I wrote this a while ago. I don't know when I'll update it, or IF I'll update it. I just wanted some feedback on the beginning part.

Adoption

Alphonse sat in the corner, watching his brother's sleeping form. He sighed; Ed was going to be angry when he woke up. He hated ending up in the hospital, and although he had acted fully awake when Al had brought him there, he was sure that he hadn't taken any of it in. It had almost been as if his brother was sleepwalking, which is one thing he never did.

When Ed awoke, he would claim that his injuries were minor, just like he always did, and then he would get mad at the doctors when they made him stay longer and rest. Later, he would get up in the middle of the night while everyone else was asleep, and leave through a window with his brother following behind, lecturing him for being irresponsible. Then they'd catch a train and go about their business as usual.

Ed stirred in his sleep, flinching unconsciously as the bruise on his right cheek rubbed against the faded white pillow that he was sleeping on. Al shifted slightly, surprisingly not waking his brother with the loud clanking of his armor. He heard voices outside the door and stopped moving to listen.

"…He's asleep right now, Ms. Cobbold." Al recognized the voice as the doctor that had examined Ed the night before, when they had first arrived. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait to speak to him until he-"

"I'll just speak to the younger sibling, then." Said a haughty female voice. The door burst open loudly and in came the two people who had been conversing in the hallway.

The woman looked around, her sharp gaze landing on Alphonse.

"You are..." She looked at the clipboard in her hands. "Alphonse Elric?"

Al nodded, confused. She looked at Edward, who was lying on the bed nearest to them.

"So, this is Edward Elric, then?" She asked, staring evenly at the unconscious boy. "The famous Fullmetal Alchemist?" Al nodded again, even more confused.

"And, um...You are?" He asked. The woman turned her gaze back to him. A shiver would have run down his spine if he'd had one.

"I am Ms. Cobbold. I'm here to talk to you and your brother about...important matters. Of course, he'll need to be awake for the discussion."

"Yeah." Said Al. "Um...Hey! What are you doing?" Ms. Cobbold stood over Ed and was shaking him awake. His eyes opened sleepily and he yawned, stretching his left arm out. (His automail had been badly damaged, and removed upon his arrival at the hospital.)

"Morning." He said tiredly. "Uh...Who are you exactly?" He stared up at Ms. Cobbold, who introduced herself again.

"I'm here to talk to the two of you."

"Go on." Said Ed, sitting on the edge of his bed and facing the woman. Al came over and sat next to him.

"It is my job to make sure that children are placed in proper homes with families that can successfully care for them. It has recently come to my attention that the two of you are traveling around the country without any supervision whatsoever-"

"We have each other." Ed cut in bluntly. "That counts. If that's all you have to say, I'd suggest you leave. There's nothing to discuss." His tone of voice sounded controlled and reasonable, but Al noticed the iciness behind it.

"I'm afraid that 'each other' isn't quite enough." Said Ms. Cobbold. "Edward has a job, so it is not within my power to send him to a safer environment like an orphanage. But Al, on the other hand-"

"Are you implying..." Ed began coldly. "...That you are going to separate us?"

"I wouldn't call it separating, exactly. You'll be able to see each other a few times a year and-"

"Absolutely not!" Ed yelled, not even attempting to hide the anger in his voice. "Al is staying with me, his big brother, and that's final!"

"Come now." She said, sounding bored. "Look at this from a logical point of view; you're just putting him in danger by letting him come with you." Ed tensed visibly. "He'll no doubt get hurt sooner or later; what kind of brother allows that?"

"Shut up." Ed muttered through clenched teeth. Ms. Cobbold acted as if she hadn't heard him.

"You aren't capable of taking care of him. When you think about it, you'll realize it's true. You're disabled."

Ed stiffened even more and looked away. It was Al's turn to get angry now.

"Don't say that!" He shouted, glaring at her. He placed a metal hand on his brother's shoulder where his arm should have been. Ed's shoulders slumped and he still didn't look up.

"Ed's been taking care of me for years! He'd never let me get hurt!"

"Well, not intentionally, of course." Said Ms. Cobbold. "But you never know. You'd definitely be safer in an orphanage."

"Away from Ed?!" Al exclaimed.

"Oh yes. You'd be ESPECIALLY safe if you were away from Ed."

"What's THAT supposed to mean?" Ed asked quietly, still staring at the floor.

"You aren't a safe influence on your younger brother." She replied simply. "He needs a qualified guardian. Someone like you just won't do. Constant trips aren't a good way for Al to spend his childhood. He needs to go to school and learn to be away from you; you'll both get used to it."

"So you're saying..." Ed began, sounding deep in thought. "...That I'm not doing a good job of taking care of Al?"

"Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying." Ms. Cobbold said. "If you really care about him, you'll forget your selfish desires and let him stay in a place where he can be truly safe. There are plenty of open rooms at Central Orphanage."

Ed didn't speak; it was Al who objected this time. "I'm NOT going to an orphanage! Ed is the only family I have left, and I'm the same to him. He's the only one who can keep me safe. If anyone else was taking care of me, I'd most likely have died years ago!"

Ms. Cobbold sighed. "I know you don't like it, but I have authority in this situation. If I tell you to go to an orphanage because there is real danger involving your legal guardian, you have to do what I say."

"But Ed's the only one who can take care of me!" Al protested.

"Prove it."

"If I prove it, will you let Ed keep taking care of me?"

"...We'll see." With that she stood up and turned around to leave. She was about to step out the door when she stopped and turned around. "Come on, Al. I'm taking you to your new home."

"...Wait, what?! Al!" Ed yelled, his eyes wide. "What do you mean his new home?! Didn't I tell you he's staying with me?!"

"And didn't I tell you that I have authority in this situation?" She replied coldly. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stop arguing."

Ed stared at her silently for a few moments. "...Okay. I understand." He replied eventually.

"Good. Come on, Al." She obviously expected him to follow her, but he was stuck to the spot with shock.

"What? Ed, you're just...going to let me go?" He sounded completely disbelieving.

Ed looked down. "You heard her. It's useless to argue." He went silent for a moment before continuing. "...I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. I'll visit as much as possible, I promise. Now come say goodbye."

Al took a few seconds to take in what his brother was saying, then walked over to him. He gave him a gentle hug and received a one-armed embrace back.

"Goodbye."

"...Goodbye."