Story: It Is What It Is, Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA
A/N: I am SOOO sorry that it's been so long. We've been dealing with hurricane Florence, which has caused a lot of damage. The power was out for over a week,(Now my computer is out, so I'm gonna have to use my brother's until I can manage to get mine fixed). Not to mention I have been dealing with my senior project, so I have been super busy. And since we've lost two weeks of school due to the hurricane, things are probably gonna be even more hectic when I get back. w;;;
And I know I said I would have Alphonse this chapter, but I had written up a whole scene with Edward and Alphonse on my own computer, yet since it's gone out, it's going to take a bit longer. *sobs*
This is the last chapter Ed, Roy and Riza will be Kreta. They're finally gonna be going back to central next chapter.
Anyway, I finally managed to post a chapter. Hahahah...
Though I really feel like I shorthanded Riza in this. I'm not all that proud of this chapter...
Replies to Reviews
CatCat said: Whoops! Been a while since I've reviewed...
Fabulous chapter again, I love where this story is going. I feel so bad for Ed though, the poor little guy. He's got so much to worry about, and I can't believe that he's worried about Al being mad at him...
Anyways, I probably won't be reviewing for a while because my school starts up again offically in a few days and the workload we get can be pretty huge, so I'll be pretty busy. I just wanted to know that I loved your story and I'll try to keep checking and reading when I can!
I'm glad you're enjoying the story, and I hope you'll stick through it with me!
And yes, Edward needs a hug. :(
About school, that's fine! Take your time! I understand the hastles of it all too well!
Cats and violin said: I've been eyeing this story for a long time I'm really glad I read it I'm excited to read more
Finally had a chance to read this chapter. Awesome as usual lol.
Thanks for checking it out! :D
I hope you'll stick with me!
Heartbreakerninja said: Poor Ed kid is so confused. I am apprehensive as to how Al is gonna take this. Nothing worse then two depressed kids. But I think Al will want to just hold his brother and not let him go...or at least that's what I would do.
Looking forward to the next chapter.
Yes, Ed's just going through a lot. He knows down deep that Roy and Riza are there for him, though, or at least is beginning to try to believe it. And Alphonse is just a kid like Edward, so he might not handle it well or completely know how to respond at first, but with the encouragement of Riza and Roy, he will most certainly be there for his brother.
KittyKatz009 said: Sweetness! Not gonna lie: I was actually thinking about this story a couple hours ago so it's awesome that you updated tonight! I really liked this chapter. Didn't seem too rushed at all. I completely understand why he wasn't admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Sometimes those can be traumatic experiences in their own way, especially if unwilling, so I think this was the best course of action. I am both eager yet afraid to see what Al's reaction is going to be, as well as how Edward's road to recovery is going to play out. Great job!
Yes, that's one reason I didn't have him admitted, I can speak from experience that there are some really bad institutions.
Besides, since Ed's an Alchemist, he could cause all kinds of chaos if he was admitted involuntarily. I think Roy would realize that. So that's another reason why I didn't go the hospitalization route, especially not this soon. And I'm really looking forward to writing the part with Alphonse.
...
(I feel like Riza could have been written better in this. I sometimes have a hard time carrying on dialogue between more than two people, so I hope I'm doing okay...
I don't want do what some people do as in simply making Riza stand at Roy's side and that being the end to her character. Even if she will be at his side, I also want her to have her own sense of agency and character, her own interests and hobbies(thus why I did the dart thing earlier in the story) and an equally supportive role in the Elric brothers lives. I honestly love Riza's character, but I feel like some people don't fully grasp her potential and role) I'm really trying here, but it's very hard because I worry so much about keeping things in character. And I swear she WILL have good and supportive moments in the future just like she has throughout the story. So please bear with me.)
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Forty eight hours, the doctor had said.
Two days and he was supposed to be able to leave; was supposed to be able to get back on the road so he could see Alphonse again.
Edward was, by nature, hot-headed and a tad impulsive, alongside several other things; 'patient' most certainly wasn't one of them, especially not in this kind of situation. Due to being under suicide watch, he hadn't even being able to go to the bathroom once without somebody lurking over his shoulder!
And once he was sure that forty eight hours had passed, Edward began to become extremely irritated and anxious, his arms itching like hell.
In cases like this, though it wasn't intentional, he also had a very systematic way of thinking. If somebody said a certain number of hours, he set that exact expectation.
"How much longer? Surely, forty eight hours have passed already, haven't they?" Edward groaned, eventually.
"Yes, they have but the doctors have to get your papers together before they can discharge you." Riza explained.
"Well, I hope they hurry..." Edward muttered. He had been in hospitals before and knew how they worked, so he knew he was being petty, but past experience didn't ease his anxieties at all. If anything, it made him more anxious because he knew they could take forever to get to somebody.
"They can't just drop what they're doing and cater to your every wish, Ed. Things like this take time." Roy tried to reason, but came off a little harsh.
"Hey, I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you getting this damn hospital involved in the first place." Edward spat, glaring. Truthfully, a part of him knew that he was going to make things worse, and that Roy had genuinely been trying in his own way to be supportive. So he didn't really know what he was trying to accomplish by provoking the man, or why he was doing it. Perhaps it was the mixture of boredom and pent up frustration, he subconsciously reasoned. Not that it was offering him any relief. In fact, it had simply made him feel worse.
"And what would you have suggested me do differently, Ed?" Roy asked cooly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he closed the magazine he was absentmindedly skimming over. Edward inwardly cringed. He knew that he was about to receive a lecture about how stupid he was for cutting himself, and how it was all his fault he was here. The thing was, Edward knew he was to blame, but he didn't want to be reminded of it, much less admit it. "Should I have left you to lose what little blood you had left in your body? Would that have satisfied you?"
"Colonel, stop it." Riza interjected before Edward could respond, not liking where this was going. It was especially bad since Roy had been through the same thing. When she and Hughes had found out what he had been doing to himself, he had, quite frankly, been far less cooperative than Edward had, albeit in a more passive-aggressive way, but they had been very patient with him regardless. Yet, Roy was going out of his way to carry on a banter with Edward. It was true that Edward did need to relax, but Roy saying such things to Edward in the state of mind that he was most certainly wasn't going to help anything. "and please, try to calm down, Ed. I know this isn't easy for you, but it shouldn't be much longer."
She called him 'Ed' without thinking about it.
After hearing Riza, Edward was conflicted at first, but eventually gave in, uttering a "fine..." beneath his breath.
Roy then sighed, wondering how and why Riza was so good at working with Edward and getting him to cooperate.
And sure enough, it was only fifteen minutes later that a young lady came in.
"Edward Elric?" she asked.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Hello, my name is Cathy. I'm from registration. I need to get some papers signed. Are you his guardians?" the woman turned to Roy and Riza.
"Yes, ma'm." Roy answered in an inquiring tone.
"Can I get a signature from one of you?" She asked, additionally explaining that it was Edward's discharge papers, and that it was to confirm that he was satisfied with Edward's treatment.
"Of course. I'll do it." Roy grinned.
"Thank you." Cathy smiled, handing Roy a pen. She then got Edward to sign as well, which he, fortunately, complied with.
Afterwards, she explained that Sternin had also given him a referral to a psychologist over in Central for a week in advance. Naturally, Edward wasn't happy at hearing that, but kept his mouth shut for the time being to avoid the chance of the hospital trying to keep him longer.
Mustang thanked the woman before she left Edward with his old clothes so he could change.
Riza stepped out of the room, but Roy stayed in case Edward needed his help(and to keep an eye on him).
Edward hissed in pain as he tried to slip on his black long sleeve shirt.
"Here, hold up your arms. I'm sure you can at least do that." Roy said, after taking the shirt from him.
Edward felt degraded, but decided to cooperate. Normally, it would be Alphonse who helped him with this kind of thing if he was hurt.
Come to think of it, all three of them - Riza, Roy, and Alphonse had done so much for him, Winry and Pinako no less. Not to mention that Roy was also ultimately the reason he had met so many kind people; Ross, Riza, Major Armstrong, Sheska, Nina, Gracia, Elysia, and so many others, especially Hughes...
It was something he'd always known, but he had ignored the thought. However, now that the memory of Hughes was, once again, brought up, something inside of Edward suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Hughes was Roy's best friend, but due to the boy revealing the information he did, Hughes had got killed. Even though the thought was painful, especially since Roy and Riza had been so supportive of him this past week, Edward couldn't help but wonder; did he blame him?
"Is something wrong?" Edward jumped a bit when Roy's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He had got his clothes changed, but hadn't moved to follow him out the door.
"Hm? No, it's nothing important. Sorry." Edward said a little awkwardly, before heading to the now open slide door. Roy, though unaware of the thoughts and insecurities consuming the boy's mind, could tell that something was bothering him.
As Edward started to pass through the doorway, Roy placed a hand on Edward's shoulder, stopping him. "Are you still worried about your brother...?"
"No, not really," Edward said, before looking away. "Well, I mean, yeah, I am still kind of nervous about how he'll will react when he finds out, but I'll make it. After all, I've got you and the Lieutenant, don't I?"
Edward looked back up at Roy and gave a small smile, which showed that he was truly beginning to trust him, or at least wanting to. Mustang, however, knew that, despite everything, Edward was still holding back. He could see it in his eyes. Furthermore, Edward's tone still rang of doubt, as if he was still questioning if Roy and Riza truly were going to support him.
"Yeah, you do." Roy said, a pained look in his eyes, as he briefly reached up and brushed his hand over Edward's head without thinking. A soft smile then graced his lips when he simply uttered out, "Come on."
Edward had been taken aback at Roy's gesture. It had been completely genuine and lacked the man's usual guile. Edward didn't know why, but something inside of him felt another pang of guilt. It hurt. After everything they had done for him, he had had nothing to offer in return except snide remarks, arguments and insults. More than anything, he wanted to apologize and thank them for everything, but suddenly, the words wouldn't come. It felt like there was a lump in his throat.
"Mn." Edward quietly followed behind, as they met up with Riza, who noticed and recognized the look in both of their eyes.
...
A/N: Next chapter will have Alphonse for sure. (I promise, this time)
Chapter title name suggestions would be appreciated! I can't think of one. ^^