It had been a busy week at Central Headquarters, busy meaning everyone was working with the cruel damper Havoc's absence and injury had caused. Everyone's mood was somewhat ruined or down, although there where select few who wanted to brighten the atmosphere.

Rebecca Catalina wanted to animate the others. She felt it would also help her get over the pain of missing and pitying a dear friend if she didn't watch others do so as well. Nothing too exciting, and she couldn't pay for anything too nice. So she invited her friends and co-workers to a local bar, drinks on her, just to make them talk.

Riza she had to drag. Fuery said he didn't drink. Jenny said she had a hair appointment. Polly had to clean her house before her mother came over. Falman seemed reluctant. Breda sighed but gave his word he would show up. Sheska also didn't drink. Jill complained she spent all day talking to people.

But Mustang seemed happy. He told her that he knew the perfect bar. Obviously, he wasn't shy enough to change her initial plans for her, but it was good someone was showing some enthusiasm.

Wet Spirits didn't exactly have the best location in town for a friendly drink with friends, but if it pleased Roy… Rebecca still knew she would complain about not being able to go to her first choice bar the rest of the evening though. She would need to make sure Roy new she didn't want to enter this side of town and make him suffer for it.

Not as sketchy as the name had made it, and the drinks were good. Long silences passed with everyone trying to drink away Havoc's loud absence.

It didn't take long for everyone to have had a bit too much of a serving. Nor for Mustang to wander off talking to one of the woman who "worked" at the joint. Although it was weird, Rebecca felt she had seen her before, but she just couldn't quite place her.

Breda seemed to be thinking the same thing. "I feel like I've seen her before."

Rebecca, a little bewildered, nodded. "I do too," she hiccupped then continued, "But I just can't figure out who she is."

"She's goes on a date with the colonel every two weeks, Thursday, at five o'clock after his shift." Falman was looking at the woman as he talked. Everyone was looking at him, surprised, but also used to Falman's encyclopedia-like superpowers.

"One of Play-Roy's regulars, eh?" Rebecca eyed the woman. She was a dainty looking, but wore her make up like a mask. It was thick enough Rebecca could see the line where it ended near her ear.

Breda snorted, amused. "Play-Roy."

It was the alcohol—that would be what Rebecca would claim later—but it was also because she knew. Riza was her best friend, she wanted her to date someone like Mustang. He didn't have any money, but he seemed to hold her especially close to him, and that made him almost good enough for her friend. "Look Riza," Rebecca giggled and pointed towards the woman, "You've got competition."

Riza was usually have calm; the alcohol must have affected her as well.

She turned four shades of red and looked at Rebecca in sheer disbelief. Breda gave a small chuckle at her reaction, but quieted when she looked at him offended. Falman kept quiet, looking at the posters advertising oddly named beverages on the wall.

"You're a jerk, I don't have competition. There's nothing between us." Riza looked down at her glass before taking a sip. Her blush was beginning to clear but kept the bridge of her nose lightly dusted. Beneath Riza's bangs, Rebecca could see her eyes flickering from Roy and back.

"Ah, but that blush on your face sings a very different story." Rebecca probably should've stopped pushing at the subject—Riza was notorious for having a handgun on her at all times—but Rebecca hadn't seen her blush like that since one of the male students at the academy had directed a crude comment their way.

"Ah, leave her alone, Catalina," Breda said as he shifted position in his chair. "You know there are rules against that. She'd have to leave the military."

Falman appeared attentive now. There was a slight appearance of a smile on his face. "And none of us want that," he said.

Riza looked at the two men defending her, before looking over at Rebecca with a smug expression and her crossed arms held tighter and higher to her chest.

"And you don't need someone like that anyways. You need someone who respects you." Breda pointed lazily over his shoulder. "Not that he doesn't it's just…"

"Play-Roy?" Falman offered.

"Yeah, that. You don't need that, because you never know if he's a guaranteed."

"Someone who tries hard." Rebecca said with her finger waving as she lectured her friend. "That's what you need."

"I think by now that I know what to look for in men. I don't need you parenting me," Riza said amused at her friends' behavior. "And anyways, I'm not looking."

Rebecca nearly jumped out of her seat. "But!" She couldn't form a coherent argument against her friend over the shock. "You can't just live your life alone!"

Just in that passionate moment, Roy looked right over at Riza, probably having overheard Rebecca's cries. This to Rebecca confirmed any idea that there was something between them.

Because he looked concerned.

"I meant right now. I just have other priorities right now," Riza said rushing to calm her friend.

"Oh." Rebecca settled down. She looked over at Mustang once more, and catching her gaze, he looked away.

Riza sighed, shoulders slumped. "Could you please leave my love-life out of the conversation for the rest of the evening?"

At that moment, Roy returned to the table. "Hawkeye's love-life?" he asked.

Breda directed his comment towards Rebecca, "It's not like anyone at this table but the colonel has much of one."

"Hey! I have one!" Riza raised her eyebrow and Rebecca settled down. "Well, had one and plan to have another."

"I don't follow, why were you picking on Hawkeye?" Roy asked again.

Falman opened his mouth to repeat—probably word-for-word—their conversation, but Rebecca, not feeling entirely cruel at that moment, beat him to the chase. "We were talking about her not being in a relationship."

Mustang looked confused. "What about that man you had lunch with the other day."

"He was a classmate of mine at the academy. The two of us where the best shots of our class and would sometimes help teach the other students. I hadn't seen him since Ishval. Turns out he was stationed out west till he blew off his arm in an accident. Now he's back to teaching at the academy."

"At least he was able to continue working."

"He got automail, but doesn't want to enter the battlefield ever again. He was in Central to give the students a tour."

"The only field trip you ever get at the academy. I remember that."

The conversation appeared to be so direct, but Rebecca couldn't help laughing. Mustang was concerned and Riza was quick to give a full explanation. Oh, yes, there was nothing between them at all.

A/N: Yes, I changed my string of fics' name because I just hated the old one so much. At the time, I couldn't think of anything better, but I just knew I had to change it eventually. Sorry for those who are following this and wondered what the fuck just appeared in their inbox.