dear_mun | on picking her up at all.

No... no, no you're just toying with me.

[Again. She hates him so much, but she can't fight him, not really. Her voice is trembling and so is she, and she refuses to look at him let alone meet his eyes.]

He didn't- he... you killed all those people.

[The Master looks at her seriously for a moment, brows raised.]

I saved all those people. From themselves.

[He cracks a wide grin at his own joke.]

You weren't complaining before.

[Now she's nearly hissing with anger.] You can't possibly expect me to believe that.

[She makes the mistake to look up just to glare at him, not quite meeting his eyes, but close.]

No? You did that before, too. Stood right by my side as our children rained down upon the Earth. You were willing to help change the universe.

[Oh, she remembers that much better than she'd like. She tenses in his hold and for a moment she says nothing. Too thick a lump in her throat.]

...people change.

[He breaks into disbelieving, rough laughter as his hands tighten on her shoulders.]

What did he say to you? What did he do?

[Punctuated by a little shake. Because as far as the Master is concerned, nothing changes. Not on its own.]

[That's just enough for her to tense and stir, she plants a hand against his chest and pushes them apart.]

He? He didn't have to do or say anything. I never saw him again after he left the Valiant.

Oh, yes. After you shot me. My dear, sweet wife. You betrayed me.

[He attempts to yank her closer again.]

And you know what I do to those who betray me.

You have yourself to blame. I didn't regret it for a second.

[Despite her struggling, she can't match his strength, putting her right back where she started.]

That's too bad.

[Succeeding in pulling her close to him, he murmurs against her hair.]

Regret might have earned you a few points. Might have saved you.

[She struggles for a little longer, trying to shove him away, or herself away from him, but to no avail. Eventually, the struggling stops. Maybe she's given up.]

Nothing really saves anybody from you.

[That just makes him smile, in a creepy, nostalgic sort of way. He does like this moment, when they give in to hopelessness.]

Certainly not him.

[She eases against him, finally. Feels a little like crumbling, and she hates losing herself to him so much. What holds her together is that she's caved like this before and survived to shoot him later. Not that she thinks he'd make that mistake again.]

No. Of course not.

My own little companion. What am I going to do with you?

[He pauses thoughtfully, stroking her hair, before:]

Choose.

I don't- [want to die. Of course not. She swallows thickly, pauses, makes sure she won't say that. Wasn't there a time when she'd readily have died if she could take him down with her? It seems like a long, long time ago.]

I... you know I'd do the same thing over again. And you're still giving me a choice?

[Hard to believe. On the other hand, probably the most cruel thing in this situation.]

[He smirks; he's far too confident to believe she'd actually succeed again.]

Don't you think even I am capable of mercy?

[She makes a small sound that could've been a laugh, maybe. It's a bit too broken for that now. It disgusts her to feel comfort from his embrace, but it's in there in that conflicted mess with the hate and spite and long-gone-hope. She wraps her arms around him in return, finally.]

No. Well, capable, maybe. In theory.

[Except when he calls something mercy he's only being more cruel, from what she's seen.]

[Ohhh, semantics. The Master huffs out a small laugh, kisses the top of her head with more tenderness than she deserves.]

So? Choose.

I don't want to die.

Who does? Do you think I did?

So tell me this, darling. How are you going to make it worth my while?

[This is wrong, all wrong. She should die. She should already be dead, but then, so should he, and somehow being killed by him seems much more like giving up than this does. Her hands clench in the fabric of his suit, she trembles for a moment before calming herself more or less.]

I'd do anything. Anything at all.

[He smiles into her hair indulgently]

And so you will.

Use my name, Lucy. My real name. And tell me how you plan to repay your debts.

on picking her up at all.

glad you like! :) They took a while to find...

ack! late, sorry!

No worries. ^^

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still alive I swear (barely)

Barely at least. ^^;

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