It is What it Is (FMA Fanfiction)

Slowly Moving Forward

"Are you Edward?"

At hearing a female's voice calling out his name, Edward, who'd been trying to sleep, looked over his shoulder to see a middle-aged woman standing there.

"Yeah, that's me." the blonde said, subconsciously a bit skeptical.

"Hi, Edward." The woman smiled. "My name is Sternin. I'm going to be your doctor for today. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, I guess." Edward sat up, figuring she was there to do some kind of check up.

"I'm going to check your blood pressure, heartbeat, and a couple other things if you're okay with that." Sternin told him.

"Alright." Edward said.

Additionally to checking his blood pressure and heartbeat, Sternin also listened to his lungs, having him do a couple breathing exercises.

After they were done, Sternin once again smiled. "Alright, everything seems normal. Are you currently on any medications?"

"No, and I don't want to take any either." Edward muttered.

"Be nice, Edward." Riza lightly scolded him.

"I'm just saying. Leave it up to the doctors and they'll put me on a whole ton of unnecessary medicines..." Edward reasoned. After that, he was asked things like his birthdate, any allergies he had, and a couple other questions, which Edward was able to answer with little to no issue.

Until it reached that undesirable topic that Edward didn't want to discuss. "So I hear you did quite the armwork there."

"Yeah, sorta..." Edward immediately grew tense.

"Want to tell me a little bit about that?" Sternin asked.

"No..." Edward said, his face heating up at how awkward he was feeling.

"Are you his parents?" Sternin looked to Roy and Riza.

Roy didn't bother hiding the truth.

"No, but we are in charge of him. I'm Colonel Roy Mustang, and this is my Lieutenant, Riza Hawkeye. Perhaps you've heard of us. We came here to Kreta undercover, and I had him come with us." He pulled out and flashed his proof.

"Oh, you're in the military? I had no idea. Forgive my lack of respect, sir." Sternin apologized.

"Don't apologize. It's a common mistake." Roy shook his head. This seemed to be a frequent reaction a lot of people gave when they found out Roy was in the military, if it wasn't the complete opposite response.

"So are... you in the military as well?" Sternin asked Edward.

"Yeah, I'm a major." Edward answered.

"Aren't you a little... young?" Sternin inquired a little uncertainly.

"Maybe..." Edward said, thinking about it. "But there's something I have to do, so I can't quit until I achieve my goal."

"Whatever this goal of yours is, it must be very important to you." Sternin noted.

"Yeah... If I don't complete it, I'll never be able to truly face my brother again..." Edward looked away, guilt present in his eyes.

"Has anybody ever told you that you have the prettiest eye color?" Sternin wanted to know, suddenly changing the subject. Maybe it was some attempt to distract Edward or lighten up the mood.

"H-huh?" Edward almost choked at the sudden question. It wasn't the first time somebody had complimented his eyes(in fact, his mom used to do it sometimes too), and even random people he had met at points, but it was no less awkward and embarrassing.