Christmas Advertising
A Final Fantasy VII ficlet by Sphinx of the Nile

Rating: PG, I guess
Category:
Pairing(s): Seph/Vin, Reno/Cloud, Rufus/Tseng
Warnings: just a small insinuation and Reno
Summary:
Notes: Beta by Ice Lady

The meeting resembled a military briefing more than anything else, but it was no wonder really, since most of the people sitting around the huge dining table sipping tea or coffee were in fact SOLDIERs or Turks.

It was the 22nd of December, the day unofficially labelled the Big Tactical and Strategical Christmas Get-Together, or as Reno liked to call it, the SHIFT Day. Originally, the abbreviation was an F shorter, but when Cloud expressed his strong disapproval for the expression, Reno just inserted another choice swear word before ’torture’, and Cloud couldn’t do much about it but roll his eyes.

They were all sitting in the grand dining hall of the now rebuilt and reinhabited ShinRa Mansion; this year, it was Rufus’ turn to host the collective celebration. That’s why Tseng was currently standing at the end of the table with charts, graphs and three-dimensional crosstable analysises, conducting the meeting as if he were speaking to his Turks before a tough mission.

’Barret, Rude, you will take the kids carol-singing. The route and the details are in the yellow folder. Elena is going with you, so you can pick up the gifts yet undelivered. Reno, you’ll have to pick up Yuffie and her family in Wutai. Flight path, permissions and weather forecast in the blue folder. Reno!’

’Oh, come on, get that giant stick out of your ass, Tseng…’ the readhead murmured rolling his eyes, not caring in the least that suddenly everybody’s gaze was on him, including a quite austere one from Rufus himself. He just resumed licking Cloud’s ear, who was by now redder than a well-cooked lobster.

Clearing his throat, Tseng quickly regained his composure.

’Vincent, I’m counting on you to take care of the cooking, just like last year. The girls agreed to help you out in the kitchen, so you don’t have to do everything by yourself.’

The gunman just nodded his silent agreement, but from the other end of the table, Zack weaved frantically at them, smiling so widely his eyes narrowed into thin lines.

’I’d gladly help in the kitchen too!’

’NO!’ Came the synchronous reply as every horrified face turned towards the young SOLDIER. Zack slumped back into his chair with a resignated sigh. ’Okay, okay, I was just offering…’

He sincerely expected them to forget about last year’s who-can-throw-the-pancake-higher incident by now. Well, it seemed he was wrong.

***---***

Zack kicked the thick snow and sighed.

’Why, why did they have to send us for the tree?’ He looked at his quiet companion with pursed lips and big resentful eyes, but was promptly cut off before he could’ve continued his whining.

’The sooner we find a suitable pine tree, the sooner we can go back to the mansion,’ Sephiroth stated calmly, but inside he was grimacing. He was always so proud of his self-control, but if he had to listen to Zack snivelling for more than an hour on how it was cold and boring and that probably there were still monsters lurking around in the area, he just knew he’d end up screaming with frustration.

’Can I at least choose?’ Zack asked hopefully, trying to keep up with the long strides of the General, who just shot him an annoyed look.

’Of course… NOT.’

***---***

Cid was preparing the tree stand in the courtyard, expecting the two SOLDIERs to return every second now, but he wasn’t prepared to what he saw when they finally did. His surprised voice caused the others to gather at the stairs and the front door, not believing their eyes either.

’What?’ Sephiroth stared at them questioningly.

Reno was the first to come to his senses. He walked to Sephiroth, and using the fact that the silver-haired General’s hands were occupied, he sneaked one of his arms around the slim leather clad waist, snuggling close like a cat.

His voice just helped the image, since he was practically purring, the sound deep, sensous. ’You know, now I really need to find out if Vincent is indeed telling the truth.’

Grinning impishly, he leaned even closer, but speaking still loud enough for all to hear.

’He always sais that your precious Masamune is not compensation, but advertisement. Now, I’m really curious what are you advertising with a sixteen feet tall Christmas tree…”

In the clear winter afternoon, a thunder of laughter floated towards the blue sky.