Statistics

~ An FMA FanFic

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Absolutely nothing - not the characters, not the war, and certainly not the world, of FMA. Unless you count the random bypassers whose conversations I've included, but that's it. So basically, nothing.

People sometimes ask how I remember the names of all the men in my unit. I reply by asking them how a teacher in a normal school remembers all of their hundreds of student's names.

Sometimes they say that that's a completely different matter, but I always say, no. It's the same, only more important. If a man dies because I wasn't strong enough, fast enough, good enough to save his life, well, I bloody well want to know who I got killed.

It's easier to tally numbers than people...

~Ishvalan War, Army Camp

"That there, that's the Fire Alchemist."

"Which one? The tall guy?"

"Nah, the one with the gloves."

"Doesn't look like much."

"So? Who cares 'bout looks? That guy's killed almost a thousand Ishvalans, and counting."

Roy Mustang looked up to where he could see two soldiers staring at him with the same look one would give to a particularly vicious, albeit caged, lion. He was sitting next to Hughes, who seemed quite amused that people had mistaken him for Roy.

There was something ironic in that, that these two utter strangers had almost called one of the nicest (albeit family obsessed) men in the unit a killer. For in Roy's mind, that's all he was right now - a killer.

Hughes stood up and waved at the two observers, who immediately scattered.

"You shouldn't let them get to you," Hughes said, sensing Roy's mood.

Roy sighed. "But they're right."

"Of course they're right," laughed Hughes. "You're the Flame Alchemist, ain't you?"

"Yeah, but-"

"But, nothing. Listen, I've got another letter for my girlfriend, plus a photo of her. You are going to stay here, and I'm going to get it. Then I'm going to tell you about her, okay?"

Roy laughed slightly. Trust Hughes to bring his girlfriend back into the conversation. "Alright, alright, you go get the letter."

"Good."

Roy watched his friend walk off. There goes one of the sappiest men I know, he thought. And the kindest too.

~Present time, Outside the Central military office

"I'm sorry to hear about Hughes," said Ed, the Fullmetal Alchemist as he and Roy walked out of the office.

Roy just nodded in return, even though he could see that the young alchemist actually meant it.

From somewhere to his right, he heard two voices.

"Hey, you see that guy over there?"

"Which one? The short guy?"

"Nah, the one with the gloves."

"Who is he?"

"That, my friend, is the Flame Alchemist. They say he killed over a thousand Ishvalans in the war."

I like to remember the names, the faces, the people. I need to know who they are, what they like doing, who's waiting at home for them. Because that way, when they die, I know who's died. They become, not just statistics, but actually people, people whom I know I'm going to have to pay back some day.

And still, the tally keeps on rising...

A/N: Hey, people, so what do you think? This is my first attempt at an FMA fanfic - just a oneshot to get me started. It's dedicated in part to Geminius, who is the biggest Mustang fan I know.

If you have suggestions or comments, put up a review. But no flaming! Constructive is the word of the day, people.

Also, the part in italics is from Roy's point of view.