Title: Black Velvet
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: gen
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 12_stories
Prompt: 9, Dark
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Tenth Doctor, unfortunately. Please do not sue.

***

Darkness was kind to him when it suited his purpose, the Doctor thought grimly as he crept along close to the wall of the building he was trying to find a way into. He'd long ago made the discovery that when he needed it, the dark was a good ally.

And at the moment, he needed it more than he had in quite a while. He had to find a way into this stone-walled fortress, this place where the Master had hidden himself away while he planned what the Time Lord was sure would be an attack on Earth.

He'd been lucky to find out about it; fortunately, one of the people he'd talked to at that intergalactic bar that he'd decided to stop at had been more than willing to talk about the stranger who had been there only a short while before the Doctor.

The man he'd described had unmistakably been the Master; the Doctor might have waved away any suspicion he had if the man hadn't done a marvelous impression of his enemy, right down to the other man's annoyingly imperious attitude.

He couldn't have been more sure that he was chasing the Master down if the renegade Time Lord had appeared in front of him and thrown down a challenge. The Master was keeping himself hidden, daring the Doctor to find out what he was planning to do.

From the information he'd gleaned in that bar, the Master was apparently planning some sort of attack; he'd mentioned Earth, and that was what drew the Doctor's attention. He wasn't going to let the Master get away with attempting to victimize that planet again.

The Doctor slowed his pace as he approached a corner of the stone wall; he didnt sense anyone near, but he didn't want to edge around the corner and take the risk of being seen. Even in the dark, it might be possible for someone to know he was here.

But of course, they wouldn't actually be able to see him, which he was thankful for. Of course, he had the same problem -- he couldn't see if there was anyone watching him out there in the inky blackness that surrounded him.

Taking a deep breath, he peered around the corner, wishing that his eyes were more adjusted to the dark. Fortunately, he didn't see -- or sense -- anyone there, and after a few moments, he eased around the corner and continued his trek along the stone wall.

He'd been around two sides of the building already; it was just his luck that he would have chosen the side furthest from the door to start at. But at least that should give him time to adjust to the darkness of the night around him -- and to formulate a plan.

That was the biggest problem he had now, the Doctor thought, wincing inwardly. He'd rushed into this without stopping to think of some sort of plan. He'd simply come running into danger, rushing headlong without thinking of the possible consequences.

He should have learned not to do that by now; such impetuosity had gotten him into trouble more times than he wanted to remember. But that was the way he usually handled any situation, wasn't it? He'd never been good at making plans.

But this was one instance where he really should have done so. The Doctor slowed his movements, a frown settling on his features. What was he going to do if he got inside this stone-walled building and found the Master? What then?

He had absolutely no idea. It wasn't as though he could simply brandish his sonic screwdriver and demand that the Master surrender to him and stop whatever he was doing immediately. That would only get him laughed at -- and most probably taken captive.

No, that definitely wouldn't be the best thing to do in the circumstances. But he couldn't expect to be able to linger out here in the dark all night -- he had to come up with some sort of plan, or at least have an idea of what he was going to do once he got inside this building.

What he really should do was go back to the Tardis and try to think up some sort of plan. But he couldn't do that until he knew just what plans the Master was formulating -- and there was no way to discover that without getting into the building to find out.

The darkness wouldn't cover him once he was inside that building. While he was out here, he could count on the velvety blackness keeping him safe; this was one of those times when he was thankful for the dark, rather than feeling that it was a disadvantage.

There would obviously be lighted rooms and passageways inside this building; though he didn't know if it would be possible for him to make his way inside, he did know that if he managed to do that, he'd be in much more danger of being caught than he was now.

The Doctor sighed, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes for a moment. Maybe it would be better if he made his way back to the Tardis and tried to think of some sort of plan that could get him into the building without being seen, at a later time.

No, that wouldn't be a good idea. A scowl settled onto his features as his mind worked furiously, each thought discarded almost as soon as it came into his mind. He couldn't wait until later. He had to know what the Master was planning now.

And if that meant that he would be found and captured, then he had to take that risk. There was no way he was going to let that madman get away with whatever he might think that he was going to do. That would spell disaster, in more ways than he could count.

He wouldn't let Earth be victimized by the Master again. It had already happened too many times; and if there was any way for him to stop the renegade Time Lord's plans, or at least throw a spanner into the works, then he would do whatever he could to achieve that goal.

There was nothing for it; he would have to go in without any sort of plan, and fly by the seat of his pants, as Jack would so poetically put things. He'd been doing that for a long time; he should be used to it by now, even though it probably wasn't the best idea.

Looking up at the night sky again, he searched in vain for any small pinpricks of light, but his search was in vain. All the stars seemed to be hiding tonight, leaving him shrouded in a black velvet darkness, unseen by any eyes that might be attempting to watch him.

Out here, the dark was protecting him. It would be easy for him to elude any pursuers, to slip away from trouble, as long as he had the darkness to cover him. This was one of the times when the dark was his friend, rather than something to make him feel apprehensive.

If he went into this building, he would lose that protective cover of darkness. He might run right into the Master and whatever minions he'd surrounded himself with this time -- and he might be biting off much more than he could chew.

Which would be the more pragmatic choice -- to move forward without a plan and try to find out what the Master intended to do, or to go back to the Tardis and try to come up with some sort of plan of attack that he could carry out once he'd thought about it?

He shouldn't be this indecisive, the Doctor told himself with an inward sigh. He usually wasn't; but then, he usually had some sort of plan when he went plunging headlong into any situation he faced. This time, there was no plan, and nothing to guide him.

But wasn't that the way that he usually went into any situation? He'd learned that there were times when not having a plan served him better than sticking to one; and taking risks had always been a big part of who he was.

Taking a deep breath, the Doctor moved forward again, knowing that when he found the door, he would open it and enter the building, no matter what might await him inside. And until then, he could take cover in the dark night that enveloped him in its embrace.

***