Reno's Job

Reno knocked on the door of the 7th Heaven bar and Cloud opened the door. He was wearing his usual serious face.

"Hey, Cloud, old buddy! I was wondering if you wanted a drink? We haven't had a drink in a long time," he said with a smile. Cloud frowned.

"We never had a drink together," he said. Reno chuckled.

"See? It has been a long time. What do ya say?"

"Not interested!" Cloud said as he closed the door. Reno put his foot in between the door before it closed completely.

"C'mon, Cloud! Just this once, a freebie?"

"No, you had a free drink before and you never payed me back. You have to pay for your drink and you know it."

"What if I traded you a rare and expensive item?" Reno tried to bargain with him. Cloud raised an eyebrow as he stared at him. He didn't look as if he had any 'rare items', but sometimes Reno surprised him.

"What do you have? Maybe I'll consider it."

"I'm glad you asked that, Cloud!" Reno chuckled and he began digging his hands in his pockets. "I have a Lunar Harp, then you can go to the Forgotten City and pay your respects to Arieth?"

"Not interested," Cloud said, not even taking a glance at the item. Reno looked a bit surprised, but he smiled again and dug in his other pocket.

"Alright, what about a Phoenix feather?"

"You probably used it already," Cloud said. Reno dug his hands in his back pockets, but came up empty.

"Aw, Come on, Cloud! Have a heart, will ya? I'm broke. And Tseng doesn't know I'm here," he begged. Cloud shook his head.

"It's seven gil, or nothing. And since you didn't pay last time you got a drink, you owe us 14 gil."

"But I don't have any money!"

"Who's fault is that?"

"Come on, Cloud! What am I suppose to do?!" Reno pouted.

"Maybe if you actually worked for your gil and didn't spend it all on drinking, you may actually be able to afford things and have a decent life," Cloud told him. Reno rolled his eyes into the back of his head and thought about what Cloud was telling him. Then he smiled.

"You know, that might actually work! Thanks, Cloud, I knew coming to you was a good idea!" he said as he pat him on the back. Cloud gave him a glare that said, 'We're not friends, don't touch me'.

"I can start now by working for you! Will that be alright?" Reno brightened.

"No," Cloud said in a heartbeat. "Go work at the Goblin's Bar if you're desperate for a job."

"Another great idea! Thanks, Cloud, I'll be back this afternoon."

"No, Reno, I-"

"Good idea, I'll come back next week!"

"Reno, no, you don't have to come back-" Cloud stammered. He wanted to finish with 'ever!', but Reno was already walking away in search for a job. Cloud face palmed and closed the door.

"Who was that?" Tifa asked him.

"A poor beggar," Cloud said.

"What?! And you didn't let them in?!"

"He wasn't THAT poor," Cloud mumbled. "It was Reno."

"You're right, he's not," she agreed, not wanting Reno around the bar any more than Cloud. Then she frowned. "What about the gil he owes us?"

"He didn't have any money. He wanted to buy a drink, but I told him he had to pay us first," he told her. Tifa stared at him.

"And? What did he do?"

"I just told him to get a job, but I didn't think it was a good idea for us to let him work here. So I sent him to go look for a job," Cloud said with a shrug.

"Poor, Reno. He should have a girlfriend to keep an eye on him. Then maybe he'll take responsibility?" Tifa said.

"To Reno, alcohol is his girlfriend," Cloud said hopelessly.

THE END