STORY (DW) - Sunset at Midnight
Title: Sunset at Midnight
Author: von_gelmini
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Ten!Doctor/Simm!Master
Rating: PG-13
WordCount: 449
Written for sound_of_drums, Table 6, Prompt #22
Also for 50_darkfics, Prompt #34
Sunsest at Midnight
The Valiant held her position over Japan long after nightfall. The sky looked like sunset at midnight, illumined by the fires that burned the country to ash.
The Master wheeled the Doctor to the port. “Look at it, Doctor. Did it burn like this? Our home? Our families?”
Tears fell from the Doctor’s unnaturally wizened eyes. “Is that why you do this? For Gallifrey? To punish me?”
“To punish you, yes. You deserve it. You deserve to watch your entire little pet planet die. But not for Gallifrey.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know, I know,” the Master said, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated expression.
“There has been enough destruction. Don’t do this.” the Doctor said sadly.
“But I have to, Doctor. Don’t you see? All your pretty little pets screaming. Dying. Burning. How many of your former companions still lived there on that rock? Do you think they were taken with the first decimation? With the second? Perhaps with the bombings? Or with the radiation?” The Master paced away then returned crouching in front of the wheelchair. He fixed the Doctor’s gaze with his. “No. Not so random. You see, I sent the Toclafane after each one of them. Their bright, sharp little knives slashing and cutting. Oh, the screaming. Sarah Jane. The Brigadier. Tegan. Jo.” The Master laughed. “There were so many I actually had to make a list!”
The Doctor looked away. “Why?” he whispered.
He grabbed the Doctor’s chin and turned him to face him again. “Because you left me,” he hissed. “You left me for this backward planet full of ignorant apes not good enough to clean your shoes. You filled your lives with them. You protected them. You loved them.” His hands gripped the edges of the wheelchair, knuckles white. He was shaking. “You. Left. Me!” The Master pushed himself away, grabbing his head. The drums were louder now. Louder and louder until they were the loudest they’d ever been and the Master couldn’t think anymore.
He breathed deeply, trying to regain control. Slowly he let his hands fall to his side. He stood in front of the port again, looking out. Finally he crooked his head around, the bones of his neck cracking. “So, Doctor, they are all dead. Dead for having known you. And the Earth will soon be dead.” He turned and went over to the Doctor. He reached down and locked the wheels of his chair in place, keeping him in front of the port.
“So watch it burn, Theta. Watch every ash and ember fall upon your broken promises.” The Master turned on his heel and left the conference room, trying desperately not to run.
Author: von_gelmini
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Ten!Doctor/Simm!Master
Rating: PG-13
WordCount: 449
Written for sound_of_drums, Table 6, Prompt #22
Also for 50_darkfics, Prompt #34
Sunsest at Midnight
The Valiant held her position over Japan long after nightfall. The sky looked like sunset at midnight, illumined by the fires that burned the country to ash.
The Master wheeled the Doctor to the port. “Look at it, Doctor. Did it burn like this? Our home? Our families?”
Tears fell from the Doctor’s unnaturally wizened eyes. “Is that why you do this? For Gallifrey? To punish me?”
“To punish you, yes. You deserve it. You deserve to watch your entire little pet planet die. But not for Gallifrey.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know, I know,” the Master said, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated expression.
“There has been enough destruction. Don’t do this.” the Doctor said sadly.
“But I have to, Doctor. Don’t you see? All your pretty little pets screaming. Dying. Burning. How many of your former companions still lived there on that rock? Do you think they were taken with the first decimation? With the second? Perhaps with the bombings? Or with the radiation?” The Master paced away then returned crouching in front of the wheelchair. He fixed the Doctor’s gaze with his. “No. Not so random. You see, I sent the Toclafane after each one of them. Their bright, sharp little knives slashing and cutting. Oh, the screaming. Sarah Jane. The Brigadier. Tegan. Jo.” The Master laughed. “There were so many I actually had to make a list!”
The Doctor looked away. “Why?” he whispered.
He grabbed the Doctor’s chin and turned him to face him again. “Because you left me,” he hissed. “You left me for this backward planet full of ignorant apes not good enough to clean your shoes. You filled your lives with them. You protected them. You loved them.” His hands gripped the edges of the wheelchair, knuckles white. He was shaking. “You. Left. Me!” The Master pushed himself away, grabbing his head. The drums were louder now. Louder and louder until they were the loudest they’d ever been and the Master couldn’t think anymore.
He breathed deeply, trying to regain control. Slowly he let his hands fall to his side. He stood in front of the port again, looking out. Finally he crooked his head around, the bones of his neck cracking. “So, Doctor, they are all dead. Dead for having known you. And the Earth will soon be dead.” He turned and went over to the Doctor. He reached down and locked the wheels of his chair in place, keeping him in front of the port.
“So watch it burn, Theta. Watch every ash and ember fall upon your broken promises.” The Master turned on his heel and left the conference room, trying desperately not to run.