It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

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What is the Twelfth Doctor doing at a choir rehearsal at Coal Hill School? Surviving Christmas, preferably without carols – and, incidentally, keeping reality in check. It comes as no surprise that neither is going quite according to plan. Especially when even the backdrops start to interfere.

*

Clara grabbed him by the sleeve of his coat. ‘You’re acting strange. I mean, even stranger than usual. Is something wrong?’
‘Oh, there’s always something wrong. It’s just that you humans don’t usually notice and go about your daily—’
‘No, Doctor, I mean right here, right now. Specifically.’ She stared at him urgently. ‘Are these children in danger?’
‘No. Not at all.’
‘Last time you said that you’d lured a Skovox Blitzer into the school and nearly got it destroyed and a hundred people killed.’
‘I had everything perfectly under control until “P.E.” decided to ruin the precise positioning of my generators!’ He paused under Clara’s sharp gaze. ‘Just leave it to me and keep out of the way, then there won’t be any danger to anyone.’
‘Take off your shades, look me in the eye and then say that again.’
The Doctor pushed his sunglasses up, looked her in the eye, and remained silent.