RP for renegadeinexile

[thecricketer]

The Doctor waited outside his TARDIS, leaning nonchalantly against the door and turning his hat in his hands. Only in them was his anxious excitement evident.

It had been good seeing Ushas after so long. He'd almost felt young again, talking with her. Remembering that there were times on Gallifrey that he could still remember fondly.

He knew this might not have been the best of ideas. He couldn't simply disregard his future incarnation's suspicion, his enmity, even if he didn't understand it – couldn't understand it, if they were to preserve his future.

He couldn't, however, turn his back on someone who had been his friend for what she might have done. Perhaps she came from both their futures – perhaps things had changed.

Even if he was wrong, he decided it was worth it. They could enjoy their stolen time, for as long as it lasted.

Comments

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"They weren't mistakes, Doctor," The Rani replied. "They were deliberate acts."

She glanced down at their hands, and frowned softly. "I... should hate to have you place your faith in someone who might only disappoint you down the road."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Do you regret them?" he asked softly. There was an intensity behind his gaze, though it remained gentle.

He shook his head.

"My faith can handle being misplaced, Ushas, and I'd much rather take the risk."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She sighed, and then was silent for a while.

Then she turned and gazed at him. "I've come to regret things, yes," she said. "The... circumstances in which I found myself in the last few years--"

Meaning, as the sole survivor of their people, or so she'd believed...

"--gave me reason to rethink things."

She gave his hand another squeeze. "It's still a very large risk, though, Doctor."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He waited silently, patiently for her answer, and when she gave it he nodded, slowly, never breaking that gaze.

When he spoke his words were quiet but certain, decided.

"I take very large risks quite often. It's what I do." He was, furthermore, quite tired of giving up on old friends.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

Her eyes had never left his, either. She studied his face for a few moments and then nodded slowly. "Well. As long as you're willing to take that risk..."

She reached over and put her free hand over both of his.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He smiled softly, and began to rise, not pulling his hands away.

"Come now, we've a city to discover."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani clutched his hands a bit tighter to steady herself as she rose to her feet beside him, strangely reluctant to let him go.

"It's not much farther to the top of the rise," she observed, glancing up. "There's even almost a path. Shouldn't be too difficult to get to the top. We should have a clear view of the surrounding area from there."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He found he didn't mind, that he shared the reluctance - he was not particularly tactile, and yet...

"It won't take long, then - even though we'll be pacing ourselves, this time."

((Sorry for the wait, I lost track.))

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She realised, as they stood there, that it was going to be difficult to walk with both sets of hands clasped. Reluctantly, she let one drop, keeping the one closest to her in her hand, lacing her fingers through his.

It was... odd, this sudden need for contact. The Rani kept trying to tell herself that this level of trust was a good thing, it was a tactical advantage over this Doctor should she ever need one, it was all part of some grand plan she'd be hatching any moment now... but the thoughts rang hollow inside her head.

And vanished whenever his eyes met hers.

"Should just be a minute or two," she agreed, starting up the rough path, tugging at his hand to get him to follow.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He acquiesed after a moment, pulling himself from his own wonderings, which seemed to travel round in misshapen circles.

The Doctor walked, if not quite gracefully, then confidently, as smoothly as he could - he had long grown used to rough terrain, and as they rose he carefully kept his balance.

He never let go. It was new, holding a friend's when they weren't running from something horrible, and he didn't want to relinquish the experience just yet. Besides, they were supporting eachother, and the need would grow as they climbed higher.

He always could find the practical explanation.

((:) Five glared at me.))

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

A life spent in laboratories, and palaces, and various craft had left the Rani less prepared for rough terrain. She clutched his hand securely, drawing assurance and balance from it... from him.

Finally they reached the top of the hill, and though the land was level here, she still kept hold of his hand as her eyes scanned the terrain below. "Do you see anything?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He remained steady and sure by her side, glancing at her a few times to be sure she was getting on all right. He tried to be discreet about it.

A triumphant smile graced his lips as they came to the crest of the hill, and didn't fade when his gaze combed the sight below them.

"Lights," he said, raising his other hand - for he hadn't pulled away either, it never really occured to him - and gesturing in their direction. Distant, but high and bright.

"Electric, from the look of it."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She followed the gesture, squinting until her eyes fell on the lights he was pointing out. "Well, then," she murmured. "Seems we're not so far from civilisation as we thought, perhaps."

She frowned then. "...that would be another day's walk, at least. I suppose we could travel by TARDIS?"

She stole a glance at the Doctor. "How's yours for short hops?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"We've gotten quite good at it," he replied, meeting her eyes with cheerful assurance.

"Although...sometimes she ends up in the wrong time."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Ah."

There was a thoughtful silence, before she spoke again. "Mine would be precise were it not for the randomiser I installed. I could deinstall that but it would take time. So I suppose taking yours would be faster, provided that she can bring us back should she take us to the wrong time."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Eventually." His eyes glinted with old humour.

"I'm sure we can manage it." Then his eyebrows rose.

"You don't seem the type for a randomiser."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

One corner of the Rani's mouth quirked up in a sly smirk. "Well... I suppose I'll take my chances."

Then her face fell a bit as she tried to work out how exactly to explain the randomiser. She couldn't very well tell him the truth, not only because she couldn't discuss his future with him, but also because the fear that drove her to install the randomiser was so... irrational.

She feared the Daleks might come seek her out and finish the job they had started that night on Gallifrey. Exterminating the last of the Time Lords.

Eventually she said, in a quiet voice, "It was a safety precaution. It has become necessary, at least for the time being, that my travels are unpredictable."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He nodded, slowly, and found himself taking a step closer. Curiosity, dimmed with concern, was clear in his eyes.

"I've had to resort to that before myself." He paused, fingers drummingly lightly against his coat.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Perhaps he shouldn't ask for details, but he could still offer aid.

Well. Perhaps he shouldn't do that either, but that wasn't going to stop him.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"I... don't know," she admitted. Rather than being alarmed that he'd taken a step closer, she found it comforting, and she also took a step closer to him. "But thank you for the offer."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He was relieved at the reaction, and rather touched.

"If there's ever anything, tell me," he said quietly, before turning to look down the slope.

"We'll have to be careful, going down."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani's expression softened at once. "I... will. Thank you."

She turned, her gaze following his. "We will, yes. I suppose we should hold on to one another again? ...for support, of course."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he said quietly, smiling down at the grass. His hand tightened in hers as he led her downward, slowly and steadily; the other skimmed the hill beside him.

"I should climb more often. It certainly gets the hearts going."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"And here I was hoping it was me that was doing that," she murmured, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Though it must be a welcome change for someone like me to get your hearts going through physical activity and not through being a dire threat to your life or something."

She stayed close as he led her down, clutching his hand for support.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He glanced at her with widened eyes, flushing slightly and suddenly becoming acutely aware of their proximity.

"...I suppose I did rather ask for that," he said, carefully lowering his foot.

"Honestly, I think I'm more accustomed to dire threats..."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She blinked at him a few times, confused.

Then it occured to her what she'd said, and how it could have been taken...

"Erm. I meant, you know, making you walk through the countryside. Not, like... I mean... you know..."

She gave up for a few moments, flustered, before adding, in rather an unconvincing manner, "I wasn't making a pass at you or anything like that..."