Heroes
"Hey Josh, can I have another?"
"You got it, Sarah."
It probably wasn't a good thing to be on a first name basis with your bartender, but the way her evening was shaping out, Sarah didn't care.
She'd been stood up. Again.
Sitting here, in a cozy yet upscale bar on the west side of town, in her very favorite 'little black dress', Sarah felt like a fool.
.
Reflektor by Arcade Fire played in the background. The music in here was good, at least.
.
Suddenly, her phone pinged. Her prospective date had left her a message.
MarkWinters94 Hey, stuck at work. Rain check?
Sarah rolled her eyes. Mark wasn't the first finance guy she'd attempted to date in NYC. They always tried to pull this. But Sarah knew once the stock exchange closed at 4pm sharp, those guys were out the door.
"Stuck at work my ass…" Sarah said under her breath as her new very favorite person, Josh, dropped off a fresh martini.
Sarah took a long sip, letting the gin cool her temper. Was a dirty gin martini her favorite? No. But it carried fewer calories than her preferred whiskey-based cocktails and she foolishly wanted to look like she cared about her figure to the prospective 'Mark.'
She took another sip before popping one of the floating olives into her mouth. She was starving, having fasted all day to ensure she fit nicely into her dress.
Samantha, Sarah's best friend since childhood, had just announced her engagement to a 'great guy' she met through a dating app. Sarah was over the moon for her friend, albeit slightly sad that her bff was no longer her ride or die on Friday nights. Now Samantha was determined to get Sarah hitched as well.
"You should try online dating! Find your own prince charming!"
Sarah had never been one for online dating, preferring to meet perspective dates the old-fashioned way, either through mutual friends or at a cute bar like this one… or perhaps from wishing away her kid brother…
Sarah grimaced. She always did this. Even a decade later, her mind always drifted back to him. And that was the true crux of her perpetual singleness. No matter the guy, no matter the profile, they never measured up to him.
Sarah's phone pinged again.
MarkWinters94 How about tomorrow night?
Sarah took another long sip while casually responding with a middle finger emoji
Because honestly, fuck him.
Why she thought online dating would somehow break the dismal routine she'd become accustomed to over the years, she didn't know. Maybe some foolish, naïve hope that Samantha's good fortune would rub off on Sarah. She should have known better. Should have known that after ten long years of searching for someone, anyone who could make her forget him—make her crave anyone but him—was a fruitless endeavor.
The loud rumble of her stomach suddenly interrupted her pathetic train of thought. She should order truffle fries. Because the way her night was going, she needed a pick-me-up.
When Sarah wished away her infant brother to the Goblin King out of, admittedly, a childish moment of selfish, spoiled emotions, Sarah instantly regretted it. When he appeared to her in all his otherworldly glory through her parents' bedroom window, she'd been so overwhelmed by his beauty and power her survival instincts kicked in. She squared her shoulders and agreed to run his Labyrinth. The experience was… well, 'life changing' sounded corny as hell.
It ruined her.
Ruined her for this life. This world. For any man. After thirteen hours, she belonged wholly to the Goblin King. Her king. Her impudence led her to defy him in the end. She needed to ensure Toby's safety against all else.
But upon returning to the Above, it took an instant for the regret to shoot through her like lightning.
What if I'd taken his offer? What if I'd stayed? What if I told him I wanted his love?
Shame made her bury those emotions down deep, where they rooted inside her for many years, eroding her every waking thought.
.
Never Give Up On You by Ryan Shepherd began playing.
.
Sarah sighed, the song perfectly summing up her feelings. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she allowed herself the insane idea that she might someday see the Goblin King again. That he missed her the way she missed him. It was a crazy thought. But those rooted feelings wrapped around her soul, singing of hope that the Goblin King might still want her, after everything she'd done. After stating he had no power over her.
Lie. What an all-consuming lie that had been.
Sarah plucked another olive from her drink and began chewing, desperate for sustenance. Her phone pinged again. Probably Mark replying to her childish emoji. But when she glanced at her phone, she realized it was a new message. Someone else in the app had reached out to her.
GoblinKing Hello Champion.
The olive longed in Sarah's throat.
No. Not possible.
GoblinKing It's been ten long years since you ran my Labyrinth. How are you?
She was daydreaming. Somehow manifesting these messages in her mind.
Maybe she needed to eat something more substantial than a few gin-infused olives.
"You doing okay?"
Sarah's eyes shot up. Josh was standing there, a concerned look on his face. "You're white as a sheet. Look like you saw a ghost or something."
Sarah let out a breathy chuckle. "Yeah… or something. I think I just need to get some food in me."
Josh gave her a winning smile. "Lucky for you, we have the best truffle fries in the city."
Josh was good people. "You read my mind. Thank you."
Josh inclined his head before stepping away to punch in her order. Sarah took another sip of her martini. Okay, think. This could be anyone. This could be a joke account. Maybe Samantha pulling a prank.
Samantha knew of the Goblin King, being the only person Sarah trusted enough to confide in.
She clicked on GoblinKing's profile. His picture appeared.
It was him.
Dear God, it was him!
Lounging on his throne, one leg casually draped over the armrest. The hair, the outfit, the riding crop… it was just as she'd remembered. He wore a sly grin, and Sarah clenched her thighs together.
God, he was gorgeous. Just as she remembered him.
Jareth
695 years old, The Underground.
His Summary:
I'm a several-century old ruler of a Kingdom in the Underground named after the very creatures that monopolize my time. I'm also the Keeper of an oversized maze filled with a healthy mix of death traps and cute and cuddly creatures. Occasionally, some human in the Above will call to me wanting their annoying relative taken away, which I oblige because ultimately, I'm a people pleaser. Sometimes these ungrateful humans regret this decision and want their relation back, so I make them run my oh-so-fun oversized maze with a weird time limit.
Looking for someone to fear me, love me and do as I say. In return, I will be their slave.
.
Lips Like Sugar by Echo & the Bunnyman began playing.
.
The world tilted, as if the Earth's axis had shifted. Holy shit.
Sarah blinked. Then blinked again.
Holy shit!
The gin was definitely getting to her. The truffle fries couldn't come fast enough.
How am I seeing this? How is this possible?
Sarah glanced around the bar, wondering if Samantha truly was pulling a prank on her. Surely this was some sort of elaborate practical joke. But Samantha knew what a difficult subject the Goblin King was for her. She didn't believe her best friend would be this cruel.
It must be in her head. It was the only plausible explanation.
*ping*
GoblinKing Cat got your tongue?
Sarah had to concentrate on breathing. In through the nose, out the mouth…
This was… real. It had to be, right? Two martinis do not a hallucination make. And Sarah had no history of mental illness in her family. So real then? Could this be real? The very being that stole Toby away, the very villain that forced her to run his Labyrinth, the man that had been the central focus of every sexual fantasy she held close these past ten years... was on a dating app.
She replied.
SarahLovesToFantasize Who is this?
GoblinKing You know the answer to that.
SarahLovesToFantasize How do I know it's really you?
GoblinKing Who else would have this much volume in their hair?
Sarah bit her bottom lip.
SarahLovesToFantasize I'm serious.
GoblinKing So am I.
SarahLovesToFantasize I don't believe this is real.
GoblinKing You believed my Labyrinth easily enough.
GoblinKing I am very real, Sarah.
SarahLovesToFantasize So real you're on a dating app?
GoblinKing And look how well I'm doing! My first time trying this sort of thing and I've already ensnared a beautiful woman into a conversation.
Sarah's blood heated.
SarahLovesToFantasize Are you here, in the Above?
GoblinKing Not at present. I'm in my Kingdom, quite bored if I'm being honest. No Runner, currently, and the goblins make for poor conversation.
Sarah smiled, visualizing Jareth lounging on his throne, goblins in all shapes and sizes bounding around him, while his attention is fully fixed on his… phone? Now that would be something to see. The Goblin King using an iPhone.
SarahLovesToFantasize How are you communicating through the app?
GoblinKing A bit of magic. Nothing too taxing.
Sarah scanned the bar once again, so sure someone was playing a joke. But the surrounding patrons were all deeply engrossed in their own conversations. She needed to test this person. See if he really was who he claimed to be.
SarahLovesToFantasize What happened to my friends after I defeated you?
GoblinKing As I recall, they joined you in the Above for a celebration and used your bedroom vanity mirror to return to the Underground.
No one knew that. Not even Samantha. Sarah had kept her friends' visits to the Above completely to herself.
SarahLovesToFantasize You knew they visited me?
GoblinKing Of course. My magic drove their ability to visit you. Otherwise, travel across our realms wouldn't have been possible.
Sarah had to focus on breathing. Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus, among other Labyrinth inhabitants, visited her often in the weeks after her Run. Slowly, the visits dissipated, and eventually only her three closest friends came through her vanity… until she turned eighteen.
SarahLovesToFantasize Are you also the reason those visits stopped?
GoblinKing Yes. Connections between realms require a taxing amount of magic. Their visits were always meant to be temporary. I could only hold the connection for so long. When you left for college, I broke the connection.
Sarah supposed she couldn't begrudge him for that. He'd given her two years with her friends. All this time Sarah assumed that once she turned eighteen and became a legal adult, somehow the magic left her.
GoblinKing They miss you.
Sarah's heart clenched.
SarahLovesToFantasize How do you know?
GoblinKing I keep track of my creatures. The large, hairy one talks of you fondly.
SarahLovesToFantasize Ludo?! He talks about me?
GoblinKing Well, he says 'Sawah, fwiend' a lot.
Sarah laughed out loud. More than a few heads swiveled in her direction.
SarahLovesToFantasize And what of Sir Didymus?
GoblinKing I can't tell you. I keep well away from the Bog.
SarahLovesToFantasize You know, it isn't fair you put him there!
GoblinKing He requested it! Kept saying the air was 'sweet and fragrant', so I obliged him.
Sarah rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself.
SarahLovesToFantasize And Hoggle, how is he?
GoblinKing Hogwart is perfectly adequate. He spends his time around the entrance to the Labyrinth, weeding and spraying faeries and alike.
SarahLovesToFantasize Hmm… faeries are nasty creatures.
GoblinKing And their bites hurt like hell.
Sarah fought the laughter bubbling up. She didn't want to make another scene. She finished off her martini and forced her fingers steady as she typed.
SarahLovesToFantasize And you? How are you?
GoblinKing I'm brilliant.
SarahLovesToFantasize Of course, you are. Why would you be anything else?
GoblinKing Why, indeed.
Josh set down a plate of steaming-hot truffle fries.
Right. Food.
Sarah gave him a friendly smile. "Thank you."
Josh winked before walking away. Josh, a real-life red blooded human male who was, admittedly, very cute, just winked at her.
And she felt nothing.
Yet the supposed Goblin King was messaging her through a dating app—a situation she was still very aware could be completely in her own head—and the infinitesimal chance that this could be real was enough to make her heart race a mile a minute.
She was so fucked.
.
Foolish Games by Jewel started playing. God, it was like her own Pandora account was wired into the bar.
.
SarahLovesToFantasize It's been a decade since I ran your Labyrinth. Why are you reaching out to me now?
GoblinKing I've looked in on you over the years. I was curious to see what you would do with your life.
Sarah bit her lip.
SarahLovesToFantasize Did I do you proud?
GoblinKing Your independence and free spirit has always drawn me to you. But your loneliness saddens me.
Sarah's throat bobbed.
GoblinKing May I join you?
Her breath caught in her lungs. Join me?
SarahLovesToFantasize Is that possible?
GoblinKing If you wish it to be.
SarahLovesToFantasize Join me as in, sit next to me in this bar? Share my truffle fries?
GoblinKing I don't know what a truffle fry is but yes, I would like to continue our conversation in person if you wish it.
Sarah had to concentrate on breathing.
SarahLovesToFantasize No tricks? No crystals? No poisoned peaches?
GoblinKing As long as you don't wish anyone away to me, I promise to be on my best behavior.
Breathe, Sarah. She let out a long exhale.
SarahLovesToFantasize Okay. Come join me.
GoblinKing Say the right words.
In through the nose, out the mouth.
SarahLovesToFantasize I wish the Goblin King would come to me. Right now.
~.~.~.~.~.~.
"Is this seat taken?"
Sarah glanced up and froze, her eyes going wide.
Next to her bar seat, in all his beautiful glory, stood the Goblin King.
No, not quite. The Goblin King was otherworldly. Ethereal in his beauty. This man was gorgeous to be sure, with the same build, same face and piercing blue eyes. But he looked human. Contemporary.
His short blond hair was cut close to his ears but longer waves of locks swept across his forehead. He was dressed in dark slacks and a light button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his muscular forearms. He stood there with one hand tucked in his front pocket, the other on the back of the chair next to hers. His eyes sparkled as he took her in, and that sly smirk graced his lips.
Sarah willed herself to speak, despite how dry her mouth had become at the sight of him.
"You look… different."
His sly smile widened. Dear God… She remembered that smile. Had brought herself to climax at memories of that smile.
"Forgive my slight illusion. I didn't want to stand out. Tonight, consider me a normal human man interested in buying a beautiful woman a drink."
Sarah swallowed down her butterflies, mustering all the 'cool' she could as she steeled her spine. "Then, sit."
He did, holding out his hand to her. "Call me Jareth."
Sarah took his hand and shook it. Sparks lit up her arm, causing a shiver to run through her. She squeezed his hand and then reluctantly let go, their fingers dragging as they pulled away, as if their skin wasn't willing to let them part.
"I honestly can't believe you're here."
Jareth swept a seductive gaze down Sarah's figure. "You've grown up."
Sarah shifted under his heated gaze, uncrossing, and recrossing her legs. "You look the same. Well, a bit more… modern, of course."
Jareth chuckled. "Just as handsome as you remember?" He winked. She felt her insides melt at the sight.
"Just as arrogant too." She retorted with her own sly smile.
Jareth laughed. "That too."
Josh appeared. "Hey man, what can I get you?"
.
What You're Doing To Me by Trevor Something began playing.
.
Jareth glanced at Josh, then turned his attention back to Sarah. "What would you suggest?"
Sarah turned to Josh and might have noted a slight stiffness in his features now that Sarah wasn't here solo. "Two Manhattans, please."
Josh nodded, eyeing Jareth before heading off to make their drinks.
Jareth raised a brow. "Manhattan? Like the village you reside in?"
Sarah laughed. "Yes, exactly. Its whiskey based. You'll like it."
Josh returned with their drinks. Sarah held hers up. "What should we toast to?"
Jareth's gaze roamed over her face, that mischievous smile on full display. "A reunion long overdue."
She blushed. "I agree."
They clicked glasses and took sips of their respective drinks. Sarah watched surprise wash over Jareth's face. "Mmm. Much better than goblin ale. I'll have to remember this concoction."
"If you enjoy the drink, please blow your mind by indulging in a truffle fry." Sarah lifted a brow in challenge, pushing the plate of fries towards him.
Keeping his gaze fixed on Sarah, Jareth gathered a few in his hands and took a bite… and Sarah bit back on her smile of satisfaction as she watched Jareth's eyes roll back in his head, his moan of pure pleasure almost indecent.
Her panties dampened.
"So," he asked in between bites, "come here often?"
Sarah almost choked, her knee jerk reaction to laugh out loud ruining her mouthful of whiskey. She didn't think Jareth meant his question to come off as a cliche pickup line. "I do. I like this bar. It's close to my apartment and the drinks are good. Plus, I enjoy the people watching. This bar draws an interesting crowd. Sam usually comes with me."
Jareth took another fry, asking a bit too casually, "Sam? Is he a close friend of yours?"
Sarah smiled into her glass. "Yes. She is my closest friend. But Samantha recently got engaged, so she's not as available for casual drinking and people watching with me as she once was."
"Hmm. Well, best of wishes to your friend and her upcoming nuptials." Jareth raised his glass to her. Sarah, smirking, clinked hers against his. "Oh, yes. The BEST of wishes."
Jareth winked, and Sarah squeezed her thighs together. "Not those types of wishes, Sarah."
.
Cold Souls by Drab Majesty started playing.
.
"Do you ever see yourself getting married?" she asked as casually as she could muster.
Jareth wavered. "I can't imagine co-ruling over a bunch of greasy, meddling goblins is an appealing prospect for any prospective bride."
Sarah reached for another fry, chewing absentmindedly. "But they get you."
Jareth stilled next to her, and Sarah turned to find him studying her face with intensely.
"Find me a catch, do you?" His lips slowly curled into that sly smirk of his, and Sarah felt butterflies come alive in her stomach. But the alcohol in her system lowered her inhibitions just enough that she put caution to the wind and leaned in.
"Who wouldn't want the Goblin King tied to them for the rest of time?"
Jareth just looked at her. At her face, her eyes, then her mouth. Sarah swallowed, and Jareth tracked the movement like a predator studying his prey.
Sarah licked her lips. The air between them had gone electric. Too hot. She swallowed again and searched for something to say. Some sort of joke or quip to lessen the pressure building between them.
.
Golden Years by David Bowie began playing in the background.
.
Sarah exhaled, leaning back. "Oh my God, I love this song!"
Jareth cocked his head, listening to the catchy melody while chewing on the delectable fries.
.
I'll stick with you, baby, for a thousand years
Nothing's gonna touch you in these golden years
.
"Hmm. I like this. I agree with his sentiment."
Sarah looked at Jareth, assessing. "You know, you look a little like David Bowie." She reached for her phone and did a quick Google image search, holding up the results. "See? Very similar."
Jareth took her phone while grabbing another handful of fries. "I suppose there is a likeness there."
Sarah took another sip of her Manhattan. "I always thought David Bowie was hot."
Jareth handed her phone back. "Oh?"
"mmhmm." Sarah looked up at him through her lashes, grabbing a fry for herself. "He's one of my favorite singers. There's something about his voice that speaks to me. His song, Heroes, is one of my all-time favorites. It's the most romantic song I've ever heard."
Jareth gazed at her intently. "I'd like to hear it."
Sarah turned to search for Josh behind the bar. "I'm sure the bartender can put it on for us-"
Jareth waved his hand in a deceptively casual gesture and Heroes began playing through the speakers. Sarah just smiled at him.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying their drinks while listening to Bowie sing.
.
And the shame was on the other side
Oh, we can beat them forever and ever
Then we can be heroes, just for one day
.
Sarah let out a breath. "That must be what it feels like to openly love someone. Like it's the two of you against the world."
Jareth turned his attention back to her. "You've never loved anyone?"
Sarah's cheeks heated. "I have, but… I've never had the courage to tell the person."
Jareth furrowed his brows. "Why?"
Sarah ran her fingers up and down the stem of her martini glass absentmindedly. "Oh, lots of reasons."
Jareth's gaze held fast. "Name one."
Okay… I guess we're going there.
Those rooted feelings in her began inching their way towards the surface. How the hell was she supposed to explain to the Goblin King the way he made her feel? Jareth tested her for those thirteen hours, his Labyrinth filling her with confusion and dismay and fear and… hope. Hope and friendship and courage and love and…
Higher and higher those roots grew.
Jareth forced her to grow up. Made her realize her mistakes. But through it all, he'd encouraged her. Kept her rebellious spirit aflame. Pushed her and molded her and… danced with her. Sarah remembered that gorgeous ballroom where he took her in his arms and sang to her and led her through the dance with such grace…
The roots broke through.
…That dance. That's when she knew she was in love with him. And it filled her with such fear, she ran from him. Ran from what he was truly offering her.
So, she defied him. Claimed he had no power over her and took her brother back to the Above. She played him for a fool. After ten long years, how was she supposed to approach this?
Delicately, it seemed.
"Well, for starters, he isn't the easiest man to get ahold of."
Jareth smirked. "Busy guy?"
Sarah side-eyed him. "Yes. He also doesn't live close. And the last time we saw each other… well, let's just say we didn't leave under the best of terms."
"Hmm…" Jareth raised a brow. "You fought?"
"He wanted me to stay. But I chose not to. In hindsight, I made the right call. I had a lot more growing up to do. But my feelings for him never changed. If anything, they've grown in intensity. Now…" Sarah took a breath. "So much time has passed since then. I'm assuming he's moved on and doesn't feel the way he once did. Not that I blame him. But I…"
Do it… her body exclaimed. Do it. Tell him. Tell our mate…
Allow the flower to bloom.
Sarah looked up, meeting Jareth's intense gaze. "I haven't gotten over him. You ask how I'm single? That's the real reason. No one else has made me feel the way the memory of him does."
Jareth held Sarah's gaze, holding very still. Seconds passed. Minutes? Years? Eons?
"You're not a coward, Sarah." Jareth cooed. "I've seen what you can do. How strong you are. You don't back down from a challenge."
I, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can be heroes, just for one day
We can be us, just for one day
Slowly, the song ended. Jareth leaned forward and took Sarah's hand in his, instantly flooding her with his warmth. "You're right. That is a beautiful song."
Sarah's eyes watered. "I'm glad you got to hear it."
Ready to Start by Arcade Fire began playing.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Jareth drew little designs on Sarah's palm with his fingertips. "Yes."
Sarah waited. "Care to elaborate?"
"I loved someone once. But she wasn't ready to be with me."
Sarah's heart made a little jump. "And now?"
Jareth continued his feather light touch. "Now, I wait."
Her heart made another little jump.
"For her to call to you?"
Jareth raised Sarah's hand to his lips and kissed her skin gently. "For her to wish me to take her away, and make her my queen…"
Sarah's voice was barely above a whisper. "What if she's afraid?"
Jareth smiled, locking his eyes on her. "My Sarah? No. She's fearless."
Tremors rocked her body. "You love me?"
His gaze was all-consuming, promising forever. Promising eternity. "From the moment I laid eyes on you. You're all I want. All I need. I've been waiting for you."
Sarah's lips trembled as tears began falling down her cheeks.
Jareth smiled. Not his usual sly grin, but an open, lovely smile, and it took everything in her not to lean forward and capture his lips with her own. "What do you say, Sarah? Will you be brave? Will you be a hero with me?"
The bar seemed to drop away. The patrons' conversations becoming muted, the room dimming. There was only him. Jareth. Her Goblin King. The man she wanted. The man she loved. The man she had waited for.
"I wish the Goblin King would take me away, right now."