The Doctor tries not to notice the way Rose fidgets, hands worrying together in her lap; she tries harder not to notice the frantic beat of Rose’s heart, a sound that’s thundering nervously in her ears.
It’s just a checkup, the Doctor wants to assure her, but she knows Rose would immediately detect the note of strain in her cheerful façade. Just to make certain there are no lingering effects, just to be doubly sure. Triply, even. Can’t go wandering off on a strange new world if that virus is still lingering in your system now can you, Rose?
Rose doesn’t speak either. She simply watches her with those soulful eyes, eyes that are oh so clearly wary, and the Doctor’s hearts sink. Major illness and a new regeneration are both difficult to manage even as isolated events, so who is she to blame Rose for struggling to cope with them both simultaneously. Maybe she just needs time.
(Moreover, she can’t blame Rose for being upset that the Doctor ever let her fall ill in the first place. Really, she should have checked for pandemic events before stepping out of the TARDIS. But no, instead she just rushed into that new adventure the same way she always does, so eager to start their life back up again, desperate to prove to Rose that she’s still the same, that she’s still the Doctor.
Reckless, that’s what she is. Foolhardy. Stupid.)
The Doctor, distracted by her own raging thoughts, is in the process of summoning the courage to blurt out an apology when Rose swallows audibly and leans forward to bridge the distance between them and press a firm kiss to her lips.
(The words the Doctor was planning to say sort of flutter into the ether after that, replaced by something that feels like falling or flying or maybe both, she won’t know until she hits the ground.)
Stethoscope slips and hearts race and cheeks flush and that might be a hint of strawberry lip gloss and that’s definitely Rose’s hand on her sternum, tentative and gentle, trembling barely enough for the Doctor to notice, and suddenly it occurs to her that there might have been an entirely different reason for Rose’s nervousness altogether.
(First kiss in this new body. The Doctor rather likes it.)
— A Thirteen x Rose collaboration between @megabadbunny and I... ❤︎ I absolutely loved doing this with her. Please check out her blog and art, they’re the sweetest! ❤︎
