[ here are your feels for the day ~coloursofrose ]
The mere fact that Rose was around and existing on Earth again, no longer trapped in that parallel universe, was something The Doctor was still adjusting his mind to. He wasn't entirely sure how she'd done it, and he sure as hell had yet to get a straight answer from Rose as to why her age and appearance didn't quite add up. But he was capable of looking past it, simply for the fact that this was Rose.... Alive, well, moving around, etc.
It wasn't exactly the happiest of outings, but it was an outing with Rose Tyler nonetheless. He had opted for staying on Earth, some place he didn't spent much of his time anymore. He remained to keep a distance from the planet he once so often frequented, in exchange for solitude within the TARDIS. If he stayed away, no one could get hurt. No one would suffer. No one could be caught in the middle of anything to do with him. But Rose... Rose was there, down below on that blue and green marble filled with the human species.
And so to Earth he went, the journey kick started with the sounds of his precious blue box's moaning and groaning and whining sounds. Occasionally he'd travel around for the sake of hearing the old beauty's sounds and making sure she hadn't withered away on him. She parked herself in an alleyway, and the Timelord waltzed out with bouncing steps altered into a long stride.
When he found his old faithful companion of pink and yellow glory, it had taken much convincing. If there was one relationship he couldn't allow himself to lose, it was the relationship he had with Rose. She was the person who helped rebound from the invisible scars of the Time War, got him past the pain and hurt brought forth by war, taught him it was okay to be alive... It was okay to show feeling, and it sure as hell was okay to become attached to someone else. To care for that person, to want to protect them... Everything that became of him after the Time War. She had helped find value in living.
He also knew he'd hide what had become of him since she'd been left in that parallel world... after what was intended to be the last time they'd ever see one another. That would wait. Just like what had happened to her would wait. All the time that had passed, but those things could wait as long as they had to. But convince Rose Tyler, he did.
There was no hand holding at first, no near-touching of the noses, no hugs, just... Silence and the comfort that came with being alongside one another once more. The feeling that all of time and space could be shared between the two of them for eternity if that was what they wished. Comfort in one another, despite all the things that had changed. A tormented, lone Timelord and his pink & yellow human. Side by side, enjoying everything they could together on Earth. Nothing could go wrong.
They browsed the shops, roamed the streets, enjoyed some parks, grabbed some chips from a street cart- and this time it was The Doctor who paid (even if he had to use his sonic to grab some cash from an ATM). Eventually, hands drifted toward one another just like old times and fingers intertwined. There hadn't been much need for an abundance of speaking. It wasn't like either knew all too much about what to talk about, and both dreaded the topic of 'What happened to you' coming up at all. Their actions and physical gestures held down the fort and ensured no risk of that. As the sun began to go down that day, it had begun to feel like nothing at all had changed- just like the times before things went horribly wrong for the dynamic duo- and it so, so very fantastic.
The offer was made for Rose to come along with him once more, as they rounded a corner. He had no intentions of staying, for he'd spent an entire day on Earth and not a single thing had taken a turn for the worse. He intended for it to remain that way. Earth was better without him. They weren't all too far from the TARDIS, and The Doctor anxiously awaited an answer.
The loud pattering of footsteps in a hurry raced up from behind. The Timelord was smacked into by a shoulder and knocked off balance. The same individual who'd bumped into him was knocked back by Rose. A horde of street thugs emerged from the very same direction the other individual had come from. Before they knew it, both Rose and The Doctor were surrounded. But it was The Doctor who was restrained, kicked multiple times in the stomach and taken to the ground with arms held behind his back and his head up.
"You're gon'na watch since yah lady friend here want'd ta push arr mate. Don't think we did'n see."
The Doctor fought to adjust his head, eyes not once straying from Rose. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't happening. Rose fixed her eyes on The Doctor, but not once did she stop pushing, shoving, and throwing her weight around in an attempt to get the thugs' filthy hands off of her. One of the men restraining The Doctor began making a clicking sound, clearly intending it to sound like the ticking of a clock counting town. Each tick grew louder and louder in volume. Rose threw her weight around harder until the last, and by far loudest, click of the tongue.
That was the point at which The Doctor jerked his head and chomped down on the hand covering his mouth- and the other half of the thugs began to kick and punch at Rose. The poor soul who'd been bitten smacked the timelord hard across the face and held the man's head up high by the hair, "I said yah gon'na watch," they hissed.
Another decided to chime in with their own two sense, "Only now, yah gon'na getta yell an' scream all yah want an' ain't no one gon'na help yah lot."
The Doctor clenched his teeth, and his jawline tightened in defiance. He slammed his eyes shut tight, only for them to be forced back open. The forceful prying open of his eyes was met with the repeating of the order of having to watch. With each sound of impact to Rose's body, be it gut or face- anywhere, accompanied by the air leaving her body more and more until it sounded as though nothing were left in her lungs, The Doctor struggled against the weight of the thugs holding him down. His precious Rose had been reduced to shrieks as a result of having not a single chance to breath. Nose breathing was no option, as it had clearly been broken. Bruising was already revealing itself in her cheeks. Seeing all the physical damage and being completely robbed of any power he had, he felt any ounce of pride he had left in his bones utterly abandon him, "STOP. JUST STOP."
The pounding had pierced through his skull and could be felt in his head. Every blow was beginning to go right through him. His pleas were met with laughter. A bruised and broken Rose was allowed to collapse on the ground, which was when the kicking began.
"BLOODY HELL JUS' STOP. STOP IT. I'M BEGGING YOU."
The laughter continued and one last kick was given before the weight lifted from the Timelord's body. The other thugs stepped away from Rose, who had crumpled up into a ball on the pavement. Blood littered the ground around her, and there was no other possible source but her. The thugs who'd been holding The Doctor down whirled around on their heals and issued a few strong kicks to the timelord himself, before rushing off with the rest of their group.
The man crawled over to the blonde in a hurry. They'd been entirely ruthless in their attack on Rose; there'd been no mercy. The kicks he'd received had been done out of mercy, but certainly held no restraint in their force. Steel toe boots hadn't helped his case much either. He forced himself as upright as possible, pulling Rose with an endless string of pleas and utterings of her name, "Rose Tyler- my Rose- pleasepleasepleaseplease look'it me... C'mon.. Please open your eyes Rose."
His hands wandered as light as feathers, not sure where was even safe to touch her there were so many bruises, lumps, bumps, cuts, and undoubtedly breaks, "Rose Tyler, don't you dare do this to me."
He cradled her with care and rocked back and forth, wincing but ignoring his own insignificant bodily pains. He begged under his breath. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be. If there was one thing he came to realize, the people lacked the care and concern- as every single person who was in the area or passing by... Not a single person stopped to offer assistance of any kind.
