"Hey. Ed. Wake up for me."
Ed blinked, looking around. He was in a car? Someone had buckled him in, he was still wrapped in the Colonel's coat, and the Colonel was driving them... somewhere?
"Huh?" he asked, and he must have looked just as tired as he felt, because the Colonel's serious expression softened a bit. "That's it, brat. Wake up for me."
Ed blinked lazily, looking out the window carefully. "Where are we going?" he asked finally.
Roy's serious expression had returned. "Hospital. There's some things that happened that you should know about."
Ed blinked. "Is this a mission? Are you briefing me?"
Mustang paused, then sighed. "I suppose you could think of it like that. This case... this whole investigation, really- has gone to hell. Three of Lieutenant Colonel Atkins men have been having... problems. They've been admitted to a psych ward. There's talk to mandatory psych evaluations for everyone involved in working on this case... and we have a feeling that they're going to send you to a psych ward."
Ed blinked. "But.. why?" his voice was quietly, and he drew Mustang's coat tighter around himself.
Roy sighed. "So basically, kid- there are 2 possibilities here- either you can talk to the dead, and that's how you solved the case. Or we got lucky and solved it. On our reports, we've all been pretending to be lucky- because if the brass found out that you could speak to the dead..."
Ed frowned. "They'd send me off to a lab somewhere, right?"
Roy nodded. "Exactly. So I know you can speak to the dead, and some of Atkins team knows you're... paranormally gifted... but nobody is going to say anything for risk of being labeled as a fruit basket and tossed in the nut house. They're launching an investigation into how Atkins ran his team, because quite frankly, his men are having an alarming amount of mental breakdowns."
"I don't get it." Ed frowned. "Why do I have to be the one to go to a psych ward, then? What did I do?"
Mustang took a deep breath. "Well- you knocked Atkins out- and you stole his revolver, and you shot a corpse six times and took an axe to it. Remember?"
Ed nodded. "Yes. But I only did it to make sure the killer's spirit couldn't come back and torment those kids anymore!" Ed was getting frustrated.
"I know that. We all know that, Ed. But the brass doesn't know that, and if we were to tell them that, you'd be taken off to a lab."
Ed blinked, realization hitting him. "They think I'm crazy, then? How long are they gonna lock me up, Mustang!? What about Al!?"
"Take it easy, Fullmetal! We've already worked out a story. You've been exposure to a lot of disturbing shit on this case. So, when the psychologist asks why you did what you did- why you took apart the guy's corpse- you're going to tell them you lost it. Had a moment of black out rage after you saw all the horrible things the guy had done and to it out on his corpse."
Ed blinked. "So telling the psychiatrist I had a rage blackout? That doesn't sound like a good option. If I say I lost control of myself, they might think I'm dangerous and keep me longer..."
Roy frowned. "It was our best idea, Ed. Do you have a better one, because if you do, I'm all ears." Roy said seriously.
Ed nodded slowly- even when he looked half-dead from exhaustion, Roy could still see the gears turning in the kid's mind. "Yeah. I do, actually. So I can't tell them I can see dead people. But... suggesting I lost control of myself might get me labeled as dangerous. What if I tell them I did it on purpose?"
Roy blinked. "Not seeing how that would work out in your favor?"
Ed was already thinking o himself, though. "So- this guy, he mutilated all those kids, right? And I saw it all- and instead of snapping, I decided- 'if all these kids can't have an open casket funeral, neither can he' and so I took an axe to him. I never lost control of myself. Just... decided to do it. And was it immature? Yes. Impulsive? Absolutely. But I can say I was traumatized, and not sure what else to do, and that since the guy was already dead, I didn't figure I was hurting anyone anyways by maiming the corpse of a monster..."
Roy blinked. "That's... actually a better idea." Roy didn't know whether to be impressed about how fast the kid's mind worked, or alarmed that Ed was smart enough that it'd taken him three minutes to come up with a decent excuse for maiming a corpse. "You worry me sometimes, Edward." Roy admitted.
Ed sighed, slumping back in his seat. It's started to rain, and he watched the droplets run down the windshield as they were stopped at a red light.
"So- how long do they intend to keep me in the nut house?" Ed asked quietly.
Roy frowned. "Hawkeye said she thinks it'll be a mandatory three day psych hold at least..."
"You need to call Al. Tell him I'm on a mission or something- but make him stay in Risembool a little while longer. I don't want him involved in this." Ed said seriously. He paled slightly. "Do you think he can see the dead too?"
Roy paused. "Why would he be able to?"
Ed turned to look at him. "The whole reason I can see dead people is because my soul isn't bound to my body tightly anymore. Ever since the human transmutation where I was completely disassembled and deconstructed- my body and soul came apart. Al... Al went through the same thing, I think. So he might be able to see dead people too."
Roy blinked. "I don't know. It's a theory..."
"I don't want him to be able to! It's hard enough for me having to deal with it, he doesn't even have a body!" Ed's words tumbled out fast with anxiety.
"He might not even be able to, Fullmetal. Take things one step at a time. I'll call your brother and we'll have him stay put for now so we can all deal with this."
"Right., Yeah, okay." Ed shifted in his seat, still looking nervous. "Will I be able to call you guys? Once I get there?"
Roy frowned. "I'm not sure. I'm sure there's a payphone or something in the hospital, I'll leave you with lots of coins."
"I'm gonna be locked in though, right? So I won't be able to leave to go get books or anything?" Ed was looking dismayed.
Roy nodded. "Yes, you will be locked in. But I can bring books, and whatever else you want..."
"You'll come visit me everyday?" Ed asked seriously.
And for just a moment, Roy was surprised, because he really didn't ever think he'd see they day Edward wanted to see him. But instead he nodded. "Yeah, I'll come visit you everyday kid." he said seriously. And he meant it.
Ed was still looking at him uncertainly.
Roy blinked. "What? Don't just stare at me like that, kid- what's going through your head right now?"
Ed blinked. "What if you're lying? I mean... what if you drop me off and forget about me in there? It's going to be a locked ward, how will I get out?"
Roy couldn't help but burst out laughing. "How could I forget about my favorite shrimp?" Roy said seriously, trying to get Ed to smile. "Look, Edward- there's really nothing to be afraid of. I promise. In case you've forgotten- you're a state alchemist. If something really horrible happened, you could clap your hands and make a door and walk out."
"Oh. Yeah. I forgot about that."
Roy blinked. "Yeah. Write that one down- that's the first time you haven't thought of alchemy as a way to solve your problems." Roy said, still trying to cheer the kid up.
Ed was looking down at his hands, and though he didn't say anything, Roy felt the shift in his mood. So he was quiet, giving Ed room to speak.
"Yeah. I haven't been doing much alchemy lately. It takes a lot of energy." Ed admitted.
"I know. You haven't been feeling well. But once we get to the hospital, they'll fix the anemia and you'll start feeling better and doing more of it again." Roy said seriously.
Ed turned to look at him. "When Scar- when he killed people, do you know how he did it?"
That caught Roy off guard. "I... yeah, and you know how he did it too. Why are you asking me this?"
"Because that's how I killed that guy in the basement." Ed's gaze had dropped back down to his hands. "I didn't... I couldn't... I just, I was too tired to fight, and I was losing, that's what scared me the most. I only had enough energy for one transmutation, and the basement was flooded with water, and he kept holding me under, and I thought I was gonna die." Ed looked over at him, eyes wide.
"He was gonna drown me. He put me under for the last time, I don't even remember how I did it- all I know is my hand was on his face and there was alchemy, and I'm pretty sure I killed him that same way." Ed turned to look at him, and Roy's mouth had gone dry.
"Does that make me a monster?"
Roy shook his head. "No, Ed, it doesn't. If it does- then I'm more of a monster than you'll ever be."
Ed sighed, leaning back against the passenger seat and closing his eyes. "Ugh." he pulled a face.
"What now?"
"Got a headache."
Roy resisted the urge to chuckle. "Normally I'd say the shrimp tried thinking too much and overwhelmed his brain. But considering you aren't feeling well, I won't say it- this time." Roy said with a smirk as they pulled up outside the hospital.
"You just said it, you jerk." Ed growled.
"Stop thinking. The sooner we get this over with, the better." Roy said, moving to open the door for him.
It was a gray, overcast day, and they must've looked like quite the pair- Ed a literal mess, shambling along wrapped in Roy's too large blue coat, and Roy- still a bit grimy from investigating the house of horrors- as they trooped into the ER.
As soon as Ed peeled off Roy's coat, nurses were flocking around him and panicking, staring at his blood saturated clothes, and Ed sighed, flopping down on an open gurney like it was his living room couch and letting out a sigh.
"So like... could I get a pint of blood, please? A positive?" he asked one nurse, as if he were ordering a glass of soda.
Roy resisted the urge to chuckle, and the nurse shot him a sideways glance.
"Yeah- he's anemic and he's been pretty bad today- he may actually need a blood transfusion." Roy confirmed, and they were back to bustling about.
Roy managed to distract Ed long enough for them to get a tube of blood for testing, and then the nurse swarm came back- a warm cloth was cleaning the grime off his face, the gash on his cheek was being washed with antiseptic and butterfly-bandaged shut.
As soon as his face was taken care of, Ed fell back asleep.
The nurses did the best they could to sponge the filth and grime off his arms and torso, but for all intents and purposes, Ed was dead to the world.
"So- he' going to need a blood transfusion. I heard he already tried to ask for one." a young doctor said, stepping into the ER bay. "Which is unusual, but he was very polite, which is appreciated." A nurse was already bustling over to Ed's right arm, hooking up the IV, and Roy was grateful the boy wasn't awake to see the needle.
"So- how did this all happen, Mr.?"
"Mustang. Roy Mustang. He was helping with an investigation- he's my subordinate, he's a State Alchemist..."
The doctor had gone pale, and Roy frowned. "Something wrong, doctor?"
The man frowned. "I just... didn't expect to hear you say that, is all. I believe your HQ actually asked for help from our morgue with... storing the bodies. And we've had three soldiers come through her in the last few days in bad shape, mentally, because of what they saw. And the stories the medical examiners told... well... I'm just glad I'm not involved." the doctor frowned, looking to Ed. "Though... we have received orders from Central command, Sir, that any soldier admitted to this ER who was involved in the case go through a psych evaluation..."
Roy nodded. "I figured as much. How long will it take? And when will he be transferred?".
"It will be at least three days, Sir, inpatient. The ward is locked, obviously..."
"They have visiting hours?" Roy asked.
The doctor nodded. "Oh yes, they do. We'll be sending him to a pediatric ward, there's a fine mental health facility seven blocks away. But he'll be well cared for. It's our sister hospital, actually."
Ro nodded. "And when will he b transferred?"
"Well, that depends on how while the transfusion takes- but I'm confident to say he should be stable to send there tonight. Would you like him to be transferred via ambulance, or can you take him there?"
"I'll take him." Roy said seriously.
The doctor nodded, handing him a sheaf of paperwork. "Right. I'll be back to check on him in an hour, I'll have you look all that over- you are his guardian, correct?"
"Yeah- he's mine." Roy nodded, not even realizing what he was saying as he went into autopilot, looking over the paperwork.
With all the paperwork he normally did, he had to remind himself not to skim and skip parts of this- considering it was Ed's freedom he was signing away temporarily, he wanted to know the process in and out.
Sisters of Mercy Mental Hospital- Voluntary Admission Sign Over
Roy frowned as he saw the heading of the paper, shooting a glance over at Ed, who was still dead asleep. He took a deep breath.
"He's gonna be alright. He just has to pass a psych evaluation- it's a three day hold, nothing will go wrong." he reassured himself, before he was starting to read over the forms carefully.
Which unit are you apply to? Select what applies.
Pediatrics- age 18 and under
Adult- 18 and over
Detox and Substance Abuse
Roy blinked. It looked like there had bene a fourth option on the form, but it had been covered over with white out before the form was copied. He frowned, checked the pediatrics box, and moved on.
Why do you (or your child) want to be admitted?
Roy blinked. How to answer hat one?
Edward was recently involved in a traumatic investigation. Need to be sure he's mentally well enough to be cleared to return to duty as a state alchemist.
He paused, nodding to himself. That looked to be official enough.
Were there any preceding incidents of violence or trauma leading to this hospitalization?
He blinked. Well, shit. Hawkeye said to leave out all the paranormal details, stick to the script, so he did.
After tracking down a serial killer and discovering a dozen mutilated bodies of children, Major Elric fell into the basement of the factory away form the rest of the unit. He was attacked by one of the victims who'd been groomed into the killers apprentice and was forced to kill the boy in self-defense. When he managed to find his way out of the basement, Edward was overwhelmed by an officer shouting at him- he knocked the man out, stole his revolver, and proceeded to empty the gun into the corpse of the serial killer and take an axe to his remains. I honestly believe the boy's actions were driven by trauma and adrenaline, and other than punching an officer, no one was harmed.
Yeah. That sounded good.
He finished the paperwork- visiting hours were from eleven am to one pm and five to eight pm. So he'd be able to make good to his promise to Ed to see him everyday- even if he couldn't get in in the afternoon to see the kid during his lunch break, he'd be able to see him after work.
Ed sighed and shifted on the the bed, but made no move to wake up, and Roy frowned, noticing the blood bag was already half empty. Ed had more color in his face, that was good- but he was sort of dreading leaving the ER with the kid, because then he'd actually have to drive the kid to the mental hospital and say goodbye...
It's only three days. It's fine. he told himself. He hunted down a small cafeteria, getting some mediocre coffee and managing to charm the cashier for changing one of his five hundred cen notes for a roll of quarters that he tucked into his pocket. Surely this mental hospital had payphones, if he he gave Ed a roll of quarters it'd go a long way to calm the kid's fears, because he'd be able to call whenever he wanted.
When he ducked back into the room, Ed was awake, and a nurse was chatting with him quietly.
"I must say, you look quite good for someone who just fought off a madman." the nurse was saying, smiling at him.
Ed shrugged. "People try to kill me pretty often."
The nurse's expression dropped to one of horror, and Roy cleared his throat, making his presence known.
"How're you feeling, Fullmetal?"
"Fine." the blood transfusion was nearly done now, Ed was looking around the room, quite bored. "Can we blow this popsicle stand yet? Where's the nuthouse they're throwing me into? is it upstairs?"
"No. Different hospital, it's down the street." Roy said simply.
The nurse quietly removed his IV now that the blood transfusion as complete. "They have a wonderful pediatric ward there. My nephew stayed there for awhile, he's much better now. But they have plenty of great activities, and there's a bunch of other kids to pay with..."
Ed blinked, looking at the nurse like she was nuts. "Play?"
"Yes. They have games, and a playground in the courtyard and arts and crafts. There's nothing to be afraid of..." she noticed the way Ed's automail hand was picking at the sheets nervously. "It's a great place. You're about ready to go now- I'll send doctor Brant in to have one last look at you before you're on you way..."
She ducked out of the small curtained bay, and Ed frowned, turning to Mustang. "So- I guess I get to make you macaroni art and stuff while I'm locked in he nuthouse? That's supposed to make me feel better?"
Roy pushed down the urge to chuckle at the kid's sarcasm, because Ed wasn't looking happy. He sighed. "It's only for a few days. Think of it like a mission, or a vacation of sorts..."
"A vacation to a nice, padded room and a straight jacket. But I doubt a straight jacket can restrain me- Winry's overclocked my automail, she knows I need a lo o power sometimes, so I doubt I have to worry about that..." Ed looked like he was reassuring himself.
Roy frowned. "Nobody's going to restrain you unless you fly off the handle. You're going to have to deal with being coddled and annoyed, but it's not going to be horrible. you just have to listen to the doctors and nurses and everything will be fine." Roy said seriously.
Ed's eyebrows skyrocketed. "Listen? To adults? This mission is getting harder and harder Colonel." he gave the man a sarcastic smile, and Roy sighed.
"Well, you'll just have to grin and bare it, flea." he reached into his pocket, handing Ed the roll of quarters.
Ed blinked. "What's this for?"
"The payphones. Most hospitals have them- so you can call whenever you feel like it." Roy said seriously.
"Oh." Ed blinked. "I was thinking of putting them all in my sock and having a weapon incase there was an uprising of sorts."
Roy gaped. "Ed, this is a pediatric ward, not prison!"
"Eh, they sound similar to me. Al used to have a sock full of dimes when we were kids, he called it his 'be nice to me' sock. On days when he was feeling generous and i wasn't a jerk, he'd buy me and Winry ice-cream with it. On other days- well, let's just say a sock full of dimes can in fact give someone a black eye."
Roy paused. "I don't know how to respond to that." he said finally. "If you were just less of a jerk your brother wouldn't have hit you with a sock full of dimes."
"That sounds like victim-blaming to me. I'm your subordinate, you're supposed to take my side!" Ed protested.
"Ah, well- you're looking right as rain." Dr. Brant remarked, doing a once over before he signed off on a form, handing it to Roy. "He's medically cleared to go. I called, they're expecting you. Just bring all the forms with you." Brant said happily. "Feel better, Mr. Elric."
Roy nodded, standing and gathering the rather thick stack of paperwork in his hands.
Ed got to his feet, drawing Roy's blue military coat closer to himself as they headed for the doors.
Roy frowned, sliding into the car and watching Ed jiggle his leg nervously from where he sat in the passenger seat.
"Go over the gameplan again, Fullmetal."
Ed sighed, looking out the window. "Tell them I was traumatized and took an axe to the guy because I figured it was poetic justice. Keep my head down, at least pretend to listen to the adults, and don't lose my shit and bust out with alchemy." Ed looked especially bitter at the last part.
Roy sighed. "I never said you couldn't break out, but if you break out before you're cleared for duty, then you'll be in even more trouble than you already are with the brass if they think you're a flight risk. That being said, if something does happen- you use alchemy as a last resort. I want you to call me first, and then alchemy second."
"What if this is just a load of bullshit?" Ed asked quietly. "What if they never let me out of this joint?".
Roy's face hardened. "They'll let you out. I'll make sure of it. Believe it or not, Ed- as much as you think of yourself as my pawn, you are quite a valuable soldier. You make the military look good- that's something they can't afford to lose. The military doesn't put up with stupid games when it comes to an officer and alchemist like you."
"Okay." Ed looked wary, but slightly reassured.
Roy parked alongside the street, and they stepped out onto the sidewalk. Ed peered up at the building warily- it was a plain, gray concrete building, looking much like lab 5- 5 stories tall, with glass doors that had metal around the panes and some sort of wire mesh in the glass.
Ed swallowed.
Roy placed a hand on his shoulder, giving the kid a reassuring squeeze. "Come on. The sooner we get you settled, the better you'll feel."
Ed said nothing, nodding, and they buzzed on the intercom, and with a click, the front doors unlocked.
"Are you here for a voluntary admission? Please- come right this way."
They were led into a small room with a desk and two nurses- one who stood by the door with a clipboard and one seated behind a heavy wooden desk.
She smiled. "My name is Nurse Kim, and I'm the head nurse here. So to start- what brings you here?" the nurse asked, giving them a smile. She was a heavyset women of about thirty, not bad looking in a white uniform with square shoulders and a bob haircut, with brown eyes.
"Mandatory psych evaluation." Ed said simply, keeping it simple.
Roy handed her the stack of paperwork, and the nurse nodded, scanning it and making sure the appropriate areas were signed. "Uh-huh. and did anything bring this on? Oh..." Roy found she'd found the page where he'd written about Ed's actions at the crime scene. Immediately, her expression changed. "Right. We were already contacted about this case."
"So you know it's imperative for Edward to be evaluated soon as possible so he can return to duty." Roy said seriously.
The nurse gave him a disapproving look. "I'm afraid he'll only be cleared for duty when our psychiatrist deems it appropriate, Sir." She turned, looking at Ed warily.
"Edward, I need you to empty your pockets and place all your belonging in the bin- we'll have them bagged and waiting for you when you're released. Also- no clothes with underwire, metal studs, belts, or drawstrings."
Ed blinked, reaching into his pockets warily. He had a small black notebook and his state alchemist's watch, and he hesitated, shooting Mustang a look.
I worked so hard for this watch. And now you want me to just hand it over?
Roy spoke up. "I'll hold onto it if you want, Fullmetal. Your research journal, too. I know they're important to you." he didn't want to risk the hospital staff trawling through Ed's notebook and stumbling upon writing about human transmutation. Ed nodded, eagerly handing him over, and Mustang slid them into his pocket.
"Right. Give your commanding officer back his coat, Edward."
"No." Ed blinked, shooting Mustang a look and pulling it tighter around him. "He said he'd come visit me here. I'm holding it as collateral. It doesn't have any strings or wires in it, so I should be allowed to have it, right?"
The nurse looked exasperated, but didn't push it further.
"Right. Take off your shoes and strip to your underwear, please- we'll need to do an initial body examination for any scars and self-injury."
Ed sighed, but did as he was told, tugging off his shirt and pants, giving his belt to the admitting nurse.
The head nurse had frowned, and her eyes settled on Ed's automail arm and leg as her lips quirked into a frown.
She turned to Mustang, looking dismayed. "So- when will his mechanic be arriving to remove his automail?"
Ed turned, looking at Roy like a deer in the headlights, and Roy stepped forward, placing a hand on the kid's shoulder to steady him. Ed's expression had gone frantic, and Roy understood why.
"That's not happening."
The nurse frowned. "Automail generally isn't allowed in our lockdown unit. If he were to get violent, he could seriously injure or kill a staff member."
Roy blinked. "Lockdown unit? What the hell are you talking about, he's being admitted to the pediatric unit."
"Of course! We just, don't have many patients with automail, and it's hospital policy that automail be removed..."
Roy blinked. "You want to put this kid in a wheelchair because it's more convenient for you?"
"Mr. Mustang. It's safer for the staff. if he were to get violent..."
"But that's the thing- he isn't violent." Roy said seriously.
The nurses eyes darted to the admission papers. "With all due respect, sir, it's up to our psychiatrist to determine that."
Ed turned to Mustang, looking frantic. "I'm not going! They're gonna make me a cripple again, I won't do it!"
"Edward, honey- you don't have a choice." the head nurse said patiently.
Ed's eyes were impossibly wide, and Mustang felt fury welling up in his chest. He turned to Ed, handing the boy his keys. "Ed, go sit in the car." he said, voice steely.
"Mr. Mustang, this boy is being admitted to a psychiatric hospital. He can't be allowed to go sit in the car alone."
"I haven't transferred him to your custody yet. I've physically signed those papers, but he's not in his unit or assigned a bed, so he is under my care, understand? We need to discuss adult matters, so Ed will wait in the car. Ed, go." Ed scurried out to the car, climbing back in the passenger seat, and Roy turned to the head nurse.
"Normally I'm not a pretentious man, but to be honest with you, I didn't want to kid hearing me tear you a new one." Roy said.
The nurse simply watched him, mouth clamped shut.
Roy sat heavily in his chair. "Now- let me ask you, nurse kim- how would you feel if I took away one of your limbs?"
The nurse standing beside the door, who already looked uncomfortable, gasped, and nurse Kim straightened in her chair. "Is that a threat, Mr. Mustang?"
"No. It's a hypothetical question that you already know the answer to. Now, my next question- I want to see where in your facility policy it says the kid can't have automail. Can you show me where?"
The nurse frowned, eyes shifting. "It's not written down, but it's standard practice on the lockdown unit..."
Roy blinked. "On this paperwork, there's only three units listed. There's pediatric, adult, and substance abuse and detox. What the hell is the lockdown unit?"
The nurse sighed. "It's our unit for the criminally insane on the fifth floor. We don't advertise about it. No automail allowed."
Roy blinked. "Okay. But he's being admitted to the pediatric unit, and he isn't criminally insane- so you're telling me that you take automail off all your pediatric patients before they're admitted?"
"Well, to be honest with you, we've never had a child admitted with automail before..."
"But the adults. The people on the substance abuse and detox units. Surely you've had patients with automail there."
The nurse frowned. "Occasionally, yes. But Edward's admission documents are... concerning. It's better for the safety of the staff if his limbs are removed, temporarily."
"So it's actually not hospital policy, it's just more convenient for you." Roy said, voice leaving no room for argument. "Well, unfortunately, Ed's wellbeing comes before your convenience, so he's going to be admitted with his automail on. Otherwise, I'm not signing him over or giving you custody, and you can explain to the military why you want to cripple one of their best soldiers for your convience.".
The nurse sighed, looking irritated and defeated. "If that boy hurts one of my staff, the military will be held liable."
"I look forward to never hearing from you then, because my major is not violent. Tell me nurse Kim, were you always such a frigid woman, or have years of working in the mental health system made your soul wither away?"
Nurse Kim snapped her mouth shut, looking irritated. "Will you bring Edward back in here, at least?" she snipped.
Roy stood. "Of course." Roy stood, stiffly walking out of the hospital and motioning for Ed to get out of the car. Ed was looking at him anxiously, and roy nodded tot he kid, trying to make his expression reassuring.
"They aren't taking your automail."
"They aren't? What if they try to do it while I'm sleeping? Ed looked unconvinced.
"They don't know how, they hardly ever see automail. And you'd wake up if they tried. It's alright- they're not taking it off you, I promise."
Ed nodded, and they both ducked back into the room. the nurses shot them looks, but Ed continued to strip off his clothes at the head nurses clipped instruction.
The nurse's eyes widened at the variety of scars on the kid. "Are any of these self-harm?"
"Nope. Occupational hazards. They're mostly in my medical records, except for this one- Ed pointed to a three inch scar on his right calf. "Didn't have time to get to a hospital and was in the middle of nowhere, so I stitched that one up myself. Did a good job too, look how neat that scar is." Ed looked proud of himself.
"Right." the head nurse didn't look amused. "And how did your face get cut? I see you have a butterfly bandage there..."
"It was a knife. Someone tried to kill me." Ed said simply.
The nurse's eyes widened. "And- how did that conflict end?"
Ed blinked, looking surprised. "He succeeded. You're talking to a ghost right now." Ed said sarcastically.
"Ed, be serious." Roy ordered. He'd already pissed off the staff here enough, he didn't need Ed's attitude making it worse.
Ed sighed. "I... I won the fight, if that's what your asking."
"But how?" the nurse prodded.
"I killed him. He... he was trying to drown me, I didn't... I tried to think of another way, but there was nothing." Ed said sadly. "I wish I hadn't had to."
The nurses were exchanging glances. "And... this has been reported to the police?"
"It's being handled by the military. It happened while he was on duty, after all- it was self-defense." Mustang said simply. The nurse nodded and continued with her questions.
Once they said Ed could put on his clothes, Ed eagerly tugged his shirt back on, and threw mustang's coat around his shoulders.
"Right. Say goodbye to Mr. Mustang, and we'll show you to your room." the nurse said seriously.
Roy blinked. "I'm coming with him. I want to see his room and make sure he's settled before I go."
The head nurse looked annoyed, but Ed looked grateful, falling into step beside him as they headed towards the elevators.
On the second floor, the nurse unlocked the large metal double doors and locked them again behind her. There was a large common room with toys and games, and a bookcase, with three tables set up on the far side of the room and chairs, a small cafeteria of sorts.
There were rooms on either side of the hallway with beds.
"Due to your age and your occupation, you're being assigned your own room. It's a luxury some other kids here don't have, so we expect you to be humble about it." nurse kim said briskly, leading them to the room.
It was small- the only windows were a small rectangle near the top of the wall, and the glass had that protective wire mesh in it as well.
The bed was small but clean, and there was a night table and a dresser.
"None of these doors close completely. They're designed that way so you can't barricade yourself away from the staff. you'll be getting checked on every half hour, so don't expect much privacy. If you want a shower, a staff member will have to supervise you. Group therapy for teens is in the morning, and the psychiatrist is in tomorrow to start evaluating you."
Ed blinked, noticing a small desk in the corner and brightening slightly. "Books? Can I have books?"
The nurse nodded. "We have children's books in the common room..."
Ed turned to Mustang, looking bothered.
"Books are allowed on the unit?" he asked nurse Kim, who nodded hesitantly.
"I'll bring you some when I come back for visiting hours after work. Which ones do you want?" Roy asked carefully.
Ed's shoulders relaxed, and he rattled off several alchemical volumes he'd borrowed from the library- Roy remembered the kid had left them on his desk in the office and nodded.
"Right. I'll stop by your dorm and get you more clothes to bring as well. Do you want anything else?"
Ed blinked, before he shook his head. "When are you coming back?" he asked quietly.
"I'll be here at five thirty with everything."
"Promise?" Ed asked quietly.
Roy nodded. "I promise. If anything happens or you need me- you know my number. Get some rest- relax- I know you could use it after the case. It's already two- I'll be at the office for three hours, then I'll be back."
"Okay." Ed darted forward, surprising both nurses when he gave Mustang a quick hug, which the man returned, before he was climbing onto his bed. "If I'm asleep when you get back- wake me up. I don't want to miss your visit." Ed said seriously.
Roy resisted the urge to smile. "You got it, kid. rest up. See you soon." he turned, ducking out of the room, nurse Kim and her assistant at his heels.
"Mr. Mustang- we normally recommend that parents and family avoid visiting on the first day a patient is admitted to the unit. it disrupts their routine." nurse Kim said as they walked.
Roy blinked. "I appreciate your dedication to giving these kids structure- but Ed's a special case. I'm his guardian, and if it's within visiting hours, I'm going to see him. thanks for your concern, though." he brushed her off easily, and the woman glowered but said nothing.
Roy turned, heading back to the office, and reminded himself it was only three hours.