SIREN; doctor who

ᵒⁿᵉ

↳ ONE
    2008
    NYC

❝THE REALITY OF USING A VORTEX MANIPULATOR HIT AURORA LIKE A MORNING AFTER GETTING BLACK OUT DRUNK. Bent over a pile of trash in an empty alley of New York City, she couldn't help but regret relying on the device. If it weren't for its convenience, she would have thrown it out ages ago.

With a gag, Aurora straightened herself up, wiping her mouth on the back of her right hand. The taste of regret lingered, but she knew there was no time for dwelling. The task at hand demanded her attention. As much as she longed to retreat to the safety of her hotel room, she had to ensure that Thomas Evergreen was in fact dead.

Summoning her resolve, Aurora ventured towards the diner situated right across from Evergreen's corporate office. Rumor had it that the place served exceptional coffee, coupled with a view that offered an unobstructed sightline of the building. It seemed like the ideal spot to keep a watchful eye.

Entering the diner, the pungent scent of grease-saturated burgers and burnt coffee assaulted Aurora's senses. She glanced around, spotting a crimson booth perfectly positioned to overlook the corporate stronghold. With a sigh, she approached the counter, barely sparing a glance at the worker behind it.

"One black coffee, please," she muttered, placing a crumpled five-dollar bill on the counter near the register. "Keep the change."

Head down, Aurora hurried to secure the booth before anyone else could claim it. The plastic seats squeaked under her weight, but she paid them no mind. Thoughts swirled in her head, her gaze unwaveringly fixed on the building outside. Countless things could go awry. The foremost concern being that Evergreen had somehow survived a gunshot to the skull, forcing her to stage a death in a hospital again.

Aurora barely acknowledged the waitress as she placed the steaming mug of coffee before her. She mumbled a half-hearted thank you before gripping the mug with both hands, her eyes still locked on the building.

"Any minute now," she murmured into her mug, taking a small sip.

Aurora's heart skipped a beat as a voice pierced through the ambient noise of the diner.

"Knew it. Vortex manipulator,"

She turned her head to find the Doctor sitting across from her, his piercing gaze fixed on the vortex manipulator adorning her wrist. He looked the same from when she first met him a month ago. Though, she guessed she shouldn't question that from a time traveler.

Aurora's lips curled into a mischievous smile as she set her coffee down, her eyes sparkling with a hint of defiance.

"Where'd you get it?"

Her eyes flickered down to the device, her fingers tracing its sleek contours. "I stole it," she replied nonchalantly.

"Stole it?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disapproval.

"Impressed?" she hummed, her smirk widening.

"No."

"No?"

The Doctor's brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing at her audacity. "No. You shouldn't steal," he admonished, his voice carrying the weight of moral conviction.

Aurora's playful expression faded slightly as she met the Doctor's gaze head-on. "Wow, that's hypocritical coming from you."

A flicker of frustration danced in the Doctor's eyes, but he quickly composed himself, exhaling sharply as he chose to ignore her comment. "Why do you have it?"

Aurora leaned back in her seat, her body language exuding a sense of nonchalance, "My job."

The Doctor's gaze intensified, his eyes boring into hers.

"Can you leave now? This is getting really boring," Aurora quipped, her impatience seeping into her words.

But the Doctor remained steadfast, his determination unyielding. "No," he declared firmly, his gaze unwavering as he continued to scrutinize the vortex manipulator on her wrist. "I can't leave you with that. It's dangerous to travel with it."

Aurora's eyes narrowed. "Well, I'm a dangerous individual. I think it suits me," she retorted.

The Doctor's eyebrows furrowed, his frustration mounting. He fished out his sonic screwdriver, the blue light emanating from the device casting an ethereal glow on Aurora's face as he aimed it towards her.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, her expression flat. The Doctor, undeterred by her lack of enthusiasm, scanned her with the sonic screwdriver, absorbing the information it provided.

"Aurora Lively, 17 years old. Born in the 51st century," he stated, leaning closer to her. "What are you doing in 2008?"

"You know, you're really making it difficult for me to like you."

The Doctor's frustration was palpable as he tapped the table with increasing intensity, his words punctuating the tension between them, "Why. Are. You. Here?"

"As I mentioned before, my job."

"And what exactly is your job?"

"I highly doubt you would appreciate it if I told you. Can you leave?"

There was a pregnant pause as the Doctor's gaze lingered on her, "I saw you with a gun. In the alley."

Aurora's gaze sharpened as she fixed it upon the Doctor. Her lips pursed, and a flicker of suspicion danced in her eyes. "Are you stalking me?", she accused.

The Doctor ignored her, his eyes shifting towards the commotion outside the diner. Aurora followed his gaze, her expression unyielding as she watched the police cars and ambulances converge on the corporate building she had just left. A body bag being escorted out calmed her anxieties. Aurora's job was finished.

Aurora leaned her head against her right arm, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. "Thomas Evergreen," she murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and defiance. "He auctioned over 400 women to sex trafficking. He was going to be killed, and I just happened to be the one who was hired for the job."

The Doctor's eyes widened with realization, "You're a bounty hunter."

Aurora's lips curled into a knowing smile, "Bingo!"

"You can't simply go around killing people like that!"

Aurora's voice dropped to a harsh whisper, her eyes darting around the diner to ensure no one was eavesdropping. "Keep your voice down," she hissed, her tone filled with urgency. "Look, Doc. Think of it like this. We both save people, I just happen to kill the bad guys on purpose."

She reached for her coffee, intending to take a sip, only to discover that it had grown cold during the conversation. With a sharp inhale, Aurora abruptly stood up, her eyes fixed on the exit. "It was really sweet that you decided to stalk and follow me here, Doc, but I gotta go," she stated, "I've got credits to pick up."

Before Aurora could walk away, the Doctor's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly. "Aurora, this can kill you."

Aurora glanced at him from over her shoulder, her gaze holding a hint of defiance. She pulled her hand free from his grasp, her voice carrying a weight of acceptance,"I know.❞