Barcelona - Post Two

[numbered_doctor]

It's a good thing the Doctor shuffled Remy off to bed when he did, because she's dead to the world and still fully dressed before her head hits the pillow.

When morning rolls around, the young doctor is notably invigorated, practically bouncing out of her room after a wardrobe change and making a beeline for the TARDIS's kitchen. Soon after, she's puttering around the room happily and humming along to the music she's managed to get going.

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[numbered_doctor]

Thirteen nods and she pulls her t-shirt off to join the other swimsuit clad jumpers.

"See you in a few, then. Hold this for me?"

[just_the_doctor]

The Doctor blinks in surprise as he sees what Thirteen is wearing under the t-shirt. He hadn't been aware that the TARDIS wardrobe contained clothing that small. Not that she doesn't wear it extremely well.

He composes himself quickly, though. "Certainly," he replies, draping the shirt over his arm.

[numbered_doctor]

Slim build, flat, toned stomach, olive green bikini top covering-

Thirteen flashes the Doctor one last, bright smile before slipping into the elevator behind one of the native, dog-like species, waggling her fingers at him in a wave as the doors close behind her.

[just_the_doctor]

He saunters over to the viewing platform and locates an unused viewer into which he drops a few coins from his pocket. He monkeys with the aim and the focus (eventually resorting to the sonic screwdriver to adjust the latter) until he has a clear view of the top of the jump, and waits for Thirteen to have her turn.

[numbered_doctor]

It takes a little while of waiting, but eventually, Thirteen's turn comes up. Through the viewer, the Doctor can see the young woman pretty much bouncing in place as she listens intently to the instruction of the jump operator.

Shortly afterwards, she takes a running jump at the edge, cheerfully throwing herself off of the cliff in a graceful dive.

[just_the_doctor]

The Doctor finds himself grinning like a maniac as Thirteen prepares for her jump. Why he's so amped up to watch her dive is something of a mystery, but he doesn't dwell on it for the moment.

He watches on the viewer as she takes her jump. She leaves the cliff at a good run, but almost instantly after she leaves the ground, the low-gee field generated by the lake catches her. She seems to hang in the air for a few seconds before starting her descent. He quickly calculates that she's only accelerating at about a third of Barcelona's normal gravity, which is only slightly less strong than Earth's to begin with. In other words, it'll be a nice, leisurely drop to the water below.

[numbered_doctor]

Thirteen laughs throughout her decent, letting the low-gee field carry her downward and spinning herself in slow circles before landing in the lake with a splash. Enjoying the water, she quickly moves out of the way of the the landing zone, and makes her way leisurely to shore.

[just_the_doctor]

The Doctor meets her at the water's edge with a large, fluffy towel. "How was it?"

[numbered_doctor]

She's still grinning like a loon when she reaches the shore, turning over from her back to stand in the shallows.

"It was amazing. Shame you didn't go."

[just_the_doctor]

He shrugs. "Watching's fun, too. I just don't like being away from my things, even for a bit."

[numbered_doctor]

She nods, drying at her hair with the towel.

"That's alright," she responds, still grinning. "How'd I look?"

[just_the_doctor]

"Just brilliant. I particularly liked that little corkscrew bit you did. I bought the video from my viewer in case you'd like to see it, too."

[numbered_doctor]

"I'll take a look at it later."

She rubs at her hair with the towel some more.

"Where to now, you think?"

[just_the_doctor]

"Had enough for one day? I was sure it was going to take two or three more goes to finally get that grin off your face," he teases, passing her the t-shirt. "We could hike down one of the trails, if you like. They all converge at this lovely cafe at the bottom where we could have some lunch. They also do a spectacular light show here at night. Tandem jumpers in luminescent suits. Like watching fireworks in reverse."

[numbered_doctor]

Thirteen takes her shirt back, pulling it over her damp swimsuit.

"Maybe I'll go again later, but that walk and lunch sounds good."

Hiking sounds like a somewhat better way of working off her excess energy than throwing herself off of high places.

[just_the_doctor]

The Doctor isn't sure if he's disappointed or relieved when Thirteen pulls the shirt back on, and then wonders why he'd be having any reaction at all. If Rose were here, she'd probably tease him about it -- remind him that even though he's a Time Lord, he's still male. Then she'd ask him if he'd look at her that way if she wore a skimpy swimsuit, and he'd stammer and not know how to answer. And she'd laugh, knowing that she'd caught him.

He doesn't look at Thirteen as they walk along the footpath. How could it still hurt? Rose was hardly the first to leave him, not even the first to leave so suddenly or against both their wills. But he still thinks of her, what she would say or how she would react. And every time he does, a little part of him aches.

They pass below the tree line, and the area around the path springs into life -- lush forest greens dotted here and there with patches of wildflowers.