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Leela brushed her knife as she approached the large metal doors. Thank Xoanon Romana agreed to a last-minute appointment—work frustrated her enough she demanded advance bookings. Leela took a calming breath—skilled hunter or not, she was meeting Gallifrey's leader!—and walked forward with a fist. Best-case scenario, she'd save Romana's life; worst-case, she'd have to save Romana's life. Though the latter enthralled her, Romana was as insistent as the Doctor she avoid violence. Leela liked her new job and rather wanted to keep it.
"Come in!" she heard as she rapped. Romana smiled from her desk as Leela opened the doors. "Hello, Leela."
Leela smiled back and closed the doors behind her. "Madame President."
"Call me Romana." Leela nodded as she sat in one of the chairs fronting the ornate wood desk. Romana's intimacy confused her more than silly robes and regenerations. She was the Lady President's bodyguard and nothing more! Romana leaned back in her chair and laughed. "What's got you in a hurry? I haven't heard explosions, so I don't think it's urgent!"
Leela laughed only briefly. "I believe the danger is long-term, Madame..." She spread her legs and sighed. "The hyperball game I accompanied you to yesterday?"
"Academy Anguish." It was the championship of a great tournament. The raucuous crowd awed Leela—she'd never seen that many people on her planet. "Nobody else in the entourage saw anything wrong."
Leela rolled her eyes. However nice Romana was, she could be as condescending as the Doctor. "One of the TARDISes players..." Romana raised an eyebrow. "She seemed rather old, don't you think?" Far more athletic than the others, at least. With how hard she flung the ball into the Flutterwings' net...
Romana's silky blonde hair swished as she nodded. "The problem is..."
Leela scoffingly slammed the desk. "She could be a spy, M—Romana! You're well aware we have enemies!" They'd stopped a Free Time plot just last week!
"Possibly. I don't know what spies would get from the Academy—crucial information stays in Sector 2." Here atop the Capitol, the gigantic domed city where most Time Lords lived. Another bizarre thing about Gallifrey; Leela was used to a nomadic existence. Romana stood and walked around her desk and brushed Leela's shoulder, making her exhale. "I'll keep an eye on her and alert you to trouble."
"Thank you, Mad..." Leela groaned and hung her head, her reddish-brown hair draping her face. "Damn it!"
"Take it easy," Romana murmured as she crouched down and tilted Leela's chin. "Hard to do that around Time Lords, so I'll help you out."
Leela's eyes widened as Romana parted her hair and brushed her lips. She'd kissed Andred many times, but never a woman! Feeling a thrill like hunting a Horda, she cupped Romana's face and returned the favour. Romana hummed in surprise and tumbled, hitting the desk with an ugly crack.
Leela grabbed Romana's hand and pulled her up. "Your Majesty!" Who cared about names—her charge was hurt! "Are you well?"
"Just a bruise," Romana muttered as she massaged the back of her head. "I'll live." She grinned slyly. "Your Majesty, hmm? Keep that in mind if we get that far..."
Leela blushed and her throat went dry; the implication was clear from Romana's tone. She was so preoccupied by her political dalliance she barely acknowledged the "spy"'s firing days later. Kissing the Lady President! Having dinner with her! More, who knew—she'd discover that when she rang Romana's doorbell.