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The Master chucked his head back, his laughter echoing through the dimly lit room. Danni giggled as well, lifting the small china cup to her lips as she took another sip of tea. His fingers were tapping on the arm-rest, not an angry four-beat but a happy one brought on by the laughter her story had brought him. Her eyes were automatically drawn to it, her lips drying out as she watched them pound against the metal.
"And he just let the Angel's touch him?" He asked and she nodded, forcing herself to look away and forget about the noise.
"Spent the whole time in the 1960's." She explained, "Both me and Martha had to get a job because he kept exploding chickens." Over the last couple of weeks, all he'd been asking for in return for her favours was information about the Doctor's past and future exploits. So, she'd started just telling him about the episodes, reciting either what she remembered or what she'd actually lived through.
"And this wasn't, you know," He motioned to his neck, indicating a bow tie and she shook her head.
"No, this was Ten. Eleven..." She trailed off, frowning slightly, "Eleven's encounters with the Angels aren't as funny." The Master leant back, observing her for a moment and she tried to ignore his gaze. He'd do that sometimes, just watch her for a while and it was incredibly unnerving. She couldn't tell what was going on in his head and she really didn't like it.
"I wouldn't waste time missing him." He told her suddenly and she blushed, not realising she was so obvious, "That version of the future no longer exists, he's not going to regenerate. 'Eleven', as you know him, won't ever exist now." Her blood froze in her veins as the breath caught in her throat. She knew that the Doctor had a plan, that time would reverse and they'd all be okay, but he was right. In this time line, the chances of Ten ever following the sequence of events that would lead to Eleven were slim to nil. Her Eleven, her Theta would never exist. Her chest tightened and tears began to build in her eyes. What if the Doctor didn't fix it this time? She'd never see him again, never be held by him. She'd never be able to tell him she was sorry...
The Master suppressed his grin as he watched her crumble at the thought of her precious Doctor not being there. This was working perfectly! Break her down, watch her crumble then build her back up with eyes only for him. He'd have everything she knew in no time. He did the same with Lucy, made her adore him. Humans were so easy to play, emotional and so stupid.
"Oh, don't cry." He told her, reaching underneath the little saucer on the silver tray she'd brought in with her and pulled out a napkin, handing it to her, "I do apologise, I wasn't trying to upset you." She took it with a watery smile, dabbing her eyes dry.
"Sorry, I just forget about what this time line means." She told him before sniffing, "I just miss him." She shook her head, "Like you care." He fell forward onto his knees in front of her, taking his own napkin and wiping her tears away. She seemed to freeze underneath his touch, not out of fright but out of confusion and he inwardly cheered when she didn't pull away.
"It seems to me, Danielle," He started lowly, brushing her red hair out of her face, "That he isn't worthy of your tears. All you have done is try and help him, and he throws it in your face every time." She shook her head.
"No, no he's lovely to me." She protested weakly, although he could tell she was listening, silently agreeing with him.
"I'm sure he is." He told her, "But before I took over the planet, I did some research on our mutual friend, and a name kept popping up. River Song." Her whole body tensed, he'd obviously touched a nerve there, "Time and time again. The woman who killed the Doctor, the woman who married the Doctor."
"It wasn't a real wedding." She stuttered, "He just did it to save everyone." She thought. She was so sure that's why. The Master nodded, sitting back in his chair as he deliberated on it.
"I'm sure you're right." He replied, "The Doctor doesn't lie to you, after all." She nodded uncertainly, "Off you pop then, my little pet." He dismissed her with a wave of a hand and she stood up, giving him a little bow before picking up the tea set and heading towards the door, "I just hope he deserves your loyalty." He called after her and she paused by the door, "After all, he did break your heart." Her shoulders sagged, her head bowed and she left him alone. He allowed the grin to spread across his face as he raised his hand in a salute, looking up at the ceiling. God Bless the Archangel Network.
~0~0~0~
Danni kept the tea tray as steady as she could, putting one foot in front of the other as she was lead back to the laundry, the Master's words floating around her head. She knew what he was trying to do, she'd seen enough movies and met enough bad guys to see someone attempting to turn someone else against the good guy. She wouldn't let him do that to her, she knew the Doctor wasn't perfect. Yes, he'd married River but it didn't mean anything. He'd actually proposed to her, and when she finally got back to the right Doctor, she'd chuck her arms around him and repeatedly tell him yes until she had no breath left in her.
Still, why was it still written in history that he married River?
~0~0~0~
Danni waited patiently for the Master to show up, slowly walking around the room she'd been taken to. It wasn't their normal meeting room, it was bright and so much larger than that, but it was still a conference room, with a large table and chairs in the middle. She walked up to one the windows letting the daylight stream in and looked down on the world below. She could see the ground as the day was pretty clear and there were barely any clouds underneath them. She placed a palm on the large window, as if she was trying to reach out and touch it. She missed the ground.
"What are you doing?" She turned at his voice, smiling slightly at the annoyed tone.
"Oh, just thinking. You wanted to see me, Master?" She asked obediently. He stared back at her, face blank and she realised he didn't know why he'd called for her, just that he had. Her breath caught in her chest at his slightly bewildered look. Had he just wanted to see her? "I heard you went down to Earth today, did it go well?" She prompted.
"No, not really. The workforce are getting lazy, I'm going to blow up Japan and see if that boosts morale." He drawled, falling back into line with his normal personality. Good, the idea of him wanting to see her and not knowing why, just impulsively calling for her confused her tremendously. Because he was the Master! He shouldn't want to see her, and she sure as hell shouldn't like it that he did. She shrugged and turned back to the window.
"If you must, Master. I thought you wanted to kill Martha in front of the Doctor, but if you feel it's best..." she trailed off.
"Jones is in Japan?" He asked quietly, surprised at the offered information. She shrugged again, she actually had no idea but she knew Martha went to Japan at some point during The Year that Never Was. She could have it be today.
"I don't know where she is, Master. But if she is, and you blow it up, you'll never get her." She replied, "Do you go down to Earth often, sir?" She suddenly asked him.
"What?" He snapped out, annoyed she wasn't paying much attention to him, instead her attention was out of the window at the Earth below. He should always be the centre of everyone's attention, always.
"I was just thinking how much I miss the ground." She told him with a little laugh, "Which is odd thing to miss, really. You'd think I'd miss my family, or Martha, or even my freedom, but I don't. I miss grass, and pavements and even tarmac. Paths were nice, weren't they?" She turned to him, "Sorry, I'm rambling again." She curtsied in apology, "Is there anything I can do for you, Master, or would you like me to get back to my duties?"
"What's your request?" He asked her instead.
"I'd like some nice pillows in the servant's rooms." She replied quietly.
"And your information?"
"I already told you. Don't bomb Japan, Martha's there." He nodded.
"Go back to work." She curtsied again.
"Yes Master."
~0~0~0~
"Can you believe it, though? New pillows? And they're nice." Heather raved on as they stood ironing, today being on laundry duty and there was a lot of staff on the airship, therefore a lot of ironing.
"So?" Danni replied, "Just take it and be happy. If we go on about it then he might change his mind." She warned as she ironed a white shirt. She knew he wouldn't, though. He'd been true to his word every time so far, why would this be any different?
"It's strange, though. All these things keep happening. Did you know the kitchen staff now get a 20 minute lunch break?"
"You don't say." Danni answered non-committally. In fact, he'd been wonderful to her for weeks. He barely had her wait on him anymore, and they could spend hours just talking. It was like he... trusted her, or felt comfortable around her. That didn't make any sense, but she didn't know how else to feel about it. She'd found herself looking forward to being taken to see him, her life was so mundane and miserable, of course time spent with the most exciting thing on the airship would be a highlight. And he did, he listened to her. Everything she'd told him he took to heart, all the pieces of information he'd used. In return, he'd done everything he'd promised to do. He was the first person to take her knowledge of the future and actually do something with it, not just run around and ignore her, falling into the bad situations and death-and-destruction that the Doctor always did. Quite frankly, it threw her completely. Made her feel useful and helpful. And boy, could he make her laugh...
Heather opened her mouth, about to launch into more gossip, they were interrupted by two guard who entered fully and unnecessarily armed.
"Fielding, you're coming with us." Danni frowned at the finality of the command.
"I've already seen him today." She stated, confusing Heather with her calmness.
"You're to be taken to him, now."
"Can I just finish..." She stated but one pointed a gun at her and Heather gasped in fear.
"Now, Fielding." He demanded and she sighed, switching the iron off calmly.
"Okay, okay. Moody much?" She rolled her eyes as them and followed the pair out and to the flight room where the Master was waiting for her, sat at the table tapping impatiently. She smiled happily at the Doctor, who was leaning against the wall by his tent silently.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" She asked as she sat in front of him. He slid a black wristband over to her.
"Put this on." He commanded. She looked at it suspiciously but did as she was told, locking it around her clear wrist. He stood up and grabbed her by the arm, walking her over to the transmat pad in the corner. He turned and waved at the Doctor.
"Don't wait up." he taunted and she was suddenly floating as he activated the transmat, landing with a grunt on the floor. The first thing she noticed was the cold breeze whooshing around her and she looked up, blinking away the light spots in her vision. They were in a green field, trees and hedges bordering the large expanse of land. There were no buildings for miles and no other people, just them two.
"Where are we, sir?" She asked.
"Wales." He replied shortly. She stood up and felt the breeze blow at her, goosebumps rising on her skin.
"I'm cold." She laughed in disbelief as she looked at her arms, "Oh my god I'm cold. And it's ground, actual ground." She turned to him, "Why are we here?"
"If you tell anyone, I will kill every member of the Jones family." He warned her. She blinked, looking around the space they were in again. No one for miles and miles. No metal, no corridors.
"I could run away." She pointed out.
"You wouldn't leave your friends. Plus, that bracelet will electrocute you at the touch of a button." She looked at the black ring around her wrist as he took out his laser screwdriver to illustrate his point.
"Right, no running away then. What am I supposed to do?" He shrugged and sat down on the grass.
"I don't know." He snapped, "Run around? Play? Sing and dance? I don't care, just hurry up about it." She nodded and looked around, trying to decide what to do. She was on the ground, the actual Earth. It was cold, and slightly damp under food, but she was in the fresh air. She pointed at a tree in the distance.
"I'm going to run to that tree and back." She told him, "Please don't electrocute me." He rolled his eyes and she set off in a sprint towards the tree, a grin on her face. The cold air bit at her skin and her lungs burnt as she ran further and further away from him. She wasn't in as good a shape as she used to be, evidently. She reached the tree and leant against it, panting heavily and revelling in the feeling of the bark scratching against her skin. She looked back over at the Master who was sat staring back at her, his legs stretched out in front of him, his fingers tapping out the drumming on the floor in irrational. She blushed slightly, almost being able to feel his gaze one her as he watched her from the other side of the field. She took a deep breath then set off back towards him, still smiling even as foot caught an uneven piece of Earth and she fell to the ground, skidding across the grass and covering herself in green stains. She didn't complain, just picked herself up and finished her journey, throwing herself down next to him.
"Dignified." He mocked. She laughed and laid down on the grass.
"I'm known for my gracefulness." She replied, watching the few clouds slowly pass overhead, "Ha! That one looks like a cow." He frowned.
"A cow?" He asked slowly and she nodded.
"And that ones a star. I haven't cloud-watched in years." He looked up but rolled his eyes.
"You're seeing things." She pushed herself up.
"No I'm not. Look!" She leant in close to face so their eye lines were almost identical then pointed up into the sky, "See? There's its legs, and udders and that's it's head. A cow." She stated confidently. He turned to tell off but paused as she looked up at the sky. It infuriated him, the way she never seemed to be scared of him. She didn't defend him, but even after everything he had done she never flinched away or cowered in his presence like everyone else. She, instead, pointed out cow-shaped clouds to him. Or told him secrets about her friends. And she chatted to him about inane things like missing the ground. As if he would care that she missed grass? He was the Master. He didn't need to be thinking about how sad she was while he had important things to worry about. That's why he had brought her down here; hopefully now he'd be able to concentrate on the final plan instead of her lying in bed, softly crying to herself. Plus, it was just another way to get her on his side. That's it.
"That's not a cow." He snapped, "It's obviously some sort of canine. It doesn't even have udders, you're seeing things."
"Yes it does!" She protested, "Right there." She drew an outline in the air.
"It's not attached." He scoffed.
"They were a minute ago!" She insisted.
~0~0~0~
Danni's tongue stuck out between her lips ever so slightly as she, very carefully, threaded the stem of one daisy through the stem of another. The chain she was making was about 15 daises long and was something she hadn't done since she was child. She really should make more time for childish things when the year was up, the Doctor was right when he insisted being a grown-up was boring. She threaded it successfully and smiled to herself.
"Time to go." He declared suddenly and she paused mid-pick before putting the daisy chain down.
"Okay." She stood up and brushed herself down to get rid of stray grass blades. He frowned, standing up next to her.
"I expected more of a fight than that." He told her. She shrugged. He was the Master of the Earth now, and he'd taken time to bring her down to Earth because she'd wanted to go outside. She felt absolutely touched and afraid in equal measures. She also didn't want to go back, but not because she'd become trapped again in that flying metal box. She didn't want to go because then so would he.
"I'm just happy to be here at all." She shifted slightly on the spot, "There is one thing I'd like to do, though, if that's all right. If I don't I'll obsess over it and that's never healthy, is it? Just... just don't electrocute me please." He sighed impatiently.
"Fine. Hurry up." She nodded and wrapped her arms around his wait, resting her head on his chest. He tensed under her and didn't move until she let him go and kissed him on the cheek, her lips just touching the corner of his mouth.
"Thank you," She whispered, the only gratitude she could show him, before stepping back slightly, "Okay, we can go." He pulled his laser screwdriver out and, grabbing her hand, they appeared back on the Valiant. She smiled at the Doctor, who seemed to relax as soon as he deemed she was all right. A quick glance up at the large wall clock told her they'd actually been gone around 3 hours; no wonder the Doctor had been worried.
"Go back to the laundry." Koschei demanded and she nodded, curtsied and left. The Doctor watched her leave as she couldn't stop smiling.
Koschei didn't ask for anything in return.
~0~0~0~
That night she dreamt about him. That wasn't new, she was sure she'd had multiple dreams over the last nine months involving the man holding her captive. She was sure she wasn't the only one, either. The man was a domineering thought in all their lives, of course he was going to be present in their unconscious thoughts. But as Dream-Koschei danced her around the black space they were both spending the night in, she was so conscious of the four beats echoing around her head when she woke up she knew her resolve had broken. The thing was, she heard them every night when she went to sleep and was left feeling hollow from their absence. The drumming, she knew was never going to leave her, so what was the harm in hearing it one more time? She knew she was just trying to rationalise it in her head, but she really didn't care anymore.
"I wanted to give my friends something first," She explained to him, crossing one tight-covered leg over the other, "make their lives a bit better. But today I'm going to be selfish." She explained and he smirked.
"I knew there was something about you I liked." She smiled happily at his comment.
"I want to hear the drumming." He blinked at her, obviously not expecting that.
"You want to hear the drumming?" He repeated slowly, unable to comprehend her request. She nodded.
"I know you can transmit it through thought, I want to hear it." He thought about it for a moment before placing two fingers on each of her temples and letting it flow through to her mind. She moaned loudly, her eyes shutting as she leant into his touch. Her breathing hitched and she bit her lip as another moan tried to force it's way out as the four beats filled her mind, flowing through her again, sending fire to the surface of her skin. Just like when she had first focused on the rhythm, everything around her dissolved into nothingness. There was just him, a point somewhere in front of her that fed her the noise she craved. All too soon he broke the connection and she opened her eyes, finding him so close their noses were almost touching. He was surprised by the passion raging in her eyes and she panted heavily with a desire he didn't quite understand.
"Oh my lord, that felt so good." She crowed out, "I miss it so much." She told him and he frowned.
"You miss it?" He whispered, his eyes dropping to her chest, watching it rise and fall rapidly.
"So much. I had it running through my mind for such a short time, I just wanted to hear it again." She slowly came out of her haze and blinked in surprise at the look he was shooting her, one step away from devouring her.
"You will save the universe." She stated suddenly and he jumped back from her.
"I'm sorry?" He asked, genuinely confused and she nodded.
"You will almost destroy the universe, and then you will save us all. Your last act is one of heroism; somewhere in their Koschei still stands tall." She told him and he growled angrily. She gasped as she realised her mistake but it was too late. His hand shot around her neck and he pulled her so their noses were touching.
"Do. Not. Call. Me. That." He bit out, furious. She nodded, scared as he tightened his grip, choking her. He looked ready to kill her, and for the first time she was terrified he would hurt her.
"Of course. Sorry, Master." She whispered and he chucked her back onto the chair. She pushed herself backwards from him and he shook from anger.
"You will leave now." He demanded and she jumped up, bowing.
"Right away. Thank you Master." She turned and ran out in tears. He watched her before growling to himself and placed his hands on his head.
~0~0~0~
The next day she knocked instead of entering straight away, which had become the norm. He called for her to enter and she stepped in, closing the door behind her and standing by it.
"You can sit down, you know?" He told her mockingly. She nodded and ran over, sitting in her normal chair with her hands in her lap, staring down at them. He looked at her, her neck already had dark bruises from where he had choked her and a brief flash of regret surged through him but he shrugged it off.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"I would like to see the Doctor." She whispered, "I haven't seen him in days." His eyes narrowed.
"You want to see the Doctor?" He repeated slowly and she nodded.
"Yes please, Master." His hands clenched in anger, that was not what she was supposed to ask for. She was supposed to ask to hear the drums again, not to see that old man.
"No." He barked out and she glanced up, surprised.
"No?" She asked timidly and he nodded.
"That's what I said, have you gone deaf since the last time I saw you?" She shook her head.
"But... but why?"
"I don't need to give my reasons. Now leave." She shook her head, tears in her eyes.
"Please, please let me see him. Please, Master." She begged him, dropping to her knees in front of him and he stood up, grabbed her by the arm and chucked her out of the room into the guard.
"Take her back."
~0~0~0~
She asked to see him again the next time, and the next time. Each time he would boil with fury and chuck her out before destroying the room. He would then order one of the Jones' to clean it up and go torment the Doctor, but would never touch him as per their agreement. A week passed and she knocked to try again. She needed to see her best friend, the man she loved. She didn't understand the Master's change in temperament, but wasn't surprised by it. The door opened slightly and she pushed it open, stepping in slowly and closing it before turning around into the room. He was stood by the door, covered in shadow in the dark room and before she could say anything he grabbed the sides of her head, forcing the drumming to flow through her mind. Her eyes widened she let out a moan of deep-rooted pleasure before trying to struggle away from him. He, however, pushed her back into the door, pressing against her firmly so she could not get away.
"Why do you want to see the Doctor?" He hissed and she gasped through her rapidly increasing breathing.
"Because I want to. I just want to see him!" She promised, but he shook his head. She looked him in the eyes, which were black with anger and she tried struggling away. The four beats increased in volume.
"You wanted the drums, you crave them. Why do you choose him?" She managed to tear her head away and shoved past him, running behind the table, panting heavily.
"Because the drumming drove me insane!" She explained desperately, "They made me paranoid and angry and vengeful. They were killing me slowly and I'd give anything to hear them again! But I can't, I can't go back to them!" He strode towards her but she ran around the table to keep away from him, terrified that he was going to make her listen to it again, and even more terrified because that was all she wanted. They ran around the table a few times, changing direction to try and meet their goals until he growled loudly and climbed across it, pushing her against the wall.
"Why can you get away from them?" he hissed, "Why do you get peace and I can't ever get away?"
"Because mine were curable, I don't think yours are." She sobbed, tears streaking her bright red cheeks, "Now please, stop it. Master, please." He placed his hands on her head again and she moaned, her knees giving way.
"You will submit to me." He told her, and she pushed weakly against him before he used his grip to pull her up and slammed his lips against hers. She fought weakly, but that just seemed to spur him on until the drumming became too much and she responded, burrowing her hands into his short brown hair and pulling herself close.