Tale 4: Interview
Salem arrived at 7th Heaven at 8:25 AM that morning, waiting for the door to unlocked. He smoked a cigarette or two waiting. He could have never guessed he would work at the 7th Heaven. He was always the constructor type... At least he thought. He leaned against the wall, dragging on the cigarette. The door was unlocked, the reading 'closed' still. Salem knocked on the door before slowly opening it. "Hello?", he called out. "Hey, Salem!" Tifa let out in a loud whisper. "The kids are still sleeping." She said before walking behind the bar turning the faucet to fill the sink with water. "Where's Cloud?" Salem said with a bit of a smirk on his face. "He didn't come home last night... As usual..." Tifa said with a sigh. Salem nodded a bit, letting his eyes fall to his steel tow boots. "Well... Anyway..." "Oh!" She said aloud before covering her mouth with a smile. "Oh..." She said a bit quieter, "I wanted to ask... Are you good at lifting?" The crimson eyed Valentine gave a sigh. "I dunno..." He smiled stretching a bit, "I am almost fifty seven years old, you know..." Tifa gave a mocking laugh at the joking comment as Salem chuckled a bit. "Very funny, Valentine..." Salem smirked a bit as he stuck his hands into his pocket, "What do you need me to move?" Tifa began stuck a few dishes into the sink and shut off the water before grabbing a damp towel, "I got a shipment of wine coming in today." She said walking around the bar and to one of the tables, beginning to wipe it off. Salem slowly made his way behind the bar, grabbing another cloth, "So you need me to take the time out of my day to lift a box of wine?" He said running the towel under the water for a split moment. "If you want a job you will!" Tifa whispered loudly with a giggle in her voice. "Yes, ma'am" he said chuckling a bit, making his way around the bar and to another table, wiping it off.
Three hours later...
A few people had been to the tavern, usually in-and-outs. Tifa had taught Valentine to use the ale dispenser and how to mix a few drinks. Three men and a woman sat scattered through out the bar, quietly, minding their own business, few reading the paper, two others making small talk. There was even one man enjoying a simple cup of coffee. Salem walked through the back with the last box of wine. Denzel, close behind him. "So you saved Cloud?!" Denzel asked as Salem placed the box down on top of another. "Yep..." Salem said with a smile taking off the leather gloves. "Wow..." Denzel said in disbelief. "Cloud must have been grateful! I don't think he had ever fought a Angel before." Salem shook his head a bit as he reached for his jacket and slipped it on. "Me neither, kid. Though, it was a bit hard for myself." "I bet!" Denzel said with a smile before running off into the diner with Tifa, Salem following slowly behind. "Hey, Tifa. Hey Yuffie." Valentine said combing his hand through his hair. "Hey, Salem... Did your back go out?" She asked jokingly. "That's funny because I heard it crack a few times..." "Better watch that, old man." Yuffie said with a chuckle. "Don't start, ninja!" Salem said with a bit of a laugh in his voice. "You know I had a dream the other night!" Yuffie began. "Salem, Vincent, Shelke, Stell-" Yuffie caught herself before she continued. The room grew quiet as Tifa lowered her head a bit. Salem paused, a sorrowful smirk on his face, trying to hide the ache and said nothing of the matter. "Need anything else, Tifa?" He asked softly. "Uh... Not at the moment, Salem." Salem nodded and walked back into the back, Denzel closely behind.
"Yuffie..." Tifa said shaking her head. "What?!" Yuffie hissed. "I forgot, okay! Sue me!" Tifa gave a sigh. "I wonder where Cloud is..." "Haha!" Yuffie laughed. "Still on him, are we?" Tifa shook her head a bit, playing with her cleaning towel. "I told Salem that I didn't care anything about him..." "You LIAR!" Yuffie hissed once again with a giggle. "Everyone knows it... Salem even guessed it. But the question is..." A awkward pause filled the air before she continued. "Why did you kiss SALEM..." Tifa shook her head a bit, wincing at the words. "I dunno... I... I guess... I... I dunno..." She finally said, giving up on the thought. "Maybe you... WANTED it..." Yuffie giggled again, sipping on a glass of wine. "What?!" Tifa said aloud before hushing herself. "What do you mean, 'I wanted it?!" "You know! You like... LIKE Salem..." "Uh... No... He's to much like Cloud......... Sorta...." "How so?" Yuffie questioned. "..... I dunno, Yuffie... Let's just get off the subject, okay?!" "Sure, sure... But you can't hide it... Just keep in mind... They're BOTH going to find out sooner or later, woman... So choose now before someone gets hurt..." Yuffie said guzzling down the rest of her dark wine. "I guess your right..." Tifa said before giving a sigh. "Salem!" She called out into the back of the tavern. Seconds passed before Salem reached the front with a slight smile on his face. "Whatcha need?" "Um... Nothing... You can go home now if you'd like... I know it's early but..." Salem nodded. "Alright... I'll be back...?" Tifa smiled. "Tomorrow at twelve... It'll be slow..." He nodded and headed for the door. "Tell your brother; Ninja Yuffie is STOPPIN' by!" Yuffie exclaimed. "He'll SHOOT you ON sight!" Salem said mockingly before stepping out the door. Yuffie gave a sigh as she set her chin in her palm. "Those Valentines are so difficult..." Tifa gave a nod, her eyes on the shutting door. "Yeah... They are..."