Haylen watched his mate spin around the console of the Tardis with all of his usual energy, but there was something off about it. He couldn't blame the other alien. After all, he'd always been observant, even if he pretended he wasn't most of the time, and it wasn't as if any of them was being particularly shy about how off-balance they were all feeling.
'1969, that's an easy one!' The man said brightly, turning to give his mate a grin. The look faltered at seeing the blank look that Haylen knew was on his face. He couldn't help it though, deep enough in thought that he was only half present. The Doctor shot him a concerned look and a light tap against the shield he'd put back into place between them mentally. When the only response was a pair of haunted eyes staring unseeingly at him, he moved over to try one of the others.
'Funny, how some years are easy. Now, 1482, full of glitches' he said to Amy, spinning away before he could see the brittle look on her face. 'Now then, Canton Everette Delaware, the third. That was his name, yeah?' He typed the name into the console, watching awkwardly as Amy walked out of the upper console area altogether. River followed quickly after her, and Haylen could just about hear the spinning of his thoughts as he tried to figure out what was going on. 'How many of those can there be? Well, three, I suppose,' he rambled in the continuing silence.
There was all of a single moment of absolute silence before his mate lifted his head and pinned Rory in place with a look. 'Rory, is everybody cross with me for some reason?'
'I'll... find out,' the other man muttered, giving Haylen a wide eyed look as he passed him to go after Amy and River.
Haylen didn't bother following. He knew what they were going to be talking about already, and he wouldn't listen to them talk it over again. He'd already had to live all the possible outcomes of that moment before, but nothing had been able to prepare him for the moment after. Having to keep going after his mate's death was infinitely worse than simply watching him die over and over again.
He shifted silently over to stand behind his mate, slipping his arms around him and letting out a shuddering breath of relief. He was real, and so incredibly solid under his hands. It was such a relief to be able to hold him, and know with absolute certainty that it wasn't a lie. For this moment in time, he had his mate in his arms, and he was safe.
That little voice in the back of his mind wondered, then, where the older version of him had been. If it was up to him, he wouldn't have let his mate out of his sight if he knew what was coming, and he should have. By then, he would already have lived it, so what was his excuse for letting it happen? That version of him had had so many more years to figure out a way to stave it off, and still he hadn't.
His mate shifted, turning in the circle of his arms to face him, successfully pulling the Angel out of his thoughts even if that hadn't been his plan. The look he was giving him was searching, and Haylen had a moment to wonder if this hadn't been the best idea. Maybe he shouldn't have let himself be left alone with this man whom he had no defenses against. If he asked him what had really happened, he would either tell him, or try to lie. He was so bad at lying that it would practically be the same thing as telling him the truth.
'Anhellev,' the Doctor started, sending shivers down Haylen's spine with all of a single word, 'why won't you tell me what happened?'
That wasn't fair, he thought dully as his insides melted at the sound of that word. One look into those worried eyes was all he needed and he was ready to tell him everything. His shoulders sagged and he pulled away from the comfort his mate exuded simply by being himself.
The weight of his wings on his back was a constant reminder of everything that lay between them, and everything that would remain once the other was gone. 'You said something to me, once,' he started, staring through the walls as more memories than he'd care to watch played out in front of his unseeing eyes. 'Everyone dies?'
YOU ARE READING
A Match Made in Heaven | Doctor X OMC | Doctor Who
Fanfic'I don't know yet. I'm still cooking. Does it scare you?' he responded lightly. A giggle broke into their conversation, and Amelia turned at the same time as the man. They were met with the sight of the golden light floating around Haylen almost pla...
