The Master awoke slowly, cocooned in warmth and a feeling of security, edging towards awareness. He simply lay where he was, savoring the comfortable heat and… was that an arm curled around him, clutching him against a solid chest?

Prying his eyes open he peered backwards sleepily, coming face to face with the Doctor, his face softened with sleep. Jerking back somewhat the Master stared at him, feeling the arm around his waist tighten as the Doctor shifted in his sleep.

The Doctor was on top of the blankets, his shirt wrinkled and his floppy hair mussed, covering part of his face. The sight tugged at the Master's heartstrings, making him feel rather guilty and humiliated about the scene he had caused. He wasn't sure why he couldn't seem to keep a handle on things but it was embarrassing. He'd been so composed and collected in previous regenerations and now here he was, throwing petty tantrums like a spoiled child.

The Master flopped back onto the pillow shoving down the feeling of disgust welling up inside him. The Doctor murmured something tiredly and tugged the Master back against him before going back to snoring softly.

Feeling the blood rush to his cheeks the Master was certain his blush was as red as his sweater.

Well then.

He continued to lie still, not knowing what else to do. As much as he hated to admit it being in the Doctor's arms was oddly pleasurable. It felt so warm and comforting and that made the Master uneasy.

Turning around carefully so as not to wake the other Time Lord the Master stared at the Doctor's sleeping face. Why was the Doctor hugging him in his sleep? He had no reason to…

Freeing a hand from beneath the layers of blankets the Master reached forwards and poked his… friend? Former friend? The other Time Lord, on the tip of his nose.

The Doctor twitched slightly, nuzzling into the pillows. In response the Master poked him in the cheek.

Cracking an eye open the Doctor blinked faintly at him, giving a faint groggy "Hmmm?"

"What are you doing?" The Master questioned.

"I dunno. Last I checked I was sleeping." Mumbled the Doctor.

Lips twitching into a smile the Master replied, "That's not what I mean."

"Hmmm."

"You're hugging me."

Yawning the Doctor asked, "Do you want me to stop?"

The Master paused, did he? No, not really but he didn't exactly want to let the other man know that. Instead he replied with a sort of shrug.

As if he'd read his mind, even though the Master knew he hadn't, the Doctor smiled and pulled him closer.

The Master's face reddened and he felt his hearts race in his ribcage. He only hoped the Doctor wouldn't catch on.

Unfortunately his luck didn't hold up and the Doctor grabbed his chin, nudging his head up to face him. The Doctor blinked before shooting him a grin, saying, "Awww, you're blushing. What are you so embarrassed about, huh?"

Looking away quickly the Mater stammered out, "N-Nothing! I'm not embarrassed about anything!"

Raising an amused eyebrow the Doctor asked, "You sure about that? 'Cause you look pretty red."

"Shut up." He snapped, looking anywhere but at the Doctor.

The Master could practically feel the other Time Lords smug grin and muttered, "Idiot."

When he next looked up at the man he realized saying that had only made the Doctor's grin increase in its smug knowingness.

Half-heartedly scowling the Master shoved at the Doctors shoulder in mock irritation that made the taller Time Lord laugh.

The Master wasn't entirely sure why the Doctor wasn't mad at him but he didn't want to get into that again so he didn't allow the burning question to slip through his lips. Pushing those traitorous thoughts into the back of his mind.

The Doctor drew his arms away from him and sat up, looking down at him from the other side of the bed. The Master frowned in discontent and dragged himself up as well, blankets pooling around his legs.

Tilting his head in confusion the Master watched the Doctor clear his throat and say, "Right. So. We probably need to discuss what happened earlier."

The Master felt his internal organs metaphorically freeze over; he'd been hoping they wouldn't discuss this. His- his humiliating fit he had thrown in his pathetic loss of control and dignity.

He wanted to curl up under the blankets and disappear.

The Doctor took his silence as a cue to continue and went on, "About what happened…"

"Why does it matter?" The Master cut him off, trying to prevent the conversation from continuing.

"It matters because Amelia and I-"

The Master winced, he had forgotten about the human girl the other Time Lord had brought on board. He'd not only humiliated himself in front the Doctor but during the first meeting with the ape. Not that the Master cared what she thought of him but it was the principal of the thing. He had prided himself on his ability to charm others and convince them to do what he desired them to in previous regenerations but now…

Now he was a wreck, a pathetic shadow of his former self. Was he- could he even still be called the Master?

A cold chill rushed like a river through his veins. What was he thinking? Of course he was the Master! Not- he wasn't some…

He wasn't…

"Master?"

He snapped to attention, taunt like a bowstring. The Doctor was staring expectantly at him. Had the other man been talking to him?

"What?" The Master asked in confusion.

A mixture of concern and mild annoyance briefly flashed across the Doctor's face before slipping away, sinking into the depths of the Doctor's patient façade.

"Were you listening to anything I was saying?"

The Master just shifted uncomfortably, not deigning the Doctor a response.

The other Time Lord sighed and repeated himself; "I was saying that you had a meltdown in that one storeroom and then proceeded to try and, well, strangle me. Which by the way, I would appreciate if you didn't try to do again. But just so you know," The Doctor's voice got serious, its cold edge cutting into the Master, "Don't bring up my companions like you did earlier; current or otherwise. It's not funny and I don't want to hear it. Say you want about me but I won't tolerate you bringing them into it. I expected better of you, really. You've been doing so well lately too, I'm just… disappointed I suppose."

The words hurt more than the Master expected, they were daggers to his hearts and he wasn't sure why. He shouldn't care; he wouldn't have cared as much as he did now back when he had the drums.

It felt like his chest was constricting tightly and the Master couldn't think of anything to say to that.

The Doctor was staring at him, waiting for a reply with those big soulful eyes.

It felt like words were caught in the Master's throat, like he was suffocating on everything and nothing that he both did and didn't want to say.

Minutes passed in that terrible silence, dragging on unceasingly. Finally the Master managed to force a sentence out, just barely managing to whisper hoarsely, "I'm… I'm sorry…"

He wanted the Doctor to know as much but at the same time saying those words made him feel sick to his stomach. The Master felt nauseous and the room seemed too hot, he felt exhausted despite the fact that he hadn't exerted himself.

The Doctor stared at him for a long moment, face unreadable, before breaking into a grin saying, "It's all right, just… don't do it again. You alright? You're looking a bit under the weather. You know what you need, tea! Ought to make you feel a bit better. I could go for a cup myself now that you mention it. Ohhh! And some Jammie Dodgers!"

Despite himself the Master felt the corners of his mouth tug upwards. Tea did sound rather nice now that he thought about it.

The Doctor clambered off the bed and onto the plush white carpeting of the Master's floor before grabbing his hand and dragging the Master behind him towards the kitchen; rambling on about the various Earth biscuits he enjoyed. And maybe just maybe the Master didn't really mind.