"So? How'd it go?" The Master asked John when he returned to the room. John sighed. "She said that she does love me, but she just needed to be alone right now." He walked over to the sofa and settled down in the cushions, taking a deep breath. The Master went over to comfort him, and the pair sat on the couch, without speaking, until the Master finally broke the silence.
"Come on; let's get your mind on something else. We could go to the park, or have a drink? You would be paying, of course, seeing as I don't belong here. Or we could-" John interrupted him and said in a weak voice, "I still haven't checked on my TARDIS. After that…maybe we'll go for that drink. Just as long as I'm not spending everything I have on you." The Master chuckled and followed John out the door.
"Well, it seems like everything is going smoothly. Just a little bit longer…I think she should be finished by tomorrow." John said, after checking everything in his TARDIS. "That's good, where do you think you'll go first?" the Master asked. "You got a whole new universe to see. Best be careful though, you can't regenerate, and knowing the Doctor, he'd push the limit just to save humanity."
"Rose and I would have to come to a mutual decision, and knowing her, she would want-" the Master stopped him by putting a finger over his lips. "Hey. Our mind isn't supposed to be on Rose right now, is it?" John shook his head in agreement, with the Master's finger still on his lips. "Good. Now, were we going to get that drink or not?" the Master asked, taking his finger off John's lips. John gave an understanding nod, got his coat, and led the Master out the door.
"They were just little blobs of fat, literally walking away from their bodies. Man, what I wouldn't give to have that sometimes." John slurred, relaxed after downing his tenth drink for the night. "So I go to investigate and who do I see? But of course it has to be Donna Noble. Donna Donna Donna. She just got me y'know? Like, she wasn't looking to get in my pants or whatever, but…she knew me better than I knew myself. I wouldn't exist if it weren't for her. My best friend. Oh Donna." John took another sip of his drink.
"I thought I was your best friend." The Master, who was still quite sober due to his Time Lord metabolism, challenged the drunken man. John looked at him, and the Master could sense something in his eyes…not sadness, or anger, but…was it lust? John moved closer to him while the Master stayed patiently still, both pairs of eyes locked on to each other. John inched closer and closer; the Master could feel his breath on his lips. John gave him a small peck but the Master didn't react. He was confused. He knows that this man wasn't the Doctor, but really, who was he kidding? He doesn't know if the actual Doctor would kiss him like this if they ever got to meet again. This was here and now, and he probably wouldn't have another chance like it. John moved closer again, hoping for a second chance. This time, the Master met his lips full force and groaned as he could taste that twinge of Time Lord. That taste only reminded him that this was not his Doctor, and he reluctantly broke off the kiss.
"We need to get you home." He whispered, as John's face was still uncomfortably close to his. John resisted for a moment as he chugged the last bit of his drink while the Master grabbed his arm and led him out the door.
They arrived at the Tyler's flat, trying to make as little noise as possible, trying not to draw attention to the fact that John was unbelievably drunk and disheveled. The Master was debating whether or not to turn on the light when the decision was made for him.
Rose stood there in her nightgown, and shouted as quietly as she could, "It is 4 in the morning and I have been up waiting for you to come home, or at the very least, call, so I know you're alright, because you've befriended some strange man who claims to be another Time Lord after you said that they were all gone and who, you claim, used to be your lover but then became an ex-turned-bad," Rose turned to the Master. "No offense, I think you seem nice and all but-" "None taken." The Master replied grinning, obviously amused with the situation unfolding in front of him. "And you waltz in here, hair messed up, shirt untucked…seems like you two had a good night." The Master immediately lost his grin and blushed. "And my calls went straight to voicemail, which shouldn't happen because my phone is supposed to reach anywhere in time and space and-" John covered his ears and groaned. "All you do is nag, nag, nag, maybe you should just take a chill pill once in a-" The Master stopped him before he could go any further. "I'm sorry, that was my fault. He didn't want any distractions, so I turned it off. I guess I destroyed it in the process. But, he's very drunk right now, and… I suppose that's my fault too… but I was just going to see that he got in safely. I'll just be off then."
"Well, I guess he's going to have to find his own way to the guest room because I sure as hell am not carrying him there." Rose walked away in a huff.
The Master felt guilty for whatever was happening between John and Rose. What happened to that couple that he saw in the park, or just a few hours ago before dinner? This wasn't even the proper Doctor, yet he still managed to ruin his life. The Master sighed, propped John up on his shoulders and dragged him to the guest bedroom. He tucked him in, and left a glass of water on the nightstand for when he woke up in the morning. He sat on the bed and stared at the man before him, relaxed breathing, single heartbeat…yet so much like the man he sacrificed his life for. He turned off the lamp, got off the bed and walked to the door.
"You're more than my best friend." John mumbled. "You've always been more than that."
"Get some sleep. I can't promise that I'll be here in the morning to check on you, but I'll try. Your keys are on the kitchen counter." The Master replied.
"Stay with me." John said, more alert than before. "There's room in this bed for two."
The Master turned back to John, wondering if it was a good idea to leave him on his own for the night, and decided to stay. "Fine, but I'll be on the floor. Do you have any spare blankets that I could use?" He turned to John when he heard no response. He was fast asleep, chest rising and falling so peacefully. "I'll just check the closet." The Master found spare bedding and was soon fast asleep on the floor.