It's all AU.

The Doctor was out looking for a Master. John's attempts at helping hadn't quite worked the way he'd planned. In a way, he'd actually made things worse because before, the Doctor had been desperately trying to control his desire for the Master and his jealousy of any Doctor here who had their own Master with them. Then John had suggested he go and shag one of them to get it out of his system. And although he'd denied that he could do that and have it remain fun – not get in too deep – and had ostensibly settled for John instead (if John could get permission from Jamie), well… It had started him thinking. Remembering. Wanting.

To his credit, he had gone looking for Jack first, in the hopes of settling his urge. But Jack had remained unfindable.

Which was why the Doctor was out in the night trawling the streets and bars looking for a Master.

When the first one he came across was the newly-regenerated sane one, he almost backed away unseen and scarpered, because that one had such a strong presence, it was dangerous the way the Doctor just wanted to… Well. Jump him. On the other hand, at least this one was safe.

He swallowed, then went and leaned casually against the bar next to the Master. Well, as casually as someone who's jittery with nerves can get. "Mind if I join you?" he asked diffidently.

John was busy poking through a jumbled pile of food on his plate, coming up in triumph eventually with a croissant and some jam. He ripped the croissant apart and started liberally spreading jam on it, all the while swinging back on his chair.

That was never going to end well, and sure enough, John soon fell backwards, sending him flying onto the floor outside the cafe. He lay back on the floor giggling, before rolling to one side, and coming face to face with a pair of shoes.

"Ah, hi, you seem to have me at a disadvantage," he laughed, before looking up.