Mornings of Gold (a Jareth and Sarah fanfiction)

Chapter Six

Two weeks had passed uneventfully, and now Jareth was perusing the instant noodle section of Walmart, trying to decide if he wanted to play it safe for that night's dinner or be indulgent. Having no idea what the 'instant' part of instant noodles involved, he was leaning towards the former. He was clad in his skinny jeans, ever-present black leather gloves and something called a 't-shirt' which he'd purchased a few days ago and was a gorgeously deep black, the material tight against his lean frame.

    Jareth ran his hand through his fringe, flinching a little as his palm brushed over the still-tender skin that served as a reminder of the Door Incident, and was about to reach up for a packet of dismally plain pasta when a familiar sweet voice sounded from directly behind him and caused the fine hairs on his bare arms to stand to attention.

    "You know, I think I preferred your freaky mullet."

    Jareth didn't even react to Sarah's sudden appearance, just continued to pick up his tagliatelle as he replied, "What's a mullet?"

    He could hear the smile in her next words.

    "You don't even want to know."

    Jareth dropped the packet into his  basket and turned, that arrogant smirk he knew irritated her present on his lips. "Whatever happened to my being 'unbelievable'?"

    Sarah ignored his smug expression when she didn't answer, instead asking incredulously, "What on Earth are you wearing?"

    Jareth struck a pose. "I think it's very becoming," he retorted, winking at her. She glared at that.

    "I'm just not used to seeing you without those old-fashioned capes and leggings," she admitted.

    He noticed, heart sinking a little, that despite their seemingly casual conversation she was still regarding him with unveiled mistrust and indifference that was too pure and intense to be an act. He pushed that to the back of his mind, deeming it best not to dwell on it.

    "So," she sighed, her body held stiffly as she surveyed her (former?) enemy, "you've got the hang of everyday life, then." Eyes darting to the basket he clutched, an indication. "Still don't get why you'd need to..."

    "So," he copied, "you moved cities. What prompted that, I wonder? Too many bad memories?"

    Sarah's gaze hardened ever so slightly, letting Jareth know that the current nature of their relationship did not merit personal questions, especially about where she lived.

    "So," Sarah shot back, "you cut your hair." Her tone implied that she wanted an answer.

    Jareth shrugged. He flicked his fringe. "I wanted a change."

    Sarah shook her head, folding her arms and giving him a look. "I don't buy it. Why did you cut your hair?"

    Jareth sighed. He knew when he was beaten, and Sarah was so incredibly stubborn that he couldn't be bothered to put up a fight. "I..." he began, looking away from her so he wouldn't have to see her no-doubt scornful reaction. "I wanted... to start living as a human."

    There was no snort of laughter, no sarcastic put-down from the young woman in front of him. He glanced up, curious as to why she hadn't tried to dishearten him. She looked... shocked? Afraid? Apprehensive? He wasn't sure.

    "Why?" Sarah eventually queried, after a disconcerting while of her staring and him trying not to break eye contact and let her know she intimidated him. Jareth sighed in a way that he hoped conveyed impatience at her slowness, and Sarah's jaw clenching in annoyance proved it successful. "Must I tell you the whole story?" He raised a pointed eyebrow at her.

    "Please," she huffed, shrugging her shoulders and folded arms.

    Jareth gritted his teeth. Tightening his grip on the basket handle, he spun on his heel and stalked off towards the tills. He heard the slap of Sarah's flats on the tiled ground as she followed him. "Hey," she called out incredulously, "are you going to let me in on your little secret or what, Jareth?"

    He ignored her and continued to walk determinedly towards the check-out, but was halted when Sarah ran across his path. "God," she hissed, "you're so attention-seeking!"

    "How am I the attention-seeking one?" he asked, attempting to push past her. She held her ground, staying firmly in place as he shoved her shoulder with one gloved hand. She shot daggers at him.

    "You're being all mysterious and cryptic when you're talking to me, but when I finally ask what you're on about you wave me away and storm off!" she spat, prodding him in the chest. "Don't blame me if I think that's pretty damn childish of you!"

    Jareth growled, his frustration radiating off him (a strange but normal effect of his magic). If Sarah was surprised or bothered by the waves of heat that hit her, she did an impressive job of not showing it.

    "You really want to know?" Jareth barked. "It's really that important to you?" Sarah nodded, infuriating him further.

    "FINE!" he roared, gaining several concerned looks from the people around them but not caring whatsoever. "Wait here."

    He elbowed his way past her and proceeded to the checkout, returning a few minutes later with the brown grocery bag that contained his shopping. "Come with me."

    Sarah hesitated, and Jareth's scowl deepened. "Do you want me to tell you why I'm here or not?" he all but yelled, and Sarah begrudgingly took a step forward.

    Jareth strode out into the street, flicking his head side to side in search of an alleyway. Seeing one a few metres away, he headed for it. Sarah continued to trail him, but stopped short once they reached the entrance. "If you think I'm following you in there--" she began to protest, but was cut off by Jareth grabbing her wrist and dragging her into the shadows. She cried out and struggled against him, but he silenced her with a quick "shut up!" and pulled her deeper inside.

    "What're you..." she choked, fear making her voice tremble. Jareth looked back and softened a little. She must think he was going to do something awful to her down here... He reached out with his free hand and brushed a strand of silky hair from her eyes, now bright with frightened tears, and tipped his head to one side slightly. A small smile touched his lips and she visibly calmed. "You wanted to know, didn't you?" he murmured. His fingers were tracing their way down her neck now, heading for her collarbone. She tensed a bit but didn't stop him. "Let me show you." He leant forward as he said this, and his lips touched the shell of her ear. He held back a shiver at their closeness.

    Jareth's other hand slid up from her wrist to rest on her hip, and at that she flinched. "Don't touch me," she whispered, a hint of her typical bravery back in her voice. His other hand had spread out onto her shoulder. "Didn't you hear me?" Her breath was against his neck, and he couldn't quite bite back a sharp inhale. She heard it and weakly tried to pull back. "Jareth, please..."

    "Sarah." His tone was relaxing and smooth. "Let me show you." He pulled her to him. She exclaimed and fought back, but he'd already summoned a crystal from the hand at her shoulder and suddenly they were spinning and falling and everything turned dark.