Nyx let her shoulders sag slightly, her body going just a little more limp in the water. She lowered her gaze, letting her expression soften—fragile, almost pitiful, the sharp edge in her eyes dimming into something far more vulnerable.
"…You're right," she said quietly, her voice losing its bite. "I don't trust you either."
A pause.
"But…" she hesitated, just enough to make it believable, "…I'm not exactly in a position to be dangerous right now, am I?"
Her tail shifted weakly beneath the surface, just enough to sell it.
"I can't move properly. I can barely stay afloat." She let out a small, breathy laugh, like she was mocking her own situation. "If I wanted to lure you, I'd at least try to look convincing."
Silence followed.
Then she looked up at him again, softer this time, almost hesitant.
"…Just help me out of the water," she added, quieter now. "You don't even have to come close after that."
Nezra didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Nyx held the expression, perfectly still, letting the act breathe.
Inside, she was already preparing her next angle.
Hook taken, she thought.
"…Your heart rate didn't change," Nezra said.
Nyx blinked.
Once.
"…What?"
"You're not afraid," he continued calmly. "Your breathing is controlled. Your tone is measured." A slight tilt of his head. "You even paused in the right places."
A beat.
"…Impressive, actually."
Nyx stared at him.
Her expression slowly flattened.
He went on, almost thoughtfully. "Also, you adjusted your posture to expose less of your upper body. That's not something someone 'helpless' does."
Another pause.
"And you shifted your tail just enough to suggest weakness, but not enough to lose balance." His lips curved faintly. "You're quite careful."
Nyx's eye twitched.
She straightened.
The softness vanished instantly, replaced by her usual sharp, unimpressed stare.
"…You're insufferable."
"Mm."
"I wasn't even trying that hard."
"Mm."
"…You were going to fall for it."
"I wasn't."
Nyx narrowed her eyes. "You hesitated."
"I was considering how long you'd keep going."
A pause.
"…I could have made it more convincing."
"I'm sure you could have."
"…You didn't give me the chance."
"You didn't earn it."
Nyx scoffed, folding her arms as much as her current state allowed. "You're unbelievably annoying."
"And you're still in the water."
That one landed.
Nyx went still for a second, then glared at him.
"…If I drown, that's on you."
"You won't," he said calmly.
"…And how are you so sure?"
"You're too stubborn."
Nyx opened her mouth—
Paused.
Then shut it again.
"…That's not the point."
Nezra smiled faintly.
It didn't help her mood.