Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.

Some Alien Customs

Some alien customs are fun, like the floating pink lights that only happen once a year over the water on Haledryn. Some alien customs are funny, like the way the Jungrellins randomly pour ice over themselves to turn their skin from brown to green. Some alien customs are sweet, like the way the Kaolkks hug everyone they meet, hoping to find their mate. Some alien customs are terrifying, like the Daleks' need to exterminate all "inferior" life.

Some alien customs, Rose thought, the Doctor should really warn her about. As they ran for their lives, clutching each others' hands, the Doctor agreed.

In his defense, he'd meant to land them on this planet two-hundred years later, after their revolution had reshaped their culture. He never meant to put Rose in danger. But really, was it his fault that an alien race happened to believe females should never wear clothes? Was it his fault that Rose had mouthed off when one of them suggested it? Was it really his fault that they were running for their lives? Again?

Even as he asked himself these questions, the Doctor knew that the answer was yes. Rose being in danger was always his fault.

As he turned to check over his shoulder, a breathless Rose smiled her tongue-touched grin, and his hearts skipped a beat. It was his fault, but it was totally worth it.

When they finally rounded a corner and the Doctor deemed them far enough away that they could stop for a moment so Rose could catch her breath, he took a moment to answer the question she squeezed out from her wheezing lungs.

"Well, you see, on this planet, a female's body is considered such perfection, such beauty, that it's literally a crime to cover it up."

"Oi," she breathed out. "You're makin' that up."

"Am not. It's true." He was offended that she thought he'd have to lie to make a planet more interesting.

"So, the reason all these aliens want my clothes off is because they think I'm perfection, then?"

He didn't miss the teasing note in her voice, nor the fact that to her, he was an alien, but he ignored it. "Basically."

Rose giggled. "So, where'd you park the TARDIS, Doctor," she asked once she'd caught her breath.

"It's just ahead. It shouldn't take more than five minutes, if we run." He grinned at her.

"Unless we get caught," she replied, no longer smiling as she stared at something over his shoulder.

A curse that the TARDIS didn't translate escaped his lips as he caught sight of the soldiers behind him.

"Just put your hands up and don't resist," the Doctor warned Rose.

"Don't…what?" Her voice escalated to a pitch that hurt his ears.

"Rose," he said urgently as the soldiers came closer. "Do you trust me?"

Without hesitation, she replied "Yes."

"Then don't resist. They won't strip you naked here in the street." He hoped.

And that's how the Doctor and Rose found themselves in the office of the magistrate, waiting for his verdict after making their case. They were travelers, not native, so the Doctor was pretty sure they'd just be allowed to leave.

"The female has a choice, of course," the magistrate said.

The Doctor relaxed.

"The female may choose to shed her clothes, or you will both spend a week in our jail."

"What?" The Doctor had relaxed too soon.

"Wait, seriously?" Rose's face was turning red, from anger rather than embarrassment, the Doctor could tell. "Seriously?"

"Look," he said trying once more to save his companion. "We'll just leave. We're sorry for breaking your customs, but we didn't know, so we'll just leave." There. That should do it.

"No. The female has been given her choices."

The Doctor flinched. "But I said we'd leave."

"And you will, but you must abide by our customs as long as you are on our planet."

Rose sighed. Well, at least they weren't threatening to beat her. A week in jail wouldn't be too bad, right? Unless…

"Wait. You said as long as I'm on your planet I have to abide by your customs, right?"

"That is correct." The magistrate grinned smugly at her.

Rose shrugged, seemingly unaffected. "Fine." She took off her jacket and handed it to the Doctor. No big deal, really. She'd just walk naked back to the TARDIS, and then they could leave.

"R-Rose, what're you doing?"

She couldn't meet his eyes. No big deal at all, she thought as she handed him her shoes and socks. Just stripping naked in front of the bloke she fancied. Not even the fun stripping either. She shimmied out of her jeans and held them out for him to take, still looking at the ground.

The Doctor clenched his jaw as he took Rose's jeans from her. She should not be forced to do this. But as he looked around at the soldiers who stood, weapons at the ready, he really wasn't sure what he could do to stop it. She was saving them. He prided himself on having all the answers, on always being able to find a solution to the problem, but far too often he put Rose in danger, and far too often she had to save him. She'd saved him from the Nestene Consciousness. She'd stopped him from killing that Dalek back in the museum. And while he was so proud to have her as his companion, something he knew he didn't say enough, she shouldn't have to do this for him.

"Rose, we could spend the week in jail," he said gently.

"No, Doctor. We're leaving. Now," she said firmly as she handed him her shirt.

As she stood in her underwear, he finally looked at her. Stepping in front of her, and blocking the magistrate's view, he placed a hand on her chin.

"Are you sure?"

The question froze her in place, even as he raised her eyes to meet his. She stared determinedly into his ice-blue eyes, but he could see the uncertainty in her gaze.

"There's no other way," she replied softly.

With a sigh, the Doctor folded her clothes and placed them neatly into his pockets. Taking a step forward so that she had to move or let him bump into her, he backed her against the wall. Now that he was blocking her from the gazes of the locals, he asked again. "Are you sure?"

She met his eyes more certainly this time, but the nerves were still there. As she looked into his eyes, she knew that if she said no, he'd find another way, even if he had to cause trouble to do it. And that was sweet of him, but she could do this. It wasn't a big deal, right? Just getting naked in front of all the locals, and the Doctor. She swallowed heavily. But she'd chosen to be his companion. She didn't need him to save her all the time. She could save herself—and him—sometimes too.

Taking a deep breath, she said "I'm sure," and he nodded.

She stripped off her undergarments and he took them from her without moving his eyes from hers, placing them deep inside his pockets too.

"Right then." He shifted on his feet a little, but not enough to stop blocking the locals' view of her. Reaching out, he lifted her into his arms, making sure that his leather jacket draped over her and covered as much as possible. There was nothing he could do for the way his hands had to touch her so intimately, however.

Rose gasped when he touched her. "D-Doctor?"

"What are you doing?" The magistrate was outraged.

"I'm taking her home. She did what you said, and now we're going home."

"But…" the magistrate trailed off as the Doctor's ice blue eyes sparked with fire.

"But what?" His voice had dropped and the soldiers stepped away from the door, unable to ignore the promise of death they heard there.

"N-nothing," the magistrate said, cringing back.

"Quite right," the Doctor replied pleasantly, shifting his gentle grip so that he held Rose more firmly to his chest. She lifted her arms to clutch at his jacket, but not enough that the jacket slipped off to reveal anything, and tucked her face into his chest, breathing in the comforting scent of leather, tea, and a unique scent that Rose suspected might be the scent of Time clinging to him.

Without another word, the Doctor stormed out of the building. The locals who were milling about in the streets, quickly moved out of his way, some even going so far as to cross to the other side of the street when they saw him coming, and mothers hurried their children inside.

Legend has this day written down as the day that officially marked the beginning of the revolution, the beginning of a true change for this planet. Though no one could remember exactly who started it, legend says that a grave insult done to offworlders, one with eyes of blue fire and another with hair of gold, had caused a shift in the way this planet's laws were executed. And that was enough to spark a revolution. Some alien customs, after all, aren't always as enlightened as they should be.