Yowzah Oneshot Collection (3)

42(G)

      The Nth Time's the Charm

                   LickleSoxy

"I'm sorry, what?"
The man gave a quick smile. It was a simple thing, small and open, and trying too hard to be friendly, if she studied it enough. Giving no indication of her suspicion, River let her lips form a twist of innocent confusion, her eyebrows moving gracefully lower into the false, ignorant frown that she had perfected over the years. To Jou, the male alien standing before her, she looked the epitome of a bewildered tourist. She wasn't, because she knew what was coming.

"I w- was wondering how mu- much f- for your friend? He is rather," Jou paused to lick his lips, his smile widening, "blessed with... with the mind he has. I haven't seen intelligence like his in a- a- a very long time."

Jou was very cute. He was tall, broad, with a head of startlingly bright blue hair that any person would be a fool to resist. River had to give the man that, had to acknowledge the man's handsome qualities for what they were. It was a large shame about that stutter, though, but that couldn't be helped. It was rare to find a member of his species that could actually articulate their thoughts into words with no problems in the area of speech. Yet, there was another problem, one much grander than his ability to speak. The stutter was something River could ignore, his desire to buy the Doctor was not.

It didn't help that Jou was the third person on this scrap heap of a planet that had asked that question. Tourists came to the area often, to buy and sell merchandise, and usually the currency was written books or vibrant art. Every now and again, though, inhabitants of this planet would deal in the trade of people, and that was one of the main reasons River avoided the place like it held the plague. The species of the people didn't matter. What the inhabitants held in value, more than anything, was the intelligence of the individual. The fact that this planet had eight, different native species didn't help. River couldn't pick out the aliens that were unsafe among the mass of those who were just visiting.

Trying to hide the fact that the Doctor was probably the single most intelligent being that would ever grace this planet was proving to be extremely difficult. Getting the man to shut up about all the fancy gadgets he found was like trying to will herself to grow younger. It just wasn't possible.

"He's not for sale." The abrupt change of tone and expression made Jou step back in shock. The words were cold, almost possessive.

"W... Why? Are you his mate?"

That was another question that had been asked quite a few times. River found that her smile came easily, though it didn't hold the sweetness of her last one.

"Yes." It would make Jou leave, even though it was technically a lie at this moment in time. For the Doctor, in any case.

She didn't expect the change, didn't expect Jou's features to lower into a hard sneer that twisted his face into something not quite so handsome. Nor did she expect his next words, clear and strong as they were.

"Prove it."

That was one of the most simple things to do, but it would complicate things. River understood this, knew that it could change the relationship she already had with the Doctor. According to her, she was already in a serious relationship with the Time Lord. The fact was, according to the Doctor, they were friends and nothing more. She was still a complete mystery to him, one that would flirt and attract his attention just as something dangerous would begin to happen. In her time line they were practically married. In his time line they hadn't even shared a single kiss, yet.

Change had to happen at one point. Being cautious around the Doctor was important, and River had near perfected the amount of 'spoilers' she would acknowledge and give to him. At some point, though, she had to confront the fact that she needed to lead their relationship to the next level in the Doctor's eyes, because he would never do it willingly. Proving to an alien wasn't exactly the best reason to do so, but it was a starting point. Plus, River had had enough of people asking how much she would sell the Doctor for. He was not for sale because he was hers, and it was time to show this world, and him, just who he belonged to.