chapter two
"Blimey, you. Manage to get a girl drunk and not walk her home to ensure she's safe?"
"God, what is with you, Oswin? Is your life that boring you have to go and follow me throughout town?" He grabbed her arm, which both were folded over her chest when he did. Oswin gasped, it was short, but they both heard it, she didn't expect him to do that. The Doctor looked her over, anger set in his eyes, as his met hers, there was a clear build up of tears, waiting to stream down her notably perfect cheeks.
"That's not it." Oswin spoke softly.
"What then, hmm?" He hissed out quickly.
"I got stood up by my date, was embarrassed. I saw you, and I just thought.."
"You just thought what?"
"I thought since I already knew you it wouldn't be weird. I didn't.. I don't know anyone else in there." Her tears began dropping to the ground, he didn't mean to hurt her like that, he didn't know exactly what he was
trying to do to her. Oswin yanked her arm away from him, wiping her tears off with the palm of her hands, smearing her makeup off of her cheeks.
"Look, I'm sor-"
"just don't, okay? Okay." She began sniffling, obviously she was embarrassed from crying in front of him, and now the whole situation between him and her. After a few moments of her regaining her regular breathing, he spoke up.
"Come on, it's cold." He walked beside her, not touching her once, even though earlier that day he had put up with her holding on to him. The Doctor decided that walking her home was bad enough, even if they lived nearby. The steam from their breathing was the only thing that changed between them, the awkward silence covered by the sounds of their foot steps and the nearby cars. They arrived at the flats, and Oswin bolted up the stairs, him following nearby. His flat was before hers, by a few doors. He nodded when he got to his door, sliding in the key and nodding, he wasn't going to take her any further.
"Sleep well, grumpy." She smirked out, walking briskly to her door, she didn't hear his open, so when she unlocked hers, she glanced over and saw him watching her, making sure she got in alright. She gave him a quick wave, with a weak smile before turning the handle and stepping in. He shrugged, unsure why he waited and watched her, there was no one else around to cause her any harm, it was unnecessary, and something he would have to beat himself up over. He didn't bother changing his clothing to sleep in something else, he just laid down on the bed on his back, staring out the window at the stars, looking where he wanted to be.
He awoke, angry with everything as usual. He wanted to leave, why wouldn't the Tardis take him, she was being more of a nuisance than ever, and it was starting to get under his skin, and attack his nerves. The Doctor always had a short temper, but now combined with his excessive drinking, it was hanging on by loose threads, waiting to become unraveled. He quickly stepped into a cold shower, wanting to lose some of his problems, let them swirl down the drain along with the water droplets. They didn't, though. He was still the same old man, annoyed, and stuck on earth. Lately he was complaining aloud about the Tardis, especially when he would cut himself shaving, earth razors didn't even begin to compare to the kind he had within his bathroom on board the Tardis. Usually he would be cursing every race in existence, but he was focusing his anger on the blue box. This time, he manage only four new scars to add to his face and neck. Even if it hurt, he liked the freshly shaven skin, it was the price he paid for keeping it. He used the sonic screwdriver to clean his clothing, like he often did, even if it was faster to just take them down to the laundry mat and use the machines there, it was just a small glimpse, a habit that he had formed back on the Tardis, something he would probably end up doing until the screwdriver stopped working, depending on the settings, that was quite often. Today he was going to the Tardis, to see if she'd let him leave, he had given her a weeks time by herself. In that week he buried himself at the bar, only leaving because the bartender wouldn't sell him anymore whiskey. He had to stock up, if he was going to be limited to a bottle a day, maybe hitting a store on his way back, and grabbing some bananas too. Earth bananas were good, but not nearly as impressive as the ones on a planet he had visited many times after first visiting there on accident, a planet dedicated to growing the perfect bananas, and they were pretty fantastic. He headed out of the door of his flat, locking it out of habit, like he would do to his phone box, and briskly walking towards stairs, then down. He wasn't in the best of moods, but he though maybe, just this once, the Tardis would let him leave this God forsaken planet, and head into the time vortex, where he wanted to be. Even with his sulking mood, he unlocked the doors to the Tardis with a massive grin, thinking today was the day she would finally cooperate.
"Hello old friend." He stroked the coral beams as he walked inwards towards the controls, actually missing what she felt like under his palms. She was magnificent, a beautiful texture, really unlike anything else anyone could touch, the way his hand dragged lazily around on the controls, feeling his psychic connection with her deepen to the touch. She was weaving her melodic hums throughout his mind, he could feel her, and she was with him. She knew he wanted to leave, more than ever this time, and could feel the excitement in his hope. Denying him was hard for her to do, probably one of the hardest things. She was his friend, his closest, even if she was just a machine, a Tardis, and not an actual being; she was alive. That growing seed in his mind was expanding, turning in to a massive tree, no, more like a forest. She told him no, mentally. He slammed his head in to the inside of the door, without another word, he stormed out. Angry, hurt, and unstable. He was a wreck, anything could set him off, like a loose cannon, going to blow at any due point. He had his hands balled into tightly wound fists, shoved far into the depths of the pockets in his leather jacket. He walked aimlessly, unfocused on his surroundings, towards the bar, which couldn't seem to be close enough, he'd cure his problems his own way.
"Watch it, asshole." Yelled a large figure he walked past, the Doctor's shoulder slamming into the other man. The Doctor walked on, until he was suddenly grabbed roughly by the shoulder, and sent flying into the wall, his hands reflexively darting upwards to cushion the impact. He was off guard as he tried to regain his collective knowledge, turning to meet the stranger, who had just clenched their hand in to a fist, aiming right to his side. It only took two blows to his ribs for The Doctor to realize exactly what was happening, his hand darting up at the precise time, grabbing hold of the other mans wrist, and yanking it in to a tight hold. His darkened eyes, filled with pure evil and anger washed over the man, their eyes connecting before The Doctor suddenly struck the mans jaw, not caring that he had just broken the bones. The Doctor was stronger than humans, easily twice as strong as an average male, so this man, was barely even a competition. The Doctor was pinned against the wall though, in a rather uncomfortable position, he couldn't deliver any good blows. Even though he was stronger, strength was useless because of how he was against the brick wall. The man had his forearm crushing into The Doctors throat, cutting off his air supply, while his other arm, and fist, were delivering multiple swift hits to his stomach, while occasionally a knee to the groin. Of course, the Doctor struggled though, pushing away the one constricting his breathing, attempting to free himself before anymore damage could be done. The larger man, who was easily half a foot, and a hundred pounds bigger than himself, suddenly let go of his body, which was gasping from lack of oxygen, kneeling over.
"Alright, I got it? Fantastic lesson, mate." The other man seemed to only take offense to that, and when The Doctor had been leaning over, clutching his ribs, the man quickly grabbed his head and slammed it into the side of the building, smashing into the stone bricks; laying unconscious, a small steady stream of blood leaking from the Doctor's head.