She is an excellent telepath. That is how you can hypnotized a whole world. And apparently that is how you survive a malestrom of regret and pain that is not yours.
The storm hits her and threatens to swallow her, but she holds her ground never letting go of him. The TARDIS sings to both of them, a comforting light to reach and pull themselves out of the darkness. They are children again, she is Koschei and he is Tethe and they lie next to each other, arms encircling the small of his back, there was a time the Doctor was the short one, and they watch as dark clouds swallow the two suns forever, how the silver infinite of the fields they used to play in, light up in fire. Rose, Donna, Martha, Alric, Sarah Jane, Jack, all the companions burn and with them soldiers, houses, entire planets and Tethe trembles, because it is too much and it is because of him. Koschei looks frantically for the memories of people looking adoringly to their savior, of his name being said like a prayer, of Rose´s tender love and Donna´s fierce loyalty but they are overloaded by pain and darkness and so much self doubt.
The Doctor is not lying, he is tired and feels betrayed and feels like he has nothing more to give. He just wants to rest and sleep, because he does not see the point anymore. He is alone, his people are dead and he refuses to take anymore human companions, so fragile, so easy to destroy.
One thousand years, and the Doctor has finally broke by no one but himself.
"Please. Please, leave. I want it to end. Please, Koschei, I am begging you" Tethe whimpers and he brings his hands to his eyes, covering them, but in the darkness the images which usually plagued his nightmares still replay in an endless loop.
Koschei takes an executive decision. The Master and the kid he used to be, know they will regret this. Gently, slowly, they take the trembling hand away and make their friend, their enemy, their only rival to look at them.
Koschei smiles.
"I will travel with you" he says and steadies the shaking hands of his friend. "You promise me once, we will travel among the stars together. You are always harassing me to let you show me, how wonderful and amazing this Universe is. So, I am saying yes."
"Koschei, I can´t anymore, I…"
"You promise me, Tethe. You may be a liar and broken thousand of promises as the Doctor, but never as the boy I knew. Come on, Tethe, Doctor, whoever you are. Show me. Show me why you love this universe so much"
"Why? Why now? Why do you care?"
Koschei smiles softly and blue eyes meet brown ones. Foolish blind man.
Time to be brave.
"Isn´t it obvious stupid? Because losing you will break both my hearts"
And then her small once self kisses the crying boy, sweetly, as they used to do when exploring each other and holds his hand over his hearts.
The dice is on the air.
"Alright" The little boy whimpers , tears in his eyes, as they broke the kiss.
"Make the question Doctor" hands still entwine together.
"Master, will you do me the honor to travel with me?"
"Yes Doctor. I will travel with you"
"Good"
And just like that, like a fucking fairy tale, because things with the Doctor sometimes are cliches, she feels the pull conciousness break the dream in thousand pieces.
She wakes up to find dark green eyes staring at her. She is all groggy, her head hurts and the light is too intense for her eyes, but she keeps them open, staring back. None of them move and she suddenly is afraid that the Doctor broke his promise and did not come back. After what feels like hours, a trembling long bony hands reaches out.
She grabs it and holds it tight.