An Ordinary Morning in the TARDIS
Summary: An ordinary morning in the TARDIS with the Doctor, Ace and Hex.
Warning: Not to be taken seriously
Notes: This is inspired by a line in the Big Finish 'The Veiled Leopard' where Ace threatens to confiscate Hex's favourite marmalade if he doesn't do as he's told.
The Doctor, Ace and Hex were enjoying a relative period of quiet. The TARDIS was in need of its annual MOT, as Ace put it, so they were parked in the middle of nowhere. Ace and Hex both complained about there being nothing new and see and do but this did give them some time to relax, which they all needed but none of them would admit to. Although they did not necessarily all have the same idea of what relaxing meant.
This particular morning the Doctor sat calmly drinking his tea and eating his toast while doing his best to ignore Ace, who banged about the kitchen, opening and closing each cupboard door in turn and muttering under her breath. Or at least, it had started off under her breath; it was, by now, definitely audible.
The Doctor finished one piece of toast and started on another, spreading it with a substance that was thick and green. Ace had long since refused to try it, despite the Doctor describing its appetising properties at great length. He did not look up but told her to, "Try the oven."
Ace did as he suggested and retrieved a box of cornflakes from it, saying, "I'm going to kill him." However, she merely sat down and poured her cereal into a bowl, along with some milk that she had long since learned not to ask where it came from.
"I still don't know what was wrong with toast," the Doctor said.
Ace shrugged and swallowed. "Coming from someone who regularly has a roast dinner for breakfast."
"Do you know how hard it is to get cornflakes? Every planet has bread but-"
"...only Earth has cornflakes. I know, you say it every time we go shopping. But you buy it anyway."
"Are you saying I'm getting predictable?"
"Never." Ace grinned and the Doctor smiled in return.
Hex interrupted when he arrived and dumped a ball of string on the table before putting a slice of bread into the toaster. "Morning," he said, cheerily.
"What's that for?" Ace asked.
"I thought I'd have another look in the library today."
Ace smiled. "How long did it take you to get out last time?"
"Half an hour. I could have sworn the room wasn't that big when I went in." Hex, his bread having toasted by this time was staring intently into one of the cupboards. "All right, I give in, where's my marmalade this morning?"
Ace continued eating her cereal and adopted a particularly innocent expression. Hex could not see it from his position, though, so it was somewhat wasted.
The Doctor sighed. "Fourth cupboard down, behind the custard."
"Traitor," Ace told him.
The Doctor ignored her and got up to dispose of his dirty crockery. Spotting a row of mugs on the side, he picked one up to examine its contents.
"Careful!" Ace warned. "That could be explosive."
The Doctor put the mug down gingerly. "I do wish you wouldn't do your experiments in the kitchen."
"Sorry."
"Well, as much as I enjoy watching your games at breakfast, I have work I need to do on the TARDIS. Ace, I'll need your help today, if you've finished."
Ace sighed, but gave her bowl and spoon to the Doctor anyway, who piled it up with his. She kept her tea with her, though.
"Have fun," Hex said, as they left.
"If you're not back for dinner we'll send a search party," Ace called back.
"Children," the Doctor muttered under his breath.