Into the 51st Century, for the_corsair

[thecricketer]

The Doctor was nervous.

It wasn't a sort of anxiety he was used to - it didn't concern mortal peril, or faulty circuits, or Gallifreyan politics.

No, those all made sense.

He was simply taking Byron on a trip, one he'd suggested a long time ago. Their first trip in his TARDIS, yes, but that was hardly cause for fidgeting so much.

Really, it made him feel so very young and it was both irritating and exhilarating.

He took a breath before striding out of the TARDIS to wait outside the door. He was still, finally, silently hoping that nothing would go wrong.

Comments

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

"Where?" Byron asked eagerly. After all the 51st century seemed a very large place. He smiled at the Doctor eagerly.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Earth," the Doctor replied, grinning back.

"It's a very exact destination for me." There may have been a teasing glint in his eyes.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron laughed. "Earth is good enough when you have the whole universe that you could aim for. I think it's very exact."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Finally, someone understands," the Doctor replied, fond laugher filling his voice.

He shook his head, still grinning.

"We should arrive in one of the better areas of New..." He paused, brow furrowing slightly.

"What number is it on? Oh, no matter. New York."

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron blinked. "It's got numbers?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor raised his eyebrows.

"Well, they've had to rebuild it several times over the millennia..."

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron frowned a little bit. "I suppose they would have to, yes. I haven't....I mean, Methos would know, but. I haven't lived long enough to see that. London is still old to me."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor nodded, slowly, as if remembering that the rise and fall of great cities wasn't simply a matter of course for most.

Suddenly, his lips curved into a soft smile.

"I could show you Londinium, if you like."

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron's eyebrows went up and he smiled in delight.

"Could we really go there?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor was quite delighted himself, to see that smile, and it showed.

"Of course."

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron felt bad that he'd asked for another trip before they'd even landed on this one, but the Doctor had offered.

He smiled back softly.

"I'd like that."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor inclined his head, and stepped forward just as they landed. His smile widened, and he offered his hand.

"Shall we?"

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron gave a very good impression of a five year old with that smile, nearly gleeful as he took his hand.

"Oh, yes."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor decided he quite loved him looking that way, and pressed a quick kiss to Byron's forehead before leading him to the doors.

"Welcome to the 51st century," he said grandly, and pulled open the door, and stepped outside.

And froze.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron followed him out, stopping abruptly when the Doctor did. He stared, then grinned, and shot him a mischievous look.

"Why, Doctor...."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

After a moment he realised his face was burning. Hardly becoming for a Time Lord, really, but he couldn't seem to help it, not at the moment.

Not when he was mesmerised by the number of people - many human, some not, all mingling together happily - walking about with not a stitch on. Some were chatting, some were watching the waves, some were kissing.

Some were...doing more intimate...oh, Rassilon.

His expression, when he met Byron's eyes, went quite beyond 'flustered'.

"I...ah..."

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Bryon grinned, rather a lot. He couldn't help it,watching the flush that stained the Doctor's cheeks. He was adorable and Byron was more caught by that than by the many specimens before him, though his eyes were caught by an alien form or two.

"Perhaps 'Earth' was not quite as specific a destination as you had in mind?" he murmured, leaning in to whisper in the Doctor's ear.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He did manage to look affronted, though the expression faded as Byron spoke; instead he looked rather sheepish.

The Doctor swallowed, and his flush deepened.

"This...well, this doesn't seem to be the inner city..."

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

"No," Byron said, striving to contain his amusement. He raised a hand and gently stroked his fingers through the Doctor's hair.

"I daresay it's far more interesting..."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

If anything he tensed more; his nod was tight.

"That, ah, that is a word for it..."

They were receiving many curious glances; finally, someone approached - a male human, lithe and fit, with a sprinkling of sand in his dark, tousled hair. His stride was relaxed, posture casual, but there was an air of easy authority about him.

"Can I help you?"

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron smiled very brightly at the man, and did not ogle but met his eyes.

"We took a bit of a wrong turn, it seems, and were merely surprised to find ourselves here...."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The man returned the smile, eyes twinkling with veiled amusement. He didn't seem overly perturbed by the fact that they'd appeared from thin air in a big blue box, but he did glance at it with a slightly raised brow.

"You're welcome to stay if you'd like. We welcome everyone here." He eyed the Doctor as he spoke, who'd affected a perfectly casual mask that looked ready to shatter at any moment.

For once he would let someone else do the talking, though his eyes, as he glanced Byron's way, sent a very clear, rather frantic message.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron squeezed the Doctor's hand and didn't explain the box at all. It wasn't his to tell, anyway, and really, in the 51st century, shouldn't they have some idea of all of this? He'd have to ask.

"Thank you. We may do so, or we may head back to our original destination, but either way the hospitality is appreciated." He almost flirted, but managed not to, but was still very charming.

"We'll discuss it."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Brilliant idea," the Doctor said brightly. He might have clapped his hands together but, well, he was still holding Byron's and didn't particularly want to let go of it.

"Back in a moment," and he edged back into the TARDIS, tugging Byron inside with him. Soft, friendly laughter met his ears as the man shook his head, and a weak, sheepish smile curved his lips as he shut the doors.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron did not giggle, because that would be undignified for an Immortal rock-star poet, but he did grin a lot.

"They all seem to be enjoying their...freedom," he said with a wicked grin.