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Yaz wanted to go ice skating. The moment she asked the Doctor, the young woman’s eyes lit up with the stars of an entire galaxy, and her smile shone just that little bit brighter than it usually did. There was no way the Time Lord could refuse.
She knew the perfect place; a small planet with its whole surface made of smooth, glistening ice. She could already picture the two of them gliding on the orb’s surface. Maybe she would even dare take the other woman’s hand as they did.
There was only one slight problem: the Doctor couldn’t skate. She had seen all of time and space, lived countless lives, but she had never managed to learn how to do it. And this particular body being what it was – a bit clumsy and all over the place – she doubted this new attempt would be successful.
But for Yaz, she would do anything, even if it meant looking ridiculous for a few hours.
The Doctor was dragged out of her thoughts by her companion entering the console room in a cozy winter coat, a pair of skates hanging on her shoulder, holding another pair by the laces.
“These are the same size as your spare boots, they should fit,” the brunette said with a smile.
“Ah! Thanks, Yaz. Very kind of you, yes. Thank you,” the Doctor rambled.
Her eyes fell on the skates, and she loudly gulped at the sight.
“Y’alright, Doctor?”
The alien looked up, eyes wide for an instant. When she realized that she probably looked like a deer in headlights, she consciously changed her demeanor, and attempted a casual lean on the console.
“M’okay,” she replied with a forced smile.
Yaz squinted her eyes at her but decided not to comment on her friend’s strange behaviour.
***
When the TARDIS landed, Yaz’s grin grew wider, and the Doctor’s heart melted at the sight. She couldn't begin to comprehend that she was responsible for this smile, and it was all because she accepted to take the other woman on a big ball of ice.
The younger woman was already by the door, waiting for the Doctor to join her. Suddenly, the latter worried that it wasn’t a good idea. Maybe Yaz wouldn’t appreciate having to look after the Doctor so she didn’t regenerate by falling too hard on the ice. The human was clearly excited about her ice skating session, and the alien couldn’t bear the thought of intruding on that moment and letting it go to waste with her mere presence.
“Off you go, Yaz! Don’t wait for me.” The Time Lord was already mindlessly playing with a button on the console, diverting her attention and pretending as if she was doing something else.
She felt her companion’s stare on her. “You’re coming, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yeah, yeah,” the Doctor said. “I just need to, err…” She sighed.
“Doctor,” Yaz said sternly, gaining the blonde’s undivided attention as she made her way to the console – albeit awkwardly, as she was already wearing her skates. “Come on! What are you waiting for?” Her joyful grin had regenerated into pleading eyes.
The Doctor looked at her feet with shame. “I can’t skate,” she mumbled almost imperceptibly.
Yaz’s gloved hand found hers. When she looked up, she found brown eyes diving into her hazels.
“Is that it?” Yaz was smiling gently at the other woman, a thumb rubbing the soft and cold skin of the Doctor’s hand. “I’ll show you.”
“But I’ll just slow you down. Won’t be as fun.”
Yaz shook her head. “No, Doctor. It won’t be as fun if you’re not with me.”
The Time Lord cocked her head slightly. What was she saying? It made no sense. It would be fun without her, of course it would! The blonde couldn’t skate, but she knew of a lot of people who could – a lot of people who were able to go ice skating and have fun without her.
The younger woman chuckled. “I can hear your brain spinning, Doctor.”
The Doctor frowned. “But that’s biologically impossible.”
Yaz smiled in a way the Doctor couldn’t describe – or maybe she could, but feared naming the feelings she saw in the other woman’s face. But, if she allowed herself to delve in deeper, she knew that she felt just the same.
“Come on, dress warmly and put your skates on,” the young woman said, letting go gently of the Doctor’s hand. “M’not gonna let you fall. I’ll hold your hand.”
The Doctor’s shy smile turned into a grin, and she finally understood why Yaz was so excited about going ice skating. It was never about what you were up to, but whose hand you got to hold while doing it.