wishiknewwho: (Default)
wishiknewwho ([personal profile] wishiknewwho) wrote2010-01-19 10:19 am

Eyes Wide Open (3/?) [Birthday Fic for [livejournal.com profile] salimali]

Title: Eyes Wide Open
Author: wishiknewwho
Rating: G
Characters: TenII / Rose
Dislcaimer: I don't own Doctor Who and it's probably just as well that I don't because it'd be nothing but hugs and hair ruffling for the foreseeable future. Title taken from the song "Naked as We Came" by Iron and Wine.
Spoilers: Post JE.
Summary: Rose and the human Doctor find their way after Journey's End.
Author Notes: I know, I'm late, and I apologize.  Written for my lovely [livejournal.com profile] salimali  for her birthday.

Beta-ed by that fantastic girl, [livejournal.com profile] nipplemuggins .


The Doctor awoke to something tickling his face. He wrinkled his nose a couple of times, but it wouldn’t go away. He frowned. He was still tired and wanted to go back to sleep, but the tickling was insistent. He heaved a sigh and brought his hand up to his face to end the torture. His fingers came into contact with silky strands of hair, and upon opening his eyes, he realised the hair belonged to Rose.
 
The evening before came rushing back to him, and he remembered that they’d agreed to share her bed. She’d gravitated toward him in the middle of the night, and he could feel the solid warmth of her back pressed along his arm and shoulder. Her hair was spread out on the pillow, and across his face. He brushed her hair off his cheek, noting with the movement the fruity smell of her shampoo. He breathed in deeply, taking in her familiar scent. He wanted to roll over and wrap his arms tightly around her, to get lost in her warmth and sleep for a few more hours. Only, he didn’t know how she might react if she woke up to find him doing that. And he meant what he’d said the night before, about going slow.
 
Deciding he probably wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep, he eased himself away from her and up from the bed, then wandered to the kitchen. He made himself a cup of tea, and pondered making Rose one as well. He decided against it, remembering how deeply she’d been sleeping; she hadn’t moved at all when he got up. He’d make her one when she woke.
 
He wandered around the flat, mug in hand, trying to decide what to do with himself. He and Rose would have a lot to do once she got up. He needed clothes and other essentials, and they needed food for the flat. Past that, there was so much he had to think about. He would need some sort of identity for this world, all those little cards and papers that humans used to prove they existed.
 
He would also need to figure out something about a job. If he was going to get his own place, then he would have to do something to support himself. He couldn’t expect Rose to do that for him, and he wanted to prove that he could make it on his own, even if the thought of being responsible for so much was a little terrifying.
 
But what could he do? He knew that Rose worked at Torchwood, and while he was sure there would be a place there for him, he wasn’t sure if it was what he wanted to do. He certainly wanted to help, to do good in any way that he could, but he didn’t know if he wanted that to be his day-to-day job. Maybe Rose would help him to figure it out.
 
Sliding the door open, he went out onto the veranda, looking out over the city. Other than the zeppelins in the sky, this London didn’t look that much different than the one he knew. It was vast and teeming with people, and he decided then and there that it would all be just another adventure, the best adventure he’d ever had, because Rose would be there with him. They would explore this world together.
 
He stood out there for a few minutes, shivering in the early Autumn chill, but finding warmth in his tea. He was lost in thought and jumped at the sound of the glass doors sliding open. He relaxed a moment later when Rose joined him at the railing.
 
“Good morning,” she said softly, taking the mug from his hand and taking a sip.
 
“Hi,” he said. “Did you sleep well?”
 
“I did,” she said. “You?”
 
“Yes.” He nodded. “I haven’t slept that well in ages. And I slept for almost six hours.” He sounded astonished at the thought of sleeping that long.
 
She squeezed his arm and he smiled at the contact. “You’ll get used to it,” she said. “You might even come to like it, having a lie in.”
 
He wanted to tell her that he wouldn’t mind sleeping in if she was there with him, but he held his tongue. Instead, he took his tea back from her and took a generous swallow. “So do you think there’s any chance of me getting some things to wear today?” He stepped back from the rail and tugged on the short pyjama bottoms he was wearing.
 
She giggled and her eyes wandered up and down his legs, making him blush. “Yes, I think that might be our top priority,” she said, her eyes twinkling merrily. “We’ll at least get you some things that fit.”
 
“And you need food,” he said. “Your kitchen is poorly stocked, Rose.” He infused his tone with mock scolding and nudged her shoulder, wanting to get back at her for laughing at him.
 
“I was busy trying to save the universe,” she said, indignant but grinning at him. “Right, so we’ll get clothes and food today. Anything else?”
 
He shivered again, rubbing his arm with his free hand. “It’s cold out here. You want to go back inside?”
 
“Okay,” she answered. “I’ll have a cup of tea and we can plan our day.”
 
He held the door open for her as they went inside. “I also need to get a job,” he said. “But I really don’t know how to go about doing that.”
 
Rose cast him a glance over her shoulder as she went to the kitchen. “Well, you’ll need identification first. Dad’s working on that and should have it for you in a day or two. Then I guess you’ll have to think about what you’d like to do. Do you want another?” She gestured at his mug and he nodded.
 
“I don’t want to work at Torchwood,” he said, only realising as he said them how harsh and abrupt the words sounded. Not to mention that Rose worked at Torchwood, and he’d probably just insulted her.
 
“I didn’t think you would,” she said, filling the little electric kettle and switching it on. “I’m actually thinking about quitting myself.”
 
“You are?” he said, startled. He hadn’t expected that, not at all. They hadn’t talked much about her job at Torchwood, but he’d assumed that she liked it.
 
She leaned forward, tapping her fingers on the work surface as she waited for the water to boil. “Yeah,” she replied. “I mean, I’ve been doing it all these years, mostly looking for a way to get back to you.” She paused for a moment before going on, busying herself with getting a mug from the cabinet and grabbing his empty one, not looking at him as her fingers brushed his. “And I’ve done that now.”
 
“So you don’t like working there?” he asked, watching her as she plopped a tea bag in each mug and then carefully poured the boiling water over them.
 
She regarded the tea for a moment, frowning. “It’s not that I don’t like it,” she said, letting out a frustrated little sigh. “It’s just, well, it’s not like when I travelled with you.” His face must have fallen at that, because she was quick to reassure him. “I mean, it’s a lot of paperwork, and it’s not nearly as exciting as it sounds. I’m just not sure if it’s what I want to do with my life.” She looked at him pleadingly, wanting to make sure that she hadn’t hurt him.
 
“Looks like we’re in the same position then,” he said, moving to stand next to her. He put his hand over hers for a moment, trying to let her know that he wasn’t hurt by her words. Nothing could compare to travelling in the TARDIS, and it was pointless to look for a substitute. The best they could both do was find something new to love doing.
 
She gave him a grateful smile and, once he let go of her hand, set about making their tea. She remembered how much sugar and milk he liked without his reminding her, and he couldn’t help but be touched by the gesture.
 
“This all feels so surreal,” she said, blowing on her steaming mug of tea before taking a tentative sip. “Making plans to shop, thinking about ordinary human jobs. I never imagined we’d be doing this.”
 
“Me neither,” he said, taking a small swallow of his tea and humming in approval. He’d missed Rose’s tea over the past years; no one made it quite like she did. “But I’m looking forward to it. Are you?” He felt nervous as he awaited her answer to his question. She’d been handling the whole situation exceptionally well, but what if she revealed now that this wasn’t what she really wanted? She might still wish she was with the other, travelling the stars in her own universe.
 
“Yeah,” she said, giving him a small smile. “I am. I mean, it’s going to take some getting used to. I’ve never really thought of you this way.” She looked down at her tea.
 
“You haven’t?” he asked, noticing that his voice went up at the end of his words. He’d always thought that Rose had feelings for him, and more than just feelings she’d have for a best mate. He’d caught her looking at him, on numerous occasions, with that look in her eye, a look that said she liked what she saw. And she’d told him she loved him. Maybe she just meant as a friend. But then there was the kiss on the beach yesterday. That had to count for something.
 
She must have seen the look of fear on his face, because she was quick to backtrack. “I don’t mean like that,” she said, setting down her tea to turn fully towards him. “Of course I think of you like that. I just meant that I have never really thought of you living in a flat, making a go at a normal human life.”
 
“Oh,” he said, feeling the knot in his stomach untwist a little. “It’s something I’ve thought about a lot.” He took another appreciative sip of his tea.
 
“You have?” she asked, her eyebrow cocked in surprise.
 
“I have,” he replied. “I thought about it a lot, while we were apart. I’d imagine you, living a normal life, and then I’d wonder what it would be like to be there with you. I wanted that, Rose.”
 
Her breath caught in her throat for a moment, but she hid it by taking a sip of her tea. “That’s good then,” she said stuttering over her words. “Right. I’m going to get ready and then we have some shopping to do.” She gave him a warm smile, then headed off to get dressed. 
 
He stood there for a moment, sipping his tea, and looked up in surprise when she reappeared, carrying his clothes from the day before. “I think you’ll need these,” she said, giving him a cheeky grin and eyeing his pyjama bottoms again. 
 
He took the clothes from her, willing himself not to blush a second time. “Thanks,” he mumbled. “I’ll just get dressed.” He motioned toward the bathroom.
 
“Okay,” she said. She hovered for a second, shifting from one foot to the other. “I’m glad you thought about me.” Then before he realised what she was doing, she leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek before scurrying away to get ready.
 

He stood there in shock for a moment, his hand going to his cheek, a small smile playing on his lips. 



Four




[identity profile] rowofstars.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I positively ADORE awkward Doctor conversations. I just picture him all flustered and confused and it's too cute. This is still so lovely and quite full of hope for the two of them rather than the big bucket of angst that it could be. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. :)

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I know! I really love writing him flustered, especially TenII. There is something so sweet about him.

And I'm having fun exploring this from a fluffy angle, as I have definitely done the angsty angle. Thank you!

[identity profile] wildwinterwitch.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. Rose considers leaving Torchwood? That takes the story into an even more different direction than it's headed anyway. I love the pacing of this, how they slowly drift towards each other. The little gestures, like the Doctor wanting to make Rose tea later, and she preparing it for him without having to ask how he likes it.

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep, she's not just considering it. She's going to do it. It's something [livejournal.com profile] salimali and I talked about a lot as I was planning this, and we thought it'd be interesting.

I'm glad you're enjoying the pacing. I'm just kind of letting the story unfold as I write. I literally know nothing more than what type of jobs they will have and a description of flats.

[identity profile] teruel-a-witch.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww, this is such a cute series, these Rose and Ten2 are positively adorable :D and wow, Rose wanting to leave Torchwood, that's really new, well, they could both open a private detective agency which fights aliens without paperwork *giggle*

She might still wish she was with the other, travelling the stars in her own universe.
I still think this was what she initially wanted but that doesn't mean she can't be happy here with the human Doctor, they'll find adventure together ♥

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! It's kind of refreshing to write them cute, after doing so much angst. And I like the detective idea. ;)

I agree with you. I think that Rose is going to realizes that this is what she wants.

[identity profile] teruel-a-witch.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee, well, I can't imagine them NOT investigating mysterious extraterrestrial incidents somehow;)

this is what she wants.
Well, I never thought a day-after-day life is what Rose ever wanted, they are too extraordinary for that, but a least she has the Doctor so they can try to make it bearable together, and the Doctor is brilliant so he'll figure out how to build a machine to explore space and maybe Time, if some lame Time Agency could, he totally can and they are not grounded on our little planet ;D

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I actually find myself very torn on this issue. There are times when I think they'd have to be traveling the stars, getting into trouble, saving the universe, that sort of thing. Or at the very least, getting involved on Earth.

But then there are other times when I imagine them having this very human life, but realizing that it is an adventure as well. Taking joy in the little things, if that makes sense. In DD, when the Doctor mentions to Rose that she was having the one adventure he never would, I felt that a part of him wanted that with her, but couldn't because of his Time Lord nature. But now the human Doctor is capable of that. I tend to flip-flop between these two scenarios when I write Ten II.

However, this is [livejournal.com profile] salimali's story and she had some very specific requests (as she is wont to do ;) ) and so they will be going the domestic route on this one. But I may have something a little different up my sleeve for another story. :D

[identity profile] teruel-a-witch.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I have my issues with that topic,too, it's just for me, having adventures and fighting aliens is a very essential part of what makes Doctor and Rose who they are, if they have ordinary life they are kind of...not The Doctor and Rose for me, they are bound to be epic, not small, I'm kind of so not one for domestic myself, so I can only bear it as long it interferes with alien threats,lol, I fully support that Elton's from L&M idea about how life is much darker, stranger and better than a house, a job, family,etc.

Taking joy in the little things, if that makes sense.
Yeah, but I just don't want them to waste all their life on little things, also, I think it's in their blood to be jeopardy-friendly and long for adventure, not everyone is meant for quiet life and I'm sure, certainly not the Doctor and Rose, they'll get bored of exploring domestic very soon XD

when the Doctor mentions to Rose that she was having the one adventure he never would, I felt that a part of him wanted that with her
I think at that point he'd trade anything just to be with her again and he also was trying to make her appreciate her fate more but I didn't buy that because nothing is worse than ordinary life in my mind XD I mean, if ordinary life was the best thing of all there would be no sci-fi or fantazy xD

so they will be going the domestic route on this one.
I take it no leaving Earth this time, well, aliens will always invade so they can have some fun here too XDD

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I can definitely see where you are coming from. My life has felt far too ordinary as of late, and I could use some adventure.

I don't know why though, but looking back on my stories, if I do anything the least bit adventurous (and I don't often, because I fail at plot) it's with Ten and Rose. I tend to do the domestic stuff with Ten II and Rose. Hmm. I've never thought of it that way.

And though I haven't said it yet in this story, while Rose is leaving TW and the Doctor has no intention of working there, both of them will be sort of "on call" in case there is an emergency or something TW can't figure out. I won't write about any of those adventures here, but they will have them.

Thank you for you comments. You make me think. ;)

[identity profile] teruel-a-witch.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
My life always seemed far more ordinary than I'd like to, I always strived for something more plus now I have this totally rational fear I'll end up like Donna before she met Ten only without marriage because I don't want that.
Also, adventure and epicness is a huge part of why I'm an avid Rose/Doctor fan and still am in DW fandom even though the part of the story I cared about ended in JE, if I don't like the ending I usually ditch the thing and move on to something new, this never happened with D/R because they are so special, I mean, she basically was a goddess of Time&Space and killed Satan and he blew up a sun to say goodbye, this is what epic means,lol, other huge part of them I love is cuteness which is highly possibly in ordinary life but I can't take one without the other, both things are essential for Doctor/Rose, I mean if I wanted just everyday life I would be shipping someone in Grey's Anatomy XD If Rose and Doctor's greatest problem was how to decorate the kitchen and what to prepare for dinner-party I'd strangle myself XDD

it's with Ten and Rose. I tend to do the domestic stuff with Ten II and Rose.
I'm the other way round, I can gladly take domestic with Ten/Rose (even, horrors, baby-fic,lol) because I know they can take off in the TARDIS any moment or have that domestic right in the TARDIS because domestic is not really domestic in a time&space ship,lol, but when life gets ordinary with Ten2/Rose I start to get antsy, while the relationship-stuff is developing it's ok but once it's established I would totally need an adventure for them to keep me going XD Funny thing is, I only ever read fic for shippy stuff, not for plots, and yet I need the knowledge that they can have adventure any day and will not sell their souls to mortgage XDD idk, a thought about The Doctor having to leave in one place for the rest of his life makes me very sad...

I won't write about any of those adventures here, but they will have them.
Ah, good, that's good :D

Thanks for bearing with my rabmlings ;D

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been in lots of fandoms, but I've never once felt a desire to write until I got into DW. Many things pushed me this way (one of the main things being the epic-ness of their love), but I think the thing that got me that most was the sheer magnitude of the possibility these two offered. No matter what has happened, there have always been stories to tell. There are so many directions their relationship can go, as long as they are in love.

I started this one as kind of an experiment. There are so many (great) fics at there where Ten II and Rose grow a TARDIS or work for TW and have adventures. I just wanted to see if it would be possible to make them happy in a day-to-day life. (At least until aliens invade and they find themselves saving the world again.) We'll see how it goes.

And no worries on the ramblings. They are always welcome here.

[identity profile] teruel-a-witch.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I only ever read fanfiction about two fandoms House and DW, but my House obsession lasted only for about half a year and DW owns me for 1,5 (and I don't count my short obsession after I watched season One in April 2006) and there's not promise of release XD
the sheer magnitude of the possibility these two offered.
Yeah, there're SO many different fics it's incredible, I've read SO much, more than a thousand and I still want more XDD Though the abundance of fic makes me lazy to write because I always rather read than write, I only started to write House/Cameron fiction because there was virtually NONE in Russian back then when I came to the forum, there was no good D/R fanfiction either but I started to read in English and got addicted XD After that I started a few D/R fics but never finished anything because DW sounds really weird in Russian to me and I'm not good enough to write in EnglishXD

where Ten II and Rose grow a TARDIS
This actually isn't the most frequent occasion, many people hate baby-TARDIS :(

At least until aliens invade and they find themselves saving the world again
Hehe, it's never an ordinary life with The Doctor and Rose ;D

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Your skill with English always amazes me. I can't imagine ever mastering another language that well.

And there's never enough Whofic. Never.

[identity profile] teruel-a-witch.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Why, thank you, but I still have so much to learn so maybe, just maybe, one day I could be as good as Claudia ([livejournal.com profile] wildwinterwitch) Well, a girl can dream ;)

I can't imagine ever mastering another language that well.
All you need is practice and motivation, actually, if I wasn't reading so much fiction and watching so many tv-shows I'd have trouble expressing a thought, well, I leant Grammar at school of course but my vocabulary was never as wide as it became with fandom stuff, I read so much LJ-comments over a year I absorbed colloquial language which never was a strong side of mine before XD But if we were to talk IRL I'd be stuttering as hell because I always freak out and forget things when I have to speak a foreign language XDD





[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I'm impressed. :D I can barely say anything in French, and I had 4 years of it! I accidentally told [livejournal.com profile] nipplemuggins that I was 36 instead of 26.

It's awesome that you are using tv shows and LJ to pick up the language. I think that's a good way of doing it, because books teach you the most random phrases.

[identity profile] teruel-a-witch.livejournal.com 2010-01-22 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I had 12 years of English and Spanish and I'm still having lessons in the University so I can't say picked all up THAT quickly, I just got considerably better in applying my knowledge to real life because of fandom and tv-shows, my Spanish was always better but now it got worse because of all the amount of English I'm absorbing XD

I had 5 years of French at school (yup, I went to a school with three foreign languages ;)) and after a 2,5-year break I can barely utter a word,too XD The reason may also be I never liked French, I still don't XD I started German and Italian that Autumn so we'll see how it goes ;D

I think that's a good way of doing it, because books teach you the most random phrases.
Yeah, they also teach of old-fashioned language and stuff XD My friend showed an Irish guy one of the lists of words we had to memorize and he was,like, "LOL, WUT? I don't even know what those things are" XDD

[identity profile] justlook3.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
So sweet, that bit at the end. I love how it's unfolding, it feels very real.

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much! I wanted this one to feel real, yet not have all the angst.

[identity profile] sunnytyler001.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww!!! How lovely!!! :D

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much!

[identity profile] feerocious.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahh, lovely fluffy Doctor and Rose, Just what I need after a day at college :)

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! And I'm glad I helped you wind down after school. ;)

[identity profile] salimali.livejournal.com 2010-01-19 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh Doctor, you need to tell her how you feel, so she understands too. You can then move forward together on your wonderful adventure.

Love it!!!!!! :D




[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
All in good time! You know if I hurry them along, you get fewer chapters. ;)

So glad you are enjoying this.

[identity profile] salimali.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
All in good time! You know if I hurry them along, you get fewer chapters. ;)

Oh yeah *duh!*

Never mind Doc, take your time to tell her how you feel ;)

[identity profile] jellybean728.livejournal.com 2010-01-20 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
That's very sweet....and I've often thought Rose would leave Torchwood once she was with TenII. In fact, if I can ever finish the two fics I'm working on, she will. If only they'd cooperate!!!

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! Yeah, I can see her leaving too, and it's always something I've wanted to play around with. Good luck with your fics. :)

[identity profile] susanb03.livejournal.com 2010-01-20 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
Nice update!

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

[identity profile] hazelwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-20 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
Yay, I'm so happy to see another chapter of this go up! I really like them like this, slightly awkward but very excited. I'm not surprised the Doctor doesn't want to work for Torchwood, but I am incredibly curious about what Rose will want to do instead. Something with less paperwork, I guess...

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you are liking these! It's so fun to write them like this.

And yeah, I wanted to do something different with Rose here. I like the idea of her working at TW, but I kind of wanted this story to be about them making a fresh start and having a human life together.

[identity profile] magali29.livejournal.com 2010-01-20 07:14 am (UTC)(link)
Hmmm, a story where none of them works at Torchwood? Interesting. What could they do? The doctor could teach physic in a university, I suppose. Or write novels a la Harry Potter, about a "Professor" traveling in time and space with a human companion?

For Rose, I have no idea. Charity, maybe? Being the Vitex heiress, she could do that.

[identity profile] wishiknewwho.livejournal.com 2010-01-21 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad you are enjoying it, and I like your suggestions.

Also, your icon is made of WIN.