"Today sucks," Ruuya announced, coming out of the makeshift stables.

Like the rest of the 'buildings' used by her sisters, these were made from richly colored fabric and held up by wooden poles. The paddocks themselves were open on the side, yet still had a roof to block out the worst of the midday sun. Even with the open air flowing through the makeshift stable, she stunk. Everything stunk. She spent most of the day cleaning up the stables, and despite that she loved her horse, she kinda hated her too.

"Jamila sucks," she said. At least the air out here smelled more of sand than it did manure. Still, she couldn't get that stink out of clothes and hair. Someone nearby struck metal. Scraped it. She almost felt bad for them. They had to smell her, too. "The sand sucks. The sun sucks. Everything sucks. Gods! I hate this!"

"Uh-huh." The lazy scraping of metal against wood followed unabated. Oh shit, it was Veil. Ruuya nearly ran off to seek some perfume. By the Goddess of Sand's fourth earring, why did her beloved have to be out here? "That's a lovely new perfume you've used today, apricot."

It was too late, it seemed. Ruuya sighed, looking down at Veil. The vai sat on a stool with her spear on her lap and a knife in her hand. She worked at the spear with a fierce urgently, carving something into the dark wood.

"Why are you doing that, honey?" Ruuya asked. If Veil could use a silly term of endearment, she could too. After all, no one was more petty than a petty thief.

"Cutting the Hylian word for 'apple' into my spear," Veil answered, shrugging her shoulders.

"Why?" She sat down in the sand next to Veil, legs bent and digging her toes beneath the desert sand slightly. Sure it was rough, but it felt a bit better than the grime and ick that still covered her feet. She would have to sneak in a sponge bath later, but for now, she was too tired to go down to the water hole.

Veil would just have to suffer her new 'perfume' for a few moments more. After all, the dolt had decided to wait out here for her as she cleaned the stables. So strange, so adorable. Ruuya actually quite appreciate the gesture, even if she had to put up with Veil's sarcastic remarks about her smell.

"Why not?" Veil rebutted. "You always hear about weird people giving weird names to their weapons. Mine are going to be weird, too. So, if I ever lose this spear anyone who sees it will go: "whoa, this is a strange thing to name a spear. It must belong to a Hylian and definitely not a Gerudo who's going to steal my stuff when my back's turned". It's the perfect plan."

Ruuya snorted in laughter. "You're so weird."

"You're weird," Veil retorted, raising a finger.

"You're weird!"

"No, you are!"

"You're weirder!"

"Nah-uh, you are," Veil said. "You're a Gerudo that likes to read tomes as big as a house!"

"So?" she said. "I don't name my weapons after fruit."

"Well, I don't carve my name into book covers."

"The Heart of a Monster was stolen three times!" she said, gesturing dramatically with her hands.

"And if it is stolen a fourth time, let me know so I can avoid getting vomit thrown at me after you get revenge," she said, then added in a conspicuous tone: "Sosa's disgusting. Who does things like that?"

"I...I didn't expect Sosa to come look for you," Ruuya replied, feeling a bit panicked. "It...it was one time!"

Veil chuckled, placing the finishing touches into the name of the spear. She had added the word 'pie' at the end. Dear gods. "And I'll never let you live it down."

"Apple Pie? That's worse than just apple," Ruuya said. Veil chuckled, regaining her feet. "You're so w-"

Veil kissed her on the lips, short, sweet, but intense. Warmth rose to Ruuya's cheeks, but by the gods, she was so lucky to be loved by such a beautiful vai. Muscular, slim, a few inches taller than the average Gerudo, Veil was everything she had ever wanted in a partner.

"Love ya," Veil said, a smile touching her lips. "Even if you are a weird bookworm."

Ruuya sighed, rolling her eyes. "Back at you, even if you are an idiot."

Veil laughed, warm and bright as the desert sun. "Someone has to keep you grounded, Ruu," she said, placing her arm around Ruuya's shoulders. "And that someone has gotta be me."

Ruuya nodded, happy indeed.

"Vai" is a special word for Ruuya. It's a word for her loved ones, sisters, and family.