#but Kaeya in a suit is a reason to thank god

[moonilit]

hiiii hello i noticed you talking about kaeya outfits. via pinterest i found some cute ones he might wear in modern times? however if u only meant ones that would fit into the game i don’t think they would work lol but either way he’d be cute in these (or a combination of them) OH and the last one with the long coat is what he’d wear for a fake funeral for diluc… i just feel he’d pick something too over the top lol

Just think about if this was real kaeya would have buried two Ragnvenders, three if Diluc Died for real before him lol

#modern fantasy in game all is fine! #i enjoy exploring new fasions lol #but Kaeya in a suit is a reason to thank god #genshin impact #thank you for sharing now all I think about is keaya in sunglasses siping his wain #ask #kaeya

[goldfish-afterhours]

Genshin Characters When They Realize They Love You

Characters: Kaeya, Childe, Zhongli, Xiao x gn!reader

Type/genre: Bulleted headcanons, fluff, slight angst

Warnings: Self-doubt/anxiety, not proofread

Kaeya

Knows he loves you when you tolerate his antics

You see through his flirtatious mask, and though you may roll your eyes in exasperation sometimes, you never lose your patience with him

Sometimes you even join in on his bits, telling tall tales to children or helping him convince the town that drinks were half-off at the Angel’s Share tonight

“If enough people believe it, then Master Diluc has to follow through, right? Can’t let his regulars down~”

Kaeya has been itching to say those three words. He can feel it creeping up his throat everytime you scold him for taking his tricks too far, everytime you smile at him

But for some reason, he finds himself holding back

What if you leave? What if you perceive it as weakness?

What if you don’t love him back?

He knows these thoughts are irrational, but he cannot stop his worst fears from creeping into his head

But the longer he waits to say it, the deeper of a hole he digs for himself

He loved you with his entire being. He was only trying to protect himself

So how come you were standing in front of him, hands covering your face as you sobbed that he didn’t love you?

Upon seeing you in that state, in a panic Kaeya forgets about the scared little boy in the rain, and the words come rushing out before he can stop them

“I’m sorry. I love you, I love you more than anything in this world, I promise. I…I love you. So please…don’t cry.”

Childe

Realizes he loves you just as you are beating someone up for information

Not surprisingly, Childe is addicted to the thrill that danger brings. And if the thrill comes in the form of you, isn’t it obvious he is addicted to you as well?

And what else could that be but love?

Also he’s just into people who can beat him up

No such thing as a bad time or place. The moment he realizes he loves you, those three words are already flying out of his mouth

Everyone in the situation was stunned—it was enough to make you stop punching the treasurer hoarder in the face, and the treasurer horder was staring at him dumbfounded through bloodied, swollen eyes

“Don’t mind me, I just felt like saying it. As you were, then?”

Zhongli

Knows he’s in love with you when you remember the things he forgets

As a god, there weren’t many things he had to remember to carry on his physical person, so he’s still getting used to it

After all, what use is food to an immortal being, an umbrella when his clothes were already soaked in blood, or mora to the God of Money?

But after leaving his archonhood behind, he has to start carrying such things around

He’s trying his best, but is still getting used to it so he frequently forgets

But you remember for him

You show up at his workplace, lunchbox in hand, chiding him for forgetting when you worked so hard cooking it this morning

You show up just as he clocks out for the day, a large umbrella held over your head to block the pitter-patter of the rain, saying how you didn’t want him to get his new suit wet

You chase after Zhongli on his way to the marketplace, scolding him between pants for making you run to give him his wallet

You could’ve let him suffer the consequences for his airheadedness, but instead you go out of your way to cover for him, and he loves you so much for it

The next time you give him something he forgot, he thanks you with a kiss

“Thank you for bringing it for me, my flower. I love you.”

Xiao

Realizes he loves you when you stay, despite it all

You’re not afraid of him. Even as a bringer of death and destruction, you don’t even hesitate to be around him

Even as the dark forces of his karmic ties suffocate him, you stay by his side, comforting him with quiet encouragements as he endures the pain

It’s not just because you’re the only thing keeping him sane. Even when the whispers grow quiet, you bring a sense of peacefulness and serenity to Xiao, one he hasn’t felt in thousands of years

You make him feel safe

You’ve made it clear to him that you’re not going anywhere, and he cannot begin to express how much he needed you to ground him

On one of the days the demons become head-splittingly loud in his ears, you cradle him in your arms, whispering sweet nothings to overpower the voices

Slowly but steadily, they grew quieter and quieter, until all Xiao could hear was your honeyed voice and the sound of his own harsh breathing

Overcome with appreciation for you, he opened his mouth to say something, but he was exhausted

All he could utter were three words that only began to dip into the reverence he has for you

“I…love you.”

#I rewrote Diluc’s 3 times and hated each one so I just took him out <3 #my writing #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin imagines #genshin headcanons #genshin fluff #Kaeya #Childe #Zhongli #Xiao #Kaeya x reader #Childe x reader #Zhongli x reader #Xiao x reader

[strawberrylucv]

hello there! i am alive and well! I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LOVE!! I AM LITERALLY SO HAPPY HUHU!! i hope you'll like this cute headcanon, then ill publish my drafts soon! thank you again :"))

Genshin HC's when they see you walk down the aisle.

✦ft. Diluc, Childe, Kaeya, Zhongli

✦warnings : all of the characters crying in a good way, wholesome, wedding day, gn!reader

*　.　 . 　 ° 　. ● °*　.　 . 　 ° 　. ● °*　.　 . 　 ° 　. ● °

Diluc

on the outside he would be waiting for the music to play

on the inside, oh god he's excited and nervous at the same time.

everyone would probably just start chattering,

maybe some wailing from donna.

he's probably fixing his suit and fidgeting his coat.

then when the music plays

and his attention drifts to the doors opening in the cathedral,

and boom, everyone else looks at the cold-hearted tycoon winery owner who now has the face of man that is deeply in love.

him being calm just left the cathedral

you wave to him and shyly smile at him

then his eyes start to pool tears.

it all breaks when you start walking down the aisle to him

everyone's eyes widen as Diluc tries to wipe his tears with the tissue his best man gave him,

he couldn't care less if everyone was watching

because in the cathedral, there's only 2 people right now.

him and you.

Childe

while he was waiting for you,

he starts to joke around with his best men.

until the music starts to begin

he stops joking and starts to look for you,

there you stand with your beautiful bouquet

and when he locks eyes with you,

you give him a big smile

and his heart clenches,

his hands start shaking and his eyes start to sting a bit from the sudden tears.

he prepared a tissue because he knew one way or another he'd cry

his best men would probably be slightly laughing at him but then patting his back at the same time

the tissue is pressed so hard on his eyes because

you looked so divine that he can't believe you came into his life

and how he was so grateful to you.

in that moment, he ultimately knew,

that his vows to you,

his vows would be true.

Kaeya

everyone came to the wedding

because it was the day playful master Kaeya would finally quit becoming a bachelor of mondstadt

and now soon to be beloved husband.

like his brother, he'd be fidgeting too

with his fingers though, he'd clasp them and open them and clasp them again,

it was unlike of him to be so quiet

he'd always ask the entourage if he looked good, if he looked fine, if he looked hot enough.

then while in the middle of asking, the music starts to play.

when he turned to you, he was so amazed.

he can't believe that you would be willing to spend your life with someone like him

and the thought of that and your little shoulder dance to him

which made him chuckle a bit and then the tears rolled down his face.

he wasn't prepared for him crying but luckily someone from the entourage gave him a tissue.

he tried so hard to hold it but now

he couldn't hold it no matter what,

but what he can hold on to though,

is the thought of the both of you growing old together.

especially with someone like him.

Zhongli

the very calm Zhongli was also very calm waiting for his bride

but then he starts to play with the ends of his ponytail,

wondering when will you enter so he could finally see you

when the music begins

he stopped fidgeting around and

quickly turns his head

to look at you, to finally see you

and he was in awe.

he dropped his head for a bit and you stopped walking

but when he brings his head back, he had tears in his eyes

he gives you a smile asking you to continue walking.

and you hesitate a bit but then you do start to walk again.

the whole time you were walking, he locked his eyes with you.

his best men did provide him with tissue but he rejected it.

never stopping to not look at you with his tears falling down.

smiling at how you looked so beautiful,

smiling because now he has a reason

to smile everyday

with you by his side.

p.s you wiped his tears for him because it never stopped.

#genshin impact imagines #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact diluc #genshin impact kaeya #genshin impact zhongli #genshin impact childe x reader #diluc x reader #diluc headcanons #childe headcanons #kaeya headcanons #zhongli headcanons #zhongli x reader #kaeya x reader #childe x reader #diluc x gn!reader #childe x gn!reader #zhongli x gn!reader #kaeya x gn reader #genshin impact headcanons #genshin headcanons #genshin fluff #genshin x reader #genshin x you #genshin imagines #genshin impact #genshin impact fluff #genshin x y/n

[tartagliaxx]

Whoa, i love your new dad posts about childe and zhongli! Can i request it too for kaeya? How he tried his best to grasps that he is now a happy father after his dark past? Thank you ❤️

" TEARS DO NOT SUIT US "

━━ ☆ PAIRING: kaeya/reader

━━ ☆ GENRE: fluff, hurt/comfort

━━ ☆ SUMMARY: there are things that even kaeya doesn’t know and maybe that’s alright because perfection isn’t expected of him anymore. all that matters now is that he tries.

━━ ☆ WARNINGS: spoilers on his backstory

late nights were spent locked in his office with a cup of coffee as he stares off to the distance — sometimes to the stars that frowned at him, sometimes at his reflection that didn't even attempt to hide his dejection, and sometimes, to nothing in particular.

it was wrong. he wasn't arguing that his decision to run away was a justified act because he knew that it wasn't. it wasn't right for you to be the only person trying to hold the house that you two built together up, it wasn't right for you to believe that the reason for his sleepless nights at the headquarters was related to work and it wasn't right for you to be left in the dark when he promised that it'll be the last thing he'll do to you.

"how pathetic," he mumbled with a humorless smile as he took a sip from his lukewarm cup, "what a man you've become."

pathetic was kaeya who didn't know what to do. pathetic was kaeya doing the one thing he's good at — hiding away until the fear subsides into something manageable because god knows that it'll never disappear from his heart. pathetic was kaeya who chose to satiate the voices in his head that manipulated him with his insecurities like he was a weak man when now of all times, he had to be strong for three.

four hours earlier than the new usual — eleven o'clock in the evening. he knew you'd be fast asleep, too tired from the stress of work and chores combined, and despite having a heavy heart, there was gratitude and relief. perhaps it was selfish of him, maybe even unfair, but kaeya wanted to be infallible in your eyes and not... whatever he was right now.

before he could fall into another spiel of self-deprecating thoughts, a sharp cry broke through the night, and suddenly, he moved. it's instinct, it's subconscious, it's natural.

he was awkward as he tried to navigate through the dark hallway, feet thudding as soft as they could against the flooring. was it alright for him to do this or was he overstepping his boundaries by suddenly deciding to be a father after many weeks of being absent in his child's life? kaeya suddenly paused, lips parting in horror midway through twisting the doorknob open.

would you look at that... he was just like his father...

kaeya gritted his teeth before pushing the door open. dirty, bitter, maddeningly foul. even the demons in his head didn't hate him as much as he did at that moment.

but as if he was made for it, he knew what to do. peering over the crib, periwinkle met periwinkle, and all the seas of turmoil calmed for both father and child. an easy smile — the easiest he has had in the past month and an adoring glaze over his tired features. kaeya was a sight to behold.

"hello, little bunny... miss me?"

the baby giggled, hands closing and opening, beckoning for their dad to cuddle them or lift them up or anything — just needing his touch that instant. with a soft laugh, kaeya leaned down, letting the child grip on his hair as he gathered them in his arms, stiff and a little clumsy but warm... so warm that the baby couldn't help but coo the moment they found their new home.

"you enjoying that?"

'that' was the baby leaning against his chest, curiously listening to his heart that beat and beat and beat until it almost hurts because this... this affection, this security, this comfort... all of these he was depriving himself of for the longest time for a reason not even half as good as this.

"you need to be a little quiet at night, bunny. you'll wake up the entire city!" a boop on the nose, which prompted a giggle from the baby, "i don't know what i'll do if someone files a complaint against you and it ends up on my table! oh dear... what would master jean say? will you get daddy fired?"

with a toothy grin, kaeya trudged to the small sofa you insisted you needed to have while attempting to play 'peek-a-boo' with the thoroughly amused baby. plopping down the soft cushion with a thump, he made a mental note to thank you later for being so stubborn because that sofa was godsent.

"so, what does my lovely partner usually do to make you sleep, hm?"

he didn't expect an answer but it still came in a very deep gurgle that shouldn't have come out of a little, pretty being such as his child. with a genuine snort, kaeya slowly laid across the couch, one arm folded as a pillow while the other remained around the baby who was now nuzzling their cheek on his bare chest.

"hmm... do you want to hear a fairy tale?" no reply.

"i suppose that's a no. something to eat?" the baby blew him a raspberry much to kaeya's delight, chest vibrating as a laugh poured out of his lips.

"definitely a no. then, what do you want little bunny?"

the child merely blinked at him innocently and if kaeya didn't know any better, he would've felt as if the child was mocking him for being so ignorant. though if he was being honest with himself, the little taunt wasn't undeserved.

"fine then... would you care to listen to daddy's little rambles?" kaeya sighed, closing his eyes as he ran a hand over the small tuft of hair on top of the baby's head.

"my father was never around — too busy with plotting this and that. he never taught me how to tie my laces or how to start a fire when you're out in the wild. he was never there to watch me grow up nor was he there when i needed to be loved."

"he would frown at my tears and curse me for being weak. he would never even think of wiping them for me." but kaeya did and with a gentle hand, he swiped the remnants of the tears shed before this intimacy.

"and as a child, i always thought that the 'wrong' was with me — that i'm the one who's unworthy of being loved. so i tried, i tried so hard to please him... but he left me anyway. alone and unloved in a place far away from home."

kaeya groaned, muscles straining as he sat up so the baby was in his lap instead of his chest. grabbing a stray piece of napkin, he wiped the drool that slowly slipped off his baby's puckered lips.

"maybe it was a blessing in disguise because, for the first time, i met a man who, in a sense, loved me for who i am. he took me in, worried over little scrapes and bruises that were nothing to my real father and... he taught me that love is for everyone, be it a sinner or a saint."

bitter because of resurfacing memories, sweet because the source of his new ones was just in his grasp. "in the end, he left me — left us — too."

it was too quiet and usually, the quiet unnerved kaeya. silence meant he could hear his heart pump out blood, hear the muffled screams of his arguing neighbors, hear the loud, confusing pulls of the conflict in his head. but today felt different and silence only meant he had the time and place to flesh out the fears he had been avoiding for the past few weeks.

"i'm scared." a flicker of light or maybe, a teardrop that didn't follow through, "i don't know how to be a father because i never had one. i'm scared that i'll be like him and i'll end up hurting you. i'm scared because i can't bring myself to trust myself."

"little bunny if you knew what goes on in here—" in here was his heart and his mind. "you wouldn't trust me either."

"most men would hold their children and see their bright future, flower gardens, and white fences — growing old. i see you and i... i see the city burning, i hear your cries, i feel your pain in my hands. you deserve so much... so much more than me. i'm sorry. i'm so sorry. gods, i'm sorry."

but how could a man who holds their child as if they're porcelain, talks to them as if they are a god, cries for them as if a softhearted reader — how could that man ever hurt them intentionally?

"i'm sorry you had to be stuck with me but... i'm going to try my best. i won't let you go through what i did. i'm here. i'm right here and i'm not leaving. no more running away."

no more running away. seemingly appeased by his declaration, the young child's eyes fluttered to a close, allowing themself to be pulled into the welcoming arms of slumber. cautiously, kaeya brings his child back to the crib, eyes misting over in relief and adoration.

"you know... they never fall asleep that fast."

"ah, ah..." kaeya wagged his pointer teasingly, lips lifted to show that charming grin you badly wanted to kiss off, "where are your manners? did no one tell you that it's bad to eavesdrop?”

"i really don't want to hear that from you, mr. i-hang-around-the-tavern-for-wine-not-gossip."

with a huff of amusement, kaeya approached you, arms wrapping around your waist as he pulls you close. "i concede. how long have you been awake?"

"i wasn't sleeping. i'm always too tired to greet you properly nowadays so... i wanted to do it right this time around."

"darling i—"

"now, don't do that. don't apologize. you did nothing wrong."

you breathed out, incredibly relieved to finally have him in your arms after what felt like years. his sweet perfume that was reminiscent of sandalwood and coffee invaded your senses and it truly felt like coming home.

"you know..." you started, pinning your chin to his shoulder as your eyes found solace on the undisturbed crib. "i was aware that this situation would be hard to adjust to. it's entirely new for the both of us and given what you went through, i could only imagine what it's like for you."

he could feel you breathe — feel your pulse — and it calmed him as strange as it sounded to the untrained ear.

"i know that you don't see yourself being a good father but i do and your child does as well. and sure, maybe you won't ever be the perfect father but we don't expect that from you. that's too high and too cruel to be set on your, or anyone's, shoulders. you being here tonight? that just proves you're already so much better than many others."

"we'll get through this together— hey, wait." you pulled back, concern dripping on your face as you felt water droplets against your nightwear. "don't cry. it doesn't suit your pretty face."

kaeya let out a watery laugh, hands moving to wipe the tears that unknowingly started to fall from your eyes as well, "nor does it suit yours."

"and theirs, as well." you followed his gaze to the source of the quiet snores that filled the room. "look at me."

kaeya interlaced your hands, placing them against his chest that throbbed painfully in newfound determination, "i'll do everything for you two if it meant you'll be happy and safe. both of you... you're so special and i'll try to be a father and a husband you both could be proud of."

"honey," you sighed, overjoyed and content, "you already are."

there were so many unpredictable things in the world but they meant very little to kaeya — not when he’s happy, not when he’s loved, and not when he finally found people he could confidently call his family.

━━ ☆ NOTES: hello! thanks for requesting. i may or may not have slightly derailed from the original topic but i hope you still liked it nevertheless!

━━ ☆ SIMILAR WORKS: dad!au masterlist

#genshin #genshin imagines #genshin scenarios #genshin x reader #kaeya #genshin oneshot #gi x reader #kaeya scenarios #kaeya imagines #kaeya x reader #kaeya x y/n #genshin x y/n #kaeya fluff #genshin fluff #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact self insert #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact oneshot #genshin impact x y/n #genshin kaeya #kaeya alberich #˗ˋˏ°• stories from lady lei •°ˎˊ˗

[favoniuscodex]

the art of modernity [ chapter two ]

chapter two - instant oatmeal pairing: xiao x gn!reader warnings: canon-typical violence mention, nothing that hasn't already been done in this series. words: ~2.6k words fic masterlist [ prev ] - [ next (tba) ] chapter summary: under yanfei's watchful eye, you sign a contract with xiao for him to stay with you. he's not very pleasant, but you realize you know exactly how to change that. a/n: which means next chapter kicks off the fluff. let's gooo this is our last hard exposition chapter. thank u to everyone's interest so far!

you wake with a jolt.

empty bed? check. still alive? check. no adeptus hovering over you like edward from twilight? check. aches and bruises from yesterday? ... unfortunately, check.

as you sit up, your muscles scream at you to lay back down, yet your mind tells you to go, go, go and find the adeptus before he can kill you. it takes a moment of regulated breathing to actually remember what happened yesterday after the group of five-turned-six of you left jueyun karst.

one: xiao accompanied you back. with only five seats in the car, yanfei ended up sitting smushed between kaeya and xiao. she hadn't complained and the uncomfortable trip back for her served as a minor revenge for her not revealing her (partial) adepti ancestry. you had been slotted in the front passenger seat, next to keqing, who gripped the steering wheel so hard that you feared she would rip it off. the drive back was in silence. childe made a joke at one point. kaeya had laughed, then remembered where the two of them were. nobody laughed after that.

two: yanfei and xiao had dragged you to your apartment. keqing, kaeya, and childe were far too enthusiastic to let the three of you go, yet you couldn't blame them. yanfei had a bounce in her step, while xiao looked as if he was being walked to a morgue, all while looking vaguely nauseous. you had wondered if that was his first time ever in a car.

three: yanfei drafted a contract. thousands of years of experience practicing law (a fact you had learned unwillingly and uncomfortably as yanfei rambled on to fill the awkward silence between the three of you) led to yanfei taking less than an hour to draft an entire forty page document on an agreement of a "truce" between you and xiao, along with adding details of how she would pay you for xiao to stay with you in your apartment and how xiao would be forced to cooperate with any potential mythological studies you might enact.

four: you deeply offended the adepti... or something. you weren't really quite sure what you said wrong, but apparently "yanfei, this contract means nothing if i wake up with a blade in my throat because xiao decides he doesn't like the 'vibes' i quite literally cannot control." was not an appropriate thing to say. yanfei had giggled, yet xiao had looked as if you had slapped him across the face. he muttered something under his breath about how mortals could never truly comprehend the importance of the work of the god of contracts (who had died over a thousand years ago, might you add). yet, he signed his portion of the contract nonetheless and you followed suit.

five: yanfei had left you alone in the apartment with xiao. xiao introduced himself, as if you hadn't been the one to accidentally summon him in the first place and as if he hadn't been the one to threaten to kill you. his words were forced, awkward, and gruff, as if he wasn't quite sure how to address you. in order to spare the two of you from the ugly bonds of small talk, xiao had retired to the cramped small bedroom you had been trying to rent out to someone for months.

six: you went into your bedroom. you went to sleep.

which, inconveniently, leads to now. the yaksha upheld his end of the bargain. he slept..? do adepti sleep? you aren't quite sure and old scholars aren't exactly the type to describe sleeping patterns of the supposed-mythological adepti in detail, yet you figure that you'll find out soon enough one of these days, now that one is living with you.

archons. that fact had yet to fully sink in too. maybe one day, you would finally feel ecstatic over proving a myth to be real and having it choose to dwell in your apartment for some reason. maybe you would also be overjoyed that you were a descendant of a god, even if many generations separated your bloodline that has long since been diluted by humanity. but for today, you could not worry about such things. the adventurer in you had been humbled yesterday. now, you just have to face the music.

if only yanfei had revealed she was half-adeptus sooner, maybe you wouldn't have to worry about xiao deciding he's had enough of the weird energies you inadvertently give off and attacking you. but for now, you check your phone for the time and any notifications, then stumble out of bed and into the kitchen.

in the kitchen, a broad open concept with the living room, you spot xiao sitting at the counter of the island. his brow is furrowed and he noticeably perks up at your entrance, as if he was almost excited to see you. before you can get your hopes up, your stomach growls and you figure xiao is likely in the same boat.

"your home is filled with... strange contraptions," xiao says. "it appears you mortals have progressed at an unexpected rate."

this adeptus is far too chatty for what the microwave says is 8:32 a.m. on a saturday morning. yet, it does not appear to come easily from him. his words are slow and you have no doubt that he is weary of you and your intentions.

"yeah, it's called technology. we can heat up food without lighting a fire, store food in portable cold temperatures, and blow wind around using automated fans. yet, it's all powered by electricity," you explain sleepily, not sure if your words make sense. the small huff of acknowledgement that the adeptus lets out is more than enough to know that your words at least make some sense. either that or he's trying to appease you, but based off what little you know of xiao, he doesn't quite seem like the type.

"you mortals appear to focus on convenience rather than necessity," xiao grumbles after some thought. was he always going to be this... haughty? sure, adepti are immortals in comparison to humanity, but that doesn't make them superior. their time of rule has long since passed, so why does xiao still hold a guarded sense of righteousness over you? whatever. if you are part-god like yanfei says, it's not like he has any reason to be gloating over you anyways... right? despite your research into liyuean mythology, there's not quite much to go off of on partial-adeptus and partial-god relations in comparison to full deities.

but either way, this was the modern day and the adepti sat in their abodes rather than helping humanity, so out of spite, you grab a packet of oatmeal from the cabinet before sliding it his way.

"make the oatmeal yourself, then," you say evenly, trying to leave snippiness out of your tone. it doesn't work well, judging on the way xiao's brow furrows in irritation. nonetheless, xiao pinches the paper packet between two fingers as he reads the label.

"i am not a fan of oatmeal," he decides after a few seconds, dropping the packet back onto the island countertop. even in your tired state, you can still call his bluff. oatmeal didn't just come around yesterday. it's not like you're throwing a processed big mac at his face and expecting him to come to terms with it.

"what food do you like, then?" you ask, curiosity genuinely piqued. even if you thought he was bluffing, this was a way to learn about the appetites of the adepti and how they differed from humans. this was information that had yet to be recorded and it was information from a primary source. dietary information could be used to better understand offerings placed upon adepti alters by ancient liyueans and-

"almond tofu," xiao states plainly. "and mint jelly."

you stare at him. you blink. you blink once more. despite your silence as you mull over his confession, you cannot bring yourself to actually think about your words before you say them. therefore, you ask xiao a question.

"wait, do adepti prefer soft foods due to their teeth or digestive system or something? does taking on a human-esque form not provide you with the same eating capabilities as humanity? because-" you trail off on seeing his slightly irritated expression. oh.

"you truly consider adepti not being able to able to consume mortal foods a possibility? do you have no respect for the adepti?" xiao seethes, amber eyes narrowing as he glares at you.

oh. right. respect. hm. xiao being born in a time where respect towards members of a higher social hierarchy has altered how he views the two of your interactions, yet increasing interconnectedness amongst humans through technology and the collapse of social divisions has led to current-day humans viewing all as equals and addressing them as such, besides the given familial hierarchies. but xiao is not family to you. he is no greater than a stranger in your eyes, yet there is a stark contrast in how he views himself compared to you.

in this moment, you realize you have made an error. you view xiao as a potential friend, while xiao views you as no more than a subject of the long-since-dead rex lapis. he is one of rex lapis' closest comrades, while you likely never would have set eyes on the god apart from the rite of descension if you had lived in the same time period as him.

yet, you're not really sure how to address xiao with the level of respect he desires. after all, you're rather... unrefined. sure, you could use what little formalities the language provides such as sir or o holy adeptus xiao, of which thine hast protected liyue for many millennia, yet neither seem too appealing. he's your roommate, it's not like you're approaching the altar to worship him. you're approaching your kitchen. your name is on the lease after all.

so, you take a step back, fold your arms over your chest, and lean your back against the cool metal of your refrigerator. you were in no mood to pick a fight, but if asking the adeptus basic questions would get him this riled up, you would seek to terminate your living situation as soon as possible. he at least had to attempt to be pleasant, even if you had a tendency to overstep the supposed boundaries of him that absolutely perplexed you.

"adeptus xiao," you begin. your tone is even and xiao looks almost curious at your sudden, cool tone. "do you view yourself as above me?"

"the adepti are far stronger than mortals, thus it is a part of our duties under our contracts signed with rex lapis to help protect humanity," xiao says. his tone is slightly harsh and yet his evasive words are enough to give you your answer.

"as an adeptus once under rex lapis, you are thus beholden to any contract you sign? as like a... duty thing of sorts," you ask and xiao nods in agreement. you let out a slight sigh as you collect your thoughts.

it is time to channel your inner yanfei. you blink and plaster a polite, small smile on your face. that's what yanfei does in the court room, right? in her delivery of information, she must seem firm but pleasant enough to want to listen to, in order to convince the jury. but you are no yanfei and you have no jury. instead, you just have a several-thousand-year-old partial deity sitting in your kitchen with a packet of instant oatmeal in front of him. yet, for your own sanity, you must try.

"i am... unsure as to why you wanted to live with me. you do not seem like the city type nor the type to want to associate with humans, but we all have our secrets, i guess. nonetheless, you agreed to sign the contract, which means you are thereby subject to its terms, right?" you ask and xiao gives a rough nod in return.

"the contract does not say that i cannot admonish your... impudent questions," xiao states and you feel like a snezhnayan ice fisher who has just gotten a bite on their line. you bite back a giddy smile at luring xiao directly into your trap.

"correct, but you are subject to participating in my studies of the adepti, provided that they do not bring you psychological or bodily harm," you say and xiao suddenly looks wary at whatever this conversation might be leading to.

"i suppose," xiao says, revealing his uncertainty. "that the contract does enlist those terms."

"well then, adeptus xiao. i have decided upon our newest study," you say and, despite how hard you try to hold it back, a grin spreads across your face. the adeptus sits up a bit straighter at your words, yet remains silent as he waits for you to continue.

"our first study of the adepti will consist of only you. i do not need for you to request of the assistance of anyone else, unless if you need it. but, i'll be trying to figure out one thing!" you say and xiao looks annoyed as to how you keep dragging this out, so you decide to cut it short before he can snap at you once more. "for our first study, we'll be focusing on what it will be like for an adepti to live amongst mortality and live a typical mortal life."

xiao stares at you. if he's furious, he hides it behind his expressionless face. for once, his typical scowl isn't there, yet you feel almost reassured at his seething reaction. sure, he might be angry, but he respects his previous master too much to defy the bounds of the contract this early, right? your suspicions are confirmed as he exhales sharply, followed by a tight nod.

"you wish for me to live as a human?" xiao questions and you nod enthusiastically, taking a step forward and resting your hands on the opposite side of the kitchen island from him. you careen forward and stare directly into the amber eyes belonging to the adeptus that nearly killed you yesterday. adrenaline rushes through your blood as you realize exactly what xiao signed himself up for.

xiao has inadvertently wrapped himself around your finger and you're determined to make his stay an enjoyable one, even if he loathes the idea at the moment.

"exactly! you don't have to take a mortal form or anything, i'm just interested in seeing as to how you would adjust through going through the typical mortal routine. as for me, i'll be your tour guide through all of this, so don't worry!" you say. your words provide him little relief and xiao stares at you cooly.

"fine. i will participate in your... research," xiao confirms reluctantly after a few moments of silence and you have to bite back an excited squeal. getting to show an adeptus everything humanity has to offer? the excitement nearly overwhelms you, but you have to squash your excitement to focus on the situation at hand.

"alright then. for our first task, i'll show you how to make instant oatmeal! but, there's more than just that flavor," you state, gliding over to the cabinets and pulling out the box. you hastily slap it on the table and push it gently over to him. "take your pick!"

xiao eyes the box uneasily.

yeah, this is good enough revenge for nearly killing me, right?

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#xiao x reader #genshin impact x reader #xiao #genshin impact #//taom #axia's writing

[cakers-2000]

~A Savior Will Be There~ (Kaeya X Fem!Reader)

Genshin Impact brainrot go brrrr.

Anyways I’m obsessed with this game and I love Kaeya SO MUCH I would die for him

I’m not very far in the game but I love him 🥺

Word count: 1.78k

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“(Y/N) please be careful.”

“Oh relax Kaeya I can take care of myself.” You mentally rolled your eyes as you heard your boyfriend repeat the same thing he had been telling you for almost the past hour.

You were currently making your way down the long winding stairway that lead to the entrance of Monstadt. God why did this place have to have so many stairs?

Kaeya was walking beside you, nothing but worry showing in his eyes. “(Y/N) I just… Are you sure you want to go out on this mission?”

You finally stopped once you reached the bottom of the last staircase. There was only but a few feet between you and the front gates. Only a few feet between you and the harsh wilderness you would have to face. And who knew how long you would be left to brave in the wild, who knew how long you would be separated from Kaeya.

Though she was distant you could see Amber slightly swaying near the gate, hands behind her back as she seemed to be on the lookout. Once she noticed you she hopped to attention and waved her hands frantically in order to draw your eyes over. “(Y/N) over here!”

You couldn’t help but giggle at her before slightly waving back and shouting, “Hang on I’ll be right over!”

Your attention went back to your boyfriend.

His arms were crossed over his chest, eyebrow slightly raised as he awaited a response to his previous question.

“Kaeya I’m sure. I’ll be fine. Are you seriously doubting my skills?”

“No that’s not it. (Y/N) let’s face it you aren’t able to wield elemental magic. This job really is best suited for someone who can. I already offered to take it so why are you so persistent to take it?”

A small sigh escaped your lips as you shook your head. “So that’s what this is about.” Gently you moved your hands to unravel his arms and intertwine your fingers with his own. You could see the hint of a smile begin to curl onto his lips just at the mere touch of your fingers. “I’m not just going to be by myself. Amber’s going to be with me the whole time. You know I’m not doing this just to be a nuisance. I’m doing this for my own research too. You guys managed to beat Stormterror but I still want to know how exactly his power formed in the temples. There’s gotta be something more to do this.”

He stayed silent as he listened to you speak, watching as you drew soothing circles on the tops of his hands in an attempt to soothe his nerves.

“Fine, I can understand your reasoning well enough.” His eyes glanced in Amber’s direction. She seemed to be fidgeting more and more every second she had to wait for the two of you. “You’ll be back in a couple days right?”

You nodded happily in response before standing on your tiptoes in order to press a sweet kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you when I get back.” You were quick to wrap your arms around him in a tight embrace and he did the same, resting his cheek on your head and letting out a small huff sound. “I love you kaeya.”

“I love you too.”

You started to back away. It was time to leave. His arms seemed hesitant to unwrap from around your waist at first but they eventually moved when you shone a bright smile up at him.

And he knew as he watched you walk out those gates, waving happily at him as you walked backwards that he had nothing to worry about.

At least that’s what he had thought.

~~~~~~~

He had hoped he would always see that bright smile on your features.

He had hoped he would be able to keep you safe forever.

He had hoped that he would never see you come to any harm.

But those were all hopes of course, and eventually though he didn’t want to admit it, he would have to face reality.

The sight in front of him was enough to stop his heart. Nothing but fire everywhere and you nowhere in sight. Though there were plenty of enemies around the area. Though he was quite a distance away he could spot Amber atop a cliff, kneeling and shooting into the grass below at the enemies charging towards her. She seemed to be hurt… but where were you?

He pushed himself to run faster, he had to get there. He had to know that you were okay.

The fire burned even hotter than he’d imagined it would. He shouted up in Amber’s direction, hands clasping around his sword to keep the enemies now charging in his direction at bay.

“Amber are you alright? Where’s (Y/N)?”

“I-I don’t know!”

“What!?”

“We got ambushed! I told her to run but some of them were tailing her, I tried to stop them but there were so many…”

“Shit… Okay.” There was the sound of feet behind him and a sweet voice spoke up. “Mind if I tag in Kaeya?”

“Lisa, perfect timing.” He jumped back to stand beside her, already in a running position. “Can you assist Amber with this? I’m go-”

She didn’t even let him finish his sentence as she brought her book in front of her, already ready to fight. “Yes, yes, we can handle it. Go and find (Y/N).”

“Right.”

And just as quickly as he had gotten there he was off in the opposite direction, hollering your name as loudly as he could.

He didn’t want to give up hope but after what felt like forever (though it had only been a few minutes) and he had not found you he was becoming a bit distraught. Was he ever going to find you again? Oh he hoped to god that you were okay. All he wanted was to see your smile right now. All he wanted was to hold you in his arms. He just wanted to see you.

“Kaeya! Kaeya over here!”

It was like he had been rejuvenated. Your voice was frantic, you sounded almost scared but he was just glad to hear your voice. He felt like his legs would give out, he had been running for so long but you were so close. He had to protect you. He had to keep you safe.

When he finally made it to you he could spot you holding onto a tree branch, hugging it tightly as your eyes were squeezed shut. There were a few enemies, the same as Amber had been fighting, attempting to jump to your level while another few were repeatedly smacking at the base of the tree with their weapons in an attempt to either knock you or the tree down.

There was already a swirl of emotions going through his mind just at seeing the current state you were in but it all worsened when he heard you speak to him, your voice shaky as you cried. “Please help me Kaeya.”

And that was all it took. He had always been a rather level headed and laid back man, perhaps too laid back but you were in danger. And he had to save you.

He had never drawn his weapon so quickly nor had he ever used his ice so forcefully as he shouted with almost pure rage, “Get away from her!”

Not only had he managed to freeze all of his opponents but the ice had traveled towards the top of the tree, almost reaching you despite how high you were up. There was no time to marvel at his sudden burst of power though. He had enemies to defeat.

And with them frozen they were a cake walk. The second the last enemy disintegrated into a clear mist he turned back to face you, and ran towards the tree where you were already beginning to sit upwards.

Once he reached the bottom he held out his arms, a smile of both reassurance and relief crossing his features. He could see you wipe away the tears that had clouded your eyes before jumping down into his inviting embrace.

He had never hugged you this tightly before, but it was so warm and comforting. You could feel him bury his face in your hair as he rocked the both of you and placed kisses on the top of your head. You let out a shaky sigh as you returned his hug, just as tightly. The smooth rocking motion with the combined force of his soft and gentle kisses were enough to calm your pounding heart and shaky nerves.

“Thank you Kaeya. I was so scared…”

“Of course. I promised I was always going to protect you didn’t I?”

You nodded in response before nuzzling your face in his chest. “You did. But how did you know where we were? I mean you were supposed to be back in Mondstadt.”

“To be honest I was getting a little worried when you never came back. It’s been almost a week, but once Lisa told us there was trouble near The Temple of the Wolf I… I just had a gut feeling that you were in danger. I’m so glad I decided to come with her.”

“Me too Kaeya… I’m sorry I worried you so much and-”

“Shhh.” He interrupted before you could finish your sentence and pulled away from you so that he could stare down into your eyes. “Please don’t apologize, it's not your fault.” His hand fell to caress your cheek and you stayed in a comfortable silence, doing nothing but staring into each others eyes. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”

He couldn’t hold back anymore. He leaned himself in to place a rather hungry kiss to your lips. You had never felt him kiss you with such passion before you, but it wasn’t as if it wasn’t a welcome surprise. You kissed him back with the same amount of lust, smiling into it as you heard a low rumble, an almost purr sound escape his throat. His hands tangled themselves in your hair and he pulled you even closer in an attempt to deepen the kiss. His sudden action surprised you and a small ‘eep’ of surprise left you. A small chuckle escaped him at the sound and you could do nothing more than smile brighter.

You honestly didn’t know what you would have done if he hadn’t had come to your rescue, but somehow you knew he would.

He was your savior.

Your knight in shining armor.

And you knew you had nothing to worry about while he was by your side.

#kaeya ragnvindr #kaeya #genshin impact kaeya #genshin impact #kaeya x reader #kaeya scenario #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact scenario

[saiilorstars]

Star-Crossed

Previous Story || Current Masterlist

Chapter 6: Friends of the Ood

Fandom: Doctor Who // Pairing: 10th Doctor x OFC

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @perfectlystiles

Minerva’s face claim: Victoria Camacho // (Kaeya’s face claim: Michelle Trachtenberg)

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Chapter summary: The Doctor and Minerva take Donna to see her first alien planet. Things go wrong when they realize what's happening with the Ood and for some reason, Minerva feels a terrible ache in her chest.

"Afraid you're gonna lose, Minerva?" Donna taunted as she did several laps in the swimming pool of the TARDIS, "I'm just asking for one little race."

Minerva just smiled and watched her ginger friend swim around the large pool. The two had taken for a relaxing swim before going to Donna's first alien planet adventure. Minerva had been talking about the pool earlier and Donna wanted to give it a go. So, Minerva brought the ginger to the wardrobe and plucked out two bathing suits to get into the pool.

Donna wore a one-piece, lavender bathing suit with thin straps going criss-cross on her back. Minerva chose a white one-suit, not feeling quite secure in a bikini for some reason. It had deep cut-outs on either side, a gold circular pendant binding the bust and the abdominal pieces together. But while Donna was taking some swims, Minerva was sitting outside with her feet dangling below in the water. Her hair was left down to its natural length and the clip she was supposed to be using to be in the pool was right beside her.

"C'mon!" Donna called again, swimming towards her.

The Doctor walked in, having heard Donna's constant calls for his Clever Girl. "What's going on?"

"Minerva doesn't wanna race with me," Donna rested her arms on the floor beside Minerva, "I told her I'd go easy on her."

The Doctor bent down beside Minerva, "You haven't told her?"

Minerva smiled with embarrassment, "Nope..."

"Told me what?" Donna looked between them, a frown growing on her. What was she missing out on now!? Those two always had some inside jokes going on!

"Minerva's an excellent swimmer," the Doctor declared, "She used to be on a swim team as a kid."

"Wow, and you didn't say?" Donna asked Minerva, eyes wide, "All this time you could've easily won a round with me!"

"I didn't want to..." Minerva shrugged. She liked swimming but she didn't like boasting about her natural ease with it. There was simply no need to.

"Well c'mon then," Donna grabbed her hand, "Do one round with me. I want to see how fast you are!"

"No, let's not," Minerva tried to pull back.

"Oh go on," the Doctor encouraged, "You'll be excellent as usual!" He kissed her cheek.

Minerva smiled, sighing as she reached for the clip, "Alright, then. I'm coming in."

"Hooray!" Donna clapped and swam around them.

"Let me," the Doctor took the clip from Minerva.

"You know how?" she teased, "Just twist and snap."

"Ha, ha, I think I can manage to do some hair."

"Yeah, figures since you take two hours each day," she mumbled.

"Oi!" he frowned, "I do not take two hours."

She glanced at him, raising an eyebrow, "Three?"

"Minerva," he mumbled, raising her hair as she instructed and snapping the clip to hold her hair.

"Yes Martian?" she shifted to peck his lips.

"Nothing..." he sighed, the kiss was enough to shut him down, even if it was just a simple peck.

"Good," she patted his cheek, kissing him again more deeply before jumping into the pool. "Donna Noble, you better get ready!"

"Oh, a challenge," Donna returned to them, both having their hands on the edge, "Do the honors, spaceman!"

"On your marks..." the Doctor stood to his feet, still a bit hazed from Minerva, "...get set...go!"

Both women pushed themselves with their feet, swimming ever so fast. The Doctor beamed when Minerva started getting ahead. Oh, she was just amazing at swimming! He actually hadn't seen that well of a swimmer since...

He shook his head, not wanting to finish that thought. He knew exactly who Minerva reminded him of as a swimmer. There was only one person who swam as fast as she did...Kaeya. Granted, it was expected from the princess of a species of water. As much as the Doctor didn't want to think of it, Minerva did share that similarity in rather high levels. Minerva was incredibly fast, she could stay underwater for a long time past any human he'd ever seen, and she was skillful like no other. He thought she was rather lovely as a swimmer and always tried pushing away the similarity as best as he could. It wasn't fair to Minerva, nor Kaeya. He should just focus on Minerva and only her. And that's what he tried with great struggle, but still tried.

"Oi, you're too fast!" Donna complained as she stopped midway, Minerva already making her return trip back to the Doctor.

"Sorry!" she called, making the ginger laugh.

"Minerva wins!" the Doctor declared, finally out of those thoughts of his. He bent down with a grin, "My Clever Girl wins."

"Thank you Martian," she grinned back, "What's my prize?"

"A kiss from a Martian," he tapped his lips.

"Ew, thank god I didn't win," Donna muttered as she returned as well.

"Mm, I'd rather get a kiss from a human," Minerva taunted.

Immediately, the Doctor thought back to Cody. Ever since they had left Isadora's house, he'd been having more and more thoughts of Minerva and Cody actually getting together. He'd been having some nightmares about it too. The kind where Minerva openly and flat out said she preferred Cody over him any day...and then she left, forever.

It was hard to ignore them, but he did...because he came to the conclusion that he didn't want to give Minerva up. Yes, it was probably selfish but he was doing it out of lo...

He was doing it because he was in like with her. Yes. That's what he meant to say. He didn't want to give her up because he knew for a fact that only he could make her the happiest woman in the universe, despite all their differences and struggles.

"I'm just messing with you, Martian!" Minerva laughed, pulling him out of his thoughts, "Of course I'd want a kiss from my big, hot Martian," she leaned over and pecked his lips.

He faintly smiled, "Thank you."

"Well, I'm gonna go shower," Donna stepped out of the pool and wrapped her towel around her body, "You two behave," she wagged a finger at the pair.

"You're ever so funny, Donna," the Doctor rolled his eyes, "But you should know that you really are not."

"Uh-oh," Minerva swam back a few feet.

The Doctor only had the chance to mutter out two words, "Uh-oh what?" before he was pushed into the pool.

Donna busted out laughing, nearly falling back with so much laughter she had pouring out, "Oh my god!"

The Doctor shook his head, looking at himself and seeing he was soaking wet. He was still in his suit with shoes on, "That wasn't funny!"

"I thought it was," Donna shook her head, still not over it.

"Next stop, Donna Noble's home!" he shouted, completely outraged.

"Yikes," Donna stopped laughing almost immediately, "Minerva, I leave that up to your charms cause I really don't want to go home! Bye!" she quickly rushed off, smirking when she got a glimpse before leaving of Minerva swimming over to the spaceman.

"She is going home right now! I'm not even gonna land, nope! I'm gonna chuck her out from the sky!" the Doctor was rambling in his fury, "And no parashoot either! She'll just have to wing it! Then I'll throw all her suitcases out and-"

"Woah there Martian," Minerva was now in front of him, her hands on his chest, "Don't you think you're overreacting just a bit?"

"I'm all wet and in my suit, Minerva, look," he reached inside his jacket's pocket and took out his screwdriver, "It's wet too!" his frown turned into a pout, "That's not fair!"

She laughed, "You're so cute sometimes!" she took his screwdriver and threw it to the floor.

"Sometimes?" And then his pout reverted to a frown, suddenly his soaked appearance wasn't a big problem.

"You can't be cute all the time," she shrugged calmly, "Sometimes you have to be a bit hot," she supplied, leaning up to his ear, "And sometimes you have to be a bit sexy," she smirked as she faced him again, the pink tint on his cheeks more than satisfying for her, "But right now, you look really adorable with your hair all floppy and wet." She laughed as she ruffled through it.

"She is so going home..." he managed to say, her little compliments - plus having her right in front of him when she was practically little clothed - were a bit distracting...just a bit.

"What can I do to change your mind?" she asked seriously, though the faint smile letting her know he really wasn't going to send Donna home, "I'll do anything."

"Anything?"

She nodded, "Anything, I'm at your service Martian."

"I want a kiss right here," he tapped his lips. She nodded and pecked his lips, "And another one," he tapped again and he was kissed again, "And another," he was kissed again, "Another," this time he grabbed her by the waist, his hearts racing as his fingers brushed on her exposed sides.

Minerva had chills going around her body at the sensation of his fingers on her skin, "And then?" she mumbled, doing her best to focus on his face entirely.

"And then I want a big kiss," he smiled.

"With pleasure," she draped her arms around his neck and tugged herself closer, chest-to-chest, "But for the record I was already planning on doing this anyways," she said before kissing him.

And so, the Doctor forgot all about Donna and her little stunt. The only thing on his mind was his Clever Girl who kissed so sweet and soft.

~0~

The TARDIS was currently jostling its three passengers all around, all aboard for their newest trip. The Doctor and Minerva were finally granting Donna her first alien planet trip which had the ginger beaming here and there.

"Set the controls to random! Mystery tour," the Doctor explained as the box came to a halt, "Outside that door could be any planet, anywhere, any when in the whole wide- are you all right?" He paused when he saw Donna blinking and looking around.

"Terrified. I mean, history's one thing, but an alien planet..." the ginger breathed.

"I know," Minerva grinned, "Each time I go to a new one, it's just so wonderful! Though I have to say my favorite one is Planet Sto, Astrid took me to all the shops they had."

"Can we go there next?" Donna asked, quite serious. She was never one for shopping but an alien shopping spree didn't sound too bad.

"How about we get through this one first?" the Doctor offered, nodding for the doors where their secret trip awaited them. Donna beamed and nodded fairly fast, "I know what it's like - everything you're feeling right now. The fear, the joy, the wonder - I get that!"

"Seriously? After all this time?" Donna asked, a bit surprised.

"Well, now it's even more wonderful because I got my Clever Girl with me," he wound an arm around Minerva's waist, tugging her closer to him.

Donna rolled her eyes, "Don't start you two," she warned and headed for the doors, "Oh! All right, then, you and me both! This is barmy!" The pair followed, the Doctor stopping for his coat on a rail. "I was born in Chiswick. I've only ever done package holidays. Now I'm here. This is- I mean, it's- I dunno. It's all so- I don't even know what the word is!" Donna opened the door and stepped out into a rather cold snowy environment. "Oh, I've got the word. 'Freezing'," she frowned.

The Doctor stepped out and helped Minerva, taking a quick scan of the place, "Snow! Ah! Real snow! Proper snow at last!" although deep down, the Doctor worried over the climate for a certain Clever Girl.

"I think we deserve real snow," Minerva nodded, no one catching a quick flash of blue her eyes gave as she looked up to the blue sky. She started to shiver as the seconds went by but she didn't want to leave, the place was amazing!

"What do you think?" the Doctor looked at Donna.

"Bit cold," she shivered, hugging herself.

"Look at the view!" Minerva exclaimed, trying to run forwards, but the snow was making it a struggle.

"Yep. A beautiful...cold view," Donna called.

"Millions of planets, millions of galaxies and we're on this one. Molto bene! Belissimo! Says Donna, born in Chiswick. You've had a life of work and sleep," the Doctor caught up with Minerva, snatching her by the waist, suppressing a laugh at her surprised squeals "And the telly and rent," he continued, hugging her to provide some heat for her, "Takeaway dinners, birthdays and Christmases, and two weeks holiday a year and then you end up here! Donna Noble, citizen of the Earth, standing on a different planet. How about that, Donna?"

Crickets.

The pair turned around and saw they were short one ginger.

"Hey, Donna?" Minerva called.

The ginger reappeared from the box of wonders wearing a warm coat with a fur-lined hood, carrying a blue coat in her arm, "Sorry. You were saying?"

"Better?" the Doctor smiled.

"Lovely, thanks."

"Comfy?"

"Yep."

Minerva tilted her head, studying the ginger for a second, "Can you hear anything inside that?"

"Pardon?" she leaned forwards, making Minerva laugh, "Oh, here," she handed Minerva the blue coat.

"Oh thanks!" Minerva took the coat and started putting it on.

"Minerva, we can go back..." the Doctor began but was soon cut off with a hand over his mouth.

"No, I don't want to go. It's lovely and I want to explore," she declared.

The sound of a rocket flying over made the trio look up, Donna gaping at the sight, "A rocket. Blimey, a real, proper rocket. Now that's what I call a spaceship," she slapped the Doctor on the arm, "You've got a box - he's got a Ferrari. Come on, let's see where it's going," she trudged ahead, the Doctor pouting and glancing back at the TARDIS,

Minerva, now dressed in the double-breasted, closed, blue coat, giggled and turned his head back, "I love your box of wonders."

"Really?"

She nodded, her fingers reaching further around his face and pulling him down. "So much," she murmured before kissing him.

"OI!" Donna called back, not about to let a snog session ruin her chances to see about that rocket.

The pair pulled apart with smiles for each other, Donna's call not even perturbing them. The Doctor put an arm around Minerva's waist and headed after the ginger.

"Perhaps we should really go back..." he repeated, not to pleased with her wanting to stay. This was her health after all, they shouldn't risk it.

"Don't you dare," was Minerva's only words on the topic.

~0~

The trio were walking in the direction of the rocket when the Doctor stopped, his head turning as he heard ethereal music somewhere. "Hold on-can you hear that?" he asked, "Donna, take your hood down."

The ginger pulled down her hood, "What?"

"That noise-it's like a song..."

Minerva frowned as she heard something extremely faint, very very faint, "I think...no," she shook her head. She must be dreaming, her head hadn't cleared from her mother's words and her father's pending illness.

"Over there!" the Doctor broke into a run in a different direction.

Then again, if the Doctor had heard it...

After a short run, they found the body of an alien half buried in the snow, an Ood.

"What is it?" Donna asked, she and Minerva kneeling by the body.

"An Ood. He's called an Ood," the Doctor answered, kneeling as well and pulling out a stethoscope.

"The humans' servants?" Minerva frowned as she recalled the story the Doctor told her about when he and Rose had met "the devil". As much as she believed in the spirits, that one was just creepy to her.

"Yup," the Doctor mumbled, the rise of guilt flashing in his mind when he remembered the Ood that had died last time he saw them...thanks to him.

"But its face..." Donna said, a bit horrified at the appearance of the alien.

"Donna, not now. It's a "he", not an "it". Give us a hand," the Doctor gestured for her to kneel on the other side.

"Sorry."

The Doctor moved the stethoscope around the Ood's chest, "I don't know where the heart is. I don't know if he's got a heart. Talk to him. Keep him going."

"What's your name?" Minerva asked softly.

"Designated Ood Delta 50."

Donna, seeing how the Ood's translator ball lit up when it spoke, picked it up and spoke into it, "My name's Donna. That's Minerva."

"No, no, no, no. You don't need to," the Doctor motioned for her to put down the ball.

"Sorry. Oh, God- this is the Doctor. Just what you need - a doctor. Couldn't be better, eh?"

"You've been shot," the Doctor blinked at the injury the Ood bore on its abdominal.

"Who would shoot an Ood?" Minerva frowned, "I thought you said they were peaceful..."

"They are," the Doctor confirmed. Minerva made a good point, if the Ood were peaceful beings...why would they need to be shot?

The Ood struggled to speak out, "The circle—"

"No, don't try to talk," Donna tried shushing it.

"The circle must be broken."

"The circle? What do you mean? Delta 50, what circle? Delta 50? What circle?" the Doctor asked repeatedly.

But suddenly the Ood opened his eyes that were a deep, glowing red. The trio scrambled back as it growled and sat up. But the growl quickly faded and he fell back, dead.

"He's gone, now..." Donna blinked, walking towards the body.

"Careful, Donna," Minerva warned the ginger.

But Donna felt no more threats from the dead alien. She placed a hand on his chest, "There you are, sweetheart," she stroked his head, "We were too late. What do we do, do we bury him?"

"The snow will take care of that," the Doctor stood to his feet, helping Minerva up then.

"Who was he? What's an Ood?" the ginger turned around.

"They're servants - of humans in the 42nd century. Mildly telepathic. That was the song—it was his mind calling out."

"I couldn't hear anything," Donna stood.

"But I could," Minerva frowned, looking at the Doctor with concern, "It was really faint though, only like small snippets that faded as soon as they started. How can I do that if Donna can't and we're both human?"

The Doctor could see that as part of Kaeya's people's abilities—the Moontsay's, abilities. They were mildly telepathic and because the crystal had remnants of Kaeya and her people, then it was sure to have been affecting Minerva in that way as well, allowing a snippet of the telepathic abilities to inhabit Minerva's mind.

"I...don't know, sorry," he sighed, the lying was just getting difficult to do when she wore that sweet, innocent look on her face.

"I told you, you were special," Donna reminded, giving the Doctor a questioning look while the brunette looked ahead. With a nod from him, Donna understood that the crystal was acting up again.

"Oi, you're special too," Minerva countered, believing Donna's silence had gone to those self-esteem doubts of hers. Donna didn't consider herself important nor special in the least minimum and that was something Minerva would not stand for.

"I'm not the one who heard a mind song!" Donna tried playing along with Minerva's beliefs.

"For all we know it was just the TARDIS getting into my head," Minerva shrugged, "I've spent a long time in it now. That was probably it." She glanced at the Doctor for another confirmation.

He did a quick nod and looked back at the dead Ood, not having the courage to look her in the eye and lie once more to her. "His eyes turned red," he said instead, hoping to get off the topic.

"What's that mean?" Donna asked.

"Trouble. Come on," he nodded for the ginger to return. He took Minerva's hand and started walking away.

None of them noticed the small wave of snow purposely moving to cover the Ood in a perfect manner followed by a blue light racing up to the sky.

"The Ood are harmless and completely benign," the Doctor was explaining to Donna, Minerva already knowing from his story telling, "Except the last time I met them there was this force, like a stronger mind, powerful enough to take them over."

"What sort of force?" Donna questioned.

"Long story."

"Long walk."

"It was the devil, Donna," Minerva answered.

Donna raised an eyebrow, tossing her answer to the trash, "If you're gonna take the mickey, I'll just put my hood back up."

"Must be something different this time, though," the Doctor mumbled, "Something closer to home," they peered over a bluff and saw a base, Ood Operations, "A-ha! Civilization!"

~ 0 ~

Solana Mercurio was greeting a group of buyers for the Ood in front of the company's warehouse, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Ood-Sphere and isn't it bracing? Here are your information packs with vouchers, 3D tickets and a map of the complex," an Ood was passing out the maps to the buyers, "My name's Solana, Head of Marketing. I'm sure we've all spoken on the vid-phone. Now if you'd like to follow me—"

"Sorry, sorry! We're late! Don't mind us! Hello," the Doctor, Minerva, and Donna came running up, all out of breath, "The guards let us through."

"And you would be—"

The Doctor flashed his psychic paper, "The Doctor, Donna Noble and Minerva Souza."

"Representing the Noble Corporation, PLC Limited, Intergalactic," Donna supplied, Minerva shooting her a proud wink for her quick wit.

"Must have fallen off my list. My apologies, it won't happen again," Solana smiled, writing down their names, "Now then, Dr, Noble, Mrs. Noble, Miss Souza, if you'd like to come with me—"

"Oh, no, no, no. We're not married," the Doctor shook his head, irritated that once again people mistook Donna for his wife.

"We're so not married," Donna added.

"Never."

"Never ever."

"Good because I'd kill both of them if they did that to me," Minerva smirked, taking the Doctor's hand in hers, "My sister cannot marry my boyfriend."

"The only one I'd ever marry is you," the Doctor blurted quite absently, however his comment didn't go over Minerva's head.

"Really?" she blushed, "You'd want to marry me?"

The Doctor, who was now sporting a red blush on his face after realizing what he said, started stuttering, "Well, I mean...y-yes, but not if you-you d-didn't want to. I-I mean if it was al-al right with y-y-you and..." He took a forceful pause, actually afraid he might have scared her off.

"Right, so can we go in?" Donna asked, biting down her laugh at the pair. They were just adorably hilarious!

"Of course. Here is your information pack. Vouchers inside," Solana handed Donna the packet, "Now, if you'd like to come with me, the executive suites are nice and warm." An alarm blared, making everyone look around.

"Ooh, what's that? Sounds like an alarm," the Doctor tried locating the origin of the alarm.

"It's just a siren for the end of the work shift. Now then, this way! Quick as you can!" Solana ushered them inside, also looking about and wondering what the hell was going on.

On a turn of a hallway, Minerva turned around in front of the Doctor and pulled him down into a surprise, passionate kiss, "For the record, I would love to marry you one day," she smiled, Eskimo kissing him afterwards.

The Doctor blinked then smiled, blushing again but this time it was worth it knowing his Clever Girl would actually want to be his wife in a future...

~ 0 ~

Solana was expounding the qualities of the Ood which stood on pedestals for display to the potential buyers, "As you can see, the Ood are happy to serve and we keep them in facilities of the highest standards, "Here at the Double-O - that's Ood Operations - we like to think of the Ood as our trusted friends, "We keep the Ood healthy, safe and educated, "We don't just breed the Ood, we make them better, "Because at heart, what is an Ood... but an extension of us? If your Ood is happy then you'll be happy too," Solana finished with a grand smile and received a round of applause from the buyers. She stepped off her pedestal and moved to the Ood standing in a row, at the center of the room, on circular platforms, "I'd now like to point out a new innovation from Ood Operations. We've introduced a variety package with the Ood translator ball. You can now have the standard setting - 'How are you today, Ood?'" she stopped by the first Ood.

"I'm perfectly well, thank you."

"Or perhaps after a stressful day, a little something for the gentlemen. How are you, Ood?" she moved onto the second.

"All the better for seeing you," the second Ood answered in a sultry female voice.

"And the comedy classic option. Ood, you dropped something."

"D'oh!" the third Ood answered in a Homer Simpson voice, making everyone laugh.

"All that for only five additional credits. The details are in your brochures. Now, there's plenty more food and drink, so don't hold back," Solana stepped back and allowed the buyers to mingle about.

"This is all wrong," Minerva muttered, nearly glaring at the potential buyers.

The Doctor slipped on his glasses and headed to the control board where he switched on the screen. Donna grabbed a drink and followed, along with Minerva, over to the Doctor.

"Ah, got it. The Ood-Sphere," the Doctor pointed to the screen which showed their current location, "I've been to this solar system before - years ago. Ages. Close to the planet Sense-Sphere. Let's widen it out... the year 4126. That is the Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire."

"4126? It's 4126? I'm in 4126?" Donna gasped, Minerva smiling in amusement at her.

"It's good, isn't it?"

"What's the Earth like now?"

"A bit full, but you see, the empire stretches out across three galaxies," the Doctor gestured to three lines connecting in a near triangle across the screen.

I"t's weird. I mean, it's brilliant, but... back home, the papers and the telly, they keep saying we haven't got long to live - global warming, flooding, all the bees disappearing."

"Yeah. That thing about the bees is odd," the Doctor mumbled absently.

"But look at us - we're everywhere. Is that good or bad, though? I mean, are we like explorers or more like a virus?"

"Sometimes I wonder..."

"Oi," Minerva elbowed the Doctor in the ribs, "Don't diss my species," she wagged a finger.

"Oh but what a beautiful virus you are," he teased, taking her pointing finger and kissing it, making her laugh.

"What are the red dots?" Donna asked, chuckling herself and pointing to the dots.

"Ood distribution centers," the Doctor replied, distracted as he kissed each Minerva's fingers, she laughed even harder.

"Across three galaxies? Don't the Ood get a say in this?" Donna questioned, deciding to find out for herself as she saw the pair get into another moment of theirs, "Um... sorry, but..." she tapped the Ood gently, "Hello. Tell me, are you all like this?"

"I do not understand, miss."

"Why do you say, "miss"? Do I look single?"

"Donna, any guy would die for you," Minerva turned around.

"Says the woman who has an alien for a boyfriend," Donna frowned, "C'mon, even the spaceman has a girlfriend!"

"Don't do the 'says' thing, that's mine," Minerva pouted.

"And why do you say it like it's impossible for me to actually have a girlfriend?" the Doctor looked the ginger with a pout.

"Have you seen yourself?" Donna gave him a quick look over.

"I have," Minerva mumbled to the side, blushing deeply for her comment.

Donna shuddered. "Ew."

"Not like that!" Minerva quickly exclaimed, blushing even harder.

"Back to the point, please," the Doctor nearly pleaded, sporting his own embarrassed blush.

"Right. What I mean is, are there any free Ood?" Donna turned to the Ood, "Are there any Ood running wild somewhere like wildebeest?"

"All Ood are born to serve. Otherwise we would die," the Ood answered.

"No one can be born to just serve," Minerva said, sadly looking from one Ood to another, "Everyone has a purpose. Everyone is important."

"Before the humans, what were you like?" Donna asked the Ood, the alien simply tilting it's head.

"The circle," it said.

The Doctor tensed, recalling the last Ood's words, "What do you mean? What circle?"

"The circ- the circle- is-"

"Ladies and gentlemen. All Ood to hospitality stations, please," Solana called.

All the Ood started to leave. The Doctor took off his glasses and reached into his pocket for the map of the complex, "I've had enough of the schmoozing. Do you fancy going off the beaten track?"

"Is that a date?" Minerva raised an eyebrow, playfully biting her lip, "Full of adrenaline?"

"What kind of alien boyfriend would I be if I didn't offer a date like that?" he smirked.

"Then off we go!" she beamed, moving to go ahead when she was yanked back, the Doctor giving her a sharp look, "What?"

"You know the word," he reminded.

"What's the word?" Donna stepped to their side, curious.

Minerva groaned, "Allons-y, then..."

"What?" the ginger frowned, confused.

The Doctor beamed and planted a kiss on Minerva's cheek, "Allons-y!"

"That's such a stupid word!" Minerva shook her head, letting the Martian lead them away, her hand in his.

~ 0 ~

The trio came to a locked gate and the Doctor used his sonic to open it.

"Ood Shift 8 commencing," a voice over rang around the area, "I repeat, Ood Shift 8 commencing."

The trio climbed up a couple steps and looked down into an open area where two rows of Ood were being marched. An Ood at the end of one of the rows fell to its knees, a soldier, Kess, walked over to it, "Get up. I said, get up!" he ordered, cracking a whip.

"They're slaves," Minerva said with utter disgust, "Doctor, you forgot to mention that," she shot him a sharp look.

"Get up!" Kess ordered again, the poor Ood standing up, "March!"

"Last time I met the Ood, I never thought, never asked..." the Doctor mumbled, trying to avoid Minerva's eyes.

"That's not like you," Donna shook her head.

"I was busy..."

"That looks like the boss," Minerva nodded over to two men walking after the Ood, another Ood walking along with them.

"Let's keep out of his way. Come on," the Doctor led them down the stairs and off to another place.

~0~

The trio were striding down a line of warehouses, the Doctor lagging behind as he looked at the map of the complex.

Donna and Minerva stopped at a door where Donna whistled loudly, making the Doctor duck and turn back, "Where did you learn to whistle?" he joined them.

"West Ham, every Saturday," Donna shrugged.

"You are so my sister," Minerva laughed, "I've got a whistle of my own."

"Yeah, where did you learn?" she asked as the Doctor used the sonic on the door.

"I've been on the road since I was fourteen, after I left uncle Aaron I started hitching some rides. You gotta have a whistler like no other."

The door slid open and the group went inside. They found it was a warehouse that was filled with dozens of large shipping containers. There was even a large metal claw that moved along the track in the ceiling, currently lifting and moving some of the containers.

"Ood Export. You see?" the Doctor pointed up to the claw, "Lifts up the containers, takes 'em to the rocket ships. Ready to be flown out all over the three galaxies."

"What, you mean- These containers are full of..." Donna trailed off, she and Minerva gazing up at the claw.

"What do you think?" the Doctor moved to the nearest container and opened it up.

"Oh my god," Minerva clapped her hand over her mouth, appalled at the many Ood standing inside the container in a formation.

"Oh, it stinks. How many of 'em do you think there are in each one?" Donna crinkled her nose at the scent.

"A hundred? More?"

"A great, big empire, built on slavery," Donna frowned.

"It's not so different from your time," the Doctor countered, both women glaring at him.

"We don't have slaves," Donna snapped.

"I didn't even use the maids in my house," Minerva added.

"Who do you think made your clothes?"

Minerva and Donna looked down at their current clothes, suddenly self conscious about them.

"Is that why you travel round with a human at your side? It's not so you can show them the wonders of the universe, it's so you can take cheap shots," Donna spat.

"Sorry..."

"What are you sorry for? Showing us the dark sides of species," Minerva sighed and moved over to his side. He sighed of relief that she hadn't taken offense to it and dropped a kiss to her hair.

"I don't understand, the door was open—why didn't you just run away?" Donna asked the Ood that had remained still.

"For what reason?" one of the Ood asked.

"You could be free," Minerva offered, thinking that was more than enough of a reason to run.

"I do not understand the concept."

"What is it with that Persil ball? I mean, they're not born with it, are they? Why do they have to be all plugged in?" Donna looked at the pair, confused.

"Ood, tell me, does "the circle" mean anything to you?" the Doctor asked, all the Ood's translator balls lighting up as they answered in unison.

"The circle must be broken."

"Whoa, that is creepy," Minerva's eyes widened.

"But what is it? What is the circle?" the Doctor insisted.

"The circle must be broken."

"But why?"

"So that we can sing."

Up above, Kess, along with two guards, had found the group. Kess walked over to a comms, "Mr Halpen, I'm in Ood cargo. I found your unwanted guests," he turned to the guards, "Go!" and he hit a button, an alarm blared.

"That's us, come on!" the Doctor yanked Minerva by the hand and started running.

The trio ran down the maze of shipping containers, Donna stopping at the sight of a door, "Doctor! Minerva! There's a door!" she headed for it when it opened up and guards rushed in.

"Don't move!" one of the guards held a gun to the ginger.

Donna raised her hands in surrender, unaware that the pair had ran off without her.

~0~

"N-n-n-no, wait!" Minerva stopped the Doctor, "We're short one ginger!" they both looked around to see it was just them.

"Stay where you are!" they hard a guard shout from a distance.

"Gotta keep going!" the Doctor pulled her away again, several of the guards beginning to find them.

~ 0 ~

Kess moved down a catwalk and looked down as the pair ran down the maze.

~ 0~

"Donna? Where are you?!" Minerva shouted, frantically looking around for their ginger friend.

~ 0 ~

"All guards withdraw," Kess ordered into the comm.

"Sir?"

"I said withdraw. Keep to the perimeter. I've got these two."

~ 0 ~

Down below, the Doctor and Minerva stopped, the Doctor pressing himself against a container to listen.

"Where is she?" Minerva panted for air, leaning against the container on her back.

~ 0 ~

"I've always wanted to do this," Kess turned on the equipment around him, taking a seat at the controller of the claw.

~ 0~

"Doctor," Minerva tugged on his sleeve and pointed up, both of them seeing the claw moving for them.

"Don't you dare!" he almost growled, yanking her away. If they dared to touch even a strand of Minerva's hair with that thing...

"Where are gonna go!?" Minerva called, glancing back as the claw neared them.

The claw was sent smashing down, just narrowly missing the pair.

~0~

"Can you help me?" Donna stood to her feet, one of the Ood raising its head...with its eyes red, "Oh, no you don't," the ginger breathed in horror.

~0~

Minerva screamed as she and the Doctor fell and rolled on the floor, "It's gonna get us!" she cried as the Doctor jumped to his feet and pulled her for another run.

He cast a glare up to Kess as they ran again.

~0~

"Stay where you are, that's an order! I said stay! Doctor! Minerva!" Donna pounded on the door, the Ood taking slow steps for her.

~0~

The claw knocked the pair again, this time sending them over some barrels and finally to the floor on their backs.

"It's coming," Minerva pointed up, panting for her air.

The Doctor quickly rolled over her, not going to let anyone hurt her if he could help it. He would not fail her, never again. Minerva screwed her eyes shut and held onto the Doctor's lapels when the claw dropped for them, terrified of what could come next.

~0~

Another hand turned off the control up where Kess was, halting the claw just mere inches from the pair below.

~0~

The Doctor lifted his head up, thanking every possible god he knew of for their streak of luck.

"Why aren't we dead yet?" Minerva whispered, her eyes still shut. The Doctor looked down at her and chuckled, internally debating what he was laughing at: her question or her adorable scrunched face. He leaned down and kissed her, without a question Minerva responding to it, "Why are we kissing when we could die?" she murmured against his lips.

"Open your eyes and you'll see," he pulled back so she could see above.

Minerva's eyes opened and gazed above at the claw just inches above them, "We have extremely good luck," she whispered.

The Doctor looked at her eyes, just loving how really deep their shade of green was, they were lovely. He could possibly stare at them all day...

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Minerva blinked, blushing at how close they were and their position at the moment.

"I just love your eyes," he remarked, resting his forehead on hers. He also blushed at her closeness; he could actually feel her breath hitting him as she panted.

"Are you ever gonna get off me?" she asked quietly, her blush growing deeper, "Because I think they're coming..." she tilted her head back to see running feet coming for them.

"Ruin the moment why don't they," he muttered as he pushed him self up, Minerva laughing as he helped her.

~0~

"Doctor, get me out of here!" Donna shouted endlessly from her container as the Doctor and Minerva were being brought by guards.

"If I were you, I'd listen to the ginger," Minerva said to the guards, "You want trouble, simply upset Donna Noble."

"Unlock the container," Kess gave the order.

The door of the container was opened and out came Donna running to hug the pair, "Oh thank god!"

"Nice to see you again, Donna," Minerva flashed a smile.

"All safe and sound," the Doctor added.

"Never mind about me, what about them?" Donna pointed to the row of red-eyed Ood marching out of the container and killing several guards.

"Red alert! Fire!" Kess ordered and started to shoot along with the rest of the guards, "Shoot to kill!"

The trio took the opportunity and made their escape. They ran out of the warehouse, along with Solana, and stopped once they felt they had a decent distance from the Ood.

"If the people back on Earth knew what was going on here..." Donna leaned against a wall as she caught her breath.

"Don't be stupid. Of course they know," Solana waved her off.

"They know how you treat the Ood?"

"No, but they don't ask, same thing," Minerva spat, a new disgusted expression in her eyes, "What does the company do to make them obey?"

"That has nothing to do with me."

"Why cos you don't ask?" Minerva gritted her teeth.

"That's Dr. Ryder's territory!"

"Where is he?" the Doctor moved over, "What part of the complex?" he held the map to her, "I could help with the red-eye. Now show me!"

"Don't think that's gonna work," Donna dashed off.

The Doctor took Minerva's hand, keeping her quite close to him as they ran. No one even looked up to see the blue light just hovering over the spot they had been in.

Solana hurried to a nearby comm. and switched it on, "Mr Halpen, I found the Doctor. He's heading for Ood Conversion."

"On my way," Mr. Halpen replied.

Solana switched off the comm. and took a deep breath, finally returning to normal. A sudden wind picked up as the guards ran past her, under the blue light. The wind held them back for a couple of minutes, as if it was trying to stall.

~0~

The trio stopped by another warehouse, the Doctor looking around as he heard the same Ood song again, "Oh, can you hear it? I didn't need the map. I should've listened!" he used the sonic on the door and unlocked it, ushering Minerva and Donna in before going in himself and locking it shut again.

"Does that mean we're locked in?" Donna frowned at the turn of events. She had just been trapped in a container with red-eyed Ood, did she really want to be trapped in a whole warehouse of more Ood?

Minerva looked around as she felt a faint song run through her mind, "Do you hear that?" she whispered.

They headed for some stairs and went down to discover some cages.

"Oh, my head," the Doctor put a hand on his head, feeling it pound with so much music and a high volume.

"What is it?" Donna asked.

"Like...like singing," Minerva mumbled, "But it doesn't hurt me," she looked at the Doctor, "Because I can't hear it properly, I guess..."

They stopped at a cage where Ood were huddled together. The Doctor switched on a light to get a better view.

"They look different to the others," Donna remarked.

"That's because they're natural-born Ood. Unprocessed. Before they're adapted to slavery. Unspoiled," the Doctor explained as he squatted in front of the cage, the two women following, "That's their song."

"But I can't hear it," Donna sighed, tired of being the only one who couldn't hear the blasted song.

"Do you want to?"

"Yeah," she turned to face the Doctor.

Minerva tilted her head at the Ood, carefully focusing to the small snippets she heard.

"It's the song of captivity," the Doctor explained as he placed his fingertips on Donna's temples.

"Well, let me hear it, spaceman."

"Open your mind. That's it. Hear it, Donna... Hear the music."

But Donna gasped and faced the Ood, tears streaming down her face as she heard, in a max volume, the song of "captivity". It was...it awful. She could actually feel her heart breaking at their sadness, their sorrow.

"Take it away," Donna breathed, turning to the Doctor again, begging him, "Please..."

"You sure?" the Doctor asked, also catching Minerva's look.

"Oh god yes, please..." Donna nodded, letting him place his fingertips on her temples again, "...I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"But you can still hear it," she said after he was done.

"All the time," he said sadly.

"This is completely awful," Minerva sighed, putting a hand over her head, "We need to stop them."

The Doctor used the sonic on the cage while the women heard a noise from the level above, "They're breaking in," Minerva looked up.

"Ah, let 'em," the Doctor entered the cage as the Ood tried shuffling away, "What are you holding?" he asked them, one of the Ood looking up in shyness, "Friend. Doctor, Donna, Minerva, friend. Look at me. Let me see," the Ood came closer, "That's it. That's it, go on. Go on."

One of them held out his cupped hands and removed the top to reveal a mushy...

"Brain?" Minerva frowned.

"It's a brain. A hindbrain," the Doctor explained, "The Ood are born with a secondary brain. Like the amygdala in humans, it process memory and emotion. You get rid of that, you wouldn't be Minerva or Donna anymore. You'd be like an Ood. A processed Ood."

"So the company... cuts off their brains?" Donna could barely utter the words as she thought of the horror those poor Ood went through.

"And stitches on the translator..."

"Like a lobotomy. I spent all that time looking for you two," the ginger looked between the pair, "Because I thought it would be so wonderful out here. I want to go home."

Both stunned, the pair looked at Donna for a second before Mr. Halpen and the others arrived, "They're with the Ood, sir," a guard said.

The Doctor slammed the cage door shut, "What are you gonna do, then? Arrest us? Lock us up? Well, you're too late! Hah!"

~ 0 ~

Now in Mr. Halpen's office, the trio were being handcuffed to a pole by guards. Minerva could not be angrier with the Doctor. "Seriously, stop talking!" she yelled at him.

The Doctor flinched at her loud tone. Of course he was guilty that he'd gotten her and Donna cuffed...but it was all for a good cause after all...he'd just have to apologize in a big way again.

"Why don't you just come out and say it? FOTO activists," Mr. Halpen crossed his arms and leaned against his desk, eyeing the trio with suspicion.

"If that's what Friends of the Ood are trying to prove, then yes," the Doctor snapped.

"The Ood were nothing without us - just animals roaming around on the ice."

"Who the hell are you to decide that?" Minerva raised an eyebrow, "It's because you can't hear their songs...their...very sad song." She looked down, even though she couldn't hear the song in all its volume and glory, she could still feel it in her heart...her heart just seem to ache at it.

"They welcomed it! It's not as if they put up a fight," Mr. Halpen shrugged.

"You idiot! They're born with their brain in their hands, don't you see? That makes them peaceful! They've got to be because a creature like that would have to trust anyone it meets!" Donna was trying very hard not to yell for the first time in her life.

"Nice one," the Doctor whispered to her.

"Thank you."

"The system's worked for 200 years. All we've got is a rogue batch. But the infection is about to be sterilized," Mr. Halpen moved to the comm., "Mr Kess, how do we stand?"

~ 0 ~

In the warehouse, guards were moving canisters into position by the fenced-in, red-eyed and rabid Ood. Kess stood watch, "Canisters primed, sir. As soon as the core heats up, the gas is released. Give it 200 marks... and counting."

~ 0 ~

"You're going to gas them?!" Minerva gasped.

"Kill the livestock. The classic foot-and-mouth solution. Still works," Mr. Halpen said.

Her eyes narrowed, her eyes flashing blue for a brief second to speak, "You were just like them," she mumbled before blinking and looking around.

The Doctor wondered who she meant by 'just like them'. He supposed that was a brief slip of the crystal inside her. But what did it mean? Was it supposed to be his people at the time of the Time War? Someone the Moontsays had disagreements with as well?

Perhaps this wasn't even what he should be thinking about. His poor Clever Girl was suffering without even noticing. He just wanted to fix this before she realized what was going on. He didn't want her know and see how terrified she'd be. This was his job and he was going to see to it that nothing happened to her. She would only be happy and happy and happy, just like she should be. She had such a big heart and she didn't deserve this. She'd gone through so much, endured so much from her family and from alien nonsense she had no business being in. And yet after all that, she still had such a big heart; such kindness inside her. The Doctor loved that about her— the fact that she wasn't corrupted by her mother, by the alien mishaps.

He just loved it...he loved...loved...

He blinked as he picked out the repetitive word running through his head and shook it fiercely. This was not the time to be thinking of any of that.

~ 0 ~

The unprocessed Ood put their hands out to the side...

~ 0 ~

The fenced-in red-eyed Ood stood in the center of the warehouse of containers with their hands out to their sides...

~ 0 ~

The Oods in the showroom gripped their heads as if they were in pain...

~ 0 ~

The fenced-in Ood in the warehouse joined in on the song along with the unprocessed Ood, the volume increasing.

~ 0 ~

The alarms blared inside Mr. Halpen's office, "What the hell?" the man looked around. He, along with Ryder and Ood Sigma, exited the office and left the trio cuffed to the pole. They rushed out to see the guards shooting at the infected Ood.

"It's a revolution," Ryder stared in awe. Halpen pushed past him and went up the stairs, Ood Sigma following in.

~ 0 ~

In the warehouse, Kess had been fenced in instead of the Ood, the canisters still active and his gas mask thrown on the other side of the fence, "Come back! Let me out of here!"

The canisters released the gas and Kess screamed.

~ 0 ~

"Change of plan," Mr. Halpen hurriedly entered his office.

"No reports of trouble off-world, sir. It's still contained to the Ood-Sphere," Ryder entered after him.

"Then we've got a public duty to stop it before it spreads."

"What's happening?" the Doctor asked, just able to hear the shooting from outside.

"Everything you wanted, Doctor. No doubt there'll be a full police investigation once this place has been sterilized so I can't risk a bullet to the head. I'll leave you to the mercies of the Ood," Mr. Halpen headed for the door.

"But, Mr Halpen, there's something else, isn't there? Something we haven't seen," the Doctor called, making the man stop.

"What do you mean?" Donna asked, confused.

"The creature couldn't survive with a separate forebrain and hindbrain, they'd be at war with themselves. There's got to be something else, a third element. Am I right?"

"Again, so clever," Mr. Halpen said.

"It's got to be connected to the red-eye. What is it?"

Mr. Halpen looked at the Doctor in the eye for a second, "It won't exist for very much longer. Enjoy your Ood," and he left the office with everyone else.

The trio immediately started to try and free themselves from their cuffs.

"Well, do something! You're the one with all the tricks! You must've met Houdini!" Donna cried.

"These are really good handcuffs!" the Doctor exclaimed.

"Yes, because it's all about the quality, Martian!" Minerva reached up to her hair and plucked out a bobby-pin.

"Are you really going to try to get out of this with a pin?" Donna shook her head.

"Donna, I've opened the TARDIS with a pin. What's a handcuff to me?"

The Ood entered and made them all desist in their struggles. They started marching towards them, making them scream out in unison that they were friends.

"Doctor, Donna, Minerva, friends!" the Doctor shouted.

"The circle must be broken!" Donna and Minerva added together.

"Doctor, Donna, Minerva, friends!"

"The circle must be broken!"

"Doctor, Donna, Minerva friends!"

"The circle must be broken!"

"Friends, friends, friends! "

"The circle must be broken!"

"Doctor, Donna, Minerva, friends!"

"The circle must be broken!"

"Doctor, Donna, Minerva, friends!"

"The circle must be broken!"

"Doctor, Donna, Minerva, friends!"

"The circle must be broken!"

The Ood held out their translator balls to them but stopped just literal inches away from the trio's translator balls switched off and the Ood held their head in their hands. One lifted its head and the group saw his eyes were normal again, "Doctor. Donna. Minerva. Friends."

"Oh, that's us!" Donna leaned her head back in relief, "That's us!"

"Yes, that's us! Friends! Oh, yes!" the Doctor laughed.

"Do you think you could set us free? My pin broke." Minerva gestured to her handcuff, so innocently that it just added to the Doctor's joyful laughter.

~ 0 ~

The trio ran down the stairs from Halpen's office and across the compound, careful around the ongoing fight. The Doctor came to a halt as he tried to think, "I don't know where it is! I don't know where they've gone!"

"What are we looking for?" Minerva asked.

"Might be underground, like some sort of cave or a cavern or..." the Doctor looked around as they continued to run.

~ 0 ~

On a turn, an explosion knocked the group to the ground.

"Alright?" the Doctor glanced between Minerva and Donna.

"Peachy," Minerva rubbed her head.

The smoke cleared up and they saw Ood Sigma standing in front of them.

~ 0 ~

The group arrived in front of the Warehouse thanks to Ood Sigma where the Doctor used the sonic on the panel to get inside. They rushed in to see a great large brain being kept below within an energy field.

"The Ood brain. Now it all makes sense. That's the missing link. The third element, binding them together," the Doctor said as they all looked below, "Forebrain, hindbrain and this. The telepathic center. It's a shared mind... connecting all the Ood in song."

A weapon clicked behind them and they turned to see Mr. Halpen holding a gun to them, "Cargo. I can always go into cargo. I've got the rockets, I've got the sheds. Smaller business. Much more manageable without livestock."

"He's mined the area," Ryder said.

"You're gonna kill it," Minerva whispered, "The weaker species, huh?" She didn't know why but her chest seemed to ache. "Why? They're innocent..."

But Mr. Halpen ignored the girl, after all that had happened he really could care less about the Ood being 'innocent' and whatnot, "They found that thing centuries ago beneath the northern glacier," he chose to focus on the brain instead. If they were to die, then they might as well know what the thing was.

"Those pylons..." the Doctor said to the women.

"In a circle. "The circle must be broken."" Donna realized, Minerva nodding in agreement.

"Dampening the telepathic field, stopping the Ood from connecting for 200 years."

"And you, Ood Sigma, you brought them here. I expected better," Mr. Halpen shot the Ood a look.

"My place is at your side, sir," Ood Sigma moved to Halpen's side.

He laughed, "Still subservient. Good Oo—" he stopped when he felt a lump in his throat.

"If that barrier thing's in place, how come the Ood started breaking out?" Minerva asked.

"Maybe it's taken centuries to adapt. The subconscious reaching out," the Doctor offered, not so sure himself.

"But the process was too slow, had to be accelerated," Ryder spoke up, turning to Mr. Halpen, "You should never have given me access to the controls, Mr Halpen. I lowered the barrier to its minimum. Friends of the Ood, sir. It's taken me ten years to infiltrate the company. And I succeeded."

"Yes. Yes, you did," Mr. Halpen nodded then pushed Ryder over the railing.

"You murdered him!" Minerva cried, disgusted by the man.

No one dared to look down as they believed Ryder to be absorbed by the brain and so none of them saw the blue glow of light rushing down and making him fade away just before he would actually touch the brain.

"Very observant, brunette. Now then, can't say I've ever shot anyone before... can't say I'm gonna like it, but, uh, it's not exactly a normal day, is it? Still..." he aimed the gun at them.

"Would you like a drink, sir?" Ood Sigma moved in front of the group.

Mr. Halpen laughed, "I think hair loss is the least of my problems right now, thanks."

"Please have a drink, sir," Ood Sigma held a glass out.

"If- if you're gonna stand in their way, I'll shoot you too..." Mr. Halpen seemed to struggle to speak, his last words coming out slurry.

"Please have a drink, sir."

"Have-have you...poisoned me?"

"Natural Ood must never kill, sir."

"What is that stuff?" the Doctor asked curiously.

"Ood-graft suspended in a biological compound."

"He's looking...pale," Minerva remarked, Halpen looking extremely unwell.

"What the hell does that mean?" Mr. Halpen asked, almost gagging.

"Oh dear," the Doctor breathed.

"Tell me!"

"Funny thing, the subconscious. Takes all sorts of shapes. It came out in the red-eye as revenge. It came out in the rabid Ood as anger. And then there was patience. All that intelligence and mercy focused on Ood Sigma. How's the hair loss, Mr Halpen?"

"What have you done?"

"Oh, they've been preparing you for a very long time. And now you're standing next to the Ood brain. Mr Halpen, can you hear it? Listen."

Mr. Halpen looked to the side as he heard the faint Ood Song in his mind, "What have you-I'm... not-"

Ood Sigma stepped out of the way for the group to see what was going on. Mr. Halpen dropped the gun and gripped his head in agony. He pulled at his scalp and it actually came off, revealing an Ood head. He lurched down as he gagged, tentacles coming out of his mouth.

"They-they turned him into an Ood?" Donna gaped.

"Yup," the Doctor nodded, looking at Donna and Minerva and finding the clever girl to be somewhat distance.

"Minerva?" he asked.

"They died, so many died," she whispered so sadly it broke his hearts. She placed a hand over her heart and he knew that it was another slip of the crystal.

Mr. Halpen made an odd gurgling noise and coughed up his secondary brain.

"He has become Ood-kind and we will take care of him," Ood Sigma said.

"It's weird, being with you two," Donna remarked, "I can't tell what's right and what's wrong anymore."

"It's better that way. People who know for certain tend to be like Mr Halpen," the Doctor said and heard a loud beeping noise, "Oh!" he turned off the detonation packs quickly, "That's better. And now... Ood Sigma, will you allow me the honor?"

"It is yours, Doctor."

"Oh yes!" the Doctor went to the equipment that powered the field, "Stifled for over 200 years but not anymore. The circle is broken. The Ood can sing!"

The field around the brain shut off and the song emerged, heard by everyone now.

"I can hear it!" Donna exclaimed as the Doctor laughed.

Minerva turned to the Doctor, his laughter cutting short when he saw her face covered in tears. He rushed up to her, pulling her away from the others, "What's wrong!? Why are you crying!?" he checked her over for any physical injuries he might have missed earlier.

"I...I don't know," Minerva admitted, looking around as she thought, "My chest," she placed her hand over her chest again, "It...it hurts, it's...this..this is so sad."

The Doctor grew silent, that was Kaeya's pain, Kaeya's pain breaking through.

"Why am I so sad?" Minerva burst into tears.

The Doctor pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly, looking over her to Donna who stared with confusion and concern. For such a happy moment, it hadn't felt like it...

~ 0 ~

The Doctor and Donna stood outside the TARDIS, Ood Sigma and several others a few feet away from them. The Doctor kept the door open in case Minerva were to call or shout for him. She'd been put to rest after her sudden crying, no struggles given for the first time. The Doctor had made sure her she was as comfortable as possible. He felt responsible, truly responsible, for everything Minerva was going through. He felt so impotent with the situation and frankly, he didn't know how long he could last like this. Finding Kaeya was proving to be an even bigger challenge than it was with Aaron Lozano.

He had to basically sit there and watch how Minerva endured Kaeya's crystal's effects.

"The message has gone out. That song resonated across the galaxies. Everyone heard it. Everyone knows. The rockets are bringing them back. The Ood are coming home," the Doctor spoke, his thoughts pushed away as he focused on the Ood. The faster he finished up here, the faster he could get to Minerva's side and take care of her.

"We thank you, Doctor, Donna, friends of Ood-kind," Ood Sigma said, "And what of you now? Will you stay? There is room in the song for you."

"Oh-I've-I've sorta got a song of my own, thanks."

"I think your song must end soon."

The Doctor stiffened, "Meaning?"

"Every song must end. Even a flower's song must end."

"Yeah..." the Doctor turned to Donna, avoiding the trouble to think of those confusing words, "Um, what about you? Do you still want to go home?"

"Nope, I think there's someone in that box that needs my help," Donna gave him a sharp look. She would certainly not be leaving the spaceman and Minerva at any moment, not when there was this big of a problem with Minerva. Besides the traveling and all its glory, she truly did take a liking to Minerva, and she wanted help the Doctor in any way so Minerva would be well again.

"Then we'll be off," the Doctor cleared his throat, the ginger certainly had a look of doom when she wanted to.

"Take this song with you," Ood Sigma said.

"We will," Donna nodded.

"Always," the Doctor added.

"And know this, you will never be forgotten. Our children will sing of the Moontsay-Doctors, and our children's children, and the wind and the ice and the snow will carry your names forever."

If the Doctor hadn't been too focused on Minerva he would've caught the alerting word in the Ood's words. He, along with Donna who had missed the word as well, quickly hurried inside the TARDIS.

Once gone, there was a rush of wind and snow scurrying behind the Ood, making them all turn.

Dr. Ryder stood on the snow, stumbling back, "What...what happened?" he shivered and hugged himself, "It's so cold," he dropped to his knees, feeling too weak to stand, not to mention the blazing coldness.

"She is returning," Ood Sigma said, "Moontsay, friend of the Ood."

The blue light behind Dr. Ryder glowed stronger for a second or two and rushed up to the sky again.

~ 0 ~

Donna stood in front of a stove in the TARDIS kitchen, awaiting for hot chocolate to finish up. The Doctor sat at the table, waiting for her to finish up. He knew Minerva would be waking up soon and he wanted to have something nice and warm for her. She had been freezing when he brought her into the TARDIS and her room. He had wrapped her in blankets and left a heater in her room after he left, hoping it would be enough to bring her temperature up to a human status. And since he could only do milkshakes at the moment, coldness, he asked Donna to help make a nice hot chocolate.

"I just don't understand what the whole crying thing was about," Donna leaned against the counter, watching the hot chocolate in case it was ready yet.

The Doctor sighed, having thought about that more thoroughly, "During the war, Kaeya's people, most of them, died as bystanders. Kaeya lost everything and I think the situation paralleled with the Ood."

"That's awful," Donna shook her head, "To lose everything, to lose a home...I tell you, I lost it with my father's passing, I don't think I could manage losing everything like..." she eyed him cautiously.

"Like Kaeya and I," he finished for her, "It's okay to say it. But, technically, Kaeya hasn't truly lost everything. Her planet is still here, with only her grandfather-"

"A grandfather she thinks is also dead," Donna pointed out, "She has no idea that some of her people have survived to this day.

"I'll gladly take her to see Mayar," the Doctor sighed, "Though I'll probably stay inside the TARDIS."

"What are you going to do when the princess returns?" Donna looked back, "I mean, you said she was in love with you, but...there's someone new in the picture now."

"For some time I believed Kaeya had changed into some dark woman, but now I understand that she was sick. I still care for her, just..."

"...not the way you used to," Donna finished for him.

"I'd like to be friends but not if it makes Minerva feel uncomfortable, and definitely not if it only hurts Kaeya."

"That's big of you," Donna nodded, "But how do you know Kaeya won't bring the claws out to fight for you," she chuckled a little and sat down on the table while the chocolate finished up.

"If she's truly the same woman that I knew for centuries then I know she won't do anything."

"Why though? I mean, I don't know a lot but you said there'd been centuries of love between you two."

"Donna I was married," the Doctor announced, becoming silent as he thought of that wasted time with Kaeya as well.

It seemed to parallel his time with Minerva. Granted, a year didn't compare to centuries but the pain was the same. There was so much they could've done together, he and Kaeya, but under the circumstances their 'courting' was cut short the moment his marriage had been arranged.

"Tell me the story," Donna quietly edged, seeing the troubled thoughts on his face.

"No," he shook his head, snapping out of the thoughts.

"C'mon, remember what I said? I'm here to help Minerva and you. Minerva's told me nearly everything about you."

"Another time, I promise," he said instead, actually meaning it.

It would be nice to get the story off his chest and get an opinion that didn't belong to Minerva. He knew that Minerva would never scold him for his past, just because of who she was and what he was to her. But Donna always spoke her mind. He knew that she would say when he'd messed up, give him the real scold he needed, the real advice he needed. Perhaps, like Martha was to Minerva a confidant, Donna could be his.

"Alright spaceman, I'm holding you to that," Donna stood and went to a cabinet, "I'll understand the little love talks about a girlfriend/boyfriend."

"N-n-n-no, it's not like that yet," the Doctor shook his head.

"Oh c'mon, you don't have to lie to me, spaceman," she winked, "I can keep a secret," she whispered.

"I'm not lying," he shrugged 'casually'.

"But you're almost there," Donna studied his face, smiling sadly, "I know it because...that's the look that Lance used to give me, a fake one, but...yeah," she shrugged and turned away before her eyes watered up and were seen.

"Donna," the Doctor moved up to her, "He's not worth it," he set a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I know, I know," she wiped a loose tear, "But, Minerva's worth it, right?" she turned to him.

"Millions," he breathed, "She's...she's just, wonderful in every aspect."

"And that's why you're falling in love," she wagged a finger, laughing when he saw him blush, "It's alright because she is too," she picked up the hot chocolate mug, "It won't be long until the three little words pop out," she grinned and pushed the mug to him.

"Thanks Donna," he rolled his eyes playfully and took the mug and walked away.

"I'm here to help!" the ginger called with a small laugh.

~ 0 ~

Minerva had her earphones inside her ears, connected to her mp3 and listened to her music. She sat against her headboard, on her bed, with her blankets to her waist. She'd gotten some nice sleep, but she was still a bit cold and she didn't want to cause any trouble for the Doctor or Donna and so decided to listen to her music in hopes of falling back asleep...though it somehow seemed to be hard as she'd been doing this for twenty minutes.

The door to her room opened just slightly, the Doctor poking his head to see how she was doing, "You're awake," he blinked and stepped inside, noticing she had her earphones plugged in, "Right, probably want to be alone, then," he walked for her.

But she beamed at his appearance and yanked her earphones off, putting her mp3 on her bedside table, "No, I want you to be with me," she reached out for him, "As much as I love my songs I love even more when my Martian is with me."

He laughed, "I brought some-"

"Hot chocolate!?" she tried lifting herself up to see the contents of the mug.

"Yeah," he walked to the side of her bed, handing her the mug, "Donna made it so it's edible."

She chuckled and took his hand, "I would've loved your milkshakes."

"But I wanted you to be warm and since I'm not allowed to use the stove without your supervision, I asked Donna to make it."

"I'll have to thank her then," she pulled him down to the bed, "Can you stay with me, please?" she asked seriously, "I'm cold."

"Anything my clever girl wants, she gets," he reminded and made himself comfortable, "So," he reached for her mp3, "What exactly were we listening to?"

"My favorite song," she sipped her mug.

"Ah yes, the little Spanish one. You know, I don't understand what is so special about it," he gave her a look.

"Is describes me before we got together."

"Care to elaborate?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Mm, alright, I'll tell you why," she made herself comfortable and leaned against the headboard again, "You came into my life and you showed me what it was to be truly happy and I just couldn't tell you how much you meant to me back then. You're always here for me when I cry, when I need someone...you're always here. You've done so much for me and in the past I was afraid I'd lose you and you'd never know how much you meant to me. That's why I love the song, because it's my story, my story in 3 minutes."

"Only here I don't ever plan on leaving you," the Doctor earnestly told her. Suddenly, he kicked off his shoes and scooted closer to her, his hand under her chin, "Never, never, never," he said before pressing his lips to her for a gentle kiss. Minerva was blushing red by the time they pulled apart, not even her small shiver managing to cool her down. The Doctor sadly looked at her and suddenly grinned, "I've got an idea," he declared, "Can you lean forwards, please?"

"Mhm," Minerva did as told and watched him crawl behind her, leaving her in-between his legs.

"There we go," he gently pulled her back to his chest, dropping a kiss on her hair; she definitely felt warmer now which was a good sign, "Now drink up, clever girl."

She took a sip from her mug, "Mmm, it has marshmallows."

"Donna's touch."

"I definitely feel much better now," she tilted her head up, "Do you mind staying with me tonight?"

"Of course not, I'll be here until you want me to leave."

"Oh, guess that's never," she casually shrugged, "I have so much on my mind I don't want to be alone. I'll crack if I do."

"No you won't," he assured her.

"Right, because you're here with me now. I can't break if I got my brilliant Martian with me, right?"

"Right," he firmly said.

"My doctor and even a psychologist, wow..." she paused to think, "...you know, if you wanted to charge, you'd make a fortune out of me and my problems."

"I do charge."

"Oh really?" she raised an eyebrow, "And what's it gonna cost me? Five hundred dollars? A thousand?"

"A thousand," he declared, nodding.

She laughed, "I'm gonna have to make a payment plan because I'm broke!"

"A thousand kisses should do the trick," he grinned.

"Oh, kisses," Minerva pretended to think about it as she drank from her mug again.

"Yes, I don't need money, I need kisses from a beautiful woman."

"Have you tried Marilyn Monroe? I'm sure she'd love plant a big one on you," she shrugged.

"Nah, I was setting my eyes on this brunette," he kissed her cheek, making her smile, "She has this beautiful eyes that I can stare into for eternity, she's insanely clever, mind you she's short," he kissed her neck.

"Oi!"

"And yet so big of confidence," he kissed her temple, "She's got really long hair I just love to kiss," he set a couple of kisses around her head, making her chuckle, "She always smells like vanilla for some reason," he turned her head to him, "Sound familiar?"

"Mm, maybe," she mumbled, entranced by his closeness and minty scent.

"And I've heard she's cold so I've gotta warm her up, starting with her lips," he lifted her chin and kissed her.

"Definitely warmer," she murmured into their kiss.

"I swear to you, Minerva, that nothing will happen to you," he rested his hand on her cheek, looking her in the eye, "I swear."

"I know you will, I trust you with my life, Martian," she took his hand from her face and kissed the back of it, not grasping what the Doctor was truly talking about. While he spoke about the crystal she thought it was just him by him and his over-protection, "For now, think you can keep me warm?"

He smiled and nodded, "Of course," he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her blanket over them, resting his chin over her head while she drank from her mug, silently cursing himself for this mighty secret of a crystal he was keeping from her.

But it was for her own good and if it did her good, he'd do it.

#ocappreciation #doctor who #dw #10th doctor #fd: doctor who #dw imagine #10th doctor imagine #10th doctor fics #dw fic #doctor who fics #oc: Minerva Souza