Chapter 6:
It surprised Lucy how quickly she was able to settle into life in the TARDIS. All she really missed from Earth was her parents and she hadn't been that close to them so it wasn't a major loss for her. For the most part she was glad to be away from all the stresses of life, in the TARDIS there was no need to worry about money and jobs and bills and all things like that and it made life a lot simpler. In the TARDIS all that mattered was life. Quickly she came to think of the TARDIS as her home.
At times she felt like she knew the Master, she learn the subtle signs which highlighted the mood he was in, she knew when he wanted her there and when he wanted her to back off. She knew how he acted in each mood and accepted that. But then there were times he would do something new which would remind her that he wasn't human, he wasn't like her and that she would probably never truly knew and understand him.
She loved the life though, and slowly, without ever meaning for it to happen she found herself falling in love with him. She didn't tell him, she wasn't sure how he'd react, she wasn't sure if he could love after all he wasn't human, but it was there and she hoped he knew. At times he gave the impression he cared about her; the times he pulled her to safety in times of danger and at times he even gave the impression of something more; kissing her softly or joining her in bed at night. She knew he must've known how she felt and she also knew that he couldn't feel the same way (that was there when his mood changed) but she didn't care because when he was there with her he was gentle and it was all about her.
He kept to his promise as well, he never physically hurt her. On some level Lucy was aware that she was looking at the Master through rose tinted glasses, she was editing out the bad parts to focus on the good parts, but she didn't care. She knew he wasn't a bad person, she could tell he was haunted but that underneath it all he wasn't truly bad. Yes he showed her some terrible things, took her places so dark she thought she'd never see light again, but he always looked after her, he always made it worth it.
And there was nothing she loved more than falling asleep in his arms, the warmth of his arms around her, close and protective. It was gentle and safe, any anger and darkness he showed in the day was gone when he pulled her into his arms at night until she fell asleep.
The Master smiled down at his lovely little Lucy, sleeping in his arms. She was so sweet in her sleep, as she was when awake, but she was changing. His smile became a smirk, she was beginning to see the universe his way, the right way. Oh it was only subtle, it was barely there but it was there, it was rare but sometimes he'd see a darkness in her innocent blue eyes and that pleased him more than all the darkness in the universe. To know that he could corrupt the sweetest, most innocent little human gave him such a thrill.
He slipped her out of his arms and got off the bed. He never stayed, he was never there when she woke up. He wandered into the control room and set the TARDIS for their next destination. He knew Lucy would sleep for a good few hours but he could be patient, for now. He leaned against the TARDIS controls, watching the progression of the journey.
Lucy woke over four hours later to an empty room. She wasn't surprised, just a little disappointed, she always woke alone, but she never stopped hoping that one day he'd still be there when she woke up. She sat up slowly and listened for the hum of the TARDIS, when she didn't hear it she realised they were stationary.
After throwing on some clothes she joined the Master in the control room. He was calm, there was an air of the schoolboy excitement in him that he had when he showed her the destruction of the Earth. Dread filled her but it was tainted with something else, a slight excitement. She ignored it and decided to find out where they were before deciding how to react.
"We're on the northern most point of the planet Hesimika." The Master replied when she asked. His grinned intensified his boyish good looks and Lucy couldn't help but smile back. "There's a neighbouring planet which has reached its use-by-date so to speak, and from Hesimika it's possible to see it crumbling. Not only that but half of Hesimika is populated by the ex-residence of this neighbouring planet and they aren't exactly on the best terms with the Hesimikans." The Master laughed slightly "It'll be amazing to witness, this this is what I live for, Lucy."
Lucy's smile faltered slightly, she felt the same mix of dread and excitement that she had when she walked into the control room. She told herself it was just that the Master's excitement was contagious and not that she was actually excited.
"What's the neighbouring planet called?" she asked.
The Master's grin widened as if to make up for Lucy's smile fading. "Of course, it's always good to know where we're watching die" he replied. "It's called Grysten." He took Lucy's hand and led her out of the TARDIS. "C'mon let's go see it."