A Better Man 1/1

[amberfocus]

A/N:  I'm not sure where this even came from but it has been picking at me all day while I've been trying to write smut, so I wanted to get it out of my system so I could.  It's Alternate Universe, obviously.  It's definitely not my ship, but well...I can see how it might happen.  Master/Rose.  It's short but it actually takes place over the course of a relationship of months, which might not be obvious, but it does.  At some point in the future I might make it into a real fic, but for now this is what you get.

                                                        A Better Man

He doesn’t belong here any more than she does. She can sense it the minute she walks into the restaurant, feels his startled eyes on her and turns and meets his gaze. It’s the anomaly he’s been tracking, or rather she’s the anomaly he’s been tracking. And there’s something about her that draws him into her flame. He is more than a moth but she is more than the sun.

 

She walks right up to him, sits down at his table, makes no pretense that this won’t happen. They both know it will. They will know each other because they have to. And perhaps because they will want to. They don’t yet, but each knows they will. He won’t pretend she’s random. She’s more than that. Always will be. He’s not sure she even knows how to pretend.

 

He has had many names and many faces in his lifetimes but this is one he is quite fond of. And when she looks at him he can tell that she appreciates it nearly as much as he does. She’s different from any other woman he’s ever met. Not just on this planet but anywhere and any when in any universe. For one thing she’s intelligent, knows things she shouldn’t know, but doesn’t try to impress him with her knowledge.

 

It slips out in fits and starts and even though she has no formal schooling, she knows too much to just be a typical human. He’s not even sure she is human and unless he goes into her mind he has no way of truly knowing. But he hasn’t gained her trust and for some reason he isn’t willing to force the issue. He likes her. He likes Rose Tyler. He can’t remember the last time he simply liked someone. Other than himself.

 

The first time she touches him his body surges. He recognizes her touch and that’s impossible. But he does. It is more than familiar; it is as if it is a part of him. Her hand simply rests on top of his for a moment and her warm brown eyes give him that look, the one that says if she wanted to she could read every secret he doesn’t dare to share. When she moves her hand away he reaches out and grabs hold of it, lacing their fingers together and she startles. But she doesn’t make him let go.

 

He is surprised that he wants to have her. He has spent so much of his life being above such things as losing himself inside a woman. But Rose is again different. When he voices his desire she gives him a very odd, very hard look. They haven't even kissed.  It’s as if she doesn’t know he’s truly serious. He repeats himself.

 

“I want to have sex with you.” It isn’t what he means exactly but even the words ‘make love’ are too close to what he really wants for him to speak them. She is so different, this woman. What he could have with her scares him as nothing, no one, has ever done.

 

The pause is long, drawn out, never ending. But then it does end. “All right,” she says. “Tonight.” The smile he aims for is one of cold triumph. He misses by a mile. All he feels is warmth that she said yes. What has she done to him?

 

He thinks that he might find himself again when he takes her. If he can possess her fully, make her into nothing but a vessel for his desire, a repository for his needs, than his world will right itself again. It doesn’t. Because making love to Rose, and there is no doubt that what he does to her is this, is as different from any other experience as the woman herself is from any other woman.

 

After it is over he makes the decision and gives up the fight. For the first time in his life he is going to be a better man. Rose makes him want to.

Comments

[nattieb.livejournal.com]

I hesitated clicking on this but I am not disappointed that I did. Excellent job, specifically with showing the conflict it was well reasoned out!

Don't know if I will ever read this ship again, but this little glimpse, just once, was okay.

[azriona.livejournal.com]

Weird. Very weird. I mean, good weird, don't get me wrong, but still.

The first time she touches him his body surges. He recognizes her touch and that’s impossible. But he does. It is more than familiar; it is as if it is a part of him.

What he could have with her scares him as nothing, no one, has ever done.

If he can possess her fully, make her into nothing but a vessel for his desire, a repository for his needs, than his world will right itself again. It doesn’t.

Oh, I so want this from her view. When does this happen to her? Is this the parallel world? Where's the Doctor in this? Does that have something to do with why the Master "recognizes" Rose?

I'm very intrigued here. I know it's a one-shot, I know the bunnies are busy with Nine/Rose...but I'm seriously curious why Rose says "all right". It's not something I'd expect her to say, not really.

[bluevolvic.livejournal.com]

Not normally a ship that I tend to read, But You writting this type of ship , made it interesting and more bearable to read :D.Great talent you have ;)

[othermewriter.livejournal.com]

I was incredibly hesitant to open this as I know far too much about the master's history to think it would ever work but you did a good job with it anyway.

[dragonmom64.livejournal.com]

Very interesting start to a 'ship not often seen. I like that "sensing of the unusual" about each other, and I think it would be neat to see their reactions if they found out why.....

[anepidemic.livejournal.com]

I am a little bit in love with this. I saw Rose/Master and was expecting the usual destruction of Rose story (I won't have such little faith in you again :)

You've written so simply, and I love that. It conveys the depth of what's going on without being over-written.

[maniacalshen.livejournal.com]

Rose Tyler: Time Lord aphrodisiac.

A part of me can't help but think about the Doctor showing up, discovering this situation, and regenerating in shock. Or not regenerating, because the whole thing would make his head explode, and I'm not sure you can come back from that. The rest of me, however, rather likes how you executed the concept. :) Great job! And there is something intriguing about Rose/Master, isn't there? I've wondered about it myself.

[ravenclaw-devil.livejournal.com]

Wow.

I think I could like this version of the Master. Maybe. I can't even imaging the Doctor's reaction at seeing this, though.

Fantastic job.

[sunnytyler001.livejournal.com]

Master/Rose! Oh! Brilliant!
This is my second OTP!
And a brilliant story!
Please, could you post it here?
http://community.livejournal.com/master_rose/

[deirdre-shojo.livejournal.com]

lovely!