Title: Flirting and Peril
Author: Shen
Rating: NC-17
Characters: Rose Tyler, The Tenth Doctor
Spoilers: Takes place during and after New Earth
Teaser: Cassandra's teasing on New Earth has made Rose think about how she views the Doctor...and what she should do about it.

"You've been lookin'! You like it."

Rose Tyler looked away from the Cassandra-possessed Doctor and fought to keep an embarrassed smile from her face. While playing second fiddle in her own head, Rose had time to realize that, for all of Cassandra's vanity and elitism, she was also another lonely woman. And this juvenile teasing was a perfect demonstration of that. Then a thought struck her. If Cassandra was saying all of this from the Doctor's body while he was aware-

BANG!

She'd momentarily forgotten! There were infected beating down the door!

Sometimes, Rose thought she was getting too used to peril.

Had the Doctor control of his own body, he might've been blushing. It was flouncing around in a most undignified fashion, for one thing. For another, Cassandra was slipping him flashes of Rose's thoughts, whether by accident or to be mischievous he wasn't sure. At least he no longer had to worry about her being disturbed by his change of face. Which was nice, because she didn't look bad either, and he thought she probably knew he thought that, but...

'Oh, no,' he thought. It abruptly occurred to him that Cassandra could hop back into Rose's body. What then? She'd probably show Rose these thoughts, troublemaker that she was!

And she did. Cassandra hopped from Doctor to Rose and back several times, conducting an involuntary dialogue between the two all throughout the harrowing adventure in the New New York hospital.

Rose was mortified by that kiss. Abusively gripping a man's head was hardly suave, and she was relieved that he now knew that she wasn't such a dork. Not that it was all bad...

The Doctor was embarrassed by how much he had enjoyed that same kiss, even while he knew it wasn't Rose directing it. Did that make him a dirty old man?

Rose had some initial trepidation regarding the Doctor's new body, but she'd grown to like it very quickly. Her long-standing attraction to him had started to bleed into their playing and flirting at some point during his last incarnation, but she often hoped he didn't notice. They had a good thing going, after all, and it would be awful to be dumped back at home if the idea upset him.

Meanwhile, the Doctor had also found that he put more – and saw more – into their playfulness and hugging than he originally had. He wasn't even sure when it started happening. He also wasn't sure if he was relieved to find her on the same wavelength.

Rose decided that they both really were too used to peril, if they had time to think about these things while running for their lives and saving a hospital.

The Doctor wanted a banana. Or a banana milkshake. Maybe he and Rose could share one like – like lovesick teenagers. Oh hell.

And on it went. Then Cassandra vacated both of their bodies, but they had her dying to worry about. Finally, after watching her meet herself and collapse, the duo walked into the TARDIS in solemn silence.

"Um, do you want some tea?" Rose finally asked once the ship got moving. She didn't look at him, though.

"Yes, thank you. How about that Lady Grey?" he responded, similarly avoiding her gaze.

"Good idea; be back in a bit," she said before walking towards the kitchen, starting to consider. Is this how it was going to be? Spare words and awkward silence, pretending it never happened? Go about as if it was a run-of-the-mill bodysnatching adventure with no consequences? Well, the awkwardness would probably be forgotten eventually, and perhaps that was the way it should be. They had a good rapport, after all. She sighed as she filled the kettle and set it on the stove.

And yet, what if it could be something more? Oh, she wanted it. She admitted to herself how much she wanted it until recently. At Christmas, Mickey's, "You really love him, don't you?" as her deep worry for the Doctor's health cut right through her feelings of betrayal at his change of face. Cassandra's teasing, followed by her...informativeness. There was a reason she took Mickey for granted – several, actually – and it was mainly because the Doctor just eclipsed him completely. Even better, it seemed that part of him wanted her.

And why shouldn't he? She may have been "chav-tastic" but she was also perceptive and brave. And a bit "foxy," if she did think so herself. How many times, even when he was in his old body, had she heard things like, "You must really mean something to him," or, "What good are emotions if you can't save the woman you love?" from random third parties?

The kettle whistled, and she took it off the stove. However, now she smiled as she poured the boiling water over the waiting teabags. It seemed she had a new goal.

"Got your tea, Doctor!" Rose announced with a beaming smile. The Doctor looked up at her, startled at this change from their previously muttered dialogue. Then, his mind went momentarily blank, because he had forgotten, in the heat of danger, exactly how much skin she was showing.

"Ah...thanks, Rose," he managed, smiling in a slightly goofy way as she passed him his cup. Her hand brushed his in the transfer.

After a few sips, Rose asked, "So, you know what was funny?"

"What's that?"

"You, dancing around like an afflicted rabbit." The Doctor fixed his best "angry professor" glare on her, but she just stuck her tongue out at him.

"Right, well, not my most dignified moment," he admitted lightly, "I've been sillier, though. It's amazing what some drugs in this universe can do, not that I ever took them on purpose. Bloody welracks and their parties." However, it seemed she was not through with her teasing, because she sat her teacup down and walked around the back of his chair.

"'So many parts!'" she piped with her best Cassandra impression, walking two fingers up his arm, "'And hardly used...'" She trailed off. Meanwhile, the Doctor had jolted involuntarily at her touch, then turned slightly and looked up just in time to catch her cheeky grin. As soon as he did, though, she suddenly started yawning.

"Well, long day. Guess being bodysnatched takes it out of me. Goodnight, Doctor!" And she flounced of to her quarters.

A moment later, the Doctor realized that his mouth was hanging slightly open.

Rose was smiling to herself as she sat on her cot. The Doctor seemed confused, which she found amusing. He also did not seem off-put – to shiver at her touch like that! Rather than try to sleep, she picked up her book and sat back. She wasn't tired yet, and besides, she had more plotti- rather, thinking to do.

The next day, the Doctor and Rose took their breakfast as usual, and the Doctor settled down to make some adjustments on the TARDIS. After a bit, Rose crept into the room on stocking feet. He was kneeling, concentrating on some wire or another and thus, for once, did not notice her. Perfect.

She slid up behind him and bent over. Now that she was down here, what she really wanted to do was bite that ear, so unsuspecting before her. However, she kept control of herself and instead leaned forward slightly to blow into it. Not a sharp, quick spurt meant to startle, but a slow, tantalizing wind. He twitched a bit and spun around to see her start giggling like a little kid after an innocent prank.

"Scared you!" she taunted, grinning widely.

"No you didn't rightly!" was his retort, but it just pulled a fresh chuckle from his companion. He wore a bewildered look at first, but he replaced it with a "Ha, you got me," face as he stood.

"Having fun?" he asked dryly.

"Aw," Rose responded before pulling him into a hug. She turned her face towards his neck and coyly breathed, "Sorry."

After a moment's hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a bear hug. And did he nuzzle her a bit? It was Rose's turn to be caught off-guard, and her breath caught in her throat.

"That's all right," he rumbled against her cheek, "I know how mischievous children need to be."

She pushed away and gave him another playful shove for good measure while he laughed at her.

"Mean old man!" She smiled and left him to his work. The jab at her age didn't bother her one bit. Because if she had his measure, judging of course by the signals of his body, he might just be a cradle-robber.

The Doctor watched her retreat with crossed arms and a bemused look. Was she trying to seduce him? Mess with him to leave him bothered and bewildered? Well, he was a Time Lord, hundreds of years old, not some green boy. She should know by now that no human had him fooled for long. Maybe that was alright, though. He liked the attention, and the faces she made while she was teasing him were pretty adorable. Shining with impish glee.

They'd always flirted. It was part of their great dynamic, as well, that she knew when to joke and when to concentrate on business. The thing that really grabbed him, however, had been that she nearly died for him. Not in a momentary fit of madness, in the heat of danger. Rather, after she was safe and sound, she hurled herself into nearly certain extermination to try and rescue him. He'd never been good at denying Rose Tyler anything, and after that she deserved a shot at whatever she wanted.

So he would let her flirt, let her try to make him break and act first. Didn't mean he had to let her win - two could play at this game.