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Both Madison and Troy had been walking for a while at this point, both in a tense yet silent manner. But the sharp Mexico heat was a good enough (at least for now) excuse not to say anything, yet it didn't get rid of the sour
taste in Madison's throat. Madison could tell Troy wasn't in the mood, with the way he answered her with short and pointed words since the dam after Nick... after she... Madison swallowed, watching as Troy led the way. She came to an abrupt stop. "Troy," She said, trying to make her voice sound steady and controlled, but fell short as Madison could hear traces of Desperation in her tone. Which managed to bring back that sour taste,
As it just reminded Madison how much she wasn't in control of this. And, knowing that Troy, of all people, she felt desperation towards, even if it was just this, even though it wasn't, just this.
Made Madison wish she had just finished the job back at the dam. Even if Nick would hate her for it. Madison. Kept her eyes on Troy. She wondered for a second if he had heard. As he was a few meters away from where she had stopped,
deciding that now, apparently, the heat wasn't a good enough excuse anymore. For both of them, Troy, without looking back, stopped. "What is it, Madison?" he said, briefly looking over his shoulder before looking ahead,
sounding impatient but not giving her much mind as he was pulled to an abrupt stop. "You know what I mean, Troy," she said. Tone pointed, Madison could hear herself getting fed up, much to her chagrin, knowing that. Whatever control she had. Was gone at least for now. She wasn't gonna get answers if she got like this. But Troy did know, so he should just say it; (so she wouldn't have to) it's what had been in the damn air, hanging between them like the heat and the dead. She wasn't going to get answers if she got like this. Taking a breath, hoping to say something, but what was already done was done.
"Oh, really? Madison," Troy started to turn around. She could basically hear his eyes rolling as he spoke, with a scoff like he's been waiting for this; he probably has, like she was,
Madison readied herself as her seemingly perpetual scowl worsened. And her jaw tightened. And Troy just saying her name like he did didn't help, "Do I now?" Troy finished, now fully turned, cadence matching hers, one hand tense on his hip and the other hanging loosely off the top of his holstered machete, waiting for a reply. His eyes were squinting even though the sun wasn't in his eyes. "Just say it," he added, sounding both fed up and tired. Again, Madisen found herself wanting to blame it on the heat or the sun, not what it was. She wanted to claw into herself, just to keep walking, taking the lead to wherever the hell they were going to find Nick and Alicia and hopefully the others. But know that wasn't
gonna work, not now, not after she managed to bring it up without even saying anything. Before she could finish swallowing all of her pride, Madison spoke, Eyes not leaving Troy's, "Why'd you save me back at the dam?"
Some of her pride returned with how she didn't look away from him as she let out a breath. Troy switches his balance from one foot to the other, hand still on his machete, gripping it as he thought,
Madison could only assume what the other was thinking, and if he was currently rethinking saving her then and there. Even if Nick hated him, for it, like how Nick would probably hate her, she wondered if Troy would lie about her death
if he managed to find Nick, if he would use that machete to do it, or if he was just gonna screw with her, or if he was gonna wait until he found a hammer to do the job. (it would be more poetic) Madison thought to herself, her hand tensing as she thought about going for her holstered knife on the back of her belt, before she could actually do it, Troy spoke after what felt like a longer wait than it probably was, at least that's how she felt, "Well.. I don't think Nick would like me to much. If I didn't" he spoke matter of fact his voice only seeming to soften slightly at nicks name. Madison did the same with her nod, even though he was probably right about that. She didn't want to believe that was just for Nick, not after learning it was him who brought the dead to the ranch, and Nick, who covered for him, who put herself and her family at risk, who got rid of something that could have been so much more than not. But for now, it was fine as Madison took the lead up front as they both started walking too wherever.