Pills and Buttons

Prologue

Roy Mustang flipped a piece of paper over on the ever growing stack of them, trying to finish reading all of the stupid reports. He wanted to go home, maybe down a little coffee and pick up a book. Maybe go with Hawkeye to a bonfire. Or so everyone thought.

Mustang has been looking for a missing person for a few years now, five to be exact. He had disappeared from the face of the planet, leaving his brother to sulk and only pray he was okay. Roy finished up his last report and sent someone out with all of the pages. He was done with impersonal paperwork. Now for what weight his footsteps every time he removed himself from his boots. He slipped a file from his drawer, a paper clipped image of a blonde haired boy with a braid on the front. The Colonel traced a gentle gloved finger over the picture, flipping open the Manila folder. Inside were different sighting reports, collections of images of evidence and a sketch of the spacious crime scene. He had stopped counting how many times he looked or even glanced at the contents of this folder. The number was infinite.

"Sir, go home." Riza had let her hair down, obviously on her way out the door. Her blue and gold uniform was draped, folded over her arm. She wore a black undershirt, a short black skirt with red ruffles, and knee high black boots with six inch heels. "It's nearly midnig-." She was interrupted as one of the lower ranking officers rushed in. The female officer's hair was disheveled, like she was being hurried with important information.

"Colonel! I was sent up here by Major Armstrong with this. He said it was very important." She placed her feet beside Rosa's, setting the page on Mustang's desk and saluting. Her brown hair hung in a high ponytail, and it had finally stopped swinging like a clock pendulum for a moment.

"At ease. What does this pertain to, or did he not mention?" Roy's onyx black eyes flickered with a flame of red hope, waiting to hear what the Master Sergeant had to say.

"Case 293, the case number of the file that contains all the information of the-." Mustang silenced her and sent her away, flipping open the card. The handwriting was terrible, but then again Major Armstrong must have been in a rush. It was legible, but if only barely. Riza backed up a step as the man shot out of his chair faster than a bullet from a gun. He gave his lieutenant a look, one that was so relieved yet full of pain.

"Get your coat Hawkeye. It's a cold night."