When you first found the owl, you were confused. Owls were nocturnal creatures after all, but it was the middle of the day. Upon closer inspection, you realized the poor bird was hurt. Part of you wanted to leave him there. You weren't sure your landlord would be okay with a strange bird in the house. But you really couldn't just let him get worse. So, you approached him again.

"It's alright," you cooed, "I won't hurt you. I'm going to help you." The owl looked at you like he understood everything you were saying. It let out a miserable sound that broke your heart. It was chilly, so you took your scarf from your neck and used it wrap the owl up. "Come on." You scooped him up and headed home.

As you carried him home, you glanced down to see him looking back at you. You smiled. "It'll be fine. My house is warm and I have space where you can sleep and heal." He made that same noise again and you sighed. "Poor thing." You were grateful you lived close to the park so the trip didn't take long and you were soon carefully shrugging out of your jacket while balancing the owl in one arm.

Once you were situated, you took the owl into the kitchen so you could get a better look at him. "I need to see where you're hurt. Can I look at you?" You had no idea why you were asking as you were certain he wouldn't reply, but you didn't want to give him a reason to bite you. Was he even a he? You didn't know how to tell! The owl stayed still, eyeing you as you reached out to inspect its injuries. When you touched the top part of its leg, the bird of prey let out a terrifying shriek of pain and tried to bite you.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! But now I know what hurts. I won't touch it again unless I have to, okay? Let me call a friend of my. She's a vet and may know what I can do to help you." You gently picked him up again and took him to the living room. After setting him up in a comfortable "nest", you left him to call your friend. You didn't realize the owl was watching you with rapt attention.

Jareth's POV

Jareth was irritated. This mortal, this human, had harmed him. Granted, you hadn't meant to, but still. It was enough to ruffle his feathers. He watched as you paced the room, your brows furrowed in concentration. Occasionally, you say something, but otherwise you remained quiet. It gave Jareth time to study you for a moment. You would glance back at him once in a while and smile as if trying to bring him comfort.

After a few minutes, you returned to him with another smile. "Okay, my friend gave me some pointers on how to take care of you. I've got to get some supplies, but I'll be back. While I'm gone, I've got some fruits and things that you can snack on. I know owls are birds of prey, but I'm afraid I'm fresh out of mice and things like that." You gave a little chuckle as Jareth really did ruffle his feathers at you. Taking that as approval, you prepared some fresh fruits for him before walking out the door.

As soon as you were out of sight, Jareth tried to turn back into his normal form. Unfortunately for him, his injuries made that impossible for the time being. He cursed in his head. He needed to get back to the Underground. He'd only come up to see if there was another he deemed worthy to see his kingdom. The excitement and dismay of Sarah's victory over him had worn off and Jareth was becoming lonely again. He hadn't meant to get hurt.

Since he couldn't move much, Jareth took the opportunity you were gone to glance around the room, studying the portraits and other decorations. He couldn't move well so that's pretty much what he was limited to. Well, that and eating the fruit you'd given him. It wasn't the feast he'd had in mind, but it was something and he was rather hungry.

Jareth didn't know how long had passed before you returned, but when you did, your arms were full of what Jareth assumed were the supplies you'd said you needed. "Hey there," you greeted softly with another one of your smiles. You set everything down and approached him again. "Did you enjoy your food?" You took away the tray then came back again. You moved so quickly, it almost made Jareth dizzy. But before he could truly react, you were knelt down in front of him.

"Is it okay if I look at your injury again? I know what to do and I'll try not to hurt you anymore." Jareth looked into your eyes and gently lifted his wing so you could access the injury. You blinked in disbelief. If Jareth could have laughed, he would have.

Your POV

The owl stared into your eyes with such intensity, it sent shivers down your spine. Its gaze was almost...human. You shook off the eerie feeling and went to work patching up the bird the way your friend had suggested. To his credit, the owl sat still, only occasionally letting out little sounds when what you were doing was painful. Every time, you winced a little and apologized. You didn't know why, but you felt the need to and, a few days later, you would learn why.

*time skip*

You woke up that morning and nearly jumped out of your skin. The owl was sitting on the pillow next to your head, watching you with rapt attention. "You are the weirdest bird I have ever encountered," you muttered, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. It took a moment for your brain to connect the dots. "Wait a minute! You got up in the bed!" The owl preened and fluffed its feathers again. You sat upright and gently reached out a hand silently asking permission. Once again, the owl raised its wing.

You didn't have a chance to look before there was a knock at your door. "Who could that be?" You called out to your visitor to wait a moment quickly got dressed. As soon as you were dressed, the owl hopped up onto your shoulder. "OUCH! What the talons, buddy!" you scolded. It surprised you again by loosening its grip ever so slightly. You shook your head and went to answer the door.

"Sarah! What a surprise! What brings you here at...9 in the morning. Oops." You noticed the tightening of the claws in your shoulder and winced. Clearly the owl was distressed by Sarah's appearance. "Y/N, I-" Sarah cut off as she noticed the owl. "What are you doing here?! Y/N, put him down now!" Your brows furrowed.

"Sarah, what are you talking about? He's harmless. Well, as harmless as an owl can be." Sarah shook her head as the owl hopped off your shoulder. "That's not an owl. It's the Goblin King." You let out a soft laugh. "Sarah, really? I read the book to your for years whenever I babysat. I know it was one of your favorites, but it's just..." you trailed off as you felt a presence behind you.

"Just a book?" You whirled around, coming face-to-face with a man. A gorgeous man. "Hello again, Sarah. Let me properly introduce myself, Y/N. My name is Jareth and I am who she says." Sarah came and stood next to you. "Leave. You aren't welcome here." Jareth gave her a toothy grin. "Now, now, Sarah. I see adulthood has done nothing for your manners." He turned back to you.

"I want to thank you for your service as a nurse, dear Y/N. Anything you desire." Sarah grabbed your arm. "Y/N, don't. His deals always come with strings attached. Please. He kidnapped Toby. I ran his Labyrinth and beat him. He's angry and...and..."

"Oh, please do continue, Sarah. I did not kidnap your brother. You wished him away. I simply did as you asked. Running the Labyrinth was the price you paid for not thinking before you spoke." Sarah had nothing to say to that as her mouth clamped shut. Meanwhile, you're still staring at the man now in your living room. You were mortified. Not at the fact that he was there. No, at the fact that he had not only seen you in your underwear, but had also watched you dance around your house, putting on pretend concerts for yourself.

The two were still arguing when you finally shook yourself out of your stupor. "Enough. Both of you," you finally said. "Sarah, Jareth has done nothing to show me that I'm in any danger from him. Jareth, I understand you were simply doing as Sarah asked all those years ago, but she was a child. Children don't exactly always think before they speak. But both of those are beside the point. Sarah, go home. I can take care of myself." Sarah looked like she wanted to protest, but you gave her the look you'd always given her when you were her babysitter and she bolted.

You turned back to Jareth who was watching you again. "Anything I desire?" you asked and he smiled once more. "Anything." You pondered for a moment as you gazed into those seemingly mismatched eyes of his and you thought about the story you'd read to Sarah. A thought came to you. "A dance." Jareth beamed. "A dance it is, precious." Without another word, Jareth took you in his arms and began to dance as the world around you fell away.