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Initially, Pantalone had a very hesitant outlook regarding the segments. He had been happily married to Zandik a couple of years before their creation, and had truthfully not known how to react when he first met them.
He never once imagined he'd love them the same way he loved the original, he had grown with that man experiencing his lowest of lows as an experience and highest peaks as a Harbinger. And in turn, Zandik had grown in his presence also, shedding that cold arrogance of his youth into something softer, well at least softer around Pantalone at least he could not claim the same was true for others.
So, no, he did not think he'd harbour any affection towards the segments. This belief was however swiftly proven false.
He had stepped into that cold lab one morning, his presence requested by his dearest, only to be met by 7 pairs of cherry red eyes peering at him curiously. There before him stood 7 different Zandik's ranging in age, all of them staring at him with unadulterated curiosity.
"Feofan, darling! Come witness the spectacle of my genius" Zandik - his Zandik - spoke, looking awfully old amongst the many younger clones of himself. The Doctor walked forward, grabbing onto his shoulders and steering him into a nearby seat, the other Dottore's following close behind like a flock of crows, crowding him as he sat.
"Ah, I suppose this is the result of your latest experiment dear?" Pantalone spoke slowly, looking at one of the clones in particular. This one was around 40 years old, and he had remembered this to be the face the doctor had when they first met. It was nostalgic in a way seeing it once more, but that nostalgia was quickly overshadowed by the absurdity of the situation.
Pantalone tore his eyes away from the clone, bringing himself to stare at the original," You've cloned yourself."
Zandik laughed, bright and hearty, "Close my love! No not quite cloning, these segments after all are in different stages of life." He continued to spout scientific nonsense that Pantalone had no patience for; instead, he stared back at those other faces peering at him, studying him and in turn, he studied them back.
Curiosity was certainly the most dominant thing that shone in their eyes, it twinkled and flittered as though it were their very essence. But there was a second thing, something small but present all the same - possession.
'How strange' Pantalone thought to himself 'these clones of whom I never met prior seem to innately desire me.' He smiled to himself, resting his face in the palm of his hand as he stared back at those crimson eyes, thoroughly amused by their stares 'how cute'.
"Feofan darling are you listening?" Zandik all but pouted, noticing his blatant distraction.
"Oh yes, this is quite the riveting discovery of yours Zandik." Pantalone drawled, he reached out to hook the collar of one of the segments, the same one he stared so intensely at before, bringing him closer in one elegant motion. He brought his hand up to his face, turning it to inspect his features not expecting the segment to lean into his hand, basking in the warmth it provided. In the corner of his eye, he noticed Zandik gape at the sight.
"Oh darling, I do think this is your best work yet." Pantalone purred, thumb caressing the cheek in its grasp.
--
The following days came to be a learning curve for all parties involved. For Zandik he now had competition for his lover's time and affection, the segments new to such warm emotions were learning how to express them properly and poor Pantalone was stuck in the middle of it all.
Whenever he visited the labs the segments would quickly flock towards him, offering him sweet words and pleasantries spoken with yearning eyes and twitching fingers. They had not yet learned to take the physical affection they clearly desired, instead waiting for Pantalone to offer it himself.
They would often follow him as though he were a mother duck, his little ducklings in a neat line behind him for every step he took.
"Ugh! Must you all follow him so, give him some room to breathe!" Zandik had yelled once, shooing them away as though they were pests. They all reluctantly scattered returning to their work, only occasionally sending longing looks in his direction.
"Honestly, had I known they'd be so clingy I would've altered them during their creation," Zandik mumbled, stepping towards Feofan and planting a kiss on his cheek as a greeting.
"Oh but darling, it's all rather charming no? It's sweet to know your love spans across time." Pantalone chuckled, tucking one of Dottore's greying hairs behind his ear.
The red creeping up his ears didn't go unnoticed by Pantalone, causing his grin to deepen further. Zandik wrapped his arms around Feofan's waist, dragging him close as he breathed in the scent of his hair.
"I'm sure the sentiment is sweet but why pay attention to those lot when you have all the love you need right here?" Zandik muttered into his hair, voice light and breathy.
Pantalone crept his hand up, threading his fingers into Dottore's greying hair pulling him into a deep kiss. Distantly, he heard the smash of a glass and a collective shocked gasp but he did not pay it much attention, instead, he soaked up the feeling of the man's chapped lips against his own. As they broke apart Pantalone let out a wistful sigh.
The segments had crowded around him once more, staring owlishly at the pair, jealousy flickering like an inferno in their gazes.
Pantalone grinned.
"It's cute you still get jealous darling," Feofan spoke, detaching himself from Zandik he turned to the segments. He ruffled the hair of the youngest one before turning to press a fleeting kiss to the remaining segment's cheeks.
"Feofan!" Zandik squawked indignantly. Pantalone just laughed in response, walking towards the door.
"Goodbye my sweet darlings~" he sang, waving lazily as he left the herd of Dottore's flushed and in disbelief.
As the door clicked shut it didn't take long for yells to be heard from down the corridor, Pantalone laughed at the sound playing with the wedding ring that sat upon his finger.