Sicktember Day 28: Missing Out
Word Count: 971
Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl
Rating: K/G
Characters: Alphonse Elric and Riza Hawkeye
Warning:
Summary: There are celebrations going on in the city. Unfortunately, neither Al or Riza can go to them.
Notes: I figured with both of them at high risk for infectons, they probably didn't go out a lot!
Missing out
"It sure sounds like they're having fun out there."
Alphonse looked out the window longingly. Outside there was music, laughing, and talking. The smell of food drifted up, something that could be smelled even through the closed window. Out in the hall the festive attitude carried on. The tone of people's voices were light, happy, celebratory. Someone had the radio on, music playing. Every so often the smell of food drifted in under the door.
The city was celebrating.
Hawkeye lowered her book, looking over at the young man. "Yes, it does, doesn't it?" She was quiet for a moment. "You wish you were out there, don't you?"
Alphonse sighed heavily. "I do. I know that the doctors want to be careful with me, but I'm so much stronger now! I don't expect to stay out all night, but I'd love to just go for a little while. Even if it's just thirty minutes!"
"I understand," she responded. Her lips tipped up in a smile. "Normally, I'd suggest a bit of a jail break, but I don't think that either one of us would make it very far."
Alphonse blinked at her for a moment, and then laughed. "Would you really, Lieutenant?"
She grinned. "I'm not always as much of a rule follower as people think, Al. I did participate in overthrowing the government, after all."
He smiled back at her. "I suppose that's true! Still…" He looked back outside of the window from the small, padded bench that had been placed under it. "…I wish I was out there."
Hawkeye sat her book down, and stood up, waiting a moment to make sure that she was stable before she made her way over to the bench. She sat down beside the teenager. "It's hard to miss out. I understand that."
"I spent so long missing out on so much, and now it's right here, and I can't participate in it," Al said. "It's so frustrating!"
"It is," Hawkeye agreed. "And it's harder when it's so close." She looked out the window as well. "It's hard to almost be a part of the world, with what seems like no reason why you shouldn't be, and yet not be able to participate."
Alphonse looked at her. "…have you felt like that before, Lieutenant?"
She looked back at him, looking at him with a small smile. "It's not the same as what you've been through. But after Ishval, when I came back, there were celebrations happening all over. People were happy for the war to be over, for their loved ones to be back. I wanted to go out. I wanted to participate. But even though there was no reason that I couldn't go, I still couldn't. I couldn't leave the dorm to go. I couldn't make myself leave and go out. There was no physical reason stopping me. I could hear everything, smell the food, but I couldn't make myself go out. I couldn't participate. I couldn't be a part of it. It hurt and it was frustrating, but that was how it was."
Alphonse stared at her for a moment, and then looked back out the window. "Lieutenant… I'm sorry, I—"
"No, don't be," she interrupted him. "I didn't tell you that for sympathy. Like I said, it's not the same as what you're feeling now, but I do understand the feeling. But it is better to wait until you're ready to go back out, as opposed to going out to early."
Alphonse nodded. "Did it take you a while to get out and going again?
"It took a bit," she said. "But I had good friends who wouldn't leave me alone. Rebecca would bring me food and things that she found. Havoc would too. They'd come and visit me and so would others. And there were other, small ways that I would try to get myself involved in the world again. Like—"
She cut off, and reached up, opening the window and giving it a push. The window swung open, letting in all of the sounds, smells, and noise of the celebrations happening below. Alphonse took in a deep breath, and sighed, enjoying all of the things he was smelling.
"There are ways we can enjoy this, the best we can," Hawkeye said. "Yes, we're going to miss out on things, but we can still enjoy them as much as we're ready too. It will happen when the time is right."
"I suppose so," Al said. "I just—" his words were cut off as there was a knock at the door and they both turned towards it.
"Excuse me? Lieutenant Hawkeye? Mr. Elric?" A nurse stood at the door, some containers in her hands.
"Yes?" Hawkeye said.
The nurse smiled at her. "I have a delivery for you. Some friends of both of you dropped this off. It's some food from the celebration down their that's within your dietary restrictions. The doctor thinks it will be fine if you have it."
"Really?" Alphonse said.
The nurse smiled at him. "Yep! Here, let me get it set up for you two."
The nurse worked quickly, and soon both Hawkeye and Alphonse had food in their hands as they sat by the window.
"This is fantastic," Al said as he ate.
"It's is," Riza agreed.
The sound of an explosion came from outside, and they turned, watching as fireworks shot into the air. Hawkeye smiled.
"You see?" she said. "We aren't going to miss out on everything."
Alphonse looked up at the fireworks, and then down at the food, before looking back over at Hawkeye. "You're right, Lieutenant. I'll take it a day at a time."
She smiled back at him. "Good."
Both of them turned their heads to look back up at the fireworks, content in this moment.