For
the_redjay. I hope this doesn't clash too badly with what you were envisaging...
Summary: How the Master found out.
Setting: Set some time after
The Cosmic Kids. Location: Seeker's planet.
Characters: Roda/Second Seeker + the Master
Rating: PG-13.
Wordcount: 1200 words.
By the Fireside
The light from the large fireplace danced across the walls and ceiling of the circular sitting room, shadows flickering in the dark recesses as orange flames lent their hue to every surface, making the scarlet sheets seem as if they were fashioned from liquid rubies.
Roda’s head on his chest, his arm around her shoulder, the Seeker was leisurely relating the story of how he and Jack had hunted down and killed the large beast whose pelt was spread out before the hearth. It had made a far more comfortable base for love making than the couch they’d used their first time, and Roda had stroked it appreciatively, before wondering out loud just where it had come from - its size was truly impressive.
They were sitting with their backs against the largest of the sofas that formed a semi-circled around the fireplace, curled up underneath the silk sheets, the fur rug beneath them, and the whole cosmos reduced to their own little amber world, the flames as bright as the sky outside before the suns had set - which was probably why neither of them registered the presence of another Time Lord before he was halfway across the room, already speaking.
“Seeker, I was going ask you-”
A moment of deep silence, only broken by the crackle of the fire, as he took in the scene. The Seeker could feel Roda tense, and felt sure she was nearly baring her teeth - her innate fight or flight response would have overactivated, and he tightened his hold imperceptively.
(Trust me. I’ve got this.)
His father’s face, however, was a picture. Not a very nice picture, but a picture nonetheless. The Seeker watched it closely, as he wanted to remember it and possibly extract it later to show Jack. He’d like that. A few drinks... It could be the making of a stellar night.
Finally his father found his voice.
“What the hell?”
The Seeker smiled lazily, caressing a stray feather.
“I know... Rassilon’s ward takes Renegade’s son as her lover. Shocking - especially considering that my mother was human, never mind the age difference. Shame Gallifrey is gone, this could have had them gossiping for years.”
And it would seem he had actually rendered his father speechless - this was almost better than Christmas.
(If he was honest, he was also pleased to have found yet another item to add to his list of 'Ways In Which I Have Screwed Over My Father’s Expectations'... Idly he wondered how long it'd take before his father got the message. Maybe Roda would help in this regard - they were both of them independent and intransigent to a degree most people found off-putting. Maybe his father would see the connection?)
Or maybe not.
"Seeker..." he began through clenched teeth, looking fit to burst.
"Yes, father?" he replied, keeping his voice as light as he could, but letting his smile drop abruptly as the Master continued unaffected.
"I don't know what game this is-"
"Not a game," the Seeker interrupted, letting his anger show through. "If you don't approve of my life choices, I'd suggest you leave my planet."
They locked eyes for a long moment, a silent battle of wills, then his father made a dismissive noise and shrugged.
"Well... Far be it from me to stand in the way of something as commendable as love. I hope you will be very happy together."
His voice was dripping with sarcasm, but it was undercut rather effectively by a snort of disbelief from Roda.
Trying to stop from laughing, the Seeker watched his father's face cloud over once more, but when he replied he tried to cram as much quiet threat as he could into the words, the cold smile on his face hopefully serving as a warning too.
"Love is the last thing on my mind. But this is... a very pleasant diversion, and I would certainly rate Roda as one of my dearest friends now. Can I help you by the way, or will you see yourself out?"
The glow from the flames seemed to light his father's eyes as his attention abruptly fastened on Roda, and the Seeker could feel his hearts sink.
"Well played Redjay. Well played. I think I might be impressed."
Her pulse was by now doing a tap dance, and he could feel her unease like a physical thing, but to the Seeker's relief Roda's response was tightly controlled.
"Don't ever measure me with your yard stick, Master - I would never use your son as a pawn."
The past hung between them, dark and bloodstained, and the Seeker gritted his teeth. He wasn't doing this, not ever again.
"Dad - I am... beyond insulted that you think I could ever be anyone's puppet, and I will not be fought over. I am seriously advising you to leave before you say something you will regret."
His father's eyes narrowed, and he was clearly about to speak when the Seeker decided cut in again, lifting the hand that wasn't holding Roda in place (this juggling of disparate elements was obviously like riding a bicycle - once learned, you could get right back into it in less than a heartsbeat. It was still exhausting though).
"And if you say 'This isn't over yet' to her, I swear I will knock you out cold!"
A smile - small, but significant - appeared on his father's face, and he nodded once.
"As you wish, son."
With a flourish he turned on his heel and was very careful to close the door soundlessly behind him. The Seeker could feel Roda shiver, and wrapped both arms around her, kissing her cheek.
"Sorry about my parentage. I like to think that I can do anything, but fixing him will probably always be beyond me..."
Seeing that she was still not relaxing at all, he carefully turned her face towards him.
"Hey, listen. Don't worry. It's been like this since the day I was born - everyone I love seems to hate each other. And they all know the drill by now - I do not want anyone hurt. He'll huff and puff for a while, but he doesn't want to antagonise me..."
Eyes narrowing, he smiled a smile worthy of his father. "He did once. He and the Doctor both. Don't suppose Jack ever told you - no he wouldn't, he's good at keeping our secrets. It's so long ago now, I was only a kid, and they tried to punish me. That backfired rather spectacularly, as all they did was make me more determined than ever to do my own thing, no matter what."
He tilted his head, pleased at the way her eyes were now glittering. "And why do I have a feeling that you know exactly what I mean?"
Reaching up, cradling his face, she studied him silently for a long moment, and he would have given his eyeteeth to know what was going through her head.
"Finish the story about the rug," she finally said, one of her feathers catching the firelight and gleaming like molten gold.
He dipped his head.
"Your wish is my command, My Lady," he solemnly replied.
(She was well named. As vivid and unconstrained as a bird... That she chose to land by him was something close to a miracle.)
Roda settled down to listen once more, far more apprehensive about possible consequences than her young lover - but his hair was the colour of fire and the sky, bright and vivid, like a reflection of his soul. And not for all the worlds did she want to dim that light.
(Continued in:
His Father's Son)