Work Text:
It was late in the evening.
Dottore looked up at the clock on the wall. It was almost midnight– far too late for William to be out.
The mission he was on today was a dangerous one to be sure, one that required a lot of physical activity, as well fighting against powerful foes when it came to it.
Although the Doctor tried to disway his husband from taking it on in the morning, despite the arguments, he still persisted– probably trying to prove something with his stubbornness…
Perhaps it was hypocritical for him to call Will that, since it was their shared passion for going beyond what was “allowed” to be done that brought them together. It was the heated and unstoppable yearning for a stronger human, alive machines and surpassing nature laws, that made them perfect for each other.
Dottore looks away from the table he sat at to the bookshelf near the entrance door of their flat. In one of the nooks was a framed picture– it showed both of them on their wedding day. Smiling ear to ear (or at least Zandik was, it was hard to see with the whole suit on William, but even then, he knew that a smile was on those burned to a crisp lips), wearing fancy wedding attire– they looked blissful.
The man sighs heavily, starting to tap his foot from all of the stress and tension, holding his hands knitted together and chin resting on them. Why didn't he just stop him? Abyssal monsters could be literally tearing through him this moment, eating the already burned flesh, and it would be all Dottore’s fault–
He feels something heavy and sharp on his legs take all of his attention away.
He didn’t even notice, but through all of his conflict, his eyes started to water– He really is worried, huh? If only Will could see him! Oh, how he would laugh…
Zandik switches his attention to the cat that was currently trying to improvise making biscuits on his thigh, which he could barely reach.
Those pretty yellow eyes of the British Shorthair looked at him with worry. Funny how these little creatures of smaller intelligence sometimes understood emotion better than humans.
Dottore petted the cat on the head, him delightfully rubbing into his hand, planning to probably jump up on him.
But he displaced the paws placed on him, ushering Discord to go play with his adopted sisters.
The cat complied for once in his life, and went to the two full-grown cats and a kitten playing around with discarded scrunched up paper on the floor.
The Doctor’s all worries were melted away when he saw the orange Sunset Shimmer try to attack the Sphinx Chrysalis, which was unsuccessful, with Starlight coming in to teach the young one a lesson.
The way all of them fought and played was never malicious, but something born of fondness, love for each other. After all, when these play sessions end, all of the cats end up cuddling together– Chrysalis especially an affectionate one because of her lack of hair.
Perhaps, in some twisted way, The Second Harbinger and William were just like them. Both having been forced in a situation where their genius was unrecognised, trampled on, and even punished, somehow– they found each other.
Somehow, despite the long list of differences as well as issues that both carried, they connected, united, partnered together.
Somehow, with the time passing ever further, they grew so close as to even get married, move in together, and everything…
He looked back to the door that led out of their flat.
Zandik could never forgive himself if today, out of all of the days possible, would be the day he would lose William. On the day when he didn’t even get to say goodbye to him in the morning, since they had the argument…
He cannot even imagine the grief that would overcome him, if in a practical blink of the eye, all those treasured years of companionship were now to be lost.
Dottore returned to his position of despair, eyes watering up once again, and his hand instinctively going to rub them.
When out of nowhere, there is a thud to the front door, which successfully scares all of the cats, them jumping in unison, as well as breaking any existent train of thoughts in the Doctor’s mind.
After another moment, the door swings open, the figure enters, and it closes just as swiftly.
Zandik stands up from his position, pushing the chair backwards, and then swiftly runs to hug his husband.
With the whole mascot thing going on, William becomes a bit higher than Il Dottore, but he barely minds it, only strengthening his hold as the seconds tick away onto the weirdly fluffy plates of the costume.
For a moment, there is only the odd sound of flesh squishing further from the springlocks, as well as all of the cats meowing at their shared father’s return home.
William, with his Springtrap hands, goes to reciprocate the hug, the thick, and short fingers slowly carding through the icy hair. “It seems you have missed me.” The pseudo-corpse speaks in a dreading and groggy voice that never got better with any age. The man’s vocal cords are damaged to unrecognition, after all.
Zandik tries his best to compose himself, speaking only when he can look at those mesmerising eyes of his husband: “I was worried about you, Will. I thought you would never return.” He looks down, closing his eyes for the moment, if only to breath in the odour that the other carries with himself. The rooms, sofa, bed and all of the sheets even after several washes retain that addicting smell of death, one that brings the Doctor pure joy.
In a moment of reminiscence, The other hand of William is used to oh so unnaturally gently tilt the other’s head upwards, as if commanding attention. The Harbinger lets him, of course, opening his eyes once more and meeting his treasured partner’s face. “But don’t you know, that I always come back, love?”
Zandik could only smile like a fool at that statement, falling for his husband even more– if it was even possible.
He hugged even tighter now, promising to himself that he’ll never let go of this man, or let him die on his watch.