likeitwillneverend liked your post “// i’m about to rewatch end of time whilst packing so if u play ten…”
"Well now. Doctor. Why did you take your time? I wasn’t exactly difficult to find.”
"Oh, no. Simple, really, but I’ve been a bit busy, you know. Places to go, that sort of thing. Didn’t realize this was supposed to be a high priority."
The Doctor snorted faintly, giving a sideways smirk to nothing in particular. He was under the impression that this meeting was going to go like all other meetings: it was just a game. Well, until someone died or had to regenerate, and even then.
The look he was wearing sobered. His hands went into the pockets of his trousers and he cast a critic eye to the Master. Almost imperceptibly he shook his head. “Don’t do that; don’t tease. We both know you’re not serious. Hundreds of years of the same and now you change your mind?” It was pessimistic, but dealing with the Time Lord for so long had left him a bit leery. “You wouldn’t last a day with me.”
He kept his eyes fixed on the Doctor’s, which managed to be simultaneously warm and stormy, always - or in this regeneration, at least. He had enjoyed watching the Doctor’s eyes throughout his years. They changed more than any part of him. He reckoned these might be his favourite yet - they were so telling, so open.
He tipped his head slightly. “Less than a day’s still almost a day, Theta.” He lingered on the name, almost sincerely, and smiled. “Could be fun.”
The pretense of remaining calm faltered and he clenched his jaw at the name. That was the trouble with the Master: the Doctor had spent his whole life running away and yet somehow, much to his chagrin, he kept running into his past. Or his past ran into him. It was tempting to look away just to break the tension in his own body, but he didn’t. It seemed like losing if he did. “And if it isn’t an option anymore?”
"Then I’d be surprised, Doctor. I’d be surprised if you can look at me and tell me that you’re not prey to your own loneliness, and that it’s not taking you apart.” The Master’s eyes were intent, and he had not the strength to pretend that this was not his brand of begging, that he was not frayed and ragged inside and out and that he hadn’t an idea what else to do. “I know you.”
Really, he ought to be used to the Master not being fair at this point. Finally, the Doctor pulled his gaze away. Of course he wanted the Master with him. Even if it meant no more companions, no more adventure, and was a nightmarish uphill battle for every little thing. “Alright, you do.” He was known too well, perhaps. He rubbed at the back of his neck, reluctant to be having this particular conversation. “You're right. I want you with me – if you want, the offer's still there.”
