Birdie and Harbor go climbing (not clickbait)

It's not as if Harbor has never done this before, he reminds himself, feeling the sweat on his brow drip down his cheek. While he'd usually wipe it away in an instant, the sudden breeze causes him to sway, reminding him of his predicament. Despite the harness, he supposes he'll keep both hands on the rope, thank you very much.

The agent was still unsure why he'd been chosen for this mission, with the smaller new recruit. It's not really his job to train the newbies, not with KAY/O or Sage around. But that's how Harbor found himself many, many feet high up, the only thing ensuring he doesn't fall to his death being the rope Birdie hoisted. That was the first move that impressed him, the little chipmunk had far more upper body strength than he would've ever guessed.

"You doing okay?!" The mountaineer called out from above, her voice muffled by the wind. Harbor could only tug at the rope, his indicator of saying "yup, keep going," without needing to holler back. He appreciates being checked on. It's as if the younger had sensed his hesitation, despite his initial bravado. If she had, he's glad she didn't say anything about it. It wouldn't really be "scary fugitive on the run" of him to be scared of a little bit of heights.

Not that this was just a little height. It was, on the contrary, the largest cliff he'd ever seen in his life. A rock scaling so tall, it humbled even him. There's not many times Harbor can recall feeling so small in comparison. That's why, seeing the way Birdie's eyes lit up, yapping on about not having had such a challenge in "ages" (it had been less than three weeks), droning on and on about how this was not the largest she'd ever climbed, "but is surely up there!" or how she was sure she'd "never get to try mountains in the middle east!" impressed him. The second moment he'd seen the girl in a new light. Always so uplifting, always so ready to tackle something new. It made him feel as though they could get along as friends.

"So you've done this before! I'll let you show me the ropes then!" Harbor had laughed heartily at his own joke, while handing out the thick climbing rope and a harness to his coworker. It was a solid attempt at covering up his nervousness, and maybe if she thought he was new to this, she'd go easy on him. He's not sure if Birdie caught the pun, but her upbeat response made him move past it. She's talking so fast, he thinks it doesn't matter if she got his joke at all. "I'd love to! So there's this buckle here, that you need to fasten and lock here..."

—

Birdie reaches a hand out, pulling Harbor up without breaking a sweat. He looks like he'd just run back to back marathons, all while Birdie was just getting started. Staring in awe, Harbor mouthed a quick thank you before taking the bottle of water she'd offered. And here he thought hydration was his thing. Gulping it down, his peripherals focus on the scene happening beside him - Birdie was reaching into a backpack that seemed twice her size, it looked like it was swallowing her whole.

"Where... is... it!" The girl grunted, frustration in her tone. He stood still, unsure how he could aid her, if he even wanted to. The scene looked particularly amusing, and he did want to rest a little more before they start up again, so maybe it's okay to let her keep rummaging around. Eventually though, Birdie pulled out the gadget she was looking for, triumphantly holding up the pair of binoculars. He didn't have the heart to say he had a pair too, and that she could've just asked him rather than have warfare with her backpack. 

Fumbling with his harness, Harbor takes the time to make sure every buckle is tightened, while waiting for Birdie to pinpoint their location. Sure he had a small, almost unnoticeable (he hopes) fear of heights, but he's no novice. He has done this before, he steels himself. As long as he doesn't look below them.

"So we're here right now, and that's where we started, and that's where Brim is waiting for us, and that's where we're heading next, and-" Her gloved finger zipped and zapped left and right, above them and below them. So she's an excellent navigator too, Harbor notes, faith ever growing in his travel companion. But with the adorable voice (and accent) pointing out every little thing in their view, it was a difficult task focusing on her instructions. Where did she say they were again, exactly?

"Okay okay, see, look here," she slows down, directing his gaze towards a sea of trees, below them. Harbor gulps, noting once more the distance between him and the Earth's soil. Perhaps he should've just nominated Skye, or Jett. She could at least float down if she were to fall. He would definitely not have the same luxury. Birdie must've noticed her small error, as she grabs the rope that holds them up taut. She drones on about their current place on the map, as she leads them away from the edge, all the while keeping the rope between them taut, as if to say "I'll make sure we don't fall."

Harbor wants to laugh, out of nervousness, or amusement, he's not sure. But the scene of being consoled so genuinely by a girl half his size, thousands of feet high, does make him chuckle. She hasn't once pointed out this phobia of his, yet has managed to relieve it time and time again. That sort of awareness in her comrades is valuable. She's impressed him once again.

"There's really not much further left! And we'll be meeting up with the rest once we reach, and Neon promised everyone kwek kwek. They better leave some for us, I'm starving!" 

He knows she's comforting him, he knows his face turned pale, and she's now fidgeting with her carabiner, unsure of whether they were about to keep going. The effort makes Harbor give his most self assured, confident smile, despite the weariness on his face, and the stray hairs sticking up, most of it plastered to his forehead. Right, he couldn't fix his bun while he was hanging on for dear life earlier.

"You and me both! Let's pack things up, I'll neaten my hair and we can set off!" He keeps his voice upbeat, trying to sound as encouraging as he would when they three-seven down in a half. He hopes it works. Glancing at Birdie for confirmation, she lights up, skipping over to zip up the backpack and fix up her own harness. Just watching her bounce around has rejuvenated the controller, and the strength in his arms feels like it's returning.

"We ready?" He nods, "You fastened everything? Didn't forget anything?" Nod, nod. "We didn't litter right? Okay good, let's go!" He nods a final time, a thumbs up to assure the other. As far as life threatening, heart pounding, dangerous missions go, Harbor supposes this has been a successful one. He thinks his new partner feels inclined to agree.