(A/N: I figured I'd write a Christmas oneshot to go along with the other Heroes oneshots I've written so far. Character portrayals may not be accurate, but I do have a quick note to share: there's a few times when Felix uses the word "idiot" to describe Sylvain and Ingrid. In this context, it's not an insult per se—more like a backhanded compliment. I hope you enjoy the oneshot, and have a merry Christmas!)

All of this was ridiculous. Felix could, to some extent, see children enjoying a winter festival, he didn't understand why he had to help. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but he was always paired with Bernadetta—who instantly ran away from him—and Hilda—who refused to do any work whatsoever, only doing what benefited her. Felix almost felt sorry for anyone who wanted 'the Winter Envoy's helpers' to do anything this year. The only reason why he didn't was because there were people like Princess Sharena—people who should be past that point in their life where they believed in such things.

He had been training alone, wishing he could be in his room. Instead, he was yet to be assigned one, whereas everyone else summoned alongside him (except for Sephiran) had temporary rooms thanks to their counterparts. He was beginning to enjoy the training session when he heard a familiar voice call his name.

"Felix! Princess Sharena said you were around here. Feeeeeeeeeeeeliiiiiiiiiiiix!"

"Shut up," Felix replied, knowing full well who it was.

"No can do." The person speaking was the same as the one who called him; Sylvain. Looking around to see him, Felix saw Ingrid as well.

Only one question came to his mind. "Why are you in swimwear? It's the middle of winter, you idiots."

"We were summoned in summer," Ingrid explained. "We don't have any other clothes to wear. Fortunately, it's warm inside the Order's castle."

"What about your outfit?" Sylvain asked, grinning as if he already knew the answer. "Princess Sharena told us you had your own get-up too. Come on; turn around so we can see! I promise I won't laugh! Er, too much, anyway."

Knowing he would never win in an argument against it, Felix sighed. "This is just a waste of my time." Turning around to face them, he let them observe his outfit. "Happy now?"

His reply was muffled laughter from not one of them, but both of them. Ingrid tried to hide it better, partially turning away with her hand hiding a smile, while Sylvain just tried to prevent it through sheer force of will. Neither of them succeeded, and Sylvain was eventually overtaken by laughter fierce enough that he held on to Felix for support.

"Felix, you're..!" He tried to say, his mad laughter limiting how much he could talk.

"A complete disgrace?" Felix tried, finishing the sentence for him. "I look ridiculous, forced to participate in a festival where anyone with shame would stay well away from. You two aren't doing much better, if I'm being honest. Stuck in swimwear in the middle of winter, while I'm stuck in this red-and-white outfit meant to please little kids. What's next, the boar in a yukata? Maybe a rabbit costume? That'll be good for a laugh, at least."

It didn't get rid of Sylvain's laughter; if anything, his remark just fed it. Ingrid, at least, had regained her composure. "I don't believe His Highness would be very pleased, if that were the case," Ingrid noted. "Even so, aren't you supposed to be helping with the winter festival, Felix?"

"As I said, it's a waste of times for fools, at best," Felix replied coldly. "I'd rather be training." He gently shoved Sylvain off of him, and the flirt finally decided to stop laughing like a hysterical madman enough that he could stand up by himself.

"There's a tournament held each year," Ingrid said, trying to present a few options.

"It already happened and I already participated," Felix said dismissively. "Everyone worked together for a night, then in the morning it was all back to havoc. We went out to deliver presents, but we only made it an hour before everyone ran off or gave up."

Ingrid thought for a moment. "We'll come back later with a way to help." Grabbing Sylvain's arm, partially dragging him along, she said, "Come on. Let's go find Commander Anna or the professor." Sylvain nodded, and the two of them left.

…Idiots. Felix didn't need help; he was perfectly content to stay in the indoor training area, avoiding everyone he knew. Ingrid and Sylvain meant well, sure, but he didn't ask for their 'help' in anything. It's what friends do, he supposed, but sometimes friends were just more trouble than they're worth.

It wasn't even an hour later before Ingrid and Sylvain triumphantly returned. Felix didn't even bother trying to shoo them away. "So tell me what you planned," Felix said, unamused. "Might as well get this done and over with."

"There's a village nearby that's had a bit of a bandit problem," Ingrid reported. "The professor and Commander Anna both agreed that you could go out and deal with the thieves."

"And the catch?" Felix asked.

"You have to help deliver presents when you're done," Sylvain replied. "Or, better yet, help deliver them while you're fighting."

"Of course," Felix said, sighing. He switched out the sword he was training with in order to pick up the bow he was equipped with upon being summoned. "I might as well—even if it's only to get out of this castle. Where are the presents?"

"Carefully watched over by Commander Anna," Sylvain said. "She'll give them to you if you ask."

Felix half-heartedly waved goodbye, then went to Commander Anna to retrieve the presents. Apparently surprised he actually accepted the request, she handed them over and told him he would be with three other people, making up a quartet. While he had told himself to be prepared, he was still discontent with the three Heroes that were chosen to accompany him.

It was the winter festival variants of Bernadetta and Hilda, as well as Mercedes. While Bernadetta was reluctantly talking to Mercedes, Hilda pieced together a bracelet. Even though Bernadetta and Hilda annoyed him a bit, at least Mercedes didn't openly laugh as Sylvain and Ingrid had when they saw him.

"Oh, Felix!" Mercedes said warmly. She looked over at Bernadetta. "We were just wondering who our fourth person was, weren't we?"

"U-uh huh," Bernadetta said nervously. "I, uh… I think I'm ready to go back to my room, actually…"

"Now, Bernie, that's not how this will go," Mercedes replied. "It's good to get out of your room every once in a while."

Before Bernadetta could continue to protest, Felix spoke up. "It would be best for all of us if we got this done and over with quickly. I can continue training, Bernadetta can go to her room, Hilda can force her chores on someone else, and Mercedes can do anything better than watching us be inefficient."

Hilda stood up, put the work-in-progress bracelet in her pocket, and stretched. "Let's get to it, then. I don't want to get too cold."

Felix led them to the village in accordance to the instruction Mercedes—the only one he would trust the advice of—gave him, and he continued to guide them through battle. Mercedes was barely needed, with the enemies being fairly weak, and they finished the job up smoothly.

They dispersed to distribute presents, deciding that they didn't need to be in a large group. This part of the job, for whatever reason, didn't annoy Felix as much. It was almost…pleasant. Honestly, he almost would have preferred it if it was unsatisfactory. It still felt like a waste of time, but he almost enjoyed it.

The earlier-formed quartet regrouped to share how much presents they gave out on behalf of the Order of Heroes, and they dispersed once again—this time permanently. Felix sought out Sylvain and Ingrid instead of waiting for them to come to him. They were waiting in the dining hall of the Order's castle, apparently looking for him in specific.

He stood in front of them, refusing to sit down. "How'd it go?" Sylvain asked.

"My opinion hasn't changed, if that's what you want to hear," Felix replied. "The time would be better spent training or doing anything more productive." He paused for a moment, reluctantly adding, "But I will admit that it isn't entirely useless. Some people might make a good memory from it."

Sylvain and Ingrid seemed pleased, letting Felix leave. He continued to avoid everyone he knew—and anyone he didn't know, for that matter—as he went back to the training area. At the very least, the winter festival would be coming to an end shortly; then he and everyone else can forget his involvement in something so seemingly pointless.