Soul's Shadow (Doctor Who - SI)

Part XV (V)

"How the heck did you manage to mirror me?" The Master asked eventually, his tone grumpy. He released his death grip on me enough to slightly turn away and look at me.

I glanced up, blushing a little and giving him a flustered grin. "No idea? I just didn't want to have all the fun alone." His glare could have been deadly to anyone else, so I cheekily added in a whisper, "And maybe I enjoyed having a bit of control over you for once."

For a second I wasn't sure anymore that he wouldn't harm me, his eyes turning so dark I could barely see them anymore. His hands twitched and suddenly he rolled above me and I was screaming as he abused my position to mercilessly tickle me until I could barely breathe anymore.

"S... stop," I cried. "Peace! I Surrender!"

To my luck he did stop and grinned down at me with the most smug expression I had seen in a while. "Who's in control here?" he asked, his fingers twitching just enough to make me jump and wriggle.

"Doooooon't!" I begged, laughing. "Please, Master."

Well, that always worked. Somehow. There was still a certain darkness in his eyes, but definitely not from anger. He let a look wander over me, regret emanating from him so strongly I didn't need a psychic connection to feel it. Maybe because the feeling was, partially, also my own. His head dropped against my chest, his hair tickling my chin, and I felt him chuckle quietly.

Somehow I hoped he couldn't feel how fast my heart was beating, despite him practically lying on top of me. I couldn't help it, this childish side of him made me feel warm and fuzzy and I couldn't resist stroking my fingers through his hair, playing with them for as long as he would let me. And for a while he did, precious seconds in which I could feel his breath slowing and his entire form relaxing.

But eventually he seemed to remember to be himself again, his head turning up to look me in the eyes. "Didn't know you were so ticklish." His tongue poked out and his fingers twitched slightly, making me jump again for a second. Much to his delight.

"'Cause not," I mumbled, half smiling, half serious. "You preferred choking me, so far."

Something flashed over his face, but I couldn't quite make it out without my glasses. The Master folded his arms on top of my chest and laid his chin on them, observing me. "Tough," he eventually mumbled defiantly. "But... maybe I'll resort to tickling you into obedience from now on."

"I'm noooot sure I'd prefer that," I protested, trying to laugh, which was hard with having extra weight on my lungs.

"Am I too heavy?" It didn't sound as if he was bothered by that possibility.

"No, actually not." I folded my hands behind my head, smiling. "But... didn't we want to practise? That went a bit sideways. Not that I'd complain."

"You learned enough for one day." He pursed his lips, obviously pouting.

"You could have stopped me anytime."

"No chance." He huffed and let out what could only be described as a low growl, glaring at me with puckered brows. It made me giggle and my hands found their way back into his hair.

Both of us froze.

For an eternal second neither of us moved, maybe we didn't even breathe. Slowly I retreated my hand, blinking confused. The Master looked at me, not with anger, not with hatred, but almost with a sense of shock. And suddenly he rolled down from me, glaring at the ceiling without a word, and I was left cold and too light.

In that short moment we both seemed to have realised actually how comfortable we had been with each other. How familiar. How...

"I don't like this." His voice broke through my thoughts, low and laced with a hint of stubbornness.