Birthdays

The TARDIS hummed, the sound bouncing off the empty walls of the console room, creating a calm atmosphere… Perfect for quiet reflection, which I never seemed to have time to do.

I watched the motors within the column bob up and down. It was relaxing almost, nothing could-

"Hey Doctor!" Rory skipped in.

I glanced over as he bounded up the steps, nearly tripping over the railing, and landed by my side. I glared icy daggers at him, hoping that they would somehow materialize and skewer him to the wall.

He looked up, and froze. "What?"

"You interrupted me."

"What were you doing?"

"Thinking."

"Oh…" he frowned, "Well, I'm sorry, I just wanted to ask you something… but-"

"No, go ahead. I can't think now."

Rory shifted uncomfortably. "Doctor, I'm sorry…"

"Come on, then!" I snapped at him. I did not exactly know why I was in such a foul mood, but Rory's hesitance only aggravated me more.

"Do you have a birthday?" he mumbled.

A birthday?

I stiffened. Leave it to Rory to ask a personal question.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, it's my birthday in a few days… so I was wondering about the subject." Rory paused, then timidly added, " So, did I insult you or something, since your species-"

I fought the urge to slap my forehead. Humans were so ignorant.

"No." I cut him off, still rambling. He averted his eyes to the floor while I continued to spear him with mental knives. He wasn't getting the message. Baleful glares didn't work on the blissfully naive.

"So, why won't you tell me?"

Great. Rory picked up probing from Amy. I shifted from my position at the console and sat on the railing opposite Rory. Finally, he seemed to sense some of my hostility.

"So do you… Uh… Celebrate with your fa-"

"My family is dead."

"How about your fri-"

"My friends are dead too."

He looked hurt. "But- but Doctor… I thought we were your-"

"You are my companions. There's a difference." I glanced downward.

"Oh…alright…" he continued staring at the floor, "I'll be off then."

I sighed as Rory began to slink out of the room. He looked broken, and it finally sunk in how quick I'd been to snap at him.

"Rory."

He turned.

"I'm not exactly sure how to tell you when my birthday is. Our calendars are different," I offered.

He smiled and immediately brightened up.

"Oh, okay!" he chirped, and bounced out of the room.

For someone so easily hurt, he's easy to cheer up.