[oom] With Your Shield Or On It

[hell_in_highheels]

[ after this ]

There's a fumbling at the door and no small amount of cursing in some ancient tongue.  The key jangles in the lock and River opens the door, closing it behind her with her hip.

She's cradling one hand against her chest and she looks like she's been crying.

Being angry is easier than acknowledging the ache in her chest, so she's going to go with angry.  For just a little bit longer.

Comments

[hell_in_highheels]

"For not telling you I was married before."

"Honestly, it wasn't something I intended to keep from you. It was just -- it happened in another life."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"And nearly, what, a hundred years ago?" He gives her a soft smile.

"I don't think you'd lead me on like that.

"Still not sure why you decided to hit the man, though."

[hell_in_highheels]

She looks down, eyes closed, a fleeting smile on her lips.

"Told you. My temper got away from me."

"Imagine that we met, and I did not recognise you. And then imagine I'd left, for a century. Imagine meeting me again and this time, not only did I not recognise you, I swore I was someone other than myself. Tell me you wouldn't be a little upset."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

That sort of happened actually.

"Upset, yes," he admits, "but not particularly violent."

[hell_in_highheels]

She's not proud of that fact, and it shows, both on her face and in her scent.

"He has a certain -- knack -- for making me feel powerless. It's not a feeling I enjoy."

"I did apologise. And next time will be different. Easier. I promise you."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"You'll only break a finger, I suppose," he says a little flatly.

He sighs a bit.

"I'm going to teach you how to hit properly. Once that heals."

[hell_in_highheels]

She grins across at him.

"I think I'd enjoy that."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"You say that now," he rumbles.

He's trained humans before.

[hell_in_highheels]

"True. I've never been much of a physical person. Might be an interesting experiment."

"I'd pester you with all sorts of questions, you know."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He smirks. "You say that now," he says again.

That human? Was Deitmar.

[hell_in_highheels]

She quirks a brow at him. "Are you saying I'd be too out of breath to question you?"

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He smiles easily. "It's a distinct possibility." Head tilts. "Either that or too sore.

"I think you'll like trin tea, though."

[hell_in_highheels]

She smirks, shakes her head.

"It's not like you haven't made me sore before," she teases, her finger idly tugging at his sleeve.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"That's true.

"I could argue that this works an entirely different set of muscles?"

[hell_in_highheels]

"You could. And is perhaps less enjoyable. But I'll try not to shame myself too badly."

She looks back at her hand.

"CAL can probably fix this. Sector specific restore. I hate sector specific restores." There's something in her scent, a memory of excruciating pain.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He frowns.

"You could try the infirmary and hope a healer is in." If she had a decent sense of smell, she could tell his scent's gone frustrated.

"If the infection had taken, you'd just have to wait a few days."

[hell_in_highheels]

She looks up into his face, searching his eyes. She doesn't exactly need a sense of smell to get that.

"I didn't go to the Infirmary for fear of ending up in the cells. I'm sorry, I should have taken care of it before I even came home. My judgement seems to have just gone right out the window today."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"I thought you said he apologized? I highly doubt Security here would press the matter after that."

In his experience, good luck with getting them to press anything.

[hell_in_highheels]

She has had no experience with Security. And pointing that out makes her feel another level of stupid. River is not having a good day.

"Well, regardless. I should go and get this seen to."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

That wasn't his goal, but it's a valid reaction.

"I'll come with. In case the idiot changed his mind."

'Idiot' being the Doctor, though Richard has his doubts about that as well.

[hell_in_highheels]

She catches his hand in hers before he can move away, gripping his hand tight.

What she wants to say is that if had been him, she'd have waited a hundred years, knowing that he was coming back for her. She'd have waited a thousand years. What she wants to say is that what she feels for him makes her marriage pale in comparison. In this sea of intense emotion, and feeling like an utter fool, she can't find the words

When she does speak, her voice is quiet and fierce. "He's harmless."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He raises both eyebrows, surprised.

"I'm not going to beat him up, if that's what you're thinking."

[hell_in_highheels]

She shakes her head, laughing, looking down at where their hands are linked.

"No, no that wasn't what I was thinking at all."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"All right."

He quirks an eyebrow at her.

[hell_in_highheels]

He makes it look so simple.

She settles for bringing his hand to her lips and kissing his fingers.

"Put your shoes on and you can show me where the Infirmary is."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He smiles at her. "Yes ma'am."

He lets her finish her own ministrations before he grabs his own boots.