In case you were wondering, (since I haven't given Tobias a physical description yet) Tobias looks just like Roy but he has his mother's brown eyes.
Tobias stood at his parents' grave. As of today, it had been almost two years since their execution. He laid the two roses he had in his hands and placed them on their headstone. He remembered Roy always gave Natasha roses for her birthday, or anniversary, or just because. They were a special flower to him.
He pulled his cap down over his eyes and sighed. "Dad, I was recently promoted to a Colonel. I'm catching up, old man." He sighed again. "I haven't found anything new yet to clear our names, but I will do it. I won't give up."
He looked around as it started to rain. "But, I guess this will take much longer than I expected. Both of you were innocent, yet they killed you in cold blood...! This world is so messed up… So messed up…" He adjusted his hat. "I'll come by again tomorrow if I happen by anything." He stood awkwardly trying to think of something else he could say. "I guess that's it for today then. Bye, mom, dad."
Tobias left with his head down, feeling somewhat comforted, and let the rain fall on him in sheets.
As Tobias entered the office, his subordinate, Rachel, stood. "Sir," she said pushing back her long, deep red hair. "There's a woman here to see you. She says it's urgent."
He nodded. "Thank you, Rachel," he said. "Probably that crazy woman that's been coming here every week for the past month," he muttered under his breath.
He opened the door saying, "You know, I promise you the military is out looking for your son," he said shutting the door behind him. He opened his eyes to find a blonde haired woman standing next to his bookcases. She was an older woman, but not too old. She looked at him with soft brown eyes, confused. "You're not that crazy woman," Tobias stated obviously.
"No," the woman replied. "I don't believe I ever have been," she said with a small amused smile.
"I apologize," Tobias said. He gestured to a couch. "Make yourself comfortable."
The woman seated herself. "You're probably wondering why I'm here," she told him.
He nodded. "Yes, but first, let's get names down. My name is Tobias Mustang. I am a Colonel here for the military. Who, pray tell, are you?"
The woman chuckled lightly. "You are so much like him, it's almost scary," she said wistfully. "My name is Riza Hawkeye." They shook hands. "I worked with your father for years."
"Riza Hawkeye," Tobias repeated. "Wait," he said recognizing her, "you were that woman in the picture my dad kept of his team. With Jean Havoc and all the others. He spoke of you fondly."
Riza nodded. "I'm pleased to hear that." She cracked her knuckles. "Now, getting down to business. I hear you're trying to clear your family name."
"Yes."
"Have you gotten any leads?"
"No."
"Where have you looked?"
"Everywhere. In all the important documents about their supposed 'treason,' their trials, and their execution order. None of them have given me anything helpful."
"Well, that's why I'm here," Riza said. "I figured you might need some help." She open a briefcase she had put on the coffee table between them that Tobias had not noticed there before. She opened it and pulled out two pairs of white gloves. "Roy gave these to me after he found out that your mother was having you. He did not want you to know how to use them." She handed him the gloves.
Tobias examined them. They were made of an odd material. A red transmutation circle was on the top of the glove. Tobias could faintly smell sulfur on the fabric. "His flame alchemy. I know of the alchemy he did," he said.
"And how could you not have?" Riza replied. "You are the famous, now infamous I suppose, Flame Alchemist's son."
He put the gloves down on the table in front of him. "Why are you giving these to me now? If you knew my father didn't want me to learn flame alchemy, why give these to me? If I'm anything like my father I'm going to go figure out how to use them as soon as you leave." He asked rather bluntly.
Riza sighed. "I never trusted any other man with flame alchemy but your father. I made him promise that he would never teach anyone the horrific art of flame alchemy."
Tobias was confused. "So, you're going to teach me alchemy…?"
"No."
"Then…huh?"
"You have your father's gloves, now go learn how to use them," she said shutting the briefcase with a slam and standing up briskly. "I'd advise that you go practice in an empty field. It may take you a long time to properly, and safely, learn them." She walked quickly towards the exit.
"Wait!" Tobias said standing. "How do I even get a spark?"
Riza stopped by the door, her hand on the handle. "Put on the gloves and snap your fingers." She turned to look at him. "When you've mastered all you can, apply to become a state alchemist. When you pass, you are allowed to more information than any regular soldier or citizen. State alchemists have special research privileges. I would take this for granted." She turned once more and left, shutting the door behind her.
Tobias stood where he was and looked down at the gloves on the table. He picked them up with a sigh, walked to his desk, and put them in a drawer. He would have to practice later. He sat in his chair and leaned back thinking about what Riza had told him.
He had never even thought about becoming a state alchemist. Now as he thought, it sounded like a good idea, if he could get pass the exam. The research documents he could get to… The answers behind his parents' murder… They were all nearby, but unreachable for the moment.
He sat up and grabbed the gloves out of his desk, making a sudden decision, and practically ran out of the office. "Rachel," he said grabbing his coat and stuffing the gloves into his pocket. "Come. We're going out for a bit."
"Yes, sir," Rachel replied grabbing her coat and unquestioningly followed Tobias out of the building.
Hope you've enjoyed the second chapter! If you're wondering why Riza left the office so quickly, it was because she didn't want to change her mind about giving the gloves to Tobias. (If you've watched either series you'll understand why she didn't want anybody to know flame alchemy.) How well do you think Tobias will do with alchemy? Think he'll be a natural? Terrible? Average? Again, thanks for reading and write a review!