The Master had done his best to focus on cutting the bonds that held him using a knife hidden up his sleeve. This was slightly difficult to do when he was so intensely worried about Beatrice.
The image that appeared on the screen had surprised him however, he couldn't let himself be distracted by that at the moment. He had almost finished when Sommeil handed Beatrice the gun. Telling her to kill the Master. He looked up and met her eyes as she raised the gun and cocked it.
Though he knew she cared for him he wasn't entirely sure whats choice she would make. Temptation was a powerful thing as he knew only too well. He glanced back down. Not sure whether he could watch her betray him if that was the choice she made.
The sound of the gun rang out and the Master finished cutting his bonds. He looked up to see that Beatrice had turned the gun on Sommeil and shot him in the head. The Master immediately registered his two guards turning their guns towards Beatrice.
He used the knife in his hand to reach around and slash the throat of one of the guards. Another shot rang out and he saw that Beatrice had shot the other guard. She now stood there loosely holding the gun in her hand. He walked towards her and gently removed it from her hand tossing it aside.
"Let's go before the other two guards he sent out to keep watch come to investigate." He quickly guided her back into the TARDIS and set the coordinates to take off. Once he was finished he looked up at Beatrice. She had one hand holding the side of her arm and seemed to be thinking.
She met his gaze and after a moment finally spoke.
"I think I need to be alone and think for a bit."
"As you wish my dear," he said not unkindly. She nodded her head and left the consul room.
The Master fiddled with the consul for a while as it helped keep distracted so he could delay thinking about what had occurred. Finally, he decided it was time to head to bed and made his way to his room. As he did so he reflected on what he had seen when Beatrice was under the influence of the machine.
He honestly wasn't sure how to feel about the image of the two of them as a family. He knew very well that Beatrice did want to be a mother someday. He had seen the look in her eye when she spoke of her young niece. Neither of them had any delusions that what occurred in the vision could actually come to pass.
A part of him wasn't so much sorry that it couldn't happen but more that he couldn't give Beatrice that happiness. Though that vision was happy, it was unfortunately also unrealistic. An impossible dream.
The thing was that in his experience humans were often very susceptible to temptation. This also often led to them being simple to manipulate.
Though he knew that Beatrice was very different from other humans he met. He couldn't help but wonder at the fact that she had turned down the chance at having her deepest desire granted. It was a chance most would jump at.
He also wasn't entirely sure what it was that was bothering her. Perhaps the fact that she had killed those two men? But she was a UNIT agent. Trained to kill if necessary. It wasn't as if it were the first time she had used a gun He had seen her face after she shot the two men and the look on her face hadn't been one of regret or shock at what she had done. No, he didn't think the deaths of those men was the answer.
The Master sighed as he reached his room and took off his black jacket. It was slightly frustrating not being sure what was going through her mind as he couldn't formulate a way to react to it and properly comfort her.
He was about to continue changing when he heard Beatrice's voice in his mind.
"I'm sorry to bother you. I know I said I wanted to be alone but I need to talk to you."
"Certainly, I'm in my room. I'm sure the TARDIS can guide you."
"Alright, thank you."
He awaited Beatrice's arrival and sure enough, a few minutes later there was a knock on his door. He opened it and found Beatrice standing there. She had removed her makeup and taken her hair out of its updo. She did always look prettier with her hair down.
"Come in my dear," he said stepping aside. She entered. There was an almost nervous look on her face. She was twisting her hands anxiously. His room had a small loveseat in it and he gestured for her to take a seat and once she had he joined her.
"What did you wish to discuss?" he asked.
"Mainly about what just happened," she replied quietly. "I'm sorry you saw what you did on the screen. I can't deny that in an ideal world that would be wonderful. But I know that it's an impossible dream. And just because a part of me wishes that could happen. It doesn't mean I'm not happy with you now even knowing that we're destined to part." she said not meeting his gaze. Gently he tilted her head to look up at him.
"I can't be mad at you because you wish for something that is completely normal. I know you don't have any delusions about the future and it would be wrong to condemn you for a mere dream," he replied truthfully.
"Good. But that wasn't the main thing that is bothering me," she paused and he patiently waited for her to elaborate. "I was tempted. There was a brief moment where I actually considered his offer. Even though it was only for a moment and I couldn't bring myself to actually go through with it...just the fact that I was even tempted makes me question whether that makes me a bad person. Does it?" she looked at him her eyes begging for reassurance. The Master took her hands and shook his head.
"No Beatrice, it doesn't. You're a being with free will. Any creature who has that has the potential to be tempted. What matters is the choice you make in the end. Mere temptation does not make you a bad person." Beatrice still looked unsure so he continued speaking.
"You are the farthest thing from a bad person that I know. Not to mention that I of all people am hardly in a position to criticise." He added this last part to try and lighten the mood. Although it was true that he had no business judging other people's morals given his history. He wasn't as self-righteous as the Doctor.
His words appeared to reassure Beatrice because he agitation had died down and she looked slightly less downcast. The Master decided that while they were on the subject of what had happened he should ask her the thing that he had been wondering about since she shot Sommeil.
"You could have been happy with that machine," he said. Beatrice shook her head.
"No, I couldn't have. No false happiness could be worth losing the true cause of the joy I already feel."
"But why?" he asked. He could see there was more to her reasoning besides what her answer had provided. She looked down taking a deep breath before meeting his eyes.
"Because I love you," her voice was so quiet that his hearing just managed to pick it up. For a moment he was stunned. He couldn't deny his surprise. The Master knew that she cared deeply for him. Yet hearing her admit to being in love with one of the most dangerous criminals in the universe was still quite shocking. He stood though his eyes never left hers.
"You shouldn't," he replied quietly. Beatrice gave him a wry smile as she too stood gently reaching up to caress his cheek.
"I know. I shouldn't have let you escape that day at UNIT HQ. I shouldn't have agreed to travel with you. I shouldn't have returned your kiss in the lab. And I certainly shouldn't have let myself fall in love with you. I shouldn't have done a lot of things concerning you. But when it comes to emotions," she gave a small shrug. "Whether I shouldn't do something is rather irrelevant."
The Master looked into her gorgeous hazel eyes that were currently shining with love and adoration. She meant every word she said and it amazed him. She cared for him and desired in return only the reciprocation of her love. And the Master found to his surprise that he cared for her just as deeply. All this ran through his head in a matter of seconds.
"If I were a better man I could let you know how important you are to me," he said. She pulled him into an embrace which he returned.
"I don't want a better man. I only want you," she whispered in his ear. Before pulling back so that they could look at each other. Leaning down he kissed her more passionately than he ever had before his hands tangling in her thick red hair.
Finally, they had to pull apart for air. Beatrice took the opportunity to slip off her blazer. Both of them were clearly thinking the same thing. But he wanted to be certain she was ready. He pulled her closer his hand at the small of her back.
"Are you sure?" he asked her. Beatrice gave a small nod before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him as fiercely as he had kissed her. All thoughts of what had happened before fled his mind. At that moment all that mattered was the two of them.
Author's Note: TADA! She finally said it! I've been holding out on this scene for a while but I wanted to do a slow burn. It took 30 chapters for them to kiss and 50 for the I love you! Yes, I'm obviously implying they do it but no worries I don't intend to actually write the action itself as I want to keep this PG-13ish. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE comment. Especially with this chapter, I want to know your thoughts. The more detailed the better. I know commenting takes time but they can be very helpful and encouraging. I will try and update again within a week or so, so keep checking for updates. Thanks for reading!
