Back with more modern au and I did it. I hit Al with my disability beam @silverfishmoonlight @mediamajda
I didn’t actually get to much into the actually disability and more just experience with doctors but I be projecting nonetheless and I’ll probably add more bits and pieces of the actually disability in future pieces
(More au here and here)
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What Matters
Ed was uneasy when Al wasn’t on the bus after school. He knew that Al had an appointment with another specialist, so he’d left school early, but it shouldn’t have been so late that he couldn’t come back for the last period or so. Which means Riza probably took him straight home after the appointment. Which meant the appointment hadn’t gone well. Which was frustrating at best. Disheartening was probably the more apt term though.
Ed scowled at the thought of another doctor dismissing Al’s struggle. Some doctors were full of shit. And Ed would say that to their faces if he could.
When the bus reached the neighborhood stop Ed hurried off, and didn’t hesitant in making his way towards Riza’s house. He’d text Roy and let him know where he was, but even Roy wouldn’t be home for another few hours so it didn’t make much of a difference where Ed was. He needed to see Al. Or maybe Al needed to see him. Or maybe both. Al probably wasn’t feeling great, and while Riza always meant well and took good care of Al, Ed needed to be there to support him just as much. If not more.
At door Ed knocked and waited a moment or two. He peered through the thin windows framing the door. No one in sight. He knocked again.
This time it only took another moment before the door opened, revealing Riza on the other side.
“Edward,” Riza nodded. “Pleasure to see you. Come on in.”
Ed smiled at her and made his way inside. “Thanks,” he said. “Where’s Al?”
Riza led him to the living room where he dropped off his backpack by Al’s.
“Upstairs in his room,” she answered. “It’s been…a day.”
Ed frowned. “I’m guessing the appointment was no good, huh?”
“It was a let down to say the least,” Riza said, moving out of the living room towards the kitchen. Ed followed.
She got down a glass and filled it with water, handing it to Ed.
“Al clearly wasn’t in the mood to return to school and I wasn’t going to make him,” Riza continued. “He’s been up in his room since we got home. I just talked with him actually. Seems to be doing a little better, just…let down, I think.”
Ed nodded, understanding. “It’s frustrating enough for us to watch him go through this, I can’t imagine how awful he must feel. If I could I’d give his doctors a piece of my mind…”
Riza chuckled and leaned against the counter. “I’m sure you would, Edward. I’m sure you would. Believe me, I’ve been sharp with more than one of them. He deserves to be heard and they don’t always start off with that as an option it seems.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Ed muttered into his glass. But it was one thing when the doctor could visibly see what was wrong —such as your leg missing— and when you came to them complaining of a host of symptoms and nothing to show for it at the time. Yeah, Ed might punch a doctor or two.
“If you want to see him,” Riza interrupted his thoughts. “You can. He seems a little more sociable than he did. I don’t think he’ll mind seeing you.” She smiled at him.
Ed offered a small smile back, then placed his glass down on the counter before making his way to the stairs. Quickly he whipped out his phone to text Roy that he was at Riza’s, then he headed on up.
Ed rapped his knuckles on the door and waited for a response.
Finally, a tired, “come in” sounded from the other side, and slowly Ed pushed open the door.
“Hey,” he called out quietly, upon seeing Al curled up on his bed.
Al shot up, and smiled a little. “Brother! You’re here!”
“Yeah, thought I’d drop by and see how things were going.” Ed sat down on the bed and threw himself backwards. He turned his head to look at Al. “Figured the appointment wasn’t great since you weren’t on the bus.”
Al deflated again, but instead of returning to his curled up position, joined Ed.
“Yeah…he said this didn’t seem like his area of expertise…” Al said quietly. “They did some blood work anyway, but I don’t think I’m really expecting anything to come of that…”
“What kind of doctor were you seeing anyway again?” Ed asked looking over to Al.
Al continued to stare at the ceiling. “A rheumatologist. I’m not surprised he dismissed my case. I didn’t really think it would be from this guy that I found answers. It’s just hard to be told no such luck again.”
“When do you have another appointment with your neurologist?”
Al scrunched up his face. “I don’t remember…”
“I still think it’s FND,” Ed huffed looking back up at the ceiling.
“Functional Neurological Disorder?” Al said. “I know you do…last neurologist didn’t like it when I brought that up…”
“Doesn’t mean this one would react the same way,” Ed commented, sounding more hopeful than he felt. Truly it was just discouraging all around, and even a tiny bit of hole seemed far fetched some days.
Al sighed. “I know…I just don’t wanna be told “no” again…” His voice cracked at the end and Ed turned to see tears threatening to spill.
Ed moved closer and pulled Al into an awkward hug. Al hiccuped and then sobbed.
“Hey, come on now…shh…” Ed rubbed a hand through Al’s short hair. “It sucks, I know. The doctors are stupid and they should listen to you and believe you.” Ed could feel rage bubbling inside him, but did his best to place that to the side. Comforting Al didn’t mean ranting about how stupid doctors were. Maybe he’d complain to Roy later.
“I can’t even imagine how exhausting it must be…” Ed continued. “Going to doctors for specialized issues is exhausting enough without them questioning you about whether or not your problems exist.”
“Yeah…” Al said between sobs. “And worst of all, I just h-have to keep li-living with the i-issues…like some-someone could at least have the d-decency of giving me answers and that mi-might make it a b-bit better. But n-no!”
“It’s so stupid…” Ed muttered against Al’s head. “I wish there was more I could do.”
“It’s o-okay,” Al choked out. “You’re he-here and that’s- that’s wh-what ma-matters.” Al snuggled closer, despite the awkward angle.
“Okay,” Ed sighed. “But I do want you to know I would punch a doctor for you.”
This earned him a chuckle from Al. “I’m sure you would,” Al responded quietly.
Ed continued to hold Al closely as his crying quieted down. He knew most people didn’t think of himself as a gentle person. Quite frankly, he didn’t either. But he continued to prove to everybody that he would do whatever he needed to for his brother. Not that most people would actually see such a tender moment.
Al sighed. “I already cried earlier…I should get something to drink before I give myself a raging headache.”
Ed sat up and Al followed suit. “Don’t need to add that to your list of problems,” Ed said.
“No,” Al said with a wry smile. “Not really. Grab my cane and we can head downstairs.”
Ed picked the cane up from his place leaning against the dresser and handed it to Al. He watched his brother slowly stand up, standing by to help just in case.
“You don’t have to hover,” Al said looking at Ed.
“I’m not hovering!” Ed protested. “Just here if you need me.”
Al smiled. “I know, I appreciate it. I’m mostly teasing you anyway.”
Ed rolled his eyes. “Geez, give me a break…”
“No,” Al smirked giving Ed a light shove as he passed him on the way to the door. “Wouldn’t be the same if I did.”
Ed shook his head but smiled all the same. It would never cease to amaze him how Al managed to carry all the he did, bouncing back from let down after let down. It wasn’t fair, everything they’d both been through, but they were still both fighting, and it had to count for something. Ed hoped it counted for something.
“Hey,” Ed called after Al. Al turned around, eyebrow raised.
“I love you,” Ed said.
Al flashed him a smile over his shoulder. “I love you too.”
Ed smiled back and followed after Al.
Downstairs in the kitchen Riza had just finished slicing up some apples, and had placed them in a bowl on the island.
“Figured the two of you might want a snack,” Riza said pushing the bowl towards the boys.
Smiling, the two of them sat down at island and happily dug into the snack.
“Thank you,” Ed said.
“Yeah, thanks!” Al echoed.
Riza smiled. “You’re welcome. Don’t forget to do any homework you have.”
Ed made a face, but he saw Al happily nodding.
“After snack time,” Al said.
“Do you feel alright?” Riza asked gesturing to his cane.
Al shrugged. “I could feel my legs seemed a little weak, so I decided to use it more for prevention. I’m trying to get better at that.”
“That’s good,” Riza nodded approvingly. “I’m sure we could all take a lesson from you.”
Ed didn’t need to glance at her to know she was looking at him. He swallowed his food and looked up. “I can take preventative measures, I just don’t need to as often. The situations are completely different.”
“Brother…” Al sighed.
Ed just watched Riza shake her head.
“You really will make Roy to gray early,” Riza chuckled quietly.
Ed rolled his eyes. How many times had he heard that?
“Speaking of which, does he know you’re here?” Riza asked.
“Yeah,” Ed answered nodding. “I remembered to text him.”
“That’s good.” Riza said. “Don’t need to be giving him a heart attack too.”
“I’m not that bad!” Ed protested. “This is an attack…”
“Maybe it’s just a reality check,” Al pitched in. “Besides, she said you’re not giving a heart attack.”
“Whatever,” Ed grumbled. “I’m just here for a snack…”
“I thought you were here to see me?” Al said feigning a sad face.
“Oh come on!” Ed complained. “Why are we ganging up on me all of a sudden?”
Al just chuckled and bit into another apple slice. He shrugged, smiling innocently at Ed.
“You should be glad I love you…” Ed muttered. “Honestly…”
“I am,” Al said happily. He leaned over and placed his head on Ed’s shoulder. “I am.”
“I know,” Ed said quietly, resting his head on top of Al’s.
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⚙️❤️
