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Do you hear my heart beating?
Can you hear that sound?
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The sea was, as he'd predicted, cold. More than cold. Absolutely sodding freezing. They rushed in there like a pair of giggling school children, the water splashing around them and soaking their clothes instantly. His trousers hadn't lasted a second. They were soaked up to the thigh sooner than he would have believed, despite the fact that the water was only a few inches deep. Still, at least he had nice black cotton. Poor Rose had a terrible time with her jeans, which immediately began clinging on to her for dear life.
They doubled over with laughter, the cold water adding to the sheer hilarity of the situation.
"It's coooold," Rose whined, screwing her eyes shut tight and balling her hands into fists by her side. The Doctor laughed.
"Course it's cold, you daft thing. What did you expect, a sauna?"
She opened an eye pointedly and looked at him. "None of your cheek, Doctor. I can always find more things to hide."
He took a menacing step towards her, the water sloshing around his ankle as he did so. "Was that a threat, Miss Tyler?" he grinned. "I don't deal well with threats. All sorts of things start to happen. Things I can't control..." His eyes were dancing dangerously as he waded through the water. Rose backed away, ever so slightly.
"Like what?" she asked cheekily, her eyes on his. She had to ask, didn't she? Good girl for taking the bait.
"Oh, you don't want to know," he growled, advancing further, taking slow strides against the tide of the cold, salty water. "I've been known to get quite dangerous, me. Wouldn't want to be the one who gets in my way when I... strike."
"Oh, yeah?" Rose asked teasingly, her tongue tucked neatly between her teeth in the corner of her mouth. "Sure you're not just imagining things again, Doctor?"
"Nope. Not at all."
There was a moment that seemed to last an eternity. The two of them, eyes locked, circling each other in the sea. There was an unsaid game being played between them as they walked and it was simply a matter of time before all the pieces were laid and the game began. The Doctor was grinning dangerously, the cold water seeping up his legs with the rise and fall of the early morning tide. His hearts were racing at a colossal speed, desperate to pump the blood around his body in time. He recognised every movement Rose made and matched it, move for move. But she was faster than him. Before he could react, she brought her leg up and splashed a large load of water in his direction. It hit him, full on, covering his torso with the icy, chilling water. He blinked at her a moment, his mouth open in incredulous shock. She had not just bested him in a water fight.
"That," he said grimly, shaking the water off from him before looking her in the eye, "was a mistake."
She shrieked with laughter as he made a lunge for her and fought against the water to get out of his reach. But the sea fought back and she couldn't move half as fast as on land. The Doctor grabbed her by the wrists and wrestled with her, setting her centre of gravity shooting all over the place. It was a wonder that she even managed to stay upright. She wriggled out of his grip desperately, reaching down to flick more water in his direction. But he was ready for her this time and swooped his arms in a huge motion, sending jets of the salty sea all over her. She stood up, the freezing water clinging to her clothes, hair and skin. Droplets pooled on her cheeks and her breath rose dancingly into the air. She panted, mouth open, looking at him. He stood smugly with his arms over his chest and a smirk on his mouth.
"If you wanted a shower, the TARDIS was more than capable. You should have said."
"Oh, you are so dead," she laughed and made to scoop more water up. He dashed backwards away through the water and up the beach, keeping his eyes watching her the entire time. Her graceful movements entranced him for a minute and he almost didn't notice as she made towards him. He grinned and laughed, turning on his heel and dashing along the beach with Rose in tow.
"Come back here, you coward!" she shouted as she ran, already falling behind.
"Can't hear you!" he called back gleefully over his shoulder, which was more than a lie. "You'll have to do better than that!"
He wasn't expecting her burst of speed. Mind you, a good few months' running away from aliens must pay off somewhere. He turned, expecting to see her a long way behind. He was therefore surprised to see her just a few short metres away. She caught up with him in no time and hit her fists against his chest, her laughter breaking over him like the waves on the shore.
"Look at me!" she cried, standing back from him and casting a look down herself, panting. "I'm soaked!"
It was true. Her jeans were dark and clinging to her curves in a startlingly attractive way, whilst her white top had begun to turn transparent. Thank God for the appropriately positioned design across the front, he thought idly.
"You went into the sea," he pointed out with a smile. "You can't go into the sea and not get wet. That just isn't right. And to be fair, you started it."
"I said I wanted to go for a paddle, Doctor, not a bloody bath."
"You did go for a paddle. It was just more of an all-over paddle than a foot paddle."
"Oh... just... you!" she groaned eventually, her mind blank of appropriate insults.
"Me, what?" he grinned back smugly, enjoying this power he had over her.
She hit him in the shoulder with a stiffly balled fist. He merely grinned and winked, taking it in his stride. "You're so full of it!"
"Yup!" the Doctor agreed. He cocked his head to the side. "Love me really, though."
"Don't be so sure," Rose retorted, taking a ball of her shirt in her hand and wringing it out. "It's jus' like you said, Doctor. People can change."
His piercing eyes looked to her for a minute, his hearts racing faster than he had ever known them to before. His breath caught a little in his throat and he felt the sea on his hands begin to warm with sweat. He watched as she continued to wring out her top, apparently oblivious to the effect her words had just had. Had she meant that she did...? He frowned to himself and shook his head. He must have had too many chips, or something. Got too caught up in the atmosphere. He was hearing things, he was sure. Hearing things that hadn't been said. Seeing things that hadn't happened. Feeling things that hadn't – shouldn't – be felt. His hearts skipped a beat.