The next breakthrough came only a week later.
Alex brought a small box of strawberries to Maes's hospital room. The latter looked at the box as if it contained poison instead of fruit. Alex tried not to sigh. Maes needed to start eating again sooner or later if he wanted to ever leave that room. They tried and tried giving him a variety of foods but he refused everything.
„Meas, my friend, try to eat at least one. You've always liked strawberries.”
The black-haired man looked down. His long hair pulled together into a single braid fell off his shoulder.
„Think about it this way, the sooner you'll start eating, the sooner you'll be able to go to Resembool and see your kids again. I thought staring with fruit would be good for you.”
Maes shook his head.
„Why won't you eat?”
There was a long moment of silence in which Alex looked at Maes and the black-haired man stared at his hands before Maes finally forced out a single word.
„...sick.”
„Sick? So you don't like strawberries anymore?”
Shake off a head.
„Have you developed an allergy?”
Another false guess.
Alex thought for a moment „Are you scared you're going to get sick?”
Maes nodded.
„It's true, that after not eating for so long, you may feel sick, but that's a natural reaction. Please, try eating one.”
„mess.”
Mess? What part of eating a strawberry could be considered messy? Maybe the leaves, but he could always place them in the box. Unless...
„You mean, you're scared you'll get sick and you'll throw up?”
Maes nodded again.
„Even if you do, no one is going to get angry at you. I promise.”
The younger still didn't seem to be fully convinced but he took one of the strawberries and looked at it carefully. Alex tried not to look at him too much to not freak him out. Then Maes took a small bite of the fruit and slowly chewed on it before eating the rest in a single bite. He reached for the second one and then the third. As he grabbed the fourth Alex felt he needed to say something.
„Maes, I'm glad you're eating again, but please, do slow down or you'll get sick for sure.”
Maes stopped eating and looked at the strawberry in his hand. He looked like a kicked puppy. He placed the strawberry back in the box and pushed it towards Alex.
„No, I'm not going to take them from you. I just wanted you to try to eat them slower. No one is going to take them away from you.” he pushed the box back.
The other took another strawberry and began to nibble on it.
Alex smiled at him. They were finally getting somewhere.
YOU ARE READING
The Mansion On Drachmian Border
FanficFifteen years ago Maes Hughes was murdered in the phone booth. Fourteen years ago Gracia and Elicia Hughes disappeared and were proclaimed dead. Those were two facts in Roy Mustang's life until he receives a phone call proving them to be lies. What'...
