Prompt: Vastra paints a picture of Jenny.

Set directly after Deep Breath.


Vastra watched from the window with a wry grin as the blue box disappeared. Another case closed. She would leave the paperwork alone until the last second however as she hated writing.

Now that it was business back to usual, the Silurian tasted the air absentmindedly. Her wife was busy doing something upstairs while Strax was downstairs, probably tinkering with grenades. Vastra nodded to herself and began clearing the map showing the location of the Half-Face Man's victims. They'll need a clear map soon enough when Scotland Yard had a new case for them. Once she placed it all away, Vastra pulled out a large blank sheet of paper and stuck it on the board.

Several hours, a hand covered in pencil smudge, and several Silurian curses later, Vastra had something. She tilted her head at it, trying to see if it matched the image in her head. She sighed before tossing the pencil aside and shook her head. Of course it didn't.

Vastra turned at the sound of the door opening and smiled at Jenny walking in with a meal tray and placed it on a table beside the couch. "You forgot to eat again. What are you obsessing about now?"

The Silurian pointed at the portrait. "My favorite subject of course."

Jenny walked over to the drawing, took one look at it and let out an exasperated sigh. "That's a very nice teapot. Better than the last one."

"Isn't it? I thought the flowers might be a bit too much but I think they really bring out the shape of the cups."

The human rolled her eyes and just looked at her wife expectantly. Vastra caved after a few seconds and retrieved the other drawing she worked on. She unfurled it and placed it on the board.

Jenny smiled as she looked it over. "So that's why you had me posing."

"I really was paying attention. I just didn't have the time to draw it until now."

The human narrowed her eyes as she zeroed in on one part of the drawing. "You dirty lizard, I wasn't showing that much skin."

Vastra looked at the drawing and back at her wife, eyes narrowing. "Really? Perhaps you should change into the same outfit again so I can correct this grievous error."

Jenny smacked Vastra's arm who laughed. "That's the second time you hit me today. Really dearest, I'm going to bruise."

"And you'd deserve it, flirting with Clara like that."

"I couldn't resist," Vastra scratched her head a bit sheepishly. "I like seeing that fire in your eyes."

Jenny rolled her eyes at Vastra's reply but quieted as she looked at the other details. The Silurian walked over to the table to grab a biscuit.

"Did you mean it?"

"Mean what?"

"Flirting with a mountain range."

Vastra turned sharply to Jenny who was still looking at the picture. "No, I only said that to provoke Clara."

"But it's the same situation, isn't it? You'll outlive me by another century at least and you've already seen and done so much."

The Silurian dropped the biscuit back onto the plate and approach her wife cautiously. "Jenny, please look at me?"

Jenny turned, and seeing the doubt lurking in her human's eyes made Vastra regret her choice of words. "I am not like the Doctor. He looks at humans and sees their potential for greatness, the good in them. I see filthy apes who stole my people's home. Even now there are days where I want to kill as many of your kind as I can. But you know what stays my hand and keeps me grounded in the present?"

Vastra cupped Jenny's face. "You. Every time I feel that urge, I remember there are humans like you who are trustworthy and good, that my people had abandoned our home long before your kind took its first steps. The Doctor sees his companions as a representation of the best of humanity, but I see you. I'm forever honored you allowed a Silurian without purpose to be your mate."

Seeing the doubt fade from Jenny's eyes made Vastra take a smile. "Now, perhaps you'll reconsider posing for me again? I really must fix such a horrible mistake."

Jenny cough and pulled away, patting at her skirt. "Nope. You'll just have to use your imagination."

"Ah, but it pales to your magnificence."

Jenny shrugged and left the room with a last word. "Tough."

Vastra laughed as her human left the room. She pulled out another paper to pin to the board. She picked up her pencil and paused, staring at the sheet. An image slowly formed in her mind and she started. It'll always be a pale imitation of her wife.

She grinned but makes no comment when Jenny comes in later and sat down on the couch with a torn shirt, needle, and thread. Vastra tasted the air and relished the scent of home and her wife.

The two worked, content in the comfortable silence that was only broken by Strax's occasional yell of triumph.