The Unexpected Hero

The Costume Party

*Rubie's POV*

As I lay in the Master's strong arms he looked down at me with his blue eyes and they were surprisingly serious for him, with compassion thrown in. Then he smiled and it lit up his whole face.

"Oh, nothing really," he said, playing it off. It's just a name me and the Doctor chose all those years ago, setting our subsequent personalities in stone. Much as your friend believes that he can change, he actually can't." the Master explained.

Then he set me back on my feet and stepped back. I instantly missed the sensation of being in his arms, the warmth and the comfort.

He started to walk away, while I stared after him, wondering.

"Well, come on then," he said, looking over his shoulder at me, smirking.

I ran after him. "What's the time?" I asked as I caught up to him.

"You've got plenty of time left," he answered, though it wasn't quite the answer I was looking for.

"No, I meant... oh whatever!" I exclaimed, bringing my hands up as if to surrender to his greater intelligence.

"We're walking," he stated, as if he knew exactly what my next question would be.

"Oh ok, that totally wasn't creepy at all! Also, who said you were going to the party?" I asked, looking at him like he was crazy. Oh, wait, maybe he was?

"It's sci-fi themed right? I'll fit right in!" he spun around and skipped a few steps, grinning like a mad man. Oh yeah, I forgot that's what he is!

"What are you going as then?" I asked, giving in.

"Me, of course!"

"Ah, how could I have not known!" I said sarcastically. "I mean, it was just so obvious!" I laughed. "I admit, I walked right into that one,"

He laughed too, and it was the most wonderful sound I'd ever heard.

We walked in companionable silence for the rest of the way.

"I suppose you'll be my plus one, then?" I asked quietly as we neared the street that my colleagues house was on.

"Yeah, if that's ok with you?" for once he seemed nervous, and he looked so cute! Like a lost little boy.

"Well...." I nearly laughed and destroyed the moment at the disappointed look on his face. "Nah, I'm kidding! Gosh, did you really think I'd be that mean?" I laughed.

He chuckled softly, "No, not really."

I looked up from where my knobbly knees were strutting on the pavement, earning me wolf-whistles from young men in passing cars. This in turn caused the Master to put his arm around me possessively. I should have been offended, but I found that because it was him, I wasn't.

We had reached my colleague's house, for the costume party he was holding, for some strange reason he had invited me and Lacey, but no one else from the office. He probably was looking to get in one of our pants, or both, depending how kinky he liked it. Would I offend him if I turned up dangling from the Master's arm? Probably, but I didn't feel like shrugging his arm off. It made me feel safe, something I craved in this dangerous city.

The Master helped me up the stairs as we approached the house. I hoped to God that Lacey was safe. Maybe she was already at the party?

The Master stopped before we entered the house, the door was wide open, invitingly. "Are you sure you want to go in?" he asked softly, concern in his eyes. I was touched that he felt that much for me, though unsure of how it could have happened so quickly.

"Not really, but I have to so I can see if Lacey is already there and if she's ok," I replied, head down, not wanting him to see my guilt.

"Hey," he said, lifting my chin up gently with his fingers. "It's ok. I can go in for you and see if she's alright, if you want?"

I nodded. How did people think this guy was evil? He was such a sweetie!

"Will you be alright out here?" he asked, his eyebrows lifting expressively.

"Yeah, I think so," I said, frowning, as I looked down at the chewing gum littered pavement.

He turned around and melted into the crowd within. I didn't want to go too far away, in case I needed to find him. At the same time I knew it would be suspicious to men who wanted to prey on me if I was out here without a reason. So with my twisted woman's logic I figured if I pretended I was out here smoking, they'd leave me alone, cause women who smoked generally knew how to handle themselves.

Arms wrapped around me from behind, and I wanted to vomit from the smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke combined. This was not the Master, whose scent was intoxicating.

I jabbed him in his rather abundant belly with my elbow, while simultaneously stomping hard on his foot with my heeled shoe. He yelped in pain and released me and I ran, ran inside, hoping to find the Master. He was the only one who could make me feel safe right now, make me feel that the whole male race wasn't evil.

I ran into a hard chest a second later. Stupid heels had ensured that I hadn't been able to look up, for fear of tripping. I looked up, straight into the eyes of a very worried Master. I sighed in relief and for the second time that night, fell into his arms. His arms wrapped around me and I snuggled closer, like a cold cat searching for warmth.

It was then that it occurred to me that he had come in here for a reason. I stepped back from him, missing his warmth and strong arms immediately.

"Did you find her?" I asked, frowning as I thought of all the things that could have happened to her.

He put an arm behind him and dragged out the person I most wanted to see in the whole universe.

"Lacey!" I screamed excitedly as i jumped up and down on the spot. Then I ran into her arms, hysterical: "Where'd you go, what did you do- what did he do to you? OMG, are you ok!?" I asked, all in one breath.

She stepped back from me, spinning in a circle. "See! I'm fine, Rubie. Just glad you're here," she ended on a softer note, her voice trailing off.

"Oh good," I said, a little embarrassed. "Oh! Sorry, this is the Master"

"It's ok, he already introduced himself, but I think you two should get out before the Doctor notices you're here,"

"And to think I wasted all that time getting dressed up for nothing!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in the air. "Girlie, we ain't stopping for no one!"

The Master's arm wrapped around my waist. "That's right," he said more softly. "We ain't stopping for no one."

I wondered if I was the only one who heard the double entendre in that sentence, and liked it?