The seeming familiarity between Nida and Seifer vexes him. It scratches at some part of Squall that can't make sense of how or when it would have developed or where. The mention of him also reminds Squall that Nida will be there when they arrive in Esthar having been the one to tell him about Seifer in the first place. "The main room is fine," he insists. Sleeping in Nida's old room feels a bit too much like trying to replace him, especially with Seifer under the same roof.

Besides...If anyone tries to come through the front door on the suspicion of who Seifer is, there will be a line of defense.

His fingers test the slowly warming water with one hand while passively gesturing to the hearth where the fire is still going, a twin pair of MREs cooking in the pot of boiling water. Focusing on the work, focusing on their food, focusing on the basin, they all give Squall something other than the aired out confessions and the reality of their circumstances to dial in on.

"Those should be ready in a few minutes," Squall remarks, deciding the basin water is hot enough. He's scrounged for a washcloth, rinsing the dust from it throughly in the small bucket of unused water, and now that it's relatively clean, he sets it beside the basin for Seifer, his own already in hand.