TW/DW Fic: Once Upon A Time
May. 14th, 2007 02:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kat_lairHugh Laurie picspam is therefore postponed for tomorrow. You can go look at the previous one in preparation should you feel so inclined.
But today... today you get fic.
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Title: Once Upon A Time
Author: Mistress Kat / ![[info]](https://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
kat_lair
Fandom: Doctor Who & Torchwood
Pairing/Category: Jack/Ten pre-slash, semi-crack
Rating: PG
Word count: ~800
Disclaimer: Not mine, only playing. No gnomes were harmed during the writing of this fic. The Grimm Brothers on the other hand…
Summary: Jack and Doctor have a close encounter of the gnome kind and acquire an unusual passenger.
Author notes: This is a short prequel to truth exists for the wise, beauty for the feeling heart, so if after reading this you want to know what happens next… you can! Written for planetkiller as a Thank You for thatthingshedid. Speedy and efficient beta by moth2fic, who has a special fondness for all things magical.
Once Upon A Time
“Gnomes?” Jack hisses the question quietly but with a certain level of viciousness. “No, seriously. Gnomes?”
Jack’s legs ache from repeated hits of tiny wooden clubs, and his knees are wet. They’re hiding in the shrubbery.
In Jack’s experience that is never a desirable state of affairs to be in. He tries to convey this through furious scowling.
The Doctor doesn’t seem to notice. “Ergo-Lithians,” he whispers back cheerfully. “I’ve told you several times already; they’re called Ergo-Lith—”
“They have beards and little pointy hats! And, and, pipes!” It’s getting increasingly difficult to keep his voice down. “I saw some of them carrying around miniature fishing rods! I swear to God if anyone offers me a poisoned apple on this planet, I will kill you with my bare hands!”
The Doctor blinks twice in rapid succession. “But wasn’t that dwarves?”
Before Jack has drawn enough breath to tell exactly what happens to people who argue semantics in the middle of a gnome siege, a round wrinkled face pokes through the foliage. Its thin lips peel back, revealing a row of razor sharp teeth that gleam impressively in the shadows.
“Uhm, hello there,” the Doctor says, scrambling back on all fours. “We’re fully aware and respectful of the Non-Intrusion Agreement B14 that prohibits access from all extraplanetary species, but there was a slight mechanical problem with our ship and—”
“I don’t think they’re listening.”
By now there are more than a dozen angry Ergo-Lithians clawing their way through the bushes. One of them tells Jack his mother is a winged Gorhe, and even though he doesn’t know what that is, he’s inclined to agree on the principle. There’s a reason he never argues whenever someone calls him a son-of-a-bitch, and it’s not because he’s such an affable guy.
The Doctor’s grip on his shoulder is hard enough to leave bruises. “I think,” he states calmly. “We’d better run.”
They do.
The blue walls of TARDIS shimmer beckoningly between the trees as Jack and the Doctor sprint across the nauseatingly pretty meadow, long legs soon outdistancing them from the pursuers, if, unfortunately, not from their slings.
“Hurry up!” Jack’s shielding himself with his arms as best as he can, his larger bulk standing between the shower of stones and the Doctor who is fumbling with the lock.
“Come on, come on, just a little bit—”
Suddenly the door opens and they stumble inside, one on top of the other. The thump thump thump of rocks hitting the outside of the Police Box increases in volume as the Doctor scrambles up to the controls.
One of the cables is still loose and the takeoff causes it to snake down the platform, spitting sparks like an electronic cat. Jack snatches the other man out of the way just in time, the shaking and trembling of the ship throwing them both to the floor.
Eventually things quiet down. Underneath him the Doctor is grinning, the curve of his smile pressing against Jack’s jaw line in a manner that could theoretically be accidental, but just isn’t.
“What’s so funny?” Jack asks, raising himself up on his elbows.
The Doctor is chuckling openly now. “Jacob would have loved this.”
Jack can feel his brain shifting gears with an almost audible clang and then his own face splits into a wide smirk. “Well… I always found Wilhelm to be the more adventurous of the two.”
They’re both laughing, cocooned in an intimacy of narrow saves and shared memories, and despite appearances it’s not something that comes easy to either of them. Jack is acutely aware of just how close they are, pressed together from knee to chest. Before he can decide if he should do something about it, the Doctor’s eyes grow wide, focusing on a point behind Jack’s head.
“Huh,” he says, and Jack doesn’t want to know because nothing good ever comes from the Doctor saying huh, but he rolls onto his back anyway, craning his neck to see.
“Doctor.” His voice is surprisingly steady in the circumstances. “Is that a…”
“Yes. Yes it is.”
They stare silently for a long time, breathing in the warm smell of freshly cut grass and trying not to make any sudden movements.
Above them – two massive legs planted on either side of their prone bodies, its head hanging low and gossamer-like mane almost brushing their faces – the unicorn stares back.
The spiralled horn radiates light, so bright it hurts. It’s a good pain, like antiseptic on wounds, like flames on metal.
Jack closes his eyes and stays very still. “I need a drink,” he announces. “More than one.”
“Sounds like a plan,” the Doctor agrees, carefully not touching any part of the magical beast as he wriggles further away. “I know just the place.”
Fin.
Except not. Continues in truth exists for the wise, beauty for the feeling heart. Enjoy. Let me know if you do.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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on 2007-05-14 04:29 pm (UTC)And I have to say I am in love with your icon!
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on 2007-05-14 05:05 pm (UTC)The icon is indeed awesome. It was made by
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on 2007-05-14 05:21 pm (UTC)This is bloody brilliant.
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on 2007-05-15 11:05 am (UTC)Thank you for a lovely comment!
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on 2007-05-14 05:58 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2007-05-15 11:08 am (UTC)Thanks for leaving feedback, I'm glad you liked the story.
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on 2007-05-14 06:58 pm (UTC)I should do things more often. :) I love it! The perfect combination of sweet and funny.
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on 2007-05-15 11:09 am (UTC)no subject
on 2007-05-14 07:02 pm (UTC)It is a saga, right? Sagas don't have to be too serious...
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on 2007-05-15 11:15 am (UTC)no subject
on 2007-05-14 09:36 pm (UTC)"There’s a reason he never argues whenever someone calls him a son-of-a-bitch, and it’s not because he’s such an affable guy."
Fantastic!
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on 2007-05-15 11:19 am (UTC)no subject
on 2007-05-14 10:03 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2007-05-15 11:21 am (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyd it and ever so pleased about being able to pull off humour. Thank you!
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on 2007-05-20 12:13 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2007-05-20 01:58 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2008-01-17 11:40 pm (UTC)Great story!
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on 2008-01-18 12:38 pm (UTC)Thank you! *gg*