𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧
𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐨
𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

from the eyes of
— 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒 𝐉𝐀𝐃𝐄 —

River Song stood in all her radiant glory.

Her hair was a shade brighter than usual—golden blonde, pulled up in an effortless mess of curls spilling free in bouncy spirals. Dark sunglasses perched low on the bridge of her nose as she sipped from a plastic cup adorned with a rainbow-colored cocktail umbrella. The drink looked tropical, probably mixed with rum.

She wore a lacy black bikini top that hugged her curves like it had been made for her—because, let's be real, it probably had. I did wonder for a long moment if it was an actual bikini or just lingerie, either way, she looked fantastic.

It was paired with long, faded denim shorts and she had no shoes in sight, she looked like she belonged exactly where she stood: barefoot, sun-kissed, and utterly unbothered.

It didn't take a genius to figure out where we were. The TARDIS had landed smack between a cluster of pastel-painted beach shops, boozy bars, and seafood-scented restaurants. One glance at the stretch of golden sand just across the street made it unmistakable.

We had hit our mark dead-on this time.

Rio de Janeiro.

"What? River?" The Doctor spoke first, confusion evident in the tight furrow of his brows.

"River!" I shouted not even half a heartbeat later.

I shot off like a bullet, leaving the Doctor and Amy behind as I bolted across the warm pavement.

River chuckled as I practically tackled her, lifting her off her feet in a tight, spinning hug. She clung to me just as fiercely, burying her face into the crook of my neck with a soft, content sigh.

"Heya, hotness," I murmured, grinning against her skin.

We both laughed, still holding onto each other. She smelled exactly as I remembered—like rosewood and danger, soft jasmine with the faintest edge of gunpowder. Like a woman who could kiss you breathless while shooting your gun from a mile away.

"Hello, sweetheart," River purred, pressing a kiss to the side of my head just as we parted. She gave me one last squeeze before stepping back with a glint in her eye.

Totally friendly. I swear.

"River!" Amy called out, jogging up the cobbled street, beaming.

The Doctor was the last to join us. He moved cautiously, vaguely annoyed, and already trying to solve a puzzle he didn't have all the pieces to.

"Professor River Song," he sighed, not unkindly—but not unguarded either. His voice was clipped, slightly curious. The kind of tone that said, I know you're trouble, but I haven't decided if I'm mad about it yet.

River's smile stretched as she turned to him.

"Doc—tor..." she drawled, like tasting chocolate on her tongue. Her eyes didn't leave him as she licked her lips.

Then, just as smoothly, she turned to look at Amy. "Lovely to see you again, M—" she coughed lightly before correcting, "—Amy."

I quirked a brow. Had she almost called her May?

Amy frowned, having heard it as well. I quickly spoke up before River got a scolding from an angry Scottish woman.

"How've you been? Where is this for you?" I asked, crossing my arms.

The Doctor moved closer behind me. Way closer than usual. His front brushed against my back as he rested his chin on the top of my head with an exaggerated hum.

River arched a brow at the gesture, amused. Not threatened. Not even surprised.

"A very long time down the line, darlings," she said with her signature mystery. "Far enough that it's not even worth trying to line up—I can already tell it's early days for you two." She shook her head with a wry smile.

I frowned, opening my mouth to argue.

"Nevertheless," River cut me off, turning to me and holding out a hand. "PJ, my drink's nearly empty," she said, lifting her cup and giving it a mournful swirl. "And I intend to get a lot more smashed than this. Care to join me? There's a bar down the street calling our names. No one mixes a cocktail quite like you do..."

I was already stepping forward when the Doctor yanked on my other hand, stopping me in place.

I stumbled with a squawk and turned, baffled, to see him smirking like the smug bastard he is.

Amy, meanwhile, looked between the three of us with one arched brow.

It was comical. River had my right hand, the Doctor had my left, and I was stuck in the middle like some tug-of-war chew toy.

"We'll all go then!" The Doctor said cheerfully. "I've been meaning to try one of your drinks, dearest!"

"You don't even like alcohol," I said, narrowing my eyes.

He shrugged, innocent. "Then make me something light! With all the talent you supposedly have, it shouldn't be a problem!"

"Right." I gave him a slow, pointed nod.

He grinned, then gently rubbed his thumbs over my knuckles before finally letting go. River rolled her eyes and tugged me forward.

The Doctor and Amy followed behind us, bickering quietly about something neither me or River caught.

I leaned in close to River, voice low and curious. "So... what exactly brings you to Rio?"

"Well, I do love Rio," she sighed contentedly, her gaze flicking toward the glittering beach across the street. "I'm here quite often, actually."

"Ah—I can understand. Miami is my soft spot..." I told her, and she laughed.

"Trust me, I know." She smirked, and I snickered back.

I then raised a brow and asked my next question. "What does it for you? The drinks, the sun, or the half-naked men and women?"

She hummed, amused. "All of the above, darling. Although..." Her tone shifted slightly, subtle but intentional. "This time around, I'm not entirely here for my own pleasure."

That caught my attention. I tilted my head and looked over at her more closely. "Yeah? What brings you here, then?"

River's smile turned positively impish as she sipped the last of her fruity drink and shook the cup gently, the ice clinking. "I wanted to play a bit of Uncharted with you and the Doctor."

I blinked. "Uncharted?"

"How about Tomb Raider?" River posed. "Get it now?"

"Like Lara Croft Tomb Raider?" I quirked a brow, still confused as to what that had to do with anything. "People do say I kinda look like her. Well, her or Avatar Korra." I smugly said.

By people I meant me. I say I look like both of those bad bitches. Because I totally do! Especially Avatar Korra.

River gave me a deadpan look of disbelief, I could practically hear her words. Really, bitch?

Instead, she shook her head and waved a dismissive hand, not bothering to address that can of worms, her curls bouncing. "I'll explain when we get to the bar, sweetie. It's a surprise." She paused. "Sort of..." She paused again. "And for the record, I think you're hotter than Avatar Korra." It was said with every ounce of sugar and spice that River had.

"Impossible!" I quickly exclaimed. "No one is hotter than her!"

"Not even me?" She pouted flirtatiously, and I hesitated. "How about the Doctor?" She added, smiling as I blushed.

I was not able to respond. Not before River was speaking again.

She glanced sideways at me, the sun catching her sunglasses just enough to hide her full expression. "So... how are you and the Doctor then?" She asked curiously. "You're... together now, right?" Her lips twisted uncertainly, her eyes dancing with unsureness.

I realized that she was hoping that she had not just messed up the timelines and spoiled anything for me.

I blinked, then let a sly smile crawl across my lips. "Together? Me? With that guy?" I pretended to be shocked, as though the Doctor was not my lover.

River's face dropped. "Oh, bloody hell—"

I burst into laughter. "I'm kidding! Yeah, I think we are... we're... completely casual, though. Loose. Low-commitment..." My voice trailed off, and I coughed, glancing down awkwardly. "Boyfriend-girlfriend... maybe... sorta?"

River burst into a laugh, clearly amused. "Oh yeah?"

Before I could answer properly, a loud voice came flying in from above and behind us.

"No!"

The Doctor suddenly appeared between us, his head shoved between our shoulders as he glared dramatically at the both of us—mostly me.

"We are certainly not low commitment, casual, or loose!" He declared, scandalized. "How does you living with me translate to low-commitment and casual, PJ?" He asked sarcastically.

I stared at him, half-laughing, half-stunned. "How do you know it's not you living with me? How long have you even been eavesdropping—?"

"First of all—it's my TARDIS, therefore, you live with me. And I wasn't eavesdropping! I was... listening responsibly!" He huffed. "Which was obviously smart, seeing as you consistently define us incorrectly! We're..." He straightened, throwing his arms wide as he dramatically listed: "Mælanin. Jor'tasha. Kivori. Sovreen. Alluri. Peśka. Viro. Ma Copine D'amour!"

"Oh my God," I muttered in embarrassment as River cackled beside me.

"Alright! Fine! Yes, we're together and decently committed..." I said through gritted teeth, glaring at the Doctor. "There! Happy now?"

The Doctor beamed, eyes bright as a star. He leaned over and pressed a quick, warm kiss to my cheek. I couldn't stop the small smile spreading my mouth.

"Yes!" He said, just as he fell back into step beside Amy, right behind us.

River was grinning, and her gaze lingered on the two of us for a moment before she stopped us all in front of a cozy-looking little place with rustic signage and open windows spilling samba music onto the street.

"Well," she said, straightening her shoulders and tossing her empty drink cup into a nearby bin. "I'm glad to see it. Truly."

She turned back to me, that playful glint returning. "And here we are! Come on, darling—let me get something made by you...!"

"Oh, definitely!" I grinned, grabbing the door and swinging it open for her.

What greeted us was a place lit only by the bright sun coming through the open windows. There was loose sand on the wooden floorboards of the place, and my boots THUNK THUNK THUNKING with every step I took.

A large Brazilian flag fluttered proudly above the colorful bar, faded only slightly from sun and salt air. The scent of citrus and old wood lingered in the air, and the faint rhythm of samba played from an old speaker mounted somewhere behind the bar.

The bar was mostly empty—aside from one large table set dead-center in the room. Around it sat three people, hunched over an organized chaos of documents, maps, and objects that looked like they belonged either in a museum... or locked in one of the Doctor's more eccentric TARDIS rooms.

The group looked up as we walked in, the woman in the center standing up with a bright smile.

"Ah, Professor River Song!" She cheered, her voice accented beautifully. "You have brought the rest of your friends? Is this them?"

River grinned, raising a hand and planting it proudly on my shoulder. "Indeed, Vanessa," She said, voice laced with charm and a little something else—anticipation, maybe.

Vanessa was effortless in the way some women just are—early forties, maybe younger, with thick dark hair pulled into a high, practical ponytail. Her khaki outfit was all sharp lines and utility, the very picture of an academic on the edge of discovery.

Beside her sat two men. One, older—maybe her age—held a beer in one hand and wore a face etched with experience but bright with energy. The other was younger, probably in his late twenties, and had the kind of easy handsomeness that could go unnoticed if he weren't so obviously curious about the world.

They were all no doubt natives to Brazil—each with the same smooth cocoa skin, dark hair, and lovely brown eyes.

"This is PJ," River said, motioning to me. I raised a brow and offered a noncommittal nod.

She gestured next to me. "Amy."

Amy gave a cheery little wave. "Hi! Nice to meet you."

"And this," River turned last, sweeping her hand with a little dramatic flourish, "is the Doctor."

The Doctor lit up and proceeded to make himself the center of attention as he always does. "Ah—hello!" He beamed, waving enthusiastically.

Vanessa's smile matched his. "I'm Dr. Vanessa Costa. This," she nodded to the older man, "is Dr. Leandro Rodrigues." He lifted his beer glass in greeting, eyes kind. "And this is our apprentice, Thiago Alves."

Thiago looked up from a cluster of maps with a bright, boyish grin and a wave. "Hi!" He chirped, looking particularly starstruck by River.

Vanessa then turned back to us, her attention on the Doctor. "And I am sorry, but I did not catch your name, it was Doctor Who?" She questioned politely.

The Doctor grinned viciously, rubbing his hands. He looked to me and Amy in a delighted manner, as though saying did you hear it, she asked the thing!

His catchphrase, is what I wanted to say. Instead, I fondly rolled my eyes as the Doctor answered.

"Just 'the Doctor' will do," he said brightly, unable to contain the glee behind his voice.

Vanessa raised a brow, clearly amused. "Well, alright then. You look quite young to be a Doctor. Did you graduate early?"

"Oh, something like that," the Doctor said breezily, puffing up happily.

It was obvious that he was still getting used to being referenced as young with his sort of new eleventh face. It was not like he had just regenerated, he had been wearing his eleventh face for a good few months now, but seeing as he is immortal, it really was not that long in the grand scheme of it all.

The Doctor then stepped forward, already eyeing the table's contents. "Now then—what is this delightful mess you've got going on here?"

He was halfway across the room before anyone could answer, leaning in between Leandro and Thiago to examine a glittering artifact on the table. A gold necklace, intricately engraved, with a luminous blue gemstone at its center. He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and buzzed it over the piece with the same reverence one might use for a sacred relic.

"Hmm," he hummed. "Very expensive and old. Fun." He glanced up at them with a sharp little grin.

Thiago leaned in, wide-eyed. "What is that?" He asked, pointing to the sonic.

The Doctor blinked down at it, then back at the young man. "Oh, this?" He held it up like it was nothing special. "It's a... scanner. Yes, a scanner. Very... handy little tool. Tells me a lot of things. Very clever." He trailed off, clearly trying not to launch into a full explanation of Gallifreyan tech.

Leandro arched a brow. "You got it in England, I presume?" He asked, referencing the Doctor's accent.

I had to wonder whether these people were actually speaking English at the moment or if the TARDIS was just translating their speech. I couldn't tell but seeing as Leandro pointed out the Doctor having an English accent then chances are that they're just speaking English.

The Doctor snapped his fingers and pointed at him. "Right you are!"

Amy left my side to join the Doctor at the table, curiously staring at all the different artifacts. River gave me a smile and my arm a squeeze before heading off toward the group. Rather than following, I tilted my head toward the empty bar.

No one was working. Interesting.

"What do you want to drink, Riv?" I called while lazily making my way to the bar.

"Surprise me, sweetheart!" She answered with a smirk.

"Doctor? Amy?" I then asked.

"Piña Colado!" Amy immediately answered.

The Doctor waved at me, not really paying attention. "Eh... you don't need to make me anything on second thought!"

I pouted. "Aw, you don't want to try one of my famous drinks anymore, Doc?"

He looked torn, briefly looking to me. There was that sparkling emotion in his eye again—he gave a deep sigh and nodded. "Alright, you pretty bar maid, surprise me. But make sure it's virgin... if not then a splash, I repeast a splash of rum..."

"Got it!" I said, leaping over the counter top and landing with a heavy thunk. "Others?" I questioned, making myself at home behind the bar without even asking.

Leandro answered for them all. "Just bring over three Brahmas!" He requested more beer, and I nodded.

I eyed all the different products with my hands on my hips.

I ducked beneath the bar's polished counter, dusted faintly with salt and time, and eyed the collection of liquor bottles lined up. Most were half-empty, labels faded from humidity, but I could still find what I needed. A bottle of white rum. Coconut cream. Pineapple juice. And somewhere, ah—maraschino cherries. Good.

My fingers moved automatically, muscle memory from countless late nights behind various bars. Amy was easy—piña colada, classic. For River, I was thinking something more complicated with a strong edge. Definitely needs to have a strong edge. That woman can out drink even me,

For the Doctor, though...

He didn't really want one. But he still said yes. He was curious enough to try it, having requested one earlier so as to not be left out from the banter between River and I.

To give that alien alcohol or not... what to do, what to do?

I lined up three glasses and started pouring.

Behind me, their voices tangled across the room in overlapping layers, but it was the Doctor's that lifted first—inquisitive, as always.

"So," he said, bouncing a little on his toes, "this... archaeological buffet you've laid out—what's the story here?"

River leaned in next to Vanessa, her smirk audible. "Oh, I could tell you, sweetie, but I think it's much better if Vanessa does. Go on, love. Tell them."

I turned my ear toward the sound, letting my hands move on autopilot. Pineapple, rum, coconut cream. Shake-shake-shake.

Vanessa clasped her hands in front of her, her voice rich with the weight of years and just a touch of reverence. "There is a legend—an old one. Mostly dismissed by mainstream historians. It's not written down, not properly, but passed through families, whispered in fishing towns, sung in fragments by the old women who still remember. I grew up on it." She explained.

"Long before the Portuguese arrived, before the name Rio de Janeiro was ever uttered, there was a powerful tribe that ruled these lands—the Tupinambá. Many people know the name, but not their heart. Not their leader."

River tilted her head toward the rest of us. "You'll want to hear this part."

Vanessa's voice dropped, just slightly. I could almost hear the crackle of a fire in it. "They had a chieftain named Arcêane. His name means the sky that glows before sunrise. He was known across the land not just for his strength or his wisdom, but because he was said to be chosen. Favored by the gods. A man who could speak to the stars."

She glanced at River with a small smile. "They say Arcêane could call down fire from the sky. That he knew when floods would come, or when the sea would grow angry. Some even say he came from the sea. Or the stars. Or both."

I raised a brow, still pouring.

Vanessa pressed on. "When he died, a tomb was built deep beneath the earth, hidden in the roots of the forest. His people believed the land itself would guard his secrets. A crypt carved into the bones of the hill. He was buried with many treasures and artifacts of the people."

Amy leaned forward. "A lost tomb?"

"It's the knowledge inside that we're looking for," Vanessa told us gently. "Knowledge. Tradition. If it exists, this tomb could hold artifacts that predate all known settlements in Rio. Oral histories that were never written. Lost ceremonies. Tools, garments, items the colonizers destroyed."

"And potentially," River chimed in, "a few things even the colonizers didn't understand enough to destroy."

There was a sparkle in her eye. Something dangerous and thrilling.

The Doctor rubbed his chin, stepping slowly around the table. "And you've been looking for this place?" It was obvious by the tone of his voice that he had never used the TARDIS to travel and learn from this tribe of people.

Vanessa nodded. "For years. We've gathered references, possible locations. The trail is fragmented, but... last week, I met River on the beach, just outside Pedra Bonita. She was collecting some coral samples, and we struck up a conversation."

I smirked to myself as I garnished Amy's drink. Of course, River had found her way into a tomb-hunt just by hanging near a rock and being hot.

"We got to talking," Vanessa continued, "and when she told me she was an archaeologist as well... it felt like an opportunity."

The Doctor snorted; it was almost fond sounding. "That does tend to follow her around."

"She's been helping us cross-reference regional patterns with what she calls nonlinear research methods." Vanessa gave River a grateful look. "And then she told me about you, Doctor." She paused. "She said you're the man for the job, that you and your team are irreplaceable..." Vanessa said while motioning to all of us.

The Doctor puffed up at the compliment, casting a soft look toward River, who was not so much as looking at him.

"Me and my..." the Doctor mused before giving Amy and me an equally as fond look as he clicked out the last word, "team..."

Vanessa went on. "We've scraped together some funding from a few institutions, but we can't afford a full dig crew or heavy equipment yet. We need to find the entrance and prove it exists before they give anything additional. Now, I can't be sure if the entrance is intact or not, so I don't know if we'll need heavy excavating equipment. Either way, just finding the entrance, proving the tomb exists, it would be a win in itself..."

"A huge win," River murmured, brushing her fingers along the edge of the necklace the Doctor had scanned.

I finished pouring River's drink—a smoky mix of aged cachaça, passionfruit syrup, and a chili-sugar rim—and slid it onto a tray.

Vanessa clasped her hands again. "If we find it—if we can confirm its existence—I'll see to it that you're all paid, fiercely. I'll call in every favor I have."

The Doctor gave a short breath of laughter and stood up straighter. "Vanessa... Dr. Costa."

She looked to him hopeful.

He smiled, small but sincere, and shook his head. "We don't need payment."

Vanessa frowned. "You don't—?"

The Doctor gestured with a wide, sweeping motion to the entire room. "Lost tomb, ancient legend, glowing sky-chiefs! That's Christmas! How could I possibly say no? I'm in."

"So am I!" Amy piped, only for the Doctor to wave her off.

"You and PJ were in when I said I was in, Pond, that's how it works around here," He told her with a playful gleam in his eye and Amy only scoffed while shaking her head.

"You don't boss me around, Doc," I rolled my eyes while walking over, all the drinks on a tray.

"Oi, don't I?" He said back excitedly, nearly wagging his metaphorical tail while continuing to look at the artifacts. "You're still my intern, dearest!"

That caught Thiago's attention—he turned to me curiously as I handed him a beer. He had that sort of gentle smile—hopeful. I put the other two beers down on the table next to him.

"So," he started, hesitant but clearly trying his luck, "you're an apprentice too?"

I nodded while sliding Amy her piña, she gasped happily while taking it—humming in pleasure as she sipped on it.

"You really are a miracle behind the bar!" She said through a moan.

"Thanks," I told her before turning my gaze back to Thiago. He had wide brown puppy-dog eyes, he was rather cute, truth be told. "And yes, well—sort of... it's more of a joke than anything at this point..." I said thoughtfully at the end, handing River Song the fruity drink I'd made her.

She sipped it, her eyes fluttering shut in satisfaction. "No one does it like you, sweetheart," she sighed, flipping through one of the more brittle documents spread on the table.

Then I turned to the last glass.

The Doctor was still inspecting a long, thin object—it looked like a carved bone, etched with looping symbols—but his attention immediately snapped to me as I held out his drink.

He took it with both hands like it was something sacred, sniffed it once with exaggerated suspicion, and then took a cautious sip. I scowled at his theatrics.

His eyes widened.

"Oh—wow!" He declared, taking a longer sip, then slurping noisily in a way that would've made a cocktail snob faint. "This is actually rather delightful!"

I blinked at him, hand on my hip. "What? Did you think everyone was lying when they said they liked my drinks?"

He gave me that maddeningly smug look of his, all crinkled eyes and ridiculous charm—and without warning, he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. Sloppily, might I had. His hand slid around my waist, bold and protective, fingers splaying warmly across my hip.

It wasn't exactly friendly. Okay, it wasn't friendly at all. It's that stupid thing that men do when they want to claim someone as theirs without saying it vocally. Alright, fine, girls do it as well—just far less than men, in my opinion.

I sighed, half-dramatic, half-annoyed, but didn't pull away. I should've. But the truth was, there was something weirdly satisfying about the way that he did it. How he was just wordlessly making it clear to everyone around: mine.

Thiago, bless his heart, looked away quickly. Not embarrassed, just... understanding. He turned back to his notes and started underlining something, shoulders relaxing.

The Doctor released me then, going back to lapping at his drink like a loon—staring at it with eyes much too big for his face.

Vanessa cleared her throat, but not in a judgy way. "So, PJ... what are you studying to be?"

I raised a brow, amused by the phrasing. But her assumption made sense, considering the Doctor did just call me his intern. "Studying to be? I mean... I've already gone to school for a bunch of stuff."

She perked up with genuine interest. "Oh? Like what?"

I counted them off on my fingers. "Archaeology, engineering, chemistry, physics, bio-medical studies—"

Before I could even get to the ridiculous ones, the Doctor nudged me, shaking his head like I'd just started lying about being the Queen of Atlantis.

"There is no way," he scoffed. "I am never going to believe that until you show me all these credentials yourself..." he paused before giving me a suspicious glance. "And your birth certificate for the matter..." it was a callout to him now having immense doubts that I'm actually 26.

I furrowed my brows in distaste before I shrugged, unapologetic. "Deal with it. I am an accomplished woman, old man."

His face softened instantly, the sarcasm fading as he looked at me like he was seeing stars. "Indeed you are..."

The way he said it made something in my chest skip. I hated when he did that—when he looked at me like I was his entire universe. He always caught me off guard. And it always threw a huge new wave of guilt straight in my face.

River was still sipping her drink, amused by everything, and clearly not done poking the bear.

"Oh, very accomplished," she said with that slow, wolfish smirk. "Dare I even say... more accomplished than you in some avenues, Doctor."

That made him freeze.

He pulled away from me—mildly affronted, mildly intrigued—and started toward River like a moth to flame.

"Excuse me?" He said, nose wrinkling as he leaned in, eyes narrowed. "I hope you're not referring to my very real and very distinguished doctorate from the Academy."

River didn't even blink. "Oh, sweetie. I've seen your thesis. It reads like a cry for help with a bit of time travel scribbled in."

I snorted into my hand. Amy cackled.

Vanessa, Thiago, and Leandro were casting each other confused glances. Thankfully, they didn't question it.

The Doctor's mouth opened in outrage, then closed again when River leaned closer, eyes gleaming with challenge. The tension crackled—something sharp, electric, but not quite hostile.

"How do you even have access to have read such thing?!" He floundered. "Besides, do you know how old that is? I was 27 when I wrote it—27!" He exclaimed. "Like actually well and truly 27, I didn't just look 27!"

I stayed leaning against the bar, arms crossed, drink untouched, watching it unfold. A part of me knew I should probably step in because the Doctor is technically my boyfriend.

Step in and act as Miss Possessive.

Cut off whatever this is now—make it clear to them both that the Doctor is taken, despite my earlier words of us being loose and casual.

And, truth be told, if it was anyone other than River Song, I might have just done that. Even knowing the fact that I am typically not a jealous person, what reason did I have to be?

I am the motherfucking POLARIS JADE. Powerhouse extraordinaire. Qualified in everything under the sun. Half Celestial Titan with an inhuman glow of beauty that I had to fucking hide more often than not, I don't need nor have time to be jealous.

But with the Doctor—I don't know—it was different. It probably had to do with the fact that out of any romantic partner I've ever had, I certainly loved him the most.

Amazing, I fell the quickest and hardest with him than anyone else. Ever.

But watching him banter with River Song, get close to her, I really could not find it in myself to care. Mostly because I knew that if I went over there, peeped my head between the two innocently, I would immediately have both of their unwavering attention.

They went back and forth for a moment more, arguing about both of their personal credentials. It turned into who was more qualified, more accomplished between them. Professor River Song or the Doctor?

"Well, if we're talking credentials," River finally spoke casually, "PJ has quite the background when it comes to this sort of thing."

"See," I motioned toward River. "I am qualified for everything and anything, thank you very much..."

The Doctor did not so much as glance at me, keeping his intense gaze locked on River as he waved me off. "Not now, dearest—daddy and mummy are talking..." He said without care, eyes widening a moment later as he realized what he said.

"That's fucking disgusting." I groaned, River smirked, and the Doctor only floundered, his cheeks lighting up as everyone gave uncomfortable looks to each other. Especially Amy whose nose crinkled at the display.

I ignored whatever excuses he started rambling, ignored whatever River and Amy had to say in response. My attention was away from them as I turned back to the various maps on the table; however, one document in particular caught my attention and caused my breath to stall.

I froze momentarily, eyes narrowing as I investigated it further. It was black and white—written messily, but below were a few sketches of a specific object. One of the treasures apparently locked in the tomb.

THE EYE OF ENID.

A gem, a cat-like eye-looking gem. And even as it was colored in black and white, I had no doubt that the entire thing was silver, gold, and purple.

Something inside me pulled—twisted and tugged, and I had no clue if the POLARIS JADE had been on me at the moment she would be screaming. Tears nearly sprung to my eyes at the emotion of it, but I easily locked it away—hardening myself.

Arbiter number eight. The Eye of Enid.

Of course, I would just happen to stumble upon it now. My fingers twitched at my sides.

Everything in me wanted to lose my cool, to hop and scream in joy—to jump around and go crazy. To start the rockets in my boots and leave everyone in my dust as I shot off and broke into this damn crypt and took the only thing in there worth a thing to me.

Thankfully, I did not do that. I squared my shoulders, kept my cool as I read through the documents and other notes on it. Based on these theories and the evidence found, everything pointed in the direction of The Eye of Enid being located in this crypt.

Funnily enough, based on all the other notes, this object seemed to be one of the things that Vanessa was the least concerned about. Bless her heart, rather than treasure, she was interested in the lost stories and cultures. And as far as the treasure goes—this was still not on the top list of things she wanted to get.

This was good for me, very good because it meant that they were not going to notice it missing right away. It gave me time to snag it—pocket it as though it was never in the crypt in the first place.

So long as I found it first, took it before anyone even saw it, no one would ever even realize it had been there. That it had been stolen.

I looked up—the Doctor and River were still bickering. Not quite like how the Doctor and I did. Nor was it reminiscent of how River and I flirtatiously squabbled. It was their own groove—their own quick words and pushing at each other.

Amy was watching them both suspiciously; she then threw me a quick glance. The look in her eye was obvious: Are you gonna let this slide? Come and get your man!

Truth be told—yes, I was definitely letting this slide. Mostly because it was amusing and I had bigger things to consider. Such as running through how I was about to need to conduct myself throughout this whole thing.

I could not let the Doctor or anyone else become suspicious. And they most definitely would if I showed more eagerness than typical to find this crypt—that also meant that I definitely should not mention my interest in the Eye of Enid.

Not only would it cause suspicion, but everyone would most likely have an issue with me keeping it. Mostly because all these things belonged in a museum or in a lab to be studied.

But not that—not the Eye of Enid—because it is not a typical relic. It is a universal object that, if it belonged anywhere, belonged with me.

I coughed, catching everyone's attention. The Doctor and River Song immediately looked at me, and the Doctor shook his head and took a big step away from River Song as though just now realizing how close he had gotten to her.

He threw me a wary glance and appeared the slightest bit guilty, most likely checking to see if I had been upset about that whole situation. River Song only smirked, her eyes darting between the both of us with a knowing gleam in her eye.

Even if I did care or was the jealous type, it's not like I would have been able to really act on it. River Song and I flirted all the time and were far touchier than she and the Doctor were. And I did not plan to stop anytime soon.

Not to mention, I had the most horrible feeling in my gut that River Song was far more to both of us in the future than she was letting on. In what way—I still was not sure.

I kept a casual look on my face, slyly leaning against the table and crossing my arms.

"So," I clicked my tongue, tilting my head. "While I would have loved a relaxed day at the beach, that doesn't ever seem to be in the cards for us, does it? Now, are we leaving anytime soon? Daylight is burning, and I feel like it's best to try and find this entrance before we run out of it..."