Chapter 21 – Departure (Posted June 16th 2010)
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I started work yesterday and that made me really happy :) but, according to my traffic stats, no one is really reading any of my stories. That made me sad :( I only just started and I'm already a has-been lol. Oh well, at least I enjoy writing them, it's sort of like therapy for me :) The one story, Crazy Lovers, I can understand why no one read it, the show it's from isn't very popular I guess. But I would REALLY appreciate a review from anyone who reads anything I've posted here on ff. I'm going to put up a new story (Friendship and Heartbreak) in a few days too, from the movie I mentioned in my last update. I have a feeling it'll end up as unpopular as my Cracker-based fic, because the movie isn't very popular, but I don't care, I need to rewrite the ending :D So, when we last saw our gorgeous Timelord friends, they were shagging each other senseless... What will happen when the Master awakens?
The Master rolled over as he was waking up, lacking the sensation of another body curled up against his. He felt around a little, wondering if the Doctor had rolled away from him during the night, but he didn't find him. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked at both sides of the bed. Not seeing his partner, he lifted up the blankets, but he wasn't hiding under there either. He turned his head and searched the room, but the Doctor wasn't in the room. He got off the bed and crouched down to look under it, feeling silly, but he wasn't under there either.
He stood and placed his hands on his hips, frustrated. Where could the Doctor be? Why did he leave before the Master woke? When did he leave? And why did he leave? And how did he get out without waking the Master? But most importantly why did he leave?
The Master walked to the door and peeked down the hallway both ways, not seeing a sign of anyone. The Master hung his head in thought for a minute and was about to panic when he heard a light, happy laugh coming from a room down the hall. It was the Doctor's laugh. He sprinted in the direction of the laugh, and when he came to an open door he saw the Doctor sitting cross-legged on the floor. He had his arms in a basket in his lap and he was smiling and laughing as he played with whatever was in the basket.
"Doctor?" the Master said as he stood in the doorway, trying to see what was in the basket.
The Doctor's head snapped up and his smile grew ten times wider and brighter when he realized who had called his name. "Master!" he yelled, then quickly got a disappointed look on his face as he hid the basket behind his back. "You woke up earlier than I thought you would, I wanted to surprise you..."
"Surprise me? With what?" the Master asked, stepping closer, sticking his neck out further to catch a glimpse of the basket.
"Well, it won't be a surprise now, but come here, I wanna show you something! And don't look behind me." the Doctor said, guarding the basket as the Master walked and sat in front of him. "Close your eyes and hold out your arms."
The Master did as he was told and felt something small, warm, and fuzzy be gently placed in his outstretched arms. It was wiggling about and the Master was relieved when he was told he could open his eyes.
"What is this?" the Master shouted excitedly. The thing placed in his arms was a small creature with light brown fur. It had four legs, giant floppy ears with flecks of white and black fur, and a little curly tail. It had a set of wings at the junction between it's neck and back, and a smaller set just above it's tail; the feathers were silky soft and jet black. It had eyes the size of earth golf balls and a wet, pink nose. Long whiskers and a wrinkle in its forehead complimented the dog-like muzzle.
"He," the Doctor announced happily, "is our new pet."
"Is he really?" the Master asked, petting the little animal gingerly.
"Do you like him? He was just born last night, these animals mature really quickly. They can be handled after just three hours." the Doctor said, delighted to have pleased the Master.
"He's perfect!" the Master said, looking up at the Doctor. "But what is he?"
"He's an Aucloo Kiekwi1 ." the Doctor said reaching forward and petting the animal with the Master. "The King and Queen just bread their female, and they wanted us to have a pup. I didn't want to take him at first because we're guests, but I saw him and I just knew you'd like him, and they kept insisting that I take one."
"Thanks!" he said to the Doctor. "Where are the King and Queen? I want to thank them too..."
"They're meeting with some of their subjects for a while." the Doctor said. "But I really wanted to bring him to the room and let him wake you up."
"That would've been sweet." the Master said. "Doctor, I don't know how you manage to stop my hearts with everything you do, but you do."
"I'm glad I'm able to make you feel that way." the Doctor said, taking the Master's hand in his.
"Do I make you feel like that?"
"All the time, Master."
"Really?"
"Really."
The Master smiled and the Doctor smiled and then their new pet sneezed and they both smiled more.
"What will we call him?" the Master asked.
"I thought I'd let it up to you, since you talked me into wanting a pet."
"Ok," the Master said, studying the creature, "how about... To'mfa2 ?
"Sixteen in Gallifreyan?"
"Yeah..." the Master said. "It's our language... and sixteen is ten plus six3..." the Master's face got a little red.
"Master, you're brilliant and adorable." the Doctor beamed.
"So you don't think it's too weird?"
"No, I love it."
"Are you sure."
"Of course I'm sure. Are you feeling ok?"
"Yeah! I'm great, I just... my head is full of all these... romantic thoughts for some reason and it's making me feel... really good. I'm just not used to feeling this good, it's new, it's all been so new since I've been with you."
"But your head is feeling better?" the Doctor asked.
"Mmhmm."
"That's good news. That means your need to sleep might decrease soon. And it means I can worry a little less."
"You've been worried?"
"Well, yeah. You seem so scared that your head would always be a mess, but you're finding good things to fill it and it's feeling better, which means you're getting better."
"I didn't know you were worried." the Master said, curious.
"Very worried. But I didn't want to worry you any more, so I didn't say anything."
The Master didn't know what to say. He knew the Doctor was always ready and willing to comfort him, offer some encouraging words. Whatever he needed the Doctor to do, the Doctor would do. But he didn't know the Doctor had been worrying so much. The Master looked down to see To'mfa sleeping, so he put him back in the basket and stood, offering the Doctor his hand. He pulled him up and didn't hesitate to press their bodies together in a short but passionate kiss.
"What should we do now?" the Master asked when their lips stopped touching.
"The King and Queen said to call for Kelvin when we're ready to leave."
"Do the King and Queen have names?" the Master asked as they walked back to the bedroom, carrying the basket.
"Probably." the Master said. "They weren't always the King and Queen. I think it just slipped their mind, they're really busy. They don't have time for names."
When they reached the room, they called for Kelvin and he came and took them back to the courtroom they'd been taken to when they first came to the castle. The King and Queen were sitting in their chairs and patiently explaining to a subject that hunting was forbidden within the protected areas of the gardens.
When the person left, the King and Queen were happy to see the Master and Doctor. "How nice of you to drop in!" the Queen exclaimed. "I assume you'll be leaving now? We hate to see you go, new friends, but we understand the travelers' spirit. You will visit again?"
"Of course!" the Master and Doctor said simultaneously.
"Good." the Queen said. "We would offer to show you out, but we have much business to attend to. Please allow Kelvin to escort you. I wish you safe travels. And, should you change your mind about the wedding, we'd be more than happy to..."
"My Queen, please, you're making them uncomfortable." the King said, then smiled at them. "Doctor, Master, don't pay any attention to her. But we do hope you return, you were wonderful company."
"We will." the Doctor said.
"Thanks for having us." the Master said. "And thank you so much for the pup! He's precious."
"The Doctor informed us your next plan was to adopt a pet, and when our female gave birth we felt honored to offer you one from the litter." the King said.
"See you soon." the Queen said as the Master and the Doctor were lead away by Kelvin.
When they were outside, they were stunned by how different the planet looked in the morning light. They'd seen it the previous morning, but paid no attention to it since their curiosity was so great.
"It's even more beautiful when the sun is out." the Master said.
"Suns." the Doctor corrected.
The Master just laughed.
"Did you want to take another quick walk through the garden?" the Doctor asked as he caught the Master looking back.
"Could we?" the Master asked.
"Sure. We can even take To'mfa, there's a leash and collar in his basket."
They put the collar on To'mfa and clipped his leash in place. The Doctor handed the leash to the Master, then they set off on a trail different than the one they'd used last time.
They walked for a while. They saw glistening webs woven between plants. Small birds' nests were hidden in bushes and trees. Small, slithering animals wove in and out of holes in the ground. All around them was life they hadn't seen at dusk.
They came to a large, ornate fountain with steps. The water in the fountain was crystal clear and flowing down rocks, sprinkling out of pipes, and flowing like a river in a spiral. To'mfa climbed the steps and took a drink from the flowing water, making the Doctor and the master laugh. Then they sat on the steps. The Doctor put his arm around the Master. The Master held their pup in his lap and leaned into the Doctor's chest.
"This is a perfect scene. Something you'd see in a painting." the Master said, petting To'mfa.
"It is, isn't it?"
"It's like we've assembled a whole family now. You, me, and our little To'mfa." the Master said, closing his eyed.
"Yeah, I guess we are like a family. That's something new to me." the Doctor said, rubbing the Master's back.
"We've both had families before."
"An extremely long time ago. I haven't had anything remotely close to a family for centuries."
"Are you happy like this?" the Master asked quietly.
"Absolutely, why?"
"Just making sure. I mean, even if we wanted to, we couldn't get married because we're not citizens of anywhere, so it wouldn't be legal. We can't have children. I just wanted to make sure you're ok with being with me."
"Ok? I'm more than ok with it, Master. I wouldn't want it any other way. I love you."
"I love you too."
"How's your head?" the Doctor asked, putting his free hand on top of it.
"Getting better every second. It really helps to talk, too. About anything, every time I talk I can feel myself getting better. And you help."
"Good." the Doctor said, happy. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah." the Master said.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: ok, I know I wasn't very creative with making up the description of their pet, but it's the best I could do. I also have some explanations for things marked with the superscripted numbers:
An Aucloo Kiekwi is an animal native to Diligo-Ortus. I made up the name using the syllable generator below (there is a space between every character).
h t t p : / / a r a n e l . z a n d a l e a . n e t / e l e n i / s y l g e n . h t m l
To'mfa is a Gallifreyan word that I made up because I couldn't find one. It means "sixteen" and I used the same syllable generator mentioned in #1. I don't know any of the actual words or ruled for the Gallifreyan language, but I found some on the website below (there is a space between every character) if you guys would like to see them.
h t t p : / / f o r u m s . s y f y . c o m / i n d e x . p h p ? s h o w t o p i c = 2 2 9 0 9 7 4
The Master says "sixteen is ten plus six" when telling the Doctor why he chose the name he chose for their new pet. He was referring to his and the Doctor's current incarnations. I assume you all probably got that, but sometimes what I write doesn't always come out the way I thought it did, so I thought I might as well explain it now instead of make you all confused.
[***THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR EPISODES NOT YET AIRED IN THE USA***]
I just have one more thing to ask you guys. Did you all see the new episode (aired in Britain this past Saturday), "The Logder"? Did you all squee when Matt Smith came out in nothing but a towel? And did you almost faint when his towel dropped? Just had to ask :P