As The World Falls Down

Chapter 22

You had been through a fair share of Jareth's tantrums and tirades, so you thought that you had grown accustomed to his larger than life attitude. However, it seemed you had unlocked a new side of his moodiness on the morning of The Ball, rising early to the sound of him hustling around the room in a nervous frenzy. He stopped in front of the mirror and stared deeply at his reflection, turning his head side to side and holding mismatched earrings up to his lobes with his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Morning, sailor," you rasped, sitting and stretching slowly as your eyes adjusted to the morning light. He turned to look at you with a jolt, then let out a dramatic breath of relief.

"Oh, thank goodness, you finally woke up," he said, looking back to the mirror.

"I mean, I have every morning before," you said sarcastically, rubbing the back of your neck as you watched him choose a pair of surprisingly simple sleek, steel owl earrings and put them in. "Why, what time is it?"

"Early, but not as early as I would like," he remarked, coming over to the bed and leaning over to kiss you on the top of your head, one of the owl earrings bumping against your nose.

"Oh, well, excuse me," you mumbled, reaching into the touch nonetheless. "The dance isn't even 'til the evening, and it's not like we have to drive there or anything. And stop me if I'm wrong, but you seem the type to show up fashionably late on purpose."

"You do know me, don't you, love," he agreed, sounding annoyed at the fact. "It's just that it takes me a while to be fully ready, and I want you to have enough time as well."

"It's okay to admit that you're nervous," you murmured. "I promise I'll behave."

"That's not a concern, though I do love to hear you say it," he replied, kissing your temple swiftly before resting his face against the side of your head, speaking into your hair. You could feel him physically relax a little and you flushed with the silent recognition of what your presence did to him. "It will be a test of keeping up appearances and seeing colleagues I haven't seen in a good long while, and that requires quite a bit of allotted time to prepare for."

"I can imagine," you affirmed, reaching your hand around to tenderly hold the back of his neck, treasuring this soft, honest moment from him. "I'm sure that everyone will be pleased to see you, and feel the proper mix of intimidation and jealousy in your presence."

"I can only hope," he chuckled, dipping down to kiss you gently before pulling back to rake his fingers through his hair. "I do appreciate your support, darling, truly, but I can't promise I won't be frenzied up until the moment we leave."

"I know this, and I love you," you expressed, stretching a little again and then coming out from under the covers to get to your feet in front of him, placing your hands flat against his chest. "I'll do my best to stay out of your way until it's time for you to show me off."

"I can hardly wait," Jareth insisted, putting his hands over yours, enveloping them entirely. "Why don't you go see the presents I got for you while I get ready, hm?"

"Is my mysterious dress finally ready?" you asked and he nodded once, looking very proud of himself as your eyes involuntarily widened in excitement. "Did you get me glass slippers like Cinderella to match?"

"Scurry off, little mouse, and all will be revealed," he hummed, spinning you by the shoulders and prompting you towards the door with a firm pat on your ass. You looked over your shoulder to give him a scandalized pout, but scurried off nonetheless.

Okay, maybe "scurrying" was the wrong term to use, because you practically skidded to a halt in front of your door, banging it open without you touching it at all. You sprinted across the threshold before coming to an abrupt stop as you beheld the scene Jareth had left for you: