A Match Made in Heaven | Doctor X OMC | Doctor Who

Vincent and The Doctor

By the time that they actually left Asgard, the Doctor had been ready to leave for what felt like forever. It might've been more tolerable if the Fairies hadn't stolen his Angel away to explain the concept of mates. The next time he'd seen Haylen, the poor Angel hadn't even been able to meet his eyes.

Their bond had been frustratingly silent ever since, and it was starting to get to him. While it had been formed unintentionally, and mostly for Haylen's benefit, he'd gotten used to sharing a mental space with another creature again. Having that other mind so close, but totally silent was driving him crazy. It was far worse than knowing that there was no one else out there, because now he knew that someone was.

Haylen was just choosing not to talk to him, or even let him get a glimpse of how he was feeling. The worst thing though, was that he had no idea what the Angel thought about this whole thing. Was he happy? Was he upset about it? How was he supposed to act?

It was making him nervous, and he'd had to deal with Haylen skittering around him shyly, while every Fairy he'd come into contact with had just giggled, giving him a knowing look. It was much worse when they were both in the same room, and poor Haylen would just stand there awkwardly, blushing.

He almost wished things would go back to the way they had been, before anyone knew that there was even a possibility of anything happening between them. Even if it meant that he spent the rest of his life pining away after the Angel. Surely it had to be better than those looks.

Then there was Amy. He knew exactly when someone had told her what a mate bond entailed, because he could've heard her reaction from the other side of the planet.

That was why he'd chosen the most spectacular destinations for their next few trips. In an effort to make both Ponds see the positives of travelling with him. Now that he knew there was more than a possibility of something between the Angel and himself, he was in no way prepared to let Amy take her brother away from him.

He could admit to those same ulterior motives for bringing them to the Muse d'Orsay. He'd hoped that a relaxed outing with plenty of witnesses would mean that Haylen might calm down enough to talk to him again. Not to mention that Amy might not murder him for his interest in her brother if she was in a good mood.

They'd snuck up to the back of a tour group, looking at the many works of Vincent Van Gogh. The Doctor lost himself in the whole experience. There had been a lot of times lately that made him question his love of humans, but this was a nice reminder. The fact that they could see the world in such ways, and enthuse over, and enjoy those differences so far into the future was just amazing.

Sure, Time Lords had art, but it was so far removed from the human concept of art, that it might as well be a totally separate entity. It was never really looked upon as worth-while either, so to see all these humans looking at these works with such awe, it filled him up with all those warm emotions that he didn't get to feel very often.

'So,' the guide started, gesturing to a painting of a field with crows, 'this is one of the last paintings Van Gogh ever painted. Those final months of his life were probably the most astonishing artistic outpouring in history. It was like Shakespeare knocking off Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear over the summer hols. And especially astonishing because Van Gogh did it with no hope of praise or reward.'

He tore his attention away from the information that was being given to the group as Amy leaned into him, her own attention still focused on the pictures.

'I know why you brought us here,' she said, unable to hide her bliss at being there even though she was trying, 'and it doesn't change anything. But thanks.'

'You're welcome,' he said, fiddling with his bow tie nervously. Sure, there was a big part of him that hoped she would give her blessing for him pursuing Haylen romantically, but there was also the pain he felt at having lost her partner. He hoped, despite knowing it could never, that it might help to soothe the ache of losing Rory.