#hannah england
A/N: BOY, OH BOY. I DIDN’T THINK THIS STORY WAS GONNA GO THIS WAY, BUT HERE WE ARE, I GUESS? Please do enjoy, I’m not sure about the quality of this chap, but I personally am enjoying this story so far an I hope you all do too!
Again, Enjoy?
~Shintori Khazumi
Day 2: Trust
“There’s no way she did that.”
Diana was seething at her desk, Hannah and Barbara desperately trying to calm down their long-time friend with a cup of tea and some rationality.
She wasn’t having it however. Not even the tea.
“There’s no way. There is just no. Possible. Way.That Akko would so such a thing!” Diana growled, head whipping in the direction of her poor friends-slash-secretaries-and-attendants. “Right?!”
Barbara nodded wordlessly, clearly unnerved by Diana’s foul mood while Hannah sighed, moving the teacup away from the clearly miffed Diana before any mishaps could occur.
“Yes, Diana. We think so too.”
Diana released a heated sigh, nostrils flaring as she slumped against her leather chair. Today just wasn’t her day.
Never mind it being only her second week of being chosen for the grand magical council and being harassed with much work simply because she was the youngest to enter at the tender age of twenty-three. That same council of old pricks were now interfering with her personal life by giving her a case that made her burn deep with rage.
They dared accuse Diana’s girlfriend of magical misconduct when Diana-for a fact- knew that Akko read the terms and conditions of being a traveling magician- yes, ALL the terms and conditions- back-to-back. Back-to-back to back-to-back. Diana had found it both unnecessary and incredibly endearing, and sweet Akko- oh, bless her sweet soul- had wanted nothing more than to be able to share the magic of dreaming to all sorts of people, gain experience as she traveled; and hoped to overall just help people along the way on her cross-country journey.
Sure, she had left her incredibly stable position as one of the council’s security personnel, and the job paid extremely well- especially for people who were relatively fresh from school. It really did. However, Diana knew Akko was far from happy with that job. In a somewhat similar position to Diana, she had been made a lackey by her seniors and superiors, and though she loved helping people through her job, it just wasn’t worth staying. She couldn’t even be assigned to Diana! Thus, Akko had resolved to go independent, under strict supervision and conditions.
That had been five months ago.
Sure, Diana had missed the other woman dearly and hadn’t seen her for all that time, but Diana knew this was what the other woman wanted to do- to make people smile. She loved making smiles blossom from one person to the other. Diana wanted to support her in her endeavor. She believed in Akko and in what she wanted to accomplish.
And anyway, Akko had always made it a habit to send one of her familiars to bring Diana little souvenirs of her travels, accompanied by the sweetest words on paper, reassuring her girlfriend that she was well and good, and living life to the fullest, and that she’d surely be back in a year.
She was coming back sooner than they’d both expected, and for reasons neither had desired.
Diana ran her fingers through her hair in frustration, massaging her scalp to nurse the quickly growing headache.
She hoped Akko would come home safe at the very least.
//
“Miss Diana Cavendish. Could you repeat those words to me one more time? I might have misheard.”
“Isaid. I refuse to vote against Atsuko Kagari’s innocence. I know her, and I know her well.She would never ever do such horrid things.”
Diana watched the council secretary bristle, eyes burning at her response.
“You can never know someone too well. You don’t know what people are capable of. They can cha-”
“And I trust that Akko only ever changes for the better.” Diana cut off, casting her own glare over the two high council members who held the papers and a sum of money in front of her. “I know nothing of what the inner circle of the council has been up to, but I can’t believe they would try something so terribly scandalous such as bribery and false report! Dare I assume you are hiding something worse-”
“One more word from you, and you will suffer the consequences. Not that you already haven’t.”
Diana would have lashed out had she not needed to remain calm for Akko’s sake as well.
“This is our final offer, Miss Cavendish. Push for her guiltiness, or lose your seat in the council.”
Diana’s eyes widened, fists clenching. These people-
“You have no authority over this matter!”
She shivered in repulsion at the grins that grew on their hideous faces.
“Oh, but we do.”
//
Kagari Atsuko, twenty-three years of age, stood at the podium in the courts of magic with steely eyes and a rigid frame. She dared not glare at the jury nor the judge, but she would like to at least show them her determination in proving her own innocence.
Chancing a glance at Diana who was sending her worried looks from the jury stands, Akko reassured her with a gesture that all was and would continue to be alright. Returning her attention to the presider of the meeting, Akko readied her words, carefully crafted by herself and her lawyer who ironically just so happened to be Amanda O’Neill. Akko tried her best to keep a grin from forming at the hilarity of that fact. She was, after all, still on trial. She had to keep things professional.
“Kagari Atsuko. What do you have to say for yourself?” The judge questioned after all her supposed ‘charges’ had been read out.
‘Magical misuse, abuse of title as a former council official, trafficking endangered species across borders, and exploiting my audience, huh… Honestly, what a bunch of-’
“Bullshit.”
Akko’s eyes widened, and so did everyone else’ at the accidental slip-up.
“I-I mean… I apologize, your honor. I didn’t mean to say that. Ehem. I’d like to plead not guilty of these accusations.”
With brows raised, the judge continued on with the ruling, the tension in the room not once lowering. Akko just hoped this would end smoothly, and end soon.
She didn’t know what the council got out of this, to be honest. To go so far as to forge evidence against her, what had she done against them? Honestly, this new council, with almost all-new members weren’t doing a good job in succeeding their predecessors.
If the whole jury hadn’t been bought out at this point, she really could only hope for the best.
//
“Thanks for driving me home, Amanda.” Akko bowed to her friend, clutching her suitcase.
“Hey, hey! None of that. C’mere.” Amanda pulled her shorter friend into a tight hug, patting her back firmly. “I’m just glad it all worked out in the end.” She sighed, running a hand through her hair after they pulled apart.
“No kidding.” Akko chuckled. “You’re the best, bud. Totally fit for this job.” She giggled, as Amanda rolled her eyes with a shrug.
“I know, right? Obviously knew this is what I wanted to do for a living all along.”
They shared a laugh before Amanda had to leave, having work to do the next day. Waving at the car until it had disappeared far beyond what her eyes could perceive, Akko turned to the porch, taking careful steps to the front of the door.
Facing that familiar wooden barrier, she took a deep breath before allowing her knuckles to meet with the hard material.
No sounds, no response. Not even the slightest shuffling could be heard from within. Akko’s brows furrowed, teeth biting her lower lip nervously. This was their house… This was the Cavendish manor… right? Amanda was above pranks as evil as this, especially after what had just happened, so there was no way that-
“Mrrmmhpphhggh! Mmrhg!”
Akko struggled against the hand covering her mouth, desperately trying to reach for her wand, however her assailant had already figured her out, catching her hand and holding it against her back…
-before releasing her completely.
“A-Akko?! I! I’m sor- wait, no time to explain, come.”
And Akko was dragged into the house by Diana herself who rushed her up the stairs and into their bedroom.
“Akko, do you have all your essentials in that suitcase you hold at the moment?”
“Huh? Diana, what is… why are you home already? Don’t you have a council meeting running until late-”
“Grab anything you’d like to bring with you. Hurry!”
“But Diana!”
Akko felt a duffle bag hit the back of her head, and she whipped her head around only to find her prepared glare fading at the sight of a scowling Hannah.
“Do what she says, idiot. And make it quick.”
Diana seemed as caught off-guard by the presence of Hannah and Barbara as much as Akko was.
“You two! I… You can’t be here. Go back to your home, and from this point forward, don’t come back to the manor. I’m relieving you of your duties as my-”
If Akko and Diana’s eyes could widen any more, they’d surely be the size of Diana’s large serving plates. Hannah had clapped her hands against both sides of Diana’s face, shaking her lightly.
“Are you truly going to just leave us?!” She hissed.
“Diana… we know we were wrong to snoop around, but… couldn’t you confide in us for something this important?” Barbara said, teary-eyed. “I know we can’t ever replace what Anna was to you, and when she… when she left, we didn’t know how else to help you after losing your only family. But we still wanted to be by your side.” She smiled, placing her hands on Hannah’s shoulders to rub them, getting her partner to calm down.
“Did you really think…” Hannah sniffed, wiping her tears off her sleeve. “That we wouldn’t make you take us with you?” She finished with a grin. “You are never getting rid of us, honestly.”
Barbara nodded, reaching forward to ruffle Diana’s hair before she was met with a deep frown because of the gesture.
“Sorry, always wanted to try that.” She said, not sorry at all. “To sum all this up, Diana. You are taking us. There will be no further argument.”
Diana couldn’t help the relieved smile breaking across her face, her two longest companions also sporting their own. Tears slipped from her eyes as she pulled them into a long embrace.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” She sobbed quietly, feeling arms rubbing her back from each side. “Thank you.”
“You better be thankful. We’ll never forgive you if we’re not the maids of honor at the wedding.” Hannah declared, half-joking.
“Wedding?” Diana parroted, pulling away as she wiped her remaining tears away. “Whose?”
Both girls simply rolled their eyes as Hannah walked over to Akko who felt seriously out of the loop. Barbara patted Diana’s shoulder, shaking her head, amused.
“Hannah? Barbara?”
She was promptly ignored from that point onward.
“Come on, idiot. Get packing. I’ll even graciously offer you my superb assistance.” Hannah said with a smirk, opening the closet she knew was designated for Akko’s belongings. “We don’t have all night.”
“I still… I still don’t understand what’s going on.” Akko stated, but began to do as she was instructed anyway. “What are we doing? Where are we going?”
“What part of ‘no time to explain’ don’t you understand?” Barbara quipped, before going over to assist the brunette pair. “I could’ve sworn we informed Amanda about this.”
“Even O’Neill knows?!” Diana continued to be ignored. “Okay, great. So who doesn’t know about this getaway?”
“Calm yourself, Diana. We only told our little circle of friends.” Barbara spoke over her shoulder as they finished closing Akko’s suitcases with a click. “Amanda and Constanze prepared as a cloaked little vehicle until we leave the country. You should be grateful.”
“Jasminka should be here to pick us up any minute now.” Hannah commented.
Diana remained slack-jawed, amazed at the follow-up her attendants had done.
“You didn’t think we’d just let you fly off on a broom in the middle of the night again, did you? Really Diana, we’ve been with you so long, your smarts should have rubbed off on us even the slightest bit.” She grinned. “The magical council really aren’t all that smart, huh? Look at their dullness contaminating our brilliant, Diana.” She shook her head in dismay.
“A shame indeed.” Barbara agreed as they began carrying their luggage out.
“No one’s still told me anything!” Akko announced, scratching the back of her head with her free hand as she followed Hannah and Barbara out with her own possessions.
She turned to Diana at the sound of a lock clicking in place, the former heiress running her hands over the grooves of the wood and the carvings.
Placing her things down momentarily, Akko walked over to wrap Diana in a hug from behind. “I hope we can come back one day. To the place where you began.” She whispered, placing loving kisses against Diana’s shoulders. “I’ll make sure we can.”
Akko’s heart cracked as Diana began to tremble in her arms, a hand going up to cover the sobs that were escaping her lips. All the memories of her family, her mother- they were probably much too painful for Diana to leave behind, but she had to. They had to.
Akko walked the mansion halls one last time with Diana as they locked each door one at a time, Diana embedding every room, every window, every banister into memory.
They finally came to the front door where Hannah and Barbara had awaited patiently, bags already loaded into their vehicle.
“No longer asking where we’re going, love?” Diana questioned Akko who had seemed to accept whatever was happening already.
“Do you trust me, love?” Akko responded with a question of her own, earning her Diana’s smile accompanied with raised brows.
“More than anyone and anything in the world.” Diana replied.
Akko gave her a chaste kiss as they all boarded the vehicle, watching the mansion disappear with an area cloaking spell that would hopefully keep it safe for as long as they were gone.
Squeezing Diana’s hand, Akko spoke. “Then know that I think the same. No matter where we go, how far away we are from here, and what we end up doing, just know… Just like those two dorks there,”
Akko laughed as the two snorted from the seats in front of them, knowing they were rolling their eyes at her.
God, she was thankful for them. For all her friends. For Diana.
Taking Diana’s hand in hers and entwining their fingers together, she placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand, laying all her worries to rest. They would figure things out. They all would- together.
“I trust you with all of my believing heart.”
A/N: WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN NOW, WHERE ARE OUR BABIES GOING? OOOHHH. SEE YOU ON DAY 3!
~Shintori Khazumi
A/N: So since I took a long break from a lot of my fics due to some heavy personal reasons, my mind is pretty like, bugged and just totally lost. So Imma just yeet a self-indulgent intermission chapter for the time being (I’m sorry ;-;). Also, look at me pulling out my rarepair cards again :>
~Shintori Khazumi
“My favorite is Diana~ <3 Oh, but I secretly have a soft spot for Barbara.”
“Wha-?” Akko squeaked, scrambling for the spatula that had slipped out of her hands as she suddenly lost focus. “What are you talking about?” She faced the older woman, slipping the utensil into the bowl she had previously been mixing.
“Oh, just from your girlfriends, I just find her utterly adorable is all. She’s also so polite! What a charmer.” The redhead grinned. “Not to mention her looks-“
“Okay! Okay! I get it! Stop, I don’t wanna hear what you think about Diana. At least, not like that.” Akko groaned, having had this conversation with her adoptive mother-slash-mentor more times than she had fingers.
“Oh? I personally enjoy my little spats with the England brat. She’s a brat, but-“
“Aunt Marj-“
“Call me aunt or auntie again and I’ll kick your ass.” Marjolaine scowled, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Akko sighed. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with these two adults, especially when they blatantly flirted in front of her and stole her concentration when she had work to be doing.
“Why are you guys here, anyway?” She grumbled, picking up from where she had left off with her batter.
“No reason.” Marjolaine shrugged. “Bored and there are no shows scheduled today so… I dunno about Char though.”
Akko turned to the woman, awaiting her answer.
“I just want to watch you be all sappy while preparing sweets for your anniversary.” Chariot shrugged as well, causing Akko to pout.
“If you had nothing better to do, then maybe you could have helped me out?” She gave them a pointed look.
“Nope.”
“No.”
“And why not?!”
“Because, Akko darling,” Akko glared and pushed Marjolaine away as she pinched her cheek. “It’s part of infusing your love into those yummy little treats is by putting in your fullest efforts. On your own.”
“You just don’t want to help me, do you.”
“Yup.” Marjolaine grinned cheekily, swiping her finger swiftly in the bowl and licking the stolen substance off with a happy hum while she avoided Akko’s reprimanding hits.
“Mom!” She complained to Chariot who simply laughed, leaving the two to their playfight as she two had her own taste test. “Oh, come on!”
//
“Babe, stop sulking.” Hannah poked Akko’s cheek, sighing when the girl’s frown only deepened, brows furrowing further as she smashed her fingers across her phone screen while playing a rhythm game, not winning at all due to how heavy her hands were being causing her to press inaccurately and also not move quickly enough to tap the notes on time.
“Stupid game. Stupid mom. Stupid Marj.”
“They didn’t mean any harm, dear.” Barbara sighed, placing down the magazine she had been reading before getting up from her spot on the floor and plopping down on Akko’s other side on the bed, laying across her lap with her stomach over Akko’s thighs and her head on Hannah’s.
“Still!” Akko exclaimed, frustrated. “Because they kept teasing me and stealing the batter while running around the kitchen, the bowl fell to the floor. It was my favorite one! It was glass too!” She cried out, throwing her phone across the room in her irritation, surprising Diana who had just walked in through the door. “And then I didn’t even get to give you all any gift for our anniversary because I had nothing else prepared and I-! I…”
Akko slumped forward, resting her torso over Barbara’s back. Diana placed the tea she had prepared on the room’s circular table safely before kneeling in front of Akko, taking her hands in her own and placing a kiss on each knuckle. Akko barely managed to keep pouting.
“Sweetheart…” Diana sighed, not really knowing how to make it any better. They knew that to Akko, these kinds of things were a big deal. She was a very thoughtful, hardworking girl who put effort into all the little things and big things. She was also emotional and sentimental. Things like anniversaries meant so much to her and she pulled all the stops on each monthsary they had. What she couldn’t afford financially, she made up for with effort- not that Hannah, Barbara, or Diana ever demanded any gifts from her. They were happy enough just spending time with her and being the ones to pamper and shower her with all the good things that they could give.
Akko just also wanted to repay them all the damn time, almost feeling like she owed them- an idea they regularly tried to get out of her system. They wanted her to know she was deserving and worthy of love at all times, in all circumstances. Why? Simply because they loved her.
The three shared a look, trying to communicate what they could do to lighten Akko’s spirits. Seemingly reaching an agreement, they all nodded, before Diana got up, pulling Akko to stand along with her, forgetting about Barbara sprawled across the girl’s as the said girl hit the floor with a dull thud and pained moan.
“Sorry.”
“I’m fine.” Barbara gave them a thumbs up and a dazed grin before Hannah picked her up and gave her a small kiss on the nose. “Even better.” Diana and Hannah simply rolled their eyes while Akko shifted her gaze between them, not knowing what was going on.
“Guys-?”
“Gee, I’m so hungry. What time is it? I sure wish someone would prepare me a meal~.” Hannah quickly spoke in the fakest tone of voice that made Akko snort.
“Oh, dear!” Barbara, in a nasally timbre, exclaimed, gasping as she exaggeratedly gestured to her watch. “It’s already five-thirty pm! I should have had dinner by now!”
“Barbara… you usually eat at nine pm, and you just order pizza because you’re too busy reading nightfall and too lazy to get up-“
“Shush!” Barbara held a finger to Akko’s lips, suddenly glancing about. “Do you hear that?” She said in a whisper.
“E-eh? H-hear what?” Akko suddenly became wary, also now on guard as she looked around the room for any potential intruders.
Hannah and Barbara shared a grin, evil glints in their eyes and somehow, the tallest of the bunch felt herself sweat. What were they-
“Diana’s stomach~” They sang annoyingly, poking the girl’s sides rather aggressively before bolting for the door as Diana tried to catch them, stumbling over the floor cushions and tripping.
“Wait, was that what you meant?! I didn’t think that our plan was- Hannah! Barbara!” Diana yelled after the pair that were already long gone. “Goodness.”
Diana’s attention was stolen by soft giggling. Turning around to her remaining girlfriend, she felt a tug on her heart as well as her lips, unable to keep herself from smiling as Akko tearily broke out into happy laughter.
“You all are dorks. Elegant, amazing, beautiful dorks.” She sobbed into Diana’s button-up, soaking the material lightly. “I love you so much.”
Diana squeezed the girl tight, fingers playing with the silky strands of hair. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Diana’s cheeks were hurting from how much more she smiled, planting a kiss on Akko’s head before twirling her around and leading her out the bedroom towards the kitchen. “We love you so much more.”
Akko laughed and sniffled.
“Why are you crying, love?” She asked, already knowing the answer that caused her heart to beat strongly in her chest.
“Isn’t it obvious, silly?” Akko glanced up at her, smiling like the angel she was in all her plaid shirt and fitted jeans glory. “Because I love you.”
Diana could just die on the spot.
“I love you too.”
They shared a kiss, content in just soaking in the warmth and gentleness of that one moment-
“Heeeyyy, so I’m actually hungry and want my darling wifey’s cooking~”
Akko blushed, scurrying towards their destination with a dopey-faced Diana in tow. “Who-who’s wif-… Hannah!” She exclaimed embarrassed, flushing even more when Hannah and Barbara flanked her sides and placed a kiss on the corners of her lips.
“What?” Hannah asked innocently.
“Indeed, what is the problem?” Barbara fluttered her lashes. “Did we disturb your flirting with our Diana? You didn’t even give us any kisses yet.” She pouted.
“Or declarations of your undying love for us.”
“You two…”
“Really, you both are so needy.” Diana reprimanded, crossing her arms, earning her two tongues stuck out at her to which she rolled her eyes in response. “At least let us all graduate college. Then we can talk about marriage.”
“Di-Diana?!”
“What?” She said, innocently surprised. “I date with the intent to marry.”
“Aijgdikr?!”
Akko didn’t even have a chance to process that nor recover as she had already been pushed towards the counter, Hannah and Barbara laying ingredients in front of her.
“I want hot pot for tonight!”
“Oh, and maybe we can also make a light dessert. That, or we can have Diana run down to the store and get us a tub of icecream.” Barbara added to Hannah’s suggestion for tonight’s menu. “What do you think, Akko?”
“Akko?” Hannah turned away from the fridge, the rest of the girls looking at their lover, stunned and red, staring blankly at nothing. “Akko…?”
Diana gave Akko a light poke on the shoulder, yelping as the girl fell over onto the wooden floor, immediately curling into a ball, mumbling under her breath.
“Girls… I think Akko is broken.”
A/N: Yeet. Bye.
~Shintori Khazumi
A/N: I’m ded. Sorry if this is OOC. Yup. I’m too tired.
Enjoy?
~Shintori Khazumi
right right. the people to tag, uh. @tanuki-pyon@dianacavendishisgay@komatsuna-yuki here we go again~
Two is company, Three’s a Crowd, but Four is the Death of Diana Cavendish (5): The Ones Who Embrace Her.
Akko slumped against Finnelan’s desk in the faculty lounge, finally done with her apology letter and extra work that she had gotten as punishment for leaving in the middle of class without valid explanation.
Not like she could ever turn ‘being a lackey for some assholes and getting them cutlet sandwiches to protect her friend and herself’ into an acceptable excuse. She already learned from high school. These things just happen, and they suck balls, but they happen. Akko figured she would just live with it.
And so, she did.
Begrudgingly.
“I hope you’ve learned from this experience, Miss Kagari.” The professor addressed her- distaste clear in her tone. “You are in this prestigious university to learn, to study, to build your character and mind for the greater future- …” Finnelan adjusted her spectacles with a wrinkly finger, and Akko almost laughed as it looked like she was flipping her off. “-Not that you have one, probably.”
Ouch.
Well, that sure stung.
Akko felt her momentary mirth leave her body, gaze dropping to the floor as she bowed apologetically and possibly in shame too.
“I’m sorry.” She murmured in a voice tinier than she’d expected.
“As you should be.” Finnelan dismissed with a wave of her hand, not even bothering to spare her some encouragement or bid her goodbye.
Akko shrugged internally. Not that she’d expected any of that anyway.
It was just the usual.
Just the usual.
…
Shutting the door behind her as she left the room, Akko felt herself nearly jump out of her skin as she turned around only to come face to face with one Diana Cavendish, blue eyes interrogative and serious, leaning down ever closely. Tooclosely.
Close enough that Akko was finding it a little hard to breathe.
“U-umm… D-Diana?” She squeaked, back hitting the door she had just exited withdrawing from the taller woman in awkwardness from their sudden proximity.
Diana continued to stare her down, lips parting and pulling back into a thin line, Diana seemingly trying to convey something-formulate words- but having difficulty to do so. “A-Atsuko…” She finally got out, swallowing audibly. “I- uh… you… why were you-“
“And…hup!” Hannah suddenly announced her presence by delivering a hard enough chop to Diana’s head, making her bite her tongue accidentally.
Diana turned around quickly, glaring- something that Hannah pointedly ignored as she walked around the taller girl, closer to Akko.
“Hhnnuh-! Whththeheerr!” Diana wanted to berate the girl however, her current speech impediment dampened the effects of her cross aura, rendering it ineffective.
Barbara did her best to keep a straight face, not wanting to laugh at this moment and instead attend to her poor girlfriend, but Diana was making it so hard with her complaints that only flew over Hannah’s head.
Akko, on the other hand, found herself giggling at their antics without reservation.
At her reaction, the trio sighed, Akko finally catching all their attention on her. Their sighs made her worry slightly, panic slowly seeping in as they kept their heads down, expressions all hidden from her sight. “W-what?” She tried asking, if only to ease her anxiety.
“Nothing, we’re just…” Hannah was the first to lift her head, a gentle smile, one that was new to Akko, on her lips. “We’re just relieved.” The girl explained, placing a hand on Akko’s shoulder, rubbing it gently, spreading the warmth of its touch all over Akko’s body as she felt her face heat up from the gesture.
“We heard you got called in by Finnelan.” Barbara piped up, moving closer to take one of Akko’s hands. Akko’s blush only deepened further, before it faded at the next words, her face giving it all away. “We were just wondering what had happened.”
Quick on the uptake, Hannah noticed the shift in Akko’s mood, clasping her other hand and intertwining their fingers, squeezing gently. “Are you alright?” She asked in a near-whisper.
Their eyes, their hands, their voices sweet and tender; Akko felt touched by their genuine concern. With feelings overflowing, she felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. With a nod, she replied, “Yeah, I’m good. I’m fine.”.
She saw Barbara search her eyes, a small, “Really?” making her heart feel even warmer than it already was.
“Yeah.”
Soft words and soft smiles, Hannah and Barbara were slowly allowing Akko’s heart to open up to them, and she found that she didn’t mind at all. Leaning her head forward ‘til it lightly bumped against the pair’s, she sighed contentedly, basking in the comfort she was being offered before Hannah piped up to ask another question.
“Have you had lunch yet?” She spoke while rubbing the pad of her thumb along the back of Akko’s hand that she held.
Before she could think to answer, Akko’s stomach rumble. “N-not yet.” She admitted, embarrassed. Hannah and Barbara chuckled at that.
“Perfect!” Barbara clapped. “It’s time for a date then~!” She announced, wiggling her eyebrows up and down, and Akko couldn’t help but allow the grin that teased at her lips to break out.
Hannah faux gasped, pretending to be astounded, features relaying her delight. “My! What a wonderful idea, miss Parker!” She curtsied, engaging Barbara in more of their formal roleplay, pretending they were some aristocratic ladies, preparing for a party.
Their antics drew more giggles from Akko as they offered out their arms to escort her to lunch.
“See? We made our lady smile.” Barbara winked, reaching for a high-five towards her girlfriend and best friend. Akko only rolled her eyes in amusement.
Turning their gazes forward, Akko chuckled behind her hand at the sight of a pouting Diana, looking like an abandoned puppy as she huffed, arms crossed, unwilling to meet their gazes.
“Hey. Diana. Why are you still acting all grumpy over there?” Hannah scolded, moving closer to pinch Diana’s cheeks as she scowled deeper. “Say something useful to make our little girlfriend here feel better.”
Akko blushed at the title, still unused to it.
Diana directed her glare on Hannah, bursting out. “YOU MADE ME BITE MY TONGUE. IT HURTS AND IT’S BLEEDING.”
“Oh, don’t be such a baby, sweetheart.” Hannah rolled her eyes. “There’s an easy way to make it all feel much better.” She said, grabbing Diana’s attention and her curiosity. The poor girl clearly missed the mischievous gleam in Hannah’s eyes.
Walking straight into the trap, she asked, “What?”.
“Kissing with tongu-“
Diana’s jaw dropped, face immediately flushing. “Hannah!”
“KissingAkko, specifically, with tongue-“
“HANNAH.”
Hannah and Barbara descended into laughter at the expense of their uptight girlfriend, Akko unable to stay embarrassed as she laughed along to their teasing.
Diana sighed before wearing a small smile. There was no way she could stay mad when they were all so happy.
And well, she couldn’t say she didn’t want to entertain Hannah’s idea. She felt her heart thump heavily at the thought.
-Just to heal her tongue.
Just for that.
Of course.
//
Sitting about a table in the courtyard for what Hannah and Barbara insisted was a ‘Lunch Date’, the four students peacefully took turns helping each other to their spread of food. Hannah and Barbara would take turns feeding their girlfriends, and consequently making them feed them back, albeit Akko and Diana did so shyly.
As their food disappeared and was replaced by a pile of empty containers, Diana, who was seated next to Akko cleared her throat, nervously glancing forward to her flatmates who subtly nodded in encouragement. They were now going to try to get Akko to tell them what happened.
They would have done so earlier, but it just didn’t feel right at that moment. Asking Akko such a thing when what she needed the most was comfort and a welcome didn’t sit well with them, so they waited. But it was hard to keep waiting, and they believed that if she told them, they might be able to help her through it.
After all,
They were girlfriends, weren’t they?
Popping the question, Akko immediately tensed, her usual peppy demeanor quickly dimming as she directed her gaze to her lap, hands bunching up the ends of her jacket. The other three couldn’t help but frown as well, a sting in their hearts settling.
It took a few moments before Akko’s quivering voice replied, cracking all the while. “I… just… I left class a little early. It was dumb of me.” Akko chuckled, wanting to end the conversation right there without having to explain much or accidentally expose toomuch.
She didn’t want them to know of the harassment. She didn’t want them to know why she was going through with it. She… wasn’t ready for them to know why. Not yet, lest their impressions of her plummet and they realize that… she wasn’t worth it. Not one bit.
Diana, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be having it.
“Why did you leave?” She carefully asked another question. She tried her best to not make it sound probing or pushing. They wanted Akko to feel comfortable enough to tell them on her own accord. It was simply just them asking.
“I… well…” Akko was still hesitant, thoughts running rampant as she tried to come up with something to say.
“Akko? Please tell us? If you’re troubled, we’d really love to help you.” Diana murmured, taking Akko’s hands into her own and pressing a timid kiss to each. “We… we care about you. A lot.” She said, looking up to meet Akko’s eyes pleadingly.
“It’s…” Akko’s throat felt dry. Deep down, she wanted to tell them. Really she did. But at the same time, she wasn’t ready. She was still afraid. “M-Maybe next time, okay?” She managed to say. “I… I just want to enjoy my lunchbreak… with my… g-girlfriends.” Akko bashfully followed up.
She saw Hannah and Barbara beaming, their worried expressions shifting to awe and joy at Akko’s acknowledgement as they scooted a little closer to her from across the table, hands reaching out to rest over her and Diana’s. Diana practically emitted sparkles and glowed, radiating an aura of joy that anyone could see from miles away.
“But of course.”
At the back of their minds, the topic still weighed on all of them. As for the roommates, they knew they would have to give Akko some more time. She did seem extremely uncomfortable about the topic, and they did not wish to bring her unease.
Akko knew she would have to tell them a lot of things eventually, but she just wanted to get away from it all for a while. Even if it lasted only this one brief moment, peaceful and warm, with her girlfriends.
//
If someone told Akko before that she’d be dating not one, not two, but three girls all at the same time, she’d laugh at the incredibly hilarious joke. It wasn’t the idea of being with a girl that she found far-fetched, it was being with someone in general that was implausible to her.
Because who would date Kagari Atsuko? A rumored class clown and loser all throughout highschool? Someone who fell asleep in her lectures and barely managed to turn in her assignments on time? Surely no one would want such a mediocre person as their significant other. There wasn’t much to brag about her, after all.
But no.
Now, she was slowly starting to come to terms with the fact that she nabbed three incredibly intelligent, beautiful, and talented ladies who made her feel special, who appreciated her, and told her that she… she was enough.
…even though she sometimes doubted it.
It had been a few weeks since their lunch date. They had immediately made it into a regular thing, spending lunches together when they could, and being around one another most times after school and between shared classes when Akko wasn’t with her friends with prior plans.
Friends.
Akko blinked, then slapped her forehead as a thought registered. She realized she hadn’t told Lotte and Sucy yet, though she had plans to. She had been nervous to tell them, putting it off constantly. But she knew them, and she knew how great they were as friends. She knew they would never judge her. Despite that, it didn’t make her any less nervous as she imagined how they would initially react, at least.
As she contemplated this thought and planned for her next attempt to come clean to her friend, someone bumped into her as she walked the halls, making her drop all her books, along with the bento box she had carefully prepared this morning in hopes that she could, for once, try to cook for her girlfriends as appreciation. And also to test if they would be into Japanese cuisine. For future reference.
Akko sighed, pushing away her dismay and slight irritation. She hadn’t been very aware of her own surroundings, so she admitted to herself that it was partially her fault, and just an accident. Gathering her things and turning to address the other party, she froze as she came face to face with none other than Chloe and Avery’s squad, displeasure painted across their features.
Akko cursed inwardly. She wasn’t in the mindset to want- or even manage- to handle this alone right now, but she was sure no one in this hall would step up for her, and Sucy and lotte had just split off to get something before their next class, leaving Akko by herself momentarily.
But she could already see this moment dragging on for far too long than she’d like. She really should have gone with them instead.
“Hey, Kagari.” Chloe smirked as she felt the shiver from Akko’s body as she placed her hand around her shoulders. “I see you’ve found yourself a few bodyguards lately, huh? Cavendish and her little bitches?”
Akko instantly felt her anger flare up at the words, but she tried to keep it in. It wouldn’t be good to blow up in Chloe’s face right away. Not now.
“You using them as your shield? Clever little kitten. Expected nothing less from our pet.” Chloe emphasized the word, really popping the t. The girl’s behind her made mocking barking sounds and Akko scowled.
“I’m not your pet.” Akko said indignantly, shifting to get away from Chloe, unwrapping hers arm from around Akko. She didn’t seem to like that action.
“Oh? What do you call yourself then?” Avery chimed. “Always at our feet, at our beck and call.” She smirked, the girls mumbling and nodding their agreement. “Obeying us every time? Hah. If you’re not a pet, then you’re a pathetic little slave.”
Akko didn’t want to answer to that. She knew it wasn’t true. It wasn’t. She just… had to.
Seeing her not fighting back as she usually did, Chloe felt irritation bubbling, having been looking forward to using Akko as her amusement but getting little to no reaction. It was unsatisfying. She needed something.
Grasping Akko’s cheeks with one hand, she squeezed, forcing the girl to look straight into her eyes.
“You’ve made our lives difficult, Akko. We had no one to get us lunch or do our homework.” She said this, sounding sad and disappointed, wiping an invisible tear from her eye, before focusing once more on Akko. “But we still kept up OUR end of the bargain.” She said, reaching into her pocket to flash Akko the photo of the truth she was trying to keep under wraps. “Maybe we should reconsider.”
Akko’s eyes widened, panic flooding in her system as she tried to reach for the image.
“Uh-uh-uh” Chloe tutted, pushing Akko down more.
Commotion began to build in the halls, as more people started to watch, no longer able to play the card of ignorance as things seemed to escalate beyond what normally transpired between Akko and her group of tormenters. Still, they remained fearful of coming between them, and nothing of Akko’s silent begs in her eyes could do much convincing.
Akko felt herself pulled into an awkward sit-up by the collar, Chloe licking her lips as she shook her other hand lightly. “Maybe you need a reminder.” She grinned.
Akko watched her raise a hand, knowing that a slap was coming.
Before Chloe could do anything, Akko watched a tall redhead run forward- someone she realized was one of her classmates, and the person she vaguely remembered to be Sarah, Chloe’s roommate back when they were in high school. Akko watched as she grasped Chloe’s wrist, pulling it away from Akko with anger and disappointment in her eyes.
“Chloe, what are you doing?” She spoke evenly in hopes of calmly diffusing the situation, although Akko knew she’d inevitably fail. Chloe never was one to listen to words, anyway. “Why are you doing this, hey!” Akko watched as she was promptly pulled back by Avery and the other girls, so quickly losing her standing.
“Get out of the way, Bernhardt.” Chloe snarled at her ex-roommate with an odd emotion passing in her eyes- one that only Akko saw- as Avery continued to tug the taller girl away. “You aren’t a part of this.”
Having gotten Sarah away, Chloe returned her attention to Akko who continued to meet her provoked gaze, she repeated her actions, raising her hand up high, prepared to swiftly deal in her ‘reminder’.
Just as her hand was about to come in contact with the skin of Akko’s face, she suddenly felt a forceful push, slamming her head into the nearest locker. Eyes turning redder than they already were, head spinning and confused, Chloe attempted to glower at her assaulter, only to find dark eyes that conveyed emotions that did not match the supposedly amicable smile currently worn. “What the-“
“So, I suppose you don’t mind if we intervene? After all, if Akko is involved, then WE ARE a part of it. Package deal, bitch.” Hannah’s voice rung loud and clear in the corridor, poorly hidden anger underlying her tone as she tilted Chloe’s head up with a long, manicured finger, nails digging slightly into the flesh beneath her chin.
Akko noticed Diana standing next to Hannah, both having probably ran as quick as they could upon seeing her. She watched the girl silently seething as she towered over Chloe’s fallen form. “Wha-“ Diana jabbed a finger to her chest, using it to punctuate her every word that followed.
“Don’t.ever. Touch my girlfriend again.” She growled, pushing Chloe back once more for good measure.
Akko barely registered Barbara gently aiding her up into a proper sitting position , scanning over her body for any injuries as the other two gathered her belongings. She couldn’t comprehend the conversation her three girlfriends were having, and before she could even try, she felt herself picked up by Diana and carried away, led by Hannah and Barbara to an empty part of the courtyard.
They allowed a few minutes of silence to reign over them as Akko tried to grasp her bearings, head still spinning from the previous occurrences.
As she came to her senses, she felt the awkwardness of their silence heavy. Unsure where she should begin explaining, she waited on them to ask first. She knew they would.
And they did.
“Does this occur frequently?” Diana broke the silence, tone wavering despite her calm appearance. It almost sounded as though she would cry, something Akko would have been surprised to see coming from the one known as ‘the Ice Princess’ had she not been dating her now.
“Huh? Oh, uh… I… n-no. Not really… Just…”
“Please.” Diana cut in, taking both of Akko’s hands into hers and squeezing them gently. “Be honest.”
Her kind eyes, usually like a mirror to the clearest of skies were shrouded with clouds of anxiety and concern that Akko knew wouldn’t leave anytime soon if she continued to hide things from her. With a sigh, she reluctantly confirmed, “…yes”.
“Why?” Diana followed up.
Akko stiffened upon hearing the question, immediately pulling her hands away from Diana’s grasp in discomfort as she felt her heart thump madly once more. “I… I can’t tell you that.” She backed off, creating space between them in hopes that Diana would no longer pry deeper.
“Atsuko-“
Diana felt a hand on her shoulder, grasping firmly. She turned to find Barbara shaking her head no. “If she’s not ready to tell us yet, let’s remain patient and not force it, Diana. Okay?” She whispered, casting a glance over to Akko who eyed them warily. “The poor girl looks troubled enough as it already is”
Diana shifted her attention back to Akko, eyes widening as she berated herself for not realizing sooner that she’d allowed her emotions to get ahead of her and not care for how Akko felt about all this.
“I’m… I’m sorry” She apologized straight-away. Akko nervously lowered her gaze, unable to face the trio. Her hands trembled in her lap, eyes wandering about to the things spread out on their usual table- her books and coursework, some crumpled papers, her girlfriends’ other belongings, and the lunchbox that was sure to be all messed up inside.
She felt her held-back sadness bubble at the base of her throat, eventually spilling out in a whimper that she immediately tried to cover up by clasping both hands over her mouth to no avail.
She felt warmth wrap itself around her, that familiar honeysuckle scent calming her immensely as she leaned into the touch, face buried into the crook of her girlfriend’s neck.
“Is there anything we can do to make you feel better, sweetie?” Hannah whispered, stroking her fingers through long brown tresses. Akko loved how she was always so straight to the point, so perceptive. She didn’t ask needless questions, and always knew how to read the situation.
Hesitantly Akko peered upwards, a struggling shy smile on her lips. “H-hold me?” She replied, loud enough for all of them to hear. Quickly flushing in embarrassment as she realized how needy she must have sounded, she added, “O-only ‘til I calm down”.
Having squeezed her eyes shut for the nth time today, she hadn’t noticed Barbara and Diana coming closer, Diana circling around to wrap her arms around Akko from behind, thumbs rubbing gentle strokes along Akko’s stomach, making the girl gasp in surprise initially. Barbara took the side opposite from Hannah and they embraced the pair in the middle, holding gently, yet firmly.
“Of course.” They all murmured into the group hug, taking turns to pepper fluttering kisses on Akko where they could reach.
Akko sat there, basking in the affectionate glow of her girlfriend’s comfort and love, sinking deeper into their arms, feeling herself drift away-
-drift far enough away that she failed to hear the frantic call of her name from across the courtyard, failed to remember that she had friends that she was supposed to attend class with, failed to hear the footsteps approaching, the loud gasp, “Akko? Akk-woah!” and whistle of astonishment. The only thing that seemed to shake her out to consciousness was the familiar chuckle of a teasing peer that always seemed to rile her up in embarrassment and sometimes irritation.
“Well, I guess we shouldn’t have rushed, huh, Lotte? Even though we searched high and low in worry after hearing about what happened in the halls, our little princess here seems fine and dandy.”
Akko’s head shot up, successfully bringing damage to Diana’s face as she covered her eyes and nose, carefully massaging them as she groaned.
“OH MY GOSH, I’M SO SORRY, DIANA-“
Diana waved her off, Barbara attending to her as Hannah shook her head in bewildered amusement. Glancing over to Akko reassuringly, she managed to convince her to speak with her friends, seeing they needed the conversation.
Akko carefully stood up, watching as Hannah and Barbara attended to Diana for a moment, Hannah shooing Akko if once she caught her gaze. Akko joined Sucy and Lotte a safe distance away, out of earshot, but within sight of her girlfriends, nervously thinking of what to say.
After a few moments of quietly dancing around the subject at hand, Lotte broke first.
“So… umm…this is… a surprise?” She tried to carefully broach the subject, not getting much reaction from Akko. Unlike her partner who simply descended into hysterics, slapping Akko on the shoulder with a wide grin.
“Goddamn, Akko. You getting three pussies all at onc-“ Lotte’s reprimand was swift and on point, the hit to the back of Sucy’s head silencing her. “I was just saying…” She mumbled.
Akko stood there, lips still tightly sealed, but face a blossoming shade of red, not really knowing what else to say other than the obvious that she was now dating three incredibly beautiful women without really knowing how she got to that point.
Lotte huffed a glad little smile, hands reaching over to rest on Akko’s shoulders, squeezing kindly. “Hey,” Akko looked into her soft gaze, nonjudgmental and ever sweet. “If they make you happy, then I’m incredibly happy for you as well. You deserve that much in your life after everything you do for me, for us, for other people just to make us all happy.” Lotte said, pulling Akko into a hug she knew the girl needed.
Sucy lightly pat Akko’s back, humming in her own way of assurance.
“Thank you.” She murmured into Lotte’s shoulder.
“Mm-mm,” Lotte shook her head in slight disagreement. “Thank you for always trying your best for us. I know you don’t tell me about whatever things have been going on and why you’re being bullied sometimes, but I know you’re not enduring this for no reason.”
“Mm.”
“But Akko?”
“Yeah?”
Lotte pushed Akko back slightly to look her dead-serious in the eyes. “If this is anything like high school and you’re taking heat for my sake, or Sucy’s sake, or anyone else’s, you better stop and come clean now.”
Akko regretfully looked away. “But-“
“Akko.” Sucy addressed, demeanor a rare pensive one as she compelled Akko to listen to her. “You’re not doing this alone. Don’t selfishly get hurt like this. We worry. If you have problems, let us help. The more of us, the easier it is to carry a burden, don’t you think?” She spoke her profound thoughts that she usually kept to herself. “You don’t have to tell us everything now,” She sighed as she gazed upon Akko’s slumped figure.
“But you don’t have to keep enduring alone.” Lotte finished for Sucy, squeezing Akko’s shoulders once more. “Okay?”
Akko was crying a lot today, wasn’t she?
“Silly girl.” Lotte commented.
“She’s the class clown, after all.” Sucy jested.
Accompanying her friend’s chuckles with her own tearful laughter, she laid her promise to share her sorrows and her pains with them better in the hug she gave them, hopeful that things would only get better from here on.
Yeah.
With the best friends she could ever imagine having in the world, and the most amazing lovers ever- Akko chanced a glimpse to see them watching over her fondly, warming her heart- she knew she’d get by. If these people were the ones… she might be able to tell them-
“Okay, so now it’s time for the customary interrogation of our daughter’s new lovers.” Sucy just had ruin the moment as she always did.
“Since when were you my parents?!”
“Aw, come on. I always wanted to try it out, making people all nervous and panicky.” Sucy pouted. “I wanna see Cavendish flip the fuck out-“
“Sucy!”
“Just saying!”
A/N: I don’t really know what to say. Hope you enjoyed, haha. So many stuff is just happening and I’m trying to escape to writing. whoop. Anyway, til next time.
~Shintori Khazumi
A/N: Okay! So I’m really sorry if day 2 confused y’all ;-;. I just couldn’t reveal as much info to be clear as I thought ;-; I dunno if this chapter will do any good of explaining, but here’s to hoping that it does! T-T Also apologies if the whole story goes south or off the rails since I’m really running on fumes this week and am at peak exhaustion capacity woo! So these chapters/days might just be getting weird and incoherent idk. Sorry. This is kind of like… going back and forth between days 2-4 in terms of theme, I think. But well. uh… Idk anymore.
Enjoy?
~Shintori Khazumi
Day 3: Familiars/Animals
“There’s no way she tamed that.”
“I’m just glad you’ve all settled in just fine.”
“Honestly? Same.” Barbara sighed, looking into the orb that showed Lotte and Sucy’s faces. “I guess it’s just that we’ve been here for a few months- two? Three? It’s a good start.”
“How’s her majesty holding up?” Sucy asked teasingly, but with concern clear in her visible eye.
Barbara bit her lip, not really sure of the answer herself. “She never showed me or Han, but I know that she’s cried to Akko-with Akko” Barbara shook her head fondly, recalling their sweet dork. “-when we all went to bed. It went on for a few weeks. Right now, she’s… she’s holding up. She’s tough, we all know.”
“Yes. You all are.” Lotte said with a smile that quickly melted away into a deep frown. “I can’t believe they burned down the mansion.”
“Ican’t believe they were able to get through Diana’s cloaking spell.” Sucy commented. “Something isn’t right, but no one can pinpoint just what it is yet.” She said, swirling an ominous-looking fluid in one of her flasks.
Barbara nodded. “Well, anyway, I’ll get back to you later. I’m on dinner duty and the sun has been sending me warnings.” She chuckled, noticing the changing hues of the horizon. “Talk to you again sometime?”
“We’ll update you on the situation.” Lotte assured, waving to her friend before the connection cut and the orb turned blank.
Barbara sighed, standing up from the table to return the orb on their shelf in the living room of the cozy stone cottage they had settled in, deep in a forest of some unknown country far away from home.
It was a new world with so many unknowns. Maybe too many. Including why Diana and Akko had been targeted this way. Diana had told them that she’d been stripped of her position on the magic council, and had been ‘warned’ that she would someday suffer the consequences of not complying with the other members. So far, that was all they knew. They just found that Diana had a hunch that they needed to leave soon. They were so glad they did.
Barbara began prepping in the kitchen, getting all her ingredients from the fridge that she’d need for the dish she wanted to cook. Suddenly, a chorus of yells from her two teammates caught her attention, telling her that they were close to home, along with their other friend whose name was pronounced loud on their lips-
“AKKO?!”
//
“What?” Akko shrugged, clearly not getting why this was such a big deal. Florence was one of her sweetest familiars!
“No, no, no. Not ‘what?’, Akko… how… why? Who? Where did you even-” Hannah stammered. “There’s no way she tamed that. Right, Diana?” She turned to their team leader, still staring up at the very real, and very large griffin.
“Akko… how did you even… you say this is your familiar??? A gryphon of this size? We all know that contracting familiars are difficult, but you just-”
She and Hannah watched as Akko continued to play with the somehow puppy-like griffin, Akko rubbing it’s belly as it rolled on the grass in front of their home.
“Diana.” Akko deadpanned. “You literally kept a Kelpie at home.” She saw Diana open her mouth about to deny the statement, and cut her off. “Don’t lie. I saw you feeding it by the lake the other day.”
“Well…”
“I watched you train it the other day.”
“I-”
“I’ve also seen it playing in the fountain in the yard back at home-” As that word slipped, Akko realized her mistake, seeing Hannah giving her a disproving look as Diana’s face looked momentarily downcast, before masking it with a smile.
“Diana-” Akko tried to reach out, but her girlfriend had taken a careful step back, leaving a pang in Akko’s heart. “I’m sor-”
“I’ve been caught red-handed, I suppose.” Diana laughed mirthlessly, a hand rubbing up and down her opposite arm as she looked off into the distance. “Oh look at that! The sun is setting. We should go inside.” She quickly changed the topic, being the first one to turn around and head for their house, not waiting for her companions to follow.
Hannah groaned, smacking the back of Akko’s head. “Nice going, Akko.”
“Hey!”
“Make sure to hide that familiar somewhere and wash your hands before dinner! Barbara’s going to have your head the next time you touch her table with those filthy hands.” She warned before disappearing into the cottage after Diana.
“I already know that. You don’t have to tell me.” Akko scoffed, crossing her arms before getting nuzzled by her Griffin, a cute confused look on his face. She smiled, petting it’s side before doing what Hannah had told her to do. “Come on, Florence. Let’s get you back in with the others?”
Reaching into her shirt, Akko pulled out a locket, casting a spell on it that made it larger, revealing a briefcase that looked like any other. However, as she turned the dials of it’s lock code, multiple sounds spring forth from it as the case shook.
Florence nuzzled against her back, whining about her actions. Akko got the message. “Sorry, buddy. I know it’s been a while since I let you out free, but I don’t have anywhere better to keep you all yet. Hang on just a bit more? For me?” She rubbed the Griffin’s head before holding the briefcase closer to him and Florence disappeared into the container. “Thank you.” She patted the lid.
After closing it securely, she spun the numbers to form a different code that brought about silence before shrinking it back into the size that she kept around her neck.
“I hope they waited for me for dinner.”
//
“Are you alright?”
Diana looked up from her seat on the small porch, gaze warming as she was met by the sight of her old friend with two mugs in hand, steaming and warm. She simply nodded, patting the seat next to her.
Hannah nodded, settling down next to Diana and handing her her drink. Before Diana could even greet and thank her, a thick blanket was draped across her shoulders from her other side. Barbara promptly took seat on that free space, leaning her weight against Diana and closing her eyes.
“Girls…”
“You can trust us with your pain as much as you do with Akko, you know?” Hannah murmured, Barbara nodding against Diana’s side.
“…I know.” Biting her lip, Diana tried her best to form the appropriate words. Seconds slipped by and she continued failing at being open to her best friends. “I’m sorry. It’s still a little difficult.” She felt the pair sigh on each side of her, and felt a little bad.
“We suppose that one is on us for constantly placing you up on a pedestal. Both then and now.” Barbara chuckled, the statement supposedly lighthearted despite all three knowing it was the heavy truth. “Just know that when you’re ready, we will always be willing to listen, yes?” She turned her body around, enough to embrace Diana, Hannah mirroring the action as they both squeezed her tight.
Diana squeaked as they planted a kiss on each side of her face before laughing at how bashful she was being.
“Well, that’s all from us. We’ll be heading in now.”
Diana had wanted a few more minutes of time with them, but as she followed them with her eyes, she saw someone else waiting by the door.
“Fix this.” She heard Hannah whisper to the dejected-looking Akko, loud enough for all of them to hear. Barbara giggled as she entered the house first, and Diana found her own chuckles slipping out as Akko grumbled her way towards Diana until she stood face to face with her.
“…”
“…”
“Hi.”
“Hello, dear.”
Diana felt her heart ache in a bittersweet way as she saw tears form in Akko’s eyes, and the girl kneeled in front of her, relocating Diana’s mug of hot chocolate somewhere safe on the wooden porch before taking both of her hands in hers and kissing each knuckle.
“I love you…” She whispered, holding Diana’s hands to her forehead as Akko bowed her head to hide her face from her. “And I’m sorry…”
“Darling…” Diana sighed with a smile. “Come here.”
Diana watched Akko briefly hesitate before gingerly snaking her arms round about Diana, snuggling into her fully.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. You didn’t mean to hurt me or anything.”
“But I did.” Akko sniffled, remembering that Diana had entrusted her sorrows and fears to her for nights and nights since they lost their old home, and how carelessly Akko had mentioned it while Diana was still touchy about the subject. “So I’m still sorry.”
Diana turned her head slightly to the side, enough to place a tender kiss on Akko’s cheek, “Then, Thank you. Thank you for apologizing, Love.”
“Mmm.”
They stayed that a way a few moments before Akko pulled away, a big grin plastered over her face.
“I have something to show you. Just to make it up to you.” She’d said, turning to the sky with lips pursed to release a unique whistling sound that Diana was not so familiar with.
She decided to face where Akko had been directing her attention, squinting at the night sky dotted with stars she knew all too well. She didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, so what was Akko trying to do-
There was a flash of gold and of a passionate color. It wasn’t lightning, Diana knew; neither was it the twinkling of the stars overhead. So what exactly…
Thenit came closer, perching on Akko’s arm that she had left outstretched.
Diana’s mouth gaped, a surprise much similar to what she had experienced earlier today, returning.
“Akko, this is a…”
Akko scratched the back of her head sheepishly, smiling adorably awkward as she attempted to ‘introduce’ them. “Alfred, this is Diana. Diana, this is Alfred.”
Diana nodded at the creature that stared at her with it’s bright beady eyes. Literally bright, it was in its entirety.
“He’s a baby phoenix.”
Diana nodded solemnly, still in awe. Of both the creature and Akko who was currently petting it with a magically protected hand.
Diana knew that Akko always had a strange affinity for communicating with animals. Even back in her years as ‘Luna Nova’s Dunce’- or so many had labeled her as (Diana was forever mad at that fact)- Akko had already shown her uncanny ability to empathize with non-human beings. She so easily befriended fae, was able to get along with both of Chariot’s own familiars: Alcor and Arcas of all creatures. There was also the fact that she had learned fish language in her own unconventional way and had become increasingly fluent in it and other magical creature languages over the next few years.
Now that she really about it, she realized that she usually saw Akko tending to the magical animals used by the security sector of the council, or doing work related to that. She had at first seen it as them pushing all the mucky work onto her like cleaning stables for pegasi, or feeding the more exotic research birds.
Seeing Akko right now, she felt like it should explain a whole lot more than she thought she knew about her. It made Diana feel slightly ashamed and insecure that she had yet to uncover this fact about her own lover that she had been with for so long now.
Diana shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts. This wasn’t the time to doubt their relationship with one another.
In this new light she was now viewing Akko in, Diana now suspected one of the reasons why the council desperately tried to keep Akko from quitting back then despite not making much use of her at her actual supposed job. They had probably realized all too quickly, and for reasons Diana doubted were good.
But did Akko know this? Was she aware?
Diana fiddled with her hands. Maybe she should ask.
“Akko?” She tugged on the girl’s shirt sleeve.
“Hmm?”
Diana took a breath. “I know… that one of the reasons you left your old duties behind was because you didn’t really love the job at the council… and all that.” She watched Akko nod slowly, hands stilling from caressing Alfred.
“Go on?”
“But I can’t help but think now that there’s another reason… you know, something more?” Diana looked at her dearest friend and lover with hopeful eyes, wondering if she’d tell her something she didn’t know. Something that wasn’t in the written letters Akko’s various familiars had brought to her during the moments they were apart, something that she couldn’t have observed despite having worked in generally the same establishment because they had been firmly kept apart.
Why did it suddenly feel like Diana… didn’t know a lot about Akko?
She felt a pang in her heart, only supplemented by the silence that Akko had met her with.
“Sorry.” She quickly said. “Maybe it wasn’t right of me to ask.” She was about to get up when Akko stopped her, a hand holding onto Diana’s, silently bidding her to stay.
Diana sat back down and Akko rested her head on her shoulder, rubbing patterns on Diana’s hand with her thumb as she began to speak.
“Diana, did you know? That magical creatures have so much more magical energy stored in their bodies than any other living things? So much so that a magical sparrow could probably power Luna Nova for almost a week, maybe.” Akko chuckled and Diana smiled at the lovely sound.
Nodding, she responded. “Well, I knew something of that nature, yes. Did Pisces teach you that? Chariot?” She asked, squeezing Akko’s hand gently in hers.
“Partially… but…” Akko sighed. “I also found it out myself.”
Diana nodded, not wanting to interrupt anything.
“You know me so well Diana, so I’m sure that you’ve noticed by now that I have…” Akko paused, in thought of how she should word it. “Quite a few? Familiars?”
Diana snorted, bringing their joined hands up to her lips and kissing the back of Akko’s hand. “A lot, dear. A wholelot.”
Akko giggled alongside her before calming and adopting a more serious look. Diana lent her ears once more, preparing herself for what was to come.
“It started when they discovered I could easily befriend them. The magical beasts and creatures.” Akko frowned, surely remembering things she did not want to. “They sent me out to catch, acquire, and well tame magical beasts. Pfft-Like I could do that.”
Diana was about to argue that Akko could- as could clearly be observed, but was beaten to the punch.
“It was much easier than I believed it should be.” She admitted. “At first, I had no clue what they needed it for. I assumed more research on animals, extending our knowledge, and all that good stuff, you know?” Akko huffed, lifting her other hand up to guide her little phoenix into flight so that it would return to where it came from.
Diana guessed it was because Akko didn’t want it understanding what she was about to reveal next.
“Of course, I had felt bad about intruding into their habitats and taking one of their kind, but I had hoped that after whatever observations the council and researchers had, I could just return them to their families and homes.”
Diana felt Akko’s grip tightening around her hand, breathing shallowing.
“Then one day, I saw these beautiful, beautiful creatures in one of the outer courtyards…” Akko squeezed her eyes shut, painfully recalling the memory of what she saw that day. “They killed them, Diana. Killed them in order to power some device that I have no clue about. I saw it in passing when I accompanied the secretary around before I was shut out.” Akko confessed.
Diana leaned her head on Akko’s, mind flying to places she had tried forgetting about because of the pain they caused her as she tried to make sense of what Akko knew, and what she had also found out.
“That’s when I decided to quit and go to the places I believed more beasts resided in… especially the more endangered and possibly more powerful ones from what I had looked into, and what Chariot and Pisces had told me. I thought that maybe I could keep them safe that way. I’m sure the council had someone replace me in my… ‘work’.”
Akko allowed herself to fall over and lay herself on Diana’s lap, turning around to bury her face in the woman’s stomach.
Diana felt arms wrap around her waist, and she brought her hands atop Akko’s head to comb through silky chocolate strands. She felt the tension in Akko’s body release, before hearing another quiet, “I’m sorry”.
Diana would have asked what for, but they both already knew that.
“I just couldn’t tell you at that time. Not when you were also trying your best to establish your position in that very same council. I thought it would put you at risk of losing your job… or worse.”
Diana could just hear her choke up on that word, having now been acquainted with the ‘worse’ bit.
“So I decided to distance myself for a bit. I’m sorry, Diana. I’m sorry.” Akko murmured against her stomach. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Diana could feel a wet patch growing on her stomach. She continued to gently run her fingers through Akko’s hair in hopes of soothing her lover and reassuring her that it was all alright. That she understood. That she was grateful that Akko did it to protect her.
“I just wish I had told you back then, now that all of this happened. It’s still very much my fault, isn’t it?” Akko sniffled, turning away to wipe her nose on her sleeve. “Aaagghh, I really am sorry. To you, to Hannah and Barbara, and to everyone else.” Akko tried to slow her breathing in order to stop crying as she looked straight up at the night sky. “This is all my fault.”
Her view of the starry sky was obstructed, but replaced with the blues of a summery morning, even though it was the dead of night.
She was entranced, just like she’d always been since a long time ago.
Akko felt her eyelids flutter shut as Diana leaned down, closer, closer, and closer…
Thwack-
“Ouch!”
Akko’s eyes shot open as she was met with a stern Diana.
“Don’t just take all the blame like that and treat this whole thing as your decision solely. We all came here on our own accord. Hannah, Barbara, and I. Actually, didn’t we drag you hear in the first place?” Diana scolded a thoroughly shocked Akko.
“Y-yes.”
Diana’s expression relaxed as she chuckled, finally giving Akko the kiss she’d been expecting. “That’s why, my love, please.Continue to trust us.”
Diana could swear she could read a million I love you’s written all over Akko’s face. The sweetheart.
“Besides.I have things I need to discuss with you all as well. And I think-no. I know that it is connected with what you’ve just told me tonight.”
Diana nudged Akko up, guiding them both back on their feet.
“But for now, can we finally get some shut-eye?” She looked at Akko with a pleading face that the latter dared not say no to.
“Definitely.”
Diana squealed as she was hoisted up into strong arms and carried into the house, across their small living room and into their shared bedroom, careful not to make as much noise when they passed by their friends’.
As Akko lay Diana down on the soft sheets, she peppered kisses about her face, the pair giggling and whispering until they were all out of mirth.
Tomorrow was another day, and it might just be another frightful one.
But well, they had each other and it didn’t matter as much anymore.
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
Snuggled beneath the covers, to the soft cooing of the breezes of the forest, they began to drift to slumber-
“Oh, that’s right, Love.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you mind showing me your other animals?”
“Not at all, dear.”
“Great.”
“Any reason why?”
“I just want to see Hannah’s shocked face again if we ever find something like a manticore or minotaur with you, haha.”
“…”
“I’m jesting, Love- Akko… why are you wearing that expression? Akko… no way… No. Really?!”
“…You see…”
“There’s no way you tamed that!”
A/N: If you’ve seen fantastic beasts- I just loved the suitcase concept. Also I dunno, I thought of the whistling thing and wondered if it was an actual summoning technique and found a transcendental- was it- whistling. Welp. It’s almost 2am and I’m doing this while also doing my lab reports skgmdsoigndfngsdr okay. Time to di-p. Time to dip into work. Ciao!
~Shintori Khazumi
Random doodle from that Hero x Villain AU I ain’t ever gonna continue.
Bruh, gotta love a thicc Hannah tho
Some random sketches having to do with that one hero x villain AU idea I got
Amanda’s superhero costume is her pajamas
Hannah wears her fanciest attire lmao
Amanda prob had the best superpower there is ngl
So my bro bought me a book, from one of my favorite series, n I finished it just a bit ago… It was meh
After that I got kinda bored cuz the book took up the time when I usually workout, so I decided to kill time by drawing
This is part 1/? (Idek where this’ll lead to so who knows if imma complete this)
I kinda wanted to do it digitally, but I rly didn’t want to get my phone, plus my sketchbook was way closer at the time.
Anyways since I got shit writing (even I can barely comprehend it):
Hannah: Diana, what’s your relationship with Akko?
Diana: my relationship with Akko? Well… Huh… IDK
Hannah: what do you mean ‘IDK’?
Barbara: oh. This’ll be interesting
Amanda is a bad bitch n all
But she also a wuss when it comes to spooky rides
Anyways, rly short hamanda one-shot
