A/N: Hello hello! Apologies for taking so long to post; currently going through exam season and the past months have been hard to say the least. Nonetheless, I have pulled a favourite WIP from my folder and took to finish it! Hope y' all enjoy!
They had come from an exhausting yet satisfying adventure; convincing the king of a planet 75 light years away from Earth to stop invading another vulnerable planet after his own had been destroyed. The Doctor did most of the talking, some running away from foes before he was able to show them the truth. To bring them to a compromise. He almost got chills; it felt so similar to when three younger versions of him lead the human race and zygons to coinhabit. Thankfully, Clara felt his troubled soul and held his hand through the whole adventure. She always knew... His Clara...
.
They both decided to meet in the Library after having a thorough shower. The companion wandered through the corridor, walking towards the meeting spot. She peered behind the ajar library door. She could see the Doctor laying asleep on the couch, letting her thin lips curl into a small smile. Poor timelord... He had probably spent too much time waiting for her.
.
The companion threaded softly across the library before standing next to him. She could hear the soothing sound of crackling firewood as she walked to the sofa. Her peaceful expression soon faded, quickly replaced by worry.
.
His eyebrows were knitted, his forehead wrinkled and lined with sweat. He let a low groan escape from his pursed lips as his fingers curled around the blanket.
.
The sofa dipped down slightly as Clara sat next to his torso, letting her fingers travel through his soft silver curls. It almost felt as if she was combing through candy floss. "Shhhhh... It's alright. It's alright, you're safe. We're in the TARDIS." Clara comforted him. She bit her bottom lip to stop herself from crying when he started whimpering. Her voice trembled, still letting her short fingers comb through his hair. "It's alright, Doctor. Clara's here." It was only after some time that the time lord's tense muscles relaxed as he let himself sink deep into the sofa, liberating an occasional whimper until his breathing finally evened out. It was troubling knowing that if Clara hadn't been there, the Doctor might have woken up alone after such a nightmare. He'd drop her to her flat and she'd continue with her life... Not knowing how long the Doctor would have stayed in the Vortex... All alone. "Oh Doctor. How can I leave you alone?" She blinked back the tears as her fingertips rubbed his scalp as gently as possible. The Doctor leaned unconsciously into her touch, still in a deep sleep.
.
The Doctor... Her Doctor. Who would have told 28-year-old Clara that she would have fallen for a daft, old, Scottish stick insect who had just appeared in the TARDIS. She still remembered his grumpy face with highly accentuated attack eyebrows. Clara was scared... Oh so scared.
.
Vastra was right. She hadn't seen the Doctor for who he really was. He wasn't a dashing young man anymore. He was an old, wrinkled, hard headed, very angry Scotsman. But she loved him for that. He was still the Doctor. Same respect and love, different interpretations. Well... She would say it was a different kind of love. The love she had for bowtie was child's play compared to this. Because when the grey-haired stick insect sometimes shouted at her for being reckless (and her being angry), deep down she knew... It was because he couldn't bear losing her.
.
And she dared say, after spending some time away from him, that the girl wouldn't be able to bear a life without her hard-headed broomstick.
Clara let out a soft sigh. She'd better be off into her bed. The Doctor deserved to be at peace. The TARDIS would tell her if he was having another bad dream.
.
Her tiny fingers left his curls, her movement as slow as possible. She leaned in before pressing her lips to his forehead. He didn't move. That's good.
Clara Oswald sat up from the sofa and gently as she had sat down and walked a few steps away from it... Before a familiar low, groaning voice stopped her in her tracks, turning around.
.
"Stay." He croaked, his hand reaching out.
Clara smiled. "You need rest, Doctor." Her voice sounded weary... She was not able to hide that fact that she too was exhausted from the previous adventure.
"You need to rest, too." The time lord elevated the soft blanket for Clara to snuggle under it. The companion blushed. The Doctor had never been fond of contact. Yes, he was becoming more soft-hearted. But... she wasn't expecting this.
And yet, something attracted her to that small spot next to him under the covers... So soft and warm. She sheepishly accepted by walking back to the spot and slipping next to him, snuggling against him. He curled the soft blanket around her body, as well as the arm under her.
.
As soon as she felt the Doctor was comfortable enough, she proceeded to bury her face into his soft jumper. She could never get enough of his cinnamon and space scent. Her fingers curled around the fabric of the jumper. She forced her foot in between his ankles (yes she was short. Yes, she liked it in such circumstances).
His nose planted itself into her hair, his breaths almost tickling Clara. "You smell like jelly babies." He murmured. Clara chuckled. He still was rubbish when it came to complementing using the right words. But after travelling for 2 years (from Earth's perspective) with a daft old man from Space who knew nothing about social interaction lest she corrected him, she understood he always had good intentions. If the Doctor were to tell her what she smelled like to him, that would be strawberries, vanilla souffles, stars and... A little dash of home.
.
"You too." She snickered, rubbing her cold nose into his shirt. She heard a small chuckle... Maybe the Doctor was ticklish.
His long fingers sifted through her silky short hair. "Are you comfortable?"
"Are you?" Clara asked, snuggling closer to his jumper. He hummed, before planting a kiss to her forehead. For her, that was an answer enough. "I am comfortable, too." His fingertips rubbed against her scalp, massaging it in the most soothing way. "You should sleep, Doctor." She mumbled, feeling her muscles relax as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Will do." He breathed as he continued smoothing her hair. Clara stretched her legs before feeling comfortable enough to sleep. "Night, Clara." But he could only hear the crackles of the fire and her virtually inaudible breathing. He smiled as he looked at her; he was truly lucky to have Clara in his life. He pressed a small kiss to her hair before letting his eyelids slip shut and offering himself some well-needed rest.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! 2nd one will be finished and posted asap!
Feedback appreciated as always and wishing you all a good day! Take care!