13 Novella 4

Both

It is dark by the time you get back in the Tardis, shivering and laughing.

Everyone separates to their rooms to change and you do the same, taking a quick shower to relieve the salt.

You stand and relax, a genuine smile on your face.

No one had minded, at least not out loud; they truly were lovely people.

You pull on some comfy sweats and a blanket hoodie, heading back to the console room in your slippers.

"In here!" Someone calls, and you turn to see Yaz, hair dripping wet, peeking out a door. You frown and follow her into a huge cinema room.

It's quite cold and you wrap your clothes tighter around yourself as you shiver. You are apparently the last one there, and that is a problem because you have to choose where to sit.

You eventually settle between Missy and Jenny, deciding they probably made it that way for your comfort over theirs.

Yaz cuddles happily into The Doctor as you curl up with your knees drawn into your chest. Missy laughs at your yawn.

"Are you going to stay awake?" Chuckles Jenny and you nod sleepily, not believing yourself. You were exhausted.

Clearly Yaz's pick, Frozen 2 is playing and you smile as she sings along, The Doctor laughing fondly, also apparently knowing the lyrics. You smile with your eyes shut, humming to yourself when someone places a blanket over your curled up form.

You realise it's Missy, and you are leaned against Jenny.

You don't want to move.

Jenny pulls back your hair and strokes your face and you smile slightly, warm and comfortable.

"Thank you Missy, for letting her do this" starts Jenny, and you are confused.

"What do you mean?" -Apparently Missy is too.

"Don't worry you don't have to hide it, I know you're together now, and if it makes her happy then it's fine by me." She says warmly and you want to react, but you are to lethargic.

"Actually we're not" mutters Missy with a smile. "She's just too hung up on you" she says with what you imagine is an eye roll.

"But you sleep in her room?" Asks Jenny, and you feel an image from Missy's hand enter your mind.

It's yourself, lying on your bathroom floor, pale and lifeless surrounded by a scarlet pool of blood.

"To keep her safe" answers Missy, as you understand her fear in the image. "It's not always her choice, but it's that or waiting outside her door all night listening for her restlessness." She replies sadly.

"What do you mean?"

"You saw her arms today Jenny"

Some silence as they both look down at you. You snuffle slightly and Jenny continues to stroke your head.

"It's not going to work between us, I ended any possibility when I told her I'm Ace"

"You may be finished, but she isn't. You should see the way she looks at you. You know, she mutters both our names at night." Missy smiles.

You were unaware you did that.

"She dreams of us?"

"Yes... The Doctor and Yaz too. Such adorable facial expressions when she's presumably being told off by The Doctor."

"Anyone else?" Aims Jenny with a knowing tone.

"Yes. She dreams of him. She looks so terrified, even in her sleep. She won't talk to me. I think she's scared I'll track him down. Little does she know I know exactly where he is."

These words send a shiver down your spine. So Missy knew.

"I can't believe he could do that to her. Just look at her. So beautiful and strong. I met him once you know. Horrible bloke. Actually I was a man too. I punched him in the face." She laughs lightly.

"As you should" nods Missy approvingly. They lapse into silence, apparently under the impression you were fast asleep. Which you almost were. This was beginning to feel like a dream.

"Do we still wait for her to choose?" Says Jenny finally with bated breath.

"We can't force her. I don't even know how I feel about her. I just need her close, and safe."

"Sounds like the L word" giggles Jenny.

"I don't know, I didn't realise a Time Lord could get attached to a human. Don't ever tell The Doctor that or I'll happily rip your intestines out and play jump rope with them." She threatens but Jenny laughs serenely.

"It's not exactly a secret. I think losing her in the woods proved that. But maybe... maybe she doesn't have to choose?"

"Yes I've considered stepping back. It really would be best. She's so fragile. I could turn so easily. I don't trust myself one bit."

"Well actually that wasn't what I was thinking" says Jenny, and you sense her discomfort.

"You think that would work?" Asks Missy and you are desperate to know what thoughts they have somehow both landed on.

"You could be her physical, and I could be her emotional. Let's be honest, she's considerably calmer around me. You don't half wind her up with your thoughts." Jenny proposes, and you gather she is thinking about New York.

"I would want to be more than that." Says Missy sadly, and you hate to think of her in pain.

"Me too, but it's hurting her to make her choose. It clearly hasn't worked." Replies Jenny.

"Do you think she'd go for it?" Ask Missy finally and you smile in comfort.

You stretch and nod, and they seem surprised that you are awake.

"(Y/n)!" Says Jenny in uncomfortable surprise.

"So do I get to call you both my girlfriends now?" You mutter sleepily, too exhausted to be embarrassed.

"Only if it works" says Missy unsurely and you smile.

"Then can one of my girlfriends take me to bed?" You whine and they smile.

"Of course"

Jenny scoops you up carefully and you feel Missy following steadily, holding open the door for Jenny to carry you through.

She lays you softly on the bed then goes to roll away but you pull her back in.

"My girlfriends" you sigh sleepily and they chuckle, taking it turns to kiss you lightly on your forehead.

Smiling and content, you fall asleep between them, cuddled up close to their surreal warmth.