The Assassin of Madness

Chapter 6

They woke up thoroughly tangled together, though Rose was the first to stir.  She flexed her foot and froze when it ran across a manly, hairy leg.  She tried to look up but the Doctor's nose was completely buried in her hair.  Deciding to keep herself still, she let her eyes flutter closed again, though she didn't think she was going to catch any more sleep.

Last night had been rather wonderful.  Her feet and legs were sore from dancing, but she felt more content than she had in quite awhile.  The Emperor had been kind and she was looking forward to talking to him again.  Not for any romantic purposes of course, but he'd been a good man, at least. Even if he was a bit odd.  This was the future, after all, and she really couldn't be judgmental, the Doctor had taught her that.

She'd been as accepting as possible, but when they'd come across a group of aliens that were humanoids and ran around naked, the Doctor had assured her that it was completely normal for the planet and wasn't that wonderful, Rose?  Why are you blushing, Rose?  Oh, it's because they're naked, well, Rose, you'll just have to accept it and not look at anybody but me.

Rose had only been glad that they were not expected to kit off once they hit the planet.  Their culture of wearing clothes, thankyouverymuch had been very well received, for which she was very grateful.  She suspected the Doctor was too, though he'd never say that he was uncomfortable to begin with.  

Here though, it was very much like back home, which she enjoyed.  Sometimes the little subtleties were just as awe inspiring as being on planets that were vastly different from her own.  She sighed happily and snuggled closer to the Doctor, hoping to enjoy it while she could. 

She heard a knock on the door and a call of "Doctor and Rose Tyler?"  It was clearly a guard and not the Emperor, and Rose couldn't help but feel grateful for that. 

The Doctor shifted under her and mumbled something incoherent into her hair.  She grinned to herself and replied, "Yes, sir?"

"Breakfast will be served in thirty minutes, you will have clothes in the wardrobe."

"Thank you."

"Yes, ma'am," the guard's footsteps retreated away and she pulled away from the Doctor to look him in the face.  He blinked blearily at her, smiling softly.  His fingers were lodged firmly in her hair, and as though just now realizing it, he removed them slowly.  

"We'd better get ready to go down to breakfast then," she said quietly, afraid of shattering one of the fragile moments that often fell between them.  They always ignored them, but that really didn't stop them from happening.

"You're-" the Doctor closed his mouth and nodded.  "Yeah, probably."

Rose resisted the urge to give in and press a kiss to his forehead and instead rolled over his arm and out of the bed to walk over to the wardrobe.  The draft hit her legs with a draft she wasn't expecting and she was eager to get real clothes on.  What she found for herself in the wardrobe were tight, white pants and white, very futuristic looking boots to go with them.  She squinted into the wardrobe and found a pink flowing top to go with it.  At least, it looked flowing.  Rose had learned a long time ago that clothes could be deceiving.

She didn't have to look at the Doctor to know his eyes were on her, so she didn't look his way on her journey to the en suite.  She changed quickly, trying not to think too hard about the fact that she'd been cuddled up in the Doctor's shirt all night long.  Brushing that off, she took a look at herself in the mirror.  She had been right about the shirt.  It clung at the torso and flared at the arms, making her look elegant yet casual.  She nodded approvingly at her reflection before touching up her makeup with the toiletry bag the Doctor carried with him.