Title: Tied in Knots
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: gen
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1, 50ficlets
Prompt: 15, Tied
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the Tenth Doctor. Please do not sue.

***

If there was one thing he hated, it was being restrained.

Having to work his way out of any kind of bonds wasn't something he enjoyed doing, the Doctor thought as he twisted his wrists behind his back. Being tied up wasn't the way that he'd planned to spend his time on this planet.

Of course, he also hadn't planned on finding the Master here -- and being taken captive. But that was a state of affairs that he didn't intend to last long.

But that depended on him being able to free himself and find a way out of here -- and so far, he didn't appear to be doing a very good job of either. The ropes that bound his wrists had been tied by someone who knew their way around knots.

He heaved a sigh, utterly exasperated at his inability to work the bonds loose. If he couldn't manage to get free, there was no telling what kind of mischief the Master would be up to on this world -- and he had to prevent that.

At the moment, he didn't even have the slightest idea of what the other man was up to; he'd been completely taken off guard to find that the Master was already here. This was one of the many times he could have used a companion with him to watch his back.

It was sheer bad luck that he was traveling alone at the moment, and that he hadn't had anyone with him for a while now.

Hopefully, that luck would change after a while. But that didn't help him now, when he was probably going to need another pair of hands to free him -- and another pair of eyes to help him find a way out of the stone-walled prison he was trapped in.

The door to the place had looked formidably heavy; he was positive that he wouldn't be able to push it open with his own strength. And he didn't think the sonic screwdriver would work very well on that stone -- though of course he would try it. Right now, he'd try anything.

What was he going to do if he couldn't find a way out once he got himself loose? The Doctor scowled, still trying to work at the knots in the ropes. There was no use thinking about that problem until he'd managed to solve the first one.

If he couldn't manage to work his way out of these bonds, then he'd more than likely still be here when the Master's minions came back for him -- and who knew what would happen then.

He certainly didn't intend to be waiting here for them, not if he could help it. He wasn't the helpless victim that the Master might like to view him as; he'd fight to the finish if he had to, no matter what surprises the other man might have in store for him.

His hands were starting to feel numb; if he didn't get free within the next few minutes, then he wouldn't be able to feel his fingers at all, which would make it impossible for him to keep working at the ropes.

This was definitely not a good sign. The Doctor cursed the fact that they'd bound him with ropes, instead of using handcuffs -- which he would more than likely have been able to get out of quickly. But unfortunately, the Master knew his weaknesses.

Was that a sound he had heard on the other side of the door? The Doctor closed his eyes, trying to make his senses hone in on whatever could be going on outside of his prison. If they were coming for him now, then he was in serious trouble.

Yes. That had been a voice. He could hear raucous laughter, a shout, but no voice that sounded like the Master.

If only he had some idea of what was going on in the other Time Lord's mind, the Doctor thought, feeling desperation rise in his throat like a choking cloud. He could guess easily enough, but guessing wasn't knowing.

And without knowing what the other man had planned, he was essentially helpless. That ignorance of whatever had been planned made him more of a captive than the bonds that held him; if he couldn't find out what was going to happen, he was probably as good as dead.

Along with whoever was on this planet -- and possibly other planets in the galaxy as well.

He couldn't let that happen. No matter what he had to do, he couldn't let innocent people die at the Master's hands. He would be willing to give his own life if he had to -- but if it came to that, he was going to make sure that he took the other Gallifreyan down with him.

The voices were coming closer now; even though he couldn't hear the Master's voice amongst them, he was sure that they were coming for him on the other man's orders. Soon, very soon, he should be able to find out what the Master was planning to do.

And hopefully, he'd be able to stop it. He'd certainly do his best. And if he couldn't .... then not only himself, but the rest of the world, would have to pay the price for his failure.

***