Fic: The Cracked Mirror (19/20)

[but_can_i_be_trusted]

Author: irishvampire13
Title: 'Fluoroantimonic Acid'
Rating: G
Word Count: 649
Claim: Eleventh Doctor Era; 20 Prompts: Fantasy and Fairy Tales
Prompt: #17: Heart of Glass
Notes/Warnings: None.

Summary: "Stand aside," the Ganger directed him. "This looks like my stop."

Rory hesitated just outside the TARDIS doors. "But if we don't stay, then how will we know it's you when you come back," he asked.

The Doctor smiled enigmatically. "That'll be the tricky part, won't it. Off you pop. You've got a lot of explaining to do to Amy. A lot of proving that you're truly back."

He shut the doors, locking them firmly to prevent last-minute barging by either Pond.

"Thank you," the Ganger told him as he reached the console. "After all I've done, it's more than I deserve."

"Forget it," the Doctor murmured, setting coordinates. "You had a point; it wasn't something they needed to witness. They've seen plenty of things since I met them, and they'll see more. This is one thing that we can leave out of their experience."

"What are you going to do with me, then? It's like they said. You can't let me live. But you can't kill me, either."

"No. I can't spare you," the Doctor agreed. "You're too much of a variable. You're too unpredictable. But if I kill you, it'll be like killing a piece of myself." He leaned on one of the panels, staring at his copy. "As far as I can tell, there's only one solution to this dilemma."

The Ganger nodded slowly, understanding. "You're asking me to commit suicide."

"Yes. In a way, I suppose I am." A hand fiddled with the controls, discomfort eloquently expressed in the rapid, clumsy movement of the fingers.

"Where are you taking me, then? You'll have to be sure that you're truly getting rid of me this time."

The Doctor stared at the column's rise and fall, not daring to look at the Ganger. "There's a small planet deep in the Sculptor galaxy," he responded, his voice quiet, almost inaudible. "It has lakes of--"

"Fluoroantimonic acid," the Ganger finished for him. He grinned ironically. "Well. Fitting, isn't it? Surrounded by acid at my birth; surrounded by acid as I die."

"Why are you taking this so well," the Doctor abruptly demanded. "You ought to be terrified, but you're treating this whole situation as though it's normal."

"Isn't it?"

The Doctor looked at him then...properly looked. He stared long and hard at the imitation that so perfectly resembled him.

Right down to the core.

"Isn't this what we do," the Ganger continued. "Self-sacrifice for the greater good? Putting others before ourselves? Isn't that what we're about, Doctor? What we've always been about?"

The Doctor gaped at him wordlessly, until the familiar landing noises jolted him out of his shock.

"We're here," he quietly, unnecessarily, announced.

His movements were almost mechanical as he undid the ropes that held the Ganger. As he led him to the doors. Pulled them open and stared down on the largest lake of acid on the world he'd brought them to.

"Stand aside," the Ganger directed him. "This looks like my stop."

Suddenly frightened, the Doctor did as he was told. "Are..." He swallowed. "Are you sure you can do this," he asked. "You could change your mind."

"No." The Ganger grinned. "I can't. This needs to happen. And, yes, for the record, I am terrified. Also, just between us...I wish I could be you."

"You are me," the Doctor protested, confused. "For all intents and purposes--"

"Yes." The Ganger's smile took on a wistful edge. "For all intents and purposes, I am you. But I'll never be you enough. I'll always regret that. Take care of Amy and Rory, and apologize to them for me," he concluded, shaking the Doctor's hand.

Unable to let it go at that, the Doctor pulled him into a fierce hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't be, Doctor. Please. Don't break your hearts over me."

Pulling away, the Ganger flashed the Doctor a cheeky grin. With a wink, he straightened his bow tie.

"Geronimo," he whispered, turning to the doors.

Comments

[sevanatwonights.livejournal.com]

Such a brave Ganger...Once more into the breach.

[but_can_i_be_trusted]

Yeah, I didn't feel like he could fail to do the brave thing, in the end.