“Look, I don’t see any other option–” the Doctor cut himself short when he caught sight of Bowman approaching. He waved him over with a huge grin. “Ah, Bowman! Perfect timing! I need to ask you for a favor.”
“No, you don’t!” Zepheera emphasized.
“Yes, I do!” the Doctor shot back, keeping his upbeat smile where it was.
“So you … do you live in here? Or is it just more like a … a car? I’ve heard of those.”
Zepheera looked up at Bowman and decided that this was a rather troublesome angle for conversation. She glanced around, finding a length of hose that connected the console to the ceiling somewhere. It ran right up the side of the monitor, and the ridges all along it would make scaling it a breeze. She strode over and answered Bowman as she climbed.
“Guess I made your human mad,” he quipped, frustration still lacing his voice. It wasn’t for her or for anyone; Bowman’s frustration was a shield for himself to hide his fear and confusion.
“Ah, don’t worry about him,” Zepheera shrugged. “He’ll get over himself in no time. Deep down he’s just a grumpy old man, all bark and no bite. At least, as far as we’re concerned.”
The Doctor blinked at Bowman’s sudden jaunt, following him to the coral-like support he was now hiding in. In retrospect, he should’ve seen this coming; Zepheera had done the same thing her first time on the TARDIS, except she didn’t have wings.
Happy Pride Month from the BTaS Bbys!
Art by @Iamthetwickster, thanks again for a wonderful commission!
Partially inspired by the headcanon that the Tenth Doctor is demisexual, which I subscribe to. Credit to @tenscupcake for that ❤ Zepheera, too, is demisexual as well as biromantic.
Borrowed Time and Space 