareth kept one ear cocked towards the bathroom as he bustled about the tiny kitchen space. Chara had been a font of information, thank the gods, and one of the mortal customs that meshed with his own instincts was preparing food for his mate. Granted, it had been several hundred years since he had cooked, but he remembered the basics. Sadly, his culinary skill was not compatible with modern mortal equipment. After burning himself on the stove and the toaster oven, (and melting a bowl. He replaced it and caught the noxious odors in a crystal to add to the Bog of Stench.) he decided a compromise was in order. Hands on hips, he studied the few ingredients on the counter, matched them to reports of Sarah's favorite foods and used his magic. When Sarah emerged, clean and dressed in a very flattering T shirt and jeans, he had a plate of scrambled eggs and toast with melted cheese on the table ready for her, along with a pot of tea with the prettiest mug he could find.
"Please come eat, Precious." She blinked as she accepted the seat he held for her.
"Um, Jareth? What are you eating?"
"Don't fret over me, love. I ate while making your food." He fetched another mug from the cubby and joined her, pouring tea. Sarah ate a few bites of everything and smiled at him.
"Wow, were owls can cook!" He preened as she dug in. When he was certain she wasn't looking, he took the last of three mice he had found in the kitchen out of his pocket and swallowed it whole. Not the most ideal breakfast for him, but he didn't trust Aboveground food beyond meat. He doubted Sarah would miss them. When Sarah finished, he took her plate and put it in the sink.
"Why are there no dirty pans?" She asked behind him. He turned and pulled her close, giving her a full body snuggle. When he let go she was delightfully pink.
"I am not familiar with mortal methods. The food was yours, the cooking was magic."
"Oh. That explains the buzz on my tongue." Jareth cocked his head, surprised.
"You can taste magic?"
"When I make scrambled eggs, they don't leave a tingling aftertaste. It's not bad, just unexpected." Jareth immediately had several intimate questions about this new development. Before he could ask, Sarah turned away. He followed her as she found and filled a plastic bottle with water, located a jacket, tucked her phone into her jeans pocket and picked up her purse. "Okay, I'm ready!" He smiled as he removed her purse and phone, enjoying the squeak she made when his fingers slid into her left front pocket.
"You won't need those in my kingdom, love." He folded her into his embrace before she could protest. "Now, what was your favorite part of my labyrinth?"
"Um…" She looked away, turning pink. How he loved her blushes!
"Ah. I believe I know what you're thinking of." He put his lips next to her ear and grinned at her reaction. "I enjoyed our dance as well, such a pity you smashed the room."
"Really?"
"Oh yes. Shattered like a mirror, much like the Escher room."
"Um…" Now she sounded guilty. He licked her ear, making her gasp and straightened, keeping her in his arms.
"Not to worry, Precious. I had everything repaired. It only took me years."
"I'm so sorry," She said, lowering her gaze. He kissed each eyelid and reveled in her response. Soon, very soon, he would get her into his bed and they wouldn't leave for at least two days. He had it all planned out.
"I forgive you, Sarah. Plucky young mortals are always the most destructive. One day I'll tell you about The Redhead. Now, as much as I would love to waltz you around the ballroom until we put the cushion pit to very good use, think of someplace else." She gave him an annoyed/tempted look and hooked her arms around his waist. He trilled and she laughed.
"Those owl noises of yours are so cute!" He preened and kissed the tip of her nose. "Well, the forest was pretty, aside from the Fireys and the hallucinogenic peach." Jareth gently pulled her face into his chest.
"Close your eyes, Precious." A snap of cloak and a concentration of will and they were standing just inside the tree line. Jareth checked their location and nodded. Sarah burrowed her nose further into his shirt. Jareth grinned and dismissed the cloak. His mate to be could take as long as she liked. That is, until he became aroused by her breath tickling his chest and the scent of her shampoo teasing his nose. His hands slid down her back and over her tush, pausing to press her hips gently against his. They shuddered and Sarah pushed herself back. Jareth let her go, glad for her distraction with the forest to calm down.
"Why is it so...sparkly?" She asked. Jareth frowned and looked around. Yes, the trees shimmered a bit, and one particular sunbeam was lighting up a leafed branch like rhinestones in a spotlight, but sparkly?
"I...I don't know, really. The Labyrinth is its own place. It works with me when there's a Runner or something is wrong, but for the most part it does what it wants."
"The Labyrinth is alive?" She asked, gaping at the nearest tree. Jareth finally managed to convince his groin to relax and joined her, taking her hand and tucking it through his arm.
"Let's start the tour with an answer." He guided her onto one of the Fire Gang's many trails. "Yes, the Labyrinth is alive. It is also intelligent, about the level of a twelve year old mortal. It has distinct likes and dislikes and it loves to play pranks. This is why there is a King's Run, or Queen's. The Labyrinth does not care about looks or gender. It needs a firm yet gentle hand and it knows it." He turned right and soon they arrived at a stream. Sarah gasped. The stream was pink and made no noise as it plunged along its rock and moss bed.
"This is one of five Wellsprings in my kingdom. All of them converge underneath the Goblin City and flow into the Bog. I tapped into the convergence to supply water for the city and the castle. The sewer is separate."
"What makes it pink?" Sarah asked. Jareth grinned.
"Magic."
"What kind of magic?"
"I'll tell you after you tell me what my magic tastes like." Sarah gave him her "You're embarrassing me" Look, complete with blush. His grin flashed teeth before he composed his face. "The cooking magic, Precious," He drawled. She looked away, nearly the same color as the Wellspring.
"It wasn't so much a taste as an…aftertaste or finish, like a wine. It made my tongue buzz, as if the muscle had gone numb and was waking up again."
"I see. Did the peach make your tongue buzz?" Now she was glaring at him.
"No, it tasted like a peach, but the finish was bitter and cold."
"Interesting." Jareth looked at the stream thoughtfully. The Forest Wellspring carried fertility magic, hence the lush forest and his trade secret for the kingdom's crop exports. What would Sarah taste if she drank some?
"I am NOT going to taste that water, Jareth," She said. He looked at her, her arms folded and her expression stubborn. He looked at the water again. "NO! Get your mind out of the gutter!"
"Precious, you have no idea where my mind has been," He purred, turning his back on temptation and conjuring a crystal instead. He looked into it, nodded and offered it to her. Her expression changed to one that reminded him strongly of an old governess. A very scary governess.
"Snow Cock, I am NOT licking your crystal ball."
"Would you be willing to lick something else?" He asked, trying to banish the mental image of Sarah on her knees, licking him. Licking and sucking and...and why did the crystal have a sex scene in it now? He brought it closer, frowning. This wasn't right. Although, it appeared Sarah's dream talents were not...unfounded. If she really could do that, he would be a very happy wereowl.
"JARETH!" He blinked when the crystal was snatched by Sarah. Her face was beet red and she was squeezing the crystal, trying to break it.
"Sarah! Don't!" He grabbed the crystal back and held it over his head when she lunged. "Calm down love! It's only a dream."
"Perverted horndog dream!" She jumped for the crystal. He threw it into the air with one hand, making it pop, and wrapped the other around her waist, pulling her tight against him.
"Would you rather it be a reality? Say your right words, Sarah-mine, and I'll make all your lusty dreams come true," He said softly. She pushed against him and he let her go.
"I...you...just…" While she spluttered, he conjured another crystal and turned it into an ice cream cone. A double scoop lemon and pistachio cone. Sarah's indignation trailed off and she gaped at him. "What?"
"Since you are reluctant to touch that clever tongue of yours to my crystals, how about this instead?"
"I'm not eating or drinking anything you conjured up, Jareth."
"So defiant when there is no need." She folded her arms again. He sighed. "I swear on my blood, Sarah, nothing you eat or drink in my kingdom will bind you to me or the Labyrinth. You won that immunity ten years ago." Her expression turned thoughtful.
"Are blood oaths sacrosanct?" She asked. He nodded.
"To break a blood oath is to pay the price in one's own blood. Chara and I do not make these oaths lightly, as the consequences are almost always death. The same rule will eventually apply to you."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Sarah took the ice cream cone and studied it. Jareth leaned into her ear.
"You are the only being I risk my blood on, Precious. Please be so kind as to do the same." He licked her earlobe and she squeaked. He pulled back, smirking. She glared at him before turning her attention back to the cone.
"I am so going to regret this," She muttered before taking a careful lick. Jareth watched her expressions closely. Confused, thoughtful, and suspicious flitted past as she went from small licks to actual bites. He gritted his teeth against more unhelpful mental images of her tongue and teeth on his skin. Hiding his hands behind his back, he sent all his lust-addled thoughts into a crystal and sent it to his nightstand. It helped, some.
"Well?" He asked softly. Sarah looked up from her half eaten cone.
"The ice cream tastes right, but there's this...fizz, as if there was carbonation mixed in. It...it tingles."
"Tingles? Is this a good thing? Pleasant?" He asked, moving closer. Sarah offered him the cone.
"What does it taste like to you?"
"Ah, Precious. I cannot taste magic. I AM magic. I'm glad to hear my power makes you tingle." He wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her hair.
"Tingle isn't the half of it," She muttered into her cone. He grinned and kissed the top of her head.
"Good to know." He took her arm and led her back onto the trail. She gave him a dirty look over the ice cream. "Let's continue the tour. The forest is considered the wildest part of the Labyrinth, but it is not the most dangerous."
"Even with the Fire Gang trying to take people's heads off?" Sarah asked, biting a chunk of cone. She frowned. "Why does the cone taste like peanut butter?"
"I like peanut butter."