They're still in the middle of the desert and Vaati's learned something very important the location; he does not like it. He's got sand just about everywhere but at least he's not working with six layers of sunburn like Link is. The idiot disappeared for just a few minutes at the Bazaar while his head was turned only to come back wearing some 'traditional Gerudo garb' he bought off some vendor. Now he's walking around in a low cut top that does nothing to cover his pale shoulders from the desert sun and those silly baggy pants that have to weigh a ton while the trudge through the sandbanks… The veil is working wonders, though, and admittedly Vaati could get used to watching Link walk around like that. And the way he gets when Vaati comments on the outfit - always shifting his feet awkwardly as his eyes look everywhere else to avoid him. It almost makes getting brutally maimed by his past incarnations worth it just to see this.

Almost .

He can deal with this Link but it'll be a long time before he forgives those from his past.

Though he's damn well pushing it keeping them in this hellscape for even a moment longer. Link's hesitating to take them out of the desert, convinced they can head back to their previous prison and suddenly turn the tides.

"They're not going to keep the cap in the same spot," Vaati tells him for what has to be the hundredth time since they've left the Bazaar. "If they took us to their hideout and we escaped , why would they keep the cap in the same place? They'd practically be asking us to steal from them."

"They're dumb enough," Link says.

" No one is that dim-witted." He grumbles. "Even if they were, what could the two of us do now that we couldn't before?" He can't believe that Link had actually saved Hyrule. His planning skills leave much to be desired and finally put an end to his past suspicions that if this Link was anything like the first he had met, Ezlo had certainly been the one to lead the charge against him all those years ago. "We're tired and have nothing to defend ourselves with. All we have is that damn 'slate' of yours and it only just stopped being a useless brick." Thank Goodness, too. Link seemed to be having a tough time navigating the desert - which Vaati couldn't blame him for, afterall everything looked the damn same here.

"How are we supposed to stop them then?" Link asks. Vaati hears the frustration in his voice. Hero types.

"Weapons might be a good start." Vaati points out.

Link still doesn't have much on him. He hasn't fully recovered from their imprisonment, hasn't fully restocked. All he has is whatever in Goddesses' name the Princess had given them during their escape (some potions and a few spare clothes, though certainly not as many as he had on him before) and some… soup ladle he found lying around? It's not exactly prime material to work with.

The blonde stops in his tracks and Vaati feels satisfied for finally getting through the lunatic.

But he's fiddling around on his feet again, keeping his eyes on the ground. "...I thought I'd find some when we get there."

"Do your enemies typically leave their weapons just lying around?" He raises an eyebrow at Link.

"You'd be surprised," he says defensively. Vaati would not in fact be surprised. He had worked with monsters before, he knew just how dumb they could be.

Link takes a long time to start moving again which drives Vaati insane. He's sweltering hot underneath his hooded cloak and yet Link can't pick up the pace. And in a couple of hours, when that round menace finally sets, Vaati will be freezing cold. There's never a moment of peace in this Goddess forsaken land. But Link needs to take a minute to think - which apparently means he can't take another damn step forward.

"It would help if you knew how to fight. Without magic," Link speaks up. "I could teach you."

"How thrilling," Vaati rolls his eyes. " Weapon training from the hero himself. "

"We know where the cap is," Link reminds him. "Like you said, it's not going anywhere right now. They can't figure out how to work it, remember?"

"I said we should have a plan , not that we should wait for months on end to strike . We don't know when they'll figure it out." Not that it was difficult to control in the first place.

"You're overreacting. It's not going to take us months to get you to hold a sword a little better."

"Fine, hero , you train me and t hen what? "

"Well it'll have to be an ambush. We can't afford to take on the whole clan just the two of us head on..." as if that wasn't what he had planned on doing just moments ago, "-trust me, they've got some tough guys there. I f only you were…" he stops and looks at Vaati like he's got an idea. "Huh."

" What? Go on, Link , finish that little thought of yours." He knows just what the boy was about to say. If only he were more magically inclined . If he knew how powerful a sorcerer he was before he'd watch his tongue. Vaati has half a mind to curse him out for his ignorance, but it'd only further add to his suspicions. Though, suspicions is such a weak word right now. If they had hard evidence, Vaati is certain the princess would have had Link lock him up in some dungeon until they could sort things out.

"There's these springs… If you pray to the Goddesses in them, they're supposed to listen to you and hopefully grant your wish I guess. ...Not that it really worked in the past," he mumbles.

"'Pray to the Goddesses?'" he repeats. Vaati can't keep the disgust off of his face. Never. Not in a million years. In a billion. They don't deserve his prayers. And even if he were to pray would they even listen? Why would they ever grant him power after the last time he had any within his control?

But the idea is tempting. No more degrading practicing. No more little flames that go up with the slightest breeze. No more feeling so disconnected from the wind. No more wandering Hyrule, following Link like a lost dog. If he could get even a fraction of the power he had before, he'd have a real chance at getting his cap back. At getting any of that power back.

"Very well. I suppose I can offer myself up to the Gods for their power."

"It might not work," Link warns.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Honestly, this is a pretty bad one. I'm not used to making up any plans. I kind of thought you'd come up with something better." Which was a pretty fair assumption about Vaati.

"It's certainly better than storming in with a pot lid for a shield."

That cute little blush is back on his cheeks again as he scratches the back of his head. "I told you I was going to find better stuff when we got there…"

They make camp in the middle of the desert that night. Which is to say, they throw what little clothes Link got back from the Yiga via Zelda onto the ground so they have something warm to lie down on and build a campfire. It's certainly not the most comfortable place he's had to make camp with Link and the desert's surprisingly loud during the night. He can hear a Lizalfos camp that's a couple miles to their left and some bird cawing from above.

Vaati lays there, staring up at the starry sky. Struggling with just about a dozen different ideas on what he should do now. He's running a big risk of getting stabbed by Link. He could try and run away while the boy's asleep, but he's not sure where he'd really go. And he knows he can't just turn his back on his cap now. Not when it's so close. Not when he's spent so much time searching already.

It's better to stick with the hero no matter the cost...

It takes at least an hour for him to fall asleep, which has to be a new record ever since he broke out of his sword. The fire's light helps.