I Like Smoke and Lightning...

[The First Doctor]

Thete's heart pounded as he watched the Deviant advance on him, a hard look on his face. He could feel the adrenaline flooding his system, and had to struggle against the urge to drop into a fighting stance.

The Deviant stood before the boy now. "Good, you are done now." He said as he cleared his throat. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the boy.

Thete's eyes narrowed. "I don't think..." he started to say. I don't think so, he would have said. I don't give up that easily.

"I was standing in your place, one time. Feeling like I wasn't worthy of my girlfriend, who was of a rather high up family. To be completely honest, my descent isn't really known. My parents found me under a cabbage leaf, literally." He said as he cleared his throat again.

He relaxed, just a fraction. This was not what he had expected.

" I stood off against Mist's parents, I told them that I loved their daughter, and that was all that should matter. Her father did what I am about to do to you." he said as his hand came up, it looked like he was going to strike Thete for a moment, and he heard Libby cry out.

He watched the hand come up, and tensed. I'll break his arm, he thought. If he hits me, I'll break his arm.

His hand came down on the boys shoulder, and smiled softly at him. "You love my daughter, that's all that matters. I don't care what your blood is, or who your father is." He said this gently.

"I give you permission to pursue a relationship with my daughter, in any way you both see fit. Whether it's privately or publicly, you have my support. ANYONE that decides to torment you, or come on you for it... Will answer to the Deviant and the Mist. I really think they wouldn't like their TARDIS technology messed with." he said as he stepped back and took his wifes hand. "So what do you have to say, Thete."

The tension drained from him. He felt stunned. Stunned and weak and shocked and - to be honest - confused. Genuine acceptance, particularly from mature Time Lords, was not something he was accustomed to. He started to speak, then found he couldn't.

Carefully, feeling light-headed, he stepped back and reached blindly for Libby's hand. "I, uh," he said, hesitantly. Then he swallowed hard, and forced himself to meet the Deviant's gaze. "Thank you."

And then he turned to look at Libby. "I'm... I'm sorry," he stammered out, embarrassed. "Would... will you forgive me?"

[Seren Ash]

Libby felt her hearts pounding out a new tempo in her chest. Fear and a deep seated adrenaline rush that was making her ready to go after her own parents. But her father had done something else. He had done something that only a few other Time Lords had done. As far as Libby knew, the only one that really had openly accepted all of the kids, and any of the kids, was The Specialist. But everyone knew she was a step above any of the normal Time Lords.

She shivered as she saw Thete reaching for her hand blindly. She grasped it, and laced her fingers with his, holding on to his hands. She was shaking, a soft tremor, that showed she had been scared so much for him. She felt so useless for him, and she realized it in that one moment. She was so scared, because she had really tried to figure out how she could help Thete, how she could even go after her own parents.

She watched her fathers smile, as he reached out and put his hand on top of Thete's head. "As far as I'm concerned, you're part of the family. All of your family, and anyone that goes after you or your family, is going after me and mine." The older Time Lord said, and that had a sort of final ring to it. The acceptance of one person, into another family. Especially by the leader of that family unit, was a big thing. With that Libby watched in awe as his father wrapped his arm around her mother and took a step back.

"Oh, Thete..." Libby said as she pulled his hand a little. She stepped towards him, not caring what other people would think. She hugged him, and hugged him tight. She was happy, scared, elated. So many emotions just rolling through her. She had no real idea on how to handle it all. All she wanted to do was hold him. "Thete, nothing to forgive, I think my father wanted to see your spine..." She said finally as she buried her face in his neck.

Tears, she was crying, she had been so scared. She should have realized that her father was not like other Time Lord's, that her father would openly accept Thete, and openly accept this.

[The First Doctor]

The Deviant put his hand on top of Thete's head. He flinched, just a little. He couldn't help it - it wasn't as if, outside his family, he'd had a whole lot of friendly or affectionate personal contact.

"As far as I'm concerned, you're part of the family. All of your family, and anyone that goes after you or your family, is going after me and mine." The older Time Lord said, and that had a sort of final ring to it. The acceptance of one person, into another family. Especially by the leader of that family unit, was a big thing.

Thete gaped, then shook his head and forced himself to close his mouth. "Thank you, sir," he said. "I will strive to be worthy of your trust."

And then Libby was pulling him close, wrapping her arms around him. "Oh, Thete..." she said. "Thete, nothing to forgive, I think my father wanted to see your spine..." She said finally as she buried her face in his neck.

He held her close, feeling her tears on his neck, a million thoughts and emotions chasing themselves around his mind. "I guess he saw it, then," he said. He breathed in the scent of her hair, his lips tingling as they brushed her scalp. "I love you," he whispered, not trusting himself to say it out loud. "I love you."

[Seren Ash]

Libby found herself held, by the male she had wanted to be held by for awhile. They had exchanged touches in the past, just hand holding and hugs in the past. But nothing on this sort of level. She had been so scared that she might lose him. She should have realized that her father was more then happy to accept such a brilliant male into their family. The fact that he accepted Thete and his family together, had really shocked her to the core.

But he had given Thete and her permission to do together. From the looks of it, her parents were retreating from the area, walking away hand in hand. They had made it quite clear with their mannerisms, that any actions were accepted. First date or not, they had accepted the situation with Thete. She felt the brush of his lips on the top of her head, and her chest felt tight and heavy. She could hear the feelings in his words, not just the words themselves.

"I'll always love you Thete, remember that. Time Lords live a rather long time. I'm yours. I won't give you up." She said as she let her face rest against the side of his neck. She let her cheek rest there, the cooling sensation of his neck against her face. She had been so utterly scared, and she had really felt she had almost lost him. "I love you, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." She whispered softly.

[The Master]

Koschei had chosen this day to Promenade as well. Quite without bothering to tell Thete - he was a great guy, more like a brother than a friend, but he needed someone to help him out in the social niceties.

And so it was that he was strolling the length of the Royal Road himself, from Geometry towards the Square of the Circle, one arm around Ieshanavaretta's waist, the other around Celestephemerhea's shoulders.

If the both of them wanted to pursue him, who was he to deny them?

"And so I said..." He was just building up to the grand finale of his story, when he saw the grand tableaux in front of him. Thete and Libby, embracing openly, with a couple he took to be Libby's parents watching in approval.

"Is that... is that Thete?" asked Iesha.

"Yep."

"And the Archivist?" Rhea added in surprise.

"Oh, yeah."

"Wow."

"Oh, I know." He grinned broadly, then called out "Hey, Thete!"

[The First Doctor]

"I'll always love you Thete, remember that. Time Lords live a rather long time. I'm yours. I won't give you up." She said as she let her face rest against the side of his neck. "I love you, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"Sshh," he whispered, hardly daring to speak aloud. He didn't think he could trust his own voice right now. "Don't worry about it. It will never happen."

"Hey, Thete!"

He jumped. "Kos?" he asked, seeing the young man and his dates approach. "Kos, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Promenading," Kos answered with a grin. "Archivist, I hope you don't mind terribly if I borrow your boyfriend for just a moment? Thanks."

He grabbed Thete's arm and led him away. "We'll be right back, ladies."

Iesha watched Koschei pull Thete away. "Wow. He cleans up really well." She turned back to the Archivist. "And you look very pretty yourself. You should wear your hair up, more. It suits you. Don't you think so, Rhea?"

"Definitely," the redhead agreed.

Iesha smiled. "But, I tell you what. If you ever get bored with Thete, let me know. I'll gladly take him off your hands."

Rhea smiled as well. "No, no, no. If you ever get bored with Thete, let me know. And I'll take you off his hands."

[The Master]

Koschei pulled Thete away, working a little harder than he had expected.

"Kos, what the hell are you doing?"

He clapped his hands on Thete's shoulders and leaned in, conspiratorially. "I'm being your wingman."

"What?" Thete asked incredulously.

"Yeah. Figured I'd show up and run interference, if you need it."

"Well, you're definitely interfering!"

Kos glanced to his right, watching Iesha and Rhea talking to Libby. "Everything's going good? Do you need me to figure out a way to get rid of the parents for you?"

"Everything's good, and her parents aren't an issue. Heck, the Deviant gave me his blessing."

"So, you're good?"

"If you'll get lost, yeah. I'm good."

Kos smiled, and clapped Thete on the shoulder again. "I'm out of here, then."

He started to turn, and stopped as Thete grabbed his shoulder. "Kos?" he heard.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. For wanting to help, I mean."

Kos turned back, and gripped Thete's hand for a moment. "You and me, right? If you need me, I'll be there for you. Now don't go and screw this up."

He turned, spread his arms, and walked forward. "Ladies? We've monopolized their time long enough. Shall we be going?"

[Seren Ash]

Libby felt her chest cease to ache as he spoke to her. She smiled at him the love shining in her eyes, as she jumped against him. She was just as shocked as him, at the arrival of Kos. Her eyes widened as she nodded mutely to The Master, as he dragged away Thete. Her eyes watching as they left, her head tilted to the side as she frowned ever so softly. What was Kos doing here, at the same time they were supposed to be promenading? That her and Thete were having their first real moments together. She had dealt with years of torment from her schoolmates, and now finally she had a boyfriend. Someone special to her, in so many ways.

She stopped as she heard the words of the other girls. Her eyes narrowed, and went cold as ice. Once again the Ice Queen had made herself prevalent, she tilted her head back as she heard their words, the air sizzling with the unkempt anger that was inside of her. Her self-control was supreme, as she presented herself from growling at them. Then she stared towards the girls, a small glare leaving her, she watched them now, a look of contempt on her features. "Appearances, are not what matters. It's all about the people you are around." She stated in that soft and clipped icy tone she usually used with the people at school.

Then she turned her gaze towards Kos and Thete, her eyes softening. She stopped and looked back at the girls. "I will tell you this, I will never give him up. So you can keep on thinking the way you are. I won't get tired of him, and I won't be leaving him. So keep dreaming, and go back to what you were doing. I will not give him up." She snarled softly at them, the anger showing on her features as her head tilted back.

[The First Doctor]

"Appearances, are not what matters. It's all about the people you are around." She stated in that soft and clipped icy tone she usually used with the people at school.

Rhea's eyes widened, as if she'd been slapped, and Iesha lifted a hand. "That's... Well, yeah. But I meant it - I was just trying to be, you know,nice. Compliment you. You do look really nice like that."

"I will tell you this, I will never give him up. So you can keep on thinking the way you are. I won't get tired of him, and I won't be leaving him. So keep dreaming, and go back to what you were doing. I will not give him up." She snarled softly at them, the anger showing on her features as her head tilted back.

Iesha - known around the Academy sometimes as 'Princess" or 'the Rani' - took a step back in mock alarm. "Really, it was a joke. I wouldn't dream of coming between the two of you. You're good together."

"Yeah," agreed Rhea. "I've known Nathan... Thete, I mean, for years. I don't think I've ever seen him this happy before." She smiled. "He's been a really good friend, and I'm glad for the both of you."

"Ladies? We've monopolized their time long enough. Shall we be going?"

"But of course," the Rani answered, turning to meet him. "You two have a good time."

"Oh, definitely," Rhea agreed, turning to meet Kos as well. The she half turned back, gave Libby a sly little smile, and let their thoughts touch. Just for an instant. I wasn't joking, though, she said with a wink.

Thete returned, and took Libby's hands. "Sorry about that," he said, shaking his head. "Kos is, well, being Kos. He thinks he needs to look after me."

[Seren Ash]

If Libby was a cat, her claws would be out. Her fangs would be revealed. But she let herself calm down as The Rani began to speak. She slowly calmed down and turned her attention to Thete, her parents had left, their thirty minutes up. They had left them to their own devices, then she stopped as the flare of the pain rushed through her. The thought of the other female. Her head snapped towards her as she let her own mind reach out. Do it, and I'll kill you. She found her words clipped and quick.

They held utter truth as she looked at Thete now, lacing her fingers with his and feeling a need to stake her claim. She was so scared, and worried about the whole situation. She didn't want to lose him to anyone. Especially not Rhea, not any of those stupid girls at school that had tormented her for so long. She squeezed his hand and wrapped her arm around his neck. Her actions speaking louder then words, as she made her point known before Koshchei left with the two girls.

She kissed Thete then, lightly, gently on the lips. Feeling her stomach flutter all over the place, at the contact. It was like lightning that rushed through her, as smoke caused her mind to haze over. Her breath rushed out as she realized that one soft little kiss, might not be enough for her.

[The First Doctor]

Libby's arms slid around his neck and, before he had a chance to think, she was kissing him. Lightly, her lips just brushing his, a quick sensation of softness and warmth that seemed to turn his blood to liquid fire and his nerves to light.

She pulled away, not far, just enough to look at his face. He felt lost in her gaze, his whole world contracted down to her eyes. For a long, timeless instant he stood, barely able to breathe.

"Protocol be hanged." He pulled her close and kissed her, lost in the taste of her, the feel of her body against his.

It finally ended. "I'll always be there, Libby. Always."

[Seren Ash]

Libby didn't give a dang about the gasps that rocketed through the square. The brightest light of the Archives and Libraries, was locking lips with what she felt was the brightest light in the world. Her lips stayed on his, as soon as his came back to hers. Her breath coming out from her nose, but even then she didn't care that she wasn't getting enough air. She liked this dizzy headed sensation, of being held against him. Her eyes closed, as her head tilted a little, making a better angel. Despite the fact that she really had little experience with this kissing thing.

His words warmed him, and his actions made her breathless. When she finally pulled back for air, she was flush with heat. Her head shook a little as she tried to clear it. That blush darkening a little. "Sorry 'bout that... I ah... " She couldn't find an answer for him! Libby, the one that had an answer for EVERYTHING, had no answer for the man she loved. She had no real answer, other then she had been wanting to do that really badly, for the last few months. Now that she had, she didn't want to stop.

"Perhaps we should remove ourselves from the square?" She finally managed to squeeze out of her panting chest. Alright, so she hadn't really controlled her breathing right, but she just wanted to get out of all of the stares directed towards them.

[The First Doctor]

"Sorry 'bout that... I ah... " Libby stammered out, blushing.

Thete pressed a finger to her lips, and took a deep breath. "Sshh," he said, somewhat flushed and short of breath himself. "I, well, I'm just sorry we didn't try that sooner."

"Perhaps we should remove ourselves from the square?"

He grinned a devilish grin. "But we've still got eight minutes," he protested in mock horror. "What about the Protocols? 'The forms must be obeyed.'" The last line, delivered with a laugh, was a direct quote from Borusa, one of their Academy instructors.

[Seren Ash]

Her eyes widened as his finger rested on her lip. She kissed his finger softly, feeling as if her chest was filled with an ache that could't be figured out. She wondered if it could be satisfied. She had Thete now, her Thete. Her wonderful, brilliant, fantastic, Thete. She sighed softly and gave him a wry smile, running her hand back through her bangs, wishing she could brush them over her eyes and hide from the demons in her mind.

The stares of people, and the gasps that had happened. The way people glared at them. "I know what he said, but we already broke protocol. What's breaking another?" She asked as she gave a rather wolfish grin. He was the one that had taught her to be a rule breaker. He was the one that had taught her such a thing.

[The First Doctor]

"I know what he said, but we already broke protocol. What's breaking another?" She asked as she gave a rather wolfish grin.

He grinned back. Then, holding her hand, he turned to face the Deviant and the Mist. "In any way we both see fit, right?"

His grin broadened as he watched the Deviant nod in assent.

"Right, then. Libby?" He squeezed her hand. "Run."

And with that, clutching her hand, he sprinted towards one of the secondary roads leading away from the Royal Road.