A Fortnight's Apology

[vicioussweetie]

Even Ali, all unforgiving as she is, can only withstand so many apologies before even her impressive walls of resistance crumble. For two weeks, with efforts unrelenting and unmissable, Jareth had been apologizing for his case of foot-in-mouth. Not with words; that wouldn't suit either of their temperaments very well. And neither was it with

Comments

[labyrinthking]

Sometime later, amid tumbled pillows and tousled blankets, Jareth reclines in somewhat contemplative bliss. Admittedly, the foremost question on his mind is whether to properly wake or slip back into his doze, but others manage to steal a moment here or there for themselves.

[vicioussweetie]

There's a sudden rustling on the other side of the bed, when Ali's brain finally reboots. Parts of her emerge from beneath the sheet in which she'd tried to cocoon herself, and then she arches, cat-like, before relaxing into a stretch and a yawn. Once she's certain all her parts are still properly attached and functioning, she wriggles over to Jareth's side, claiming his stomach as her pillow and his arm as her huggy-thing. "That. Was..."

The thought is interrupted by another yawn, but then restarted with a broad smile. "Wonderful. We should try it more often."

[labyrinthking]

"Mmmyes," he purrs in agreement, the hand she's claimed for huggings stroking her side. "We really must."

[vicioussweetie]

"Mmm. It would help if we didn't fight so much," she sighs, settling to allow for optimal petting opportunities.

[labyrinthking]

"It would," he agrees philosophically, before quietly debating with himself whether or not to point out that there is only so much he can do on that score.

[vicioussweetie]

Funny, she's having the very same internal debate!

"Jareth," she asks after they've both had time to think, "do I not obey your rules? Do I disrespect you, or your authority to rule, while I'm here?"

[labyrinthking]

"You are a constant challenge," he opens, which is both true and something he's previously told her he likes and wants. "And as much as that is a delight, there is also the feeling that you seek to change my people, my land, and myself into something more to your liking. That isn't always a pleasant thought." He is, he thinks, putting it mildly.

[vicioussweetie]

That isn't what she was expecting to hear. Having tried so hard to avoid making that mistake again, to say she's disappointed with herself is an understatement.

"I'm not," she offers weakly, suddenly looking and sounding a different sort of tired then she had been a moment before. "I'm sorry. I thought it was the natural give and take of a relationship being formed, but if I've gone too far I apologize, and I'll try to mind your boundaries better." Ali can't quite look at him now, and looks like she might be trying to worry her lower lip right off. "Maybe I should go?"

[labyrinthking]

That isn't the reaction he expected, nor particularly one he wants. "No, no," he's quick to urge, adding, "stay, please. It's more that I don't like the feeling that I am found wanting in your eyes, than anything you have done."

[vicioussweetie]

If only she were only hearing Jareth, not echoes of other men telling her she's difficult, demanding, and damaged. But she does stay, for now at least, curled in an almost fetal position on the far side of the bed and decidedly not looking at him.

"Nobody's perfect, and you find me wanting too, sometimes" she whispers.

[labyrinthking]

He hasn't said damaged. Rolling after her, a hand strokes down along her spine. "I suppose I do," he concedes.

[vicioussweetie]

She doesn't quite flinch, but she does tremble beneath his touch. "Why are you allowed to do it, if I am not?"

[labyrinthking]

Blast. Must she always have a point, even when she's like this? "I haven't said that," he tries to soothe, still stroking. He doubts it would do much good to point out that she asked.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali lies silent for a while, carefully arranging what she'll say in her head. When she thinks she's done a decent job of it, she rolls back into his arms. She's still not ready to look at him, but she'll let him hold her if he'd like. "You have your rules, and I follow them as best I can. I have my rules, and you seem to take every opportunity to flaunt them. Gods know I'm not perfect, but that doesn't mean you get to disrespect me."

[labyrinthking]

Hold her he shall. "Every opportunity? I test a boundary here or there, I shall admit, but I was hardly flaunting your rules this last time."

They're getting perilously close to arguing again.

[vicioussweetie]

"You entered my home without an invitation," she reminds him, "and you know why I don't want people getting my children's hopes up again. There's only so much I can forgive."