Oh, Now Why the Concern?

Breakfast of Champions

 

Sarah awoke to the pleasant sensation one gains from a full night's rest, the type when one can't quite remember the moment of slipping from consciousness to unconsciousness. Stretching and popping several joints, she realized she still wore her clothes from yesterday. Odd...



'I must've been really tired. I don't even remember going to bed.'



Shrugging off the strangeness of her morning, Sarah got up, used the restroom, and changed into her bathrobe and slippers. About to shower she noticed the time, just after 8 a.m.



"Toby!" She forgot to set her alarm and his classes started at eight. "Oh my gosh, he's late again!" Sarah dashed from the bathroom, down the hall and into her brother's bedroom, her slippers flopping on the carpet.



"Toby, Toby, get up, time for school!" she said pulling back his covers exposing an empty bed. "Toby?" Spinning in place, Sarah scanned his cluttered room finding only toys and unwashed clothes. Then she remembered a surprising and unwelcome visitor last night and her hand flew to cover her mouth.



"Oh, no... No, Toby!" Running again Sarah scrambled downstairs, her slippers conspiring to trip her and forcing her to grasp the railing lest she fall. "Toby!" she shouted as she stumbled at the foot of the stairs then she gasped at the site presented before her. Goblins...everywhere, and a few chickens tossed in for good measure (who clucked softly), sat perfectly still and silent on every available flat surface in the living room and kitchen, and some hung from most of the adornments able to support their weight.



"What...the...hell...?" she whispered, her voice as stunned as her brain.



"Ah...Sarah, you've awakened. I trust you slept well? Tobias, greet your sister a good morning." Jareth said amicably.



"Morning, Sarah!"



At their cheerful salutations, Sarah realized her brother sat inside goblin mayhem central with their infamous monarch, Jareth. She heard herself growl low in her throat. Actually they both sat at the kitchen table surrounded by a mess of epic proportions: bowls and utensils, cookie sheets and pans, all coated with layers of what appeared to be an anomalous mix of flour, batter, maple syrup, egg shells, and whatever edible base previously existed in the kitchen.



"We made you breakfast!" Toby announced with more than his fair of brotherly pride while pointing to a fairly organized platter of food placed in front of him on the table. "We were going to bring it upstairs to you, but you're here now...so...surprise!"



"Oh, Toby...that's...sweet of you," she said with forced enthusiasm, "Is that Mom and Dad's wedding china?" The plates arranged on the platter were definitely the good china; he was so dead. Toby sensed he'd overstepped a boundary.



"Oh, well, um..."



"Sarah, forgive Tobias." Jareth bowed his head slightly, "I insisted we use dishware fit for a queen," he announced melodramatically with a hand flourish. Sarah arched one eyebrow and noticed how Jareth's black leather and silk ensemble (different from last night) remained completely clear of the food explosion, except for a puff of flour partial coating his right cheek and lips which, oddly enough, acted as a beauty mark accenting his unearthly attractiveness rather than marring it.



'So not fair! That would make me look ridiculous,' she thought but concealed it well as she launched her attack.



"Oh really?" She crossed her arms over her chest, pursing her lips.



"You deserve only the best, Precious." He smirked, tilting his head causing his hair to gleam in the sunlight. She couldn't help herself, for that moment she stared at the supernatural being standing in...no dominating the kitchen and wondered...what if...? What if so many things were different? What if he wasn't a mercurial trickster? What if she could trust him? What if? Then reality crash landed and Sarah mentally slapped her hormones in line.



"Toby Williams, you're late for school and you're covered in whatever goo you used to make breakfast!"



"Ohhhh, Saaarrrah...Jareth said I didn't have to—"



"What? You didn't have to what? Go to school? Cause if that's what you're about to say let me remind you who's in charge and it's not the Goblin King!"



Toby grudgingly slid off his chair, his face classically pouty, "I wasn't gonna say that."



"Good, then you won't have any problems getting your butt upstairs and getting ready, pronto, and I mean light speed, buddy!" Her arm pointed the way as emphasis.



"Alright, sheesh...you're so cranky in the morning," he muttered bolting from the kitchen. Sarah chose to give that comment a free pass. He did make her breakfast, afterall.



"And you!" she said, point an accusing finger at Jareth. His brows arched in a most disarming manner. Skittle, Lub, and the rest of the goblin horde silently observed the interaction between their King and their Champion, enthralled by the verbal sparring. The chickens ignored everyone, having high-minded poultry considerations to attend.



"Moi?"



"What...are you...doing here?"



"You do remember our conversation last night?"



"I remember you acting liking a manipulative, snooping Goblin King."



"So cruel," he said smirking, the sarcasm heavy in his voice as he stood and sauntered around table. "I come to your aid, at the behest of your own blood, and this is your opinion of me?"



"What about this mess?" She waved her hands over the flameless conflagration previously known as the kitchen, "And your mindless goblins? The house is a wreak! I have enough to do; how is this helping?"



"Nothing a little magic can't fix." He produced several crystals, tossed them casually over his shoulders, and several 'poofs' and clouds of glitter later Sarah's kitchen stood immaculate and goblin and chicken-free. Glowering at him, she caught his eyes roaming southward and recalled she wore her robe and slippers, only her robe and slippers...oops... She felt her skin grow hot as she blushed and clutched the collar of the fleece closed.



"Why, Sarah, I must say I positively adore your choice in fashion," he stalked closer making her retreat and the treacherous slippers tripped her again. Jareth leapt forward, catching her around the waist before she fell, and as she refused to release the robe edges to break her fall, her balance was off and her arms ended up trapped against his chest.



"Pink fleece suits you splendidly," he said, his voice vaguely gruff, his face mere inches from hers.



"Let me go," she managed to say in a squeaky voice. The fleece being a rather old and thin, and their position frozen together as if he initiated a dancing dip, made it possible for her to feel the wiry length of this body.



"Say the magic words," he whispered and moved his face closer, his eyes staring intently into hers. Sarah felt how his fingers dug into her lower back, but not painfully. She glanced at his mouth, the flour powdering his masculine lips, then back to his eyes and she knew he knew. She swallowed.



"Let me..."



"Ah-ah, magic words, Sarah..." He sounded so self-assured, yet there was something fickle in his voice...



She sighed, "Please, let me go." He waited a few extra beats and she added a little breathlessly, "Jareth." Instantly he swung her upright, holding her steady until she regained her equilibrium before reluctantly dropping his hands from her with a gallant wave of his hand and a half bow.



"Now, was that so difficult?"



"Unbelievably so," she retorted impertinently, flipping her hair over her shoulder with one hand while looking down her nose at him which was quite a feat since he stood taller by a few inches, "You'll have to work harder than that to get on my good side." Then she flounced away and upstairs to collect Toby for school.



"And by the way," her voice called sweetly down the stairs, "I don't expect to see you here when I get back from Toby's school."



Standing at the border of the kitchen and the living room, Jareth gawked after Sarah's exit then laughed heartily for the second time in less than a day. Good gods, but he admired the Williams children, though one could hardly call Sarah a child any longer. No, undeniably not a child.



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Earlier



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"You sure all this noise won't wake her up?" Toby asked, his face a study in nine-year-old angst. "Your goblins are really, really loud!" Craning his head back and around, Toby tried counting the goblins again, but the little buggers never stopped moving. Or cackling, or chasing chickens, or banging on the kitchenware.



"Rest assured, Tobias, her sleep spell shall last at least another hour, perhaps longer. Your sister needs her beauty sleep...well, her sleep." Jareth quickly corrected himself. While he witnessed the recent stressful effects on her, nothing truly diminished her in his estimation.



"And breakfast is a good idea, right? You don't think she'll be mad at us?" Toby scrunched up his nose at the mess they were making...well, mostly him since Jareth mainly magic'ed up ingredients and items or handed them over. Of course, he did stir the big bowl of batter since it was too awkward for Toby, until he delegated the task to a random goblin. Toby tried protesting that there'd be no batter left to make pancakes when the goblin started flinging it, but Jareth declared that goblin the best batter beater or whatever. Fortunately, enough remained in the bowl that two pancakes were poured, by the goblin, and wasn't that an interesting event to witness.



"Whatever for? Breakfast in bed is the quintessential sign of love and caring."



"The quinna-what?"



"It means the best, most ideal," he said patiently and tapped Toby on the nose, "Remind me to assist in your vocabulary. A young man of your breeding should use the best of everything, including words!"



"The quinna...quintin..." Toby stumbled over the fifty-cent word while Jareth watched proudly then sounded it out for him.



"Quin-tes-sen-tial."



"Quinna-ssen-tal ."



"Better, we'll continue working on that one later. For the present we need to slice up the fruit."



"Oh, I'm not allowed to use the knives." Definitely drawing a line on that one, if Sarah found out he cut stuff up without her permission...oh boy! Major trouble, she'd probably take away his Gameboy for weeks!



"No matter," Jareth said nonchalantly and produced a crystal with a twist of his wrist which he tossed at the bowl of whole fruit. A second later a perfect plate of sliced, diced, and decoratively cut fruit appeared.



"Wow, you have the coolest tricks!"



"No trick, Tobias. It's magic!"



"Real magic?" Jareth nodded, smiling at Toby's heel bouncing enthusiasm. "Could I learn? Can you teach me?"



"Ah, well...it's possible..." Jareth leaned down and whispered conspiratorially, "Let's leave some of that up to your sister, shall we?"



"You think she'd be mad?"



Jareth shrugged, "One never knows with women, Tobias. A lesson well learned for a man at any age."



Toby nodded displaying an overly serious look on his young face, "Yeah that makes sense. Sometimes I never know what's she's gonna do or say. Girls, huh?" Jareth's lips twitched at the boy's dramatic tone.



"Quite right, my boy," he said and clapped Toby on his shoulder. The soft look of affection beaming upwards from Toby made Jareth comprehend just how attention-starved poor Tobias was, particularly for stable male interest of the appropriate variety.



'The unfortunate child called not a moment too soon...Sarah's not the only one who needs my assistance.'



"Girls," Jareth said in a jaunty tone, "Can't live with them, can't enchant them."



"I've never heard that."



"I dare say you shall," he answered drily then Jareth's body tensed and a measured smile spread his lips showing his predatory teeth. "It seems your sister awakens."



"Oh no, we're not ready!" Frantically Toby scanned the kitchen disaster zone cavorting with goblins.



"Kingy, lady's coming!" Skittle announced.



"Lady's coming, lady's coming!" Numerous goblins, including the batter beater usually known as Lub, chanted loudly while banging on various kitchenware.



"Yes, thank you," their king snapped pinching his nose and shutting his eyes, "I am aware that my spell has worn off. Shut up!" Jareth added in a clipped voice and the room fell silent instantly, every goblin ceased talking or moving, only the few chickens ignored their king's command and clucked on.



Taking a deep breath he glanced down at Toby and said seriously, "Difficult to get good goblins these days."



Toby stared back with his eyebrows arched and his mouth agape, "That was awesome! My teacher would be so jealous!"



"Ah, well...a benefit of being king," Jareth looked upwards at a faint sound then pointed to a pile of flour, "Your sister will be here any moment, quickly now dab a touch of that on my face."



"You want me to mess you up?" Toby asked as he coated his hand in the white powder.



"Yes, of course, it would be unseemly for me to be too perfect."