Chapter Text
Luz wished she could have said waking up was as nice as the nap itself but that would be a lie. She tumbled out of her hiding place and out onto the floor of the strange bigger-on-the-inside box. There was a rather annoying alarm blaring all around her and it felt like a crane had picked up the box and decided to shake it like a chocolate milk carton.
Luz groaned as she rubbed the back of her head, which she had bumped during the shakes.
“Ok, reasonably. Should have said reasonably there.” The Doctor said quickly as Luz made her way to the main platform. Rose and the Doctor stood at the console, eyeing a screen. The Doctor began running around the console. “No, no, no, no! It’s jumping time tracks, getting away from us.”
Luz stood next to Rose and looked at the screen. On it was a weird cylinder thing. “What exactly is that thing?”
“No idea.” The Doctor didn't seem to register that it was her.
“Luz!” Rose, on the other hand, did.
“Luz?” The Doctor looked up from where he was messing with something. His eyes widened. “Luz!”
“Hello!” Luz waved and smiled.
“Damn it!” He turned back to the console. “I don't have time for this. Rose!”
“On it.” Rose squatted down to get eye-to-eye with Luz. “What are you doing here?”
“I snuck in!” She said proudly. The Doctor groaned.
“Are you still chasing the whatever it is?” Rose asked the Doctor and Luz noticed the blonde had changed clothes, now in a jean jacket and a shirt that was designed like a flag Luz was sure she had seen somewhere. She must have been asleep longer than she first thought.
“Yes, I’m still in pursuit.” He was pumping what looked like an air pump.
“Well stop. We have to take her back.”
“No, you don't!” Luz crossed her arms. She was ignored.
“We can’t. It’s mauve and dangerous, and about thirty seconds from the centre of London.” The place shook again. “We’ll take her back after we deal with the mauve.”
“Why mauve?” Luz asked. “What happened to red?”
The Doctor groaned and Rose chuckled. “I’ll explain later.”
When they left the box, it was night and they weren't on the same street as when she entered. The air even smelled different. It smelt worse actually, but she figured it was because they were in a back alley.
“Do you know how long you can knock around space without happening to bump into Earth?” The Doctor sounded annoyed.
“Five days?” Rose guessed. “Or is that just when we’re out of milk?”
“Milk?” Luz asked.
“Of all the species in all the Universe and it has to come out of a cow.” The Doctor grumbled.
That wasn't really what Luz expected but sure, ok. Milk only comes from cows apparently. She remembered what the Doctor said before they exited the police box. “Are we really in London?”
“Yup,” the Doctor put his hands into his jacket pockets, “and the thing must have come down somewhere quite close. Within a mile, anyway. And it can’t have been more than a few weeks ago. Maybe a month.”
“A month?” Luz repeated.
“We were right behind it.” Rose said, exasperated.
“It was jumping time tracks all over the place. We’re bound to be a little bit out.” The Doctor defended himself. “Do you want to drive?”
“I do.” Luz raised her hand. She was ignored.
“Yeah. How much is a little?” The blonde crossed her arms.
“A bit.”
“Is that exactly a bit?”
“Ish.”
“I’m lost.” Luz said honestly. The Doctor just patted her head as he walked by.
“What’s the plan, then?” Rose grabbed Luz’s hand and the two followed a few steps behind the Doctor. “Are you going to do a scan for alien tech or something?”
“That sounds so cool. Do that.” Luz grinned as Rose squeezed her hand.
“Girls, it hit the middle of London with a very loud bang. I’m going to ask.” He said it as if it was the most obvious thing while taking out what looked to be a wallet. He flipped it open, and it turned out it was an ID.
“‘Doctor John Smith’?” Luz read. Was the Doctor’s name John Smith?
“‘Ministry of Asteroids’.” Rose finished.
“It’s psychic paper.” He flipped it shut and put it back into his pocket. “It tells you-”
“Whatever you want it to tell me, I remember.”
Luz giggled at the blonde’s exaggerated eye roll. The Doctor stopped at a door with a ‘Deliveries Only’ sign.
“Well, Luz didn't. So it was more for her than you.”
He tried the door but it didn't open.
“Not very Spock, is it,” when the Doctor gave her a look, she added, “just askin’.”
“Door, music, people.” Luz didn't realize there was music but, as the Doctor pulled something out of his jacket pocket, she listened in. There it was, just faint enough to overlook it. “What do you think?”
“I think you should do a scan for alien tech. Give me some Spock, for once. Would it kill you?” Luz gently tugged on her jacket sleeve. “Yes, Luz?”
“What’s Spock?”
Rose looked just as, if not more, offended as when they had that mishap with the chips.
“Tell me you're joking.” Luz shook her head. “I’m gonna have a word with your parents. How do you not know Spock!?”
Luz shrugged. The Doctor was looking at them now. “Rose, are you sure about that t-shirt?”
Silently, the girl thanked him for the subject change. The older woman looked at her shirt. “Too early to say. I’m taking it out for a spin.”
“Well, take Luz to the TARDIS and wait there.” He pulled the door open. “It won’t take a minute.”
As the Doctor disappeared inside, Rose was looking away as someone called out, “Mommy?”
Luz followed Rose’s gaze to a nearby roof, where there seemed to be a child. She couldn't see them very well but there was something covering the other child's face.
“Doctor?” Rose called out. “There’s a kid up there!”
“He’s already inside.” Luz told her.
“Shi-oot. Ok, Luz, go back to the TARDIS.” The blonde let go of her hand. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Wait!”
Rose didn't wait, instead she was off to find a way onto the roof.
Luz deflated. “What’s a Tardis…”
She stood there for maybe a minute before she decided to explore. Because if they wanted to leave her alone, that was fine. She’ll have her own adventure.
She made her way through the alley, going right past the blue box they came from. At some point a siren blared and kept doing so until she left the alley. The streets of London were surprisingly empty.
She ran into the two boys maybe a block away from the alley and the police box. They were around her age, and wore several layers of fraying clothes, as if it was colder than it was, that were covered in dirt and soot. Even their faces weren't spared from the occasional smear of ash.
They approached her first, with the shorter boy, rather rudely, saying, “Whatcha doing dressed like that?!”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Luz looked down at them. She quite liked her overalls, she was allowed to play more in them, and Papi said she looked cute in the pink shirt.
The taller boy’s eyes widened as she spoke but the shorter boy kept talking. “There’s barely any layers! What if it gets cold?”
“I don't know.” She shrugged. Luz left out how she expected Rose or the Doctor to find her before that became an issue.
“You're American.” The taller boy finally said.
“No way!” The smaller exclaimed. “What would an American be doin’ here?”
“But I am American.” Luz fiddled with her pockets. “Although I’m kinda alone right now.”
The taller boy gained a sympathetic look while the shorter asked, “Why’s that?”
“My…” what was she supposed to call the Doctor and Rose? Her friends? No, that didn't seem right. Caretakers, maybe? They were technically watching over her until they could take her back home. Or that's what she got from their few conversations, “caretakers ran off without me.”
Both boys looked sympathetic now. A loud, long whistle broke the silence, spooking the boys.
“Are ya hungry?” The taller boy asked.
Luz’s stomach chose that moment to remind her she hadn't had anything since that bag of chips. Which was who knows how long ago now.
“Starving.” She told them.
The shorter boy took her hand with a grin. “Miss Nancy’ll fix that. I’m Ernie.”
“Jim.” The taller boy nodded.
“I’m Luz.”
“That’s not a very American name, innit?”
Luz giggled when Jim smacked Ernie’s shoulder and took off before the other boy could retaliate.
“Don't laugh!”
She laughed harder.
Jim led them to a multi-floored brick house and had them enter through the back. Even Luz knew the place probably cost a lot.
“Miss Nancy lives here?” She took in the house.
A big garden outside with fancy furniture inside, all some intricate wood stuff. The kind Mami might be momentarily fascinated by before being turned away by the price tag.
“I wished.” Ernie sighed as they entered the dining room, where a girl, who looked to be older than Luz but younger than Rose and dressed similarly to the boys, was carving up a turkey.
“Many kids out there?” The girl asked Jim, who was distracted by the long table of food.
“Eh…” Luz elbowed the taller boy, “yes, miss.”
The two boys ran for the table, while Luz was a bit slower. She seemed to have made the right choice as the girl, probably Miss Nancy, blocked them.
“Ah, still carving. Sit and wait.” She told them. Both boys did so, but Ernie huffed and pouted. Luz sat next to him, holding back a laugh.
“We’ve got the whole air raid.”
“Air raid!” Luz whispered, mostly to herself. Thankfully the boys seemed too distracted by Miss Nancy carving the turkey.
“Look at that.” Jim said, most likely about the copious amount of food. “Bet it’s off the black market.”
“That’s enough.” Luz decided not to mention how Miss Nancy smiled at the accusation to the boys.
More time passed and even more kids, ranging from various ages but none older than Miss Nancy found a seat at the table. All of them were so focused on Miss Nancy cutting up the bird, they didn't seem to notice the, rather familiar, man in a leather jacket sitting next to Luz.
She was going to greet the Doctor but he smiled, shook his head, and put a finger to his lips. Luz merely nodded as Ernie spoke up.
“It’s got to be black market. He couldn't get all this on coupons.” Luz elbowed him. “Hey!”
“Ernie,” Miss Nancy began with the same tone Mami used when she was about to pull out La Chancla, “how many times? We are guests in this house. We will not make comments of that kind.” A moment later, when Ernie bowed his head, she added. “Washing up.”
Everyone laughed as Ernie blushed, “Oh, Nancy!”
Miss Nancy’s gaze landed on Luz, which made sense. She stood out among dirty layered clothes, as Jim and Ernie had mentioned before.
“Haven't seen you at one of these before.” Miss Nancy said as she finished cutting.
“Jim brought me.” Luz told her. The Doctor was giving her a look while Miss Nancy gave one to Jim.
“She’s American.” Said Jim.
“Really?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Luz nodded.
“All right then.” Miss Nancy passed the plate to Jim, dropping the topic. “One slice each, and I want to see everyone chewing properly.”
“Thank ya, miss!” Jim passed the plate to Ernie.
“Thanks, miss!” Ernie passed the plate to Luz.
“Thank you, miss.” Luz grinned as she passed the plate to the Doctor.
“Thanks, miss!” The Doctor put the plate down in front of the next kid. Luz chuckled as everyone else jumped to their feet.
“It’s all right!” Miss Nancy tried. “Everybody stay where you are!”
Luz snorted at Jim, who had turkey hanging from his mouth.
The Doctor smiled. “Good here, innit? Who’s got the salt?”
“Here you go.” Luz leaned over Ernie’s plate to grab the salt shaker.
“Thank you, Luz.”
“Back in your seats!” Miss Nancy ordered, and the kids listened. “He shouldn't be here either.”
The Doctor helped himself to some kind of sauce, pouring it onto his slice.
“So, you lot…” he offered Luz the sauce, “what’s the story?”
Luz, who had already seasoned her turkey how she wanted while the others freaked, shook her head.
“What d’you mean?” Ernie asked.
“You're homeless, right?” The Doctor cut into his slice. “Living rough?”
“Why d’you wanna know that? Are you a copper?” Jim accused.
“Are you a cop?” Luz asked genuinely. He did take care of the creature like those animal cops.
“Of course I’m not a copper.” The Doctor almost sounded offended. “What’s a copper gonna do with you lot anyway? Arrest you for starving?”
People were laughing and the room seemed to ease back up.
“I make it 1941,” Luz’s eyes widened, but the Doctor continued on, “you lot shouldn't be in London. You should've been evacuated to the country by now.”
“1941…” But how was that possible? The Doctor had to be joking.
He looked her in the eyes and softly said, “I’m sorry. I’ll explain later.”
And she knew he wasn't joking.
“Some of us were evacuated.” Jim told him.
“But why’d you come back?”
“We all got our reasons.”
“It’s better on the streets anyway.” Ernie crossed his arms and refused to meet anyone’s eyes. “Better food.”
Luz put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
“Yeah.” Jim continued. “Nancy always gets the best food for us.”
The Doctor smiled at Miss Nancy. “So, that’s what you do, is it, Nancy?”
“What is?” Nancy asked stiffly.
“As soon as the sirens go, you find a big fat family meal, still warm on the table with everyone down in the air raid shelter and, bingo! Feeding frenzy for the homeless kids of London Town. Puddings for all! As long as the bombs don't get you.”
“Something wrong with that?”
“Wrong with it? It’s brilliant .” The Doctor gained a goofy smile. “I’m not sure if it’s Marxism in action or a West End musical.”
Luz leaned in to the Doctor and whispered, “What’s Marxism?”
The Doctor followed her lead and whispered back, “I’ll explain it later.”
“Ok.” Luz leaned back and finished off her turkey.
“Why’d you follow me?” Miss Nancy asked, regaining the Doctor’s attention. “What d’you want?”
The Doctor sat back and crossed his arms. “I want to know how a phone that isn't a phone gets a phone call. You seem to be the one to ask.”
“I did you a favour. I told you not to answer it, that’s all I’m telling ya.”
“Great, thanks. For that and finding my little Stowaway.” He ruffled Luz’s hair and she batted at his hand. “Now, I wanna find a blonde in a Union Jack. I mean a specific one, I didn't just wake up this morning with a carving.”
The Doctor took another piece of turkey while Miss Nancy stood.
“Anybody seen a girl like that?” Instead of answering, Miss Nancy took his plate. His eyes widened, “What’ve I done wrong?”
“You took two slices.” She deadpanned and Luz joined the other kids in laughter. “No blondes, no flags. Anything else before you leave?”
“Yeah, there is actually. Thanks for asking. Something I've been looking for, would’ve fallen from the sky about a month ago, but not a bomb.” The Doctor took out a notepad, then patted his pockets for a pencil. Luz offered him the pencil that she forgot to put back in the kitchen. He took it, nodded, and began to sketch. “Not the usual kind anyway. Wouldn't have exploded. Would've just buried itself in the ground somewhere, and it would've looked something like… This.”
Luz immediately noticed how Miss Nancy seemed to tense at the Doctor’s sketch. She was going to question Miss Nancy when there was a knock on a window. The other kids gasped, much to Luz’s confusion.
“Mummy? Are you in there, mummy?” A muffled voice came from the window, still knocking. Luz blinked, vaguely recognizing the voice as the same one Rose chased after. The Doctor got up and pulled the curtain back and there was a little boy in a full face gas mask. “Mummy?”
“Who was the last one in?” Miss Nancy asked, a bit panicked.
“Him.” Ernie pointed at the Doctor.
“Nah, he came round the back.” Miss Nancy said confidently. “Who came in the front?”
“Me.” One of the boys whispered. It was so soft, Luz almost didn't hear him.
“Did you close the door?” Miss Nancy asked.
“I…” the boy trailed off, as if trying to remember if he had.
“Did you close the door?” Miss Nancy repeated.
“Mummy? Mummy?” That was when Luz realized the boy wasn't at the window anymore. “Muuuuum-my?”
His voice sent chills down her spine. Miss Nancy rushed to the hallway, where, a few seconds later, a door audibly shut. The Doctor moved to the hallway and Luz followed. She could make out the boy’s outline in the front door’s window.
“What’s this, then?” The Doctor watched the door with concern. “It’s never easy being the only child left out in the cold, you know.”
“I suppose you’d know.” Miss Nancy snarked.
“I do actually, yes.”
Luz took the Doctor’s hand and gave it a squeeze. He gave her a reassuring smile.
“It’s not exactly a child.”
“Muuum-my?”
Miss Nancy pushed past Luz and the Doctor to get back to the dining room. It didn't take long for kids to start to stream out the room to the back door. Jim and Ernie stopped and turned to Luz.
“What you standing around for?” Jim demanded. “We ‘ave to go.”
Luz couldn't help but look back at the Doctor, who was by the door. “I don't think I can.”
“Why not? Don't you know how dangerous that thing is?” Ernie scoffed.
“I can help,” Luz told them, “so I have to.”
“No you don't!” Ernie grabbed her hands. “Come with us.”
She took her hands back and said firmly. “I can’t.”
Miss Nancy exited the dining room and noticed the two boys. “Let’s go, boys.”
Jim and Ernie gave her one last look, pleading with her to come with. Luz shook her head and Jim led Ernie away.
“Are you all right?” Luz turned back to the Doctor, who was about to bend down over, a small scarred hand sticking out the mail flap.
“Please let me in.” The boy begged.
Luz shrieked as a vase shattered against the door. As Luz and the Doctor turned to Miss Nancy one arm outstretched, the child's hand was withdrawn.
“You mustn't let him touch ya!” Miss Nancy chastised.
“What happens if he touches us?” The Doctor asked.
“He’ll make you like him.”
“What’s he like?” Luz asked.
Miss Nancy stepped back. “I've gotta go.”
“Nancy,” the Doctor put a hand on Luz’s shoulder, “what’s he like.”
There was a beat of silence.
“He’s empty.” The phone began to ring, drawing in Luz and the Doctor’s attention. “It’s him. Just like with that police box you saw.”
The doctor picked up the phone and Luz stared at the door. The boy’s shadow was still there. There was a slam of a phone. Not a second later, a radio turned on and music filled the home. However the boy’s voice overlaid it.
“Mummy? Please let me in, mummy.”
“How does he do that?” Luz asked as the Doctor turned the radio off. She jumped when a toy monkey sprung to life.
“Mummy? Muuum-my, muum-my…”
She couldn't stop herself from shivering. Monkey toys like that don't do that. The Doctor examined the monkey toy.
“Stay if you want to.” Miss Nancy said, then left out the back. The boy kept calling for his ‘mummy’ and put his hand back through the mail flap.
“Doctor!” Luz called from the hall. He made his way and noticed the hand.
“Mummy? Let me in please, mummy…” The Doctor knelt before the door. “ Please let me in.”
Luz flinched at the desperation in the boy’s voice. The Doctor told the boy, “Your mummy isn't here.”
“Are you my mummy?” The boy asked.
“No mummies here. None be here but us chickens.”
“Hey!” Luz glared at him.
“Ok, this chicken.” The Doctor corrected.
“I’m scared.” Said the boy.
“Why are the other kids scared of you?”
He didn't answer, just begged them. “Please let me in, mummy. I’m scared of the bombs.”
“Ok. I’m opening the door now.” Luz almost protested but realized how scary it must be outside. Alarms blaring and the dark streets completely empty. The poor boy. The hand slipped out the flap as the Doctor undid the bolts.
Luz was prepared for a lot of things when that door opened. Absolutely nothing wasn't one of them.