As The World Falls Down

Chapter 14

You were starting to understand the length of how bored Jareth must truly be, because after two months had passed, you were going half out of your mind. Even with the world at your fingertips (of your own, and sometimes Jareth's accord), it was difficult finding hobbies and activities that you actually wanted to stick with. However, the consistencies you kept were far too tempting to walk away from, so you pulled ideas out of thin air and toyed with them to pass the time.

One morning, you walked into the dining hall and found Jareth reclining with his legs curled up on the table in his familiar place at the head of the table. One of his many books of mysterious origin was floating eye level over his lap with him turning pages with a lazy flick of his fingers. He was clearly absorbed in the story, but when you came in and awkwardly waved, the book immediately snapped shut and fell the second he turned to look at you.

"Ah, good morning, darling," he smiled, gesturing to the seat next to him. "How did you sleep?" As you took your seat, you made note of something: He was really taking a liking to pet names for you, and it was making it very hard for you to keep your cool.

"I slept wonderfully," you replied, taking a sip of your apple juice. "And you?"

"Stayed up the whole night, it seems," he said, drawing the book up to rest in the air over his palm, rotating it at an awkward angle. "I've been reading this for hours now and I'm just now realizing I'm not entirely sure I know the alphabet it's written in."

"You're ridiculous," you asserted, biting back a laugh.

"Just to you," he said with a wink and you rolled your eyes. "How would you like to go out today?"

You blinked. He had never asked you that before. How had he never asked you that before?

"I-go out? Like, on a date or...?" you stuttered awkwardly, realizing you were making this so much worse than it actually was. He grinned, revealing his teeth, and he tipped his head playfully to the side, looking at you adoringly.

"Would you...like it to be a date, Y/N?" he asked, clearly enjoying himself. "Or would you like me to take you out wherever you want -anywhere in this universe and as far as the eye can see- as...'associates'?"

"Would you quit it?"

"Maybe I should take you to the hanging gardens just beyond my favorite waterfall in one of the elven realms, and introduce you to the gardeners there as my 'acquaintance'," he laughed, setting the book down on the table with a flat palm. "Or do you prefer 'guest'?"

"Keep it up and you'll be going alone," you retorted, and he chuckled.

"Well, we can't have that, now can we?" he affirmed, and you flushed in spite of yourself. "Please, Y/N, I implore you. Let me take you on a date. Anywhere you want."

He looked to you as if he were a begging puppy and not, on occasion, a raging tyrant, and you tried not to feel entirely thrilled with how much power you really had over him.

"I'd love to," you insisted after a moment. He smiled mischievously, taking your hand from across the table and running his thumb over your knuckles.

"Perfect," he purred, kissing your hand briefly then standing, clasping his hands together. "I've left you some attire to choose from in your cabinet. I'll come to collect you shortly."

"Are you going to let me have breakfast first?" you asked, and he smirked. "Are you even going to let me know where we're going?"

"So many questions with you," he said dismissively. "All in good time."

Graciously, he allowed you to eat your breakfast uninterrupted, and when you headed back to your room you did, in fact, find your closet to be replenished with new daily wear. Well, it may have been casual to Jareth, but to you, you couldn't help but find most of the dresses and blouses to be exceedingly lavish and gaudy. You settled on a soft, eggshell linen button down, leaving the buttons unbuttoned well into your cleavage, pairing it with a long, auburn coat, tight black pants and leather boots with a low heel. You scrutinized the outfit in a floor length mirror, tightening and adjusting random bits and pieces of your ensemble, and you were smoothing your palm over the material on your thigh when you felt Jareth's arm circling your waist. You looked briefly into the mirror to see him behind you, looking at you, and you leaned back into his embrace slightly.

"I see you were going with the assumption this wasn't going to be a formal event," he commented judgmentally, and when you looked back up into the mirror, you could see that he had also gone for a simpler look: a finely pressed black long sleeve with a lazily laced up V neck that exposed an array of silver jewelled necklaces, along with his usual skin tight pants and heeled boots combination. Maybe simple was the wrong word; it was a simple look for him, anyways.

"Aren't we a fine pair," he murmured, settling his chin on the top of your head, and you could see your pupils widening of their own volition in your reflection at the gesture.

"Where are you taking me?" you asked and he chuckled, the vibration of it being caught in his throat buzzing delightfully against the back of your head and down your neck.

"I liked the idea of the elven realm, so I'm going to take you to one of their capital cities to visit a business associate of mine and see the sights," he proposed, and you frowned.

"Hold on, is this a date or are you taking me on an errand?"

"A bit of both, but mostly a date."

"Unbelievable," you shook your head and he laughed.

"I swear, visiting my colleague was a secondary consideration, spending time with you was my main concern," he assured you and you rolled your eyes, turning so you were facing him in his embrace.

"Just get us there before I change my mind," you said.

"Yes, dear," he replied before leaning down and catching you in a kiss, your eyes fluttering closed and pressing against his chest.

In the 10 or so seconds you both held the kiss, you felt the room and the air itself take on a strange, dizzying quality, which you recognized instantly as teleportation. You clung to him as your feet left solid ground and dragged through the thick ether of the spaces between realities, Jareth easily flipping through them like a phone book, as if it didn't require incredible skill and discipline to perfect. You soon felt yourself standing on solid ground, and a cold wind split you apart from him, sound swelling suddenly as if the world around you had unmuted on full volume. Your eyes snapped open and you found yourself on a lively, cobblestone lain street, bustling with a community of elves all set off on their own prospects, the sounds of music and that foreign tongue you had encountered in the forest being carried on a cool breeze. Rows and rows of summery houses peeked out between evergreens climbing up the surrounding mountains that rested against the aquamarine skyline, and when you squinted, you could see the silvery lip of an ocean. The street you were on was scattered with wooden shops and carts, all being lovingly tended to, and you found yourself staring a little more than what was polite before Jareth jostled you to your senses.

"All right there?" he asked, out of breath, practically glowing from using powerful magic with such freedom, but there was a genuine concern in his voice that made you melt a little.

"Right as rain," you contended, honestly and truly not feeling any travel fatigue, only excitement to explore this new domain.

"Splendid, off we go, then?" he proposed, offering you the crook of his arm, which prompted you to gracefully loop your arm in his and he led you off into the crowd.