Spoilers: The Sound of Drums / Last of the Time Lords.

A/N: Sorta angsty oneshot. Just watched LOTTL again and felt the need for some Master / Doctor angst. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Much to my disgust I don't own anything.

I Forgive You.

"I forgive you." The Master cried harder at these words, the anguish pouring out with his sobs but still not receding. The pain; the pain. Still there, still drumming away at him. Even after all these years, after all this time, never leaving. His mind wandered back, drifting back to when they'd been friends. Best friends. Oh, how he'd admired the Doctor. How he'd loved him. Still did, in fact. And it hurt.

"So, where shall we go?" the Doctor had asked, like always. It was technically the Doctor's TARDIS and the Master had always felt like a guest on board. So they travelled together, fought together but the Master always stood back politely to allow the Doctor leadership. "The past? Earth, 1642?"

"I… I'd rather not," the Master had said uncomfortably. "Perhaps the future?"

"The future?"

"Just to see…" he'd whispered, avoiding eye contact. He'd heard the Doctor's footsteps, walking slowly across the metal grating. Fingers touched his chin, gently lifting his face. Their eyes met, and the Doctor frowned as he saw the tears in his friend's. The Master saw the concern in the Doctor's eyes and mixed emotions welled inside him. And then he found he had no control, was leaning towards the man he… he loved. As their lips brushed tenderly against each other, the Master realised. He loved the Doctor. There was no denying it, nothing he could do but let the tears roll down his cheeks and lean further in, deepening the kiss.

"Just to see, eh?" the Doctor had said softly when at last they'd parted. "And what did you see?"

The Master had shrugged, afraid that if he spoke then the wrong words would escape his lips. The Doctor smiled sadly, seeming to understand. Once again he tipped the Master's chin up, forcing him to look directly into the other's eyes. And again they kissed, but this time it was different. No passion, no energy, only goodbye. The Master felt it and understood that this was a parting kiss. The Doctor was abandoning him, for he didn't feel the same way.

"I'm sorry," he'd whispered and the Master nodded.

"I'm the one that's sorry, Doctor," he'd said as he stepped backwards slowly. The other man opened his mouth but the Master held up a finger to silence him. "It was a mistake. I shouldn't have done it, and for the rest of my years I shall regret it."

"But I…"

"Don't," the Master whispered as he opened the TARDIS door. "Just don't…"

And then he was gone. All those many, many years later he lay crying in the Doctor's arms. And the Doctor whispered those words he'd never wanted to hear, the one's that had never been said all those years ago. "I forgive you."

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