Hello! Happy New Year!
Welcome to this new fic! :) Enjoy!
John "The Doctor" Smith is a very simple man… or at least he likes to think so. He has a pet cat he absolutely adores by the name of Idris, a job he loves, a car that's been with him through thick and thin, and a roof over his head. What's not to love, right?
Ok, so maybe he started loving his home a little bit less since the past year. Infinitesimally so. No big deal. The reason?
Clara Oswald.
That woman and her bike, and nosy cat, and… well, and her inflating eyes! That's why.
She had moved next door just a little over a year ago.
The Doctor then discovered that she worked at the same university as him. In the same department. The first month was fine, and then somehow, they started hating each other, or rather, she started picking a fight with him.
He couldn't quite recall how it truly began, but he was sure it started when he nearly ran her over with his car. There was yelling, and he obviously had to defend himself since it wasn't his fault she just rushed to the gate as if her life depended on it.
Perhaps he had sounded a bit too rude to her that day, but it was too late to take it back now. It's her fault she insisted to continue their silly feud.
John snapped out of his thoughts when Idris meowed at him, demanding his full attention. "Yes?"
The black cat purred and headbutted his leg.
He went over to the kitchen counter before opening a cupboard and pulling out a packet of wet cat food. "I can't help but think you're a bit too spoiled."
Idris meowed as he served her meal in a bowl in one corner of the tiny kitchen.
After disposing of the rubbish, he checked the time on his wristwatch. 7:51 AM.
As much as the Doctor preferred starting his lecture at the earliest, 10 AM, he ran out of luck this year when the computer system assigned him to several, well, three 9 AM lectures within a week. Far too early for his taste, and it wasn't like most of his students are going to be excited to learn at such an early start to the day anyway.
He finished his breakfast and gulped down his coffee before placing the dishes into the sink.
Just as he was about to leave the house, Idris followed him to the front entrance. "I'll be back at around four or five today," he told his pet before locking the door.
John got into the car and before he started the engine, he paused. Water and food in the garden for Idris. Yes, he remembered to leave her some food outside in case she got hungry.
There was a good reason why he wanted to leave home early. The beat up, blue Mercedes-Benz 450SLC usually likes to mess with him and he was sure the car had a mind of its own since he first got the vehicle some fifteen years ago. "Please be nice to me today."
The mathematician's wish came true as it only took the first try to start the car and he grinned.
"Love you," he murmured, patting the dusty dashboard fondly.
John then glanced at the house next to his. The large motorbike was still parked by the porch so that means the Impossible Girl hadn't left yet. Good.
The Doctor had given her such nickname because well, she was impossible! It was impossible to talk to her without arguing, impossible to prevent from nearly hitting her with his car almost every day at uni, despite him leaving early, and impossible to even look at because he couldn't take her seriously when she's fuming.
Without much thought, he put the vehicle in reverse before driving off. Today would be different. Today, he wouldn't nearly hit her with his car again.
It didn't matter when the Doctor left for work. Be it early, extremely early or even late, he would always, always end up nearly hitting that infuriating woman with her large motorbike. It was as if the universe was trying to make his commute to work as bad as possible.
Today was no different as he immediately slammed on the brakes when he caught sight of a bike nearly colliding with him… again. The tires screech loudly. Maybe he shouldn't have stopped by at Sainsbury's to get a cup of coffee.
"Oi, watch it!" she growled, glaring at him.
Yeah, as if someone like Dr Clara Oswald could terrify him.
He rolled down the window halfway through as it suddenly got stuck, making an unpleasant noise in the process, causing the woman to smirk.
"Your dinosaur of a car needs to be looked at," she said.
Both were still parked in front of the entrance, ready to get in first, but still cautious of one another, and luckily, there was no one behind them to honk. Yet.
John wished he had a clever come back, but nothing came to mind. "Yeah, well, at least I don't look ridiculous on that massive bike!"
"You're just jealous you have a piece of junk!" she spat.
"At least I know how to drive!" he retorted before mockingly signalling her to go first. "Ladies, first, or rather, the elf on the bike."
A honk was heard.
"I hope your car breaks down this instant!" she growled, entering the campus carpark.
Another honk came from the third vehicle waiting in line, and then another. Both ignored the other cars.
John couldn't help but laugh. His car may be old and unreliable at times, but the last thing she'll do is break down.
After parking his vehicle in one corner of the carpark, he grabbed his messenger bag and stepped out, immediately greeted by the chilly October air.
He made his way to the Department of Mathematics building and went straight for the lift. There is no way in hell he's taking the stairs up to the fourth floor. Not when he's had a miserable start to his day.
"Too old to take the stairs?" a voice mocked behind him.
"Says the pot to the kettle," John grunted, glancing at his colleague.
"I guess you are ancient since you can't see that I'm carrying a bag of marked scripts," Clara countered, lifting the second bag she held in her left hand.
"You're just making excuses for yourself," he added, stepping into the lift and trying to prevent her from getting in, but she hit him with the heavy bag, or at least swayed it in his direction.
Clara set down the bag on the floor, glaring at the Scotsman. "I'm sorry, does it say anywhere that this lift belongs to you?"
John wrote his name with his index finger on the metal wall. "Yes."
"Insufferable," she muttered, wishing the lift would move a bit faster.
The doors finally opened, and they were greeted by the sight of another colleague, Dr Jack Harkness. "Well stick me in a dress and call me Sally!" he exclaimed. "Did John drive you here – did you two finally kiss and makeup – I hear wedding bells!"
"Jack!" both growled, but he was undeterred.
"Anything could have happened in such a small and confined space," he suggested, winking at them as they stepped out.
"Oh, let me help you with that," Jack offered, taking the heavy bag from Clara. "You could have done her a favour, you know," he said, looking accusingly at John.
The Doctor ignored him and headed straight for his office. Twenty minutes before his first lecture of the day starts. It wasn't a big deal since his office is merely two doors down from hers and it only takes less than thirty seconds to walk from the lift to her office.
As he was making the necessary preparation, a knock was heard. The next moment, Jack stepped inside with a wide grin.
"Yes, I nearly hit her with my car again, yes, we argued in the lift and no, we are not getting married," John grumbled, glaring at his friend and colleague.
"Shame, I'll keep on dreaming though," he replied. "Maybe you should consider being a bit nicer to her, or in general."
"Well, she can start by apologising for starting this bloody thing in the first place."
"So, I'm guessing the bet is still on?"
John had completely forgotten about it. The bet. The wonderful bet which he was leading by a point.
He and Clara had somehow made a bet one fine day, trying to prove each other better than the other. So, the bet. Whoever publishes the most papers by the end of the academic year wins. If he loses, he would have to lend Clara his vehicle for three days.
The brilliant bit in all of this, however, was his prize. John knew he had to choose a prize that would piss off the Impossible Girl and make her think about it for weeks on end, so if she loses, she would have to give him a kiss. That'll teach her.
"Yeah," the Doctor answered, stopping himself from smiling smugly. He has a lot more experience than her when it came to publishing papers, so it will be an easy win.
"Nice, you know I'm rooting for you to win, right?"
John rolled his eyes. For some strange reason, Jack seems to have a very odd fascination with their rivalry. One of his PhD students, Bill Potts, had mentioned it was called 'shipping'.
"I'm just trying to show her who's boss."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night!" Jack said cheerfully before he left.
"There is nothing going on between us!" the Doctor insisted, almost to the point of yelling and nearly startled someone who knocked at his door.
"Should I drop by some other time?" Bill asked.
"I have a lecture in ten minutes, that's all I can spare for now," John said, his tone softer.
Bill remained at the corridor. "Yeah, I just wanted to ask if it's ok if I drop by later today – got a few questions to ask."
"Does 2 PM sound good to you?"
"Yep, that's fine, thanks, Doctor."
Just when he thought he could get some peace and quiet, a voice was heard saying, "She's coming – she's bloody coming!"
Oh, great.
The break room, which was filled with postgraduates and staff alike, began rushing out.
"Oh, Jesus wept!" a PhD student by the name of Oishin muttered as he quickly rinsed his coffee mug in the sink.
As much as he hated the commotion, he enjoyed seeing everyone running for their lives. It was comical.
"Gird your loins!" Jack said as he rushed out of the break room with a mug in his hand. "As Stanley Tucci would say!"
"I didn't know the vice-chancellor's back so soon!"
"I'm nailing a cross behind my door later today."
There was no doubt in John's mind that the vice-chancellor is looking for him again. What could she possibly want this time?
The hallway was now completely deserted and silent as if the building had been abandoned.
John took the opportunity to get himself a packet of crisps before returning to his office. Five minutes to spare before the lecture.
"If it isn't the drama king," a voice from the corridor said.