Oh, Now Why the Concern?

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We'll Leave the Light on for You

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"Hmm..." Jareth examined the single room with two rather middling-sized beds presented for his appraisal; leaning on the door jamb, he hesitated to enter fully, doubtful of the domicile's sanitation. His sniffed, his patrician nose wrinkling ever so disdainfully; Good Gods, it reeked of stale, mortal—

"Well, you going to stand in the door way all night wrapped in that ridiculous blanket or you going to move your royal butt inside?" Sarah asked from inside the questionable room; she seemed strangely at ease, as if nothing were amiss, tossing their bags atop the beaten up dresser. Did she not perceive this tiny abode's state of disrepute?

"Pardon?" He asked, somewhat stunned at Sarah's brashness after her earlier softness; his mind still contemplating how much father she required his physical entry in this vulgar, tarnished room decorated circa medieval goblin. (And not the aberration goblin decorator, Percy; famous in five kingdoms of the Underground for his invocative designs) Perhaps he mis-heard her; his ears did still feel a tad stuffy and sore from their damaged membranes—thank the gods for fae healing. He resisted the urge to stick his fingers in both ear canals, wiggling them about to relieve the infernal, deep-seated itching. Besides, he had nothing to uphold the blanket she pointed out moments ago should he release both hands. It really was ridiculous with its outlandish floral print, yet essential.

"Jareth! Hey!" Sarah snapped her fingers in front of his face causing him to blink rapidly and stumble back a step to the covered sidewalk. "Are you coming inside or not?"

"There is an outdoor option?"

"Outdoors? We're not staying outside anymore tonight, right?" Toby asked, his little shoulders slumping with fatigue and disappointment. Head swiveling back and forth between the two, Sarah laughed; who knew her brother like the lame Motel 6 so much, except for the twisting waterslide that is.

"No, of course we're not staying outside, squirt. Jareth is kidding," she replied giving Jareth's serious mien her own stern glare of warning, which he understood to mean 'suck it up GK or else', before grabbing his bicep rather a bit rougher than strictly necessary, hauling him unceremoniously the last few feet to the closest bed, and shutting the door with her face plastered with a saccharine smile.

'Apparently Sarah's nice version has quit for the evening,' he thought; then supposed in her view he'd be frustrated with the lot of them, the danger they all experienced, and the responsibility thrust upon her shoulders. Sighing, Jareth eyed the bed brushing his knees through the fleece blanket with disgust. Really...didn't she know what other mortals did, cavorting on these beds? Layers of aged odors assaulted him, and Sarah expected him to ...slumber here?

He closed his eyes, shuddering while he sat, delicately, reluctantly, on the edge of the bright, Kelly green coverlet-ed bed festooned with oddly off kilter tropical plants and birds; his hand firmly grasping the fleece blanket around his slim hips to avoid any skin touching it. And that's when the interesting reality of their odd circumstances struck him.

Oh the deliciousness...She must know what other mortals did on these beds—She was not without...experience...as much as he preferred not to acknowledge the fact; of course she knew what occurred in places such as these, besides legitimate sleeping. Opening his eyes with a new gleam, Jareth watched Sarah unpacking the largest bag, the one she deemed the 'go bag', a new stratagem shaping.

"Isn't this place great?" Toby asked in the manner only nine-year-olds can ask simple questions with layered meanings in which they have no concept. With a devilish smirk, Jareth leaned closer to the foot of the bed towards the boy.

"It is..." Taking a deeper breath to respond articulately, Jareth hazarded a peek at Sarah's expression as she glanced over her shoulder mid-unpacking; the dangerous glint in her eyes explaining far more than words. He pretended to hunt for the exact word before answering sincerely, "quite serviceable, Tobias."

"Serviceable?" Toby parroted, his eyes squinched up, confused.

Patting one hand on the delightfully smallish bed supporting him, Jareth aimed his full energy smile at Sarah, "But yes, Tobias, it is a very useful dwelling for our temporary lam from danger."

"Sarah," he whined, his kid eyes pouting up to her, lost. She walked over and hugged him, kneeling to his height, her eyes throwing daggers at Jareth for messing with Toby while her skin blushed at his innuendo.

"Don't worry...Jareth likes the place," she said giving Jareth another acidic stare over Toby's shoulder, "Don't you Jareth?"

"Yes, yes of course I do, Tobias," he said, reaching out to pat the young boy on his shoulder, "I like it very much." He grinned, his canines exposed and Sarah's blushed deepened. Oh yes...this Motel 6 might result in some very interesting developments.

"How long did you say your magic would be out of commission, Jareth?"

"Oh...a few days, perhaps a week Aboveground."

"How about we get that healing process started, shall we?" She sweetly suggested, eye lids fluttering as she stood, sauntering closer.

"Healing process?" Wary, Jareth's eyes enlarged; what was she suggesting?

"Sure, we need to get you cleaned up and..." she paused, her lower lip pouting the teensiest bit, "into bed for a good night's...rest." Speechless, Jareth gaped at Sarah standing above him, looking smug and, he gulped, enticing. Surely she didn't intend what she implied? With Tobias nearby?

"Toby, would you help his majesty get cleaned in the bathroom while I go run a quick errand?" She said, her voice chipper, her eyes laughing...at him. Nodding enthusiastically, her brother leapt to Jareth's side, tugging on his arm.

"Yeah, Sarah, I'll take care of him! Come on, Jareth!" And Toby dragged the bare-chested, still bruised and dried bloodied Jareth around the beds towards the small bathroom while Sarah enjoyed Jareth's consternation thrown over his shoulder at her.

"And you, Sarah?" He asked, brow quirked, annoyed.

"I'll be back in a bit, you two have fun!" She waggled her fingers and scrunched her face in an overly cute fashion; narrowed eyes, Jareth returned a glare around the corner of the bathroom door causing her to chuckle. Ah, it was certainly fun getting one over on the Goblin King for a change, small as it was.

Sarah grabbed her purse, making sure the emergency credit card was inside and was half way to the door when she heard the tub water running. Suppressing sudsy Goblin King thoughts, she sincerely hoped and prayed they'd finish before she returned; she couldn't risk any accidental, naked Jareth sightings (at least not any more) ...oh boy...oh no...Living in a Motel 6 with Jareth for maybe a week was going to be challenging enough without...that.

Checking to make sure the room door locked behind her, Sarah hurried to her car. She needed to make a fast stop at the 24 hour Wal-mart, pick up supplies for Jareth not included in the 'go bag'. She only hoped the motel room remained in one piece when she returned.

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Eyeing the unusual task set to him by his sister, Toby dithered between starting the shower or running a bath for Jareth, who situated his weakened body to lean on the closed door, head resting back, eyes shut, hands white-knuckling the only piece of clothing granting him modesty. Hmm...He didn't look capable of standing too long on his own, and as much as Toby liked him, the idea of showering with Jareth was sort of...er...well...no.

"I think a bath would be better, don't you?" He told Jareth in a questioning tone, shoving the weirdness inducing thoughts far, far from his mind.

"Whatever you feel is best, Tobias," he answered, his weariness conspicuous by his slumped shoulders, his sluggish voice, his flagging spirits, and Toby suddenly realized how much Jareth pretended in front of Sarah. But he was real for him, really real, and that made him feel prickly warmth in his chest.

"Okay, bath it is." Cranking the water faucet on full blast, Toby adjusted the temperature before turning back to the wobbling Goblin King; the vibrating of the fleece betraying the trembling of Jareth's legs.

"Maybe you should sit down," Toby suggested, afraid Jareth's fading strength would soon end, "here on the tub," he added, patting the edge of the pre-formed assembly, "while it fills."

"Yes, excellent idea, my boy." Shaky, Jareth raised his head from the bathroom door, and cautiously grabbed handholds as he lowered his torso next to Toby.

"You alright, Jareth?" Scrutinizing his revealed skin and multiple injuries in various stages of healing, Toby worried more for his new friend now than when they first found him unconscious. To him the Goblin King represented invulnerability; to see him reduced to this, a man, damaged—it brought forth conflicting emotions for him.

Tentative, Toby slipped one hand over Jareth's clenched to the rubberized surfaced; the fae's felt disturbingly icy and Toby worried further. The hot bath couldn't fill fast enough. Jareth forced a lop-sided smile, but Toby saw his hidden pain peeking out in the privacy of the Middle American, motel bathroom.

"In your care, I will be," he said simply, sincerely, his head dipping forward until his pale hair draped his face.

"Oh...okay." He shuffled his feet, sneakers squeaking on the tiles moistened by the building humidity. "I'll do my best."

"But perhaps we'd best keep this...conversation from your sister, mmm Tobias?" Jareth said with a wink, some of his old self sneaking through his fatigue, and back on familiar ground, Toby eagerly agreed.

"You bet. Guy stuff, she wouldn't understand."

"Precisely."

Jareth found Tobias's solemn concurrence heartening and entertaining; the boy did wonders for his constitution; now more than ever did he feel close to Tobias as younger sibling or a son. Tobias's warm fingers rubbing small circles on his knuckles, his guileless eyes gazing upwards made Jareth realize— as he sat on the edge of a bathing receptacle long past its prime, sat exhausted, weakened, in pain, magic-less, and virtually mortal but for his ability to rapidly heal—he was happy; happier than he had been for many decades. At first he might presume the contentment due to Sarah, but upon excavation he honestly confessed mentally that Tobias, the boy's utter trust, gifted him this long sought happiness. Sarah's trust and love, he knew, was frosting on the cake of Tobias's love as they welcomed him in their lives.

"Hey," Toby tapped him on the arm, "I said: Are you ready to get in the tub?"

"What?" Blinking, he shook off his ponderings; Toby stood before him, head cocked towards the filled tub. "Yes, of course, thank you."

Thus began the oddest bath either experienced as Toby avoided looking directly at Jareth once he dropped the blanket (hey...Toby saw his father naked before but this was completely different!), and Jareth detested being weak in front of anyone. But as he folded his lithe body to the neck in the hot water, his arms arranged along the tub's edge (and concentrated on denying the prior happenings in this receptacle as the humidity accentuated scents previously muted) he allowed the soaking heat to transfer to his wounds and aching muscles, letting out a long sigh. Tobias, bless him, provided a bunched towel beneath his head and neck, and Jareth was hard pressed to remember the last time he felt so cared for.

"Is that good?"

"Marvelous, my boy, perfectly marvelous." Lids fluttering, his eyes drifted shut until the sensation of scrubbing on his arm startled his eyes wide.

"Tobias?"

"Sarah said to help get you cleaned up, soooo..." the boy shrugged, ducking his head as he continued wiping Jareth's bruised, scratched arm.

"Tobias." Moving his arm free, Jareth grasped the sudsy washcloth, "you don't have to do that."

"I know, but..." a blush spread over the boy's face. Patiently, he waited for the boy to collect his thoughts and emotions, his hand keeping the cloth still between them. "But I want to take care of you, like I take care of my sister."

"Ah..." he released the cloth permitting Tobias to resume his ministrations.

"I'm only a kid, but even I know that...well... time is short and you take care of people you...you know..." His blush deepened, his eyes pinned to his work.

"You're perfectly right, Tobias, thank you," he replied in a soft voice, his eyes closing before murmuring, "I care a great deal for you as well." Miniscule smile forming on Jareth's lips, he sensed Tobias's mood lighten as his scrubbing worked its way upwards. Eventually he adjusted his position and Tobias washed his back, chest and face until Jareth deemed the remaining areas best left to his own hands.

"Tobias, would you be so kind to check if your sister has returned?"

"Okay." Toby jumped up from his crouched spot on the floor, "I'll be right back."

"Mmm...Thank you." Once Toby scampered from the bathroom, Jareth stretched to the door handle, locking it; some things should be left to privacy, and he did not wish to subject the poor boy to more than strictly necessary.

"She's not back yet and hey!" The door knob rattled, "Hey you locked it!" He knocked twice, rattled the handle again, "Jareth?"

"All is well, Tobias, I'll be out soon," he replied as he carefully, step-by-step withdrew his body from the tub.

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Upon her return, Sarah found Jareth wrapped in two generic, white motel towels (one around his hips, the other worn as a short cape) exposing even more of his now clean, yet injured skin; he sat next to Toby on the edge of the bed farthest from the door as they good-naturedly fought over what late night television programming to watch. The remote jumping back and forth from a large, nimble fingered hand to small, slightly pudgy tanned hands. Noticing Jareth's hair hanging in damp tangles, she surmised he only just finished his bath, and congratulated herself on her good timing. Definitely needed to get him into real clothes...she gulped...way too much skin showing.

"Hey guys," she said closing the door behind her, plastic Wal-mart bags dangling from her hands. "Everybody still in one piece?"

"Ah...Sarah!"

"Sis! Whatcha get, any snacks?" Rushing over, Toby dug through the bags still in her hands. Normally this would irritate her, but he was so excited and bouncy and Jareth looked improved, if still far too naked for her mental health.

"Okay, okay, Tobes." She said, laughing, "Why don't you help me unload them and find out for yourself, huh?"

"Cool! Capri-sun! You never let me get these!" He hadn't even drunk the sugary packs of death yet and already he practically launched. Setting the bags on the small dining table, she ruffled his hair.

"Well they're expensive, but this is a special occasion...sort of."

"Awesome! Thanks, Sarah."

"You're welcome, there's more survival stuff, keep digging."

"And for me, Sarah," he drawled from across the room; she turned, seeing him leaning on one arm appearing at ease.

'How does he do that?' Not fair that the man could wear Motel 6 towels and still look sexy, argh!

"Actually, I did get a few things for you," she turned back rifling one bag in particular, withdrawing a soft bundle which she tossed at him, the heap landing in Jareth's lap. One brow quirked, he detangled the mystery, revealing...

"You purchased clothing for me?"

"Unless you can conjure up something, don't you think you need them?"

"Of course, I just..." He held up the banal clothing in dark grays and blues, resisted the urge to turn up his nose and sneer, reminding himself it would earn no points with her.

"You just what?" She asked, moving a few steps closer. He smiled brilliantly, eyes shining; long ago he learned the art of flirtation and even Sarah Williams's fortifications destabilized from a full wattage Jareth.

"I just wanted to thank you properly for thinking of my comfort, dear Sarah."

"Oh...alright then." Offenses visibly wilting, Sarah's face softened and her hands played with a random thread on the seam of her jeans.

"If you could assist me to the privy?" One hand extended up, the other wrapped around the clothes; Jareth waited for Sarah to help him stand and after a staring moment she did as he requested.

"Thank you," he said as she walked him to the bathroom, one hand secure around his waist; his skin warm and still slightly damp. It made tingles ran up her arm, her fingers static-y where they brushed his taut flank.

"Y-you're welcome...Jareth." Their eyes met as he stood on the threshold of the bathroom, inches apart. Motel soap scent rose from his skin, and Sarah wondered how she never noticed how fresh the common soap smelled.

"I didn't know your sizes," she said, hearing the apology in her tone, "so I got what I thought might work best for now."

"I'm sure your efforts will be adequate to my needs." It should've been considered almost an insult, hell, part of her recognized the insult she would've taken in it not long ago; but with him gazing at her with such...sincerity...she heard only his compliment.

"Thank you, Sarah," he whispered, his fingers squeezed hers tightly before he released her hand. When had he taken her hand?

"You're welcome, again," she whispered back as he gradually shut the door between them, his eyes never releasing hers. Once the door shut and she stood there, her nose nearly touching the partial-board wood, she wondered if he'd thank her once he saw himself in the sweatpants and t-shirt.

"Oh boy..." She muttered. This was going to be interesting.