Holly Wilkins sat on the steps leading up to the Dalery Hall Convention Centre as other cosplayers and attendees passed by. She held herself tall, thin legs crossed, scrolling through her phone to distract herself from the itchiness her blonde wig caused; never mind that she had only a thin leather jacket on when it was four degrees outside. If Holly knew she'd be waiting for so long, she would have brought a spare coat. As it were, she was freezing, hugging herself close, teeth chattering. Hopefully, the boys would arrive with the tickets soon. Then she could go inside where it was warm.

Despite the chill in the air, Holly couldn't have been more excited about the convention. Everything was last minute, so she hadn't expected they'd have time for costumes, but then Parady had shown up at her job that morning with a bright smile and a gift-wrapped box. Inside was a pair of black jeans, a hot-pink tee shirt, and the dark purple jacket she was currently freezing in. It was exactly what Rose Tyler had worn when she'd blasted through dimensions looking for the Doctor.

Seeing it for the first time, Holly had held the jacket close to her chest in glee. 'How in the world did you get this?' she asked.

Parady shrugged, meaningfully. 'Oh, you know… Lots of research, friends in high places. Just wait till you see what I managed to get August.'

He winked at her and Holly's cheeks had flushed like her feelings toward August were some big kept secret. They weren't, which everyone who knew Holly loved to remind her of. She'd almost had to tell August to stop bringing her lunch on his breaks because her co-workers would start giggling, making mushy noises, or hearts with their hands. Her entire face would light up like a red-tinted Christmas tree as it did then, barely able to get a word out without stuttering. Holly didn't think August ever noticed her embarrassment, though—which was just like a bloke—completely oblivious to the obvious.

When Parady left the shop, Holly looked over the jacket, smoothing her thumb across the lapel, thoughtfully. Suppose… August didn't want to notice; she'd thought to herself. Maybe he didn't think of her that way; but then, why would he let her fall asleep on his shoulder during movie nights or hold hands with her when they walked through the park together? All those times he wouldn't let her pay for something and gave a cheeky grin when she argued. That night, right after her gran died, he'd sat with her for hours, just being there when she needed him to be. Would someone just wanting to be friends do all that? Holly couldn't assume his kindness was because he wanted her, but she wanted him. She had to let August know that, eventually. At least, before everyone else did; Parady's gift to her was a sign of that.

For the rest of her workday, Holly had thought long and hard about how to approach the subject, though she could never seem to figure out the right words through which to express her feelings. Now, still deep in thought as Parady's blue convertible pulled up to the Convention Centre, Holly finally decided on what to do. They were all going out for dinner at a local pub after the convention. She could mention everything then, and if they… Well, if anything beyond disappointment happened Holly would be delighted. For now, though, she pushed those thoughts away and headed towards the car park.

Parady parked his convertible in the shade of a tall tree next to the pavement. The top was up and the windows tinted, so Holly couldn't see either of the boys inside as she approached. Even so, she gave a big smile, waving, as the cold air nipped at her reddened cheeks, barely able to contain her excitement.

'What took you guys so long? Feels like I've been waiting for ages!' Holly teased as the driver's door opened and Parady stepped out. He was struggling to get on his feet, so Holly went to assist him, only to start laughing when she realised what he was wearing: a big, bulky, plastic Cyberman costume sans the helmet. Without it, his head looked tiny which caused Holly to laugh more. 'Oh, that's brilliant,' she said, pulling him up. 'Please tell me you have something to do the voice with!'

'Do you think I wouldn't?' Parady asked in mock offence as he bent, stiffly, back into the car. 'Oi, Augs'. My helmet. It's in the back seat.'

'Just a mo'. Trying to get the ticket papers in order,' came August's voice, accompanied by the rustling of several papers being crammed into his pocket.

Holly held Parady steady, watching surreptitiously as August's hand reached across the seat, handing over the Cyberman helmet. Parady took it in hand, standing straight. He then butted the car door close as he reached inside the helmet, turned on a battery pack, and put it on. When he spoke his voice had a grating, synthesised quality to it that gave Holly more chills than the cold air.

'Cyberman Has Located Rose Tyler. Rose Tyler Will Become Cyberman or Be Deleted.' The mouthpiece glowed a dark blue with every word, just like in the show. Holly grinned at the effect and the reference to her costume, giving him a teasing frown after he reached for her, threateningly.

'Yeah, don't think we'll be doing either of those today, mate!' Holly told him, stepping out of the way. Parady went to grab her again and Holly yelped with a laugh as he'd almost managed to touch her. She circled around, moving up to the sidewalk as he wandered round the parking square, aimlessly, half-blind in his helmet. She watched, grinning cheekily. 'I'll tell you what, though, Parady. You make a real effective Cyberman in that thing!'

'Rose Tyler is a Rogue Element. She Will Be Deleted!' retorted Parady.

'Not if I have anything to say about it, Cyberman!'

Holly felt her heart skip a beat. She tightened her lips together as the convertible's passenger door opened and August climbed out. With a smirk on his face, brow quirked, he closed the car door behind him and vaulted over the bonnet, standing between his friends, toy sonic held out like a wand at Parady. A familiar bit of stubble graced his chin, his button-nose red from the cold, beautiful grey eyes shining in the afternoon sun, wavy, tousled hair a mess—but his clothes.

Holly should have known; August had been talking about wearing that suit since the day they'd met, but the effect it had on him was better than she could have imagined. Tight around the waist, it didn't leave much of his frame to the imagination—taut where he wasn't thin. The deep browns and cool blue of the pinstripes complimented his warm features nicely, creating an air of age August's twenty-three years could not provide on their own. Holly once had a passing fancy for David Tennant's Doctor (if she was honest, she still did), but seeing August in his suit really did her in.

August had to feel the same way about her costume, for when he turned to her, he forgot all about the offending Cyberman.

'Oh,' he breathed, 'hullo.'

Holly grinned at him, utterly taken. 'Hullo, yourself,' she said. Then, 'Tie looks nice.'

August frowned, hand reaching up to his neck like he'd forgotten he was wearing one. 'Oh! Right, yes,' he said, looking down at it. 'It's a very nice tie. Tennant wore it first in New Earth if I'm not mistaken; good episode.' He took a deep breath; pocketing his sonic, and added, 'Sorry we're late—work caught up with me. You know how they are.'

Holly scrunched up her nose and shook her head, smiling. 'Never mind it. I wasn't waiting long,' she told him, biting her tongue against the cold. For a moment there she'd been really warm. Now she found she was shivering again. She folded her arms tightly across her chest. 'Just glad you both got here in the end.'

August nodded, still admiring her appearance as he moved his hands to his pockets. 'You look brilliant, by the way. I think I like you better brown, but blonde is suiting, too.'

'D'you think?' asked Holly, biting her lip in mirror of him. 'I wasn't sure about it, but Jenny at work said it wouldn't do to dress as Rose without the blonde hair, so…' she shrugged.

'Quite right,' said August, softly and Holly noticed they were standing rather close now. Really close. Close enough that if she stood on her tip-toes she could reach his—

HOOOONNNNKK!

Holly startled, then turned to look at the noisy car, face heated with frustration. A Mini was attempting to pull into the parking square they stood in. The driver looked at them, annoyed, from behind his windshield. Holly had to suppress a laugh because he was dressed up as Harry Potter.

'Sorry!' the three of them called. August grabbed Parady by the arm, pulling the blind Cyberman up onto the pavement beside Holly and himself. They all watched with grimacing smiles as the Mini pulled into the open spot beside the convertible, waving at the driver.

After about a minute of that, August took a deep breath and looked towards the large building behind them. 'We should probably get inside.'

'Yeah…' agreed Holly.

'Before we do, though, does everyone have their things?' asked Parady, somewhat muffled as he took off his Cyberman helmet. 'August, you got THE thing, right?'

'Yes,' gritted out August, seeming exasperated by the question. 'I didn't lose it in the twenty minutes it took us to get here, you know.'

Parady held up his hands. 'Just looking out for you, mate. We both know you don't have the best track record so far.'

'What thing?' Holly interjected, curiously.

'Nothing,' both boys replied in unison.

'He's just being nosy,' August explained, pulling on his earlobe. 'Let's get going.'

They all began down the pavement, Parady locking the convertible doors and tossing August the keys in one fluid motion. He didn't have pockets in his costume so August acted as his storage bin. Holly kept to August's side, catching his hand in hers without thought. To her surprise, he stopped dead in his tracks, glancing down at their intertwined fingers.

'Something wrong?' Holly wondered aloud at the look of deep contemplation on his face.

August shook his head, seeming worlds away. 'Today's been a bit of a rush is all,' he admitted. 'So, I'm just happy I get to relax now. With you.'

His smile was soft and delicate. Holly wondered what exactly it meant as they continued towards the Convention Centre, hand in hand.

From a lamppost nearby, the woman in the shawl looked on. Parady had started into a boisterous speech on Cyberman history and the morality of it all as the other two poked fun at him for it. None of them had the faintest idea they were being watched.

This time when she reached beneath her robes, she produced a vintage camera. Running a gloved finger along the dials, she followed after the mock Doctor and his companions.