Warning: Yesss, I wrote more. I'm trying to finish it so I won't spoil anything for my other fics. I like how this is turning out. I'm also working on the prize... so don't worry! That'll be done soon, too!

Chapter Two: Flirting With a Temper

"No,"

"... But, sir, if we-,"

"I said no,"

"But...,"

"What part of 'no' do you not understand?" Orange crossed his arms and glanced around the meeting room at the Council members. The assembled members, half Intellixar and half Dominax, all muttered and whispered to each other. He sat, reclining, at the front seat as Fab stood next to him. Fab had her face buried in her claw and sighed, quietly. The Elder seemed to share her exasperation as he tapped his claws against the table scowled, a nerve twitching in his cheek.

"I understand the meaning, my Tallest," he replied, trying to sound unphased. "I simply feel that it would be in our best interest to-,"

"Short term, yes. Long term? No," Orange retorted. He shook his head. "We're the Irken Empire... and we're trying to expand our territories! Not give them away!"

"They agree to sign our treaty if we allow them to burn some of the planets we currently rule," the elder muttered. "Isn't a treaty with the Planet Jackers a good idea?"

"Not on these terms!" Orange hissed. "How can we possibly keep our reputation of we accept a treaty like this!? We'd be a laughing stock!"

"We need allies," the elder reminded him.

"Not so badly that we should sacrifice our dignity and territory for them," Orange sniffed. "They're not even that trustworthy,"

"That's beside the point!"

"No, it's precisely the point!" Orange snarled. "We're not going to submit to a bunch of space trash just so we can write a flimsy document that has no real binding except out of good faith!"

The Elder threw up his claws in defeat.

"Then what would you have us do?" he inquired. "Invade them?"

"Eventually," Orange replied. He was greeted with stares, half disapproving and half excited at the idea. "We need to arrange training and equipment, however... as well as a better armada for security reasons. We won't become a strong empire without a strong military or by twiddling our claws and counting on 'treaties',"

Fab said nothing, which was expected of her. She was Orange's bodyguard, only there to guard him and not to comment. However, she couldn't find much fault in Orange's thoughts. She simply wished he wasn't so confrontational with them; the Council wasn't his enemy, they were Irkens just like them.

Quickly growing bored of the continuous bickering, Fab crossed her arms and leaned back her head. She forced herself to drone out the voices of Orange and the Council, focusing intently on the sound of her pulse and her own thoughts. She didn't need to pay attention, as her opinion was never asked, and no one would dare attack Orange in the open. So, in her opinoion, her job was more or less a farce.

Fab's thoughts were quickly jarred when she heard the Elder stand up, huffing irritably.

"If such is your will, my Tallest," he muttered.

"It is," Orange scowled. The Elder grunted and turned about, leaving the room with as much grace as an angry beast. The rest of the Council followed suit, either muttering irritably or discussing whether Orange was truly serious about such conquests.

Orange sighed and massaged his temple, relaxing in his chair until the room was empty save for him and Fab.

"You like picking fights," Fab muttered, suddenly. She looked at Orange. "Don't you," she added, though it was obvious that her words were more of a statement than a question.

"Don't you start," Orange growled. "You agree with me,"

"... Maybe I do," Fab snorted. "But you're totally tactless,"

"Why should I have tact?" Orange smirked. "It never helps... except delay things and sugarcoat the truth,"

"It offends less," Fab pointed out.

"I couldn't care less if I offend them," Orange chuckled. "I'm not interested in the thoughts of a bunch of frightened scholars,"

Fab shrugged, then shook her head.

"Anyway...," Orange looked at Fab. Fab blinked at him, then scowled.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, tensely.

"Um... well... I was... um... wondering... if... if you'd go out with me," Orange grunted, tapping his claws together. Fab stared.

"Go out with you?" she repeated, in disbelief.

"Well...," Orange waved his claws. "Don't get me wrong! I mean, you do tend to lose your temper over stupid things and misunderstand me... which always leads to us fighting... and, well, you know... I just want to avoid that this time,"

Fab's antenni snapped back as her eyes narrowed.

"Ex-CUSE me?!" she growled. "Are you accusing ME of starting all of our arguments?!"

"I'm glad we agree," Orange grinned.

"Why you...," Fab hissed, fists clenching. "You... you arrogant little... YOU'RE the reason we're always fighting!"

"SEE? This is what I'm talking about!" Orange sighed.

"If you weren't so arrogant and blurt things out all the time, maybe I wouldn't get angry at you!" Fab shrieked.

"ARROGANT?!" Orange exploded. "I was giving you a COMPLIMENT! Do you have any idea how many Irkens would love to go out with me!?"

"THEN THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHO YOU REALLY ARE!" Fab screamed. "AN IGNORANT, ARROGANT, SELF CENTERED... MORON!"

With a flourish, she grabbed Orange's drink from the table, which was an Irken fruit juice, and promptly dumped it on his head. Orange yelped and sputtered, the fluid dripping down his head, while Fab turned on her heels and stormed out of the room.

Orange watched her leave, his expression pained. He winced when she slammed the door, then listened as her angry footsteps resounded through the halls until they were simply a whisper.

Orange sighed and buried his face in his hands.

"... But I really didn't mean to upset her this time,"

-------------------------------------------------

Rio skipped down the halls to the Irken palace, looking thoroughly delighted as he carried some large packages in his arms.

"I'm going to go see Faaaab! I'm going to go see FAAAAAB!" he sang. He felt like the luckiest Irken in the entire universe. As the small Irken rounded the corner, he came to a stop and stared. The door to Fab's quarters was jammed open with hundreds of flower arrangements, boxes of candies, and boxes of fast food from Food Courtia.

Fab sat outside of her room, staring in to it almost vacantly as she munched on some nachos.

"Whatcha doing out here, Fab?" Rio stared.

"I can't fit in my room," Fab replied. She eyed Rio. "What's that?"

"Stuff," Rio replied. He extended the packages to Fab. "I wuz told by the guards that since I was going to come and see yooooouuuu, I should make myself useful and give you them,"

"... Just put them in the room with everything else," Fab sighed. "And grab yourself something to munch on. They're safe. I scanned everything allready,"

Rio grinned brightly as he put the packages in to the cramped room, then grabbed a box of chocolates and sat down by his hero.

"Who sent alla it?" Rio asked as he munched.

"I don't know," Fab replied, chewing idly on some nachos. "I've never received gifts before,"

Rio nodded, confused, and stared at the room. Both Fab and Rio sat, munching in silence, as they stared at the room with absolutely no idea what to make of the situation.

"ATTENTION, FAB! PLEASE LOOK OUTSIDE THE WINDOW!"

Fab blinked, then glanced at Rio. Rio stared at Fab, shrugging innocently. Fab blinked again, then stood up and walked over to the window. She peered out, questioningly, then stared.

In a brilliant display of lasers, words appeared in the nightsky.

"'Fab'," Fab began to read, eyes widening. "'I don't know what I did to make you angry, but will you forgive me anyway and consider my request?'...,"

"Request?" Rio tilted his head. Fab didn't seem to hear him as she stared, then turned to look at her room.

"... He... did...this?" Fab looked utterly bewildered. Without another word, she turned and darted down the hallway. Rio stared in confusion, then glanced at Fab's room. He paused, grabbed a box of chocolate covered cherries, then ran after Fab while eating them. As Fab rounded the corner, she came to a halt. Orange stood at the bottom, extending a large assortment of gold flowers. He grinned, suavely.

"Well?" he asked. Fab took one look at Orange, then at the flowers, then out the window, and proceeded to...

... Faint.