Paring: Twelve X Rose - friendship, callback to the romance
AN: Assuming Clara stays with 12 after his regeneration (from 11 to 12). Also, probably disregarding how the show treats alternate universes, time and space, and anything else like that. Rose in italics.
~Alternates Collide~
He stopped. He hadn't meant to. But without thinking, he had stopped.
Clara had strode on ahead, a good ten yards between them before she stopped herself and looked back, realizing she had been talking to her self.
"Doctor?" she called back, giving a shy grin - she had gotten used to his regenerated features, but still felt strange expressing any affection in public.
He didn't hear the call. In fact, he didn't even see Clara at the moment. His eyes were closed, his head raised slightly, as if catching a scent.
He could feel it. Them. Her.
He hadn't felt it in so long.
It was like the universes had lined up, slid against each other until the holes were aligned and auras could flow through.
Was that even possible, for alternant universes to line up?
Was it even possible for him to suddenly not know? To forget?
He bowed his head into his hand, hyperaware of the age difference between her and her version of him.
"It's ok, Doctor," her voice whispered.
He see her. Across the universes stretched between them, through the time that separated them, he could see her. Feel her.
"Rose Tyler…," he murmured into his palms.
"Hello, Doctor."
Clara was there, he knew that, just a ways ahead, his companion was there. Yet, she was there, too, right in front of him.
She grinned her full smile. All these years, he missed that smile.
"How is… How is this even possible?"
"I don't know, Doctor. You're the one who's supposed to know this stuff."
"I imagine we haven't got much time."
"Never, Doctor. Not with colliding universes."
"I miss you." He smiled a watery smile back, teeth pressing into his skin.
She was trying to touch his shoulders.
"Move your hands."
"But… I'm…"
"You are still beautiful, Doctor."
"Not this time." He heard her laugh. Could see her laugh. He could reach out a hand and pretend he was holding hers. He stretched out the other one, eyes opening slowly. Her smile stretched wider, her hand lowered near his.
"See, Doctor." He didn't. "You're still so beautiful."
She was fading right in front of his eyes. He tried to grab her hand through their impossible link, but there was nothing to cling to. She glanced at his hand and hers, so close but just not touching, before meeting his gaze, eyes flashing.
"Goodbye, Doctor."
"Rose, don't, I-"
The scene, the aura, she faded away, mist in the sunlight.