Chapter Text
A single gunshot is rings throughout the observation deck of the aircraft Valiant. The Master stumbles backward and within a Timelords heartbeat, the Doctor has him encircled within his arms as he lowers him to the ground.
"There you go. I've got you. I've got you.” He says as he looks down at the Master, his Koschei in his arms.
"Always the women” he mutters looking up at the Doctor, his Theta, and his hand clutching the arms holding him.
"I didn't see her." the Doctor says trying to hide the break in his voice. The Master sneers "Dying in your arms. Happy now?"
“It’s just a bullet, come on regenerate!” the Doctor croaked. Please, Koschei, he whispered through their link, don’t do this to me, don’t you dare, as he held his fallen Timelord.
"Regenerate!”
At that moment everything else and everyone around them dissolved and they were no longer the Doctor and the Master, but Theta Sigma and Koschei, two Timelords in love. Koschei smiled at the pain, love, and desperation he could hear within Theta's voices, the agony and sadness he could see within those eyes. "I guess you don't know me so well" Oh Theta, my love, it hurts “--I refuse”.
Tears gathered in Theta’s eyes as the meaning behind those words hit his aching hearts. “No….No come on, it’s can’t end like this!” he cried, a tear falling down his cheek.
Please Koschei, not now, not like this. Please!
Desperately Theta rambled “You and me, all the things we've done together. The axons remember the Axons! And the Daleks!”
Please Kos, my love
“We could travel together. No more running, just you and me” Theta desperately clutched Koschei to his aching chest “-just regenerate!” Theta pleaded.
“We’re the only two left”. His voice and body shaking, tears falling freely and hearts shattering into a million pieces, “I've got no-one else”
I can’t lose you again. Not now. Not like this. Please.
“……Regenerate!” Theta shouted desperately, already knowing what his answer would be.
Koschei apologized silently, basking in the love and desperation Theta sent through their link.
It hurts my love, my Theta.
He gave Theta a weak smile, “How about that” I’m sorry, so sorry “I win”.
Koschei paused thinking.
Something was missing.
Something. Something. Something.
What was it?
What? What? What??
He looked into crying, pain-filled eyes.
Oh, he knew.
With his lasting strength, he stared into those eyes. Oh, how he loved those eyes, still beautiful even in this regeneration. How he had loved looking into young Theta's bright purple eyes as they made love, as they held each other in their arms.
He clutched at the weeping Theta “It’s stopped Theta, my love, you could always make the drums stop”.
I never stopped loving you Theta. I’m sorry I ran. I’m sorry I ran from our love. I love…..
Happiness, awe, pain and love, never-ending love, fill their bond before it abruptly breaks as Koschei draws his last breath, his hearts stop beating and his body goes slack within Thetas arms.
And Thetas hearts shatter into a million billion pieces. Never to be healed. As realization crashes upon him as he cries out in agony when he feels the violent breaking of the bond.
Koschei is dead.
"No! Koschei, no, please! You can't do this to me! I can't lose you. Please!” Theta cried out and begged, clutching Koschei’s body to him, wishing to wake from this nightmare.
Tears falling freely as he continued holding his fallen Timelord to his throughout the night, begging him to come back. Not Jack nor Martha could pry them apart that night. Theta clutched at his Koschei until he could cry no more.
As the sun set on that night, Theta picked up a burning torch and held it to the pyre holding the body of the Great Koschei. He turned away, unable to watch what was most important to him turn to ash in the wind. He drew a deep breath, shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and pushed Theta and Koschei deep into his shattered hearts and locked the doors to his hearts forevermore.
The Doctor looked towards the stars and whispered to the night “Goodbye Koschei, Goodbye My Love", not noticing the pale woman behind the pyre picking up from the ashes, the signet ring of a Timelord.