Work Text:
"You're not scared, are you?"
The words were laced with a teasing venom, packaged in a Blackpool accent. The Doctor still took the bait however as she frustratedly shut her eyes and sighed loudly.
"No, I am not scared." She retorted, putting extra emphasis on the last word.
"Then open the door."
"I will. Just…" the Doctor said, tugging at her coat sleeves. "Give me a few more seconds."
She was not scared. Just…apprehensive. Wary. Worried. Anxious. Sca-okay, maybe she was a bit nervous. But she had good reason to be. Not long after the Doctor set Clara up in her room, she asked the most logical question one could at that time.
She asked where the bathroom was.
But after she asked that, she then asked when she was meeting the Fam.
Which was also logical, to be fair. And it seemed a good idea at the time. The TARDIS was not parked far from Yaz's flat, so a simple, short hop would have done it. Having dropped them off for Christmas (or just generally seeing family) for a few days, it wasn't like she'd been gone long, either. In fact, she was gonna pop in to see Yaz today anyway.
But, of course, certain reunions happened. So, she found her journey slightly delayed. But it was still a good idea, right?
If she and Clara were really doing this, she would have to meet the others some time, and why not as soon as possible? Clara had already moved her TARDIS to a safer place they would remember, and it was exciting, wasn't it? The newbies meeting the veteran (not that she'd call Clara old, mind you), a chance for eras to come together.
So, of course, she rushed towards the console, called all three and told them to meet her at Yaz's flat, a surprise to come. Of course, she ran towards the controls and set the coordinates directly for their destination. Of course, she smiled gleefully once she saw them in the scanner, eagerly awaiting her appearance.
But then it all just hit at once.
How would she explain who Clara was? What their relationship was? What was their relationship? She didn't even think of that!
She remembered what it was like before they had to part ways, the duty of care, and the hell she put herself through to return for her. How she still had those same butterflies in her stomach when she looked at Clara now. That nearly every time she'd have to stop herself from blushing. That this beautiful, fantastic woman would choose to spend time with this space hobo all over again. That there was a bond beyond what most people would call love but that her hearts beat faster whenever she saw her. That-
"Doctor!"
"Hmm?"
A pint-sized brunette came into view, waving her hand before her. "You spaced out for a second."
"Oh, sorry. Overthinking it."
"Don't. It'll be fine." Clara comforted, taking her hand and rubbing it gently.
The Doctor appreciated it more than even Clara knew. Enough that it loosened the grip her tongue had on her various nerves. "I just don't really know what it's gonna be like."
The Doctor took Clara's hand and patted it tenderly.
"I mean, what do I even call you?"
"Your friend?…." Clara chuckled, slightly puzzled. "I don't think we're anything more than that."
The Doctor didn't respond right away. In fact, she didn't respond at all. Taking that opportunity instead to engage in a staring contest with the floor, sheepishly so.
"Are we…anything more than that?" Clara continued.
Another moment of silence, though this was punctuated with a powerful nose scrunch. "I-I dunno. Do you wanna be?"
"Only if you want."
"You feel how I do, right?"
"Of course." Clara nodded.
If she meant feeling like there's been this constant hole in your heart where this other person used to be and that being without them was hell most days. Like no matter who else you found, they would never measure up to them and continue leaving you in a state of unfulfilled desire. Like the day you finally meet them again, suddenly everything feels clearer, and life seems more fun.
If she felt that way, then they'd be grand.
"Then I guess we're more than friends…I think." The Doctor responded, her voice laden with uncertainty.
"So, what are we?…"
Knock, knock, knock, knock.
They both turned towards the sound. The Doctor dashed towards the scanner, seeing that the trio were now right in front of the door, Yaz being the previously heard knocker.
Whatever they were, it'd have to wait for a proper investigation. Impatience lined the faces of the Fam outside, and despite both women now being perfectly fine with taking a few more minutes to figure this out, they couldn't wait any longer.
"Do you wanna wait here or—" the Doctor offered, meekly pointing towards the door. But Clara took that hand and grabbed hold of it, bringing it down directly to her side and giving it one firm, caring squeeze.
"We do this together." She said, lovingly direct, a grin on her face.
The Doctor had no intention of fighting her on that one.
So, the pair stepped away from the console and made the ever increasingly nervy walk towards the door. And here, the Doctor felt that the most anxiety-inducing thing she'd be doing today was eating Yaz's dad's terrible pakora. Nevertheless, she persevered, slowly but surely reaching the door.
One finger snap, and they'd enter a new reality, different from even the one they currently inhabited. Not wanting to waste any more time, they both did it.
Safe to say, the faces on the other side soon differed.
"Hiya..." Yaz breathed, being the lone one amongst the trio to speak.
Several questions ran through her mind currently, but they all branched out from two major ones, admittedly. Who was that woman with the Doctor, and why were they holding hands? While she was content to keep it in her head for a while longer, Ryan took a more direct approach.
"Who's she?" he asked, stunningly blunt.
"Ryan!" Graham admonished, giving him a dirty look.
"What? Were we just gonna stand here and not ask who she was?"
Yaz and Graham didn't answer, leaving Ryan to sigh in frustration. At the very least, Graham did find the nerve a few seconds later.
"It's a valid question, Doc."
"Is she your friend?" Yaz questioned curiously.
"She is." The Doctor answered, at least initially. Before the nose scrunch and the addendum. "Well, sort of."
"Sort of?" Clara asked, a raised eyebrow on her face.
"I mean…" the Doctor tried to correct.
"Mean what?" Ryan asked.
"Well, she is, and she isn't."
"And what does that mean?"
"Well…" the Doctor whined.
"You don't seem real sure of yourself, Doc."
"Well, it's just-she's umm-"
Whatever time she thought she'd have to decide this was dwindling by the second, rapidly falling down the proverbial hourglass. As four pairs of eyes stared quizzically at her, she had to come up with an explanation quickly. But what could she even say? What were she and Clara now? Were they the same as they were then? Were they something more? Something less? Were they taking a leap? Moving backwards? Forwards? Were they-
"She's my partner."
The words arose a great deal of intrigue, not least from Clara herself, who tilted her head in slight bewilderment.
"Partner as in?" Yaz asked.
"As in I love her, and she loves me, and we work really well together, and I don't want to be apart from her a second longer." The Doctor answered confidently.
The growing blush on Clara's face was a difficult target not to lay her eyes on, but she kept her eyes forward, ready to field any more questions. And the questions would indeed come.
"How long have you known her?"
"Time is a bit difficult for us, so let's say a long time."
"How come you've not told us about her?"
"We got separated a long time ago and only re-discovered each other not that long ago. We were forced to move on."
"What's her name?"
"Clara Oswald." The woman in question awkwardly answered. It had been an embarrassing realisation once the question was asked that she hadn't actually introduced herself.
Yaz then stepped forward towards the Doctor. Her eyes darted towards Clara before heading back to the blonde. She brought her voice to a hushed whisper, intending this to be between just them.
"Do you really love her?"
"More than you can believe." The Doctor told her, finding that courage inside her.
Yaz stepped back and walked towards Clara. Her mouth soon upturned into a smile and she moved to hug her. Once she overcame the initial shock, Clara eased into the hug, finding it easy. She liked Yaz a lot already.
"If you mean that much to the Doctor, then you mean a lot to us." Yaz informed her with a smile, one Clara and the Doctor matched.
"Ditto." Graham added.
"Well, I might need a bit of time to figure it out-" Ryan said before Graham nudged him. "Nah, it's just jokes. The Doctor's our best mate, so I guess you are too now."
"I hope I don't let you guys down." Clara nodded in appreciation. "I've heard nothing but good things about you. Especially you, Yaz."
"You have?" Yaz questioned.
Clara chuckled evilly before gaining a wicked smirk. "Getting her to wear a bra must have been a nightmare."
"Oh, you could not imagine how much trouble she gave me." Yaz said, the weight of a task handled solo easing off her shoulders.
The Doctor stepped in between them, clearing her throat. A blush colouring her face. “Can you two discuss that anywhere that isn't here? And isn't now?"
Graham raised his hand. "I second that."
"Thirded." Ryan added.
"I was getting a bit thirsty anyway. How's about you and I discuss this over a cuppa, Clara?" Yaz offered, flashing the Doctor a teasing smirk.
"I would like nothing more." Clara did the same.
The pair walked into the TARDIS together, the Doctor now in two minds about their developing friendship. Ryan followed them soon after. Graham, however, stuck around for a few more seconds, putting a comforting hand on the Doctor's shoulder.
However, the Doctor could still hear the slight snicker as he entered the ship.
But the first test was passed with flying colours. The Fam accepted her. Of course, actually living together would be a much different prospect, but it was something they'd handle in due time. For now, it was time to enjoy this newfound relationship she'd cultivated with four of her favourite people.
And to ensure that that story did not pass Yaz's lips if she could help it.