Contrasting Tranquility |COMPLETE|

Chapter Thirty

"If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done."

- Ludwig Wittgenstein

"Me gooo Englaaaand." Mickey pointed at himself. He was having a conversation with a stranger on the street. A very one sided conversation. "Where is train? You know? Choo-choo!"

Rose watched him make a fool of himself. Her hand met her mouth as she snickered silently on the sideline.

The stranger grimaced. "Junge, lass mich doch in Ruhe. Scheiß Britten..."

"Yes! Yes!" Mickey smiled. "Britain! You know where choo-choo at?"

"So much for the Torchwood way." Rose mumbled.

Mickey cocked a brow. "Got a better idea?"

The stranger rolled their eyes and left. "See?" she said, waving. "You angered them." Rose bit the inner of her cheek as she tried to control the laughter that was bubbling in her chest.

"Keep teasing me about it and I'll show you angry." Mickey tried to look stern but failed miserably.

That was it for Rose; the gateway opened and she'd start laughing, wheezing even. Mickey followed, for she was too contagious. Their breaths quickened and slowed at the same time, and they would gasp for air; what a fucking mess.

They sat on a wooden bench as they tried to calm themselves down.

Mickey sighed and looked up at the sky; there was a big fluffy cloud making its way over their heads. He was the first one to speak. "I've missed you, Rose." he said.

Her lips curled into a gentle smile. "I missed you too."

"And you know we're always gonna be friends, no matter what."

Her brows furrowed. "Mick-"

"And you know that you can trust me, no matter what."

"Mickey, what do-"

"No. Matter. What. Right?"

She blinked, unsure of how to answer. "Yeah?"

"Just wanted you to know that if you ever want to tell me something, you can." he waited for her to say anything, only she wouldn't. So he continued. "I saw it, Rose. And I'm not pushing you to tell me."

"Saw what?"

He took a moment before responding. "Your neck. That scar. And then the one on your arm."

Rose kicked herself mentally. She had grown so comfortable around the Doctor with her own body, that she'd completely forgotten to cover them up.

"They don't look like accidents. They look deliberate." he said.

She fell silent. How could she even begin to explain? Where and when? And honestly, why? Rose knew he was only trying to be kind, yet she couldn't just...no. This was a story for another time. Or maybe never. Because it would break his heart, and she knew it. There was no way in hell she was gonna do that to him.

Mickey sniffed the air and stood. "Should we get some food?"

"How would we do that?"

"I dunno." he shrugged. "I'll beg?"

Rose smiled. "Yeah right."

-

"Here I was thinking you're in danger. What do I see? Bratwurst." she heard a voice say from behind. Rose nearly choked on the sausage when the familiar tone invaded her ears.