2. Christmas in the Vault (Christmas Special):
Hi everyone. Here's my next Doctor Who one-shot, which I wrote for the recent Christmas. This is set during the first Christmas during the time that the Doctor guards Missy in the Vault.
I had meant to write this and my other Christmas one-shots in time to upload on Christmas Day, but I kept leaving all the writing way too late, which I'm really annoyed with myself for. Despite how late this is, I still wanted to write this, and I didn't want to hold it off for a whole year, so here it is. Hope you all had a great Christmas and Happy New Year.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Doctor Who series, the Doctor or Missy.
—
"I see my great jailer has decided to grace me with his presence today," Missy called as she heard the Vault's door open behind her. "Did you bring the bald one? He's always fun to torment." She then turn to face the entrance, only to stare in shock. "What is that?"
"Hello Missy," the Doctor greeted her. "No, Nardole is not here this time. And no tormenting him. Remember, tormenting people is something you're supposed to stop doing. We've talked about this, remember." He then asked "What's what?"
"That," Missy prompted. The Doctor continued to look confused. "That thing on your head,' Missy clarified with disgust in her voice.
"There's something on my head?" the Doctor asked. Missy stared, stunned by his obliviousness. He reached a hand up to feel his head, finally noticing the red hat he was wearing. "Oh, didn't realise that was still there." He looked back at Missy and told her "It's a Santa hat."
"A Santa hat," Missy repeated incredulously. "And why are you wearing it?"
"Because it's Christmas," the Doctor answered. "You know, that holiday celebrated by humanity at the end of every year, where people get together to give gifts to their friends and family and show how much they care-"
"Yes, yes! I know what Christmas is," the irritated Missy interrupted. "I am aware of the stupid traditions that these stupid little Humans like to have. I have been to Earth before. I meant why are you wearing it?"
"The university was holding a Christmas party for the students and lecturers. I attended it," the Doctor explained.
"Okay, that sounds real fun," Missy said sarcastically. "Now would you mind removing that abomination, since you no longer need it?"
The Doctor paused for a moment, then answered "Actually I'm going to keep wearing it for now."
"Why?" Missy asked.
"Because we're celebrating Christmas," the Doctor stated cheerfully.
Silence reigned for a few seconds.
"No!" Missy protested after a moment. "I am not one of your dumb little pet Apes. I will not lower myself to their pathetic standards."
"That attitude is why I think you really need this," the Doctor lectured her. "If you actually take the time to learn about them, without the perspective of a conqueror, I'm sure you'll come to see that they're not beneath us but rather equally important."
"I doubt that," Missy muttered.
"Also," the Doctor continued, ignoring her last comment, "as I said, Christmas is spent with friends and family, and you are my oldest friend in the universe, so I want to spend it with you."
There was silence for a moment, then, "Ugh, fine," Missy groaned, while trying to ignore the part of her that was happy about his words, that wanted to spend time with her old friend without any real hostility between them. "Whatever you want."
The Doctor grinned victoriously, then carried in three boxes, setting them on the floor near their seats. He aimed his sonic screwdriver at one of the boxes, causing it to open and a Christmas tree to rise out of it. Missy scoffed at this, but made no further protests. Opening the second box, the Doctor brought out a Christmas pudding, several cupcakes and a number of other snacks. The Doctor set out the dishes between them, and dug into the meal. Missy tried to continue acting reluctant to celebrate with him, but gave in and joined him. The two proceeded to eat in silence, content with the moment they were sharing together.
After they finished, the Doctor then picked up the last box and handed it over to Missy, who looked confused as she took it. "What the hell is this?" she asked.
"Your present," the Doctor answered.
"Oh hells," Missy cursed, exasperated. "I tolerated sharing a Christmas dinner with you," She tried to cover up her reluctant enjoyment of it. "but there's only so much of Earth's traditions that I can take. We're Time Lords. We're supposed to be above them."
"Come on, Missy. Just open it would you?" the Doctor insisted.
Missy glared at him stubbornly, then finally started ripping open the wrapping. "Fine Doctor," Missy said, frustrated. "But this better be something worthwhile. If I find you've given me something too pathetic, too sappy, too Human, I swear that I'll-I'll-" she stuttered and trailed off, gazing in shock at what was in the present. A landscape picture the Doctor had painted. In the painting, Missy saw a group of people, clearly a band, performing on a stage. Most of the players seemed quite familiar, but two were instantly recognisable to her. The first incarnation of the Doctor, leading with his perigosto stick, and her own first incarnation, sitting behind a set of drums. At the top of the painting was the title Gallifrey Academy Hot Five.
She swallowed, trying to bottle up her emotions as memories she had not thought about in a very long time came back to her. Memories from a much simpler time, a more peaceful time. Memories from before everything changed for them. Before the animosity, before the violence, before the bitterness and hatred. Before the chaos. Before her insanity.
"Do you remember when we used to play in that band?" she heard the Doctor ask her. Looking up, she saw him looking towards her, a sad smile on his face. "Do you remember those days, back at the Academy, with the rest of our friends? When our biggest problems were being punished after giving our tutors hell?" Missy was unresponsive for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
After they sat in silence for a few more minutes, the Doctor continued speaking. "You know why I have to keep you in here, right?" Not waiting for a response, he continued. "You've spent so many centuries committing countless crimes. I can't trust you enough to let you out. I wish I could trust you, but I cannot do that." He paused for a moment, then kept going. "But I hope that that's possible one day. Because I do truly believe that the friend you once were is still there somewhere in you. And one day, I hope to have that friend back."
The Doctor then rose to his feet and began to approach the exit. Upon arriving at the door, he turned back to Missy, smiled at her and said "Merry Christmas, Koschei." He then walked out, leaving Missy alone in the Vault once more.
Missy sat quietly for a few moments, looking towards where he had been standing. She turned her eyes back to the painting she still held, thinking about what he had just said to her. Gazing at the painting, Missy quietly muttered "Merry Christmas, Theta."
—
For anyone that's confused about the names they called each other at the end, according to the Doctor Who wiki site some of the extended universe stories concerning their childhood showed that the Doctor, the Master, the Rani and the rest of their group of friends (known as the Deca) from the Prydonian Academy had various nicknames for each other. The Doctor was known as Theta Sigma and the Master was Koschei. See the Doctor Who wiki page for the Deca if you want to know the others. The information about the Gallifrey Academy Hot Five I also got from Doctor Who wiki.