Old Friends 2

A Thor/Labyrinth Crossover.
The God of Mischief and the Goblin King are old friends, and an invitation brings them and the women in their lives together in an attempt to unite Sarah and Jareth.
LokixSigyn, JarethxSarah.

Chapter Two: An Invitation For Sarah

           It had been a year since Sarah had moved out of her family home to an apartment of her own nearby, but Sarah often stopped by to see Toby, and the pair occasionally took Merlin, their Old English Sheepdog, out for a walk. It was on one of those instances that Sarah, Toby and Merlin were out in the park when a summer storm had crossed overhead and caught them unaware, leaving the three of them soaking wet.
           They ran back to the Williams' home where Sarah left her brother and Merlin. She was a little miffed that Karen wouldn't let Merlin inside the house because he was wet, but she had to relent and let him go to the garage as Karen had always insisted. Sarah would have taken Merlin back to where she lived to get dry if the apartment she'd moved into allowed pets.
Bidding her family goodbye, she trudged home through the continuing gush of rain. She was wet through and her clothes were heavy by the time she reached her apartment, so as soon as she got in, Sarah stripped down and threw herself in the shower.
           Now, legs crossed, Sarah sat on her bed wearing only the grey shorts and a spaghetti strap shirt that she usually slept in on hot nights such as this one. In the She pulled her dark hair back and secured it with a band to keep it out of her face as it dried; the length of it always irritated her in the heat.
           Sarah picked up her sketchpad and a well-used piece of charcoal, before continuing a drawing she had started the previous day. It wasn't long before she had about as much charcoal on her body as on the page; and there were smudge marks over her hands, arms, and even one dark, powdery mark smeared over her cheek.
           She was taking an art course as a way to develop the skills that she only noticed she had a few years earlier. She'd discovered that she was actually rather good at drawing after she'd put away most of her childish fantasies, like her old toys and her dreams of being an actress- a profession that, after a few failed auditions and even fewer 'you're just not what we're looking for' speeches, she found no longer really appealed to her.
           Of course, she hadn't put away all of her fantasies. She still often found her mind dwelling on thoughts of the Labyrinth and her short time spent there. The incident might have been somewhat easier to forget had she wanted to- though in her heart she knew that she did not want to- were it not for the visits paid to her by a certain Goblin King over the last three years. He even managed to plague her drawings, for even right then, she could not resist finishing her sketch of a barn owl that looked suspiciously like Jareth.
           The Goblin King had stayed away from Sarah for almost a year after she'd beaten the Labyrinth. In truth, she'd thought that he'd forgotten her, that his promise to love her was meant only as a distraction to keep her from rescuing Toby. She heard nothing at all from him until her sixteenth birthday, when she found a scroll tied neatly with black ribbon on top of her pillow.
           She had been more than surprised when she had first read it, especially when she discovered that it was almost a strange sort of love note. And she remembered now how she had been so shocked and confused at the written intention of the Goblin King's pursuing her.
           With the thought of it in her mind, Sarah put down her sketch pad and reached into the drawer at her bedside. She withdrew the note he'd sent her, and her green eyes glanced over the familiar script.

My dearest Sarah,
I would that this letter finds you as well as I wish you to be on the anniversary of your sixteenth year. I have waited for this night, until you are of sound enough age, to reveal to you that my intentions towards you stand as they were when we last met. My love for you, my Kingdom's champion, has only grown in your absence, and I hope, I crave, that you will reconsider your decision now that your brother's welfare is no longer a factor.
Yours Forever,
Jareth.

           Sarah hadn't quite known what to think when she'd first read it, but Jareth came to her the next day in an effort to explain himself. It had been quite possibly the most unexpected meeting of Sarah's life, barring perhaps her first encounter with Jareth, and she had been somewhat speechless.
           And so that surprising note and the visit that followed began the Goblin King's so-called courtship of Sarah in an attempt to convince her to make a decision in his favour. Jareth came to her day after day, rejection after rejection. He found her in good moods and bad, but he always came again, reminding her that his offer of love still stood.
           Sarah frowned to herself. She still didn't know how she felt about Jareth. His intentions were obviously intense and very focussed- he had been after her for four years now, after all. But Sarah was still doubting whether they were real, or if they were just a way to get revenge for her beating him. He had tried to assure her otherwise, but Sarah still couldn't bring herself to trust him. She sighed to herself, looking over the scroll once more.
           "I wasn't aware that you still kept this, Sarah. I'm flattered."
           The noise caused her a sharp intake of breath. She'd recognise that voice anywhere. Jareth. And he'd caught her reading something of his. Sarah quickly rolled the scroll closed again, hoping to avoid any conversation regarding it.
           "What are you doing here Jareth?"
           She turned her head to see the Goblin King standing directly behind her; at which point he straightened and put a hand on his chest in mock offence.
           "Why Sarah, am I not allowed to drop in on you every so often?"
           "Not at-" she paused to look at her clock. "1am."
           Christ, when did it get that late?
           "Oh, but how could I resist coming here when my portrait is being drawn so beautifully from your ever so detailed memories of me?"
           She noticed his eyes drifting to her charcoal drawing of a barn owl. She couldn't believe that she'd forgotten about that; she felt like smacking her head against the wall.
           "That's not you," Sarah said quickly, defensively.
           It clearly was and Jareth smirked.
           "Oh really?"
           She stared, feeling her cheeks darken slightly. She hated when he caught her in moments like this, first with the scroll and now the drawing.
           "Yes, really, I just so happen to be studying birds in my art course-"
           "And you just so happened to choose a barn owl as your focus? I can't help but draw some conclusions, Sarah."
           She frowned.
           "Don't you start drawing any conclusions, Jareth."
           "Ah, Sarah, must you ruin my fun?" he sighed.
           But Sarah gave him a levelling look.
"Very well," he said with a small shrug.
           "What are you doing here, Jareth?"
           "I wanted to see you, perhaps?"
           "Jareth."
           He rolled his eyes. His Sarah had never been one to listen or accept his courting repartee. Jareth decided that it would be better to go for an honest approach this time- and to go about it quickly at that.
           "I would like to invite you to dinner, Sarah," he said, his voice suddenly earnest.
           She blinked.
           "Yeah, sure, I know your game, Goblin King. I'm not eating anything you give me after what happened with that peach," Sarah replied.
           Jareth tutted and shook his head slowly.
           "Oh Sarah, that was one instance. Had I known that you would be so obstinate in holding on to it-"
           "Then you wouldn't have done it?" she put in doubtfully, brows raised.
           "Of course I would have, I just would have made sure you forgot about it a long time ago," he answered with a wink.
           Sarah rolled her eyes.
           "Whatever; still not coming so you can go back Underground and leave me alone."
           He raised a brow.
           "You're trying to get rid of me so soon, Sarah?"
           "Wouldn't dream of it," Sarah sighed sarcastically, knowing that he was about to leave anytime soon.
           "Good; besides, it's far too tempting to stay here with you- especially when you're dressed like this."
           She saw his eyes travel over her scanty pyjamas and her mouth fell open. She had forgotten what she was wearing and exactly how revealing it was. Sarah grabbed the thin dressing gown that hung off of the head of her bed and wrapped it around herself.
           She was hating the material already, but she'd rather have the heat of another layer than allow Jareth free range looking over her. Bloody pervert, she thought with a frown. He smirked to himself and placed his hands on the edge of her bed either side of Sarah's crossed legs, so that he leant down to look into her eyes.
"Sarah, dear, I can promise you that no harm will come to you. It is just a dinner."
           She stared, frowning a little. And Jareth's hand reached out, lightly brushing away the charcoal smudge on her cheek. She couldn't tear her gaze away from his mismatched eyes; they were so... mesmerising.
"Just one night," he whispered.
           That seemed to startle Sarah back to reality.
           "No way, Jareth. I know how quickly things could get out of hand if I agree."
           He raised a brow and let his hand drop from her cheek. That was more telling than she had meant it to be. She didn't say who was letting things get out of hand. Perhaps she is worried that she won't be able to control herself; that she won't be able to keep up this charade of avoiding me, Jareth thought, smiling to himself.
           "Sarah, if it helps, we will not be alone in this dinner."
           At that she blinked.
           "We won't?" Sarah asked dubiously.
           Jareth shook his head, his long blond hair shaking slightly too.
           "No. And I promise you that I will offer no inappropriate advances whilst they are there."
           "At all," she corrected.
           He frowned, but agreed.
           "Fine," he said, somewhat sourly.
           But he knew that there were ways around what he'd said. He had chosen his words very carefully and she had not noticed to correct him thoroughly enough.
"Do you consent?"
           He watched the woman in front of him. Sarah actually looked like she was considering it, but Jareth could only hope. He had been to a lot of trouble to organise this- one did not just trip through the Bifröst for no reason.
           "Who are your guests?" she asked cautiously.
           At that, Jareth smiled a little.
           Knowing that he had at least enticed her curiosity, he answered, "My good friend Loki, the Norse God of Mischief and his wife, Lady Sigyn, the Goddess of Fidelity."
           Sarah froze.
           "Please tell me you're making that up."
           Jareth smirked.
           "Why? Are you worried, Sarah?"
           She frowned.
           "Not worried... A little surprised if I'm honest... How on Earth do you know them?"
           "If you accept my dinner invitation then you may just find out," Jareth answered with a small wink. "Do you consent, Sarah?"
           After a while of deliberating, she nodded.
           "Fine. As long as you stick to the rules- and that means no unwanted advances."
           She has no idea what she's letting herself in for, he thought, smirking. Jareth bowed his head, and lifted one of her charcoal covered hands to place a kiss upon the back of it. She couldn't help but notice the clear and perfect imprint his lips had left on her skin.
           "Until next time, Sarah."
           Then he was gone, and the last Sarah saw of him was that he still wore that wicked smirk of his. She was a little bemused though. He hadn't even told her when this dinner was supposed to be.
           Sarah lay down, a little exasperated at the situation, but only found herself even more confused when her head came into contact with something other than her soft pillow. Frowning, Sarah rolled over and stared at her pillow, where she found herself looking at a slightly crumpled scroll. She rolled her eyes and unravelled it. The smug git just has to think of everything, doesn't he? Sarah thought reading through the note.