Shades of Gray
Part Five: All in a Day's Work
120 seconds or so following Elena's departure
As the line of children leading to Santa Claus became longer with every moment passing by, Tifa could just watch in amazement as her childhood's icon greeted each and every one of them. But instead of the white bearded jolly old man, it was only her dear friend, grouchy Barret who was sitting on St. Nicholas' chair and wearing a red suit that looked a little too small.
She felt someone pulling on the hem of her miniskirt and Tifa looked down to see a little girl standing in front of her. The child's eyes were as wide as saucers and she was gazing up at her in full admiration. Tifa smiled at her, and knelt down so that she can talk to the kid better.
"Wow, you get to work for Santa!" the little kid exclaimed and Tifa had to laugh. It was strangely warming to see small children enjoying the long-awaited holiday, and it never failed to make Tifa feel a little better knowing she had contributed to putting smiles on their faces.
"Uh-huh, I'm one of Santa's friends." Lying to children was a big no-no especially since Tifa knew they would eventually find out that Santa Claus had existed many years back and that the one greeting them was nothing short of a replica. But there was nothing wrong in hoping and Tifa did not want to ruin the girl's childhood, not when she was still so young. She noticed the girl watching the live herd of deer they had added. "We weren't able to get Rudolph... Too bad."
"It doesn't matter as long as I get to meet Santa." The girl replied, and her comment struck Tifa as that of a matured mind. She followed her gaze and saw she was observing the line of children ahead of her. "Five more to go. I guess I can still wait."
An idea lighted in Tifa's head and she took the little girl's hand in her own. "Hey, why don't we go feed the deer? Maybe they got hungry after all the waiting." She led her to the stable-like place beside the unused sleigh supposedly ridden by the jolly red man. Tifa handed her some food, and hoisted her up the wooden barricade. "You can call me Tifa, by the way. What's your name?"
"Eileen." She squealed, nearly causing Tifa to drop her, as one playful deer nuzzled her neck. "I'm seven years old and my uncle brought me here." Tifa suppressed a frown, wondering where the man was and how he could just leave the girl. "He told me to wait for a moment while he vanished off somewhere, probably to dig some chicks." Tifa laughed softly, realizing how familiar that personality sounded.
She put Eileen down. "So, this uncle of yours-"
"Hey, Eileen, you left your place in line." a familiar voice cut in, and Tifa wasn't given any chance to finish her sentence. She slowly turned around and located Reno nearby, fumbling to light the cigarette poised on his lips, which were already formed into a lopsided grin. "Tifa, you look good." He mumbled as he gave her exposed slender legs a long look, causing Tifa to consider asking if he was drunk this time of the day.
She didn't return the smile. "Umm, hello Reno... You shouldn't be smoking in a place like this." She greeted him hesitantly. She never would have guessed that the blonde little girl was related to him.
"Give it a rest, Tifa." He took a long drag from his cigarette, not heeding her lecture. "Look, with the length of the skirt you wear, these little boys are getting an early education."
An angry flush on her cheeks, Tifa meant to reply but Eileen pre-empted her. "Of course you'd know about short skirts." Eileen scolded him, indignant in the way only a child impersonating an adult could be. "You told me you'd only be gone for two minutes... If Elena finds out you went on with your usual girl-hunting while babysitting me, she'd be really mad at you." Her small hands were on her hips and she appeared so cute, Tifa had to smile. Reno, on the other hand, appeared amused and ready enough to wave off her admonishing.
"Yeah, well, sorry but t'was hard getting this." Tifa looked on with mild curiosity as Reno tossed something in the girl's hand. Eileen gave her uncle a crushing hug before hopping back to her place in the line. The two of them stood in silence for a while, watching the blonde kid show the other kids in line her gift. He beamed. "I guess that did it, eh?"
"So, this niece of yours... Eileen, how did you end up taking her here?" Tifa asked him, curiosity getting the best of her. Reno didn't strike her as the family man type of guy and anyone can't blame Tifa for being inquisitive. An aloof happy go lucky booze-drinking gun-loving EX-Turk, that was the only Reno she'd ever known. "I mean, I never counted upon bumping into you here."
"Yeah? Same here. I didn't think you're the kind of girl that'd work here." He gestured lightly to her costume, then blew a cloud of smoke in her face, as if blowing away her remark. She ended up coughing instead of replying. "Anyway, she aint my niece," He stuffed his hands in his pockets and went on speaking. "I lost a damned poker game with Elena and I didn't want to pay up. Man, if I only knew handling her friggin' sister would be like hell, then I would've gladly given up a little dough!"
"Elena has a sister?" Tifa could not believe chatty Elena never told her and she might never have found out had Reno failed to mention that small fact. But it did feed a suitable enough explanation for her curiosity. "She never told me she had relatives living nearby... What brings you here aside from having to do a small chore? I thought you'd be clever enough to weasel out of the agreement with your girl friend."
He glanced at her, and she caught a flicker of annoyance in his steely aquamarine eyes. "She's not my girlfriend, and I'd be damned if she was." Tifa winced at the remark. From the way he said it, she got the impression that the two didn't really get along as well as she had thought. "I pity Rude... He thinks he's in love with her." Tifa recalled a while ago when Elena told her about her and Rude's second monthsary... Could it be Reno was just, even a little bit, jealous of the time his best friend had been spending with Elena, rather than going with him in their usual bar-escapades?
"Hey, Elena's not that bad, she's just talkative." Tifa defended her friend. "I work with her every single day but I manage to survive."
"Oh right, you do work here. Meeting cute boys, takin' care of li'l ankle-biters and standing around to look good, all in a day's work?" his usual demeanour returned and any hint of his seriousness from a while ago was nowhere to be seen. "Wow, that must be really hard, huh." He remarked sarcastically. "This is perfect for Reeve. He would really love this job..."
She blinked. "Reeve?"
"Uh, he didn't seem to like that bartending job and the manager sure didn't want me," his forehead creased slightly at the recollection, the only outward sign of his irritation. It wasn't his fault he could outdrink all the customers. "So... Elena sorta saved us from being jobless bums this season." Oh. The incompetent jerk and the indolent businessman Elena mentioned would be working with them were Reno and Reeve. Reno leaned forward, observing her face. "Hmm? You don't look too happy to hear I'd be working with you."
"No, no, that's not it. I was just thinking." Elena and Yuffie's yapping nearly drove Barret to near sanity every single day, what more now that his favourite -sarcasm meant- Turk would be joining in?
"Thinking, eh?" Reno frowned, as if appalled by her thoughts. "You know if you think too much, you're bound to lose your mind sooner or later." She tried not to smile. Well, truth be told, no matter how annoying Reno can be, things were going to get livelier with him around.
Before Tifa went home, she picked up the strongest headache medicine she could afford.
Author's Notes: Yeah, well, it's back to Reno... How'd you like Eileen? The chapter? Thank you for reading! ) Reviews, comments, suggestions and critiques are greatly appreciated.