Fic rec: But the battle is lost

[tula-peiwa.livejournal.com]

Title: But the battle is lost
Pairing: Thirteenth Doctor/Professor Yana
Length: 920 words
Summary: Meme prompt: Yana/thirteenth Doctor. Mortality.
Author on LJ (or Teaspoon, or Prydonian): bagheera_san
Why this must be read:
I do feel a bit like I'm cheating, Bagheera is one of those authors whose masterlist I could pretty much just link do fine in terms of a good rec. Still, that really would be cheating, so here's a favorite of mine. Bagheera gives her Yana depth that doesn't fight with what canon left us, and manages to paint a convincing, tragic but not over-tragic original Doctor. I know there are people who shrink from Original Doctor stories, and if you are one I encourage you to read through this fic. My love for well crafted short fics may also play a part. This story is exceptionally well put together and very satisfying to read and reread.
Excerpt:
Unfettered by madness, and not cloaked in cold civility, Yana is vibrant, immediate, alive. In one hand he holds the little present the Doctor built him, an ad hoc demonstration of why he is worthy of Yana's attention. The other hand flitters almost shakily over the Doctor's body, unbuttoning cuffs and brushing away his collar, checking vitals and temperature. One moment he mutters about genius, the next the exclaims about the double beat, the alien body, the living miracles of the dying world.
Link to the story:
Here you go