He Changed my Life

“yasmin khan!” the doctor grinned, turning on the spot to face her friend. her coat tails puffed out behind her, flattening down as she shoved both hands deep into her pockets. the mysterious voice that had communicated with her through the tardis had disappeared, & now she was left with a confused looking companion. was that confusion? hurt, maybe? distraction time.

All Time Lords had a somewhat apparent appreciation for TARDISes. It was in their nature. Something about the pulsing, breathing, consciousness or the access to everything Time Lords loved - well. Missy had always seem them as a convenient way to get around. She wasn’t one for sentiment. Not like The Doctor was. But she couldn’t deny the feeling she got when she walked into the TARDIS, following the footsteps of her closest and most complicated friend. It was always an experience, to say the least. And at the Doctor’s signature move to request approval - one the other probably didn’t even know that she was doing, she smiled, and gave a tilt of her head, shifting around one of the pillars - allowing her hand to drag behind her.

“Oh, Doctor. She suits you.” She gave a small curtsy, allowing The Doctor somewhat a version of approval, as her eyes shifted back to the console. As The Doctor set about scanning the coordinates, Missy practically hopped into place next to the console, dragging her fingers across some of the controls. She didn’t press any buttons, but it was interesting - familiarizing herself with such a thing.

Her attention was only diverted back when the small alarm sounded. She shifted, forward, next to her as she peaked at the readings on the console. Only to still. Ah. She had hoped that she had been wrong. But seeing the results like that, caused her hearts to sink and panic to arise in her. Panic that she kept to herself. Panic that was almost bashed out of the way in place for the reaction The Doctor gave.

Eyes darting back to her, she rose her eyes, only to lean back a little and grab onto the console, watching as The Doctor set the TARDIS into flight. No. She reached over, pulling up the leaver and stopping them mid-flight. Dangerous, she knew. But she didn’t care. She placed herself between The Doctor and the console as a way to ensure her attention.

“You always RUSH into things, Doctor, and now you’re rushing into a fleet of how many Daleks?” She gave her a look, willing The Doctor to listen to her. “PAY ATTENTION. Y’can’t just go in there like y’usually do, no plan, no way of escapin’. They’ll gobble this little TARDIS up in a heartbeat. No, you need to calm down, my dear, and THINK.” With a complaining sound from the TARDIS, she hit the nearest useful button, shifting the co-ordinates to God knows where and pushing the leaver back up into flight behind her. She wasn’t one of her companions, her humans, her pets. She trusted The Doctor, but not to insanity.

“You’re angry. You do stupid things when you’re angry. But Doctor - while we will destroy every last one of them, we will not do it like this.”

Feeling the TARDIS suddenly stop, she stumbled a little over her own feet, breaking away from the console. Confusion swirled in hazel eyes as she looked back towards the console, not understanding why they had suddenly stopped. They hadn’t arrived yet. No, it was…. Missy stood between her and the console and it was then that she realised what was going on. She had stopped the flight, no doubt as an intervention to stop her flying to the ship in a blind rage. 

Shifting on her feet, she steadied herself and straightened up, a glare half hidden by hair. Of all people she expected to want to go straight into it, she thought Missy would be top of the list. The fact that she wanted a more careful, planned approach was just a little surprising to her given what they were going up against. 

Missy wasn’t exactly wrong though. The Doctor did do stupid things when she was angry, but that didn’t make her any less determined to sort it out before it became a problem. Waiting too long with Daleks always caused more problems. Eyes broke from the Time Lady to the console, to the readings on the console. They had landed on a nearby planet, of which name she didn’t take notice of. 

❝ I’ve done it before ‘n’ I always win in the end. ❞

After a lot of problems, plans and near deaths, sure. All of which, Missy was trying to avoid. And that was understandable but coming up with a plan when she didn’t even know what they were doing or what they had was hard.

❝ What do you suggest we do then, since you’re so insistent on a plan.❞

“You wanna know my suggestiooon.” She drew out the word suggestion, as if that would keep the conversation light. “My suggestion is this, Doctor. Y‘calm down, y’have a cuppa, ‘nd you don’t forget y’have help. Me. I’m the help. You have me.” She motioned to herself, and nodded, as if to verify that she was, indeed, the help. “As for a way to tackle an entire Dalek fleet, I suggest we look into that horrible little time we had not so long ago; how did the time lords do it, hm? You saw ‘em, in the war, wipe out so many fleets. What did they do, and how do we replicate it?“ She leaned forward, and rose an eyebrow. A weapon. A weapon that could easily be built. A kind of bomb that only targeted Daleks, through their genetics. Maybe not enough to kill the stronger ones but definitely enough to thin out the herd.

She tilted her head up slightly, not showing the relief she felt when The Doctor decided against ‘friends’. She didn’t know if she would have been able to deal with them anyway. The kind of people The Doctor picked up - they all loved her in a way of admiration. But nine times out of ten, she doubted that they would stick by her if they knew what she was capable of. No. Actually, not knew. But saw. Perhaps that was why she liked Clara. That girl knew most about The Doctor out of her little companions and yet still stuck by her. It was admirable, to say the least.

Too bad she was gone.

Eyes drifted down to the outstretched hand, and with a small, almost mocking chuckle, she took it, raising it up a little as she bowed - as if to kiss it. But didn’t. Instead, she met her eyes, and grinned.

“Always, my dear. Been a while since I’ve been in that TARDIS of yours. Got a feelin’ that she missed me.”

Really, probably not.

She arose, and let go of her hand. “Alright! Stop dawdling. Lead the way before I change my mind.”

Always one for dramatics. She didn’t expect that to change any time soon. But Missy had taken her hand and agreed to help her so she’d handle the dramatic acting that came along with her. With a small nod, she turned to lead the way but then paused for a second, as if remembering something that she should probably tell the Time Lady. Nah. She’d soon see the changes made.

Brushing it off, she led the way to the TARDIS. It wasn’t parked too far away and they were there in no time, entering the blue box swiftly and making her way to the central platform, where she paused to turn to Missy, arms out to ‘welcome’ the other to the new ‘desktop theme’ that the TARDIS had picked.

❝ Made a few changes. What d’ya think? Actually didn’t pick it meself but I kinda like it. ❞

With that familiar cheerful grin on her face, she turned towards the console, walking around it to the DNA sample that was still on the systems and bringing up the coordinates that the signal that the Dalek had almost sent. The location of those coordinates were on screen behind her, but she was more focused on reading what the console was giving her. It was the same place the Dalek had wanted her to go to and while she could just take them straight there, she’d rather scan and know what’s there before leaping into the fray. 

❝ Right. Scanning the coordinates for any signs of Daleks. Jus’ give it a sec. ❞

Straightening from the console, she glanced over at Missy then to the screen behind her, hands coming up to rest on her hips. She really hoped that it was just paranoia. That the Dalek had been sending the signal to an empty point in space and there wasn’t anything else to worry about. The seconds that ticked by where agonisingly slow, but then there was a sound to signify that the scan was done and…  

Hands dropped from her hips, a dark look shadowing her face. Rats. The scans had come up positive; there had been a fleet to send a signal to. Well, that just made her goddamn day. The Doctor turned away from the screens back to the console, hands gripping at the edges and head dropping, reminding herself to take a deep breath. It took everything not to hit the console out of anger. 

❝ They’re not gettin’ away again. ❞ 

Words were growled under her breath, a seething anger bubbling under her skin. A lever was slammed down, a dial turned, and a switch flicked before the ship jolted with a final lever, the familiar sound of engines groaning as the TARDIS was piloted to the location of the fleet. Time to put an end to it.

All Time Lords had a somewhat apparent appreciation for TARDISes. It was in their nature. Something about the pulsing, breathing, consciousness or the access to everything Time Lords loved - well. Missy had always seem them as a convenient way to get around. She wasn’t one for sentiment. Not like The Doctor was. But she couldn’t deny the feeling she got when she walked into the TARDIS, following the footsteps of her closest and most complicated friend. It was always an experience, to say the least. And at the Doctor’s signature move to request approval - one the other probably didn’t even know that she was doing, she smiled, and gave a tilt of her head, shifting around one of the pillars - allowing her hand to drag behind her.

“Oh, Doctor. She suits you.” She gave a small curtsy, allowing The Doctor somewhat a version of approval, as her eyes shifted back to the console. As The Doctor set about scanning the coordinates, Missy practically hopped into place next to the console, dragging her fingers across some of the controls. She didn’t press any buttons, but it was interesting - familiarizing herself with such a thing.

Her attention was only diverted back when the small alarm sounded. She shifted, forward, next to her as she peaked at the readings on the console. Only to still. Ah. She had hoped that she had been wrong. But seeing the results like that, caused her hearts to sink and panic to arise in her. Panic that she kept to herself. Panic that was almost bashed out of the way in place for the reaction The Doctor gave.

Eyes darting back to her, she rose her eyes, only to lean back a little and grab onto the console, watching as The Doctor set the TARDIS into flight. No. She reached over, pulling up the leaver and stopping them mid-flight. Dangerous, she knew. But she didn’t care. She placed herself between The Doctor and the console as a way to ensure her attention.

“You always RUSH into things, Doctor, and now you’re rushing into a fleet of how many Daleks?” She gave her a look, willing The Doctor to listen to her. “PAY ATTENTION. Y’can’t just go in there like y’usually do, no plan, no way of escapin’. They’ll gobble this little TARDIS up in a heartbeat. No, you need to calm down, my dear, and THINK.” With a complaining sound from the TARDIS, she hit the nearest useful button, shifting the co-ordinates to God knows where and pushing the leaver back up into flight behind her. She wasn’t one of her companions, her humans, her pets. She trusted The Doctor, but not to insanity.

“They’re like rats, Doctor. There are always more.” It was something that The Doctor - or even Missy - didn’t want to hear or acknowledge. But it was simply the truth. And if The Doctor wanted lies, she could go to one of her pets from Earth. “However, the talk of a Dalek fleet just waitin’ out there t’take over planets? Naah. That Dalek was a recon Dalek. An old one. Word of the day; old. Having access to all of Earth’s records doesn’t mean that it had access to what’s been going on in the universe; probably just saw the The Battle of Canary Wharf and thought that they were still out there. The likelihood that there’d actually be a Dalek fleet out there is slim.”

Then again.

“But I don’t know. Maybe we should check, hm? Not knowing offers the chance to hide behind what could be a lie, while also - consequently and conveniently - ignoring the truth. When you have the opportunity to know, you should always take it. Weren’t you the one that said knowledge was the most powerful weapon y’could have?” With a smile, she approached The Doctor, but cautiously. Observing. She liked seeing her like this. Not necessarily the worry, or the anxiety, or the willingness to do what she needed to but… the lack of hiding. She didn’t have to pretend around Missy. She didn’t have to be the bubbly version of herself. They could talk. For real.

“Come on, Doctor. Bring a pet if you like. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to the Daleks.” There’s a moment, and she gave her a small look, “You know that.”

Of course the Doctor knew that. She knew that the recon scout was old, super old and that centuries had passed from then ‘til now, that the likelihood of a Dalek fleet still being out there eleven centuries later is HIGHLY unlikely but she still couldn’t shake the nagging question of ‘what if’. Perhaps it was because of the most recent trip to Skaro that had her doubtful, her brush with thousands of Daleks and Davros. 

They’re rats, like Missy said. She hadn’t stayed to check they were all gone. Perhaps she should have.

Hearing that even the other was considering double checking made her feel a little better, a little less paranoid. And she was right, she was always right. Knowledge was power and if she ignored this, then that could just come around and bite her in the ass. Better to nip the flower in the bud before it had time to blossom, so to speak. It’s moments like this that she really appreciates these kind of talks with Missy. The kind of talks where she doesn’t have to be careful with words or hide what she’s really feeling. 

❝ No friends. Jus’ you ‘n’ me. We can handle this by ourselves. ❞

Not just because if there IS a fleet out there, then it’d be extremely dangerous to drag her new friends onto but because if there is one out there, she’d rather they not have to witness what she’d do to them. They saw what she did to ONE Dalek, who knew how they’d take to her killing hundreds?

A hand stretched out to Missy for her to take. Together.  

❝ Y’ready? ❞

Too bad she was gone.

Eyes drifted down to the outstretched hand, and with a small, almost mocking chuckle, she took it, raising it up a little as she bowed - as if to kiss it. But didn’t. Instead, she met her eyes, and grinned.

“Always, my dear. Been a while since I’ve been in that TARDIS of yours. Got a feelin’ that she missed me.”

Really, probably not.

“I can more than handle my fair share of Dalek, Doctor. I’d say there are worse things in the universe, buuuuut~~” She gave one of those smiles. One that wasn’t really reflective to what she was thinking. One that displayed the UPMOST confidence and happiness. It was true, though, Daleks terrified her. If she saw another in her life it wouldn’t be too late. But she rarely saw The Doctor like this, so full of.. well, resentment was a word for it. It was an interesting development that she wanted to be a part of, no matter the consequences.

“Just get me in a room with one of ‘em and I’ll slice their little balls off.”

It was a thing they had in common, though. Their hatred for Daleks.

“Pests of the universe. I would gladly play Team Doctor again if it’s them we’re dealin’ with. The question is though - can you handle me?”

But there wasn’t anything worse than a Dalek. One of the top five creatures that were the most deadly, in any shape, form or numbers. Cybermen were up there too, mostly because of their conversion rate and emotion inhibitor. Daleks, however, probably took the number one spot. So many of their kind had died because of them, and their planet almost destroyed because of them— a Time Lord and a Dalek was personal.

A small smile tugged at lips, a light scoff of amusement however at the remark on their ‘balls’; of course Missy would say something like that. And would want to do something like that too.

❝ What d’ya think I’ve been doin’ all me life? Handlin’ you is a second job, next to savin’ the universe. ❞

She teased lightly, a small lighthearted banter, but it didn’t last very long before a troubling thought came back to her. It could be nothing. It was probably nothing. But better safe than sorry, right? 

❝ It spoke about contactin’ the fleet. There can’t possibly still be one out there, right? I mean… it seemed dead sure there was. Took all the signal from the UK just t’try ‘n’ put it out there. Wanted me t’take it to them. But there’s no more fleets. There can’t be. ❞

Clearly she had been thinking on it for a while, and now she had someone to debate over it with. She could just use the TARDIS to scan around for signs of fleets anywhere nearby but she’s almost afraid of doing that and finding something she doesn’t wanna see.

Then again.

“But I don’t know. Maybe we should check, hm? Not knowing offers the chance to hide behind what could be a lie, while also - consequently and conveniently - ignoring the truth. When you have the opportunity to know, you should always take it. Weren’t you the one that said knowledge was the most powerful weapon y’could have?” With a smile, she approached The Doctor, but cautiously. Observing. She liked seeing her like this. Not necessarily the worry, or the anxiety, or the willingness to do what she needed to but... the lack of hiding. She didn’t have to pretend around Missy. She didn’t have to be the bubbly version of herself. They could talk. For real.

“Again.”

“You’re goin’ t’have to start bringing me alone to these things, dear.”

❝ Again. ❞

She stated, a heavy sigh leaving her lips. Time and time again; when would they ever take the hint and just give up? Go to some far corner of the universe and just stew in their hatred in silence, not bothering anyone. 

Ha. A fool’s dream. 

❝ Maybe. Think y’could handle it? ❞

Not that she ever really doubted her, it was more of asking to get her opinion on it.

“Just get me in a room with one of ‘em and I’ll slice their little balls off.”

It was a thing they had in common, though. Their hatred for Daleks.

❝ Every time I think they’re all dead, another crawls out of the woodwork. How many times am I gonna have to keep killin’ Daleks until they STAY dead? ❞

scared hadn’t been the right word. not really. fearful. concerned, perhaps. but she wasn’t going to take it back. it only took her a few moments, standing from her place and observing as the doctor calmed down - to fully click into best friend mode, rather than scared human mode. the ‘i’m sorry’. the ‘amelia’. the ‘are you alright’. she shook her head, and had no choice. her feet carried her towards him, and she placed a hand on the doctor’s shoulder, turning him to her in a gentle way, as if to show him that it was all okay.

   He didn’t really know what to say, at first. Here he was, on the downside of an angry fit, easily the most dangerous thing within a hundred light years of the TARDIS… and Amy was worried about him. Comforting him like he was a scared child. Part of him probably was, but it still never failed to amaze him with the compassion she always seemed to have.    The best of humanity, without a doubt, always stood by his side.

he talked all the time but he never said anything. but this time, he was.

she opened her mouth, almost unable to use her voice - her mind racing to think up what to say against that. there was nothing. because he was right. earth was never safe. there was always danger. there was always a chance that he could lose her or his friends. but-

she placed her lips together, and pulled every ounce of confidence she had. for this conversation, she needed it.

“doctor.” she said, her voice displaying a strong sense of authority that she rarely used. “listen t’me. & listen t’me right now. i could DIE... crossing the road. going on an airplane. my electric blanket could catch fire and burn down my house in the middle of the night. doctor, people die. they are born, they live, and they die. there are loads of different things out there that are beyond your control, that kill people every day. and that shouldn’t be on you to fix that. it’s not on you to fix that.”

“what you’ve given me... is something i’ve dreamed of my entire life. traveling with you.. just travelin’ the universe... i couldn’t ask for anythin’ better. and look, if i die, i die. but you can’t beat yourself up about things like this. this is my choice. it’s my life t’live and if i want to risk it runnin’ away from crazy monsters that threaten t’destroy the world, then i bloody well will. ‘nd you can’t control that decision anymore than you can control the electric blanket fires or the plane crashes. yeah? doctor.” she reached and took his hands, not giving him much of a choice in that decision.

She stood up straight from the console and turned, staring at Amy like she had seen a ghost. Well, staring confusedly at her ‘ghost’ friend. But… She had dropped them off home, right? Her mouth dropped open to answer but then closed it again, walking around the TARDIS to take a look at the readings on the console.

Oh. It wasn’t home. She really needs to double check where she parks, and WHEN she lands. This was gonna be awkward to have to explain. Or she could just– not? Peering around the console back at Amy, she put on a big grin, moving around back to the front.

❝ Well uh. There’s a perfectly good explanation for that. He’s… ❞

Think of an excuse. 

❝ …gone out. I’m here to do some maintenance on the TARDIS. ❞

Nailed it. 

the way the woman grinned - her mannerisms, everything. it reminded her of him. maybe she was just alien. someone he had picked up along the way; another companion, but not human. she really had no idea. but she was going to stand up for what she believed in; and what she believed was that this woman was lying.

“so i’ll ask again. where’s the doctor? and who are you? don’t tell me he’s replaced us already, has he?”

clara had to admit - she was afraid. she was painfully aware of how much taller krasko was than her, how much more power he had over her. the lights flickered on as the motion sensors detected them & she listened to the door locking. even though no one had followed them he took precautions regarding her making any noise. who could save her if she couldn’t even cry for help?

it wasn’t premeditated. but it was essential in his mind now. something he couldn’t stop, even though he was the one doing it. “you really shouldn’t have opened your goddamn mouth.” he muttered, holding her there tighter, and tighter, and tighter, the more she struggled. and after a small moment, he shifted his hand, wrapping his thumb around her nose as well as her mouth, giving her a small glare.

clara had been so confident in herself, & then she was back up against the wall, breathing had become a struggle & everything seemed to hurt. her head was spinning & it took her a moment to figure out what had happened, but when she did she was furious with him. how dare he treat her like this? 

he had been so sure that they were at the point in the relationship where she would listen to her. where she wouldn’t fight back. he was mistaken. but there was one way to deal with this, quick and easy. after an agonizing shift back, he caught her by the arm, and pulled her behind him, wincing as he walked. without a second thought, he pushed her into the disabled bathrooms and moved inside, locking the door behind him.