REWRITE THE STARS ― doctor who

rise of the cybermen

Chapter Nine: Rise of the Cybermen

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CLAUDIA LEANED BACK AGAINST THE RAILING, donning Sam's comfortable flannel, too long on the ends and folded just below her elbows. Her hair pulled into a loose ponytail, curly wisps already threatening to fall into her eyes.

The Doctor and Rose were in their own world again and Mickey stood hopeful next to the console, his finger pressed down on a button.

She knew he wanted to be part of their conversation, but she didn't have the heart to comfort him. Bringing up Castiel aloud after Reinette's death, just three days prior, she was overcome with painful memories and forced to face her own guilt.

Now, over a year after his death, she was finally acknowledging he was gone. And she didn't have the energy to put into someone else's relationship, she was too busy mourning her own.

"...and that weird munchkin lady with the big eyes," the Doctor guffawed, sitting next to Rose on the console chair, legs propped on the console. She laughed at his words, throwing her hair back. "You remember the way she looked at you? And then she opens her mouth and fire comes out!"

Claudia sighed, fiddling with her pocket knife, toying with the ends and tracing the initials on the side. S.W.

"I thought I was gonna get frazzled," Rose laughed in recollection.

"Yeah, one minute she's standing there, the next minute, roar!"

Claudia flicked the knife in and out, a blank stare on her face. She wondered how the three of them would surmise against her demons, the monsters she faced. They were much worse than the aliens and robots the Doctor fought against. They didn't play by the rules, only made their own and forced people to follow them or face deadly consequences.

Mickey's laugh lifted above Rose and the Doctor's and Claudia grimaced when they both looked at him. How awkward.

"Where was that?" Mickey asked. "What happened?"

"Oh, it was on this," the Doctor's laugh cleared out and he tugged at his ear, "er, planet thing. Asteroid. It's a long story. You had to be there."

He looked at Mickey's hand still pressed on the button. "What are you doing that for?" He asked.

"'Cause you told me to."

The Doctor swallowed and Claudia nearly rolled her eyes at Rose's grin. Her boyfriend was being made fun of by the Doctor and she didn't even pretend to care. "When was that?"

"About half an hour ago."

"Um," the Doctor looked at Mickey's hand, fighting a smirk. "You can let go now."

Mickey did as told and a small dinging sound echoed throughout the room. Claudia rolled her eyes, nibbling on her cheek so as to hold back her thoughts. They wouldn't be very nice.

"Well, how long's it been since I could've stopped?" Mickey asked, glancing at Rose who was laughing into her hand.

"Ten minutes," the Doctor supplied. "Twenty...twenty-nine."