Work Text:
When they meet again, it's as chaotic as ever. The world is burning around them. She's trying to stop a few Zavoovas who want to destroy the Earth and lay eggs in the ashes of the fallen civilisation.
And he appears in the middle of all that, acting like a maniac he is.
She's not sure how to feel about it. To be honest, she's not sure how to feel about him. After everything that happened... He's done it this time. It's too much. She can't forgive him. She has to stop trying, once and for all. But it's the Master. She's not sure she can run out of second chances with him. But everything is so confusing, and she's hurt by his last stunt. She...
"I haven't got time for this!" She shouts and ignores the Master as she runs to the machine. Zavoovas are highly sensitive to high sounds. If she can broadcast one while connecting all the radios, computers, and mobiles around the planet, it will create a guarding sound wave. It should chase them away.
It should work. It has to work. She needs it to work. But she needs to focus, and she's awful at that as it is. With the addition of the Master... It's a terrible combination. Plus, she can't ignore him for long. She's not sure whether he'll try to help her or try to help the Zavoovas. One can never be sure with him.
"Yaz, Dan, have my back! Oh, is it still a saying on Earth? It is, right? I mean..."
"Doctor, just go!"
She nods at Yaz and rushes closer. Close enough so that she can use her sonic to disturb the mechanics of the machine. She's not even sure what it does. It's probably some kind of accelerator or something. But it's connected to the wall with wires, and the cables run long enough to reach an internet module downstairs. With that, they can start ringing most of the mobiles and computers.
Before the machinery starts screaming, though, a gunshot sounds in the room. Her eyes widen, and she moves them away just for a bit, just to check if Yaz and Dan are okay.
Thankfully, they seem to be fine. Yaz is standing the closest to her, half-hidden behind a working desk. Dan is behind another desk, holding something to his side.
The Master seems to be fighting with one of the Zavoovas. They're standing close, his hands on the creature's throat. Well, it's good to know he chose her side this time, at least for once.
She registers the Zavoova kicking his middle just as she presses her sonic, and an awful, high-pitched screeching starts to resonate everywhere around. She sees him throwing the Master off of him, just out of the corner of her eye. To her surprise, he stays down once he hits the ground.
"You better start running. This planet is protected. And if this warning isn't enough, trust me, there's much more I can do. Ask the Daleks. And the Cybermen. And anyone who ever tried to conquer the Earth. You will never succeed."
She watches them run for their spaceships. She makes sure they are far away before turning the sound off again with her sonic.
"Right. That went quite well, right? Yaz, Dan? You okay?"
"Doctor..." Dan gestures to the Master with his chin, his face shining with a mix of emotion.
"Yeah, I should... Master?" He doesn't react. He's still in the same spot, lying exactly where he fell. His face is down, and he's curled into himself. Has the Zavoova knocked him down? That would certainly be something he'd never live down.
"Doctor, he got shot."
Her breath catches as Dan's words register. She rushes to the Master's side, kneeling in front of him. Once she does, she curses herself for not paying more attention. There's a pool of blood forming under his still body, and she notices it only when it starts to seep into the fabric of her trousers.
"Hey. Master." He groans, and she carefully turns him to lie on his back. His eyes stay closed, but she can see his eyelids twitching. He's conscious. "Alright. Let me see..."
He's clutching his belly with his arm, and she gently pries it away. She unbuttons his vest and tears the shirt open, ignoring his protests.
"Shut it." She moves the strips of the fabric away to have a clear view of the wound. She bites her lower lip once she has it. It's bad.
The bullet hit the centre of his abdomen, just under his ribs. It didn't hit any organs. Probably. It did seem to hit one of the main arteries, though. He's going to bleed out.
"You need to regenerate," she whispers, trying to steady her voice. It's not like she cares. She definitely shouldn't.
The Master laughs. She frowns, and to busy herself, she presses her fingers against his pulse point. His heartbeats are quick and weak. He really doesn't have long.
"I'm sorry to disappoint, luv."
"No." Her eyes widen, and she slides one arm under his shoulders, pulling him up. He lets her, and his head falls to her chest. She presses her free hand against the wound hard. He whimpers, and she ignores it. "No, you're not doing that again. Come on."
"It's not that I... Won't. Can't."
"No. You're lying."
"Think what you want..."
His voice is shaking. His whole body is trembling, too. She holds him closer.
"You haven't had 13 bodies. I haven't seen 13 faces of you. How..."
"Kept some... Of the bodies for longer. Saxon. Then there was that lovey-dovey good-for-nothing after Missy. You haven't met. I think. I..."
He lets out a breath. His face is shining with sweat, and it's unbelievably pale.
"No. You have to have some backup plan. You always do."
"Not this time," he sighs. His eyes slide closed again, and then he blinks them open. "Doctor... 'm cold..."
"It's the blood loss."
He watches her, his eyes furrowed in confusion.
"Did Borusa make a big fuss?"
"What?"
"The whales. Ha'en't done the... The... Project."
His voice is getting sluggish, and he doesn't make any sense. He seems to be reliving some kind of a memory. He's confused. And the Doctor is getting really scared.
"Master."
He smiles, and it makes his face look weirdly soft.
"Like the sound of m' name when it comes from y'r mouth..."
"Come on. Stop fooling around. I know you. There has to be something."
"Please..." He doesn't specify what he's pleading for, but it sounds so wrong either way. The Master, begging? He catches her arm, but he's unable to keep hold of her. His grip loosens, and his arm falls back to his front. The Doctor takes his hand in hers and gently squeezes it.
"It's not like you to get shot..."
"The Zavoo-whatever-they-are-called were aiming for you, actually."
She blinks at Dan.
"What'ya mean?"
"He took that bullet for you, Doctor."
Yaz's face is weird. She frowns like she doesn't know what to think. The Doctor understands that. She's not sure what to think, either.
The Master is getting heavier in her arms. She's covered in his blood, and by now, it seems that more of it is colouring her hands than running through his veins. His skin is ashen grey, and his laboured breathing tickles her collarbone. Every breath seems to be taking a huge effort by now.
"Master... Come on." She caresses his face, and he leans into the touch, lips trembling with quiet words.
"What? What is it?"
"Don't leave me..."
She sobs, then, pulling him closer, nods.
"Of course I won't." She presses a kiss to his temple, hiding her face in his messy hair. She can feel him struggling to keep breathing, trembling in her embrace. "And I'm sorry. Believe me, I am. So, so sorry. Cause you'll probably hate me for this."
The Master blinks at her when she pulls away. She presses close again, resting her forehead against his and connecting their minds. The Master's so weak, even telepathically. It's so unusual, and it scares her to the bone. She pushes as many comforting thoughts as she can through the connection, and she distracts the Master with a sweet childhood memory of them. She distracts him long enough to press her glowing hand against his wound, forcing her energy into him.
He tries to struggle. Of course, he does. But her hold on him is tight, and she soothes him with a kiss, breathing more life into him as he relaxes, slumping against her chest.