Part One: An Empire's Criminal

"This thing about you that you think is your flaw—it's the reason I'm falling in love with you." –Colleen Hoover (Slammed)

Chapter Nine: Right

She didn't know how exactly she'd ended up like this.

She could've assured herself that she fell asleep curled up in a ball at the foot of his bed, uncomfortable yet suitable for a one night stay with him. Clara could remember the hours of talking and reminiscing, the laughter that filled her ears, the happiness that filled his smile. It felt as if both facades had faded away, as if they were standing completely vulnerable in front of one another.

Her eyelids fluttered open, the smell of laundry detergent and a cheap fragrance of cologne filling her senses. Once she was completely awake and able to realize what she was doing, a quiet gasp escaped her lips like an animal from a trap. Her arm was numb and cold, wrapped around John's waist protectively. She could tell he was still asleep, his chest slowly rising and falling.

What the hell am I doing? She asked herself, grimacing. I'm sleeping in a bed with a client. Clara could imagine the lecture Kate would give her if she found out about this. I could get fired for this.

Yet it felt so right, as if she simply fit there with her arm around his waist, like their bodies molded into one another. Clara merely shook her head, for these thoughts weren't worth it, John wasn't worth her time. He was under simulation by UNIT; he wouldn't be able to remember her in two weeks anyway.

Two weeks. Clara thought to herself, pondering over what the days would be like. That's still plenty of time.

She bit the inside of her cheek as if to punish herself for having such thoughts. This is wrong. She reprimanded, repeating the words more harshly every time. This is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong.

Sighing tiredly to herself, she carefully lifted her arm from his waist, John shifting positions slightly. Her heart seemed to stop at the sight. She hoped he wouldn't wake up; she didn't want to be the first face he saw. Gently lifting herself off of the tiny twin bed (she was surprised they both fit), Clara slipped her shoes back on, brushing her matted hair with her fingers.

Turning to leave, Clara couldn't imagine how he'd react the next time they'd meet, which would be this afternoon for his simulation. She wished she could slow down time before then, but before making her way towards the door, she stared back down at him, his sleeping, calm features. Lowering herself, she gently pressed her lips onto his temple. He didn't have to know.

Slipping back out into the hall, she tried to uphold herself with as much confidence as she would on any other normal day. Mainly because, this wasn't normal. This day didn't feel ordinary to her.

Not at all.

"Oswin, so lovely of you to join us." Vastra said with a tight smile, patting the seat next to her. The table was filled with other women Clara honestly didn't know the names of, she merely recalled faces but that was all. Everyone at UNIT seemed to be having an uneasy day, for the atmosphere was mainly quiet, as if everybody took the time to question themselves before others.

As Clara pushed in her chair, she busily prodded at her leftover salad as the women at the table made small talk, sipping their espressos and tearing off small pieces of their undersized portions of food. "So, Vastra," one asked, pursing her lips together. "How's the new client treating you?"

Clara knew that she was talking about Simeon, so she just hung her head low and tried to block it out. Vastra, however, wanted to make sure that her complaint was made in an extravagant manner. "Oh, him? He gives me headaches." She announced dramatically, sitting back in her chair and placing a delicate, manicured hand on her forehead. All of the others at the table simply shook their heads in pity for the poor woman, or maybe to cover up their sighs of relief that he wasn't their client. "I mean, he's just so arrogant, so…so full of himself! How could anyone put up with a criminal like that?"

Clara felt sick to her stomach, quickly closing up her tupperware of greens due to her loss of appetite. Vastra didn't seem to notice, for she continued on her excessive rambling. "But anyway, enough of me, guess what I heard from Rachel this morning; she covers the morning shift for the security cameras?" All the women muttered their replies, urging for her to carry on. "It was the strangest thing, apparently, some girl left The Doctor's dormitory this morning, and she swore that she didn't see anyone go in earlier. So it could only mean that she spent the night with the man!"

She froze, for that description seemed awfully familiar. Scandalous gasps came from the table, along with some giggles. "Well, he is our youngest client here." one woman commented. "Well, who was it?" another queried.

"I don't know, she told me it was some brunette in need of a brush." Vastra replied, Clara nervously twirling a strand from her neat ponytail. She was happy that she found the time to style her hair that morning. Vastra then turned to the panicky girl. "Oswin, any idea who it was? I mean, you are assigned to him."

A shaky laugh made its way up her throat, her shoulders shrugging themselves in the calmest way that they could. "I-I dunno, I mean, it could be one of Kate's assistants, you know, the one who has access to all the entrance codes." She tried to look nonchalant as she uneasily sat back in her chair, smiling in what probably was the lamest way possible. Vastra miraculously seemed to believe in her.

"Well, just keep an eye on that Doctor of yours, you don't know what kind of behavior can come from such a man." Vastra warned, leaning in closer towards her. Clara only scooted back in her chair. "W-Will do." She noted in a rather high-pitched tone, looking back at her lunch with a new-found distaste.

Oh, Clara, she thought to herself. What have you gotten yourself into?

She thought he was asleep.

She thought I was asleep. John thought to himself in triumph, for he honestly couldn't imagine what it would be like if she had found him awake. He had felt her arm around his waist, he had been aware enough to feel her kiss against his temple, and he couldn't do anything but pretend that he was still dreaming. His fingers still touched that place where her lips once were, and smiling to himself, he pictured what it would be like if they were on his. Ha. He thought to himself, flopping down on his bed, lovesick yet again. Her. Clara. Kissing me.

It wasn't entirely impossible, but it wasn't exactly possible either. Him, in love with a girl that was entirely out of the picture? It wouldn't work. He'd forget her in a few weeks, and then she would be out of his life completely. He missed her already, just at the thought of it.

John felt like a teenager yet again, incapable of holding these feelings back. A smile filled his face like regret filled his heart once, and he couldn't wipe it off. Her face, her hands, her arms, the very image of her stuck in his mind. Differences aside, his chances of being together with her were plenty. Damn differences.

He hadn't even noticed the consequences that could come of this. Him falling in love with his psychologist had to have a downside to it. She could lose her job for it. He could be reassigned, or even punished for crossing the line more than he already had. But in his head, all he could picture were the positives, which was highly unlike him.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, which made him bolt up immediately in surprise. "Who is it?" he spoke quickly in a high-pitched voice, as if he was caught red handed like a child eating Christmas cookies. There was a pregnant silence mocking him in reply. After a few seconds of embarrassment, there came a voice on the other end. "Oswin, I-I mean Clara."

Of course he knew it was her. Who else could it be? "Come in," he replied instinctively, wanting to slap himself for it. She didn't need permission, Clara was practically in charge of him; she could come in whenever she wanted to. "Hey," she said with a smile, closing the door behind her. "I-I know I'm early, but I brought food." She laughed uneasily, holding up a tray of chips. John tried to smile; it might have come out as a grimace. "I, uh, thanks; here, sit." He said, patting the space on the bed next to him. Clara pulled her lips into a tight smile, slowly making her way towards him.

Placing the tray of chips between them, she said, "Before I even begin to explain to you the rather, uh, incidental things that happened last night, and continuing into this morning, let me tell you that it was entirely inappropriate of me to do that to a client. I also want to recognize the other times I may have barged in on you, a-and, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."

John's smile faltered; he hoped she didn't notice. "Oh, um, apology accepted then." He responded, stuffing chips into his mouth so he wouldn't have to say anything else.

"I don't want to make any assumptions that you were awake for anything that might have happened this morning-"

"I was."

She stopped mid-chew, coughing rather loudly, an unattractive act that still went across as cute to him. "S-Sorry?"

"I was awake." John stated, clearly this time, trying not to meet her gaze.

Clara's eyes darted to the other side of the room, for she wasn't sure whether to feel embarrassed or relieved. She decided to sigh instead, a shaky laugh escaping her lips. "Oh, well then, good, because it would've been rather awkward if I were to explain it to you."

He didn't really know how to respond to that, so he only smiled in acknowledgement and nodded his head once.

Clara tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, continuing. "I need to make something clear. Whether you want it to or not…John…nothing can happen between us." It was his turn to stop mid-chew, for he hadn't expected her to be so straight forward. "I-I'm sorry if that seemed out of line, considering our regards for one another, but…I just wanted to let you know."

He took the time to swallow his food, choosing his words carefully. "W-Who told you that?"

Clara raised her eyebrows hesitantly. "Excuse me?"

John cleared his throat. "Who told you that nothing can happen between us?"

Her laugh of a response seemed to hit him harder than he thought it was going to. "Why, me, of course." She said it so simply, as if the situation was as simple as it could get. "John, boundaries should be decided upon, it…it keeps us both safe."

"But, Clara…" John said, shifting his position to get a better look at her. "Are boundaries really what you want?"

She laughed again, this time he noticed with less confidence. "Y-Yes, John, what…why are you acting so weird?"

"Why are you all of a sudden so…so this?" he didn't know how to describe it really, for he was gesturing circles around her as if it were so obvious. "Stricter, harsher, as if last night never happened? I…I just thought that we could be more comfortable around one another, you know? L-Like friends or whatnot."

"We can still be like that John." Clara smiled, but he didn't see her smile. The way her grin reached her eyes, and the way she always had this gleam when she was happy; he didn't see any of that. He seemed to dread its absence with a passion. Clara, however, wished to act as if this were an everyday conversation. "Listen, John, I'm just saying that-"

She was cut off by his lips, and his intense need of wanting her to smile the way she always did.

Her eyes widened as she felt what he was doing, yet she was paralyzed, as if she didn't want to pull away. His kiss was so soft, so comforting, like a bucket of water was doused onto her head to realize that she really did have feelings for him. Suddenly everything rushed in, like a tidal wave, sweeping her up and away. When he kissed her there was no boundaries.

He pulled away gently, resting his forehead on hers as he whispered, "Now tell me you didn't want that to happen."

Her breath was shallow, for she couldn't believe that the person before her was the man that could steal something that she thought was rightfully hers. Her heart. "I-I didn't…" she started, trying to protest against the thoughts, the ideas, that were rapidly filling her head. "…I didn't want…" Clara closed her eyes tightly, finally willing to surrender. "I can't. I can't tell you that." she finally admitted, and pulling him in closer, her lips curved into a smile that was all her own.

A/N: I want to give a huge thanks to my beta, ReckedSmiles, for going over the last few chapters I've uploaded. :)