Truly Unknown

A/N: Inspired by an Eleven/River video I found on YouTube with a song that fits this couple beautifully: "Masquerade" by Eric Saade.

If there was one thing the Doctor had most definitely learned on his travels, it was that, no matter how many species he happened across, one truth bound them all together: women are impossible to entirely understand.

Each and every woman he'd met had always been able to hide something from him, and usually, it concerned her feelings. Why oh why, he wondered, couldn't women just let everything show? After all, he was the Doctor—he wasn't out to hurt them for their innermost thoughts.

Even if their innermost thoughts were to destroy him.

River Song.

River, River, River…

The daughter of his current companions, taken from them just after her birth and raised by (or rather, with) them as children would screw anyone up. Not that it was Amy and Rory's fault, of course. No, it was the fault of that psychopathic woman with the eyepatch who seemed to think destroying him was a worthwhile effort, and would do it in the cruelest way.

And so, their fates were inextricably intertwined. He'd "killed" her upon first meeting her, and, if the strange way they kept on meeting was any indication, she'd kill him upon first meeting him. In fact, at the start of being the incarnation of River he was used to, she'd tried. And then she'd used her remaining regenerations to save him—something he was fairly certain most time lords either couldn't or wouldn't do.

So much more had made sense after that little bout of unpleasantness, but there was still something else about her. It was as though they were on the same wavelength, but always slightly out of phase. She was always just slightly ahead, always drawing him to her. She knew just how to get to him—who else would address him as "Sweetie" and see fit to graffiti the oldest cliffs in the universe with that same endearment?

He had been so used to having everything on his terms, but River was almost as stubborn as he, and where that faltered, she had the determination to back it up. River knew what she wanted, and she'd get it, one way or the other. Her favorite method, however, seemed to be something akin to a game; one that involved a lot of flirting. That, he was fine with. He was no stranger to words, finding they often solved many a problem if those involved were willing to just listen.

However, he'd concede that action was sometimes needed, too. He'd just never expected that River would resort to the same. And then, she'd kissed him. That wasn't something he was so familiar with, at least, not in the response department.

And then, even words had failed him. "Interesting"… that had been the best he could've come up with? Not that River's perplexion had done her any favors. "Spoilers", she was always saying. Well, how was "You mean we've never done that before?" for a spoiler? His time lord instincts were telling him never to let that happen ever again, now that he had foreknowledge, but there was always that little voice that emanated from somewhere between his brain and his hearts that asked what the harm was in letting it go, just this once?

River was amazing. Brilliant. And a bit (oh, alright, rather) sexy.

He might even possibly love her for all that and more.

But if he couldn't change his own future, how did she have any hope of attempting to do the same?

A/N: First Dr. Who fic… Not sure how well I did with this, mostly because I was just having fun, but I figure that I'm steadily becoming obsessed enough with it that I might as well get some real practice in before I attempt anything terribly long-winded.

Well, may I have your opinion, please?