13 Novella 3

Cards

You lean back on your chair as you all sit around a table. You smile into the pleasant atmosphere of everyone enjoying another game of cards, and watch as Missy and The Doctor try to outwit each other. Their poker faces are pretty good, and for a while you can't tell who's bluffing.

It was about lunchtime, and you were all relaxing before another adventure. Or you were supposed to be, both Missy and The Doctor were currently in a heated battle of cards.

"You can give up any time" smirks Missy and The Doctor smiles innocently back.

"Not a chance" she replies.

"We could always make it a little more interesting..?" Asks Missy and you bump back down on your chair to listen closer.

"Like how?" The other Time Lady replies suspiciously.

"Loser has to answer any and all questions for five minutes. Do you forfeit?" She adds seeing The Doctors shrewd expression. She grins.

"Absolutely not" she says, but you can tell by her thoughts she was worried. So she was bluffing.

Something Yaz had said when you were locked up in that cell, about wanting to reassure the Doctor back had been bugging you for a while now. Maybe, just maybe, if you could take an image from someone's head, the process could be reversed? No time like the present to give it a go.

You turn your body ever so slightly to Missy, and gently pull the image of the cards from The Doctor's head and attempt to send it to her. You screw up your face due to the intense concentration, and can tell when Missy hears it for she jumps slightly.

You are stunned it worked, and a little scared of you were honest.

Satisfied you lean back, failing to notice Yaz's also suspicious face.

"All in" says Missy confidently and The Doctor scowls, throwing her cards down.

"No fair!" She says, crossing her arms and leaning back into Yaz who gives her a quick squeeze.

"Actually she's right, that wasn't fair" says Yaz and you look at her, trying to gage her expression. It looks mischievous, but there was no way she could know the silent communication you just transferred.

"I didn't cheat!" says Missy impertinently and Yaz smiles. Everyone looks at her while you become worried. There was no way-

Suddenly she throws startling images in your direction, sending you wave after wave of suggestive encounters with Missy and Jenny.

You shriek and fall backwards off your chair, elbow colliding painfully with the corner of the table. You slap your head irritably as she rocks back on her own chair, laughing manically.

"Yaz!" You exclaim, wincing at the images that bring fresh blush across your cheeks.

"What's going on?" Demands The Doctor on her feet, full of obvious confusion.

"(Y/n) what's wrong? Are you ok?" Panics Jenny and you shake your head, scowling at the other human.

"That's what you get for cheating" she smirks. Big mistake.

"Oh yeah?" You say softly, probing her warm mind with yours. With all your concentration you give her the image she had last thought of The Doctor, letting her know that you always knew what she was thinking. It was surprisingly easy now you knew it was possible.

"Stop it!" She cries but you simply laugh at her bright red face.

"Absolutely not" you giggle as she squirms uncomfortably in her seat, eventually tumbling off.

The Doctor dives down after her and you hear them snorting and blushing alternatively.

"Would anyone like to tell me what's going on?" Asks Jenny faintly and you smile.

"Just giving Yaz a taste of her own medicine." You say as Missy snorts too.

"(Y/n) come on leave her alone" scolds Jenny playfully and you roll your eyes. You pull your mind from hers and she stops freaking out. She rises, flushed and bothered, hitching her top back over her shoulders.

"(Y/n) can you not?" Complains The Doctor and you nod a little shamefacedly after seeing Yaz's mortified face.

"Oh come on Yaz started it" retorts Missy, deeply amused, and The Doctor frowns.

"I mean it, both of you. This could be dangerous. Your abilities could really hurt someone (Y/n)" she
says and you look down at the floor.

"You're right" you say "That was a stupid idea. I might call it a night, sorry Yaz" you say and turn to leave.

"Doctor what was that?" Demands Missy and you hear both their tones heat up.

"Stop it, The Doctor's right, I need to be more careful." You say with a small smile. Missy doesn't look convinced.

"You can't spend your life being terrified of it" reasons Jenny and you look back at the room.

"You don't have total control. I'm not trying to be unfair (Y/n)" says The Doctor sincerely and you see her point.

"No I understand, really I won't do it again" you say and The Doctor nods carefully.

"Then teach her" says Missy unexpectedly.

"Um, what?" You say, confused.

"Come on it can only benefit her" says Missy excitably. The Doctor doesn't look convinced.

"It could go wrong, I can't ask anyone to take that risk" she replies and you breathe.

"I'll happily volunteer as tribute." Says Missy in mock solemnity.

"No!" You gasp and she looks taken aback. "I haven't got that much control, the only reason I could do it then was because Yaz was aware and working with me, I could seriously hurt you!" You exclaim in panic and their faces soften.

"Which is all the more reason to try" says Missy lightly. "I'm not having you terrified of your capabilities and blaming yourself for what happened in the past. If you can control it, you could use it." She says and you look desperately at The Doctor.

"It's quite dangerous, but if Missy is willing to try I don't see why not." She says, looking at you carefully.

You swallow and look desperately between them. Their faces show only concern. You settle on the only face you can bear to look at right now, for it shows neither pity nor defence.

"Sleep on it" suggests Jenny and you nod gratefully.

The Doctor sighs in defeat and you go to your room, well aware of someone following you. When you reach your door you turn and meet Missy who smiles, putting her arm against the door above your head so you're very close.

She is pinning you in place and you couldn't escape if you wanted to. Which was of course what you wanted. To escape. Yes, that's what you wanted.

Your heart is hammering and you feel fire spread across your face.

"Goodnight (Y/n)" she breathes and you feel her warm breath over your skin and shiver slightly, unconsciously leaning into the heat, eyes closed. The warmth spreads across your very eyelids. She taps you lightly on the nose and you open your eyes with a start, extremely warm and flustered.

"G-Goodnight" you say and she smiles at your difficulty in functioning. God how did she do that. She walks away, leaving you in a bubble of her warmth.

You turn and step into your room, closing the door behind you.