Title: Unusual Picture
Words: 559
Summary: Marlene – the budding artist.
A/N: Let's all cheer for attempted humour that falls flat on its face!
...it'll be better next time, I promise. Put it down to post-celebration side effects. Hope all of you had a blessed Christmas!
"Ne, what do you think Tifa?"
It was probably another new portrait to add to the wall, thought Tifa. So far, Marlene had already finished her dad, Cid and Yuffie. She looked up from her ledger.
And began to try and stifle laughter at what Marlene was holding up. The little girl frowned. "You don't have to laugh like that! You can just tell me if it's bad you know!"
"N, no! It's not that…" The older girl let a giggle escape. "Not that at all. It's just…" A few more giggles came out, covering over her attempted explanation. Wondering what had made his guardian react so, Denzel left his plastic airplane behind to go look.
He took one look and had to sit down laughing.
Marlene was already annoyed enough at Tifa. "You too?"
He shook his head vigorously but kept on guffawing. He had to grab hold of Tifa's arm so he wouldn't fall onto the floor.
"It's the subject," said Tifa as she got a hold of her giggles, but still smiling widely.
"Really?" Marlene looked at her new drawing in puzzlement. "Why?"
Tifa's lips gave way to more laughing. It didn't help that Denzel was there right beside her, nearly haha-ing his head off. Marlene gave them a look of more bewilderment and lingering annoyance at their refusal to tell her what was so amusing.
Cloud passed by, fresh out of the shower, and heard the laughter. He stood in the doorway and at the sight of the two in the throes of hilarity, raised an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?"
Tifa waved at Marlene. "Show… him."
Marlene went up to him and Cloud took the paper. Almost immediately, ("almost" since he had more self control than either Tifa or Denzel) he began to feel his lips twitch.
"Marlene…"
The girl looked up at him innocently.
He valiantly tried to restrain himself from looking too amused. It was a big feat since his lips were twitching involuntarily.
"Weren't you supposed to be asleep already when Vincent started riding Red XIII like a Chocobo?"
"Everyone was having so much fun at the party! Anyway, I went back to bed right after Vinnie fell off," said Marlene.
Cloud pressed his lips together and handed the picture back to her. It was a few minutes before he trusted himself to speak without falling into the same condition as Tifa and Denzel.
"Not everyone remembers this happened. Maybe you shouldn't hang this one up."
"NO!"
Cloud and Marlene turned to look at the other two who'd shouted at the same time. Tifa and Denzel grinned at them.
"I mean, since not everyone remembers, then that should be a good reminder, right? And it's a work of art that has to be shown to the world. It oughta go right up on the wall."
Tifa snickered once at Denzel's explanation. "I'll even get a frame for it tomorrow."
Marlene grinned at them. "Thanks!" She went back to the table to touch it up with her colour pencils. With twinkling eyes, Denzel bit his lower lip and offered to help.
As they got busy, Cloud looked at the taller brunette and lowered his voice. "Vincent and Red XIII are going to kill you since they can't get Marlene."
Tifa just took another look at the picture and grinned. "It'll be worth it."
.
End.