Pire panted and straightened from the bloody mess she created. The stains on her steel gauntlets would be a bitch to clean out. She grimaced and turned to her companions, carefully removing the metal frame from her body. Idri whistled behind her and rested her hands on her hips. Pire tucked her metal contraption away in her pack without looking up at her.
"Damn. I knew you got to the bazaar alone, but it was a bit hard to believe until now." She said.
"Thanks?" Pire hung her bag on her shoulder and furrowed her brow at Idri. Sooga was focused elsewhere, but he couldn't help shaking his head at Idri's comment. He decided it was safe to continue and took the lead towards Gerudo City. Idri trotted beside Pire and held out one of her snack bananas. Pire shook her head but offered a smile.
"No thanks. I'll get too slow if I eat right now." Pire laughed softly.
"Oh come on. Next, you're gonna tell me you don't even like bananas." Idri scoffed, snapping her teeth through the fruit. Sooga glanced over his shoulder and slowed his pace. Pire watched him not-so-subtly eye the fruit to non verbally ask for some. Pire raised a brow and nudged Idri, pointing to him.
"... Would you like one, Sooga?"
"If you're offering." He answered coolly. Pire snickered behind her hand as she tossed Sooga a bunch of bananas. They ate their snacks together, slowing the trek speed to a much more comfortable pace. Pire watched them with a relaxed smile and hiked her bag on her shoulder.
"What brings you two to Gerudo City?" She asked. Idri pressed her lips together and looked about in thought.
"Uh… Just wanted to see the place?" Idri said with little confidence.
"But Sooga wouldn't be able to enter."
"She needs the relationship lessons," Sooga stated. Idri growled and glared at him for that remark. Pire laughed and held her gut, slapping her other hand over her eyes. Idri stamped her foot and balled her fists, protesting her laughter.
"I see, so there's trouble in paradise?"
"NO!" They cried in unison. Pire laughed even harder, pulling her bag off her shoulder and digging through it for her bottled water. The two argued while she rehydrated herself. She tried not to choke on the water and stifle her laughter.
"Okay! Okay, I believe you. Quit squawking," Pire tosses them some bottles and slings her bag back on her shoulder, "we'll have to keep moving if we don't wanna get stuck out in the desert." Sooga and Idri grumbled a short agreement. But they didn't get much farther before the night fell and grew far too cold. Pire had her own tent. Sooga and Idri would have to share. Separated for the night, Sooga closes the flaps and zips it up.
"We need to steer her towards the hideout." He whispered, sitting with his legs folded. Idri laid on her bag and folded her arms while staring at the tent roof. She sucked on her teeth, contemplating silently while Sooga made himself comfortable. Well, as comfortable as he could be while being crumpled into a small space.
"Can we do it after hitting Gerudo City?" She asked sheepishly.
"Why would we continue going t-" he frowned at her, watching as she twiddled her thumbs and refused to remove her eyes from the ceiling, "Idri, no. We can't waste time."
"Please? Kohga never lets me go. I just wanna visit." She begged, clambering to her knees and shaking her clasped hands at him. He rolled his eyes and grumbled. After some thought he groaned and turned away from her, shaking his head.
"Fine… it could help us earn her trust. But if Master Kohga finds out." Sooga said, leaving the statement open. Idri muted her excitable squeal and hugged her bag tightly. She fell asleep quickly, leaving Sooga to lie awake with his roaming mind. The wind battered the tent, shaking it around him. His eyes flickered from his rough hands to the zipped entrance before him. The breathing of the world surrounded him. Mocking his inability to join its calm. Something was stuck to his mind, keeping him from resting. Disobeying Master Kohga, even on a technicality, gave him the worst anxiety. He checked on Idri. She was definitely fast asleep.
Sooga sighed and sat up. He attempted to leave the tent as silently as possible. Luckily, Idri was a deeper sleeper than he could ever be. He closes it up and stands out in the freezing desert air. The moon bathed the sands in silvery light. He filled his lungs with the chill and folded his arms, watching the area for danger. The cold nipped at him, but he didn't let it show and refused to shiver. He would take watch for the night.
Idri woke up in an ocean of sweat. She peeled herself off the tent floor and laughed at her dilemma, turning to where Sooga was. Her smile dropped at his absence. She wiped herself off and pulled her shirt over her head to wring it dry.
"Guess I overslept." She sighed. Sooga's shadow towered over the tent, but there wasn't an extra with him. Panic began to bubble in Idri. If they lost the asset she'd never hear the end of it. She quickly put her things on and burst out of the tent.
"Where is she?!" She barked.
"She's preparing. What are you doing?" He raised a brow at her.
"I… I thought you would have woken me up." Idri said, folding her arms.
"I'm not responsible for that."
"You're Mr. Can't-waste-time! You'd never let anyone sleep in like that, what's the deal?" Idri argued. Before Sooga could shoot back with something, Pire came out and tucked her tent away. They halted their argument and glared at each other. Pire looked between the two and smirked.
"C'mon, Lovebirds. We're almost there." She laughed, placing herself in the front position and marching to the City. Sooga and Idri turned their burning glares on her and reluctantly followed. If she weren't so valuable, they wouldn't have much patience for her teasing. Sooga decided to double-time their earning of her trust.
"Pire. You're a Sheikah, right?" He asked.
"How'd you guess?" She laughed.
"Sheikah don't often leave the village. Why are you traveling?"
"Just am. Not that it's super important. Besides, you two are Sheikah also, aren't you?" Pire nodded to Idri but had to study Sooga more closely. He had some aspects; a similar build, the mysterious red eyes. But his hair was coal black and she couldn't find the eye of truth on him anywhere. Sooga steamed, he attempted to avoid her prying eyes. His disguise was safe, but he didn't appreciate her studying him.
"Never mind then." He huffed.
"Guys, up ahead," Idri said, pushing them away from each other and stepping between them. They both raised their heads. Gerudo City stood ahead. The guards glared at Sooga as the group approached. The guards stamped their spears into the sand.
"We'll be quick. See ya in a bit." Idri said, her and Pire waving to Sooga. He leaned against the outer walls and pursed his lips. His doubt worsened. Idri was going to screw something up, he could feel it.