My Alternatives fic for Boom Town.
Stronger
There was something oddly satisfying about what happened.
He'd had a fight with Rose, told her the truth and, like she always did nowadays, she practically ignored him to run back to the Doctor when the trouble started.
How would Rose know anything about who or what he likes? How could she say that he didn't have any feelings for Trisha Delaney, just because she used to be a bit big?
How dare she call him up to come running to her just to tell him all the shiny things she and the Doctor have done together, working him all up by saying yes to staying at a hotel for the night, get to know each other again, and then tell him how he is supposed to feel?
No.
No. He's not having any of that any longer. He was out. The Doctor and Rose could stay together all they liked, and sure, he'd like to stay in touch, but he was done with Rose. Done. There was nothing between them any longer. It was over, and over for good. And, if for some reason Rose and the Doctor ever got separated, he'd refuse her advances again, if she decided she wanted him back.
Not going to happen.
He was stronger than that. Stronger than Rose ever gave him credit for.
It wasn't his fault she was so blind she couldn't see that.
After the trouble with the lightning and the earthquakes, he had waited to see how long it was until she realised that he was still out there, that he had been in danger. That he could have fallen down a crack in the pavement and died.
It took a long time for her to arrive at the place where police were looking after some people who had been caught and left outside that was closest to the TARDIS. He could see her talking to someone looking for a hint of him. He'd never been in one of those groups though. He had found a spot he thought would hold up to an earthquake and stayed there until it was over.
When she realised he wasn't there, she just left. She didn't even bother trying to see if he was at another camp of people, or look for any good hiding spots he could have jumped in. She just went back to the TARDIS and the Doctor and that Jack fellow.
And yet he felt lighter than he had been.
Now, now he knew for sure that it was over. That he could get a life of his own. That he was a free man, to do what he wanted.
While sadness hung over him in the knowing of it too, he had just fully lost the woman, no, girl, he had been in love with for a great chunk of years, the relief at finally being free of her was greater.
Yet he knew she'd be back. If only because the Doctor would bring her to the Estate for a visit every now and then, because he promised Jackie he would.
He just hoped this new resolve of his would hold up.
Heading towards the train station, hoping the trains were still running, he decided to just enjoy the feeling of freedom for however long it lasted.
He was stronger than Rose.
He would no longer be her slave.