This story is written in dedication to aav-sama on deviantart :)
Hi, aav-sama, your friend signed you up for the FMA secret santa 2016. I went to your deviantart page to get to know your likes and dislikes, so I hope this story is ok for you. I really enjyoed being your secret santa. Maybe this inspires you to put together some fanart that would fit this story? If you do find some matching art, feel free to let me know, I'd love to check it out 3
I know, a major part of the holiday season is already over, but I hope you can enjoy this late present.
Love, milchzahn (tumblr puste- -blume :)
December 1916
Riza cleaned her wet boots on the doormat, slush and snow falling, or rather slugging, off and stepped into her warm apartment, careful not to step on the letters that were lying on the floor before her. "Uh, I hate winter," said a voice behind her, belonging to her friend. "It's cold and everyone gets emotional because of some kind of holiday. I feel the need to throw up just thinking about it." "Then just don't drink so much eggnog." Riza dryly remarked. "I didn't even have that much." Rebecca slid out of her boots and hung up her wet coat on a hanger. Then she spotted the letters on the floor. "Oh look, love letters for you." With the air of someone who is way too comfortable with the privacy of others, she opened one while stepping into Rizas small but comfortable living room and sank down on the dark red sofa.
"Oh see, you did get the invitation to the Military Christmas Ball!" she said and just when Riza sat down next to her, setting down two mugs of hot chocolate before the two of them. "You know you're not supposed to just open people's mail like that, right?" she said , trying to sound strict but failing. It was helpless with Rebecca anyway. "Also, I'm not going to that ball. I just need to find a good explanation, why I can't go. And I can't fake sick again, I did that last year." she muttered while taking a sip of hot chocolate and petting Black Hayate, who had curled up next to her.
"Aha! I have just found the perfect excuse for us not going." said Rebecca gleefully as she help up another letter. "Us?" - "Well, if you're not going, why should I?" Riza snatched the letter from Rebecca's hands and glanced over it. "See?" asked Rebecca. "Well, ok, first of all, this letter is addressed to me-" - "But it says here you can bring friends." Rebecca pointed her finger at a sentence at the bottom of the letter. Riza looked at her friend with a look that said 'I'm close to not counting you as mine anymore' so Rebecca added "Pleaaaaaaase." "… Ok fine." "WOHOOO!" Black Hayate howled.
The next day in the canteen:
"Yeah, I don't need to go to that anymore." Catalina smiled triumphantly. "So you're sick this year, aren't you? You know, this doesn't count anymore unless you can prove it." - "Oh but there is a very important invitation I got, or rather I'm going to be Riza's plus one." Mustang looked up from the stuff that the military regarded as food. "You're what?" – "I knew you'd be jealous." Rebecca grinned. "But don't worry; we're just going as friends."
Roy furrowed his brows "Where to?" – "Oh I won't say. Wouldn't want you to follow us, to be honest." – "I see…" – "But it's not really fun is it? Tell you what; I will be able to bring you along as well, when you do me a favour."The General had a look on suspicion on his face "I will not fall for that, Lieutenant. I know what Havoc had to do." – "Yeah but you want to escape the Ball, don't you?!" She leaned in closer "Also, maybe I'll be able to switch some clothes out of The Hawk's suitcase and put some more… pretty stuff in, if you catch my drift." – "You disgust me, Lieutenant." – "So it's on then?" – "…What do you want?" Rebecca flashed a smile that eerily reminded him of something he saw in a zoo once. "Well…"