Title: Silent Stalker
Rating: PG
Characters: Rose, Nine
Prompt: Challenge 371: Armour.
Author's Notes: AU pre-Rose.
Rose's Mum always warned her about men like him. 'Stalker', she'd call him. Bad news.
But though he usually just skulked after Rose at a safe distance, the leather jacket he wore like armour blending into the shadows, today he'd made actual contact, swooping in and rescuing her when her head was so up-in-the-clouds she hadn't even noticed an oncoming car. He'd stared down at her, then, his grip on her as intense as what lurked in his blue eyes, before he'd just up and walked away.
Her Mum wouldn't approve, no, but that hardly mattered; Rose was interested now.
Title: Alter Ego
Rating: G
Characters: Doctor/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 372: Pattern.
Author's Notes: An AU where the Doctor and Rose are Gotham City citizens. I'd call it crackfic, but this is probably exactly what the Doctor and Rose's version of domestic bliss would be like.
The building shook, as if something nearby had exploded.
"Oh, again?" Rose asked, sighing.
He ducked his head out the window. "Looks like. The Bat Signal's up and all."
"I'm sensing a bit of a pattern here."
"Yep. If this keeps up, the only ones left alive in Gotham will be the idiots in masks. We might have to join in out of self-preservation. What d'you think? I could dress like a mad scientist and call myself 'The Doctor'."
"And how would that be different from your average day, exactly?"
Damn. He thought he'd managed to hide the lab coat.
Title: Beautiful Girls Wearing Nothing But Pearls
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Rose/Ten
Prompt: Challenge 373: Itch.
Author's Notes: The title is a quote from The Producers, so credit goes there.
"Um... what's this about?"
Rose thought there was only really the one explanation for draping herself out like a gift, wrapped only in tiny scraps of lace and strategically-placed rose petals.
She'd known the Doctor was a bit thick about these things, but come on. She'd hardly gone for the subtle approach here.
Before she could get any more obvious about what she wanted, though, the Doctor — flustered as a teenage virgin — made some excuse and hurriedly retreated from the bedroom. Alone again, Rose groaned.
Honestly, what did a girl have to do to get her itches scratched around here?
Title: Always Prepared
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Rose/Ten
Warning: Sexual references
Prompt: Challenge 374: Depth.
Rose's Mum insisted under pain of death that she always carry protection, resulting in Rose rolling her eyes and shoving several foil wrappers into the depths of her wallet (never to be seen again, she'd thought).
"Wait, you got a condom?" Rose breathed.
"Course I do... ah, somewhere. Just... might need a few minutes to search the TARDIS. Or an hour or two... or five." The Doctor made a piteous whining sound.
Snickering, Rose reached for her wallet, picturing the Doctor's face when she mentioned later precisely who he should thank for saving him from all that tortorous sexual frustration.
Title: Relatively Speaking
Rating: G
Characters: Rose, Ten
Prompt: Challenge 376: Compass.
"Did I miss some reason why today's special?" Rose asked.
The Doctor looked remarkably self-satisfied. "Well, every day's special, obviously, but this one's more so. According to the Universal Time Compass, it's the four hundred and thirteenth day, relatively speaking, since you jumped into the TARDIS. That just so happens to be the accepted average length of a year."
"Oh. So this would be our... anniversary?"
"A year together today." He sounded incredibly pleased at the thought.
That he'd remembered at all would have been gift enough, but the Doctor also had plans.
Rose barely stopped grinning the entire day.
Title: Stuck With You
Rating: G
Characters: Ten/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 377: Paint.
Author's Notes: An AU where the Doctor is a struggling artist turned art school teacher and Rose is his student.
He'd wanted to be out traversing the globe, pursuing new inspiration with which to transform his canvasses. Unfortunately, reality said a man could only live on a shoestring for so long.
He'd expected to hate teaching, a distant second choice career-wise. The truth was rather surprising.
Rose Tyler glanced past her easel, looking at him not to seek approval — student or not, she was far too independent for that — but as if sharing something with him.
What he saw in her eyes was real art.
Perhaps being shackled to one place for a while might be worth it after all.
Title: Behind a Flimsy Door
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Rose/Nine, Rose/Jimmy Stone
Warnings: Sexual references, infidelity
Prompt: Challenge 381: Rock.
Author's Notes: AU pre-Rose, though it's not specified how AU. Could just be timey-wimey.
Rose apparently couldn't resist the temptation of this mystery man, so utterly different from the useless boyfriend she often found herself hating. She wanted the escape he was offering too much to stop herself, even with Jimmy right on the other side of paper-thin walls, and with nothing except the repetitive thump of party music spurting from ridiculously large speakers to cover the noise of Rose's hips rocking back against the bathroom door.
Rose clung to his leather jacket, whispering words of love to a relative stranger, and wondered if it was still cheating if she wanted to be caught.
Title: Sworn Enemy
Rating: PG
Characters: Doctor/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 403: Bête Noire.
Author's Notes: An AU where the Doctor is a Jedi, and Rose is a crazy Sith Lord. Contains mentions of the Master and nods to 'The Parting of the Ways'.
There are legends of horned devils and physically warped men, all seething visibly with Darkness. That's how he'd always expected the Sith to appear.
Not like this.
Seeing her, he understands, finally, why his Master always called the Dark Side 'seductive', even long before the man stared directly into its depths and fell to the drumming lure of power-lust.
Her eyes burn gold with that same tainted power, making her look almost unbearably beautiful in her terrible madness.
He is Jedi. He's supposed to ignite his lightsaber and battle her.
Instead, he just wants to reach out and save her.
Title: Time-time-e-dy-wimey
Rating: G
Characters: Rose/Nine
Prompt: Challenge 414: Gilbert & Sullivan.
Author's Notes 1: Crack! Basically this is a take on my fic 'Kissing Complete Strangers' if it were done as a drabble musical. So this probably won't make sense unless you're at least passingly familiar with that series. Intended to mirror the 'temporary goodbye' tone of and (somewhat loosely) set to the tune of 'Chim Chim Cher-ee (Rooftop Duet)' from Mary Poppins (the stage musical). Supposedly this is a Bert the Chimney Sweep/Mary Poppins AU, but I sort of stretched the meaning of that prompt to its limits.
ROSE:
Oh Doctor, oh Doctor, I've found you at last,
I've searched for you in every universe past.
DOCTOR:
Not quite complaining, but what's with the kiss?
'Cause I don't often greet complete strangers like this.
ROSE:
Time-time-e-dy-wimey, our life's a real mess.
You clearly don't know me yet, sorry (I guess).
DOCTOR:(suggestively)
We could set that right before you go back.
ROSE:
Oi! Better watch it or you'll get a smack.
But if in your future you still want some fun,
Just reach out your hand and don't forget to run!
ROSE AND DOCTOR:
Time-time-e-dy-wimey.
Whoops, better hang on!
Title: New Hire
Rating: G
Characters: Nine/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 417: Hair.
Author's Notes: An AU where the Doctor is a sailboat captain and Rose is a deck hand.
The glint of sunlight against blond hair inevitably caught the Captain's eye again. The girl had been difficult to ignore ever since she'd been hired. Of course, he maintained that was just because he had to keep correcting her.
"Tyler!" He grabbed her hands — so soft — and noted they were already reddened. "Don't let me catch you dealing with the ropes without wearing gloves again," he snapped.
"Aye Captain," she teased, flashing her tongue.
Somehow, he couldn't quite bring himself to berate her for her cheek.
He was going to regret bringing this one on board, he just knew it.
Title: Making a Move
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Ten/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 364: Touch.
The Doctor was always so sure of himself, frequently to the point of overconfidence... except here.
In this he hesitated, his hand hovering just inches over her back, seemingly unwilling to breach the gap. When it became obvious he wouldn't make that first move, Rose reached back herself, her fingers brushing momentarily across his, and flicked her wrist in a practised motion. The Doctor went so wide-eyed at the sight of her bra falling away that Rose almost felt she'd bared far more than just her breasts.
From there it wasn't overly difficult to convince him to properly touch her.
Title: The Rainbow Serpent
Rating: PG
Characters: Doctor/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 368: Colour.
Author's Notes: An AU based on a Dreamtime story. My apologies to the Australian Aboriginal culture for badly misusing one of their legends.
He slithers across the land in desperate search of something — someone — to call home. But he's alone; always alone.
Until her.
Something in him recognises her. He squirms around her, a dance older than time, flashing his scales invitingly, each segment catching the colours of the setting sun.
Yet she still rejects him the first time he asks.
But not the second.
The second time she leans her body up against him, their bodies cutting so deep as they intertwine that mountains and rivers form, meandering around them.
A world forms in their wake, but they only notice each other.
Title: Environmental Factors
Rating: G
Characters: Rory/Amy
Prompt: Challenge 370: Beat.
Author's Notes: An AU where Rory is a Kiwi and Amy is a fruit bat.
The forest around him is slowly being destroyed, and he doesn't know how to outrun it. He's stuck here, destined to scuttle along the ground, only able to watch as those more fortunate fly above.
He can't stop watching her in particular, wishing he could join her up there. She swoops through the air, always out of reach.
He beats his tiny wings uselessly. Maybe she'd finally notice him if he could fly alongside her. But she never sees. She can't.
She can leave whenever she likes. He has no way to keep her, and he can't go with her.
Title: In the Doghouse
Rating: PG
Characters: Rose/Ten II
Prompt: Challenge 375: Crotchety.
"Rose? Can I sleep here? The couch is really uncomfortable, and I'm still not sure why you would've told me to sleep there anyway. Unless something's wrong with the bed, I suppose. Rose?"
Rose tiredly cracked an eye open. "Nngh. You still haven't quite got this whole 'human customs' thing down, have you? Honestly, I'm too tired for this, so fine. But we're going to have a conversation tomorrow," she warned.
Sliding into bed behind her, the Doctor kissed her shoulder appreciatively. Despite her earlier annoyance that had relegated him to the couch, Rose had to bite back a smile.
Title: The Sanity of the Plan is of No Consequence
Rating: G
Characters: Ten, Simm!Master
Prompt: Challenge 380: Trifle.
Author's Notes: The title is a quote from Captain America (the movie), so credit goes there.
It took a great deal to stun the Doctor into complete speechlessness, especially in this particular regeneration.
In this case, however, he had to say his shock was definitely warranted.
When he finally managed to articulate himself, he blurted out, "You managed to take over an entire galaxy in the space of three relative days using only a bowl of trifle."
"I know," the Master said with a disgustingly self-admiring smirk. "Clearly there is no end to my ingenuity and brilliance."
The Doctor got the distinct impression he would be hearing about this 'accomplishment' for the rest of their lives.
Title: Under the Ski Masks
Rating: PG
Characters: Rose/River
Prompt: Challenge 390: Strength.
Author's Notes: An AU where Rose and River are bank robbers.
Thanks to minimal resistance and River's always-brilliant timing, they're out with their haul before the sirens near.
It's amazing, Rose decides, what the judicious use of a couple of massive guns can accomplish. Suddenly, after usually being spared barely a glance except to wolf-whistle at their entwined hands, they both become such a threat that people let themselves be forced face down on the ground without any struggle.
It isn't the masks and excessive show of force that are the illusion, though; they're both always that formidable. It just apparently takes a bank heist for everyone else to see that.
Title: Things That Speak As Loud As Words
Rating: PG
Characters: Ten/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 398: Rumour.
It's in grasping fingertips and the warm kiss of palm against palm. It's in the close press of bodies wrapped up in hugs that are supposed to be merely comforting, friendly or celebratory, but end up as something far more. It's in eyes that can't be dragged away for long, because even with a whole universe of sights at his disposal, there's simply nothing he'd rather be looking at.
Every beat of his hearts proclaims it. She must know, or at least suspect.
And yet still he can't say the words aloud.
She has too much power over him already.
Title: Full Circle Again
Rating: PG
Characters: Rose/Ten
Prompt: Challenge 402: Abandon.
Author's Notes: AU where Ten goes back and visits Rose before she met him, only he stays a little while longer than he should. And then...
Tears flowed steadily. "What are you sayin'?" Rose asked.
"You already know," the Doctor said gently. "You wouldn't be crying otherwise."
She did. She'd always known that he'd be leaving her soon enough. But she'd still like to have lived in denial a little longer.
She just wanted him to stay. Was that too much to ask?
"This can't be the end, just like that."
"It's not really," he said. "For you, it's just the beginning."
He'd told her no promises at the start, but that sounded suspiciously like one.
She ceased crying, choosing to believe it.
Believe in them.
Title: What's So Special About Today?
Rating: G
Characters: Rose/Ten
Prompt: Challenge 404: Confusion.
The Doctor knew everything important (and some things that weren't) that happened on some rainy July day eight centuries ago. But when the TARDIS stubbornly refused to move from this day, he ruffled his hair in confused annoyance.
True, the reconstructed building they were parked outside no longer housed Henrik's, and the Doctor rarely got his dates quite right. But it still would've been nice, Rose thought wistfully, if he were the kind of man to recognise how the TARDIS had purposely brought them to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the night they'd met.
Good thing she loved him regardless.
Title: The Right Time
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Nine/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 405: Retro.
He wouldn't sleep with her. Not yet.
"I don't want to be another of those fumbling human boys you've been with, barely pausing long enough to find their zipper when you're all laid out and wanting more. I'd rather get it right."
Rose knew that it didn't have anything to do with him not wanting her desperately enough. She could tell he did; there was a kind of hunger in his expression sometimes when he looked at her.
This 'waiting' idea was pretty old-fashioned by 21st human standards, but Rose suspected he only insisted on it because he loved her.
Title: Crazy's the Only Game In Town
Rating: G
Characters: Rose, Ten
Prompt: Challenge 409: Chicken.
Author's Notes: The title is a quote from Supernatural, so credit goes there.
"I'm so gonna kill you when we get out of this," Rose muttered as she clapped without rhythm.
"That's the spirit. Blend in." The Doctor clucked like a chicken. "Only you should yell it so they can hear you sounding properly psychopathic."
Rose was moving pointedly towards the TARDIS in something like an over-caffeinated linedance. "Are you kiddin'? You scream at the unstable lunatics."
Honestly, Rose was acting like he'd meant to land in a colony where all sane-acting people were locked away for being 'chronically boring'.
Though personally, he actually wondered if there might be something to that idea.
Title: Oblivious, As Usual
Rating: G
Characters: Rose/Nine
Prompt: Challenge 411: Hawk.
Author's Notes: An AU where the Doctor is a restauranteur and Rose is a baker.
He's circling like a hawk, barking out orders and sending kitchen staff scurrying. When Rose arrives at the restaurant with the dessert trays, he spares a brief grin, then goes straight back to prepping for open.
He's out of sight before he can spy the 'I love you' scrawled in icing on the banana cake — his favourite. Rose sighs, unsurprised. Business as usual, then.
It's not that he doesn't notice her; she sees him looking sometimes.
It's just that no matter what she does to convince him, it doesn't seem to occur to him that she could want him too.
Title: Someone Else's War
Rating: PG
Characters: Jackie
Prompt: Challenge 412: Warning.
It seemed so deceptively calm up there, Jackie thought as she stared at the pinpricks of light in the dark sky.
Her daughter was out there somewhere among those stars, undoubtedly risking her life, stupidly fighting someone else's fight. She could be stumbling through the mud in the middle of an honest-to-goodness war right at this moment, for all Jackie knew.
Every time Rose left, saying goodbye broke Jackie's heart, knowing each time it was a little less likely Rose would ever return home.
She wondered whether the Doctor would at least come warn her that she should stop waiting.
Title: When She Comes By
Rating: G
Characters: Ten/Rose
Prompt: Challenge 420: Gallery.
Author's Notes: An AU where the Doctor is a shoe designer at high end boutique and Rose is his best client.
She's down in the gallery again, surveying his newest stock.
He nearly topples off the ladder when he notices her, grabbing the rung to stop himself, though not managing to prevent the shoebox he'd been reaching for from falling on his head.
She looks up at him and grins. He nearly falls again.
There's a camera flash — probably for another puff piece on the Vitex heiress's shoe addiction. He thinks wryly that he'll probably buy the magazine just for her picture despite knowing the article attached will be complete rubbish.
There's clearly so much more to her than they know.
Title: Everyone Leaves Home in the End
Rating: PG
Characters: Jackie
Prompt: Challenge 421: Squash.
Author's Notes: Set during 'The Parting of the Ways'. The title's a quote from 'The Impossible Planet'.
Jackie squashed the knowledge that she was probably partly to blame for this; stubborness was apparently genetic. Not that it was doing her much good, as she forced herself to go fetch the big yellow truck.
Jackie had never foreseen that she'd willingly help her daughter put herself in danger. But she'd certainly never seen the Doctor coming either. The best laid plans crumbled to so much dust with him about.
She only prayed that he'd manage to keep magically scraping himself and Rose out of trouble, since it didn't seem those two would ever stop bumbling into danger together.