Posted on tumblr first, now adding it here...because I love Beauty & The Beast parallels to Whouffaldi. Enjoy!
The TARDIS wheezed as it materialized in Clara's flat after a long and tireless journey. The doors creaked open and Clara popped her head out making sure that the Doctor had gotten the destination right this time.
"Well, it's my flat," she announced as she stepped out of the blue box.
Behind her the Doctor leaned against the door, his arms folding across his middle, a picture of perfect ease as he smirked, "There you see? Told you I could get the coordinates right."
"Well you didn't last time."
"Minor miscalculation. And it only happened the one time."
"We ended up on Mars battling Ice Warriors, and it happened three times, remember?" Clara tossed back. The Doctor looked away choosing not to comment on the events, instead muttering to himself.
"You look about as tired as I feel," Clara commented with a concerned voice.
"Yes, well I was a bit busy fighting off Cybermen, you'll have to excuse me if I'm not feeling in top shape," he snapped at her.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way. Did you want to stay for a little while? We can watch a movie or something. I'll even make you popcorn," Clara bribed. She couldn't have the Doctor going off in such a state.
"I suppose the TARDIS needs some time to recuperate," the alien finally conceded, giving his box a fond tap.
"Great! Make yourself comfortable, I'll get the popcorn and movie," Clara grinned at him before leaving him alone.
By the time Clara had returned with the freshly popped popcorn and movie she found the Doctor sprawled out on her sofa. His coat had been carelessly chucked to the side, the bright red peeking through and blinding Clara's sight for just a moment. The first few buttons on his shirt were undone, same with his sleeves that were rolled up his arm just a bit and Clara could see that he had kicked off his shoes without a care in the world. His head rested on an arm rest while his feet were propped up on the other.
"Really?" Clara asked unimpressed.
"You said I could get comfortable," the Doctor accused.
"Normal people just take up a seat or a chair, not the entire sofa!" Clara argued.
"I let you sit where ever you want on the TARDIS," the Doctor pointed out.
"Your ship can automatically make a zillion rooms, let alone a chair. I only have the one sofa."
"It's been a long day," the Doctor whined.
Clara sighed, "Well where am I going to sit then?"
"I'm sure you'll figure something out. You're tiny, love. I'm sure you won't take up too much space."
Clara glared, ignoring to remark on the jab at her size. She placed the popcorn on the table just out of the Doctor's reach and relished in his struggle to grab some food. Instead of helping the old man she set the movie up and grabbed the remote as the menu credits began to play. Clara grabbed the popcorn and plopped down in the middle of the sofa, just barely on the edge the Doctor had left her.
The Doctor watched in envy as she munched on the popcorn.
"What are we watching?" the Doctor asked trying to distract himself.
"Beauty and the Beast."
"A cartoon?"
"It's Disney."
"It's for children."
"It's a classic, and we're going to watch it," Clara retorted.
"Fine. Are you going to share that popcorn or not?"
"Are you going to share the sofa?"
"I am sharing. See, you're sitting on it. I told you, you wouldn't take up much space."
"I'm barely sitting and I'm hardly comfortable!"
"Well that's not my fault. I'm a guest, Clara."
Clara let out a frustrated groan and pressed play before scooching back right onto the Doctor's lap. Immediately the man shuffled around trying to throw her weight off, but Clara was stubborn and refused to budge.
"Clara."
"Doctor."
"Get off. You're heavy."
Clara shot him a dirty look, "No I'm not. Now shut up and watch the movie. Maybe you could learn something from it."
"And how's that?" he asked giving up on trying to move his small companion. He reached out and grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl in Clara's lap.
"You're exactly like the Beast."
"I am not!"
"Sure you are. You're both got anger problems, you've been alone for too long, you have no idea how to treat a woman and you don't have any manners."
"I have manners!" the Doctor refuted as he grabbed some more popcorn.
"Well they need some work then, don't they?" Clara asked rhetorically as she stared at him pointedly before balancing the bowl on his stomach so they could both easily reach for a snack.
"Well if I'm the Beast, then who are you?"
"Isn't it obvious?" she asked ignoring the music in the background.
The Doctor shrugged, "I don't know. Mrs. Potts?"
"How am I Mrs. Potts?" Clara asked coldly.
"Well you're, you know maternal and all that. So yeah, Mrs. Potts."
"Unbelievable."
"What? Am I wrong?"
"Yes!"
"Why is it that you're right in calling me the Beast, but I'm wrong when I call you Mrs. Potts?"
"Never mind. Just watch the movie, Doctor." The Doctor huffed as they both settled into a tense and bitter silence.
They had finally reached the iconic ballroom dance scene when Clara finally shifted about a bit. She placed the empty popcorn bowl back on the table and peeled off her heels before stretching out on top of the Doctor. Her legs slotted with his and she pillowed her head where his hearts were and sighed in content.
"Clara. Get off," the Doctor demanded harshly.
"No. This is much more comfy than how I was before, I'm staying like this. Now put your arm around me," Clara grabbed his arm that was wedged between them and the sofa and placed it around her waist, "I'm not completely balanced on you and I'd hate to fall off."
"You wouldn't fall off. I think someone needs a reminder about my 'no hugs' rule," but even as he spoke the words the Doctor wrapped his other arm around her as well.
"I know your stupid rule, and I'm not breaking it. This isn't a hug."
"Oh? Then what is it?"
"Me resting. Just on top of you." The Doctor sighed annoyed and tried to focus on the movie. Until he felt his shirt dampen. He looked down at the woman in his arms.
"Clara? Are you crying?' he asked incredulously.
"Don't give me that look," Clara scolded, her voice a bit scratchy, "I love this movie. And this scene is beautiful."
The Doctor watched the Beast and Belle whirl around on screen as they danced to the music.
"Who would you be?" the Doctor asked softly, quite curious about the answer.
"I'd be Belle."
"Why?"
"I don't know," Clara bit her lip, "She was always my favourite Disney princess growing up. Dreaming of far off lands, loving books, not always fitting in…no mom. I'd say we're pretty similar."
The Doctor thought of Clara's English degree, and her hopes of travelling. And the way Belle had offered her life in place of her father's, the same way Clara had sacrificed herself to save him in the timestream.
"Maybe a little," the Doctor admitted. He could feel the curve of her lips through the fabric of his shirt.
It was towards the end, when Belle was crying over the Beast's nearly dead body, that the Doctor came to a startling realization.
"You can't be Belle."
"Why not?" Clara propped her chin on his chest so she could get a good look at him.
"Belle, she falls in love with the Beast."
"Yes, she does. And?"
"Well she shouldn't."
"Why not?"
"Because she's too good for him," the Doctor continued quietly, "She's sweet and kind and good and wholesome. He's not a good match for her. He's too brutish and rough and all he does is shout at her and he doesn't appreciate her. He hardly even shows he cares for her."
Clara got the impression they weren't talking about the movie any more.
"Maybe. But I think you're wrong," Clara met his steely blue eyes, "I think he's just scared of getting hurt and he's forgotten what it feels like to be able to love freely. And he's not always mean. In fact he's very protective"-the Beast saved Belle from the wolves, the Doctor saved her from Cybermen and Daleks-"and he gives her presents"-the Beast gave Belle a library, the Doctor always bought her something to add to her travelling collection-"and he always listens to her and she knows he cares. And maybe even loves her. Besides," Clara turned her attention back to the screen, "She knows he's a good man underneath all that beastliness" she watched as the Beast transformed into a prince, the golden wisps looking so much like the regeneration energy the Doctor had, "And that's enough for her."
"So she loves him." It was a statement, not a question. But Clara responded anyways.
"Of course she does, how could she not?" Clara tucked her head back onto the Doctor's chest as she watched the wedding in the television. Yawning, she quietly added, "I'd say her love for the Beast is the number one similarity between us."
The Doctor hummed in thoughtfulness and pinched her side playfully, "Don't fall asleep on top of me again," he warned. He'd deal with her confession later, when he wasn't feeling so tired. And maybe he'd even make a confession of his own.
"I won't."
She does. But it's not like the Doctor ever minds anyways.
Yeah, this one wasn't that great since I wrote it in the spur of the moment...but send me a review anyways? Hope you liked it, and thank you! :D
