Title: Eve of Destruction
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/The Master
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 50_darkfics
Prompt: 59, Destruction
Warnings: non-con
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the Tenth Doctor or the Master. Please do not sue.

***

The Master had always been bent on his destruction. He'd always known that, ever since they'd first squared off against each other.

It was hard to believe that they'd been friends at one time. The Doctor sighed, leaning his head against the wall of his cold, dank prison and closing his eyes. He had no idea how long he'd been here, but it felt like an eternity.

Of course, the Master wouldn't leave him here for long. He'd come around eventually, wearing that gloating smirk that he always had on his face when he knew that he had the upper hand. And this time, as usual, he'd think that he'd won.

The Doctor's small fists clenched behind his back, held there by the cuffs around his wrists. The chains attached to them kept him from roaming around the small cell he was trapped in; he couldn't do much more than stand and walk a few paces back and forth.

The Master knew that would drive him to distraction. This had been well-planned; luring him to this planet, capturing him and imprisoning him here. He didn't even have any idea of what the Master was planning to do that had necessitated his being kept well out of the way until those plans had been achieved.

But he knew that he'd get out of here, somehow. He always managed to do that, no matter what sort of situation he was in. He'd become something of an escape artist over the centuries, and he had to hold on to his faith in his own ability to defeat the Master.

If he didn't .... then he was doomed, as was the rest of the world. Or at least whatever part of it that the Master was attempting to destroy this time.

There was no use twisting his wrists in the cuffs; he'd already done that time and time again, to no avail. He might be able to escape from some sorts of handcuffs, but these were secure, thick bands of steel that held him captive.

So what could he do? Sit here and wait for the Master to appear, to taunt him with that smirk and that superior attitude? No, that wasn't an option. He wasn't going to let the other man goad him into doing or saying anything rash.

But it seemed as though he had no choice at the moment, he told himself wryly, trying to clear his mind and take stock of his position. Until the Master chose to let him out of this prison, he had no way or accomplishing anything.

True, he did still have the sonic screwdriver with him -- but it was of no use if he couldn't reach it. And with his hands cuffed behind his back, that was impossible. He'd twisted and struggled, trying to reach it -- but the only result had been to rub the tender flesh of his wrists red and raw. His hands were tied too tightly.

It was beyond frustrating, knowing that he should be able to free himself, to get out of here and do something to thwart the Master's plans -- but be helpless to do anything but wait.

He should be used to being put in this kind of situation where the Master was concerned. After all, it had happened countless times over the centuries -- with the other man thinking that he'd finally beaten the Doctor once and for all.

And yet, somehow, he always managed to prevail over his enemy. There had been times when he wasn't sure if his victory had been due to his own ingenuity, the help of others, or just coincidence. Or possibly luck had just been on his side.

Maybe the Master wasn't bent on his destruction, after all -- but just wanted to humiliate him as much as possible, to show him that that megalomaniac thought he could never be defeated. Maybe his aim was subjugation more than anything else.

Even though the Doctor always managed to triumph over him, he still had the attitude that he was invincible. It was almost admirable, in a way -- though it would be much more so if the Master would turn that brilliant mind to good instead of evil.

The Doctor sighed, letting his eyes roam around his prison. The Master would never do that. He knew it from long experience, though it was something a part of him never ceased to hope for. If only they could be friends, as they'd been when they were children ....

But no, that wasn't in the cards. He and the Master could never go back to that time centuries ago when they'd both been innocent, when they'd been young and carefree. They could never go back to the easy friendship they'd shared then; there was too much between them, even if the Master did, by some bizarre quirk of fate, renounce what he'd become.

The Doctor almost snorted aloud at that thought. The Master, admitting that he was wrong, and that his grandiose plans for molding the world into what his own personal vision for it would never work? Impossible. That would never happen.

But that didn't stop him from wishing that it could be. He was the eternal optimist -- even when he was in a bad situation that looked rather hopeless.

He wasn't going to let the Master be the cause of his destruction. He'd averted it thus far -- and he would keep doing so. He wasn't going to break, and he wouldn't give in. No matter how bad things looked, there was always a way out.

Even if that way out meant that he had to make sacrifices, he'd do it. He'd gone that route before, and even though he'd done some things he wasn't proud of, and he had some terrible regrets, he would do what had to be done.

The Doctor sat up straighter, taking a deep breath and forcing himself to assess the situation he was in. Yes, it looked bad -- but he would find a way to turn things to his advantage .He always did, no matter what he might have to do.

He would find a way to thwart the Master. He would get out of this, and he would do his best to keep the Master from causing havoc again. He'd never been able to stop the man in the past, but that didn't mean that he'd never be able to do it.

His lips twisted in a wry smile as he contemplated his past encounters with the other man. There had been times when saving the world had taken a terrible toll on him. There was always a price to pay. But he would do whatever he had to do to ensure the safety of the galaxy.

And hopefully, he wouldn't have to sacrifice himself in the process.

***