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It’s easy to forget how young Ed and Al are. They’re largely self-sufficient, traveling across Amestris without any issue. Even when they’re in the office, it’s easy to think of them as adults. Sure, Ed has the shortest temper Mustang has ever seen and a real penchant for drama, but it’s rare that he truly acts like a child.
Which is why he’s taken aback, reading through the letter in his hand. Apparently, Fullmetal is overdue on several standard vaccinations. Several years overdue, if this note is accurate. These are childhood vaccinations that Ed should have received before joining the military. In fact, Mustang isn’t sure how Fullmetal was able to get his State Alchemist Certification without them.
He can remember taking Ed to the doctor for his pre-exam physical. This should have been brought to his attention then, not a year after-the-fact. Although, thinking back on it, he was in quite a rush to leave. Ed practically shoved Roy out of the office doors after leaving the examination room.
Mustang sighs, dropping the letter on top of his mountain of paperwork. He reaches a hand up to rub away the tension growing between his eyebrows. He really doesn’t have time for this.
Like the letter has summoned him, Fullmetal kicks in his office door and stops in front of Roy’s desk.
A report smacks down in front of him, a few other papers fluttering to the floor on the gust it creates. Mustang has to hold back another sigh at the chicken scratch covering the paper. Fullmetal’s reports may as well be in code for how legible they are.
Ed sits on a couch across from the desk, a smug smile spread across his face. The smile fades, though, as Mustang pulls the discarded letter out from under his report. His eyes track the pink paper as Mustang waves it triumphantly.
“Care to explain why you’re not up to date on your vaccinations, Fullmetal?”
Roy watches Ed’s face waver for a moment before his expression goes blank.
“I’ve been a little busy, in case you haven’t noticed,” he gestures towards his report. “Must’ve slipped my mind.” He shrugs his shoulders, looking away from the paper still held aloft between them.
“I expect it to be resolved by the end of the week. Are we clear?” Roy drops the paper on the far side of the desk, right in front of Fullmetal.
Ed mumbles under his breath. Roy can’t make out exactly what he says, but is positive the boy is shooting some combination of expletives in his direction.
“Are. We. Clear?” He asks again, enunciating each word clearly.
Ed snatches the paper off the desk, standing abruptly. “Yes. End of the week. Got it.” He turns on his heel and Roy watches as he leaves the office. Hopefully, to schedule a doctor’s appointment.
–
A few weeks go by before another letter lands on Roy’s desk. This time, he doesn’t bother confronting Fullmetal. Clearly, the boy isn’t going to do this without being forced.
So, Mustang calls the number printed on the bottom of the page and schedules an appointment for him. Luckily, they’d had a cancellation and he was able to schedule it for later that day.
Then, he calls Fullmetal where he’s been staying in the military dorms.
His luck strikes again when Ed picks up on the third ring, “Hello?”
“Fullmetal, I need you in the office today.”
“Uhh, okay…” Mustang hears some shuffling across the line before Fullmetal’s voice is back, more muffled than before. “Al, Colonel Bastard is calling me in. Are you ok to head to the library without me?” Ed pauses, clearly listening to Al before continuing in that same muffled tone, “Alright, yeah. I’ll meet you there.” More shuffling across the line and then, coming through clear again, “You know, a little heads up would’ve been nice.”
“Time is of the essence, Fullmetal.” Roy grits out between clenched teeth.
“Ok, ok. Give me like half an hour and I’ll be there.”
“I’ll keep an eye out,” he deadpans before hanging up.
Half an hour. That should give him some time to finish up his paperwork before he and Fullmetal need leave for the clinic.
In fact, he’s so engrossed in his work that he only notices the time has passed when his office door creaks open. Ed stands in the doorway, looking furtively around the room.
His gaze lands on Roy, eyebrows raised, hands open in front of him in silent question, “What’s the emergency?”
Mustang stands from his desk, points at Fullmetal, “You,” then points at the couch across from him, “Sit.”
He sits back down as Fullmetal makes his way across the room and settles himself into the spot Roy indicated. At Ed’s questioning glance, he lifts the pink paper into his line of sight. Ed’s face drains of color when he sees it.
“We’re leaving here in about…” he glances over at the clock resting on his desk, “an hour to go to the clinic. We’re finishing this today, Fullmetal.”
“But–,” Ed sputters out, “But I need an appointment. We can’t just walk in.”
“I’ve made you an appointment. It’s in an hour and a half. You’re lucky I was able to get you in that quickly.”
Ed sucks in a sharp breath, narrowing his eyes, “You made me a doctor’s appointment? I thought you needed special permission from me to handle my medical shit?”
“No, I don’t need your written permission. When you signed up for the military, I became your legal guardian.” Hadn’t he told him that?
Apparently not since Ed just stares at him, shocked. His mouth is gaping open like he’s struggling to find the words.
Roy jumps in before Fullmetal starts yelling at him, “You really thought the military would let an orphan join the ranks without someone charged with your care? What if you were injured in the line of duty? You needed someone to be able to advocate for you.”
“That’s Al’s job! You don’t have to baby me, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Besides, you’re not my guardian, you’re just my–”
“Superior officer?” Mustang cuts him off. “I know you don’t always see it, Ed, but I care very deeply about my subordinates’ wellbeing. And yes, it is my job as your superior officer to take control of the situation should you not take care of yourself, which is exactly what has happened here. These vaccinations are important, Fullmetal. Do you even know what happens if you catch one of the diseases these vaccines would protect you from? Health aside, you technically shouldn’t even have your certification without them.” Not to mention the amount of paperwork Roy would have to complete, explaining why he allowed his subordinate to travel across the country while unvaccinated.
Ed seems to shrink in his seat.
“Now. I’m going to finish up here. You’re going to sit where I can see you. At noon, you and I will start heading towards the clinic, okay?”
Fullmetal doesn’t give a verbal agreement, he just slumps further into the couch, arms crossed. He’s mumbling under his breath again, but Roy has refocused on the paperwork in front of him. If he doesn’t finish these today, Hawkeye’s gonna be furious.
The clock ticks away and Roy accomplishes most of the paperwork he’d set out to do. He looks up at the strange silence that’s descended over the room. Ed is still seated in front of him, but he isn’t mumbling anymore. Instead, he’s bouncing his left leg restlessly and chewing on a fingernail. His face is pinched, eyes staring holes into the floor.
Maybe Ed doesn’t like doctors? That would explain the rush to leave last time and his reluctance to return.
He checks the time and jumps out of his seat. More time passed than he’d thought. They have ten minutes to reach the other side of the command campus where the clinic is.
Ed looked up at Mustang’s abrupt movement, hand going back down to his side.
“Come on, let’s go. We’re running late.” Roy says in a rush, gesturing for Ed to stand up and start walking towards the door.
They book it through the hallways of the office building. Once they’re on the lawn, Mustang sets a brisk pace to get across the campus. Ed huffs beside him, having to take two steps for every one of Mustang’s so he’s practically jogging to keep up. Mustang, wisely, elects to keep this observation to himself.
Well, they won’t be early but at least they’ll be on time, Mustang thinks as the clinic building comes into sight before them. Ed trips a bit when he sees the building, Mustang reaching down and gripping his shoulder to keep him on his feet.
Mustang climbs up the steps towards the clinic’s front door, only to notice Ed isn’t beside him anymore. Roy looks on his other side, nothing, before turning around. He sees him immediately. Ed is still standing at the base of the stairs. He quickly jogs down to meet him, grabs him by the elbow and ushers him towards the door.
“C’mon, we’ve gotta get you checked in before they cancel the appointment.”
Ed doesn’t resist the movement, but he’s also difficult to maneuver since he’s staring wide-eyed at the building in front of them.
Mustang walks them through the clinic doors and deposits Ed into one of the waiting room chairs. Leaving him there, hoping he doesn’t make a run for it, Roy walks up to the little desk at the front of the room.
The girl behind the counter slides a glass partition to the side so they can hear each other better.
“Hello!” She says cheerfully, “How can I help you?”
“Hi, I’d like to check Edward Elric in. Apologies for the delay, we were a little late in getting here.”
“No worries! You’re actually right on time.” She slides a clipboard and pen over the counter. “Just go ahead and fill that out and someone should be out to grab you shortly.
“Thanks.” Mustang grabs the clipboard and fills out the form. He leaves the information within the girl's reach and heads back over to Ed.
Now that he knows they aren’t going to be late, Roy takes a second to really look at Edward.
And honestly? He looks like shit.
Fullmetal is perched on the edge of the chair, hunching over slightly so his elbows rest on his knees. His hands tremble slightly where they’re drooping into open air. The way he’s positioned has his bangs covering most of his face, but Roy can see that the boy is as white as a sheet.
Mustang figured Fullmetal didn’t like doctors in the same way a lot of people don’t like doctors. A little bit of discomfort, maybe some nerves, but this is something different. This goes beyond the normal reaction to a doctor’s visit.
“Ed? Are you–”
A door opens up from the back wall of the waiting room, a nurse hovering in the doorway, clipboard in hand.
“Edward Elric?”
Roy sees Ed pull himself together. Watches him take a deep breath, adjust his face into a careful calm, and stand from his hunched position, walking towards the nurse. Mustang follows closely behind him. The nurse glances over Edward’s head at Roy as he crosses the doorway after them, but doesn’t say anything.
“Hello, Edward. How are you doing today?”
“Good.” His voice comes out thin and reedy. He clears his throat and tries again, “Good.”
“That’s good! Just go ahead and step up onto the scale for me.”
“That number is gonna be way off from what you’re expecting,” Ed throws a look her way.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. Your automail is marked in your file. We’ll use previous visit history to establish a baseline.”
She gives him a reassuring smile as Ed steps up onto the scale. She makes a note before directing him to step off.
“Last thing, we just need to check your height.”
Ed bristles, but does what he’s told and steps onto the small platform.
The nurse fiddles with a couple levers to measure Fullmetal’s height.
Mustang holds his breath, just waiting for her to make a comment that’ll set Edward off.
Except, nothing ever comes. She smiles at Ed, “Perfect, you’re all set! Follow me and we’ll get you set up in an examination room.”
Ed seems to release a breath at the same time Mustang does. They follow behind her as she leads them further down the hall and into one of the rooms.
She asks a few more questions, allergies, medications, major surgeries, etc.
Ed answers every question without hesitation. Mustang was expecting him to shut down as they moved further into the building, but Ed almost seems to be comfortable now. There’s some color back in his face and his hands aren’t shaking anymore.
Which doesn’t make any sense.
The nurse swivels back around to face them. “Looks like you’re here today for some vaccinations?”
Ed freezes at the question, the same way he did at the clinic entryway.
Mustang jumps in to respond for him, “Yes. He was overdue for a visit, I think.”
“Well, it’s good you came back in for them. The doctor should be in soon to administer the shots and then you can be on your way!”
Mustang watches the new-found color drain out of Fullmetal’s face again, leaving him just as pale as before. Things are starting to click in his head. Roy isn’t so sure the doctor is what has Ed so on edge.
“Thank you.” Roy says over his shoulder as the nurse backs out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Ed’s gaze snaps to him as soon as the door clicks shut. “Okay. So, there’s actually something you should know before the doctor gets in here.” he says in a rush. “I kinda have a–,” his face contorts like he’s in pain, “small,” he grits his teeth together before his face smooths out and he continues, “fear of needles. I know it’s irrational, and I don’t know why, but no amount of logic has really helped before and–”
“Woah, woah, Ed slow down.” Mustang steps forward and places his hands on the boy’s shoulders. He can feel the tremors running through them and he tentatively asks, “Exactly how small is small?”
“Umm…” Ed hesitates, “So, it might actually be a big fear. Massive, really. Like, seriously, you might have to hold me down when they get in here with them because I completely lose control.” Fullmetal bites down into his bottom lip, averting his gaze.
“Hold you down?! This is starting to sound like something you should’ve told me sooner.”
“Why? How often do you see criminals waltzing into the street armed with needles? It was a non-issue before right now!”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Shit, Ed. I don’t see a way of getting you out of this. It really is a military requirement. Maybe we can reschedule? Give you some more time to prepare yourself?”
Ed gives a violent shake of his head. “The waiting is the worst part. I’d rather just get it over with. I’ve known about this for a while now, actually.”
Mustang raises his eyebrows, silently urging him to continue.
“They told me when I got my physical done that I’d have to come back. I rushed out of there before they could come out and tell you too. Honestly, I’m surprised they waited this long to start sending you shit since you’re, apparently, my legal guardian.”
“I–” Mustang is cut off by the door opening. He catches the flash of a metal tray held in the doctor’s hand. Ed must see it too because his entire body goes tense under Mustang’s hands, which are still gripping the kid’s shoulders. Ed starts to shift backwards, creating more room between himself and what’s in the doctor’s hands.
Roy moves without thinking. He walks away from Edward, severing the line of contact he had with him, to gently usher the doctor back out of the examination room.
The doctor gives him a bewildered look.
“Sorry,” He scrambles for some way to explain this situation. “So, Edward actually has a severe phobia of needles and I wanted to check if there was some way we could make this go quicker for him?”
The doctor’s face clears, “Oh! Actually, yes. Edward is here to receive multiple vaccinations today, correct?”
Mustang nods in confirmation.
“Let me grab a few other colleagues and we’ll administer the shots all at once.”
Mustang must give her a look because she elaborates, “Trust me, this happens more often than you would think. Just give me a few more minutes.”
And she’s walking back down the hallway, tray in hand.
Roy re-enters the examination room to see Edward in the same position he’d been in back in the waiting room. As the door clicks shut, he sees Ed take a quick peek at him through his bangs. A breath whooshes out of him and he slumps further forward, cradling his face in his hands.
“Ugh. I thought you were the doctor,” he mumbles through his palms.
“Nope, just me. I think I’ve found a way to make this a little easier, though.”
Ed sits back up, paper crinkling as he shifts, “Really? What?”
“I think you’re due for three different shots today,” Ed grimaces at the statement, “so the doctor is going to grab some other people so they can give you them all at one time.”
Ed looks at him warily, “I’m not sure that’s any better.”
“Well, it’s the best I can do for now.”
A knock sounds on the door this time, followed by the slow creak of the hinges as it opens.
“Hello, Edward!” It's the doctor Mustang talked to in the hallway. She isn’t holding the tray anymore and he watches as two other people shuffle into the room behind her.
She shuffles further into the room, the second doctor following to stand beside her, effectively blocking the third from Ed’s view.
“We’re going to make this as quick and easy as possible for you today, okay?”
Ed is so pale now that he’s almost looking kind of green. Mustang is a little afraid he’s going to pass out and topple off the examination table. He steps up to Ed’s side, just in case he has to catch him.
“First we’ve gotta disinfect your arm. Now, normally, we’d administer these between both arms, but I understand you’ve got an automail limb, correct?”
Ed gives a tight, stiff nod.
“Okay, that’s not a problem. We’ll do all three in your left arm today. You shouldn’t have to come back for another few years.” She steps around the front of the examination table to better access Ed’s left side. “Can you remove your coat? Or roll up the sleeve, whichever you’d prefer.”
Ed squeezes his eyes shut and takes in a deep breath. He opens his eyes again and slowly removes his coat halfway, so only his left arm is exposed.
The doctor rips open a small package and removes an alcohol soaked pad. She moves to wipe down Ed’s arm, but he shrinks away from her. Mustang can see his chest starting to heave with heavy breaths.
He remembers what Edward said to him right before the doctor walked in the first time, “you might have to hold me down when they get in here because I completely lose control.”
The thought of having to hold Ed down makes something break in his chest. He reaches forward anyway to drape an arm across his shoulders, making sure to avoid the area the doctor is trying to disinfect. He holds on tight, trying to keep Ed in place.
Edward continues to track the doctor’s movements and leans a little more into Mustang’s side. His automail hand comes up to grip the back of his shirt, like he’s afraid Roy’s going to leave him.
The doctor quickly disinfects Ed’s arm and walks back over to the other two. Ed’s face is mostly turned into Mustang’s chest as he watches them. He makes sure to squeeze Ed just a little tighter, hoping the extra pressure is comforting rather than restrictive.
Everything seems to be going well, up until the three doctors have to pass in front of Ed on the way to his left side. He’s treated to a full view of the three shots that are about to go through his flesh. Mustang watches as if in slow motion as Ed’s eyes blow comically wide, his expression twisting into one of pure terror. He draws in a ragged gasp, body tensing up to run, and Mustang is shifting to pull Edward into a hug.
He situates them so his arms are pinning Ed’s against his body, making sure to keep his bicep uncovered so the doctors can work. Ed’s body bucks against his, trying to dislodge his hold on him so he can escape the needles.
When the first needle touches his skin, Ed starts to scream, “No, NO!! I don’t want it, no, please, Please, DON’T!!”
“Shh, Ed it’s okay. You’re okay.” Mustang risks the security of his hold to gently shove Fullmetal’s face against his chest, trying to get him to stop looking. “It’s almost done, you’re almost done.”
He can feel tears starting to soak into his shirt where he’s cradling the back of Ed’s head. The needles withdraw, the shots administered, and the doctors file out of the room.
The door clicks shut and Ed is fully crying in Roy’s embrace. His right arm is still gripping the back of Roy’s shirt and he shifts to wrap Ed up in a real hug. Less like he’s holding him in place and more like he’s just holding him. He can feel the way Ed’s sobs are shaking his entire body and that feeling is back, like something in his chest is breaking.
He’d never really understood Hughes’s obsession with his daughter before. He thinks, maybe he’s starting to.
“It’s okay, you’re okay,” he’s gently rocking Ed side to side, the paper crinkling with each movement. “It’s all over, you did so well Ed.” He removes an arm briefly to drape Ed’s coat over his left shoulder and arm. “It’s done, you did it.”
Mustang continues to reassure Edward until his cries slowly taper off. They stand there a little longer, Roy letting Ed catch his breath. He doesn’t pull back until Ed does, tugging on his coat sleeve to put it back on properly.
His face is flushed, red spread all the way to his ears. He clears his throat, “Thanks.” He drags his hand under his eyes, trying to wipe away to tear tracks. “I told you, totally irrational fear.”
“Y’know, the doctor actually told me they have this happen more often than people think.”
Ed gives him a considering look, but doesn’t continue.
“You ready to go home? I can drop you off to meet with your brother.”
Ed nods before hopping off the examination table. Mustang holds a hand out behind his back, just in case his legs give out on him, but they make it all the way to the library without any issues.