LJNT

Something to Hate

"Tanya, I said stop! Tanya-"

Janelle just grumbled as her partner failed to listen, and an arrow went flying way off from the target. The two were trying out a new combo while Lyra and Nico were figuring out one of their own, and Tanya had had the brilliant idea of trying to get Janelle to shoot an arrow right at one of Tanya's dust bullets to cause an explosion midair.

Their attempt hadn't gone very well; Tanya had shot before Janelle was ready, and so the two projectiles completely missed each other. Tanya scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.

"Sorry! I just had a good feeling."

"Yes, well, quite evidently, you were incorrect," Janelle snapped. Upon seeing Tanya's dejected face, Janelle's features softened as she sighed. "My apologies, Tanya. But these is the sort of rash decisions you cannot be making during a real battle. It could get all of us killed one day."

"I'm sorry. I just got really excited," Tanya shrugged. "You know I always try to make these combos great. I mean, after all, Lyra works...really hard. I just wanna make things easier on her, I guess."

"That is sweet that you think that, but Lyra is our leader for a reason. She was raised to be better than us at everything," Janelle couldn't help but let a little bit of irritation and envy seep into her voice. "It may just be best to leave that to her."

"...Well, she might be better, fine, but I think I'd like to remind you that those traits came at a price," Tanya couldn't help but wince at the thought of the murderous rages of their leader. "Like, you know...well, yeah. I'd much rather you be you than have another Lyra."

"I appreciate that sentiment...and I will agree with you. One is enough to handle already," Janelle pushed the negative thoughts out of her mind. "Speaking of Lyra...what do you make of her?"

"I mean...You know how awkward it is already. I don't know. It's just...I don't know what to do."

"Yes, I agree...I know there is something we are missing...but I just do not know what."

<><><>

The sharp blade of Lyra's axe was hurled into a target harshly.

Nico glanced over, her eyes drawn to where the wood was split on the target. Lyra was standing a good distance away from the target, and Nico inwardly shuddered. She was glad she'd never have to fight Lyra, the girl had way too much strength for her own good.

"H-H-How are y-you even c-capable of throwing t-that huge thing w-with that m-much accuracy?" Nico questioned as we finished cleaning off her blades. Lyra just shrugged.

"I don't know. To be honest, even as a kid I was able to carry Midas. I've trained with it my whole life," Lyra snatched her axe off of the target, "and I like trying new things. It's good for catching people off guard, I mean, most people or Grimm don't exactly anticipate this heavy axe going flying toward them...I just need to figure out a way to grab it again once I throw it. I mean, I can handle myself without it, but..."

"...How d-do you even m-manage all those g-gymnastics stuff with the h-heavy axe..?"

"Lots and lots of practice. There's a whole lot of little things that come into play, like the placement and balance of my axe, my core, opposition, spotting..." Lyra's voice trailed off as she smiled. "It's fun, though. I had to learn it when Pyrrha was learning her own thing in order to keep up..."

"T-That's amazing," Nico nodded. "Y-Y-You're really a-amazing at a-all that, Lyra..."

"I know," Lyra chuckled playfully. All of a sudden, her eyes widened in realization. "Um...hey...Nico..."

"Y-Yeah?"

"You said I'm amazing, and I appreciate that, but..." Lyra sighed. "Well, is there anything you don't like about me?"

"...What?"

"Is there anything you don't like about me?" Lyra repeated, dead serious. Nico fumbled with her words.

"I-I can't a-answer t-that, L-Lyra..." Nico was automatically wary about the question since it came from Lyra. She wondered what kind of ulterior motive Lyra had; there had to be something, right? Nico hadn't had an actual conversation with Lyra in a long time... Lyra frowned at this.

"So...There is something you don't like."

"T-That's not what I said!"

"But that's what you meant, right?" Lyra said. "Why else would you not want to tell me? I'm strong, Nico. I can handle it. Just tell me."

Nico sighed.

"Fine...T-There is s-something. Y-You may b-be stronger and more t-tactical than a-all of us, b-but...I-I don't l-like that y-you w-won't open up to us."

"...Oh."

Lyra was actually silent at that. Nico shifted uncomfortably from side to side; she hadn't meant to make Lyra feel bad..

"S-Sorry L-Lyra...I-I didn't m-mean to h-hurt y-your feelings...i-its just that we've a-all really opened up with each other. I-I don't r-really think I-I know you too well...well, t-the real you, at least."

"...I'm not hurt," Lyra said quietly, her smile gone from her face. "But you do ask for the one thing I can't change. Sorry."

"B-But w-why?" Nico frowned. "I-I know a-about the v-voices...I-I just w-want to help y-you. Y-You don't h-have to fight...w-whatever you're fighting...a-alone."

"...I know. But I'm not fighting anything, so I don't need you to worry!" Lyra's tone switched to cheery in an instant. "Now, come on. Let's go and meet up with Tanya and Janelle; I'm sure whatever combo they came up with will be fun to watch!"

"L-Lyra.."

"Come on, Nico," Lyra's voice grew more forceful before she grasped Nico's hand and pulled her along. "There's nothing wrong. Let's just go."

It was hard for Nico to watch Lyra go on like this. Nico just wanted Lyra to open up for once, to admit something was wrong instead of hiding it all behind a mask...Nico knew she had to stand up.

But she didn't.

Why?

She couldn't help but be...scared.

A confrontation between the two of them would almost certainly result in a furious and crazy Lyra, and quite frankly, Nico wasn't sure she could even make things better. She barely understand the human nature, what if she only served to make everything worse...?

So Nico sighed and let Lyra drag her along, knowing all the while that she should have stepped up to help her partner.

This lack of action would haunt Nico later on.