Bits and Pieces (11th Doctor X Reader FF)

"The Piano Man"

You wandered aimlessly through the dark 1800's mansion, a thin blanket wrapped tightly around yourself. After you and the Doctor had saved the noble family that lived there, they offered to let you stay the night.

You had woken up in the silky guest bed, feeling fidgety, and decided to get lost in the manor, only the moon through the giant windows to light your way.

You had no idea what the Doctor was doing, as he clearly didn't need the amount of sleep that you did, you adorable human you, but you didn't mind the mutual independence. He often told you about the adventures he had while you slept.

You shuffled down a long corridor, with glass windows taller than you along one side, casting blue moonlight along the walls. The hallway opened up to a giant empty room, with tarps covering a few sofas and a night stand. You could hear distant piano-playing from the next room over. You pushed your eyebrows together and wrapped the blanket tighter over the nightgown you had borrowed, before following the soft noise.

You found yourself in an old piano room, with one large window covering the space of a whole wall, and a covered harp in the corner. The window gave view into the empty gardens, with beautiful rose bushes and lemon trees, all lit up beautifully by the full moon overhead. Right in the center of the room was the Grand Piano.

You smiled warmly as you recognized the Doctor's frame from behind. As you walked over to him, he turned his head slightly in your direction but kept playing, acknowledging your presence. You slid onto the cold bench next to him, his free foot against yours. He sat his hands in his lap, pausing his song, and whispered to you.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh I'm just a wary traveler who heard lovely music and decided to investigate it."

He smiled at you as you rested your head against his arm.

"You play really well."

"I have had hundreds of years to learn." He said softly. "Do you want me to keep going?"

You nodded sleepily. He continued to play softly, a beautifully simple melody. Your eyebrows pushed together in focus. "This sounds familiar," You whispered.

"I should hope so," He said, dropping an octave. "It's my theme song for you."

"I have a theme song?" You asked. "I've always wanted a theme song." You paused to listen. "Is this Piano Man by Billy Joel?"

A goofy grin spread across the Doctor's face as he kept his eyes to the keys. "I think it's lovely, don't you?"

You smiled contently and swayed softly to the music. "Why is this my theme of all the songs you've heard? All the songs in the universe, and you pick this one. Why?"

"Well," He paused while the music got softer, before continuing again. "It's somehow very happy-"

You nodded.

"-And beautiful-"

You smiled and hummed mockingly, a half-baked attempt to hide how easily he could make you blush.

"-And on some level, rather sad."

The Doctor met your eyes. "And you don't know why."

"I'm not sad."

"Well everyone's sad, in their way. Humans especially."

You gave him a jokingly sassy look. "We're the happiest race you know."

He raised his eyebrows. "That's probably true. It must just be you."

"And why, great Time Lord, would I be sad?" You had meant it to sound more playful, but your voice came out hushed and hoarse when his deep eyes met yours. He blinked at you slowly, before pulling his hands away from the piano. Instead of answering you, he took your wrist gently, and aligned your fingers along the keys, keeping his hand gingerly atop yours. Understanding washed over you.