Work Text:
Buster has a terrible secret.
well not terrible— but terrible for him. Buster wasn't born a boy like many had thought. Like Elwood had thought. Buster never came out as trans or anything, honestly he didn't even know it was called trans to begin with. It sorta just happened, he was found by the penguin and she had thought he was a boy, he didn't really hide he wasn't born a boy, he was more tomboyish. But when people called him Buster and 'he' it felt good, so he stuck to it. The girl version of him was no more, only Buster.
So, he didn't tell Elwood either. At first because he didn't like Elwood, he just followed him because he had to. Then he started to like him, he was nice and fun, he also understood him. Soon enough both started to live together after the battle of the band and escaping the cops. Soon Elwood took care of Buster. Buster thought of confessing but Elwood was also very religious, this frightened the boy. He had heard horror stories and seen them in action. Christians didn't like queer folks, they hated gays and transgenders. Conversion therapies and their stances were proof.
One time the penguin made Buster attend church, he saw people outside protesting against gay and trans people. It was frightening. In that moment Buster decided to never come out to any religious person. The penguin found out by herself, luckily she was fine with it, she mentioned that 2 orphan she took care of were also queers. It relaxed him to know that the penguin was at least supportive of trans people even if she was scary. Elwood was a whole new person though. He didn't know where Elwood stood, so he said nothing.
He didn't say anything, when his walking slumped more and more.He didn't say anything, when he felt his chest grew and he put tape around it in order to stop it but he ended up not being able to breath. He didn't say anything when he felt more and more uncomfortable about his body change and he certainly didn't tell him about this morning.
This morning Buster woke up with blood in his bed.
Just like everyday, Elwood woke Buster up with a knock on his bedroom door.
"Time for school, kid," he would say "I will eat all your waffles otherwise."
Cab had recently gifted them an old waffle iron he had, they had been eating waffles every breakfast since. Buster yawned, like every morning but this time it's different. immideatly he felt something cold and slimy beneath him. His eyes shot open. Did he pee himself?? he didn't pee himself right? he is 12, for Christ sake. It took a second before he removed the blanket but when he did it was like a crime scene.
His entire bed and his pants were stained with dark red blood. Buster screamed off shock, he was gonna die he was sure. Due to the scream Elwood busted in and Buster quickly hid the scene.
"what! what!? Is everything ok??" Elwood asked worried sick.
"Nightmare!" Buster answered, quickly. Elwood looked at Buster, silently. Instead he crooked one eyebrow up.
With no further questions, he simply answered, "Alright."
and went on his way.
Buster sighed relieved and jumped out of bed. All of the sudden, a wave of pain came over him. It was in his abdomen— or around it at least. He held it and leaned over in pain, groaning.
"Shit," he mumbled, hissing in pain. He looked at his bed, "Shit."
Buster thought for a moment, then he removed his bed linen and everything. He looked at it blankly, the stain was still there. So, he put over his blanket. He couldn't put it in the washing machine, because they had none. They would go to a Laundromat once a week, 'It was cheaper', or Cab or Mack would pick up their clothes and wash them. So, instead of putting it in a washing machine he put it in his closet, hiding it from Elwood. He figures out what to with the mattress later.
Buster peaked out the door, watching Elwood cook the next set of waffles. it's his chance to bolt to the bathroom, so he did, with all the speed his 12 year old body can offer. Elwood blinked behind his shades and looked at the bathroom door when it was closed.
Phew.
Buster walked up to the toilet. He swallowed down a thick ball of saliva as he pulled down his pants and sat down. He shut his eyes closed, horrified to even see what had happen but he had to. Slowly and trembling he opened his eyes and looked down. A blood bath truly, his legs, his pants, his underwear was covered in a dark red. Some was dried, but between it it was wet. Tears prickled in his eyes as the pain came back,
Meanwhile Elwood was on the bathroom door. He wasn't one to pry in Busters or anyone's life honestly. That kid deserves his privacy but he can't help but feel something is wrong. He mumbled a quick, "Forgive me father" as he put his ear on the door.
As soon as he heard sobs, Elwood's eyes widen. "Buster? Buster are you ok??" Elwood asked, his hand gripping the door knob.
"Help!" Buster just cried out, sobbing uncontrollably.
Elwood's alarm went off. There was no hesitation as he opened the door. Inside he saw a crying Buster, looking at him. "Dad," he sobbed and cried uncontrollably and loud, "I am dying! The lord is coming to get me."
Elwood stood there with an open mouth processing what is happening and what he sees right now. "I knew I shouldn't take your harp! I'm sorry!!" Buster continued to sob.
It clicked and Elwood sighed, smiling a bit, amused.
"Hey whoa whoa shh," he said walking up to Buster and hugging him. Buster hugged Elwood and continued to cry in his shirt. Elwood hold his head going through his hair, shushing the kid. And when Buster calmed down, Elwood began to talk,
"You ain't dying', kid. You just got your period."
"my- my huh-?"
"your period. It's when your uterus sheds its lining and shit"
Buster sniffled, his nose was running.
"whu- how- how do you know?" He looked up at the man, not letting go.
Elwood looked down, a warm smile was plastered on his face, "I also got mine at that time."
"ouh okay..," Buster mumbled as he kept on hugging Elwood, then all of the sudden he shot up and let go of Elwood, "what do you mean 'you got yours??' "
"Ouh well I am also a transsexual," Elwood replied shrugging.
"A what???"
"ouh well you, kids, probably call it uh— transgender now," Elwood nodded at his words, "it's when you're born like a girl but you want to be a boy, like us. There's also the opposite"
Buster blinked and then swallowed, looking down almost ashamed.
Elwood frowned as he leaned down.
"Hey, Kid," he put his hand on Busters shoulder making him look up "It's okay y'know nothing to be ashamed of."
Tears prickled up in the blonde kids eyes. "It hurts…I ruined the bed," he confessed.
"Ey you didn't ruin anything," Elwood said, "We're gonna get a new one from Mack or Cab, alright"
Buster just nodded.
Elwood smiled at him and Buster smiled back. The man stood up with a grunt.
"alright I'm gonna go to the corner store then, buy you some things. Should I call Cab or Mack?"
Buster shook his head. Elwood nodded.
"Ok I'll be gone, I come back quickly as soon as i can," he looked around "You gotta stay on the toilet though"
Buster nodded. Elwood left the room, he came back quickly with a fresh set of underwear and pants and Busters harp. He gave them to the boy, said his goodbyes and quickly went to the corner store to buy pads, chocolate and a heating pad.
It took him 10 minutes to find the good stuff. He came back with a big back. The bathroom door was closed and he heard the faint sound of Buster playing his harp in it. The man took off his head, walked over and knocked, "I got the stuff."
Buster stopped playing and Elwood entered. The bloody stuff was thrown in the sink and not the hamper.
"Ok kid," Elwood began talking, he crouched down and pulled up a packages of pads with wings out of the back, "I'm gonna show you how it works ok. There are many options to stop that blood flow and keep your clothes clean but I just got the easiest, ok"
Buster nodded, "Is there a way to completely stop it?"
Elwood stopped for a second and thought, "We're gonna have to ask the penguin, is that ok?"
Buster nodded again, "It's ok, she knows," he simply answered and Elwood understood.
The man proceeded to explain how to properly put the pad in. After Buster tried it himself, he could finally stand up. He took Elwood's hand as they walked to the bedroom. as they put the blanket away, Elwood sighed and Buster had to frown.
"You'll be on the couch now, ok."
Buster nodded and got out of the room, Elwood followed him with the dirty linen and blanket. He threw them in a sack, he can call up Cab later. He might know what to do he had daughters— or maybe miss Murphy.
"wait," Buster called out as Elwood filled a pan with water, he looked at the kid, "What about school?"
"you're not going, not today at least," Elwood simply answered, he pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and put the end on the flame from the stove, when it was lit up he put the pot of water over the stove and blew out the smoke out the window.
Buster watched Elwood as he waiting for the water to heat up, when it started to fog, he turned off the stove and carefully poured the water into the red heating pad. He plopped the suction cup back in and poured it in the sink to see if it doesn't spill. The man then walked up to the kid and put the warm pad on his abdomen, he got out the fluffiest blanket they own and put it over Buster, tugging him right in.
He then walked up to their record player and pulled one up.
"Can we listen to one of your old ones?" Buster asked, Elwood looked at him.
They both proceeded to stare at each other for just a second. The cigarette just hanging slightly off his mouth. He turned back around.
"Alright."
He pulled out an old record, 'Briefcase Full Of Blues'. Elwood took a second to look at the cover. It was a black and white photo of himself and Jake. He looked away and Jake looked right at the camera, holding a cigarette. He closed his eyes for just a second, praying.
"Can you hurry up, old man?"
He opened his eyes again.
"Ey Let a man lament, kid," Elwood simply responded. He pulled the vinyl out of his sleeve and put it on the player, he turned it on and carefully put the needle on it. he walked up to the couch and sat down. He took a drag out of his cigarette as the room filled with cheering and the music. He rested his free arm over the back of the couch, Buster too the opportunity to cuddle up on the man. He yawned and closed his eyes, Elwood's hand found their place into the boys hair going over them.
He looked out the window, listening to his late brothers singing, thinking about the time back then. It was hard listening to the album. He put off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes.
Elwood took one last drag out of his cigarette, he put it out on the ash tray on the coffee table and started praying.