Crouching in the small loft space, the hero watched as different members of the Yiga Clan scouted the area, looking for him and any other intruders that may have followed. Drawing his bow, he quickly took out the three guards, dropping to the ground and searching their bodies for any keys to the next room.
Once finished looting, he trekked onward, having little trouble with the few guards that roamed the dimly lit rooms and halls of the Yiga Clan's hideout. Coming across a room filled with bananas, the hero stopped for a spiteful snack, chewing the soft flesh of the overly ripened fruit, he disposed of the peels in easy-to-spot locations, getting a tiny thrill of glee at the woeful cries of his foes. Serves them right for giving him so much trouble.
The rest of the rooms offered Link the same easily dispatched guards and avoided traps. Finally entering what he assumed was the final room, if the large bed in the back was anything to go off of, he was stopped by a much smaller Yiga warrior. They were built like a footsoldier, but the longsword strapped to their hip, along with the heavily filled utility belt, was enough of a warning. Drawing his blade, he stared at the toned back of the stranger, their crimson suit only helping to define their features.
"I figured you would have been here quicker, sleepy hero." their voice lilted, the stranger refused to face him, simply staring at the large bed before them.
"Let me pass and I won't have to fight you." Link growled out, wary about having to fight before what he assumed would be a heavy battle with the Yiga Leader.
Letting out a soft chuckle, the Yiga member raised their hands up to their face, donning their mask before turning to face him. Tilting their head they raised a single finger, pointing it at him. "I pictured you taller." they taunted before tapping their belt in thought. "I don't even think you're worthy of my blade."
With a roar of fury, Link lunges forward, swinging his blade down. Instead of finding purchase in soft flesh, the hero's eyes widened and he pivoted backward, narrowly avoiding the balled-up fist aimed at his chin. They were fast. Faster than many of the Yiga he had faced before. He wasn't sure he was prepared for two battles of this level.
The fight continued, both narrowly dodging each other, Link managing to get in a few small swipes on their arms, receiving several punches in kind. He could already feel a wheeze in his breath from a firm punch he received; several of his ribs were fractured from that alone. The two were at a standstill; neither able to land a definitive blow. Readying for another attack, they were stopped by a loud noise past the right side wall.
The yiga soldier immediately knelt, head bowed as the wall before them slowly opened, revealing the short, but equally competent Yiga Leader. The grip on his sword tightened as Link tried to catch his breath. Looks like he'll be fighting both of them. At least, that's what he thought before he noticed the slight quiver that rattled the soldier beside him.
"Sheiky Sheiky Sheiky." the leader tutted, barely giving the hero any acknowledgment as he paced around the two, face tilted down at the soldier. "What did I tell you about getting in the Hero's way? I wanted to face him head-on." he bemoaned, sagging cartoonishly.
"I'm sorry, Master Kohga. I simply wanted-" a loud crack filled the room as the Master's foot came down on the soldier's head, knocking them onto the floor.
With little fanfare, the two were imprisoned, sharing the same dingy cell. The soldier's wheezes were all Link heard for most of the night.
The next morning rolled around, Link waking to the sound of the soldier shuffling in their corner of the cell. Wary blue eyes fixed on the crimson-clad prisoner, the large crack up their mask a cold reminder of the betrayal they had just experienced.
Clearing his throat, he looked away as their head swiveled to him. "I'm..sorry," he grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
The stranger let out a bitter chuckle. "What do you have to be sorry about, Hero?" they murmured, tone lacking the venomous tone he had come to expect from Yiga members.
"For..getting you thrown in here?" he offered, confused by their tone.
Letting out a slightly more barky laugh, the soldier sagged against the rough stone wall, tipping their head back as if looking to the sky for answers. "You think you're the one who got me sent here? Don't get too full of yourself, Hero." they taunt once more, lazily slumping their head in his direction, studying him from behind their ceramic mask. "The Master ordered me to stand in your way, sleepy Hero. He was simply looking for an excuse to finally throw me in here for good." they finish bitterly, slipping back into the wheeze-filled silence.
Rubbing his tongue nervously against the roof of his mouth, Link shifted forward. "Why do you let him do this to you? Together I'm sure you all are stronger than he is." the hero offered, always willing to lend a helping hand, even in the case of his enemies if he felt they deserved it.
Another bitter chuckle followed as the soldier scooted just a touch closer. "This is just how it's always been, Hero." they finished, resting their head back against the wall.
They spent almost four days in confinement before Link finally managed to find the smallest of holes in the ruined corner of their cell. Swiveling his head in the soldier's direction, he softly clicked his tongue, getting their attention. Tipping his own head in the direction of the soft light trickling into their cell he offers the other a small smile.
"Come with me," he murmured. "I'll make sure you're never treated like that again." holding out his hand he held that awful heroic smile on his face.
The soldier watched him, tired red eyes fixed on that fake smile, drifting down to his outstretched hand. Here, held out before them was the out they had always longed for. So why were they too damned scared to take it?
With a final grunt, they lurched forward, grabbing the outstretched freedom before them, nearly sobbing as their blood rushed in their ears.