Ficlet: Centennial

[unfeathered]

Title: Centennial
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Author: unfeathered
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Tenth Doctor
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: Jack's up on the rooftop again…
Beta: Very much not beta'd, even by me. :-)
Author’s Note: becky_h asked for 100 years after Constant for the Timestamp Meme. Follow-up to Constant.



Jack stands atop the New Cardiff Museum and looks out over his city. The Millennium Centre's long gone, as are most of the buildings erected to celebrate that nice round number, but the Museum was built in its place and it's his favoured place to spend the night these days.

Tonight, he's not really seeing the city. He's thinking back to another night, one hundred years ago to the day. He's remembering so vividly that it takes a good couple of minutes for him to realise that the sound of the TARDIS materialising is real and not part of the memory.

"Evening, Jack," the Doctor says casually, and Jack spins round, a crooked grin forming on his face. The Doctor is standing in the doorway of the TARDIS, hands in pockets, legs crossed, shoulder leaning against the door. Jack has got so used to people aging and dying around him that it's a real jolt seeing the Doctor looking so exactly the same as he did the last time he saw him.

"Doctor!" he cries, rushing forward. He's about to say, "Great timing!" when it occurs to him that this all feels very familiar. "Hey, I haven't sent you back in time to myself again, have I? 'Cos I'm not moping tonight. Just remembering."

The Doctor smiles, crinkles forming round his eyes just as Jack remembers. "Nah. Just thought I'd come along to celebrate our centennial. Not many people make it that far, y'know."

Jack is touched, because he didn't expect the Doctor to remember. But he doesn't say so. He looks the Doctor up and down. "Well, I know it's been a hundred years for me, but it doesn't look like it has for you!" Not that it looks like it's been a hundred years for him either, he knows – he's got a few more grey hairs, a couple more wrinkles, but nothing like a hundred years' worth. "How long has it been?"

"Oh, a couple of years," the Doctor says. He finally shifts away from the door of the TARDIS and walks forward the couple of paces necessary to reach Jack. "You still don't want to come with me, I assume?"

It's become a ritual between them. The Doctor always asks, and Jack always says no. He shakes his head, and grins. "You know it's not because of the Master any more, don't you? It's just – this is my life, my world. I do miss you, and the stars, and the future and the past, but… this is me now. Maybe one day. Not yet."

The Doctor traces a hand down the side of Jack's face and he leans into the touch, closing his eyes briefly. The Doctor smiles sadly. "My dear, faithful, Jack. You've grown up so much."

"It's been a hundred years, Doctor," Jack reminds him.

"So it has." The Doctor continues to contemplate him for a moment, then shakes off the melancholy mood and comes up with a great big grin instead. "So… anniversary shag?"

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Anniversary shag... only the Doctor and Jack!!

[unfeathered]

Yep. THey are unique. :-)

And I am finally caught up with my flist!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Congrats! Not for long though, I just realized I messed up my plans to post a fic a day and put up 4 yesterday, so now I have to find something for today. *sigh* I got carried away with the timestamp meme

[unfeathered]

Doh! That was silly! :-)

I can't believe how many things I've posted already this month. Hell, I've written and posted over 1,000 words today! Nothing to compare with Becky's 6,000, but still incredibly impressive! I really like this no-editing just get it out there kind of writing. :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

hey wait, do you have time to beta that crack!fic I sent you yesterday?

[unfeathered]

Oh, hell, I knew there was something else I was supposed to be doing!

Not immediately, but will get it back to you asap.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

actually I had forgotten about it completely until I saw it listed in my word docs. Thanks kiddo!

[fandom-me.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is just absolutely wonderful, gorgeous and guh.

I love Older Jack and this. A lot.

[unfeathered]

Thank you! I actually didn't think much of it right after I'd written it but I just read it through again and it was better than I'd thought.

Very glad you like it. :-)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

ANNIVERSARY SHAG! \o/

Sorry. That deserved capslock. It totally did. I love this *bounces*

[unfeathered]

The capslock made me chuckle - thank you! :-)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

*giggles happily*

[itsarift-thing.livejournal.com]

Now I have this vision of Ten sitting in the TARDIS next year and wondering how far he'll have to throw himself into the future *this time*...

Only Ten can get away with a phrase like anniversary shag

[unfeathered]

ROTFLMAO!

Oh, that's a fantastic image!

(Let's hope he doesn't go all the way to the end of the universe, or he'll find Jack shacking up with Yana instead! *g*)

And the 'anniversary shag' line seems to be popular with everyone! :-)

[nightrider101.livejournal.com]

*sniffs* This was lovely. I'm SO happy I've got time to search your LJ and find all the amazing fic I've been missing!

WOOHOO for an anniversary shag!

[unfeathered]

Awww, thank you! There's a fair bit more there, when you have time! :-)

(Btw, did you read Constant first, before reading this? Otherwise, some of it might not have made much sense...?)