100 themes FMA

Theme: 81: Doctor

Characters: Doctor Knox, Roy Mustang, Riza Hawkeye

Universe: Manga/Brotherhood

Words: 402

Warnings: Dr Knox being Dr Knox.

"Mr Mustang, sir?"

Roy glanced up at the young doctor who was peering out of the room. He'd distracted himself for the past hour trying to figure out where he'd seen him before. "Is everything alright?"

"Just fine, sir," the doctor said with a smile. "Everything went smooth as silk. You can come in now."

"Thank goodness," Roy sighed, pushing into the hospital room. Riza had ordered him out the second he'd, started rubbing his hands together; it wasn't an uncommon nervous tic in new fathers, apparently, but when a distracted clapping alchemist started doing it you had to worry about what would happen to the next thing they touched. Winry and Rebecca were still in the room, though, and both smiled at him, which was a good sign. There was another doctor in there that he hadn't seen come in, handing a little white-wrapped bundle to Riza.

"Thanks for the help, dad," the younger doctor said to the older one while Roy drifted dreamily towards his wife and new child.

"No problem, it's yer first childbirth," a gruff voice said. Roy had to look up at that.

"Dr Knox?" he said in surprise, sitting down heavily on a chair that Rebecca offered him. "You're here?"

"Surprise of my life too, but the boy called for backup," he grunted, clapping the younger doctor on the shoulder. "Anyway, meet yer daughter, Roy."

"Hi, princess," Roy said softly, leaning over the bundle. "Wow. Lucky thing looks just like you."

"Wait 'til she opens her eyes and you won't think so," Riza chuckled. "Thank you, Doctor Knox and... Doctor Knox."

"Yes, thank you," Roy said emphatically, standing up to shake both of their hands. "Thank you for bringing my daughter into the world." Said daughter joined in with a piercing cry, emphasizing how very alive she was and how very well her little lungs worked

"...I'm goin' back downstairs," Knox grunted, not looking Roy in the eye. "Corpses're quieter." He slouched out of the room, with his son starting to follow.

"He means "you're welcome"," the young man said sheepishly. Roy nodded, grinning.

"I know," he said, sitting back down on his chair and leaning over to be closer to his wife and daughter. "Thank you."

"It's what we do," Knox Junior said, opening the door and stepping out, before pausing. "At least, these days."

The door shut gently, leaving the new family alone together.

Dr Knox is about as significant a character as Yoki, but every scene with him is either hilarious or heartwrenching. I always tear up when his family comes to visit, at the way his ex-wife and son's faces light up when he talks about treating living patients, and him crying while getting out mugs. He contributes quite heavily to the theme of redemption.

I don't own any of the rights to FMA. Sadly, Arakawa-sensei's lawyers aren't as thick as Yoki.