Disclaimer: Well, read it on the last chapter. We should be able to leave them out in future chapters.
"Well, that was boring as!" Zell announced as the nine combat specialists headed to SeeD's Warrior café for a long-awaited lunch. Everyone laughed as Zell began to explain the virtues of hotdogs to Iris.
"They're the greatest food on earth! That tangy barbecue sauce, on a soft bread roll with a hot sausage. Nothing beats a good hotdog," he said happily, waving his arms around like a windmill. Squall snorted.
Iris grinned at the short blond man. "Whatever you say, Zell. But I don't happen to like your tangy barbecue sauce, so I'll just stick with the fish-head curry."
Zell shuddered. "How can you eat fish-heads?" he demanded.
Iris shrugged. "It's not the head itself I'm eating, just the flesh at the back and under the cheeks."
Zell immediately proceeded to pour a tirade of shocked and disgusted words over Iris's innocent head.
Alia lagged behind a little, walking slowly, and thinking. Who is that girl? And what's the past of hers that everybody but me seems to understand? I hate being left out. Why won't anyone explain things to me? I am eighteen.
A scowl settled upon her delicately carved face, and she was irritated for the whole meal.
Iris and Zell continued to squabble about their disagreeing food habits. The tall brunette pointedly lifted a bowl of rice and sniffed it with a dramatically blissful "Ahh."
"Aw puh-leeze!" Zell said with his usual huge hand gestures. "Rice has no smell!"
"It does too," Iris sniffed. "A very pleasant one at that!" With that, she shoved the rice bowl under Zell's nose.
Zell took a dubious sniff, then shook his head. "You're messing with my mind," he accused.
Iris shrugged. "Not my fault if you've got psychological cotton balls up your nose."
"And it's not my fault that you're killing off your tastebuds with too-hot curries," he shot back.
"I can still classify wines better than you can," Iris said coolly and scooped up a handful of rice with a shred of Naan bread, apparently quite enjoying her meal.
However, this time Alia couldn't be infected with the cheerful mood Iris and Zell were spreading. She didn't even notice the rare delighted grin Quistis was wearing.
Seifer was also tight-lipped, only speaking up a few times. He looked over at Alia, who was frowning into her chicken and salad sandwich. Looks like she's trying to give it the death stare, thought Seifer. He shifted his chair closer to her, and rested his arm on her shoulders. Alia looked up and produced a wavery smile, but nothing like her usual bright, sunny grin.
A pair of alert amber eyes flicked over to the couple, wearing an expression of mild curiosity.
"So, how long have you two been together?" Iris asked in the casual tone she used in delicate situations.
Alia struggled to her feet, shrugging off Seifer's arm. Her anger was clear.
"Why the hell should I tell you anything," she fumed, kicking her chair out of the way. "You think you can waltzing in and become my best friend? Just because you happen to know my brother and all my friends? Well let me tell you something, Iris, Juniko or whatever your stupid name is," she snapped. "It's not gonna happen to I learn a little more about you!"
With that she stalked off. Seifer shot a furious glare at Iris, and followed her.
Iris recoiled. "Um," she said quietly.
Squall shook his head.
"Alia's a naturally suspicious person, and her past hasn't helped. She doesn't usually go off in the deep end like that, but her relationship with Seifer is a very tender area, and she gets enough bullshit about that from everyone else."
"I'd better go and apologise," Iris said, getting up from her chair. Quistis pulled her down.
"You'd better let her cool off first. She's not good to be around when she's angry."
Iris nodded glumly. She hadn't meant to antagonise the young girl. I really need to learn to keep my big mouth shut, she thought ruefully. And I really wanted to make a good impression.
"Well guys, and gals, I gotta run. See youse all later," said Irvine, hopping up and tipping his hat. Selphie, Zell, Rinoa and Quistis followed him, briefly waving a good-bye.
Squall remained, and smiled at Iris.
"Don't let my sis get you down. Go out and have some fun." He grinned. "I can personally suggest The Bowl, if you want to do some sparring or training. Zell will probably want to test you out."
Iris sighed, remembering.
"Those dark granite cliffs hold some pretty special memories for me," she remarked lazily. "My first real fight, my first bad wound - " She blushed. "My first kiss."
Squall grinned. It was a fairly popular little rainy-day story that Iris had received a surprise kiss from Lloric Seagill, a part-black SeeD. Lloric had walked away with a red handprint on his left cheek, but had received an apology and several weeks of sweet romance before Iris had chosen to disappear shortly afterwards.
"Lloric hasn't been involved with any other females since you left, by the way," Squall commented, just a tiny glimmer of mischief leaving his eyes. "He's on a little mission at the moment, but should arrive here this evening."
Iris blushed, and wore the embarrassed grin which would have turned into a giggle had she been Selphie.
The commander winked, and got up from his chair.
"Well, my first real kiss - "His voice dropped to low whisper - "Was on the balcony of the Garden."
Iris mock-swooned, now cured from her embarrassment. "And I can guess the recipient - a certain raven-haired Galbadian?"
Squall nodded and laughed, and extended a hand to help her up.
"I'll meet you at The Bowl in about an hour, okay?"
"Sounds good. See you then."
Squall waved, and disappeared down the hall. Iris exhaled loudly, and looked at her map of the Garden.
"Okay, my dorm should be right here - " Iris reached into her pocket and fumbled around for the keycard Cid had given her.
"What are you doing?"
Iris swung around, and looked down slightly to see an annoyed Alia, holding an identical keycard.
"Oh. Um, I guess that means we're rooming, together, then."
Alia rolled her eyes in disgust, and let out a barely audible, "Duh."
Iris stood back, and let the hot-tempered girl unlock the door.
"Hey, look, Alia..." she began carefully.
"What?" Alia's head whipped around, her eyes still flashing from the anger she felt towards her new roommate.
The tall brunette bit her lip for a second, then lifted her head and used her usual blunt manner.
"Look, I'm really sorry I pissed you off back there. I was just kinda surprised Seifer had found himself a girlfriend, who, to add to the irony, is Squall's sister."
Alia's eyes narrowed, and she looked the newcomer up and down, considering. Iris let her do so, not wanting to provoke her.
After a long silence, Iris spoke again.
"I think we should at least come to a truce if we want to get some decent sleep while we're rooming," she said quietly. "It's not like we have to do the instant friendship thing."
"I wouldn't do that anyway," Alia snapped. She looked the taller girl over again, then sighed. "But I guess you are right about the truce thing."
Iris nodded slowly, still doing her best not to provoke Alia's hot temper.
Alia watched the cargo-clad SeeD plop down onto her bed, surprised at how upset she looked. Funny, that. One of those multiple personalities. She continued to watch as Iris picked up a vaguely cream-coloured knit jumper and tied it around her waist. Just as Iris was about to leave, Alia stopped her.
"Will I have to find out about your SeeD-related history via the others, or will you be the one to tell me?"
Iris turned around in the doorway, and a small grin crossed her features once more.
"I will tell you, if you want me to. But not before you've cooled down a bit."
With that, she had disappeared, leaving Alia briefly shocked into silence. Gone from that totally quiet unprovocative attitude to the other blunt personality. Well!