A/N: Plot... who needs plot...

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"Yes... and no."

The answer made Roka raise a brow and she saw how much he struggled with his next words. "The Time Lords removed the link. The drums can never be... there again."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Roka asked softly, knowing how much the topic affected him. "I think I heard them. Thought it was your hearts, but... it wasn't, right?"

He shook his head and pushed his hands back into his pockets, only to pull them out a second later. Roka had to swallow. He seemed so utterly lost, right now.

"It's because of... time," he tried, but shook his head. "When I took you life, when reality cracked open and put itself back together again... stuff from the past and the future got a little mixed up, because I was in the centre of it all." He started to pace up and down, eyes glued to the floor. "They aren't back. I just sometimes hear... an echo of the past? Maybe it's that, I don't know."

There was no answer she could think of, right now. Her worst fear had come true in a way, and she couldn't even begin to comprehend how it must be for him to hear the drums again after so much time. He stopped his pacing, eventually, stayed in front of her, but still a good distance away.

"Is that why you're not sleeping, lately?" she finally dared to ask.

He slowly nodded. "Not sure why, but they are always there when I'm asleep. Funny actually," he huffed, "it used to be the exact other way around."

"And it also happens when your emotions are a little out of control?" she teased and only got back a scowl. She knew it to be right, without him answering.

Something in his demeanour changed suddenly, his face showing signs of sadness and also determination. As if he had made a decision he now wanted to act upon.

"Where do you want me to drop you off?"

Puzzled she looked up and blinked at him. "Wha'?"

"You know... place, time. Doesn't matter."

"Uh..." She rubbed her neck, trying to get her mind to click with the sudden unfolding of events. "Did I miss something? Do you have plans? I mean, sure... I can leave, 's just... uh... lemme think that through first. And where will we meet up again?"

"Meet..." For a second the Master looked dumbstruck. He pinched his eyes shut and made a movement as if to shake something off his head, then trod in front of Roka and placed a hand right next to her head, leaning down a little. "Why would you want to meet me again? I hurt you!" His face contorted in anger and pain and maybe a little sadness. "I was so careless, I almost killed you for good."

Roka unfolded her arms and pushed them against his torso, feeling his double hearts beating frantically under his shirt. It seemed he took it as a sign to back off, so she clutched the cloth to hold him in place, although his face took on an even more perplex expression.

"Yeah, that was dumb. And I really want to punch your face for it... But I don't want to leave," she breathed.

A dry laugh escaped him. "I'm dangerous. I have no control over the drums or when they will reappear. This was only a warning, one single incident. I could do so much worse things to you, when I lose myself. It's so easy... I'm not used to them anymore." His voice got quieter, almost desperate. "How are you not scared? Why don't you run already, you idiot?"

His gaze bore into hers, confusion and anger seeping into her from him, but also sincere regret and even a little shame. Roka glared back, remembering the pain she had endured just some hours ago, the fear of maybe dying and losing everything she had fought for. She clutched his shirt tighter, closed her eyes and took some slow breaths, before opening them halfway up again.

"Because I'm insane," she offered with a small smile and tugged him closer. He took a surprised step towards her, his torso almost touching hers, her hands the only thing between them. Her eyes never left his, one hand moving to his tie to pull a little at it. After a moment he gave in and leaned closer down to her, their foreheads almost connecting.

"You have to be," he uttered, perplex but also amazed. "Why else would you take such a risk?"

Roka tugged at his tie a little more, their noses brushed along each other and she felt his breath on her mouth. He hesitated to move closer, obviously uncertain what she was up to, so Roka leaned forward, carefully moved her lips against his, her heart acting up, not from the touch, but from the words that so eagerly, yet so tentatively needed to be spoken.

"Because I love you."

With that she kissed him fully, not having to wait long till he responded, as urgently as herself. His hands were on her face, cradling her head in his palms as he tilted his head to have better access. She slid the tip of her tongue against his lips and he yielded immediately, granted her access, pressed himself firmer against her, only to suddenly break the kiss and glare into her eyes, their mouths still so close they barely stopped touching.

"You are insane," he uttered, his hands still cradling her head.

Roka huffed and it became a chuckle. But she actually had no intention to talk, right now, so her only answer was to take his bottom lip between hers, biting tenderly down on it, what elicited a delicious groan from him. His hand slid down, one to her side, the other to the small of her back, both pressing her against him. They resumed the kiss, more passionately, heated and urgent, wanting to forget everything that lay behind them. Her own hands started to roam. found his tie again and loosened the knot until she could grab both ends to draw him still nearer, not willing to stop until she had to gasp for air.

He used her distraction to move his mouth to her neck, kissing and nipping his way down to her most sensitive spot and suck lightly at it. She could feel him grin against her skin as she let out a groan and the tie dropped to the floor. Her hands flew to the buttons of his shirt, but he grabbed both her wrists to pin them against the window and kiss her some more, and with a passion that overwhelmed her so completely, she got lost in it, carried away, no longer caring how far this would go. She wanted him, needed him.

Her hands got freed, his fingers were on her temples, gingerly stroking along her skin, before he slipped into her mind and let the already existent connection flare to life, letting her forget where she started and he ended. A light flashed behind her closed lids, dizziness let her sway and suddenly made her feel sick a little.

She groaned, trying to find out where she even was and pushed him away, before she tumbled and almost collapsed against him.

"Sorry," the Master muttered and swept her into his arms. "Was that too much?"

"Too sudden," Roka mumbled back and held her head, while the Master carried her to the bed and let her down there.

He sat next to her, patiently waiting for her to recover. The sudden interruption had somewhat cooled them both down a little, but Roka needed the closeness right now. On the bed she sat on her knees, leaned forward and touched the Master's head with her fingertips.

"What is it? Why are we connected like that?"

He eyed her, let his gaze wander over her underdressed self, a smirk forming on his lips and he brushed the black shirt from her shoulders. "I'll tell you. For a price."

"What, I have to strip for some info I'm obliged to have?" She chuckled. "You have nerves."

"Not quite." He turned fully, sitting cross-legged opposite to her, now, and waved her over with both hands. "I need skin contact," he explained and then grinned salaciously. "And I want to undress you."

God, she hated him right now. Not for his behaviour, but for his smile that she couldn't resist, that made her not even think properly as she willingly inched closer on her knees, letting the Master brush down the dress-shirt from her shoulders and pull at the sleeves to get it off completely. His eyes rested on her hands for a moment, observed the swirling particles, before he raised them both to his mouth and pressed light kisses into her palms.

"Remember, before my resurrection, when we were in that cave and I created this bond between us?"

"Yeah, I do, but... I broke it to get the alien out of your head."

He nodded and raised his hands to her head. Roka leaned a little closer and opened up to let him in, his energy immediately rushing through her. She gasped at the sensation, her body responding to him, her pulse quickening. He guided her awareness to a place that was warm and inviting, and there she saw, no, felt it. A weak line of golden light, connecting her mind with his.

"It regains a little of its strength each time our minds connect."

Slowly she opened her eyes, barely able to comprehend the meaning of this.

"You... never left me," she uttered.

His eyes opened, too, and a sad smile curved his lips. "No. You were never fully alone."

Roka shivered lightly at the realisation, and also because she now remembered the words he had spoken to her at the crystal, when she had been consumed by that energy, had almost gotten lost in it. She got abruptly torn out of the memory when he tugged at her T-Shirt and started to pull it up.

"Hey, you already showed me. What do you need more skin contact for?" she asked suspiciously.

"Who says I need it to show you something in your head?" His lips turned to a playful smile as he lifted himself to his knees, sitting on his haunches and leaning a little towards her, his hand stroking along her face. His own slowly morphed into a seriousness that completely belied his playful attitude from a moment before. "I meant what I said. I'll stop, if you want me to. I won't ever touch or tease you again, if that is what you wish."

"N... no, that's not..." Roka sighed and leaned into his touch. "It's just... a human thing, I guess. Letting someone so close. Not sure you can relate..."

"Oh, I can." He smiled a little. "Sharing a mind with another person has a similar significance. But for you it doesn't have the same meaning."

Perplex she blinked at him, remembering how intimate it had felt to have him in her head and playing with his essence. "Why didn't you stop me, then?" she asked shyly.

"Why would I? I travelled so long just to find you again. The closer I can have you the better. But I know you're scared and still broken, so you can have all the space you need. I only want you to see."

Roka swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. Sometimes she forgot how insightful the Master could be. Slowly he put his forehead against hers, his thumbs caressing her face.

"See what?" she muttered and saw and admiring smile crossing his eyes.

"That you were brave enough to live, although you regained your ability to die. That you are brave enough to stay with me, although I could destroy you." He breathed a feather light kiss to her lips, making her shiver slightly. "That you do have the courage to take whatever you want, no matter how much you want to deny it."

With a deep sigh she closed her eyes, pushed more of her weight against his forehead and into his hands. "I want you to hold me," she breathed out against his lips. "I want to stop running. I want you close." Her eyes crept open, glared into his, her words now clear, although still quiet. "I want you to claim me, Master."

"Claim you?" He chuckled slightly. "There's nothing to claim, little crow. You already are my possession."

His eyes turned darker when she shivered under his touch and also because she didn't back away when his hands idly slid under her shirt, up and down over the bare skin of her hips. She remembered that she wasn't even wearing a bra when he pulled the T-Shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor, his eyes hungrily wandering over her almost naked form, stopping when they passed some of the scars she had collected over the years.

She had awaited to feel vulnerable, being so bare, but the way he looked at her only reassured her, made her feel wanted and welcomed, let her relax and simply enjoy being treated like this. Whatever hesitation there had been left in her simply melted away. He was right, she had no reason to deny herself what she desired. And it was then that she got fully aware of just how much he was still wearing, in opposite to her.

"Quid pro quo?" she offered and poked out her tongue. "'S hardly fair that you're still wearing so much."

He hummed amused, his nimble fingers caressing his name on her chest. The other grabbed the tossed-aside black dress shirt and held it up, a grin splitting his lips. "Wear it," he demanded.

"That's not quite what I was referring to," she sighed.

"You want something from me. And I definitely want you in that shirt."

She smirked a little at that. "Okay, I play along."

The Master lifted the shirt up and then behind Roka to make it easier for her to slip her arms inside. The cloth brushing over her skin sent a wave of delicate heat down between her legs, intensifying as the Master hooked his fingers into the lapels to draw her upper body against his. She openly groaned when her breasts brushed against him and it was impossible for her to keep her fingers still. Roka just had to pop open the first button on his own shirt, while his eyes followed her every movement.

A moment later he swiftly grabbed her and swiped her into his lap, leaving her no choice but to straddle his legs, although she still kept herself upright on her knees and above him as she continued with the buttons and also started to kiss him again, slow and intense at the same time, tasting him exploring him, getting lost.

When the last button was undone she brushed the shirt from him, tossed it to the floor, next to her discarded T-Shirt. Only then did she slid herself down against him, until she sat in his lap, feeling just how much he wanted her. He swallowed a groan from her lips and couldn't hold back one of his own when she started to move against his groin, creating some delicious friction between them. With each of her movements he dug his fingers deeper into her sides, the kiss getting more passionate, and heated.

Roka couldn't bare it, let her hands wander down between them to fiddle with the button of his pants. Eventually she rose to her knees once more, so he could kick off the clothing himself and pull her back down immediately after, his freed length pressing against her through the cloth of her shorts, letting her lose her mind for a second. Or maybe a few more. Roka was sure to breath out his name at some point, certainly when he started to caress her breasts and certainly no longer when he devoured her mouth in another searing kiss.

His hand slipped between them and into her shorts, gliding through her folds to feel just how ready she was for him. He smiled impishly against her lips, then pushed two fingers inside her and stifled her groan with his tongue, his thumb circling against her clit and driving her crazy, while she automatically rocked against him.

Somehow she managed to moan out his name once more, clutching his shoulders and not sure at all how long she would be able to stand his ministrations. But already he slipped out of her, leaving her needing and desperate for him.

"Say my name," he demanded, his hand sliding along the hem of her shorts, teasing to finally let her take them off. For a price.

"Master," she breathed out and felt him twitch against her, his eyes almost black from the lack of iris.

He let go of Roka and she hurried to get rid of her shorts, tossing them aside, without her eyes ever leaving his. Swiftly he grabbed her again, pushed her back down into his lap, where she moved herself against him until she felt him at her entrance. His hands wandered to her bum, encouraging and guiding her. She lifted herself up a little, steadied herself with her hands against his chest and slid down on him slowly, until his length filled her out completely.

Roka groaned against his neck, shivering from her own need and the overwhelming sensation of having him inside her.

"You're alright?" he asked, a hint of amusement glinting out somewhere behind the passion that clouded his gaze, his slightly ragged breath belying the demeanour.

She nodded and started to rock against him, the hands on her bum pressing her closer again and again, helping her to build a rhythm. Her own fingers crept to his neck, into his hair and their lips crashed against each other again in a sloppy kiss, interrupted by frequent moans and the need to breathe.

The Master was at her temples once more, but his touch was light, their connection strengthened only a little. Their minds intertwined ever so slightly, adding to the passion enough to let Roka lose all perception of time. The Master lowered his head, started to suck lightly at her nipple, while his hands massaged her bum, keeping her rocking against him, spiralling them both in and out of control.

She felt his pleasure almost as much as her own, breathed out his name and knew they were both close, just hovering near the edge and enjoying this moment of being one together. Her orgasm built quickly and she wrapped her hands around his neck, while he left a searing trail of kisses down her chest, then found his way to her lips again.

Roka wasn't entirely sure who came first, she moved slower, drawing out the moment, there on the edge of no return. Her release finally knocked her mind out completely as she swallowed his groans of pleasure, while she clenched around him, shuddering, while he pulsated inside her, fingers dug into her skin, both entirely lost, foreheads connected.

Her breath was still heavy, her body slightly trembling, when she managed to open her eyes. The hand on her back moved slightly, pushing her against him some more to hold her in place, as the Master moved to lay on his back, sliding out of her in the process, but keeping her on top of him.

She had no idea for how long they simply lay there, indulged in the presence of the other one.

"Why'd you never ask?" the Master eventually muttered and brushed away some hair from her forehead. "About the bond. Must have felt it the whole time, didn't you?"

Roka lifted her head from his chest and finally rolled down to his site, where she snuggled against him. "I... I feared you would take it away," she confessed quietly.

He turned to her, snaking an arm over her middle and pulling her against him. "I have to... eventually. This type of connection isn't meant to be permanent, y'know." Tenderly he played with her hair and breathed a kiss to her forehead. "Especially not when it's so active."

She sighed and tried to hide her disappointment, which made the Master chuckle. "You wouldn't want that, believe me."

"I can very much decide that on my own, thank you," she quipped back.

"There are ways..." he started, but didn't continue for some seconds. "Doesn't matter. We can keep it active for a little longer. Just tell me when you start to feel weird."

Roka sighed and snuggled herself closer. "Okay. 'S just nice to have you inside."

"I noticed," he replied impishly and Roka playfully slapped his side.

The Master snickered, tugged a blanket over them both and nuzzled into her hair. "I need sleep. Will you stay with me?"

She only hummed confirming, unwilling to speak or to move for at least the next hour or so.

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