Unnaturally Beautiful

CHAPTER 19

ANNOUNCEMENTS


"Gone! How could you let this happen!"

Sarah's fingers griped in ghostly pale iron claws around her morning mug of coffee.

"For the last time, he was fine when I saw him before leaving. If I had known-"

'You would have done what? Helped him go away again? Driven him over to the next town to see that horrid man who's been abusing my little boy?" Karen stopped suddenly short, her voice cracking with unshed tears that turned her eyes an unnaturally glossy blue. Covering her face with her hands Doug turned her around sharply into a firm embrace, trying to sooth her.

Early this morning Karen had gone to Tobias's room to check up on him after last night's dinner disaster and had found his bedroom empty except for the note he had left behind. Half an hour later would find her crashing onto Sarah's front porch with her husband behind her, banging on the door loudly enough to arouse a few suspicious peeks out of the windows by neighbors until Sarah had managed to get downstairs and open the door.

'Now Karen you know that's not fair, if anyone has suffered through this its been Sarah." Aaron had immediately ushered everyone into the kitchen once they had learned that Tobias had left again, passing out mugs of coffee and tea before Karen had time to catch her breath from her last spiel of rants and half formed accusations began again. Sarah looked up from her mug long enough to see that he had his "doctor face" on as she liked to call it, and was already trying to get everyone to calm down.

"I-I k-know." Karen sniffed, gasping desperately for breath between sobs that bordered on the hysterical. "B-but you were the last to see him! If anything you should have known! You were always protecting him! Always siding with him through thick and thin, never once letting me be the mother! ME! He always ran to you! You and those ridiculous fairy tales, you who would always spoil him wither it was the right thing to do or not! Never once thinking if it was in his best interest to give him what he asked for!"

Sarah began to rub her temples as a migraine threatened to take hold.

"And is it any surprise that you'd take his side this time? Is it any surprise you would step- no BUT in again! Its no wonder he's off with some child molester!"

"He's not a child molester!" Sarah spat with a surprising vengeance that momentarily shocked Karen into a stunned silence.

"So you've met him?" her tear stained face turned suddenly ugly as she narrowed her eyes to take a closer look at her step daughter. Flustered Sarah shook her hair sending espresso colored hair in a wild cloud around her.

"No! What I mean is that Tobias has obviously chosen this man- this person" she corrected herself remembering her step mother's firm denial to see her son as a homosexual, " as someone that he trusts and loves very deeply. He wouldn't have gone back to him if he hadn't, and anyone that Tobias cherishes that much isn't a bad person."

"But he came back!" Karen's voice took on a pleading quality. "He said he came back because they were having problems."

Breaking down into something between sobs and moans Karen allowed both Aaron and Doug to guide her into a chair well away from Sarah at the breakfast table.

Oh Tobias. Sarah thought shaking her head to herself before wearily taking another sip of the bitter black liquid in her mug. Please, please, please let the decision you have made be the right one. If not . . .

A sudden crash of breaking dishes brought Sarah out of her thoughts and back to reality.

xxx

Tobias awoke the next night alone and hungry and so excited he thought he could fly down stairs to breakfast as last nights words echoed through his mind again :

“A ceremony, a royal binding.”


“Are you serious? You'd make a commitment like that? To me?”


All amusement drained from the Goblin King’s face, “Is it so hard to believe?”

A ceremony. A binding, and a royal one at that! Swinging his body around to sit on the edge of the bed Tobias forced himself to sit, still not quite being able to believe it. The words echoed through his head like a song on repeat, becoming sweeter and sweeter each time he replayed them. A ceremonial binding, that was like a wedding wasn't it? He was going to get married! This was all real, it had actually happened ; he had managed to catch the eye of the Goblin King himself, he had made the commitment to come and live here, to give up the above ground and come and live the rest of his days out with the one man he loved more than anything in the world and he was going to marry him!

Unable to contain the smile that crept up on his face Tobias laughed out loud in pure delight, a sound that chimed through the room turning back the shadows. It was a sound of pure excitement and joy and if anyone had been there to hear it would have instantly seen that there was no denying the expression of pure love and joy that radiated from his young body.

Jumping up Tobias ran for the bath to wash off last nights evidence of their joining. He felt as giddy as a young girl. Beginning to soap himself as fast as he could in order to get dressed he let his mind race ahead to thoughts of the others. What would Lyn do when she heard the news? Probably give him that big smile of hers that warmed him from the inside out. And Juli would just probably laugh and hug him. He couldn't wait to tell his friends!

Dressing quickly in a simple pair of jeans and a black t-shirt he headed down the stairs to the kitchen. On his way he passed the large library and tucked his head in to see if he couldn't catch one of his friends on the way to breakfast to break the good news as soon as possible, but the library was still and absent of anyone's presence cept for his own. Shrugging he continued to pad his way down the hall with the intention of finding Lyn and Juli instead, but as soon as he got outside the door he suddenly stopped.

What if he wasn't supposed to tell anyone yet?

A cool wind seemed to blow out of nowhere making him take pause.

Jareth was the king after all, what if he had a few more things to tie up before they could announce their engagement to anyone? How did you tell people you were engaged anyway? Weren't you supposed to tell people together?

Like any boy around his age Tobias had never really thought of getting married, and Sarah's wedding had taken place long ago and he couldn't quite remember the fine details of how things had been handled. Pausing with his hand on the door Tobias took a steadying breath, feeling his high begin to ebb a bit. Perhaps it would be best to wait a while longer then before announcing it to anyone before he and Jareth talked things over a bit more. After all it wouldn't hurt to wait a little longer, they would all find out soon enough.

Just as he was beginning to pull the door back to go inside and eat breakfast someone from the other side beat him to it as the heavy wooden door swung back to reveal Lin standing in front of him wiping her hands on her apron.

"Tobias? Goodness I thought that was you! What on earth are you doing standing out in the hall way like that, come in come in!"

Ushering him into a seat at the table she placed a plate of fresh fruit in front of him before turning back to her work.

"Julianne's not here this morning?" he said after a moment, eyeing the chairs around him.

"Mmmm, no she was in here earlier love, but she left rather in a hurry after eating. Something about going on an early morning walk with Merik" she chuckled.

"Oh," turning back to him breakfast he began to work the soft fleshy fruit away from its peals, not noticing when Lin stopped to give him a measuring look.

"Is something the matter Tobias?"

"Hmm? Oh! Um, well no. I guess I'm just still very tired from my journey back last night." At this Lin gave him a knowing look that said she knew that he was tired from more than just traveling which caused Tobias to blush and look away. "I'm just so excited to be back is all."

"Oh is that all? Well in that case then you know that we're more than happy to have you back with us, Jareth was absolutely driving us insane when you were gone."
Tobias saw Jareth's face again as he had last night, heard those words echo through his mind once more and blushed again.

"Are you sure nothings wrong? You're acting a bit strangely."

"No, I'm fine" getting up Tobias gave her a peck on the cheek before heading out, leaving his breakfast for the most part untouched. How did anyone ever manage to eat after they became engaged? He was too nervous to even sit still! "I'm going to go and see if I can find Jareth." Turning at the door he paused for a second.

"Um, Lyn?"

"Yes love?"

For a moment it seemed that he was going to open his mouth and say something but at the last moment he closed his mouth and shook his head, a brilliant smile replacing his unsaid words.

"Nothing, just, thank you for the breakfast."

"Anytime love."

Later when Tobias was out of the kitchen and on his way to the thrown room he would wonder if she hadn't already known then and there, after all the smile she gave when he walked out of the room a final time had been far too knowing for anyone's good.

xxx

Tobias could first hear the sounds of Goblins at play when he rounded the corner of the grand hall that led to the thrown room and knew that Jareth must be inside already.

Peeking around the corner he found Jareth slouched in his usual position in the strange horned thrown that sat above the room, mismatched eyes closed for the moment giving off a deceptively peaceful and innocent air about him. Tobias knew first hand how dangerous those eyes really were when open however,and felt a slight shiver of anticipation travel down his spine and go aight to his cock as memories of last night resurfaced once more.

Right on cue one brilliantly blue eye cracked open to find him at his position by the door.

"Tobias" he smiled. "What are you doing peeking around the door like that?"

Surprised Tobias stepped out from behind the door way and stood at the top of the stairs leading down into the room. Blushing wildly at having been caught starring he diverted his attention to a group of goblins squabbling over a large black hen that was pecking her way around one corner.

"Did you have something you wished to tell me?" the kings voice had an amused edge to it and several of the goblins had stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the exchange taking place between their human friend and their king.

"No" he shook his head. "I just wanted to come and see you." Suddenly the goblins burst out in an uproarious laughter that momentarily startled the boy. What on earth could be so funny? Further embarrassed he ducked his head.

"Come, come, now!" Jareth shouted over the noise, his subjects calming at once. "Is that anyway to treat my favorite goblin?"

Raising a hand Jareth gestured for him to come and join him where he sat, a wicked grin upon his face. Tobias hesitated, just for a split second, before descending the stairs and taking Jareths outstretched hand. The moment their fingers met Jareth yanked him down so that he was sitting on his lap. Too surprised to say anything Tobias let himself be yanked into position as one of the Goblin King's arms came up to circle him from behind, drawing him up close so that his chest came up against his back.

"Now what on earth were you really standing there for? You look so adorable when you're watching me" Lowering his voice he brought his lips against Tobias's left ear, letting his breath tickle in warm rivulates over his flesh. "Or were you thinking about something a little less than adorable?"

"N-no, I came to see you. I -" Gods it was hard to think when his lips kept reverberating against his ear like that. "I - I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh? What about" Tobias could practically see the smirk on his lover's lips.

"Well, about . . . " Looking down Tobias suddenly realized that the entire thrown room had fallen silent. The goblins sat watching the tiny display their king was putting on with a wide variety of expressions ranging from down right amused to something Tobias could have sworn was lust. Did goblins ever feel lust? Just as he was about to turn around and ask quietly in his lover's ear Jareth once again startled him by grabbing him and pulling him onto one slender thigh before turning to address the goblins in the booming voice he sometimes used when speaking to them.

"Well? Go on then. Can't you see we have a few matters to discuss?"

Never one to disobey an order form their king the goblins picked up and filed out, pushing and shoving each other, making their usual ruckus of a noise, some were even reaching out to tug on someone else's hair if the goblin in front of them waited too long to move, or even to bite of they were particularly slow. After a few impossibly rough and noisy moments that seemed to last forever the last goblin finally filed out and the large iron door to the thrown room boomed shut with the aid of magic, finally leaving the two of them alone. The sudden silence was almost deafening and Tobias found himself nervously wiping his sweaty palms against his faded blue jeans before turning around.

"Jareth, I wanted to talk to you about - mmfff." Jareth leaned foreword grabbing his chin and pulled him into a possesive kiss that stole his breath away. They sat for several moments, enjoying the slightly sour taste in each other's mouths, the serpentine feel of the other's tounge wetly winding around their own as they wrestled for dominance of the other's mouth, although Tobias strangely lost with more and more frequency until all he could do was stretch his jaw painfully wide under the goblin kings attack.

Surprising Tobias Jareth stood up and brought his other arm under the boy's legs so as not to let him fall before laying them both out on the cold stone floor below.

"Nnugh, Jareth wait" he stammered, turning head to the side, giving his lover perfect access to his throat which he took advantage off immediately, kissing and biting his way down to where his shirt covered is chest. "I - I wanted to talk to you."

"Mmmm" Jareth's tongue began to flick in small serpentine like licks under the hem of the black fabric, almost distracting him. Reaching up he caught a handful of hair the color of aged bone and tried to get Jareth to come up and face him. "I'm serious, this is really important."

"It can wait" before the boy could protest further the Goblin King pressed their lips together with bruising force, making their teeth clink together painfully, rubbing their clothed groins together as he continued to deepen the kiss. Tobias had to squelch down a tiny faire of irritation as Jareth did this. Why couldn't he stop for one second and listen to what he had to say? They could fuck all they wanted to later.

Breaking apart the king took a moment to look down at him before gasping out a few words.

"I want you" he breathed hungrily. "Do you have any idea how badly I needed you when you were gone?"

Any words Tobias had planed to rebuke him with slipped from his tongue as it came back in contact with his lovers. The sudden urgency of the reason for their meeting, so urgent a moment ago, seemed to slip further and further back into his mind with every stroke, lick and caress that those smooth ivory fingers traced along his body. Arching his back up into the sensual assault, Tobias closed him eyes and buried his fingers into the long silken strands of Jareths hair. He was so happy they were together again.

They stayed like this for several moments, wildly groping at one another, letting fingers tease the other as they continued to rub with increasing urgency against their lover's body until they were both breathing hard, sweat beginning to discolor their clothes a darker shade.

"Jareth!" His voice sounded so high, his acute need making it more of a whimper.

"I know baby, I know. I'm coming, hold on."

Reaching down Jareth undid the ties to his own breeches first, letting the head of his swollen cock bob out, his need leaking out in thick dewy pearls already from the angry red tip, before undoing the button to Tobias's jeans and shoving them roughly off his legs. Tobias felt his eyes go wide as he roughly scrambled to prepare himself when he realized that Jareth had no intentions of taking his time to prepare him. Breathing in sharply he felt his lovers length go tunneling into him, the thin layer of spit easing the passage way and he reminded himself to show Jareth the various lubes and oils he had brought back with him. Jareth'scock wasn't overly large but it stillseemed to burn him, the entry had been rough enough to bring the sting of tears to his eyes but he didn't complain. He loved it when Jareth was slightly rough with him like this, a darker more animalistic side taking over their lovemaking until it seemed as if they could both drown in a sea of their own passion. Tobias knew though that no matter how rough his lover's actions appeared to be on the outside, every single one of them was guided by an intense and caring passion for his well being; Jareth would never force him into anything he wasn't prepared for and with this knowledge in mind Tobias was free within the security of his lover's arms to throw caution to the wind and enjoy their joining no matter how rough they became.

Jareths thrusts were slowly picking up speed within him, rocking them both steadily towards that burning point of fire on the horizon of Tobias's mind. He was so close . . . so close . .

Tossing his head from side to side against the stone beneath him Jareth caught him between both of his lithe forearms, strong as steel bars they held hair and flesh alike in a vice like grip exposing his neck to his bites as Tobias returned the favor and sunk his teeth into a near by patch of skin, delighted at the sound of pure untainted lust that arose from his lovers throat, making his eyes roll up in his head. Encouraged by this Tobias bit down harder until a copper taste began to well up on his tongue. Startled by the alien taste at the same moment Jareth made one final jab against his prostate Tobias arched his back in surprise as the intensity of the orgasm caught him off guard. Pressing against each other one final time Jareth finally rolled over on his side with a small grunt, slipping out from within his lover.

Bringing Tobias up against him he brought his wrist up to look at the bite the boy had left upon him before slowly running his tongue against the reddening teeth marks.

"This was the first time you've bitten me so that you have drawn blood" he observed.

"Ah, sorry" he blushed "I guess I got a bit carried away for a moment."

"No need to apologize" he whispered against his lips " I liked it just fine."

Their mouths slid together once again and Tobias could taste a mixture of his and Jareths blood melding inside their mouths. He had no idea such a simple act could be so incredibly erotic. If it had been any other time after their lips began to part, Tobias would have been happy to stay in his lovers arms, loving the cold feeling slowly return to his skin which had been heated by their passionate advances, but important thoughts still nagged at the back of his mind, prompting him to turn over and face Jareth squarely.

"Jareth, I still need to discuss some things with you."

Jareth comtinued to lightly stroke the hair back from his face but gave him a look that invited the boy to continue.

"Well, its about . . . about last night." Heat rushed to his cheeks from the intimacy of the moment but also from slight irritation as what had just happened began to sink in; Jareth really could have waited a few minutes to hear him out earlier before taking him, was it really that hard to resist sex for a few minutes more?

"What about last night?"

"Well, what you said. What we talked about last night. Our . . ."

"Our wedding?"

"Yes" he said, some part of him slightly relived that it hadn't been a dream after all.

"What of it?" he questioned bringing one arm up underneath himself to look down at his lover. "Don't tell me you don't want to-?"

"No no! Nothing like that" he quickly clarified. "Its just . . . Today I was in the kitchen with Lyn and we were talking and I wanted to tell her. About our plans I mean."

A small frown appeared between the Goblin King's eyebrows.

"Then why didn't you?"

"Because I wasn't sure if you wanted me to or not!" he finally burst forth, the uncertainty of the new situation finally getting to him. "I've never been engaged to someone before! I didn't know if I should tell them or not now. I mean, do we tell them together? Do we make an official announcement? What are we supposed to do, help me Jareth! I don't know how you handle these things in the under ground. What's so funny?"

Jareth had begun to break out in a pure joyous laughter that brought the heat up in Tobias's cheeks.

"Nothing, you look so beautiful when you're talking like that." Reaching down to shush his young lover with a long, elegant finger he continued on. "And I enjoy seeing you like that. I'm sorry I should have explained things a bit more perhaps then, no? From what I understand we handle things none too differently in the Under Ground than you do in the Above. But if you like, why don't we tell them at dinner tonight? And after that we'll sit and I'll answer any questions you may have."

"Really?"

"Yes, really" the king smiled back down at him, amusement tingling his features to a warmer color. The boy really was beautiful.

"For now why don't we head upstairs and clean up, hmm? You must be in want of a good bath after that."

Tobias looked down and realized that Jareth's seed had begun its slow sticky trail out of his body and was seeping onto the stone of the floor below. Mixed with his own fluids and their combined sweat he had become rather dirty indeed. Accepting Jareths hand to help pull him up, Tobias found his jeans and hastily secured them before looking down at the mess they had left behind, wetly smudged into the stone below by their movements.

"Um, Jareth?" he called, turning his lovers eyes back to him. "Shouldn't we-?"

"Just leave it" he chuckled, "It'll be our gift to the goblins."

Tobias gave his lover a look that said he didn't quite understand what he meant.

"They love the taste of human fluids, but hardly ever get a chance to taste some with how the laws are set in place."

A wave of nausea passed over him as Tobias finally grasped what his lover meant.

"You mean . . . ?" he asked, disgust apparent on his features.

"Does it bother you that much?"

"Well, yes!" Tobias searched desperately for the words to form a sentence. He tried to picture his friends doing such things but his mind balked." I mean I had no idea -"

Waving off his words with a flip of his gloved hand, Tobias felt the shiver of magic go through the room, erasing all evidence of the mess they had left behind.

"Better?" Jareth asked, raising his eyebrows in question to which Tobias nodded. There were still so many things he had yet to learn about his new home.

New home . . .

A warm feeling filled him from the inside out as he let Jareth take him by the hand and magic them back to their private rooms. Using more magic still he led them to the bathroom where a fresh tub of water had been heated and wished their clothes away as they climbed into the warmth water. Tobias shivered gratefully for the heat, wishing he had dressed warmer earlier. It was winter time in the under ground as well, and while no snow fell leaves had fell from the trees, leaving their bare limbs to paint the already surreal horizon with their outstretched limbs of black and mahogany.

His thoughts were torn away from such things as Jareth once again moved to position both of them so that he could wrap his arms around his young lover.

"I'm so excited" Tobias whispered up at him as Jerith brought their face's close for another kiss, "I can't wait until we tell them at dinner."

"Neither can I."

xxx

Ah, and so now the new chapter is done. And so, how was it?

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