A/N. Oh, I'm so sorry. You know fluff is my favourite thing. Although it can't last. :( Not at this moment. Will it return? Yes. Soon? Yes. Very soon? Well… not during the World Cup, for one thing. :P
Glimpse Into the Future
Chapter Seven
The Doctor broke away from her, before the kiss became something more than a symbolic gesture of friendship. Rose pushed away a heavy sigh about to have escaped her lips. She should have expected something like this.
"There. Is your scientific curiosity satisfied?"
No! "Just about," she bit her lip, not daring to look him in the eye. It seemed the Time Lord would rather pretend the kiss – no, it was hardly a kiss at all - did not take place. While it saddened her, Rose Marion Tyler was better than allowing this break her. After all, what was a kiss to a Time Lord? Maybe it bore no significance to them at all? Just a silly human whim, perhaps. She supposed every little word of his could be justified in a way too complicated for someone as plain as her to understand. So be it.
The Doctor cleared his throat, sensing her uneasiness. "I'm really sorry, Rose. We should probably remain like this. I don't know what has come over me."
She shrugged, giving him a bland smile. Rose was not as stupid as to believe anything like this was ever going to happen again. "You don't have to-"
"No, wait. I have to say it. I am afraid this- I don't think a kiss was a good idea in the first place."
Kiss? The momentary brushing of their lips was hardly anything she would take for a step forward… It was very likely the Time Lord did not think anything of it either.
She but eyed him warily. "Whatever you think is best."
"Yeah." The Doctor slapped himself inwardly at his inability… his fear to take chances. But he could not ruin the young girl's life simply because- because-
He had destroyed too many lives already. There was no way he was going to allow Rose fall into the list.
"We will simply forget this unwelcome detour of ours, yeah? I'll be in my room. Thanks for the tea, Doctor," Rose hoped the expression of her face was void of the things she felt at that moment.
She rushed back to her room without looking back, almost bumping into Captain Jack.
"Hey, Rosie! Missed you!" he looked at her searchingly. "Another quarrel?"
"Don't ask."
"I am going to ask, and you know it," the Captain smirked. "Spill it, dear! If anything, I can shame him."
"I'm fairly certain there's no need of this," Rose muttered. She did not want for the Doctor to feel bad about any of the things he'd said or done – almost. If it meant she'd have to push her own feelings away to the farthest part of her mind – fine. As if she were not used to it already.
Jack shrugged, deciding to begin from afar. "How's the kiss thing going?"
Rose stared at him. Just his talent to touch upon all the painful matters at once. "A kiss is in no way a declaration of feelings," Rose snapped bitterly.
"Oh, but it is! In most cases for you 21st century humans- Oh. You have talked him into it, then? Was it a snog, or?"
Jack was suddenly hugely curious, an appreciative grin on his face.
"Can we not talk about it?"
The Captain could see Rose was upset and in need to let it out. "You know you want to."
"All I can say is the Doctor broke away from me and said was a bad idea altogether," Rose smiled wryly, not even bothering to hide her sadness.
"Why doesn't this surprise me, I wonder," he rolled his eyes.
"You know what hurts the most, Jack? I have had this feeling we were something more… I've even told him so, he smiled... and then ran away," she snuffled.
"I think this Time Lord needs to be reminded of several things, Rosie. It's not you who is the problem here," he assured.
"No," the Doctor's voice almost made Rose jump in surprise.
"Stalking, are we?" Jack grimaced. "Can't we have a normal conversation for once? Without you arriving at the most inappropriate places?"
The Time Lord paid no mind to the disapproving tone of Jack's voice. "I know what you have in mind, and it's settled."
"What is? For whom? You, Rose or me?"
"Not you, Jack Harkness."
Obviously. The once-Time Agent shrugged, already used to it. "It's all about you and Rose, then. Do you want me to leave?"
The alien eyed Jack menacingly, yet his lips formed a soundless please.
"This is the last time I am leaving you two to bicker for no apparent reason," Jack glowered at the Doctor. "Tell me everything that happens, Rose. I am not letting this unworthy Time Lord make you sad again," he assured her, before leaving.
"I am not ready for returning to any of this," Rose spoke tiredly, meeting the Doctor's apologetic look. "Say what you need to say, and be done with it as soon as possible. Please."
"It hurts you, Rose. We must talk about it right away."
"I don't want to."
She did not deny the fact she was hurt, which has but tripled the Time Lord's sense of guilt.
"It was my mistake. Not yours."
"A mistake's a mistake all the same, yeah?" Rose breathed out.
"My mistake. Not yours," the Doctor repeated, wrapping his arms around her. "I shouldn't have done something so incredibly, incredibly stupid as allowing you to-"
Allowing me to expect for the impossible? The Londoner averted her eyes, unable to hide her disillusion from him, but not daring to speak.
He did not speak either. How could he? After having shattered her hopes like this?
The one brutally interrupting the tension-filled silence was none other than Jack Harkness, having entered the room without explanation. "I need to talk to Rose," Jack said, his glare only meant for the Doctor. Knowing him, the almost-intimate hug meant nothing. "Care to move away?"
The Time Lord moved away without objection.
The disdainful look on Jack's face was bothering Rose. It was not the Doctor's fault he could not adapt to traditions alien to him… She gulped, trying to push the memories away.
"He can stay," the blonde said dryly.
"Are you sure?" the Captain was not convinced, not with the visible sadness in her eyes.
"Yes," Rose assured him with an unnaturally big smile.
Jack could not back away a frustrated sigh. At least she was good at pretending. But weren't they both?
He nodded, but spoke solely to Rose."I did not know you were modelling? A gorgeous photo, that! Shiny! What exactly is the thing you're advertising? And what does Bad Wolf stand for? Is it the company's title, or your alias?"
Both Rose and the Doctor stared at Jack with equal dread. For a brief moment, the Captain could see just how unbelievably similar the human and the Time Lord were.
A/N. Getting to know your opinions makes me happy! :)
