Chapter Text
Clara sighed, looking at Danny’s door. She’d been stood outside for two minutes, debating whether she should just throw this whole plan away and go back to snogging The Doctor’s face off, and deal with this at school whenever they run into each other.
She had to do the right thing, some voice in her mind said. So she slammed her fist against the door. She was going to let Danny out of his probably damn well near eternal misery, and finally get the chance to act on her feelings the correct way.
Danny opened the door, his face lighting up as soon as he saw Clara’s face. “Hey, babe,” he leaned forward to peck Clara’s lips, but she turned her face to the side so it landed on her cheek. She could see the way he looked at her when he pulled back.
Clara huffed. “Can I come in?”
”Sure,” Danny nodded, already moving aside.
Clara sat down on the couch next to Danny. She let out an exhale as she tried to collect her thoughts. She needed to say this carefully. She tried to find a place to start.
“The Doctor betrayed me.” Clara began. She decided on the straight forward approach. She could see Danny open his mouth, so she shook her head, hurrying to continue. The words came tumbling out of her mouth. “I was going to leave, but I kissed him. I— it was more than that. I didn’t just kiss him.”
Danny’s eyes widened. “Wait, you two—“
“No, we didn’t. We didn’t do… that.” Clara corrected. “I didn’t mean to make it seem that way. But if I didn’t stop it…”
”Did he force you to do it?” Danny sat up, on the edge of his seat.
”What? No! Never! It was completely my choice, he gave me time to pull away. I could’ve stopped it but I didn’t.”
Danny’s eyes were glistening. The seemed hopeful, almost. “So why did you?”
”Because I was cheating on you.” She answered honestly. “And if I…” Her gaze shifted. “If I wanted to continue with him, I had to stop it. I had to break up with you, put you out of your misery.”
Danny’s eyes widened once more. “What?”
Clara bit her lip, still refusing to initiate eye contact. “Danny, you don’t know the guilt I am drowning in. Trust me, I feel disgusted with myself,” Clara finally looked at him. “But I can’t stay with you after this. I don’t even want to. I need to do this. I want to do this.”
”No! Please! Clara, please don’t! I lo—“
”Don’t say it. Please. Before I go, I have to say that I really wanted this to be real. But with The Doctor around, I should’ve known it never could’ve lasted. I’m so sorry, Danny. I never should’ve strung you along, not when I knew I had feelings for him at some point.” Clara stood up off the couch. “And now, I’m doing what’s best for both of us.”
She threw one last look his way, then walked away, leaving him behind forever.
By the time Clara returned home, she saw that the TARDIS was parked on the grass. She wasn’t too sure whether it’s moved since she left or if it’s remained in it’s usual spot. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she crossed the garden, knocking on the door and entering before the Time Lord inside got a chance to respond. It’s not like he’d deny her anyway.
The Doctor looked up at her, and the smile spread into a grin. She walked over to him in three strides, wrapping him up into a hug. He’d been telling her for the past few months that he hates hugs, but he returned it anyway.
“It’s over,” she exhaled. “I broke up with him.”
The Doctor took his head off her shoulder and connected their lips with eager. Clara didn’t even waste a moment before kissing back. She’d spent so much time longing for this, almost mindlessly. It had become a background emotion.
The Doctor moved his hands away from her waist up to her face so he could cup her cheeks. Clara smiled into the kiss, moving her hands to his grey locks. The Doctor hummed into the kiss, and Clara opened her mouth slightly as an invitation. One that he took with ease.