(A/N): New chapter and already working on the next one! We're still in the same summer, though. Please enjoy! As always, any feedback/reviews are welcome! I had wanted to put this chapter in with the last one, but this one just felt right on it's own :)
Riza sat idly on at the bar, tapping her fingers on the lacquered counter top as Miss Mustang argued with a supplier on the phone. There were only a few customers at the bar, drinking frosty mugs of beer in order to cool down from a day in the summer city heat. Only a couple of the girls were working, the rest not coming down until later in the night when business picked up. Of course, Riza wasn't aloud to hang out at the bar at night. Miss Mustang told her it was too rowdy and bad for business, not that Riza minded because there were plenty of books in Roy's room to keep her occupied. However, Miss Mustang had been too busy catching up with work to show Riza around the city.
In the kitchen, Riza could hear Miss Mustang hang up the phone. "Dear me, some people are just dreadful! You would think after all of these years of business, they would at least be a little more professional towards me!" Miss Mustang came out of the kitchen, her eyes lively and her hands planted firmly on her hips. As always, she was stunning, but today she had on a much simpler outfit than she usually wore. Instead of her usually reds, creams, and blacks, she had on a cerulean blue dress, with golden buttons all the way down until it tapered off to her waist in a flowing skirt. Her dark curls were swept up into a lace net at the nape of her neck. Riza wasn't sure if she had ever seen such a beautiful and confident woman in her life, except her mother of course.
"Well, Riza darling," she said, her scowl transforming into a smile, "Are you ready?"
"Huh?" Riza sat up from her slouched position over the bar.
"Let's go! We're going out!" Miss Mustang exclaimed, as if Riza had known about this all along. "I'm sorry I have been neglecting you. I promised you a whirlwind summer adventure in the grand East City, but so far you've only been keeping bar stools warm!" She gave Riza a sly look, "And I am going to start making it up for you today, because today, you are going to be the daughter I never had!"
Before Riza could say or do anything else, Miss Mustang grabbed her hand, yanking her off the bar stool as she dragged her off to the busy main street. The streets were lined with shops of every kind, the windows sparkling with jewelry and watches, almost bursting with silky dresses and sharp-looking suits and hats. As they were walking, they came across a flower shop which made Riza freeze so hard in her tracks that Miss Mustang almost let go of her hand.
It was exactly how Roy had described it. There were flowers from all over the world, blossoms that she had only read about and blooms that she could have never even imagined. Before Riza knew it, there were tears starting to form in her eyes. Mom would have loved this. Mesmerized she stepped in a shop; the walls were so dense, it was almost like walking through a forest. She couldn't even see the walls. Eventually, her gaze found its way to a little shabby bucket in the corner containing a few wilting sunflowers and she couldn't help but smile with a little burst of pride. That strange man with the golden hair was right, her sunflowers were the prettiest sunflowers in the East.
Miss Mustang called from outside the shop, breaking Riza's enchantment, "Darling, do you see anything you like? Just say the word and I will buy it for you."
Riza smiled and walked back to Miss Mustang, taking hold of her hand once more, "No thank you. We do have a lovely flower shop at home, you know."
Miss Mustang smiled back sweetly, "Yes, and I wouldn't buy flowers from anyone else but you, if I could help it."
They stopped at a little cafe for lunch and as Riza inhaled her sandwich, Miss Mustang looked at her as she sipped her coffee.
"Riza, dear, don't you think your clothes are a little bit small for you?"
"Hmm? My clof-thes?" Riza mumbled through a mouthful of bread as she looked down at her stained shirt and trousers that she had become too tall for. She choked down her bite of sandwich. "I guess they are," she said suddenly self-conscious of her appearance, "but all I ever do are chores and gardening."
Miss Mustang pursed her lips together, "I suppose you have a point, but who says you can't do those things in a beautiful, sturdy cotton dress? Besides, dresses are harder to grow out of since at your age you'll be growing more around here," Miss Mustang motioned to her own full breasts, making Riza blush a little. Riza had been noticing those kind of changes beginning in her body, but she had never had anyone actually talk about it with her. "How would you feel if we did a little shopping for my new 'daughter'?"
"Oh, Miss Mustang, I really couldn't-"
"Nonsense, darling! I cannot thank your father enough for taking Roy under his wing. He has really changed so much since he started going to your home. Plus, this is the least I can do for your mother. You know, she was like a sister to me. We had so many dreams when we were younger and we achieved all of them."
Miss Mustang's voice suddenly became quiet, "You and your baby brother were her dream, Riza. The best thing I can do for Elizabeth is try to love and care for her dream as much as she did and I hope you can understand that," her voice picked up again, "So from now on, call me 'Aunt Chris' instead of Miss Mustang. Roy, that brat, deprives me of that name. He only calls me 'Christmas'! The nerve of that boy, I swear." Riza smiled. She had only ever had her father before, but now she also had a kind and loving aunt like Miss Mustang.
"Now," Aunt Chris said, shooting out of your chair with fiery determination in her eyes, "we have some real shopping to do."
For the rest of the afternoon, they dashed from shop to shop. Riza had never tried on so many articles of clothing in her life. She sternly rejected any pink or purple dresses that made her look like a doll, but she bashfully admitted that she "didn't mind" some of the simpler muslin frocks that Aunt Chris picked out for her. Dresses weren't the only think Aunt Chris bought for her. Riza also received a new pair of boots, some stockings, a few sun hats that she could wear in the garden, and a few new sets of trouser to replace her old ones. Before they knew it, they had stacked the backseat of a taxi high with boxes and paper bags of new clothes.
"Oh, I think that about does it for today!" Aunt Chris said with a sigh, "But mark my words, we are definitely not finished!" Riza let out a soft groan. She was more tired than if she had been working in the garden all day.
In the distance, a tall man in an expensive suit, waved them down, "Christmas, my love, it's been ages!"
"Daniel, darling, where have you been? The girls and I have missed you!" Aunt Christ exclaimed, exchanging kisses on the cheek, "Will you come to the bar tonight?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world. You know just the other day-"
Riza could tell that they would be chatting for a while. Her feet were so sore, she wasn't sure if she could stand another minute. She was looking around at surrounding shops, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted on the corner one that looked particularly interesting: Catalina's Cartridges & Guns. Riza had been reading a lot about the different types of rifles that had been developed over the last few years and she was dying to see them in person. Surely Aunt Chris won't mind if I just peek inside, she thought to herself.
A bell at the door chimed as she made her way into the shop. Hundreds of handguns, pistols, and rifles adorned the back wall and leaning behind the counter was a girl who looked like she couldn't be more than a couple of years older than Riza, but she looked like a grown woman in comparison. She had dark, thick wavy hair like Aunt Chris, tied back into a tight ponytail. She looked bored as she flipped through a fashion magazine. A little boy with large round glasses that were too big for his face, sat on a tall stool next to her, idly tinkering with a broken down radio.
"Welcome," she said in a monotone voice, not even glancing up from her magazine.
Riza looked around at the weapons. They were amazing, even more fascinating than all of the dresses and jewels she had seen all that day. She made her way up to the counter.
"Um… do you buy any chance have an M1903 Springfield? I've been dying to see one up close." The sound of a girl's voice took shop girl by surprise as she looked up to see a small, lanky blonde girl in front of her.
"Uhh, yeah, um sure, hold on," she managed, stunned as she pulled down a long rifle off one of the gun racks behind her. The girl handed Riza the gun, which was heavier than she had expected. It was heavy, but she somehow felt stronger with it in her hands. The stock of the rifle was smooth and finished with a fine burgundy stain and the barrel shone as if it were brand new.
"So, uh, what's your name? And why are you so interested in rifles? Seems kind of odd for a girl."
"My name is Riza. Riza Hawkeye. And I could say the same for you."
Instead of being offended, the girl just burst into laughing. "I'm here because this is my dad's shop. It's not that I actually like guns, I'm not a weirdo. My name is Rebecca Catalina by the way." She kept continuing to chuckle to herself, making Riza smile a little as well.
Suddenly a loud, grating beeping sound came from the radio the little boy was working on and he frantically tried to turn it off, but it was too late.
Rebecca gave him a light smack up against his head causing his glasses to fly down his nose, "Jeez, Kain, keep it down why don't you!" She looked over at Riza, "Sorry, unfortunately I have to look after my stupid little cousin while my dad works in the back. It's bad for my image, you know!" She tossed her ponytail back.
"Hey wait, I've never seen you around before and I know all the kids in my neighborhood. Are you new or are you some sort of child spy for the Fuehrer or something looking to buy a new sniper rifle?"
"No, I'm just visiting a friend of my father's for the summer. She owns a hostess bar a few blocks awa-"
"Madame Christmas?! Damn, she is the coolest broad in town! That Mustang kid of her's is a real piece of work, though. He thinks he's a hotshot, but I always make sure to kick his ass whenever he let's that mouth of his run."
"Me too!" Riza exclaimed, excited to find someone who was just as fed up with Roy. "I always find that tripping him is the best method to wound his pride. Or pouring a bucket of water on him when he's not expecting it!" Rebecca started laughing so hard, she was clutching her stomach, tears streaming down her cheeks. Even little Kain was snickering to himself.
"Jeez, Riza, you are a piece of work. I can tell we are going to be friends."
Riza laughed too, probably harder than she had laughed in a very long time. Because she worked so much at home, she never had much time to play with the kids down in the village, so the laughter felt good in her lungs.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Aunt Chris wandering down the sidewalk looking for her. "Oh, I'm sorry Rebecca, I have to go! It was nice meeting you!" Riza said, waving halfway out the door.
"Hey, wait! Make sure to come back another time, I have some really swell handguns that you would drool over! And maybe Dad can give you a shooting demonstration!"
"I'd like that," Riza said with a wide smile.
"It's a promise then! See you later, Riza Hawkeye!" Rebecca waved goodbye as Riza ran to meet Aunt Chris.
"Where have you been, darling, I was looking everywhere for you!" Aunt Chris lightly scolded.
"Nowhere special. I did make a friend though, Aunt Chris!" Riza said excitedly like a little child.
"Really? Well you'll have to tell me more on our way home." Aunt Chris squeezed Riza into the taxi and almost buried her in boxes, but Riza was just glad to be off her feet. She gazed sleepily out the window as all of the shops they had visited earlier that day flashed before her eyes. Even though the summer had just begun, she was already determined to spend next summer here again.
(A/N): Looks like Riza is soaking up the city life and is already drawn to those guns like the adorable baby sniper she is hahah. Subscribe for updates soon!
