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The Master often points out nearby hazards that could kill you in an instant as if they're fun bits of trivia- and you're starting to wish he would stop.
Seeing the universe with him is incredible beyond words. It's pure freedom and power, something new and incredible every day. You don't want to leave, and after traveling together for months: it becomes clear that the Master will never ask you to. And why would he?
You make a good pair together. You get to see new places, do new things, and make some thrilling memories of all the trouble you cause together along the way. You wouldn't trade your adventures with him for the world.
However, you confess- if pressed- you wish he would make just one change.
You wish he would stop blatantly pointing out your weaknesses.
At first, it starts out so gradual that you barely notice. He often shares bits of interesting knowledge that he's acquired with you when things are slow, so his 'fun facts' aren't out of the ordinary for him.
He will tell you all sorts of information about the world around you; from the bi-annual blossom schedule of this planet's trees, to the artificially made moon overhead designed by this world's inhabitants to alter their tidal system.
Usually, you love learning about the universe; but recently it's been getting to be a bit... much.
He mentions that, "See that plant there? Don't touch its petals. Your skin will blister on contact and continue to bubble until the sores peel off to reveal exposed muscle and then bone until you die from infection," as you walk through a seemingly-peaceful forest.
One time the two of you were out shopping, and you picked up a sword made of a very rare material only for him to say, "That blade is sharp enough to cut through your arm in an instant, don't swing it around." You immediately put it back.
When you get stopped by strangers, he always steps up to the metaphorical plate before you can and says something along the lines of: "I'll handle this, stay behind me." Sometimes he even reaches an arm out to ensure you keep behind him.
He never used to say these things when you began traveling together. He's not exactly a gentle soul- you understand and accept that about him- but he used to share interesting knowledge and let you in on what's actually going through his head. Now, it just feels like he's trying to scare you off.
Maybe he is.
This goes on for some time.
He tells you not to touch so many plants that could 'possibly destroy your immune system' that you grow reluctant to picking a single stray wildflower out of fear.
You no longer examine the beautiful detailing of knives on sale at the market because you know he'll only say to 'put that down'.
You don't talk to strangers anymore. You haven't looked anyone in the eye in a long time now. You fall quiet while the Master explains that you should never drink anything made from a certain chemical compound because it will kill you instantly.
This continues until you begin to wonder if you'll ever be able to escape it. One day, the Master spends the entire evening talking about how easy it is to drown- and the next evening he laughs as he tells you what can happen if you hit cement feet-first off a 10 story building. Spoilers: it's nothing good. Don't look it up.
It begins to haunt you, the way the world seems to want you dead at every turn. Maybe traveling isn't the best idea. Maybe the rest of the world wasn't built with someone like you in mind.
Dying gruesome, painful, agonizing deaths are all you can think about all day every day. They haunt you more and more until you're scared to shut your eyes.
And the worst part? The worst part is that the Master doesn't even seem to notice.
He just keeps going on and on about planets with spontaneous acid rain storms and hurricanes that could throw you clear across an ocean.
And then one day...
One day, you simply can't take it anymore.
You're both in his Tardis having dinner, and he's talking about the fact that cooking something ever so slightly wrong can lead to a certain violent, life-ending illness.
And he's laughing like it's funny, but you feel sick to your stomach. You feel like you might never eat again because if you're not careful, your life will amount to nothing more than another one of his many statistics. You'll become just another 'interesting' story and...
And you can't take it any longer.
You slam your hands down on the table and before you know it, you're on your feet.
"I know! Okay?!" you snap.
You don't mean to sound angry- you really aren't angry at tour core- but there are tears in your eyes and all your body knows how to do is fight back before you break down from the pure frustration and haunting fear of it all.
"I get it! I'm just a fragile human!" you nearly shout at him.
He simply falls quiet in surprise. He clearly wasn't expecting this outburst, but of course he wasn't! He has been too busy controlling you to notice that you're not a helpless kitten. Too busy manipulating you with fearful tactics to realize the extent of the damage inflicted on you nor acknowledge the way his words poison your mind.
"I'm not like you! The world is more dangerous for me!
I understand all that, alright?!" you nearly shout. "I don't need you constantly warning me that touching some random flower is going to shatter me like glass or burn me from the inside out!"
He simply stares at you and...
And you quickly crumble apart at the seams.
You hide your face in your hands. Only seconds have passed, bit you already feel bad that you yelled. You should have talked to him about this sooner, but you didn't know how.
You still don't fully understand why it bothers you so much, but it does! And you wish he would have realized that on his own so you wouldn't be standing here, crying into your hands at the dinner table.
"I get it! Okay?! I'm well aware so just... stop reminding me every second of every day! I'm sorry I'm such a burden!"
You sit down again and cross your arms on the table so you can hide your face in them.
You do your best to steady your breath so your crying doesn't get out of hand. You don't want him to see it or to hear it. He clearly already thinks you're weak, so of course you don't want to encourage that line of thinking.
You keep your face hidden for a long minute. Maybe you should just leave now. Maybe that would be best for both of you.
And then a few small, simple words cut through your noisy thoughts.
"Do you mean... when I warn you about things....
That bothers you?" he asks.
You sniff quietly, and then nod.
The Master gives a small hum of acknowledgment.
"And when I explain ways you could die if you ignore them, that bothers you too?"
You nod more furiously because yes! Of course it does!
He lets out another small hum.
Silence falls for quite a long time and then... he stands up. You watch his shoes slowly move around the table.
"I'm... sorry," he says thoughtfully.
He pauses to search for the right words to string together.
He then continues, softly:
"I didn't know that," he admits. "I only learn about humans and what can harm them because I want to keep you safe."
The threat of more tears pause momentarily at the edges of your vision.
"What?" you ask softly.
The Master takes a knee next to you. You look down at him from where you've been hiding your face against the table.
He makes himself smaller and there's a pure honesty in his eyes you've never seen from him before.
"Since I started traveling with you, I've been trying to learn everything I can to keep you safe," he explains. "I've been reading about the limits humans can survive and how they do it so that if anything does happen, I can help you."
You listen closely as his troubled expression scans over you.
"Lots of things aren't compatible for different people.
There are certain things common on other worlds that humans can't come into contact with. There are even things common on Earth that people like myself have to stay away from!
I only try to warn you to keep you safe. My intention was never to scare you."
You listen and wipe away your tears.
You consider his words and... then nod.
"There are things that hurt you too?" you ask gently.
The Master sighs, and then he nods.
"Yes. Time Lords and Humans are both resilient species, but they have different weaknesses. I never meant to imply that you're fragile- I was only trying to warn you that you can be hurt in different ways than I can.
For instance, there are many common human medicines that would kill me if I took them. And when you're different in a world where everyone else is the same, you have to stay aware of your limits.
I've been around the block many times, I know what I can and can not interact with on different worlds.
But you? I worry you might not know. You might pick up a flower thinking it looks nice, and end up dead a day later.
I just... I don't want to get you killed."
He trails off as his gaze falls to the ground.
Your eyes widen and you lift your head slightly.
"You... care about me?" you ask.
The Master looks away as he fights off a blush.
"To a certain degree," he admits slowly.
You grin so wide you almost forget why you were ever upset. How can you hold this against him when his motives were selfless?
All this time, you had misunderstood. You thought he was treating you as a helpless pest- but now you realize that all his warnings were only his way of protecting you. He wasn't speaking from annoyance and amusement, he was acting from a place of love and fear.
You carefully reach for one of his hands, and rest yours atop his own.
"How about... we make a list then?" you suggest. "We could make a pocket guide as a reference for all the things you're worried about. Then I'll study it, and I'll learn about everything that can harm me, and you won't have to spend so much time worrying anymore," you suggest.
To you relief, the Master smiles.
"That sounds perfect," he agrees.
He stands up and presses a small kiss to your forehead.
He pauses, and you look up at him.
"I'll... stop warning you about every little thing- but stay safe, okay? And if you aren't sure of something, or if you suddenly start to feel unwell, promise you'll tell me-" he asks nervously of you.
"I will," you chuckle softly. "I promise."
"And..." you begin.
His eyes meet yours.
"You stay safe too, okay?" you request.
He smiles brightly and his lips curl into a hopeful smile.
"Of course," he promises.