sapphire_child: (the wall; dw; eleven)
sapphire_child ([personal profile] sapphire_child) wrote2010-06-01 09:27 am

Who Fic - I know who you will become

Title: I know who you will become
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating/warnings: PG
Genre: gen
Character/s: Eleven, Rose, Amy
Spoilers: spoilers up to the current Weeping Angel episodes
Summary: He always finds her in the places he least expects but he certainly isn’t expecting to bump into her on his way back from Tesco’s one day. meant to be written for challenge 35 at [profile] then_theres_us but I missed the deadline :P
Disclaimer: Doctor Who and all its associated characters/situations etc do not belong to me, I’m just borrowing them.

~*~

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He always finds her in the places he least expects but he certainly isn’t expecting to bump into her on his way back from Tesco’s one day.

He remembers her pink and yellow, bright and bold but right now she’s fourteen, skinny and surprisingly awkward. She has dark hair (which throws him) and she looks pale and washed out. It doesn’t help that she’s wearing far too much eyeliner (not that she’s ever been shy with the stuff) and if it weren’t for the familiar pink hoodie she sports, he probably would have just passed her by without even realising who she was.

Now that he’s seen her though, he can’t help but stop and stare. On closer inspection he realises that her jeans are more thread than fabric and her fingers are curled awkwardly around a cigarette. He is simultaneously repulsed and compelled by her. After all, it’s Rose. But she’s also smoking and he detests the disgusting habit with all of his (new, new, new) being.

Actually, he remembers suddenly, so did she. He gazes wonderingly at her, this girl who even now has the ability to surprise him. She’s so very different to the woman he knew and yet so much the same. It’s disconcerting how much it aches to see her and he only realises that he’s still staring when the chain link fence behind her rattles as she shifts her weight, crosses one leg over the other.

“Wot?” she demands in a voice husky from smoke. She’s not frightened really, just a little unnerved by this strange man who’s staring at him. Yeah, that’s his Rose alright – fearless and foolishly brave. Although...

“Those things’ll kill you.” He blurts and she looks startled before shooting a guilty look at the toxic stick between her fingers.

“S’not mine.” She tells him insolently. “M’just holding it for someone.”

“Really?” he says dryly, feeling vaguely like a parent scolding a naughty child. “Aren’t you a bit young to be smoking?”

Rose flushes magnificently. “I’m nearly fifteen!” she rages and when he beams at how the colour in her cheeks has brought her to life she scowls so deeply that he can’t help but laugh out loud in sheer delight.

“Shut up!” she tries to snap at him but it comes out as more of a whine. “You can’t be any older than – what? Twenty?”

That stops his laughter. “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” He advises and she gives him a gentle, mocking smile.

“That supposed to sound clever or somethin’?” she asks and he smiles back at her, just a little.

“Sort of, yes.”

“Prat.” She returns good-naturedly, but then she drops the cigarette to the ground and grinds it into the concrete with the toe of one scuffed boot. At his questioning look she merely mumbles, “Almost burnt out anyway.”

She shoves her hands in her jean pockets then and he’s so very tempted to ask her what she’s doing here, why she’s standing around in a bad part of town smoking a cigarette against a fence and not at home with Jackie, or at work, or at school.

Instead he says, “Well take care of yourself then...” just as Rose says, “You been to Tesco’s then?” and nods towards the bag dangling from his fingertips, taking an almost involuntary step forward as she does so.

It’s only then that he notices the gleam in her eyes, how thin her usually rounded face is. She looks quite unwell really. He wonders briefly at what else she’s been putting into her body (and what she clearly hasn’t been getting enough of) and then finds that he doesn’t really want to know.

“Is that why you smoke?” he guesses and can tell from her startled expression that he’s hit right on the money. “To stop yourself from feeling hungry?”

Rose catches his gaze but then has to look away. “My boyfriend doesn’t really have much food at his place. An’ I don’t have any money so...”

“Couldn’t you ask him?”

She looks terror struck and the Doctor has to stop himself from doing something very stupid right then and there. But he can’t just go around messing with her timeline, he’s already risked too much just by stopping and talking to her. If he somehow managed to change her timeline so that she never met him...he feels sick at the very idea.

So instead of finding this boyfriend of hers and giving him a good talking to as he so desperately wants to, he offers her help in the only way he can.

He holds out the plastic shopping bag.

He hadn’t really wanted to take the bag (the environment and all that) but the cashier had given him a pointed look when he’d tried putting the carton of milk into his jacket pocket and with a sigh he had desisted. He’s glad now. How on Earth would he have explained pulling whole loaves of bread out of his pockets in front of her?

Rose stares at his offering a moment and then looks up incredulously.

“Serious?” she gestures awkwardly at the bag. “You’re not gonna just give this stuff to me...”

The Doctor merely hooks the handles over her outstretched hand. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Her fingers tighten reflexively around the thin, cheap plastic and as he lets go and she bears the full weight of bread and milk and biscuits she looks up at him again, totally confused.

“But...why?” she says wonderingly. “There’s gotta be some sort o’ catch right?”

“No catch.”

“But...” she’s still searching for some drawback to the situation, still so uncertain by the kindness of this unknown stranger. He interrupts her before she can think up any more excuses.

“Maybe,” he says with a gentle smile. “Maybe I’m giving it to you because I think you need it more than me.”

“Bollocks,” she snorts. “People don’t just give food away cos...”

“Sometimes,” he counters her softly. “People do things just because they can. Not because they feel obligated, just because they want to make someone’s day a little brighter. Remember that.”

He leaves Rose behind with a wink and a feeling of warm contentment. She for her part looks stunned but pleased. He all but skips back to the TARDIS, not even minding that he’s going to have to go find another Tesco’s now or face the wrath of his latest companion.

“What took you so long?” Amy demands of him the second he’s inside. “I’ve been waiting for ages! Hey, where’s our milk and stuff?”

“I gave it away,” the Doctor says, unconcerned.

Amy’s eyebrows shoot up. “You gave it away? To who? A homeless person?”

“No,” he says patiently. “To a friend.”

“A friend?” she repeats incredulously, chasing him around the console as he begins to launch them across London. “Please tell me you didn’t give our food away to some homeless person you had a chat with in an alley or something.”

“No,” he tells her, a little peeved. “She’s an actual friend of mine. Well, she will be. She hasn’t met me yet.”

Amy looks intrigued by this. “That happen to you often? Meeting people before they’ve met you?”

“Sometimes.” He says vaguely, checking to make sure that they’ve landed safely. “It’s kind of an occupational hazard.”

“You ever meet anyone who knew you and you didn’t know them?”

“Loads of times.”

“Like River?”

He stops halfway down the stairs to turn and poke a finger into Amy’s face.

“Rose is nothing like River.”

“Oooh,” Amy says, all big eyes now. “Rose hmmn? That’s a pretty name...”

“Stop it.” He says firmly and for once she shuts up straight away, obviously sensing that this is not a subject she should necessarily be teasing him about.

“So...why’d you give her all our stuff?” she asks, all traces of mirth gone now and down to business.

The Doctor pauses at the door, smiling faintly. “Because....just because.”

Amy stares at him.

And then he starts laughing and laughing, and he can’t stop for a very long time. When he finally finishes, Amy is staring at him with her hands on her hips and a look on her face that tells him she thinks he’s a complete nutter.

“Doctor?” she says pleasantly.

“Pond?” he returns.

“You are completely bonkers.”

“Always was where she was concerned.” He said, mostly to himself as he opened the door and stepped out.

Amy crashed into the back of him a second later.

“Oh what now?” she demanded but the Doctor was laughing again, this time at a door covered in graffiti.

“Oh now, that’s classic.” He clapped his hands together once, shaking with laughter. “Oh well done. Come along now Pond.”

And snagging Amy by the elbow, the two of them set off for the nearest Tesco’s leaving the TARDIS standing within feet of...

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[identity profile] erateini.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
This was wonderful, I liked the way Eleven interacted with Baby!Rose,

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I'm still not sure on my Eleven voice so glad it worked for you :)

[identity profile] angelofcaffeine.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
This was really interesting! I love what you did with Rose's past - how she wasn't just as we knew her, but there's obviously a story going on. And I love Amy's questions, and Eleven's affection for Rose, and trying to put the milk carton in his pocket!

Really enjoyable read. <3

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:52 am (UTC)(link)
I kind of imagine this as taking place when Rose was with Jimmy Stone, before Mickey - thus why she's in such a different place to how the Doctor remembers her.

Thanks for reading! :D

[identity profile] limesurprise.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
Awwww, this is so sweet. I love the thought that he'd go back to check on her throughout her youth. I don't think the red bicycle for Christmas was a co-incidence at all, either.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
I kind of feel like this was just a happy accident for him but it's still nice for him to get to see her :D I think he deserves that much.

[identity profile] earlgreytea68.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
This is brilliantly done. I love the way Eleven and Rose interacted, I love the subtle way he may have shifted her path just enough to find him. And I love the touch of "Bad Wolf" on the door at the end! I feel this needs a sequel!

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
I think he's just altered her for the better without even really realising it, just like you said, he's unknowingly shifted her path closer to his.

There definitely needs to be more Eleven/Rose fics out there. I like the idea of the Doctor going back to see her as she grows up and he grows older.

[identity profile] momentmusical.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
He hadn’t really wanted to take the bag (the environment and all that) but the cashier had given him a pointed look when he’d tried putting the carton of milk into his jacket pocket and with a sigh he had desisted.

It's probably for the best! He might've forgotten it was even there, or by the time he manages to dig it out of his dimensionally transcendental pockets, it would've already gone bad XD.

This is completely lovely. I love how you have them see each other again, at a point in their lives when they're two very different people, but still, with that connection between them. And what a fantastic twist at the end!

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
Exactly! Can't you just imagine his disdain at having to carry groceries back to the TARDIS though? :D like a human

I love how you have them see each other again, at a point in their lives when they're two very different people, but still, with that connection between them.

Exactly. They're still making each other better even though neither of them are directly involved in the others life ^_^ now that's love.

[identity profile] idiot-jello.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
:D

Wow, that's about the only sentiment I'm feeling right now. Basically, this made me smile really wide while reading it. I lovelovelove your young Rose.

“You are completely bonkers.”

“Always was where she was concerned.”


Yay!


[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, yay! :D I had fun writing Rose in this actually, glad you liked her!

Oh he was SO whipped for Rose. It was kind of hilarious and awesome at the same time ;)

Cheers xoxo

[identity profile] ktswaz.livejournal.com 2010-06-05 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
At least he knew it!! Great story! I love Eleven/Rose stories! Didn't think I would, since I'm very protective of Ten/Rose!

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-05 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
Who woulda thunk it huh? Me too ^_^ thanks for giving this a chance!

[identity profile] asahifirsa.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
This is wonderful! Added to memories!

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
Oh wow, thank you! Glad you liked it so much :D

[identity profile] von_gelmini.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
I love the fact that he goes back to watch Rose from time to time. Very sweet.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:59 am (UTC)(link)
Me too ^_^ thanks for commenting!
captaintish: (Dr. Who -- 11th Doctor)

[personal profile] captaintish 2010-06-01 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
Awesome! Loved the Bad wolf thing at the end.

I like this little glimpse into Rose's past. And the Doctor of course wants to go and straighten things out for her but knows he can't mess with her timeline.

Maybe this little act of kindness on his part is part of what makes her so ready to trust a complete stranger when she meets him later on.

Good story!

And can I just say how much I miss The Art of Being Human? PLEASE write more!!!

[identity profile] professor-spork.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
SECONDED.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
This story really is all about cause and effect, especially how he basically helps, as you said, put her trust in strangers and just generally to be kind when you can. Do unto others and all that, which is so much what Rose is/was and something that they always had in common.

I AM writing more on AoBH, but I want to get the next few chapters at least sketched out a bit more before I post the next one (which ,yes, is finished). RL has just been so ridiculously crazy with work and uni and I went on holiday for a week too :P

I'll have heaps of time between job hunting though so hopefully I'll be getting the next chapter out soon.

[identity profile] professor-spork.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
*makes whimpering noises, grabby hands*

Yes. This. Lots of this. DO WANT. (Also: was that a subtle Growing Pains reference I saw? Because if yes, Rose-Billie juxtaposition for the fucking win.)

needs moar rory.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 07:06 am (UTC)(link)
I've never actually read Growing Pains :P sorry. But go me for accidentally referencing something! Yayyyy!

This is actually meant to be set before Rory starts travelling with them :P

[identity profile] professor-spork.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL, oops! I meant Growing Pains the Billie Piper autobiography, not Growing Pains the TV show.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-02 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah I realised after I'd posted :P all good man.

[identity profile] mute-troubadour.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
This is brilliant. lol, made me smile.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad :)

[identity profile] siriuslyblack95.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
I love this, the fact that he still feels something for Rose and the way that just from his tone of voice Amy knows not to ask any more.
Would love to hear more about Rose's life at this point would make a great fanfic *hint hint*
great read :)

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
Lol, well that's the second call for a sequel. Maybe after I've finished AoBH if my muse calls for it :)

[identity profile] sunnytyler001.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 09:11 am (UTC)(link)
Lol. That was Rose saying thanks to Eleven! :D
Well done! Brilliant story!

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 09:14 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks indeed :)

Cheers mate.

[identity profile] reetinkerbell.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 11:33 am (UTC)(link)
That was brilliant. I love Eleven meeting Pre-Show!Rose.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 01:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Me too ^_^ glad you enjoyed!

[identity profile] 2cbetter2.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh I can't tell you how MUCH I loved this! It so falls in line with my belief the Doctor loves Rose still even now and always will no matter how many times he regenerates or how long he may live. I found the part he gives her the food to be touching and had a good laugh at the end when the BAD WOLF graffiti was revealed.

Bravo!

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm very pleased that you liked it so much :) I hope that he still loves her and continues to do so in some capacity through the rest of his life too :)

xoxo

[identity profile] 2cbetter2.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope that he still loves her and continues to do so in some capacity through the rest of his life too :)

Well for me personally it IS canon that the Doctor loves Rose for the rest of his lives whether that's two more regenerations after this one or indefinite - he will always love her no matter what.

[identity profile] shaz-bananas.livejournal.com 2010-06-01 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh I did like this. I laughed out loud at the Doctor trying to put the milk in his jacket pockets because it's just so him - and he would be worried about Rose if he saw her like this, he'd just have to step in at least a little bit anyway.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-02 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad :) thanks for commenting!

[identity profile] quean-of-swords.livejournal.com 2010-06-02 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I love the way he reacts to her, and how he tells Amy that Rose is nothing like River. :)

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-02 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
He's so very vehement ;) there will never be another one like his Rose I'm afraid.

[identity profile] danaems.livejournal.com 2010-06-02 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw! Eleven helps out Rose! Sweet! Poor girl being in the situation she is in. :(

Eleven and Amy sound just right. I love they landed in front of "Bad Wolf". Perfect.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-03 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad I got Amy and Eleven right as I haven't written a lot of either of them :P thanks for the feedback!

[personal profile] nebularific 2010-06-09 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
This is really lovely and touching. Great characterizations all 'round.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2010-06-09 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
Cheers. I'm glad you liked it :)

[identity profile] hiding-places.livejournal.com 2011-05-26 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
*claps*
Oh, I love this fic, but I've got one question as the podficcer-in-residence:
The end, while it works BEAUTIFULLY in text form, leaves me at a bit of a loose end audio-wise. I'm thinking of just leaving it with a quiet "Bad wolf", but how do you think of it?

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2011-05-26 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you darling! I think what you've said is just perfect for making it into an audio piece. Or, if you'd prefer you can just add on something along the lines of:

"a door scrawled with graffiti. Two words. Just two words. Bad Wolf."

Y/n?

[identity profile] hiding-places.livejournal.com 2011-06-01 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
(please excuse the late reply. Those responsible have been sacked)

Y! I like that quite a bit. Depending on how my job hunt goes, this should be up by the end of the week.

[identity profile] sapphire-child.livejournal.com 2011-06-01 09:22 am (UTC)(link)
MONTY PYTHON REFERENCE FTW.

Excellent! Cannot wait :)