Author's Note: Hmm, I'm not sure how much a stretch of the imagination this one is. If it is too far for you, consider it an AU. But, you never know . . .
017. Drumbeats
The Doctor, The Master
It was a warm day – with sultry twin suns shinning above and soothing mountain air ruffling the cerise fields below. Two children were sprawled out amidst the shifting sea of scarlet, tracing patterns in the sky above them with their eyes.
The one was taller than the other – with lazy blue eyes and a lopsided grin. He twined a long blade of crimson in his hands, looking thoughtfully above. "Now, tell me if I'm crazy, but that one looks like a banana to me."
The other child - a curious thing with piercing gray green eyes and tousled hair - frowned. "Everything looks like bananas to you."
"Now wouldn't that be something? A world full of -"
"No. It wouldn't. There's a reason Bana IV was ostracized from the Fruin system."
"You people – no vision."
"On the contrary, we simply see ahead."
"Well, the first place I'm flying is Bana IV. What about you?"
The other child fell silent. His long fingers tapped a silly cadence against the ground. "I don't know. Somewhere quiet, I guess."
"Aww, where's the fun in that? Besides, it's quite here."
"Yeah, quiet," the other said, tapping more pronounced as he frowned.
The smile fell from the boy's face. "Why so glum? You aren't nervous, are you?"
"No," he said, a trite to quickly. "I'm downright anxious to stare into the heart of time."
Seconds and minutes passed as a tingling against their skin. The first one shook his head. "I've heard it's beautiful," he whispered in a voice filled with awe. "Inspiring."
The other boy's tapping sped up. "I've heard it sings."
"Maybe. I think it'll be more of a rhythm."
The other boy nodded, and turned back to the clouds. He could already hear the edges of the beat, and he felt no urge to face the whole symphony.
"Yeah, a rhythm," the child whispered.
"Drumbeats."