; aberrant

The Doctor smirked. “You’ve never faced a Time Lord before. We don’t die, we regenerate. Different body, different face. Same old me. Over and over and over. I’ve been given more lives than any of us are supposed to get. I don’t even know how many. Too many. Why do you think I’m sitting here without a care in the world with the assassin sent to kill me? I couldn’t even kill me if I wanted to.”

A shrug. “So now you’ve lost. Sorry to break your streak” The news about his employers was unfortunate but not unexpected. The boy’s frank mention of his situation brought a twinge of sadness to the Doctor’s chest. All the same, he nodded knowingly. “Tyrants rarely are.”

He spotted a trickle of blood on the boy’s neck where he had scratched at his ear before. “Did your skin tear just from that?” he asked quietly, pointing to the spot. “Are you alright?” Seeming to realize what he’d just asked, he shook his head and held up his hands. “I have no intention of using it against you. As I said before, I don’t want you dead. A sentiment that I hope, despite your present bias, you might share.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Perhaps we could help each other out?”

the existence of someone who can’t die isn’t, really, that difficult for him to grasp. he was an impossibility in himself, this man being seemingly immortal was not a fact he would have trouble admitting. “i thought maybe you’re an idiot.” statement holds more confidence than he has any right to, said just loud enough for the other to hear. he’s listening, even if it doesn’t look like he is, even if his eyes seem to stare straight through the older man. 

you’ve lost.

buzzing gets louder, a roaring cacophony in his skull. you’velostyou’velostyou’velostyou’velostyou’velostyou’velost. hands tremble, just slightly, barely perceptible. he isn’t listening anymore, anything this stranger said replaced by white noise. he can’t lose, he won’t lose, losing isn’t allowed.  he has to kill him, doing anything else is unacceptable. 

moves faster than he should and his joints cry out in protest, but the pain is lost somewhere in his head, somewhere between the panic and the fear that consumed him. energy thrumming under his skin crackles to life, dancing across pale flesh like some ethereal light show. “i have to.” almost sounds sorry, if he was even capable of feeling anything that wasn’t fear anymore. 

“Yes I am,” he admitted freely. “Because I think maybe they didn’t tell you what they’ve sent you up against and I think you have a right to know. And because I have no desire to kill a child.”

He shifted on the bench and glanced sideways at his unlikely companion, clearly unperturbed by the way he had chosen to ‘sit’. “You put an awful lot of effort into sneaking up on me, only to blow the budget on theatrics. Which tells me you don’t consider me a threat.”

He shot the assassin a significant, almost conspiratorial, look. “If your masters didn’t tell you, then there are only a few options. Either they don’t know who I am, which is unlikely if they’re having me killed… Or they are supremely arrogant in you abilities which would make them incredibly stupid. …But it has been known to happen. Or…they’re hoping that I’ll kill you. In which case, tough break for your career I’m afraid, but that also means that they really don’t know me very well.”

“Either way, I think you ought to have a moment to think about your options. Because I’m not human. And I don’t go down easy.” The Doctor fetched another sigh and clasped his hands between his knees, staring out into the gathering dark. “What did they tell you about me? And is there any chance of you telling me who they are?”

“i’ve never lost before.” 

it’s a defence, one that comes before he can really think to stop it. isn’t justifying anything to this man, though, not at all, more to himself. to his owners. he can’t lose, it isn’t allowed, losing equals punishment and all he does is avoid being punished. can vaguely remember the last time, the flesh on his back still burns sometimes, in the few moments that his mind is quiet. 

buzzing behind his ears gets a little louder as questions stack up, one hand comes to scratch behind his ears, not even taking note of the way drops of blood formed at his fingertips. the skin on his neck had long passed being anything other than a mass of scar tissue, hair grown just long enough to cover it before the length made his stomach turn. 

can’t help but laugh, a short chuckle that sounds nothing like happiness, the noise almost seems to hurt. how foolish to think that he was anywhere near important enough to know anything about his owners, about why he was sent. he was a pawn, nothing more and nothing left. is well aware that once he is no longer useful he will be thrown away, that as soon as he is broken that he will be discarded. he has seen where the failures are sent, he cannot follow. 

Prodigious brows raised in curiosity but not surprise. His tone remained light and conversational, his posture relaxed. He swept his coat back and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “A lot of people want me dead. Most of them don’t send assassins.”

So who was this young man? And who would send a mere boy after him if they knew who he was? What could they possibly hope to accomplish? There was blood in the air. Not a lot but more than there ought to be. What did he know? He played the scene back in his head like rewinding a tape. From every angle he watched his attacked land in front of him. Solid, strong, but there was something… A slight hesitation. A bracing. So tiny anybody could have missed it. Pain?

Releasing a sigh, the Time Lord strolled over to a nearby bench and settled himself, turning his back on the assassin as he did so. Then he patted the seat next to him. “Something tells me you aren’t feeling well. Why don’t you sit down?” The corner of his mouth quirked up in a half smile. “C’mon. You’re gonna need your rest if you plan on killing me. I’m afraid you’re going to be at it a while.”

watches, breathing slow and even, as the man speaks. he wonders why he was sent, why exactly he was tasked with killing him. he didn’t seem a dangerous individual, but then again neither did he. there was something off about the energy surrounding him, something that made the teen hesitant to draw from it, in the same way he was hesitant to draw from his trainers. it was dark, and seemed to be much older than the strangers appearance would let on. it makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. 

doesn’t like the way he’s being analysed, the way his body was scrutinised, wants to shield himself from the mans gaze. his eyes see too much, he decides. tenses again as he moves, watching him turn and approach the bench. something in the back of the head tells him to attack, but he can’t quite bring himself to, even if it was the perfect time. the invitation to sit throws him again, swears he can hear something almost like concern in the targets voice, and it makes him sick. he doesn’t want to sit, doesn’t trust it. not safe, not safe, not safe, not safe. 

he sits. 

or, more accurately, he crouches. feet rest on the seat, bottom of his spine hovering just above the backrest, and still his eyes don’t move from the others head. stays quiet, for a moment, waiting to see if anything else would be said. “are you stalling?” his vision blurs for a moment, he ignores it, though hopes that once this is done he can rest. 

The thrill of the chase was always sweeter than the capture itself. Rize loved the way her heart beat beneath her rib cage as she scaled walls and hunted down her prey like wild beasts. While she would love to keep up the charade for as long as possible, humans were simply not built to be tormented by ghouls and often times they broken and withered away before she could have her fix. It was what made her crazy, the death right before the climax. It was why she played these games so often. Too often.

“Deal with this?” Her tone was sugary sweet as the irises of her eyes began to shift into their inky black color. He wasn’t the finest choice, but he would have to do for now. Or until she could find someone better. “What ever do you mean, darling?”

a heavy sigh, feet angling just slightly in preparation to make another run for it. isn’t too sure he’ll get very far - had been working too hard, his body was holding a revolt against him, it seemed. he doesn’t want to fight, doesn’t want to deal with the aftermath, with the cleanup. too many things around them were breakable, and he certainly isn’t in the mood to relocate again (had only just reopened the florists). 

“look.” pinches the bridge of his nose, and he’s sure he looks more relaxed than he actually is. wouldn’t say he’s scared, but is reasonably apprehensive for someone facing a ghoul. mostly, he’s just tired. wants to go home, where he knows there’s a cup noodle and a nice book to tide him over until he eventually fell asleep. “i’m not in the mood to be eaten today, and honestly? you really don’t want to eat me. i’ll taste funny.”

**“Come out, come out, wherever you are.” The violet-haired woman cooed as she wandered down the alleyway. Her prey had been quicker than she expected and had taken off while Rize wasn’t looking. She wasn’t all that worried, though. After all, she could easily chase down a puny human and the hunt would only make them taste that much sweeter. With careful footsteps and sharpened eyes, she followed the scent as well as she could before setting her sights on a figure in the distance. “Gotcha.” **

rather embarrassingly, it had taken him a while to realise he was being followed. tries to justify it, his ignorance, he was wearing headphones after all, but he know’s it’s just because he’s gotten too comfortable. knows that if this were just a few weeks prior then whoever his pursuer was wouldn’t even have the chance to pursue him. still, imagines he’s lucky enough to give her the slip, ducking into some deserted-looking side street that he thinks he recognises. gets about 30 seconds of peace before he feels it again, that presence that is familiar enough to be from a ghoul, but not one he’s encountered before - their energies were so much sharper than humans. a deep sigh, he tugs the buds from his ears, and turns to face his pursuer. “i’m sure there’s a way we can deal with this amicably.”  has no doubt that she can hear him from that distance, though does raise his voice slightly anyway. 

The Doctor was minding his own business on a shady street in mid-evening. Somewhere near London but he hadn’t really bothered to pin it down. The most recent crisis had been averted and he was traveling without a companion these days so when all was said and done he merely wandered.

Heightened senses picked up on an entity trailing him up on the rooftops. He arched a brow but carried on without missing a step. It was very stealthy, whatever it was. A human would never have suspected. Perhaps the days’ excitement wasn’t over after all.

He kept on walking at a casual pace until the shadow dropped into his path. It was a surprisingly small shadow but the Doctor had learned long ago never to underestimate an opponent. “Go down easy, yeah?” Lips parted to offer some retort but it was drowned by the immediate need to duck as a foot shot out toward his head.

For an old man, he moved surprisingly fast; his body far more able than appearance would suggest. Sharp reflexes allowed him to twist out of the way and shift his weight, leaving his attacker hanging. A hand closed over the sonic in his pocket and he switched it to emit a sharp, ear-splitting tone, attempting to gain the upper-hand without brute force.

“You’ll forgive me if I don’t indulge your need for petty violence,” he intoned sardonically, stepping back out of the way. “What’s this about?”

admittedly, he hadn’t expected the other to dodge. not that he wasn’t expecting some kind of retaliation, but he didn’t look young enough to move that fast. in fact, he had questioned why he was needed to take the man down, it had seemed at his age it would’ve been easier to hire someone cheaper, not as skilled - he is not unaware of how much people pay his owners to use him. 

lands light on his feet, skittering a few paces backwards in case the man decided to deal a blow of his own, and drops down to a semi-crouch, rocking on the balls of his feet. the piercing noise that seemed to emanate from the targets pocket nearly makes him cry out, and he has to refrain from clamping his hands over his ears, it wouldn’t do well to seem weak. 

considers lashing out with the energy that was now thrumming just under his skin, just itching to be released. it would certainly make things easier, he could shoot a bolt through the mans skull and be done with it. but something makes him pause, something about the man that made him want to talk. 

can taste blood in the back of his throat, can hear a faint buzzing just behind his ears, and ignores them both. 

instead focuses on the cold of the wind as it pressed against his face. a slow inhale brings the scent of his mask, a subtle vanilla - better than the blood that would most likely stain it by the end of the evening. teen ensures it is fixed tight to his face, fingers brushing against the sunflower embroidered onto its front - the symbol that had garnered his name. he finds it a little ironic, that something like himself would be named after a flower, but can’t bring himself to dislike it. it’s some faint reminder that he could, perhaps, be good. 

footsteps on the pavement below catch his attention, eyes that are much-too-yellow focusing down on the body, squinting. thinks about the image he had been given by those that set him this task, compares it to this man, and decides it was a match.

energy coils around his joints as he drops from the rooftop, a promise that he would not fall from his own bodies shortcomings. it doesn’t stop the pain that blooms in his joints when he took a step forward, the delicateness of his skin that cut too easily and healed in the wrong way. he would have had a lot of scars regardless of this, but the way his body made every tiny scrape a permanent fixation only serves to increase their number. 

had always enjoyed making an entrance, getting attention - it was exciting. the way the man pauses when he drops into a crouch just before him is enough to send another spike of adrenaline through him. stands slowly, tries not to think of how much smaller he was than his target - it had never stopped him before, after all. 

She rolled her eyes a bit, and turned her head back to look at him. “Not hurtin’ anyone, alrigh’? Avoid hurtin’ people as best y’can. We’re better than them. You are. So prove it.” She looked back at the box, moving her sonic into a hole and sparking some of the wires together. Tiny test. It worked. If she increased the voltage as much as she could in the shortest amount of time possible, it would work. She nodded, and turned to look over towards him. She gave a small nod at his pro-activeness. The box. The panelling. She tilted her head over to where he was talking about, pulling the sonic out of the box and pointing it towards it. It dropped open, like the other one had.

“Dunno where I’d be without this.” She muttered, glancing towards her sonic, before shifting and standing, moving to the centre of the room. And then there was yelling on the other side of the door. And a couple of bangs on the door. She rose her gaze a bit, and tilted her head slightly. “Well, looks like they got over that initial shock. We don’t have much time.” She looked back over towards him, and joined his place, next to the panel. “So, three makeshift flash bangs, and parts of a plan. The most I’ve had in a while.” She gave a small laugh, gathering as much of their objects together as she could.

“How old are ya by the way? I scan read your file, only paid attention to the important parts.”

Doesn’t comment on her unwillingness to hurt people, or on the fact that he was apparently better than them - knows better than to argue with authority figures. Going against the orders of superiors was a quality they had beaten out of him long ago. Can faintly remember the last time he had protested (”But they are so young!”) the scar still remains, burnt flesh just under his right shoulder blade that never really healed. He can still feel the heat, when he closes his eyes, when his mind stops to catch up with itself, his flesh still burns. The thought of bringing about a punishment like that again is enough to bring a cold sweat prickling the nape of his neck. 

Her next question stumps him, for a few moments. Age was never something he concerned himself with, was never something they had bothered to teach him, wasn’t important. He wasn’t a proper human, why did he deserve a birthday, or the rights of an adult (or, really, any rights at all). “Not sure.” Doesn’t think his answer is strange, hand once again diving into a mass of wired to rip them out, searching for a second box. This one was a little harder to find, tucked into a corner that his fingers can just about reach, but he manages to get it out. 

The Doctor turned in her place, looking back towards him and widening her eyes. “Neirin! Y’daft.” She rolled her eyes, shifting back towards him and placing a gentle hand justover his shoulder before rolling her eyes at the question. Listening to his suggestions, she shifted in front of him, and gave him a small look. “A- y’just hurt yourself trying to get out through the vents. Even if we did have the upper body strength t’get back up there, it’s unstable and it’ll break. Not a great way to escape. Second – no, B - I like the way you think. But we don’t have a flashbang. Then again…” She looked towards the bundle of wires she had been fiddling with, before giving a small nod, and moving over towards it. Ideas.

Grabbing the mess of wires, she shifted it around as though to try and find something. “I saw it. Swear I saw it here.” She muttered to herself, before pulling out a box - a metal casing. “A-ha.” She grinned, and then shifted back onto her butt, crossing her legs. She pulled the sonic out of her pocket and placed it in her mouth, grabbing some of the wires from in front of her. “Electric spark could do somethin’ similar. Can amplify it.” She spoke around the sonic, before grabbing it out of her mouth and looking back at him. “Try find another one. Another box, and take as many wires as ya can and bring ‘em over here, yeah?” She shifted the sonic in her hand, and pointed it over towards another box; another control panel. It dropped open, and she gave the other a small grin.

One ‘flash bang’ for outside the door, and one for the entrance. Anyone in between was the issue now. Same with getting past any deadlock seals. She shook her head. She’d work it out at the time. She began pulling the protective coat of the wire itself and wrapping them around her fingers, so they were in small spirals. She then pushed them into the box. Best thing she could do; best thing she could think of. Blimey, she loved how clever she was sometimes.

It’s instinct alone that makes him twitch away from her hand, even if it never actually came into contact with his skin. There had been all to many instances of him not moving quickly enough and suffering injury for it, and so he was constantly primed to move, to shift back just enough to avoid any physical contact he could. 

“It’s not that big of a deal, I hurt myself all the time.” Someone being concerned for him is a foreign feeling, one he isn’t too sure he likes just yet. People worrying over him would only waste time, and as his mind settled carefully in the get this task done mindset that was practically programmed into it, he decided that it was unnecessary. Still, he doesn’t say anything more, for fear of drawing this woman’s ire - he was always very good at making himself cooperative. “They store the weapons a few rooms away, could grab something from there - I think we have flash-bangs. At the least, there are smaller explosives - they won’t hurt anyone too bad.” 

Crosses the room to where she had situated herself on the floor, making sure to take a moment and study the small box enough that he could recognise one again, before humming. Electronics were certainly not his speciality, so he decided to just follow her instructions and start deconstructing another panel. Pushes his foot against its base, hand on his non-injured arm gripping the lip of the sheet of metal before peeling it backwards - almost like one would peel an orange. Doesn’t let the possibility of electrocution deter him from plunging his hand into the mess of wires, tugging to remove a large bundle. Confirming they didn’t contain a box he was searching for, he dropped them to the floor and returned his hand. Another handful revealed one of the small cubes, and he was as careful as he could be in removing it. “This good?” Twists his torso towards the woman, holding the device out for her to inspect. 

he’s not okay. not really. jessica notices the fake smile and looks at him suspiciously through narrowed eyes. she says nothing though. it’s not her problem. she’s spent years lying about being okay herself. she has no right to call others out on doing the same. neither does she care to. she has her shit, other people have theirs. as long as everyone deals with their shit quietly, jessica has no problem in ignoring its existence. “i don’t have anywhere to be right now.” she says, after a moment’s quiet reflection. of course, she could at a bar drinking vodka or whiskey until she got thrown out again. it’s about all her life consists of. either working a case or drinking. she hates it, wasting her life like this, but she doesn’t know how to do anything else. so many years living with the ghost of kilgrave - always there, in her mind, even before she felt his neck snap in her hands - that she’s forgotten how to truly live. just getting by day by day is all she manages. really, she wants nothing more than to head on to that bar but finds herself offering to do something else. “Do you need help getting anywhere?”

Yes. That was all she needed. A yes. The Doctor gave him a small smile and a nod. She wasn’t convinced of the agreement to not kill. She had seen records in her time here. And she knew that he had essentially been conditioned to do that. But she had come across loads of people who had the same upbringing, and they could turn it around. She didn’t doubt that he could too. But this was the first time that he was going to try going against it, and while she trusted him enough to try his best; she knew to keep an eye out. Because it was hard. Oh God, she knew it was hard.

Pulling out the sonic from her pocket, she shifted forward and placed it against the glass that separated them. From the point that it connected, it started to crack. The glass was reinforced, so it took a bit of time, but as soon as the cracks progressed enough, she pulled it away. “Stand back.” She muttered, before moving forward and placing her hand on the glass, placing some force onto it. It shattered. And that was the point where the people behind the entrance to the room went quiet. She turned and looked at the door that they were trying to get into, then turned and focused on him.

“Alrigh’.” She gave him a small nod. “I was going to explore a bit further, but I think it’s best to just get us both out of here, yeah?” She looked around, then back up to where she fell in. “So, options. Options, options, options. Either out the front door, where a load of people with guns will probably be waitin’ for us, or up there. OR - suppose I could grab my ship and transport it here. That one might be difficult, but..” She moved forward, into the glass prison he had lived in for so long, and looked around. “There might be enough technology around here that I can use to pull it off. Which - ‘suppose is fine. But she ain’t made for short hops, and there are ten billion deadlock seals between here and where she is. Gah.” She looked back towards the door. “Alright, now is the time to tell you that usually - I don’t have a plan. I just wing it. Usually works out fine. I mean, I’m still alive, aren’t I? You got any ideas?” She looked over towards him and grinned, shifting and beginning on her ‘ship’ idea, while still thinking about all the other things she could do. She practically pulled off the control panels that was closest, outside of the cage, and began to pull out several different wires.

It isn’t hard to see that little flicker of distrust in her eyes, even if it was only there for a split second - so many people had looked at him like that, it was almost a talent being able to spot it. But, she seemed to want to help - genuinely wanted to help him escape, so he didn’t think anything more of it. He had suffered worse than someone not trusting him.  

Presses his spine against the far edge of the cell when she tells him to stand back, watching ever so carefully as the glass shattered. Can’t help the smirk that tugs at the corner of his mouth at how they fell silent outside, as they realised that he was unrestrained. Although, he had half expected the energy to immediately overwhelm him, but it remained just under the surface. A pot just on the edge of boiling over. Supposes it was for the best - if he became overwhelmed then he wouldn’t be able to keep his promise, and then this stranger would surely abandon him, and he would be stuck. 

Does his best to follow what she was saying, but her mouth moved so fast, and he didn’t really have the energy to keep up. Hopes he got the gist of it, watching curiously as she started pulling apart the controls. He had a vague idea of what they did, though of course he had never been able to touch any of it, and worries that any attempt he made to help would just ruin whatever plan she didn’t have. 

Finally, after gathering himself enough, he steps out of the cell. It had been a while - can’t remember the last time they had sent him out, but there were a lot of things he couldn’t remember, so he didn’t dwell on it too much. Stands under the spot she had fallen through in the ceiling, looking up as he thought. Knees bend slightly, before he’s jumping to try and reach the edge of the hole. It proved harder to close the distance without his energy to boost him up, but his fingers hook around the edge of the fall, and it looks like he would be able to pull himself up. And then there was a crack, a shot of white hot pain in his shoulder as the joint dislocates, and he has to drop back to the floor. Really, he should have expected that, his joints were unstable at the best of times, and without anything to stabilise them, there was no surprise it had dislocated. Other hand goes to rub at the injury, not wanting to push it back in quite yet, could fix it once they were out of here. 

the doctor quietens. she was in this facility, studying what they were doing. always love secret facilities, she does. always love figuring out the secrets behind them; the secrets they’re keeping. but when you can’t get anymore information from computers or from looking, you go deeper. deeper and deeper and there was only so far you could get with a sonic before you had to start climbing through ventilation shafts. except there was a weak point. and she landed right outside a glass ‘cage’? area, looking at the person in front.

she had read about him already. archived material, secret missions. what they did to him. she had lowered to the ground, and began talking to him. but this question is what stumped her. because… because of the pain. how low this person was, but yet so strong to have dealt with this through all of these years.

“i don’t think ‘bout things like that ‘till it becomes a problem, honestly.” she gave a small shrug and a smile, before shifting herself forward to look at him properly. her expression grew serious. “what they’ve done to you, neirin, it’s not right. and i intend t’stop it. but i won’t be able to do it without your help. i can get you out of here but you need to do what i say. the first little rule being; no killin’.” she turned and glanced towards the proper door - which she had sealed as soon as she got in here, and then up towards the hole above her, in the ceiling. think. “they’re going to be expecting me. but they might not be expecting you. question is, though - do you wanna take this chance? d’you wanna try leavin’ with me?”

the woman had startled him. 

the glass, the clear prison that had enveloped him for longer than he can remember now, was so very good at dampening his energy. it still prickled underneath his skin, still grew restless in the early hours of the morning - or, what he supposes is morning - still tore through his veins like fire. but, that was all it did. cause his skin to burn and his mind to race and he couldn’t even use it to escape.  ( not that he hadn’t tried. not that he hadn’t spent days battering against his confines with all the strength he could give, not that he hadn’t shattered ribs and wrists and ankles in a desperate plea for freedom. ) 

dull eyes had watched her descent from the ceiling, body not moving to react in the slightest. he blinks, slow and tired, and tries not to think about the pity in her eyes. pity was not something he deserved, was not something he wanted. isn’t entirely sure why he had asked the question - doesn’t think it had been all too good a use of his voice, not when his throat was so rough and talking took more effort than he was willing to admit. supposes the answer he receives somewhat makes up for it, almost allows himself a bit of hope when she mentions getting him out.

but then she say’s no killing, and wonders if it was some cruel joke. because what else was he good for? what else could he do besides slaughter, with the rage they had forced into him, that was so restless under his skin. it was all he knew. death, and fighting, and injury. the taste of blood in his teeth when he overexerted, the shadows that danced across his vision with every hit. 

supposes he could learn. supposes it would be nice, would be so much better than the existence he currently continued. perhaps, the boy entertains, he could learn to not be so violent. and the woman, the stranger, she looked so serious, so intent on helping him that it causes guilt to bubble up in his throat at the thought of rejecting her. 

    “yes.” she replied between gasps as she crouched to cuff the knocked-out alien. .  “careful.” she inhaled sharply trying to get her breath to a normal pace. “the tail seems to have a mind of its own, don’t let it trip you.”