You need to eat - The Doctor
For the fifth time that day, your stomach rumbled in protest of being empty. It wasn’t the first time you’d noticed it growling and it was certainly not going to be the last time, but you were too preoccupied with a book in the library of the TARDIS. The Doctor was off doing something else that didn’t require your attention, so you made yourself busy studying a book of different languages.
You absently rubbed your hand over your stomach, your eyes blurring a bit at the edges. You had a headache starting and you weren’t sure if it was from the book or the lack of food, but you persisted anyway.
“I’m back!” The Doctor called, interrupting your reading session.
You looked up from your book and gave him a small wave with a smile.
“How was it?” You asked.
“Ah, so lovely.” He responded before launching into a long-winded explanation of what it was he’d just been doing.
At some point your stomach growled for the sixth time and you frowned, rubbing your hand over your stomach to quell the empty rumbles. You barely noticed the Doctor stop talking but now he was staring at you, a little too closely.
“Have you eaten?” He asked rhetorically.
You obviously hadn’t and you both knew it. In fact, you couldn’t even remember the last time you’d eaten. Your hands were shaky, you had a headache, you felt weak. And for some reason his question irked you.
“I’m fine.” You snapped.
“That isn’t what I asked.” He replied, leaning against one of the bookshelves. You fought the urge to roll your eyes.
“No, but–” You began but the Doctor cut you off.
“Come on. Let’s get something to eat. I’m thinking fish fingers and custard!” He said, excitedly.
“No, thank you.”
“I’d make bacon for some BLTs but bacon is evil.” He continued as if you hadn’t said anything, turning to lead the way from the library.
“I’m not–” You tried, but he cut you off again.
“Hungry?” He asked. “Well, you will be when I’m done making us food.”
You sighed and followed him from the library.
“You need to eat.” He said in a kinder tone. “We have adventures to go on, sights to see, places to explore. And we don’t need you passing out from lack of nutrition.”
You nodded and sat down at the table while he began to cook. And by the time he was done, you realized you were a lot more hungry than you’d thought. Your headache had encroached into migraine territory, your body was beginning to shake, and you felt on edge. And all told, you really did want to focus on adventures with him.
You dug into the meal with fervor, though going slow enough to not upset your sensitive stomach. As hungry as you were, you’d been ignoring your hunger cues long enough that you couldn’t eat a full meal anymore. Still, you were thankful for what bit you were able to eat.
“Thanks, Doctor.” You smiled earnestly.
“Of course.” He held his hand out for you. “Shall we go?”