The deadline was swiftly approaching and neither Yiga bothered about it. Sun filtered into the inn room glinting off the mirror right into Idri's exposed eyes. She groaned and turned away from the light, nestling into the pillow with a low sigh of comfort. Her partner grumbled and sat up with the morning light, rubbing her eyes.
"Leaving already…?" Idri whined, grasping for Smaude's hand.
"Yeah, I have to. Training and rounds, all that jazz," Smaude took her hand and gave it a light squeeze, faintly smiling, "it was a fun night, though. I'll hate to see you vanish for another year." Idri frowned as Smaude left. She laid in the bed and pressed her cheek to the pillow. Feeling the years of buried regret pile on her all at once. Maybe this line of work wasn't really for her. But how would she split? And would it be safe to tell Sooga? Idri grimaced and rolled to her back to stare at the ceiling overhead. He'd sooner turn her inside out than let her walk away from the clan.
"Agh, what am I thinking? I can't… I'd never abandon the clan." Idri tossed the blankets aside and took her things from off the floor. She had to get going if she wanted to get to the lookout in time. Changing quickly, she trotted down the stairs already silently bidding the Gerudo City goodbye. She slipped past the people in the marketplace and walked into the desert sand until she was out of the city's sight. Once at a safe distance, she poofed into smoke and talismans.
The lookout where the mission started remained untouched since then. The oasis was still lush and inviting, the high ground bringing her closer to the sun and causing her to bake somewhat faster. She sat by the water in her Yiga gear with her mask on the sand next to her. Sooga wasn't there yet. Unlike him to be so late. Idri glanced at her mask and dragged a thumb over the inverted eye on the surface. It was chipped and scuffed from years of use. The eye glaring back at her with intense judgement. Idri frowned and flipped it over, folding her arms on her knees. Where could he be?
Ages of silence and heat made the sun's crawl to noon feel like an eternity. Idri splashed water on herself to attempt to cool down. Her mask was tethered to her hip as a precaution against possibly being found out. Sooga was still nowhere to be found. Idri wondered and watched the Bazaar in the distance. Maybe he needed help with that woman? Would she be much of a challenge for him at all? The sudden sound of a Yiga's arrival behind her startled her out of her wonders and spun her around.
"Where in the hell were you!?" Idri screeched, stamping her foot in the sand. She registered the portly warrior and his extravagantly unique mask too late to catch her words and attitude before they hit him. Her hand swiftly slapped over her mouth and she collapsed to the ground, putting her mask on and pressing her face to the ground in apology.
"M-master Kohga! I'm sincerely sorry! I thought you were someone else!" Idri cried, her eyes shut tight.
"Hmph, you better be sorry. You're lucky we aren't around my other subordinates." Kohga huffed, folding his arms and looking down at her. Kohga turned away from her to the Bazaar where her attention once was.
"Where's Sooga? I thought he was delivering the goods here." He scratched his inner ear with his pinky, impatience and annoyance dripping from his tone. Idri stood and dusted herself off.
"He's in Kara Kara, finishing up the mission… I hope." She answered.
"Finishing up?" Kohga muttered under his breath. Worries, confusion, things he wouldn't voice to her, but she felt similarly. Sooga was taking too long. It wouldn't reflect well, especially if he couldn't get the machine off of that woman. Idri dropped her shoulders with a sigh.
"Should I go get him..?"
"Yes. Go see what's holding him up. I'll keep watch on our rendezvous point here." Kohga said, sitting at the base of the palm tree and folding his arms under his head. Idri frowned, thanking the mask for hiding her insubordinate disdain. She hopped off the hill and hit the ground running. Racing to Kara Kara.
The Bazaar was just waking as it got too hot to comfortably sleep. A quick sweep of the grounds showed that the pair was nowhere to be found. Idri walked into the clearing with her mask and uniform hidden under a quick cloak. She was in too much of a hurry to properly disguise herself. Quickly peeking into each of the stores, Idri was getting more concerned for their whereabouts. Not even mentioning Kohga's possible impatient reaction.
"Dammit, Sooga… You had to do this now?" Idri grumbled, peering into the last store where they were sadly not found. She punched the sandstone in frustration and mentally hissed curses. Sand kicked up behind the building rather conspicuously, catching her attention. She paused, straightening and watching with suspicion. Slowly approaching the wall, she rounded the bend with a hand on her hilt just in case.
A giant body slammed into her, catching her by surprise and grabbing her wrist to keep her upright. Idri shrieked but a hand slapped over her mouth to keep her quiet. The inverted eye met hers as the masks clacked together in an awkwardly attempted headbutt on both sides. They froze and stepped away from each other, glaring from behind the masks.
"Idri, what the hell are you doing here?" Sooga growled, hoisting a bag onto his back.
"I could ask you the same thing. Kohga is waiting for you." Idri hissed, jabbing a thumb at the oasis in the distance. Sooga stiffened and grew incredibly cold.
"Then move. I'll be behind you."
"What about the woman?"
"S-she… just move. Don't worry about it."
Idri grimaced but did as she was told, leading him through the desert before their master could get more impatient. As they ran, she glanced over her shoulder at him with a worried frown, slowing down to run beside him. He noticed her altering her pace but didn't acknowledge her.
"Did you tell her…?" She asked. Sooga didn't speak or meet her gaze. He appeared to be lost in his mind. Fat chance she'd get anything from him before he grounded himself again. But now Idri had to wonder if he blew his cover. Where would she go with that information? Would she go to the hero? As the oasis came into view while their Master stood at the peak with his arms folded, she had little time to get any answer from him. It'd be best that she stopped prying in case he decided to spill her relationship as well.