Chapter Two – Playing The Cards


It was vile.

The Doctor had brought her to a fast food restaurant – certainly no place fit for the Watcher.

"Why couldn't we go to a higher restaurant with actual chefs?" She asked through clenched teeth, ignoring the Doctor's glare as he regarded her through his spectacles.

"Because," he narrowed his eyes, "I don't trust you enough inside an actual restaurant."

The Watcher laughed bitterly. "What am I going to do? Turn everyone – no, everything to dust? You disabled my powers, Time Lord. The most I could do would be to stab every living thing in that room – and even then it would probably fail."

She was furious. He had told her to dress for the event; he had neglected to tell her it would be at a casual restaurant. So, here she was dressed in an emerald-green gown, adorned with jewlery and other intricacies, while the others in the establishment were dressed in sweatpants and hoodies.

Of course, the bastard found it hilarious.

"What is so funny about this, may I wonder?" She growled at the Doctor, who's lips curled upwards into a half-smile.

"I said to dress appropriately, not fancy." His tone was jovial.

The Watcher glared. "Clarification would've been nice, you damned pig."

He wagged a finger. "Language," he smirked through a mouth full of greasy food. She grimaced when he smiled, showing his previously pristine teeth speckled with brown blobs of... she didn't even know what it was.

She stood up abruptly, slamming her hand down onto the table. "You're disgusting," she spat, glaring as she turned on her heel to head out the door.

Strong arms clamped onto her wrists, and she was wrenched backwards to face the Doctor. "Sit down, Watcher. We haven't even finished our meal yet," he hissed in her ear, and she defiantly raised an eyebrow.

Oh, so he wanted to play the tough kidnapper, that was it. If he wanted to play that role, then she would play the desperate damsel in distress, trying to escape.

Her thoughts briefly went to that of one of the human's books, A Game of Thrones. She recalled the scene in which Catelyn Stark confronted Tyrion Lannister in the inn, and she smirked as she stood up straighter. She knew what she was going to do.

"Attention, everyone!" She announced, ignoring the Doctor's heated glare he threw her way.

"What are you doing?!" He growled under his breath, hands clenched next to his sides. He swallowed, and the Watcher felt proud. She was starting to intimidate him.

The Watcher glanced at everyones eyes as they fell upon her, and she frowned in the most convincing way she could – it certainly seemed to work.

"This man," she began, pointing at the Doctor, who immediately flinched back in surprise. "This man has kidnapped me from my home, and has been dragging me across all of London. Please, help me – I have three lovely daughters at home, all of whom must be crying because of how much they miss their mother. Please, I beg of you to get me away from this man!" She burst out into tears, internally pleased at how quick she was able to achieve it – she always was good at acting.

The white knight quickly came swooping in, albeit dressed in a Bat-Man shirt, and he snarled at the Doctor with threatening words. In seconds, the entire restaurant surrounded the table, throwing insults at the Doctor, as the Watcher was pulled to safety from the Doctor.

"Please, get me far away from him quickly!" She sobbed, holding onto a man's shoulder. She could feel the Doctor's sharp gaze on her back, and she struggled back a smirk as she was shuffled away into a customer's car.

"Quickly, hit the gas!" The man's wife screamed, and the Watcher cheered as she was ferried away from the restaurant into the great beyond. Now, all she had to do was hide until her powers were recharged – and then she would jump back into the void. She didn't even care about the Doctor's name at that point; it had only brought her harm and malice, and she hadn't even found out what it was.

She glanced at the man and wife before smiling – from relief, and also from pride. "Thank you," she said softly, earning a smile in return from the wife.

"It's quite all right, dear," she reassured the Watcher, smiling through half-moon spectacles. "What's your name, darling?"

"Olivia Yornorth," the Watcher answered without hesitation. She was always prepared to answer questions regarding her identity – especially when crossing the mortal realities.

The woman smiled. "Beth Renestir," she introduced herself, shaking the Watcher's hand. "So, Olivia... how were you kidnapped?"

"Oh, it's simply a dreadful story," she began, hoping she looked convincingly crestfallen as they gazed upon her with pity. "I had been visiting Cardiff when I met him – of course, I was infatuated with him." She felt bile rise up in her throat as she uttered the sentence. She would never be attracted to the Doctor – that would simply be taboo. "We immediately hit it off, but when I got back to his hotel room, I noticed something was wrong. He gave me a drink, and I was a fool to take it. The next thing I knew, I was in his car, in the middle of London."

Beth hummed in sympathy. "There are many men like him around the UK – it's a pity they don't crack down on it more."

The Watcher smiled widely, brushing her black hair back with one hand. "If it's alright, can I stay at your place for a night? I'll be alright tomorrow – it's just for tonight."

The elderly woman nodded quickly. "Of course you can, my dear! You are our friend now!"

"Oi!" The man's voice rang out from the driver's seat. "Don't I get a say in this?"

Beth laughed in amusement. "No, George. You shoulda' known that when you married me."

The Watcher felt pain lance through her mind again, and she clenched her jaw. It wasn't physical pain either – it was emotional pain. Here, displayed right in front of her, was a married couple. They showed their love even through subtle movements – did the Watcher have anyone like that to share her love with?

But you don't have love, the voice of her void father echoed in her ear, and she winced. Ah, that was one of her teachings. The Watchers of the Void were not allowed to love or be loved – it was against the natural laws. All Watchers had to be cold, calculating, and emotionally mature; they couldn't allow themselves to be overcome with petty emotions or needs.

Again, she was reminded of the Doctor's relationship with Rose Tyler, and she let her smile break for a moment. It just wasn't fair. Why should a man more evil than her, be loved so much more? Why should the person who has the burden of watching every reality, not even be granted a simply respite in the form of love? It wasn't fair.

It just simply wasn't.

The car rolled to a stop, and the Watcher glanced out the window at the manor infront of her – was the couple rich? If so, then why did they go to a fast food restaurant?

Beth, noticing the Watcher's confused expression, quickly launched into an explanation of their priorities. "...Oh, but you know, we have to budget! We can't get all our meals at fancy restaurants!"

"So, then... make your own meal?" The Watcher asked, scratching her head.

The woman smiled. "Sometimes, you just really want fast food. That was why we went out today, and it was a good thing we did! If we didn't, who knows where you'd be!"

It was a beautiful manor – English Tudor with vibrant flowers placed to each window sill, and the occasional architectural flourishing alongside the walls. The Watcher gasped in awe when she walked into the manor. It was majestic. A deep, dark oak staircase ascended before her, and rich Persian carpets covered the floors in stark contrast to the red wallpaper around the house.

"I love it," The Watcher grinned, and she quickly turned around to compliment the elderly couple. They grinned back at her, arms wrapped around each other. Beth's blonde hair bobbed up and down as she strutted over to the Watcher, winking.

"I can show you your room for the night, if you'd like?"

The Watcher smiled widely. "Yes, please. Thank you!"

Beth whistled as she led the Watcher through the manor, past intricate designs of wood and ebony. Old lamps hung off the walls in depressing stature, crooked and worn down from years of use. The Watcher felt uneasy as she stepped into her small room.

There was something else inside of it.

"Beth... is it alright if I just get a few things ready for now?" The Watcher asked, her voice sounding hollow. Beth nodded.

"Of course, sweet heart. Come down to the sitting room when you're ready for some wine."

The door clicked shut. The Watcher spun around on her heel, eyes narrowing as she inspected the narrow living space. An old wooden bed sat in the middle of the room, and there was no space under it for any large person to hide. The dresser was also too small, and the Watcher couldn't fathom how a mortal creature small enough to fit in a drawer would be able to hurt her. That only left the closet.

She lifted her chin as she approached the closet, hand reaching out to grab a nearby book. She would need defense in her current state, though the Watcher hated to admit that. She cursed the Doctor for disabling her powers.

The Watcher reached for the knob of the closet, body poised on the brink of defense, ready to attack if necessary. Her mouth turned downwards as she grasped the circular figure, turning it slowly, easing the door open...

She quickly dodged out of the way when her long lost associate fell out of the closet. The red-headed girl let out a yelp as she hit the ground, hard. The Watcher quickly pulled her up by the neck.

"Where have you been?" The Watcher snarled in her ear, and the young girl winced.

"W-well... I've been here, and there... and everywhere."

The Watcher scowled. The Raven, otherwise known as the pain-in-the-ass, had always been a trusted friend to the Watcher. She belonged to a different void species, one which relied solely on intelligence to get through their realities. The Watcher and the Raven had lost contact, however. While the Watcher lazed around her eternal void, the Raven chased strays inside mortal realities, a job which the Watcher despised. Despite appearences, the Raven could turn frightening at the drop of a hat, and that was something the Watcher knew very well.

"Why are you here?" The Watcher asked sharply, rubbing her eyebrows in exasperation.

The Raven frowned. "I've gotten word that a certain Watcher has found herself in a spot of trouble."

"Oh. You got the memo, then." The Watcher deadpanned.

The Raven rolled her eyes, and the Watcher thought amusingly that they would probably fall out if she kept doing that.

"Even though I can only transport myself through the different realities, I can still help, you know."

Ah, that was the Raven she knew. Always resourceful. Clearing her throat, the Watcher answered. "Please, thank you very much. You were always very good at seeing. Perhaps... you can be my informer?"

The Raven gave a crooked grin. "You know I want to be. I've already started watching everybody, as well. Isn't it just lovely to be able to see everything at once?"

The Watcher smirked. "And so it is. What news have you brought me, then?"

The Raven's face paled. "It's the one you despise, Watcher. The one who calls himself the Doctor. He's already tracked you down. Infact, if my calculations are correct, he'll be showing up in seconds."

The Watcher shrieked, though the Raven seemed to ignore that. "What are you doing, then? Get invisible, come on!"

The Raven nodded. "I'm coming with you, Watcher. When the Doctor comes, I mean. You shan't be alone in this journey. We will be together as one in these trying times. We shall vanquish his darkness together. Me, as your little bird, and you as the prime executioner. When alone, I shall be able to tell you what he has spoken. And, the best part... he won't even know that I exist."

The Watcher smiled wolfishly. "Perfect."

This made things so much better, the Watcher knew. With the Raven as her informer, she would be able to manufacture her escape much more easily. Instead of being slow and trying, the journey would be easier.

And yet somehow the Watcher knew that wasn't true.

Even with the Raven as her little bird, the Doctor was still a threat, and wildly unpredictable. The one wild card in the situation. As well as his companion, the dreaded Rose Tyler. Dancing her nights away in the dark of night, with him by her side. Shady and suspicious.

The familiar grinding of the TARDIS filled the Watcher's ears, and she sighed when the blue figure of the police box showed up in the corner of the room. "Drat. My plan was ruined." She muttered under her breath, crossing her arms when the Doctor stepped out of the box, glare present upon his face.

His eyes narrowed when he inspected her. "You aren't to leave me again, Watcher."

The Watcher raised her head. "Well, aren't you a persistent little rat."

His hand latched onto her arm, and she cringed when he dug his nails in deep. "I said," he hissed, "you aren't to leave me again."

The Watcher only grunted in response.

The Raven slowly moved towards the blue box, slipping inside of the contraption when the Doctor opened his mouth to speak again. "I can't believe you did that to me back there. All of the patrons were shoving me and hitting me! Humans!"

She sneered at him. "It was what you deserved. Maybe next time, you could clarify the events of which are to happen, instead of expecting me to know what it is."

He sighed, looking quite sheepish. "I guess... yeah. I might have been a little ignorant."

Ah, he finally admitted his mistake. That was a start, at least. Maybe he would become much better in the future? Stop punishing others for his own sick desires?

"Yes. You were ignorant." She agreed, frowning at him in disapproval. Why did he always have to be so proper looking? His hair was flipped at the front, and the Watcher knew this wasn't natural. How was he to be trusted when he dressed like a tramp and spat lies everytime he opened the hole he called a mouth?

She contained a smile when she saw Raven wink from inside the box – she would finally be getting answers. Raven would easily be able to sneak from room to room on the machine, and if there was trouble she would easily be able to escape into the void.

And so, the Doctor pulled her back into the wretched device she so desperately sought to avoid. His face was the picture of boredom – eyes droopy, mouth quirked downwards. His eyes told a different story, however; they were as black as midnight, swirling with anger and disapproval, almost as if he expected better from her.

This frightened the Watcher, for a reason she didn't know. It only lasted a brief second, but she knew that it was something foreboding. Every creature of the Void was able to see into their personal futures every now and then – this was one of those times.

The Watcher could sense timelines splitting off from the moment, a million different possibilities. But, because it was her future, she was blind to them. She could only stumble through the darkness with her eyes closed.

Vulnerable and weak.

The Watcher closed her eyes for a brief second. In the darkness behind her eyes, she could see the faint shadows of the future, swirling in turmoil and despair. She saw flashes of red, a dark crimson shade staining the purity of her mind. It leered at her – as if it knew what the future would bring, and was mocking her because she didn't. She could hear the distant screams of... her? Raven? Or, perhaps Rose Tyler? It was uncertain. All she knew was that they were terrible screams, wretched and bloodcurdling. Filled with despair and torment, anguish and regret. That was a fate that the Watcher felt... was certain. But who would be screaming? Was it perhaps going to be Rose Tyler, when the universe would be destroyed by the Watcher? No. It would be too sudden.

In the brief echo of a second, the Watcher could smell rotting metal and burning flesh. It was a bad omen. Of destruction, despair, and death.

But the Doctor's universe was doomed anyways. But, something else was now doomed. Something bigger was coming.

She had to make sure that didn't happen.

The Doctor cleared his throat in the large expanse of his console room. "Look, Watcher, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but... can't you just listen to what I have to say?"

The Watcher flexed her wings. "I don't know. Will you twist it around, or will you actually stick to what you say? You can be a much better person, you know."

His eyes widened. "Is... is that what this has been about, all this time? You just wanted to destroy me... my world... because you disliked me as a person?"

She had to answer carefully. The Watcher felt the timelines tremble as she considered her choices. "I... I just didn't want you to savage this universe..." She admitted. Disgust reared it's ugly head inside her when he smirked at her.

"Well, I can assure you that I won't do that."

She had sorrow in her eyes, dark and inquisitive as she gazed upon his narrow form of mortal flesh. "If only that were true." She whispered softly, struggling to hold herself together. She knew what laid in his future – how the Tenth Doctor would drive himself to near-insanity, claiming that the laws of time were his to control.

It truly was a curse, being a Watcher. Having to watch so many civilizations perish, so many doomed timelines. She had grown... dull to those things. But now, the Doctor had reignited her empathy, and she felt absolutely awful.

If a human knew that, in their future laid death and destruction, they would be driven to suicide. The pure utter hopelessness of the situation would finally dawn on them, and they wouldn't want to deal with it. Wouldn't want to waste away in flame.

For a moment, she was able to see in his perspective. Though he wasn't a good man, he also wasn't a monster. She realized that now. She saw through his eyes the tragedy unfolding, the pure terror he held in his heart. He was so scared, she realized. He was scared, of opinion. So he forged great barriers of the mind, encasing his true face within a mask of rage and happiness. But inside, he was a raging storm of despair and self-pity. The Doctor hated himself. And to have somebody such as the Watcher, the one great equal in his perspective, practically spit on his face – that would be a huge deterrent to help people.

The Watcher finally understood, with the brief droop of her wings, that she was... attracted to him. And she hated that feeling. She hated because she knew, deep down, that he would never love her back. He would never love a creature of the void. He knew his own name, yet she didn't even know her own. She was simply the Watcher. Did the Watchers of Old ever have names, she wondered? She doubted that. She was simply a title, with no merit or strength to it whatsoever.

"Oh, but it is true." He lifted her chin, his eyes warm. She felt her chest clench when he closed his eyes. "If only you could understood why I have to do all these things." His voice was a low murmur.

She stepped backwards, mind reeling. He had been so close to her, almost like he wanted to be close to her. No, this had to stop. She would get the information from the Raven, and then escape with abandon from the prison.

"Oh, but you will. It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not." Her lip quivered. "It is your fate, and this is a fate that cannot be changed, no matter what you believe. Your path in time has been forged by the creatures of the void, and while it is tempting to deviate from such a creation, it is unwise. To do so would be to unravel the very fabric of reality."

The Doctor shook his head, chuckling darkly. "No, it wouldn't. Fate is only a concept of fiction – we forge our own paths. Your ideals of the void don't exist in the linear dimension, we exist purely out of chance."

The Watcher closed her eyes, her voice rich and vibrant as she spoke prophecy, taught to her by her void father.

Fate shall be your undoing,

Lord of Time.

The Laws of Time will surely kill you.

But first you have to kill them.

She opened her eyes, ice-blue meeting his brown. She tilted her head to the side, letting out a sigh of remorse. He looked like he didn't believe it – a common occurence. It didn't matter what he thought, anyways. It wasn't like he could change his fate.

If only she could change fate.

Darkness was in her future, and she desperately wished to change it. All she knew now was to continue pushing through the clouding of knowledge, and hope for the best.

The best was surely to come. As she knew the worst was as well.


Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I apologize for not updating sooner, but I've been busy lately. Oooh, I wish I could tell you all what will happen later on! I assure you, this won't turn into this cheesy lovey-dovey fanfictions where the OC and the Doctor get together. Nope! This will instead be much... darker and inquisitive than that. Keep an eye out for later chapters!

Also, don't forget to leave a review! ~Existential Labyrinth