fic: in whose arms
Title: In Whose Arms
Author: Catey/ beingfacetious
Pairing: Nine/Rose
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Just borrowing from RTD and the Beeb.
Summary: The Doctor gets a bit jealous of Jack.
Author's Notes: Set during The Doctor Dances. Just a 500-word ficlet written for the lovely challenge 42 ficathon at then_theres_us , from a prompt given by juliet316.
His feet feel all wrong at the end of his legs, and he hopes that was a bit of uneven floor he just tripped over and not Rose's foot. He doesn't need Rose's thinly veiled giggles or patronizing guidance to tell him that he is horrible at this. But how can that be possible? How can he--last of the Time Lords, defender of galaxies, the most impressive thing in all the universe--be struggling so with a little spin?
The younger man hovering in the doorframe has nothing to do with it, he tells himself as he shoots a scathing comment his way. His presence, though unwanted and obnoxious, does not bother the Doctor. Nor does the fact that Rose began moving away from him as soon as this stupid lanky thing set foot onboard.
The way Rose says "you may cut in," though...that might bother him, just a bit.
And the way Jack is holding her hand, the way he's smiling down at her, like he's so charming and suave and desirable...that might bother him even more.
But any moment now she'll roll her eyes at Jack's obvious pretense, and return to his side, and tangle her fingers with his. Any moment now. Any moment...
Jack's fingers brush downward from their spot on her waist, ever so slightly.
"Rose!" The Doctor blurts her name without thinking, with no idea what comes next. He stammers on. "I've...just remembered!" He begins snapping and says a quick prayer that the TARDIS and his feet will back him up. "I can dance!"
When Rose replies gently that the other man might want to dance, the Doctor feels his shoulders tense, though he keeps on snapping and tries not to show it. He sets his brain on autopilot, makes some other smarmy joke at Jack's expense, and for a long moment his snapping is offbeat as his eyes lock on hers and he holds his breath, waiting for her to choose.
But as he takes a step towards her and watches her eyes, they don't even gift the other man with a sideways glance. They close briefly while her nose scrunches up adorably--when did that word enter his vocabulary?--as she laughs, and when they open again they are locked on his, glistening with something like glee and abandon.
And then his arm is around her waist, and his cold fingers are meshed with her warmer ones, and oh of course that's how a spin works, and her childish grin is mirrored across his lips. It occurs to him suddenly, as he steps her deftly around the control room, that this is the most fun he's had in such a long time. The sensation of the thought overtakes him and he tightens the arm on her waist and bends her backwards, delighting in the thrill etched on her face as he does.
And, if he's honest, the look on the forgotten younger man's face is just a bit delightful, as well.
Author: Catey/ beingfacetious
Pairing: Nine/Rose
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Just borrowing from RTD and the Beeb.
Summary: The Doctor gets a bit jealous of Jack.
Author's Notes: Set during The Doctor Dances. Just a 500-word ficlet written for the lovely challenge 42 ficathon at then_theres_us , from a prompt given by juliet316.
His feet feel all wrong at the end of his legs, and he hopes that was a bit of uneven floor he just tripped over and not Rose's foot. He doesn't need Rose's thinly veiled giggles or patronizing guidance to tell him that he is horrible at this. But how can that be possible? How can he--last of the Time Lords, defender of galaxies, the most impressive thing in all the universe--be struggling so with a little spin?
The younger man hovering in the doorframe has nothing to do with it, he tells himself as he shoots a scathing comment his way. His presence, though unwanted and obnoxious, does not bother the Doctor. Nor does the fact that Rose began moving away from him as soon as this stupid lanky thing set foot onboard.
The way Rose says "you may cut in," though...that might bother him, just a bit.
And the way Jack is holding her hand, the way he's smiling down at her, like he's so charming and suave and desirable...that might bother him even more.
But any moment now she'll roll her eyes at Jack's obvious pretense, and return to his side, and tangle her fingers with his. Any moment now. Any moment...
Jack's fingers brush downward from their spot on her waist, ever so slightly.
"Rose!" The Doctor blurts her name without thinking, with no idea what comes next. He stammers on. "I've...just remembered!" He begins snapping and says a quick prayer that the TARDIS and his feet will back him up. "I can dance!"
When Rose replies gently that the other man might want to dance, the Doctor feels his shoulders tense, though he keeps on snapping and tries not to show it. He sets his brain on autopilot, makes some other smarmy joke at Jack's expense, and for a long moment his snapping is offbeat as his eyes lock on hers and he holds his breath, waiting for her to choose.
But as he takes a step towards her and watches her eyes, they don't even gift the other man with a sideways glance. They close briefly while her nose scrunches up adorably--when did that word enter his vocabulary?--as she laughs, and when they open again they are locked on his, glistening with something like glee and abandon.
And then his arm is around her waist, and his cold fingers are meshed with her warmer ones, and oh of course that's how a spin works, and her childish grin is mirrored across his lips. It occurs to him suddenly, as he steps her deftly around the control room, that this is the most fun he's had in such a long time. The sensation of the thought overtakes him and he tightens the arm on her waist and bends her backwards, delighting in the thrill etched on her face as he does.
And, if he's honest, the look on the forgotten younger man's face is just a bit delightful, as well.