Reflections of Mist

Obtuse

"Nyx..." Maddie ventured, pseudo-calmly. "Did you do something stupid I need to know about?"

"I literally just confessed to​ you a whole bunch of stupid I did, why you still grilling me?" Nyx said defensively, crossing her arms.

"Nyx, why didn't you tell the institute?"

"I don't know! I don't! Well... Thinking about it... Probably a mix of feeling personally responsible, fear and paranoia. To be fair, the Clave had been hounding me about my powers not too long before, and I wasn't feeling very friendly towards them. Let's face it, they would blame me."

Maddie scrutinized Nyx closely. "You're being very obtuse with your answers.  Very general. Textbook, even."

"How is the Clave wanting to put me under the microscope 'textbook'?"

"Okay, not that bit in particular, but everything else is just... I don't know. Maybe it's just me." Maddie shrugged, smiling weakly.
Nyx knew she didn't quite mean it. Maddie was suspicious, and had every right.
It just wasn't very good for Nyx. In her current state, if Maddie pressured her, she would break like that.

Rescue came, once again, from the unexpected corner named Alysha.
"Hey, Nyx sweetheart, you feeling better now? Cause I could do with a dependable pair of hands."

"Um..."

"Come on. You're not still feeling woozy, are you?"

She strode over, light on her feet, before crouching next to Nyx and placing her hand on Nyx's forehead, feeling her temperature with her palm.

"A little warm. But I think you're fine. Come on, it'll be good for you. Also, another pair of hands increases our chances of getting out quicker. Simple math. And you're the least likely to attempt to assassinate me in my sleep in some bananas power play."

She rolled her eyes, taking Nyx's hand and tugged her up.
Maddie scowled.
Alysha tutted. "Easy. Don't hate me just cause you don't know me. You can at least try to tolerate me. Not enough room in this place for us to be detesting each other. Not without it ending very badly."
She sounded almost pleased at the idea.

Maddie watched as Alysha towed Nyx away.

Then she caught someone elses eye.

Luci smiled friendly-like when she saw her, and abandoned her work to cross over to sit next​ to Maddie.
Wiping her sweaty brow, Luci grinned.
"Hello, I don't think we've properly been introduced."

Sorry it's published late!