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Tweak says, "Your head is MINE."

Captain Jack Harkness, Torchwood (lt_to_chaos) wrote in whoville,
@ 2008-04-17 08:56:00

Entry tags:

lt_to_chaos, themaster

Anna's Master (Finished)
Jack woke up to the smell of coffee and cheese danish, rolling onto his side to look at the table the Master had set. Pasteries and coffee and what looked like a mini-fridge that he suspected held whatever else he'd brought back. "Morning," he murmured as he rubbed sleep from his eyes.

"Morning, indeed. I just ran into another of myself who was rather worried about you." The Master gestured at the food on the table. "Come, eat something."

"Worried about me?" Jack raised an eyebrow, taking a long moment to stretch before getting out of bed, and scooping up one of the danishes, munching on it while he waited for an answer.

"Seemed to think you were in danger from me."

Jack shrugged. "Sometimes I am. He wouldn't have any way to tell if now's one of those times, or if it's safe." As safe as it ever was around the Master. "Going to pack a picnic and explore today?"

"Actually, I was planning on not going anywhere, and just enjoying some alone time." The Master leaned back in his chair, grinning at Jack.

Jack twitched. "I'd rather go out." He popped the rest of the pastery in his mouth, heading for the wardrobe, and a change of clothes. "I can go alone, if you don't want to come with me."

The Master scowled at Jack's back, his fingers drumming restlessly against the table. "I want to stay in today, with you, and enjoy the day."

"I'm not planning on staying in all day." Jack looked back at the Master, his hand hovering over an undershirt. "Unless you insist."

The Master studied Jack a moment before sighing huffily, and waving a dismissive hand. "Fine, fine. Go on, then. I'll go... find a book." He reached for his mug of coffee, glaring at the dark liquid as if it were the source of his problems.

Jack sighed, pulling on a t-shirt and trousers he'd picked up while waiting for his jacket to be tailored before the party, and headed for the door. He'd find coffee downstairs, before the Master decided that he really would insist on Jack staying in the room all day.

As he stepped out of the lift into the lobby, he sighed, spotting another of the Master near the dining room. Well, at least he knew it wasn't his Master - the suit rather gave it away. Though with no rose, he doubted it was the sane one he'd first run into, either.

"Master," he greeted cautiously as he got closer, giving him a small smile.

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	themaster 2008-04-21 04:57 pm UTC (link)
	"Yeah." He was still shaken. "That hasn't happened since just after I got rid of the drums. I didn't expect it to happen again. Thought I'd got used to it." He gave Jack a watery smile. "I'm glad you were here." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lt_to_chaos 2008-04-21 05:23 pm UTC (link)
	"Not going anywhere," Jack said gently, holding the Master's gaze steadily. "And if you ever need me, come find me. Room 216." And his Master's reaction be damned, he wasn't going to let any version break down like this without offering to help. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	themaster 2008-04-21 05:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Thank you, Jack." What's more, he really meant it. He'd managed to lose the only person he'd had to steady him at moments like that. He was immeasurably grateful to have someone else to turn to. He smiled wryly. "Though I'll try not to come calling. I don't think a confrontation with your Master would really help." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lt_to_chaos 2008-04-21 07:07 pm UTC (link)
	Jack smiled wryly. "Probably not. Especially if he's sulking." He stroked his thumb over the Master's cheek again. "I'll have to make sure he doesn't have a chance to sulk too often, now won't I?" Since he had decided that he was going to look out for this Master, to. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	themaster 2008-04-21 07:23 pm UTC (link)
	"Does he sulk a lot?" It wasn't something he associated with himself. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lt_to_chaos 2008-04-21 07:38 pm UTC (link)
	"When he's planned something, and forgotten I have other things I have to do, or when I want to do something else when he's planned some alone time for us. Not often. And he gets over it quickly enough." When he was sane, at least. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	themaster 2008-04-21 07:42 pm UTC (link)
	The Master raised his eyebrows. "He's the Master. Are you trying to tell me you don't just drop everything when he wants you? Because I thought that was exactly what you were telling me earlier. If you don't, can you blame him for being upset?" He wasn't going to use the word 'sulk'. He didn't sulk. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lt_to_chaos
2008-04-21 07:56 pm UTC (link)

Jack sighed, bringing up the hand still clasped with the Master's, pressing a kiss against the back of the Master's hand.

"I drop what's less important, but if there's aliens intent on destroying Earth? Or someone intent on exposing him to the public? I'll deal with him being upset, because he'll be alive and safe. It's more than just catering to his desires, it's about being what he needs me to be, even if he doesn't know that's what's needed until later."

He paused, studying the Master a moment.

"And right now, he planned alone time, and I want to explore this place, and maybe find a way to get home. Find out who's here, and what's here." Pause. "Make sure that I know who or what could hurt him if I let it get past me."

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	themaster 2008-04-21 08:10 pm UTC (link)
	The Master relaxed slightly. "I see. I hadn't realised you were more than - that you fulfilled so many different roles to him. That does make sense." He smiled wryly. "I can see both sides." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lt_to_chaos 2008-04-21 08:16 pm UTC (link)
	Jack raised an eyebrow at what sounded like a correction. "More than what?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	themaster 2008-04-21 08:28 pm UTC (link)
	"More than just a lover." Which hadn't, of course, been what he'd been going to say, but it worked just as well. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lt_to_chaos 2008-04-21 08:34 pm UTC (link)
	"Friends, lovers, partners." Jack chuckled. "Possibly mutually codependent." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	themaster 2008-04-21 08:43 pm UTC (link)
	"Now, that part, I did get," the Master smirked. Then he sobered. "It's good that you're watching his back. It's good that he'll accept that." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lt_to_chaos 2008-04-21 08:58 pm UTC (link)
	"I take it that accepting help isn't your strong suit?" Jack asked, his tone lightly pushing. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	themaster 2008-04-21 09:01 pm UTC (link)
	His eyebrows rose again. "You've known me - a version of me - for over a century and not figured that out yet?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lt_to_chaos
2008-04-21 09:19 pm UTC (link)

Jack gave the Master a patient look. "I've lived and worked with a version of you for a century, and he's been fairly accepting of help for much of that. Possibly because of circumstances, but what I know of my Master doesn't always translate to others."

Of course, the way he assisted his Master might have had something to do with his level of acceptance. Pitching it so it wasn't the Master accepting help, but Jack following his plans, his commands.

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	themaster 2008-04-21 09:35 pm UTC (link)
	The Master chuckled. "I'm sure it's a little different, yes. After all, I had to rely on others to some extent when I first got stuck on Earth too." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lt_to_chaos 2008-04-21 09:57 pm UTC (link)
	"Relying on others isn't such a bad thing, sometimes." Jack pulled back a little, reaching for his coffee, though it had gone cold again. He took a sip before continuing. "Are you going to be all right if I go out and leave you by yourself for a while?" A question he probably should have asked his Master before going out earlier, but too late for that now. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	themaster 2008-04-21 10:14 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes, I'm fine now." His lips twitched. "Go and do what you need to do, and don't worry about me. It sounds like your Master needs you more than I do, anyway." He took a deep breath and reached out a gentle hand to stroke affectionately down Jack's cheek. "Thank you, Jack. It's good to know I've got a friend here." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lt_to_chaos 2008-04-21 10:21 pm UTC (link)
	Jack grinned, and leaned into the caress before cupping the Master's cheek, and pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Always, Master." He stood up, pulling his hand free of the Master's before walking towards the door, mulling over the conversation as he left. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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