Set: A while after Doomsday from the Doctors perspective, and a short time after X-men 3, from Rogues perspective. Small changes: Rogue did get the cure, but did not return to the mansion, instead, she wandered around New York City, the whole, "Humans becoming mutants" thing is a part of Earths history, so, for the Doctor, it is a completely natural visit also, there was no bride in the TARDIS after Doomsday, I didn't want to figure out a reason for that! I'm making this up as I go along, so it could change dramaticly. There is a chance of Pyro joining the scene in the future, so, keep your heads up, Ryro fans!
'First the women, then the foreigners, and now this!' The Doctor thought, rolling his eyes, glancing at wall of anti-mutant graffiti. 'Humans and their prejudice, they never learn.'
The Doctor wandered down the streets of New York, America, 2013. He didn't quite know why he had chosen this time or place, but here he was. First time back on Earth since Torchwood. He was over the worst of it now, the nightmares were becoming less frequent, and he no longer felt sick in the stomach whenever he thought of her, his Rose Tyler. The Doctor couldn't bring himself to go to London for the first visit since he left her, couldn't even bear going to England. So he settled for America. It was a strange time to visit, even he would admit that. It was not long after the so-called "Cure" had been released, promising to "Rid mutants of their powers, letting them become normal." The Doctor grimaced at the use of words, especially "Normal.", there is no such thing, in his humble opinion, for the Doctor, "Normal" was having two hearts, travelling in a police box and having life threatening danger on a day-to-day basis. You try to tell a human that that was "Normal". But that hardly mattered; the "Cure" had been proved only temporary and most of the mutants who had taken it already had their powers their powers return. The Doctor forgot to look where he was going and just stopped in time to avoid walking into someone.
'Sorry,' the Doctor apologised almost automatically as he continued on his way, vaguely realising that he had managed to walk right into an alleyway, but he was stopped by a large hand on his shoulder.
'Sorry?' the deep voice was tinted in anger. The hand roughly pushed so the Doctor was facing the owner of the voice, 'who do you think you are, then?'
It wasn't the wisest thing to do, but the Doctor could resist, 'Well, I think,' he said, enunciating his accent, 'that I am me, unless you have some evidence to the contrary?'
'He thinks he's funny.' The large man turned to face two other men that the Doctor had not seen before, if he had, he might have thought twice about that last comment, 'I say!' The large man put on a horrible British accent, 'Tea and biscuits? Jolly old chap!' The man pushed his hands into his pockets, imitating the way that Doctor stood, 'Guvnor! What do you say about giving me a good beating? There's a good chap.'
The Doctor winced at the sight of this horrible imitation, if it wasn't for the implication of a lot of pain in the not to distant future, the situation would be almost funny. All three thugs turned on the Doctor, closing in on him.
'Now now, don't go doing something rash now…' The Doctor slowly backed away. He considered pulling out his sonic screwdriver, but firstly, getting it out would make them think he had a gun and secondly, the screwdriver couldn't hurt anyone, it was useful for bluffing, sure, but to humans in this day and age, it didn't exactly look threatening.
The Thugs moved in closer, forming fists and flexing muscles. They were so close now; the Doctor could smell their cigarette ridden breath.
'Hey!' A voice; strong and definite with a hint of a southern accent made all four heads turn. A young woman, early twenties, the Doctor guessed, stormed up to them. Her long hair was auburn, except for two unnaturally white streaks at the front. And she was obviously mad.
'You!' She screamed at one of the stunned men, pushing him against the wall, 'Ah touched you!' Tears were streaming down her face and none of the men could move, 'Ah felt you, and they ya just left meh!' She suddenly rounded on the rest of them, 'You three! Out! Now!' The two other thugs didn't need to be told twice, they were already in the distance by the time the Doctor turned around.
'Uh…' The Doctor put up a hand.
'Go!' The girl yelled.
Shrugging, the Doctor wandered out of the alley, turning into a small coffee shop next to it. He got a table outside where he could see the path leading from the alley. He ordered a cup of tea and waited. His tea arrived and he took a sip before spluttering it back into the cup.
'Americans,' The Doctor thought, 'They just don't get how to make a cup of tea.'
He looked up to see a slightly dishevelled, but much calmer woman with brown hair and a white streak walking out of the alley, alone.
'Hello!' The Doctor said brightly.
Slightly annoyed, she looked around, trying to find him.
'Down here.' He helped her search.
She looked down at him, obviously curious why someone with a cockney accent was talking to her.
'Are you alright?' The Doctor asked, pushing out the extra chair at his table with his foot, indicating that she should sit down, 'You look like you could use a good cup of coffee.'
She sat in the chair, confused as to why she was doing what she was doing; the Doctor had that effect on people.
'I'm the Doctor, by the way.' He introduced himself.
'I'm Rogue.' The girl answered
The Doctor raised an eyebrow 'Rogue? Something tells me that's not your real name.'
'Something tells me "The Doctor" isn't your real name either.' She shot back.
'I see,' The Doctor smiled, aware that her accent had faded slightly when she was calm, 'We each have our secrets, let's just leave it at that.'
Rogue got a waitresses attention and ordered a coffee.
'So, what did you do to him?' The Doctor asked.
'What?' Rogue pretended not to know what he was talking about.
'The man, in the alley, he still hasn't come out yet.'
'Ah knocked him unconscious.' It wasn't exactly a lie, he was unconscious, 'He'll be a'right' she added, just in case the Doctor was worried.
As her drink arrived, Rogue put a hand up to receive it and the Doctor noticed her hands were covered in leather gloves. He frowned inwardly, it was cold for a New York midday, but he didn't think it was that cold, but he decided to let it go. Rogue sipped her drink, 'What is that?' she asked, nodding at the untouched cup in front of him, and sniffing, 'tea?'
'A rubbish imitation of tea.' The Doctor stared at the cup.
'Never did like tea, it's too… I dunno… wrong.' She finished lamely.
'Never doubt the wonders of a good cup of tea.' The Doctor smiled.
Rogue took a sip of her coffee in silence. The Doctor didn't have a drink that he could distract himself with; at least, one worth drinking, so he just stared at her, Rogue, apparently, didn't like that at all.
'Why're you doing this, Doctor?' She asked, setting her cup down.
'It's a reflex of mine,' said the Doctor. 'I see someone in trouble and I try to help them. I can't help myself.'
'Do I look like I need your help?' Rogue got defensive.
'No.' the Doctor admitted, folding his arms on the table and leaning on them, 'You look like you just need a hand to hold.'
Rogue stiffened, 'I will not be…' she broke off in a mixture of anger and tears, 'I wont fall for it again!'
'I would never do that to you.' The Doctor replied in all honesty.
Rogue frowned into her cup, her gloved hands shaking, 'I'm leaving.' She got up, kicking in her chair, the Doctor made no attempt to stop her, he just watched her.
'I'll be around for a while,' The Doctor said as she began walking into the distance, 'Don't be afraid to talk to me.' The Doctor smiled, he could see by her posture that she was wondering if it was the right thing to do, if she should turn around and sit back down, but she didn't. The Doctor sighed, he knew that he would see her again soon, until then; he could just wander around New York City.
Slow start, but it will get better. Reviews are welcome, especially constructive criticism, also, if someone could give me tips on how to write Southern and Cockney accents, it would be greatly appreciated, I'm an Aussie, so I don't know much on that matter. Any ideas on plot points are okay too, I'm not promising anything, but at the moment, I've only got a few scenes in my head, so you never know, I might write your idea!