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

[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..."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

A soft, embarassed chuckle as he shook his head.

"I'm glad to hear it. I...didn't mean to..." He sighed, and concentrated on climbing. Much simpler, climbing.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She misunderstood the reason for his sigh, and started stammering again. "Not that I don't think you worthy of it. I mean. I just..."

She groaned softly and squeezed his hand. "I'll shut up now. Let's just walk down the hill, and I won't say another word."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He looked up, eyes widening again.

"I didn't...I know, I was only...ah, lamenting my unwavering ability to say the wrong thing." His smile was wry.

"It seems I'm setting a record."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"It seems we're racing again," the Rani replied, dryly. "Didn't we agree not to do that? Perhaps I should have been more specific. Not just climbing, but in seeing how many times we can say the wrong things."

She glanced down. "Nearly to the bottom," she observed gratefully. "Then back to your TARDIS, yes?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He chuckled again, the sound lighter this time. "Sounds quite sensible to me, we'll have to abide by it from now on."

He nodded, beginning to move again.

"Yes. I don't believe we've travelled very far from her."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She nodded, following him down to the bottom. "It's interesting to me," she noted, "that though my TARDIS was on a randomiser, and yours was not, both wound up here. If something did in fact bring us here, it must be rather powerful, to divert a TARDIS... even one travelling at random."

She frowned a bit, looking at him as they reached level ground again. "That worries me. Also, the sun is setting, which further worries me. We should hurry back."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"It might not be a controlled force," he replied thoughtfully. He realised that there was no need to hold on together now, really, and decided she could the one to end it, if she wanted.

"There are some areas, some worlds like magnets, simply by their nature. Of course, we can't simple assume that there's nothing amiss." He paused then, raising his eyebrows.

"Afraid of the dark, Ushas?" The teasing lilt in his voice reminded him of a boy long gone, and a simpler time. He welcomed it.