come fly with me
Title: come fly with me
Characters/AU setting: River x Doctor, 1960s pilot and stewardess
Rating: T
Wordcount: 1,492
A/N: I am incapable of writing a ficlet clearly. Fourth in the AU series. Graphic is here if you want some pretty.
He loved to fly. Always had, even when he was a kid. He’d climbed the oak tree in front of his house at age five and jumped out - broke one arm and a leg when he hit the ground. But boy had those five seconds in the air been worth it.
He liked the surge of the engines under his feet, the hum of the floor plates, the rolling and pitching when they hit turbulence. And of course, he quite liked the stewardesses too. Women who had a taste for adventure - they came and went on their journey from bright, innocent inquisitiveness to the shackles of marriage. It was never a career for them.
Which was a damn shame, because who could ever give up their wings just to settle down in some back water town and reminisce about how they saw the world from 10,000 feet? Not him - he'd fly forever.
"Coffee boys?" The cockpit door opened behind them and the pilot glanced back.
"I'm good, thanks Song. Alright there, Doctor?" Jack, the pilot, looked over at him and he shrugged.
"Nah, I'll go get it myself in a minute. No need to distract the ladies. Got enough work to be getting on with, I think." He kept his eyes on the sky in front of him, and heard her soft laugh behind him. It was a rich soft sound that curled like smoke around him.
"Well aren't you a rarity. Just shout if you need anything." The door slid shut again and Jack glanced over at him.
"Glad we have River on this flight." Jack spoke casually. "Best purser there is, really. Have you flown with her before?"
"Nah - first time. River? Think I'd remember a name like that." The Doctor responded with a grin and Jack chuckled.
"Oh you'd remember more than that."
xx
He was pouring coffee for himself and Jack, nodding to the stewardesses coming in and out of the galley. Some he knew, some he didn't. He was pouring a far too generous amount of sugar in his own coffee when he heard that same laugh behind him. "And you actually make good on your claims. Impressive."
He turned around, opening his mouth to respond only to have absolutely no sound come out. She was... well. She was gorgeous. A mass of curly hair pinned back and he could just imagine what it would look like free of its constraints. Her smile was warm, her lips full and generous and her eyes sparkled with a wit and intelligence he was unaccustomed to seeing. She was also quite a bit older than him - and he found himself instantly intrigued. She wasn't the young, too-skinny, vapid girls that usually filled this job. "River, right?"
"River Song." She held out a hand and he grinned, putting his cup back down so he could shake it. It was soft and small in his own and he felt a strange tingle shoot up his arm, straight to his heart, felt like. It reminded him of when he was five - falling through the air. “And you are?”
“They call me Doctor.”
“Who does?”
“Everyone.” He shrugged, running his hand through his hair and grinning shyly.
“What’s your real name?” She smiled with curiosity and he tapped her on the nose, startling her.
“Secret.”
“Must be bad if you prefer Doctor. I bet I can get it out of you.” She looked him over like he was suddenly a personal challenge and he laughed, leaning in to her.
“Tell you what, River. You’re welcome to try.”
xx
He asked her to dinner almost as soon as they landed. She eyed him up and down, before arching her brow and agreeing. Jack laughed almost as soon as she left the cabin.
“You’ll never get her, Doctor. Many have tried, all have failed. Locked up tight, that one.”
“Maybe you weren’t trying hard enough.”
“Isn’t she a bit old for you?” Jack teased and the Doctor laughed.
“I’m an old soul, Jack. And I like a woman who’s aged to perfection.”
xx
“What are you doing here, baby face?” She asked over dessert and he leaned across the table, picking one of her hands up in his. He’d been right - her hair was magnificent once it was set free. He vowed upon first sight of her in the hotel lobby - he would touch it, wrap it around his hands. He wanted her in a way he’d never wanted a woman before.
“We’re in Paris. What else would I do but share a meal with a beautiful woman?”
“You’re young.”
“Not that young.” He grinned and she laughed.
xx
“Why’d you take this job?” He asked, after regaling her with stories of all the trees he’d fallen out of in his youth. She was remarkably easy to talk to, and he was surprised by how much he’d opened up to her immediately. They’d walked the streets aimlessly after dinner, by passing clubs and tourist attractions easily.
“I wanted adventure. See the world.” She answered predictably and he grinned.
“They all say that.” He pointed out and she laughed and nodded in agreement. “Why didn’t you ever get married?”
“I saw the world. And I’ve never quite found a man who I liked the look of more.” They were standing on a bridge over the Seine and he smiled down at her.
“That’s brilliant, that is.” She smiled in agreement and they shared a tiny secret grin - like they knew something no one else did.
“Do you want to know a secret?” She whispered into the still night air and he leaned down to hear her better. “I’d have been a pilot if I could. But I’ll fly however I can.”
He looked at her for a moment, her face only illuminated by the dull orange lamps that dotted the bridge occasionally. He could see the intensity burning in her eyes, and he swallowed, recognizing it.
He kissed her then.
Couldn’t not kiss her, really.
xx
“I can teach you.” He whispered into her skin later, his lips brushing over her where her heart was and she laughed softly.
“Teach me what?”
“To fly.” He smiled and she looked at him in surprise.
“And what do you get out of it?”
“You.” He spoke truthfully and her teasing smile faded as she watched him, her hands in his hair.
“Well I suppose I could teach you too.”
“Teach me what?” He laughed and she raised a brow, a knowing smirk spreading across her face. He flushed and decided he’d be the most attentive pupil ever.
xx
Technically it was against the rules.
“Practically, I don’t really give a damn.” She pointed out and he’d laughed. She knew the scheduler, and somehow managed to get them on most of the same flights. They saw the world together. Danced in London, Cairo, Tokyo, Rome. Everybody knew. But nobody said a damn thing to either of them.
He took her on board planes being maintenanced. Sat her on his lap and showed her the controls, explaining what each and every one did. She was a fast learner - and he even managed to borrow a friend’s private plane on one of their off weekends. The look on her face when he’d handed her the controls mid-flight was the best thing he’d ever seen.
She’d flown for a full hour, delight on her face. When she’d finally let him fly again, she’d demonstrated just how thrilled she’d been. He was lucky he didn’t crash the plane, really.
xx
“Do you ever think about marriage?” He’d asked her softly one night in Barcelona. She shrugged and glanced over her bare shoulder with a grin.
“Not really. I don’t want to be tied down.”
“What if...” He’d stroked a hand along the length of her spine, admiring the dip and curve of her waist as he sought the courage to continue. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her shoulder blade, looking up at her. “What if it was someone who didn’t want to tie you down? What if it was someone who wanted to fly with you?”
She rolled over to face him, surprise on her face. “We wouldn’t be allowed to fly together anymore.” She pointed out and he grinned.
“Only if we told them.”
“You want to get secretly married?” She laughed and he nodded, seriously. “Oh.”
“What do you think?”
“Doctor...”
“Come on,” he kissed her, pressing into her body, his hands on her waist and a smile on his lips. “Come fly with me.”
“Okay.”
“Really?” He pulled back in shock - before letting out a whoop of laughter, and kissing her enthusiastically, his hands lacing through her hair. “I love you.” He whispered and she grinned.
“Well, you have to sign a wedding certificate, Doctor. How else am I to find out your name? Told you I’d get it out of you.”
Characters/AU setting: River x Doctor, 1960s pilot and stewardess
Rating: T
Wordcount: 1,492
A/N: I am incapable of writing a ficlet clearly. Fourth in the AU series. Graphic is here if you want some pretty.
He loved to fly. Always had, even when he was a kid. He’d climbed the oak tree in front of his house at age five and jumped out - broke one arm and a leg when he hit the ground. But boy had those five seconds in the air been worth it.
He liked the surge of the engines under his feet, the hum of the floor plates, the rolling and pitching when they hit turbulence. And of course, he quite liked the stewardesses too. Women who had a taste for adventure - they came and went on their journey from bright, innocent inquisitiveness to the shackles of marriage. It was never a career for them.
Which was a damn shame, because who could ever give up their wings just to settle down in some back water town and reminisce about how they saw the world from 10,000 feet? Not him - he'd fly forever.
"Coffee boys?" The cockpit door opened behind them and the pilot glanced back.
"I'm good, thanks Song. Alright there, Doctor?" Jack, the pilot, looked over at him and he shrugged.
"Nah, I'll go get it myself in a minute. No need to distract the ladies. Got enough work to be getting on with, I think." He kept his eyes on the sky in front of him, and heard her soft laugh behind him. It was a rich soft sound that curled like smoke around him.
"Well aren't you a rarity. Just shout if you need anything." The door slid shut again and Jack glanced over at him.
"Glad we have River on this flight." Jack spoke casually. "Best purser there is, really. Have you flown with her before?"
"Nah - first time. River? Think I'd remember a name like that." The Doctor responded with a grin and Jack chuckled.
"Oh you'd remember more than that."
xx
He was pouring coffee for himself and Jack, nodding to the stewardesses coming in and out of the galley. Some he knew, some he didn't. He was pouring a far too generous amount of sugar in his own coffee when he heard that same laugh behind him. "And you actually make good on your claims. Impressive."
He turned around, opening his mouth to respond only to have absolutely no sound come out. She was... well. She was gorgeous. A mass of curly hair pinned back and he could just imagine what it would look like free of its constraints. Her smile was warm, her lips full and generous and her eyes sparkled with a wit and intelligence he was unaccustomed to seeing. She was also quite a bit older than him - and he found himself instantly intrigued. She wasn't the young, too-skinny, vapid girls that usually filled this job. "River, right?"
"River Song." She held out a hand and he grinned, putting his cup back down so he could shake it. It was soft and small in his own and he felt a strange tingle shoot up his arm, straight to his heart, felt like. It reminded him of when he was five - falling through the air. “And you are?”
“They call me Doctor.”
“Who does?”
“Everyone.” He shrugged, running his hand through his hair and grinning shyly.
“What’s your real name?” She smiled with curiosity and he tapped her on the nose, startling her.
“Secret.”
“Must be bad if you prefer Doctor. I bet I can get it out of you.” She looked him over like he was suddenly a personal challenge and he laughed, leaning in to her.
“Tell you what, River. You’re welcome to try.”
xx
He asked her to dinner almost as soon as they landed. She eyed him up and down, before arching her brow and agreeing. Jack laughed almost as soon as she left the cabin.
“You’ll never get her, Doctor. Many have tried, all have failed. Locked up tight, that one.”
“Maybe you weren’t trying hard enough.”
“Isn’t she a bit old for you?” Jack teased and the Doctor laughed.
“I’m an old soul, Jack. And I like a woman who’s aged to perfection.”
xx
“What are you doing here, baby face?” She asked over dessert and he leaned across the table, picking one of her hands up in his. He’d been right - her hair was magnificent once it was set free. He vowed upon first sight of her in the hotel lobby - he would touch it, wrap it around his hands. He wanted her in a way he’d never wanted a woman before.
“We’re in Paris. What else would I do but share a meal with a beautiful woman?”
“You’re young.”
“Not that young.” He grinned and she laughed.
xx
“Why’d you take this job?” He asked, after regaling her with stories of all the trees he’d fallen out of in his youth. She was remarkably easy to talk to, and he was surprised by how much he’d opened up to her immediately. They’d walked the streets aimlessly after dinner, by passing clubs and tourist attractions easily.
“I wanted adventure. See the world.” She answered predictably and he grinned.
“They all say that.” He pointed out and she laughed and nodded in agreement. “Why didn’t you ever get married?”
“I saw the world. And I’ve never quite found a man who I liked the look of more.” They were standing on a bridge over the Seine and he smiled down at her.
“That’s brilliant, that is.” She smiled in agreement and they shared a tiny secret grin - like they knew something no one else did.
“Do you want to know a secret?” She whispered into the still night air and he leaned down to hear her better. “I’d have been a pilot if I could. But I’ll fly however I can.”
He looked at her for a moment, her face only illuminated by the dull orange lamps that dotted the bridge occasionally. He could see the intensity burning in her eyes, and he swallowed, recognizing it.
He kissed her then.
Couldn’t not kiss her, really.
xx
“I can teach you.” He whispered into her skin later, his lips brushing over her where her heart was and she laughed softly.
“Teach me what?”
“To fly.” He smiled and she looked at him in surprise.
“And what do you get out of it?”
“You.” He spoke truthfully and her teasing smile faded as she watched him, her hands in his hair.
“Well I suppose I could teach you too.”
“Teach me what?” He laughed and she raised a brow, a knowing smirk spreading across her face. He flushed and decided he’d be the most attentive pupil ever.
xx
Technically it was against the rules.
“Practically, I don’t really give a damn.” She pointed out and he’d laughed. She knew the scheduler, and somehow managed to get them on most of the same flights. They saw the world together. Danced in London, Cairo, Tokyo, Rome. Everybody knew. But nobody said a damn thing to either of them.
He took her on board planes being maintenanced. Sat her on his lap and showed her the controls, explaining what each and every one did. She was a fast learner - and he even managed to borrow a friend’s private plane on one of their off weekends. The look on her face when he’d handed her the controls mid-flight was the best thing he’d ever seen.
She’d flown for a full hour, delight on her face. When she’d finally let him fly again, she’d demonstrated just how thrilled she’d been. He was lucky he didn’t crash the plane, really.
xx
“Do you ever think about marriage?” He’d asked her softly one night in Barcelona. She shrugged and glanced over her bare shoulder with a grin.
“Not really. I don’t want to be tied down.”
“What if...” He’d stroked a hand along the length of her spine, admiring the dip and curve of her waist as he sought the courage to continue. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her shoulder blade, looking up at her. “What if it was someone who didn’t want to tie you down? What if it was someone who wanted to fly with you?”
She rolled over to face him, surprise on her face. “We wouldn’t be allowed to fly together anymore.” She pointed out and he grinned.
“Only if we told them.”
“You want to get secretly married?” She laughed and he nodded, seriously. “Oh.”
“What do you think?”
“Doctor...”
“Come on,” he kissed her, pressing into her body, his hands on her waist and a smile on his lips. “Come fly with me.”
“Okay.”
“Really?” He pulled back in shock - before letting out a whoop of laughter, and kissing her enthusiastically, his hands lacing through her hair. “I love you.” He whispered and she grinned.
“Well, you have to sign a wedding certificate, Doctor. How else am I to find out your name? Told you I’d get it out of you.”