whoniverse1000 | Fic Post

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(Spoilers for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End)

Eventually, she comes to treat the blue box's arrival as a rather ordinary thing. Will comes to her on a ship of enslaved souls, in a flash of green light; the light from the box as it blinks into existence is a pure blinding white, with a curious, sideswept wind. Not so different, really.

Elizabeth thinks the woman inside the blue box looks as human as any other, watching as she first alights from the box, dark hair loose and free in the wind. Later, with Elizabeth's hand pressed to the woman's breast, her heartbeats tell a different story.

"Ribos, Zanak, Earth, Tara, Delta Magna," Romana recites, the words a battle cry that rouses Elizabeth's blood, settled from such long stretches tied to the soil, the sea water that had seeped into her veins slowly drained away. There is a quest: there is an ancient treasure to be found, and Elizabeth is not too old, or too wise, to avoid being swept up in the excitement.

They visit worlds of such strangeness and amazement; of giant monsters and blood red skies, in the blue box that, like Will's heart, is bigger inside than out. Through it all, the adventure and danger and occasional swashbuckling, Romana always holds Elizabeth's hand tight; and when they curl up together, all lips and teeth and fingers, Elizabeth does not feel any shame, or regret.

The world, the universe, as Romana says over and over again, is bigger than anyone can imagine, and there is room in Elizabeth's world for as many mysteries as she can fold over on top of each other, wedged up in her heart that seems to be growing day-by-day.

The blue box blinks into existence like clockwork, every year, at the cliff, facing the endless sea. Elizabeth grows older; Romana does not, or at least, it does not show on her face, her hands, the skin behind her knees or around each pale breast. Romana takes Elizabeth's hands in hers on the ninth year, the year before Will comes back for that one beautiful and terrible night.

"Ribos, Zanak, Earth," she says; Elizabeth knows, and mouths the last two, reciting them by heart. Romana shakes her head.

"Atrios," she says, and her eyes are a conflicting storm of sadness and pure, bone-deep excitement.

Elizabeth takes one hand, puts it on Romana's breast again, feeling the double staccato beat. She wonders when her life became so strange; she wonders what she ever saw in an ordinary life.

"I'm back on course," Romana explains, which explains nothing at all, but Elizabeth understands. She kisses Romana deeply, and stardust lingers on her tongue for days after the box is gone.

The next year, the box doesn't return; she stands on the cliff, hair blowing loose and free in the wind, sees the flash of green light. She wonders if, wherever Romana is, the other woman can hear her heart beating, big enough to love the whole world.

Prompts: Steven/Katarina, Astrid/Katarina, Eighth Doctor/Harry Sullivan

Edited 2008-07-19 23:59 (UTC)

The first time he’d seen her, he hadn’t noticed her at all, just classified her as a potential threat. She was a primitive, knowing too little to understand, but enough to bring a violent death to him and his friends if she pointed him out to the wrong person. She was too dangerous for him to remember.

The second time he’d seen her, he hadn’t noticed her then either. She was his savior, giving him a shoulder and guiding him back to the TARDIS. He was hurt and she was beautiful, the only beautiful thing amongst fire and murder and the ugliness of war. She was too bright for him to really see.

The third time went on for days. He’d noticed her, but not seen her. She was a cool voice and soothing voice. She was his anchor in a sea of sickness, the only thing he could hold on to. She was too solid for him to observe.

And now there’s no time to see or notice anything but Daleks. As Steven runs and hides and does his part to save the universe, he is also consciously not thinking about the dangerous, shiny girl that might steady him and give meaning to a stationary existence.

The fight-or-flight part of him that thinks that he should give in to those thoughts, that life is short and he’ll be sorry if he doesn’t get to know the girl while he has a chance… but that’s just silly. The Doctor will stop the Daleks because that’s what he does, and Katarina is young and healthy. She has a long life in front of her, and if he’s lucky, she might even spend that life with him.

Bret Vyon (from "Daleks' Master Plan")/Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Bret Vyon/Steven, Benny/Karra (from "Survival")

As he gets older, the Doctor knows that he tends more and more to gloss over his memories. And especially in this incarnation, when he's prone to forgetting things anyway, he finds that what he remembers of certain companions of his is very little.

So when the TARDIS lands him near UNIT headquarters in 1977, the Doctor can't resist the urge to visit in search of one Harry Sullivan. It's surprisingly easy to get inside, as when the Doctor searches his pockets, he manages to find his identification badge (for once). After that, it's merely the effort of walking down to Harry's office - although he manages to get lost on the way and has to ask for directions - before he gets his first look at the other man since, well, since they parted ways back when he was in his fourth incarnation.

The Doctor walks into the office without knocking, as is his wont, and Harry looks at him with polite interest. "Can I help you?"

Harry looks much the same as the Doctor remembers, which is admittedly little. He has the impression that he always thought Harry was a bit of an idiot, but when Harry asks 'do I know you?' and looks at him speculatively, the Doctor is forced to amend that.

"Harry Sullivan, it's good to see you again," the Doctor says with a slight smile, taking a seat in the chair across from Harry's desk.

Harry still looks a bit puzzled, obviously trying to figure out where he knows the Doctor from, and the Doctor leans back, content for the moment to let Harry think.

"Alright, out with it, old chap. Who are you?"

"I'm the Doctor," said with a self-satisfied smirk.

Harry laughs. "No you're not. Tall bloke, unruly hair, slightly crazy eyes... You know what, maybe you are the Doctor."

The Doctor frowns. "Of course I am, Harry, don't be an idiot. Would you like a Jelly Baby?" He offers a small paper sack, intentionally playing up the attitude that he thinks Harry might recognize.

"So it really is you," Harry says, distractedly taking a Jelly Baby and eating it.

The Doctor nods.

"Well then, why are you here?"

The question throws the Doctor because he hasn't thought of a plausible reason for showing up. So he tells the truth. "To see you."

"Yes, that much is obvious, but why?"

"The TARDIS brought me here, and I thought maybe I'd look you up. Renew old acquaintances and the like."

Harry looks doubtful. "Renewing old acquaintances? You're sure there's no alien invasion that brought you here?"

The Doctor lets out a surprised chuckle. "No, no. Nothing like that. You see, my memory isn't quite what it used to be..."

"And what? You don't remember me?"

"Not as well as I used to." The Doctor gives Harry a sheepish look. "I always thought you looked rather dashing in my scarf," he adds, almost as an apology.

Harry's eyes widen slightly. "I only wore it the one time."

"Yes, well. It suited you."

"Thanks."

There is an awkward silence in which Harry stares at the unfinished paperwork sitting on his desk and the Doctor looks absently at the wall. Finally, the Doctor stands, and Harry is quick to follow suit.

"Well, I must be off, but it was good to see you."

The Doctor heads out the door while Harry struggles to find something to say. A few seconds pass before the Doctor strides back into the room, grabs Harry's face and kisses him soundly. Harry's arms flail uselessly for a moment before he puts his hands on the Doctor's sides and relaxes into the kiss.

When they finally break away from each other, they're both a bit dazed, but the Doctor has a decidedly pleased air about him. "I won't be forgetting this anytime soon." He winks, and Harry flushes slightly.

"Good to know I won't be forgotten. And Doctor?" Harry says as the Doctor moves once again toward the door. The Doctor pauses in the doorframe. "Don't be a stranger."

The Doctor smiles brilliantly and walks out the door, shouting "Goodbye, Harry!"

"Goodbye, Doctor," Harry mutters. He sits down once again to contemplate the enigma that is the Doctor as the TARDIS dematerializes outside UNIT headquarters.

Requests: Five/Adric, Two/Ben/Jamie, Two/Ten

Fic Post

Romana I/Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Steven/Katarina

Eight/Harry