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Turlough’s stomach was hurting, that was absolutely no surprise. But it was worse than ever. Like he was being stabbed. He wondered into the console room with his arms wrapped uncomfortably around his stomach.
The Doctor immediately noticed, looking up from the console in concern gave it away. “Are you alright, Turlough?”
“Ugh, I’ve got an awful pain…” he grumbled, leaning against the Doctor weakly.
“How about we stay in today? I’ll get you something to help.”
Turlough nodded with a weak smile, he dragged his feet awkwardly as he headed back into the bedroom. His health was always fleeting, but nothing had ever felt this painful. Not since he had started taking…no, it couldn’t be. Right?
I mean- he had all of those regular symptoms apart from bleeding since- well…a procedure was easily done on his home planet. He hadn’t thought that not taking his pills would make him convulse with this much agony. It felt like payback. As if not having his period for that long was making his old cramps come back ten billion times worse.
He curled into a ball as he shoved a pillow against his stomach, desperately hoping for his bloated belly to pop. He hated it. He hated that feeling of pain, of feeling it make him…big. He wanted to claw at himself, to kick himself for not being more careful.
The Doctor walked in with a small bowl of soup, placing it on his bed stand. He saw Turlough’s innocent foetal position and he sat next to him, rubbing a gentle arm up and down his back. “Hey, you alright? I’ve brought you some soup. It’s your favourite…”
Turlough made a little squeak and shook his head, burying it into the pillow. “I’m disgusting! Gah! It hurts so much…” his hormones were fluctuating insanely.
So much so, the Doctor could smell it. “Is there something you want to tell me, Turlough?”
Turlough nodded and moved to hug onto the Doctors arm, nuzzling his head into the man’s chest. “I think…I’m having cramps. A whole life’s worth!”
“But you’re a male. How can that even be possible? Is it something to do where you’re from?”
“No. I’m nothing like them.” Turlough squirmed again, desperate for the Doctors warmth. “I wasn’t- I’m not- I can’t…”
“You’re trying to say that you’re not a…biological man, aren’t you?”
Turlough whimpered shyly, he couldn’t look at the Doctor. In fact he wished to rip out his eyes at this moment. What was real of his body anymore? What even counted? What was him?
“Yes. That’s right, Doctor.” Shame filled his voice, his face, his entire being. “I’m not…I wasn’t- born like this.”
The Doctor stroked Turlough’s hair softly, letting the boy melt into him. “Hey, hey…you know that I wasn’t born this handsome originally too!”
Turlough chuckled, this caused his stomach to twist. He swore he could feel himself bleeding. He had to remind himself that it wasn’t possible. “Y-you said that you brought me soup?”
“Of course. Mushroom, just how you like it. And don’t worry, I removed all the little bits.” He used his spare hand to give Turlough the bowl.
He pressed the cold china against the boys mouth, letting him drink the warm soup. Turlough was eagerly drinking…or did it count as eating? Neither of them had an answer for that. But the Doctor was just happy that Turlough was willing to have it. To digest something after so long.
“Thank you, Doctor” He smiled, still comfortable between the mans arms.
He finished the soup and the Doctor rested his own head on top of Turlough’s. “Never be ashamed of what you used to be, Turlough. That’s in the past, as are all the negative memories are. That isn’t you now. Now, you’re thriving comfortably.”
“All thanks to you, Doctor.”
They hugged onto each other, Turlough letting a small tear leave his eye. The Doctor wiped it away, looking into Turlough’s beautiful blue eyes. “You are absolutely perfect, my boy.”
“I wasn’t when I first cut my hair.” Turlough laughed loudly but gripped onto the Doctors arm to make sure he didn’t cry. “I ended up giving myself a fucking bob!”
The Doctor laughed along with him, his hands ruffling Turlough’s hair playfully. “Oh, lord. I can imagine.”
“I looked like an edgy Dora the Explorer.”
Both of them hit each other as they cackled, Turlough’s Adam’s apple bobbing as he struggled for breath. “Gosh, I’m so sad I missed the bob era…”
“I’m not. I’m thankful. Trust me, Doctor!”
“I always do, my boy…”