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“You want to do what?” Bill asked, glancing at Nardole.
She would, most days, describe the Doctor as fairly smart. On the best days she would go so far as to say he was a genius, definitely the smartest person she had ever met.
Some days though she wondered if Time Lords came with the gene for “common sense.”
Nardole thankfully, seemed to agree with her.
“Sir, are you sure you’ve thought this through?”
“Yes!” the Doctor said, with an almost maniacal gleam in his eye. It was the type of gleam that usually led to Bill running through the streets of ancient Troy with a sentient mechanical spider on her tail. “It’s the perfect plan. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”
“You want her,” Bill said, glancing towards the vault door, “To give piano lessons to humans.”
“To children,” Nardole said, brandishing the flier, “Your advertisement says all ages.”
“Missy needs to understand humanity,” the Doctor said, “If she can understand humanity, she can start to learn why their lives are important, and maybe then she can start to learn empathy." He came to a rest against the consul. "She has to learn how to listen to the music.”
“Yeah but,” Bill winced, “Piano lessons?”
The Doctor threw out his hands, “She’s great at piano, you’ve heard her!”
She was. Bill had heard her. That was not remotely the concern here. “But lessons usually involve like, talking to people? And I don’t know if you’ve noticed but none of you are good at that.”
“I am a great talker I’ll have to know.” The Doctor frowned, “I talk to people every day!”
“Yeah and they think you’re insane,” Bill laughed, “You know half the student body says you’re an alien.”
“What? Who told them?”
“No like, as a joke,” Bill sighed, “look Doctor you and Missy aren’t great at the whole blending in thing yeah? Her with some random humans doesn’t seem like a good idea. What if she kills ‘em?”
“She won’t kill them,” the Doctor rolled his eyes.
“And how can you be sure of that?” Nardole said.
“Well for one thing, she won’t have any weapons. For another, I told her not to.”
“And you expect her to listen?” Bill said in disbelief.
The Doctor was only able to look her in the eyes for a second, “I’m also going to park the Tardis nearby and temporarily extend the temporal grace field.”
“And if she decides to scratch their eyes out or something?” Nardole muttered.
“She has standards, Nardole don’t be stupid.”
“Course, right, insane murderer has standards. Don’t know why I asked.”
“She’s- listen,” the Doctor sighed, “Missy needs to learn how to… connect with people. She needs to see the good in them. That cannot happen if she always stays in the vault.”
Nardole was staring at the Doctor like he had grown a second head, “You want her to learn to love humanity by spending time with human children?”
The Doctor nodded.
“Oh good luck.”
“Well they wouldn’t have to be children,” the Doctor said, “See look here, this woman is requesting lessons for her teenager.”
Bill laughed, “Oh right then, so she’ll want to kill us all even more. Great. Well done.”
“She gets along with you doesn’t she?”
“I’m not a teenager!” Bill said, “And I’m fairly certain she’s plotting to kill me if she ever gets out.”
“She’s not plotting to kill you.”
“Says you.”
“Yes, says me,” the Doctor said, hand on the vault door, “Anymore questions?”
“Just one,” Bill said, crossing her arms. The Doctor punched open the lock and the door swung open, “What exactly does Missy think of this plan?”
“What plan?” Missy said, walking out of the vault like it was curtain call, twirling her umbrella as she went. She gave Bill a smile that had the hair on the back of her neck rising. Looking at the Doctor often felt like staring at the sun or like walking into a tea shop with so many smells it made your eyes water. Looking at Missy felt like staring into the mouth of a shark.
“The plan to have you teach piano,” Nardole said. Bill was impressed with the way he could make any word sound like an insult.
“I think it’s silly and a waste of my skills frankly,” Missy said. “Talent like mine? I should be center stage of the Orchestra of Cantaros Three, not on this backwater planet.”
“So why’d you agree?”
“One does want to get out of the house sometimes dear,” Missy said, with a glint to her eye.
Bill grit her teeth. The Doctor looked back and forth between them with a smile that was entirely too happy. She could be at home, she thought. She could be home, in bed, watching the telly. Or she could be working, saving up money to get a place of her own. But nooooo. She chose to hang out with the weird alien professor and his psychopath girlfriend instead.
“Fine,” Bill said, “Alright. But I’m going with you.”
The way the smile vanished from Missy’s face almost made it all worth it. “You?”
“Bill-”
“Nope,” she said, turning and poking the Doctor in the chest, “If you think she’s safe to be around humans, then she won’t mind having me come along and watch her every. move.
She threw Missy a glare for good measure.
“If that would make you feel better dear,” Missy said with a sickly-sweet grin.
“Alright then,” the Doctor said, clapping his hands together, “Sounds like a plan. Missy will teach the tiny humans, Bill will watch Missy, and me and Nardole will watch Bill and make sure everything goes alright.”
He said the last part intentionally, giving Missy a careful look. Bill felt herself relax knowing the Doctor didn’t fully trust her. Missy nodded, “If she must.”
“To the Tardis!”
“Tell me,” Nardole whispered, coming up behind her as they walked back to the office, “If she does go mental, what are you going to do?”
“I-” Bill slumped over, “Have no idea.”
“Well buck up, hopefully she won’t kill your entire species before sundown.”
“Filling me with confidence Nardole.”
“Happy to help.”
The lesson was at a small house in Manchester. Bill had no idea why they were going to Manchester of all places, but the Doctor said he had put Missy’s ad everywhere, including the internet.
Walking up to it felt vaguely like walking into a war zone with a grenade, only the grenade was strolling next to her whistling Beethoven’s 5th symphony while spinning an umbrella and grinning like a madwoman. Bill had a few regrets about how her life was going.
They knocked on the door and Bill braced herself for a blow. Missy glanced at her.
“Oh darling why are you so nervous? I’m not going to kill the brat.”
Bill glared at her.
The door opened to nothing. Bill looked down.
“Hiya,” the girl standing in front of them said. She looked about ten years old, with a head of blonde hair and a blinding smile. Her t-shirt had the silhouettes of the Beatles crossing Abbey Road, “My name’s Ruby. Ruby Sunday.”
Bill opened her mouth to say hello when another figure appeared.
“And I’m Carla,” the woman said, rushing up from behind, putting a hand on Ruby’s shoulder, “And we’ve talked about opening the door for strangers Rubes.”
Ruby rolled her eyes, “Mum it’s not strangers, it’s just the piano teacher.”
“Oh but your mother is right dear, you must never open the door for someone you don’t know well. Who knows what could happen?” Missy said, her smile perfectly polite. Bill fought the urge to kick her in the kneecap.
“What’s your name?” Ruby asked, looking at Missy curiously.
“You can call me Missy.”
Ruby frowned, “What kind of a name is Missy?”
“What kind of a name is Ruby Sunday?”
“Hi I’m Bill!” Bill said, pushing past Missy and shaking Ruby’s hand, giving into the urge and kicking Missy’s shin for good measure, “It’s nice to meet you. You have a lovely home.”
“Oh thank you dear,” Carla said.
“Bill here is my apprentice,” Missy explained, “She is hoping to become a teacher like myself someday and I agreed to let her shadow me.”
“Oh how kind of you.”
“Yes. Kind,” Bill said, straining to keep a smile on her face, “So where’s the piano?”
The house was small. Nice, if cluttered. Ruby’s room was covered in band posters, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, and a few Bill didn’t recognize.
“Alright Ruby you be nice for Miss- Missy now. I’ll be down the hall with Joanna if you need me. And Henry will be back from work soon.”
“Alright mum,” Ruby said. And then they were alone. With a child. Who was staring at her and Missy like they were in charge. Which they were. Right.
Missy was currently frowning at the keyboard in the corner of Ruby’s room, “Is this all you have?”
“Yeah?” Ruby said, “Can’t afford a real one, and even then we’d have no place to put it. I get to play the one at school sometimes.”
Missy made a sound between a hum and a scoff, “This will do then. Although it is a blight on the instrument.”
“Dramatic aren’t we?” Bill said, raising an eyebrow.
“The piano is one of humanity's greater inventions,” Missy said, “I simply appreciate it as I should.”
Ruby frowned, “Why do you talk of humans like you aren’t one?”
“Because I’m not. I’m better than them.”
“Oh Missy,” Bill said, laughing a bit too loudly and putting her hand on Missy’s shoulder. “You and your jokes.”
She gave Ruby a fake smile that hopefully didn’t look it. Missy glared at her. Bill moved her hand.
Missy sighed, “Let’s get this over with. Show me what you can do, tiny one.”
“I’m not tiny,” Ruby frowned.
“Whatever. Play.”
Ruby rolled her eyes but got up to get her music.
Bill elbowed Missy in the side again. This time, Missy whirled around and grabbed her arm. Bill stifled the undignified yelp that tried to leave her mouth.
“If you keep badgering me, human, this lesson will become most unpleasant for the both of you,” she hissed in Bill’s ear.
Bill held her ground, “You’re being rude,” she said, low enough that Ruby couldn’t hear. The girl hadn’t noticed yet, focusing on getting her sheet music out, “If all you do is insult her she won’t do well.”
“I hardly insulted her.”
“Well you aren’t exactly a ray of sunshine,” Bill said, “Just be nice to her yeah? She’s just a kid.”
Missy’s mouth was set in a thin line. She didn’t say anything, only turning back to Ruby as she got out her music.
With a nod, Ruby began to play.
Bill knew nothing about piano. She had fooled around on Harry’s grandpa’s once or twice, learned how to play Mary Had a Little Lamb, but other than that she was clueless. She had no idea what an appropriate skill level for a ten year old was, but Ruby seemed to be amazing at it. She played without faltering. The tune was simple, but light. Somehow happy and sad at the same time. Ruby’s fingers almost danced across the keys. When she finished she looked up at Missy. Missy stayed silent.
“That was brilliant!” Bill said, too loudly. Ruby jumped in her seat. ‘Sorry. Just, that was really good is all.”
“Thanks,” Ruby said shyly, “Miss Missy?”
Missy blinked as if coming out of a trance, “Just Missy,” she said shortly. Bill glared at her and she coughed, “It was alright I suppose. For a child.”
Something in her voice threw Bill off. She looked closer at Missy’s face. It was a mask, like usual, but in the corner of her eye Bill thought she could see something glistening.
“Hang on,” she said, grin spreading, “You’re impressed.”
“I am not,” Missy snarled, “It’s a simple tune. Anyone could play it.”
“No, no, you can’t hide from me,” Bill shook her head, “You liked it- You were impressed. You impressed her Ruby and that’s- well I’ve never seen her be impressed before. Good job kid.”
Ruby’s face was nearly matching her name, “She’s right though, it wasn’t that complicated.”
“You love the music,” Missy said, “And that is something far more precious and rare than talent.”
Ruby blushed even harder. Bill’s eyes widened and she stared at Missy, who furiously avoided looking at her. A compliment. Missy just gave someone a compliment.
Bill felt herself smiling. Maybe the Doctor’s plan wasn’t so insane after all.
Missy cleared her throat, “However the talent leaves a lot to be desired so, we should get to work. Starting with your posture dear sit up. You’ll end up looking like a shrimp in ten years if you stay that way. Human spines are so fragile.”
The lesson seemed to go well as far as Bill could tell. Every so often Ruby would make a mistake and Missy would threaten to incinerate her. Bill couldn’t tell if she truly meant it or if she was just saying things to raise her blood pressure. Ruby, thankfully, took it all as a joke.
By the end of it Ruby was fully relaxed, laughing at something Bill had said. When Bill turned to Missy she rolled her eyes, but for a moment she thought she saw the ghost of a smile on Missy’s face.
“Thank you so much,” Carla said at the door, “Really. Ruby had a great time, didn’t you Rubes?”
Ruby nodded, taking her mum’s hand.
“We’ll see you next week? Same time?” Carla asked, looking up.
“We’ll be here,” Bill said with a smile, “It was so nice to meet you. Bye Ruby!”
“Bye!”
Bill couldn’t help the spring in her step and the smile as they walked back to the Tardis. She nudged Missy with her elbow, “You enjoyed that.”
“No I didn’t,” Missy said stiffly.
“Yes you did. You were having fun.”
“I was not!”
“Yes you wereeee,” Bill said, dragging out the last word in a sing-song way, “Ruby liked you.”
“Hm. “ Missy stared straight ahead, “You think so?”
“Yeah I do.” Bill said, a bit more gently. “And you liked her too don’t deny it.”
“She’s a human child. Small and snotty and frankly insufferable. She smiled entirely too much to be natural.” Missy said, glancing down, “However-”
“However?”
Miss sighed, “I suppose I was impressed by such passion and dedication in one so young. She does seem to truly care about the instrument, even if she does play that abomination.”
Bill grinned, “So you’re coming back next week?”
“If I don’t kill you all first,” Missy muttered.
“I’d like to see you try.”
The next week Carla opened the door cautiously.
Bill greeted her with a weary smile. Ruby’s success had given them a false sense of confidence. The following two lessons had been unmitigated disasters. One with a six year old who threw up on Missy’s shoes ten minutes in, and another with a pasty teen who glared at them and muttered the entire time about how their mom was forcing them to do this. In both cases Bill had found herself rapidly becoming the referee to prevent Missy from causing someone bodily harm. So she was really, really, looking forward to seeing Ruby.
“Where’s the smaller human?” Missy asked, sounding bored.
“She’s inside,” Carla said with a sigh, “Sorry. I don’t know how the lesson will go. It was a rough day at school.”
Bill frowned, and only got more concerned when she saw Ruby. The younger girl was sitting on her bed, hardly looking up when Missy and Bill entered the room. Her cheeks were puffy and her eyes were red as if she’d been crying.
“I did not sign up for human emotions," Missy muttered.
Bill shot her a glare and knelt beside Ruby, “Hey kiddo, what’s wrong?”
“Stupid kids at school,” Ruby said, “It’s nothing. What are we playing today?”
“Errr I dunno," Bill said, looking at Missy, "You sure you're up for it?”
“Yeah, I'm fine."
Ruby did not look fine. She walked to the keyboard like it was a funeral. Missy looked at Bill and shrugged.
Ruby went through the scales with none of the enthusiasm of the week before, even Missy was looking at her with something like concern. After about ten minutes of encouragement and no sign of improvement Missy gave up.
“Alright,’ Missy said, looking at Bill, “Fix it.”
“Fix what?” Bill asked, bewildered. Ruby looked equally confused.
“That,” Missy said, gesturing at Ruby, “With your human emotions thing. Fix it.”
Bill felt herself growing angry, “She’s not an it, Missy.”
“Well I know that I’m just-” Missy floundered, “Say something.”
Bill should get paid to deal with this. Really. She rolled her eyes and knelt in front of Ruby again.
“Ignore her,” she said, with a pointed glare that had Missy throwing up her hands, “But something clearly is bothering you kiddo. What did those kids do?”
Ruby hesitated, looking down at her hands. “They were teasing me about being a foster kid,” she muttered.
Bill’s heart dropped, “What?”
“It’s a new school, and I guess no one had seen my mum before, but then at pickup the other day they did. And they saw me and mum don’t look alike, and they started- they said some mean things.” The words stumbled out of Ruby’s mouth, growing more and more frantic, “And I try not to let it bother me ‘cause I know none of it is true but it’s just hard.”
She looked at Bill helplessly, and Bill threw her arms around her in a hug. The girl buried her head in her shoulder. She didn’t have to guess at the kinds of things kids were saying. She had heard it on her own often enough. She glanced up at Missy, who was staring at her with an indecipherable expression. Not that Bill wanted to pour her heart out in front of a woman she was fairly certain was a mass-murderer, but oh well.
“You know I have a foster mum too,” Bill said, after Ruby pulled away from the hug, wiping at her face.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Bill said, “And considering I’m like, the coolest person ever, those kids clearly have no clue what they’re talking about.”
Ruby gave a shaky laugh, “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Bill said softly, looking at Ruby’s tiny face. She wondered how she had looked at that age. Surely she had never been this small.
“Children can be horrible beings, and remarkably cruel,” Missy said, interrupting her thoughts, “If they bother you again you should try to incinerate them-”
“Go to a teacher,” Bill interrupted, “You should go to a teacher. Because we are adults and are not encouraging you towards violence. Right?” She glared at Missy. Missy shrugged.
“Teacher just said to ignore them,” Ruby said, bringing them back, “And I know I should, but some of them are in my maths class and- anyway they’re annoying.”
Missy shrugged, “Kill them.”
Bill nearly choked on air, "Do not do that."
“What?” Miss raised an eyebrow innocently, “You heard her, the brats deserve it.”
“Missy-“
“Oh if you must be boring,” Missy rolled her eyes, “You could simply destroy their reputations. A well placed word-”
“Missy-”
“Or if you really want to ruin their lives I suggest finding their families-”
“Nope!” Bill broke in, "That's- nope. No. Do not listen to her. No advice from Missy unless it’s about piano.”
Ruby, thankfully, was looking between the two of them and nearly shaking with laughter.
“The whole thing is ridiculous anyway,” Missy waved her hand, “Why are they even insulting you? Because you look different from your mother?”
Ruby nodded.
“That’s ridiculous,” Missy said, “I mean, there are so many other reasons to insult you.”
Ruby frowned up at her, “What?”
Bill buried her face in her hands, “Oh god.”
“No really,” Missy insisted, “Children can be truly vile beings. They could tease you for your hair, your clothes, your taste in music-”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?”
“Nothing,” Bill said quickly, “Missy-”
“Your grasp of music theory is tenuous at best and your voice is a bit pitchy,” Missy continued. Bill saw her life flashing before her eyes. “But instead of teasing you for any of those reasons, they tease chose something vastly beyond your control. All it shows is a lack of creativity and intelligence.”
Ruby blinked at her. Bill groaned.
“So you're saying they’re too stupid to bully me properly?” Ruby asked.
“That’s-” Bill’s brain was short circuiting, “I feel like that’s not what we should be learning here.”
“Exactly,” Missy said, ignoring her, “You, child, are surprisingly skilled for someone of your age and species, and I find you not entirely unpleasant to be around. Anyone who says different is an idiot and you shouldn’t listen to them.”
Bill had never felt more confused in her life. Missy sat there, primly as ever, sipping a cup of tea she had gotten from somewhere as if she hadn't shaken Bill's entire worldview by saying something actual helpful and... nice? She looked for the smirk, the hint of a lie, the twist of manipulation, but there was nothing there. Just Missy, looking into a child’s eyes and telling her the truth. Despite it all Bill found herself smiling slightly.
“Well she’s right there,” Bill said. She gave Ruby a look, “You know when I was your age people said so much of the same stuff to me.”
“What did you do about it?” Ruby asked.
“I uh, went to the teacher.”
Ruby gave her a look that said she didn’t believe her.
“Alright I punched Michael Davis in the face but that was not a good idea,” Bill said, “I regret it very much and violence is never the answer.” She said it as seriously as she could manage and Ruby nodded.
Satisfied that she had done her job as a responsible adult Bill leaned in, “That being said it did get the job done. Just don't get caught."
“Alright,” Ruby said with a grin.
“I do believe humans would consider that a mixed message,” Missy said, casually.
“I’m tryin’ not to get her in trouble,” Bill said, “Trouble is some idiots really do need a punch in the face- which I never said. Oh, your mother is going to kill me.”
Ruby, thankfully, giggled, wiping away some of the tears. Bill smiled at her.
“Thanks Bill,” Ruby said.
“Of course kiddo.”
Ruby gave her a hesitant look, “What is your foster mum like?”
Bill winced, “She’s- She’s fine. We aren’t very close. But she took me in. Fed me. Can’t complain really.”
She felt Missy’s eyes on her as she leaned on the wall next to Ruby. She did her best to ignore them. Ruby was staring at her too, but with a look more curious than anything.
“Did you know your mum?”
“Nah,” Bill said, trying to sound nonchalant, “Died when I was a baby. I have pictures though.”
“Lucky,” Ruby said, with a sad smile, “No one knows who my mum was.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“S alright.” Ruby shrugged, kicking her feet back and forth. “I’m gonna find her one day, once I get older.”
She said it with such conviction that Bill found herself believing her.
“Your mum seems amazing,” Bill said, nodding to the hallway. Carla had barely gotten them in the house before plying them with promises of tea and biscuits. Bill had seen countless photos pinned on the fridge in the kitchen, and she noticed the way Carla had gently kissed Ruby on the head before leaving. “I know she loves you a lot.”
Ruby grinned “Yeah, she does. Nearly went to the school to fight the kids herself when I told her.”
“Good for her,” Bill said, “And that’s what you should focus on yeah? No matter what those idiots say, you’ve got good people in your corner, and that’s what important.”
“Right now that that is done,” Missy said with a dramatic sigh, “Can we please get on with the lesson?”
“Fine, fine. Don’t get your skirt in a twist.”
It was remarkable, Bill thought, the change that came over Missy when she played. She was still precise and calculated, but every so often when touching the keys she would close her eyes and lose herself in the music. In those moments, guiding Ruby’s hands to move as swiftly as her own, she almost looked human.
This time when they left Carla gave Bill a hug and a whispered thank you, and Ruby ran and hugged Missy’s legs
“Bye Missy.”
Missy looked vaguely like she was hugging a cactus, but she gave Ruby a pat on the back all the same. “See you next week.”
“Next week?” Bill said, amused, as they walked away.
“Well we can’t stop now, all my hard work will be undone,” Missy said, rolling her eyes.
“She’s a good kid,” Bill said, glancing back. Missy hummed noncommittally which Bill took to mean she agreed.
“So we’re definitely finding out where those kids live and scaring the shit out of them right?”
“Oh of course,” Missy said, “Find a way to sneak me past the bald one and I’ll do whatever you want.”
The third time they went to Ruby’s house she flung the door open before they even arrived.
“Bill! Missy!”
“Hey kiddo,” Bill said, hugging back the tiny blonde rocket that shot at her legs, “Good to see you.”
“Yes we’re all glad we’re here now if we could just- oof!”
Missy was cut off by Ruby once again throwing herself at her. She looked at Bill with mild panic. “How do I make it stop?” She whispered.
“You ask,” Ruby said, “Come on! I have something to show you!”
“Oh goody,” Missy said. Bill cackled at the look on her face as she tailed behind them.
“Me and Trudy are performing in the school talent show next week,” Ruby said, practically vibrating with excitement. She shoved a flyer into Bill’s hands, “We have a band and everything!”
“That’s awesome!” Bill said, giving her a high-five. Missy looked unimpressed.
“What is a talent show?”
“What she means is when is the Talent Show.” Bill said, covering.
“Yes of course. That.”
“It’s next Friday,” Ruby said hesitantly, “You’re both invited. If you want.”
Bill smiled at her, “Of course we’ll be there.” She elbowed Missy. Generally speaking not a wise thing to do but if Missy was going to kill her she would have done it by now, “Right?”
“Fine,” Missy said, “Now, on to your lesson-”
“Can I learn Welcome to the Black Parade?”
“What in the devil’s name is that?”
The school auditorium was crowded and smelled like old socks. Bill found herself being pushed and hassled by dozens of PTA moms trying to get the best view of the stage and Dad’s holding slowly disintegrating bouquets of flowers. Screaming children ran underfoot. It was a nightmare. Watching the Doctor, Missy, and Nardole attempt to navigate it all? A dream.
“Finally,” Missy huffed, once they finally found seats. “How long until she goes on?”
“She said after intermission.”
“So how longs that?” Nardole asked.
“Thirty minutes?” Bill guessed.
“Someone is reciting Hamlet’s soliloquy,” the Doctor noted.
“Make it forty-five.”
“Rassilon help us all.”
They endured nearly an hour of out-of-tune singing, dance routines, and mildly impressive juggling. Bill found herself enjoying it, the Doctor kept offering up criticism, and Nardole fell asleep. All in all a normal outing, although she was half expecting alien robots to jump out of the corners the entire time. Finally, it was Ruby’s turn.
“There she is!”
Ruby was amazing, of course. Bill was fairly certain she was the most talented person on the stage, not that she was biased or anything.
“She’s quite good,” the Doctor whispered.
“I know right? Missy is a surprisingly good teacher.”
“It’s been good for her, hasn’t it?” the Doctor asked nervously, “The teaching? I wasn’t sure how it would go really.”
“And you still sent her to teach five year olds?” Bill hissed.
The Doctor shrugged, “Humanity is full of surprises. I wanted to see how she’d react.”
“I think it’s been good,” Bill said, “Ruby’s hard not to love.”
She glanced over at Missy and smiled. For once the woman wasn’t glaring or smirking or plotting the best way to kill somebody. Instead she was looking entranced at the stage, looking at Ruby with a proud smile on her face. At the end, she was the first to stand and applaud.
A week after that the Doctor had the idea for Missy to lead the adventure- to be the Doctor.
All things have to come to an end eventually
“I know her.”
“What’s that?” the Doctor called from the pile of coats he was looking through. The Tardis wardrobe was massive, larger than any house she had ever lived in. Clothes from every era and planet were piled together. Ruby had no idea how he had gotten them all, or why he had bell bottom jeans meant for a teenager or Victorian dresses that looked as if they would fit a child, but he did.
Ruby never knew what she was going to find in there, but the last thing she expected when trying on an old jacket was to reach into the pocket and find a familiar face.
“I said I know her,” Ruby said, waving the photograph she had found in the air. The Doctor popped his head up and frowned. He clambered out of the jackets and took the photo gently, like he was worried it would disintegrate.
“Where did you get this?” he said softly, holding a hand just above the face in the picture.
“In the pocket of this old coat,” Ruby said, holding up the garment.
“Right,” the Doctor said, barely looking at it, “Right.”
He had a far off look on his face. He had that look often, and it usually meant he would rapidly change the subject or run off and hide in the Tardis Engine for a day under the guise of doing repairs.
“Doctor,” Ruby said softly, putting a hand on his arm, “Who is she?”
The Doctor ran a hand over his face, “She was-” he paused and blinked rapidly, “Sorry did you say you knew her?”
“Yeah,” Ruby said, “She was my old piano teacher, or she helped my old piano teacher. She was her assistant I think? Only it was a bit weird cause I don’t think she knew how to play the piano. But she came over when I had lessons.”
“Really?” the Doctor said, with an oddly strangled voice.
“Yeah. The teacher was right weird too. Only ever had her for three lessons and the poof, she was gone, like she dropped off the face of the earth. Mom could never get a hold of her and the company we hired her from insisted she didn’t exist,” Ruby shrugged, “She was alright. I liked Bill better, but Missy was good. I learned a lot from her. And she was funny, acted as if she knew Beethoven and talked about humans as if she- “
Ruby froze. She looked at the Doctor. The Doctor looked at her.
“What?”
“No way,” Ruby said, “But then- no. Cause she- but- was she you?”
“No!” the Doctor said, “Oh heaven’s no she isn’t- well she was.” He shook his head and laughed, but it wasn’t entirely a happy one. “She was a friend, a long time ago.”
Somehow that seemed just as unbelievable. Ruby tried to imagine Missy and Bill in the Tardis. Missy, who insisted on a cup of tea before every lesson, and Bill, who snuck her entirely too much candy.
“Did she travel with you? Like me?”
“No, no not like you,” the Doctor said with a sad smile, “Bill did though. I loved Bill. She was one of my best friends.”
“Right," Ruby said. Bill. Bill with the cool jacket and cooler hair who had definitely been a part of Ruby realizing she wasn't entirely straight, "So that day, the piano lesson, were you there?”
“Yes I was,” the Doctor said, “Just down the street in the Tardis, me and Nar- another friend were. Another coincidence huh?”
He tried to give her a smile, but Ruby ignored it, “Why were you there? Why was your friend giving me a piano lesson?”
“Ah well,” the Doctor cleared his throat, “She was new to Earth. We just wanted to give her a taste of humanity.”
“With a piano lesson?” Ruby raised an eyebrow.
“I know, seems silly,” the Doctor said, looking down at the picture. “Bill thought to too.”
Ruby gave the picture a closer look. In it Bill was smiling, sitting across a desk from an old man who was frowning at the camera like it was personally inconveniencing him. He was wearing the coat she had found. And older- younger? Version of the Doctor. Ruby felt her heart sink. She was one of his best friends.
“Doctor, what happened to her?”
The Doctor took a deep breath, “She’s gone now. She died. Sort of. And it was my fault.”
“Oh.”
She took a breath. Before she could say or process the Doctor kept going.
“Her consciousness survived,” he said, “She’s traveling the universe right now actually. With her girlfriend! Space puddles- it was a whole thing. Long story. No time to tell it, but! She was amazing, Bill Potts was.”
Ruby blinked, trying to figure out what the hell that meant. Oblivious to her confusion the Doctor went to put the photograph in his jacket. Then he paused, holding it out to her instead, “Here.”
“What?”
“You keep it,” he said, “I have more. She was your friend too.”
Ruby took the photograph hesitantly. Bill's face laughed up at her, frozen in time.
“Do you want to talk about her?” She asked, already knowing the answer.
The Doctor gave her a sad smile, “Maybe some other time.”
Ruby knew enough by now to know that meant no. She frowned. The Doctor was like that she had noticed. He talked quickly or not at all.
“We have things to do you and I,” he continued, “Places to go, people to meet, no time to get caught up in the past yeah? Now the Beatles! There’s a dress back here I think you’ll love-”
Ruby shook her head and followed him deeper into the Tardis, putting the photograph in her pocket. She would get her answers, one day.
Later, she would think of her friend while she played to save the world. Later, she would wonder if she would disappear, just like Bill Potts.
And later, far across the universe, a consciousness traveling through the stars would hear a song coming from a planet whose music had been stolen, and she would smile.