A/N I am SO SO SOOOO sorry that this took so long to write, like I don't know why but it was so hard to write with writer's block and I didn't have much time on the main pc as well to write but hey it's here now, I guess that's the important bit huh? Also I just checked the word count, it's around 7.5 k words so enjoy! Hopefully it was worth the wait.
Diana knew that things would change the moment she became much closer with both the red team and the green team of their year. Both teams were quite chaotic but chaos wasn't something she would always disapprove, chaos brings something to the table that either makes things be good or bad. In terms of Heart Week, they've been nothing but good, they kept her busy, distracted. It was something that helped her cope. To keep her mind from thinking of the things she doesn't know, the enemy, the higher years, what would happen next.
However, just because she knew things would change, just because she accepted the chaos that they would bring. It doesn't mean she would be prepared nor ready for what sudden thing she'll get dragged into next. A good example of this was when she woke up in her bed, a bed that didn't just contain her but another person as well. Someone whose long brown hair tickled her nose as Diana rest on her chest, soft snores that were the peaceful sounds of the morning birds. It took Diana a full minute to realise she wasn't alone, another minute to realise Akko was sleeping next to her or in their situation, under her.
"Akko!" Diana shouted, moving back to the far end of the bed, her face on fire, her mind confused on how and why this ever happened. Akko, in turn, snapped awake at the sound of her name, she flustered about, screaming questions before she floundered off the bed with a distinct thud. "Akko?" Diana repeated as she leant closer just to see said person was alright. "What…" Her mind drifted a bit as her eyes found the faint touches of scars on her exposed legs and arms, they were small but plentiful, a forest of stories of what stupid things Akko did in her past. Diana shook away her thoughts as she cleared her throat, "What are you doing here?"
Akko stopped her grumbling of a hurting head as she looked up at Diana. Her jaw dropping, her eyes wide awake and so clear of awe that Diana could see herself in the reflection in her eyes. Her hair was a mess, loose strands flew defied gravity and stood upright, her curls were in small knots and it was only more visible against the scarlet skin of her face. "Akko!" Diana repeated again, furiously hiding her face now with the closet pillow to her.
Her name was again broke Akko's gaze and awoke her brain cells as her own cheeks flared and from the nervous jitters of her speech, Diana knew Akko just realised what situation they were in. Akko opened her mouth to speak but a muffled chuckle broke it off first, one that was behind the bookshelves that kept Diana's bed separate from the others. It was too early in the morning for Diana to recognise the laugh but Akko did from the looks of sudden anger, how her head whipped behind her, an annoyed shout in her voice. "AMANDA!"
From around the bend, Amanda in her uniform appeared, holding her sides as she let all her laughter out. "Amanda…" Diana seethed, clutching the pillow tightly in sudden rage.
"Morning love-" Amanda cleared her throat as her eyes fell to Akko, Diana doesn't know glare she got from Akko but for a moment the joviality on her face was gone however it returned with her usual sly grin so quickly that if she wasn't solely focusing on Amanda Diana would've missed it. "Morning losers," she grinned, leaning against the bookshelves, "Or should I say good afternoon."
Diana's face paled instantly, it was as quick as Akko's surprised shout and rummaging out of the blanket that fell with her. It didn't help that Amanda was laughing still at the whole ordeal until Lotte too appeared around the bend with a disapproving slap across her arm. "Amanda!" She said sternly, also in her uniform. Lotte ignored Amanda's mumbles under her breath as she turned to them with an apologetic smile. "It's not afternoon you're both fine, we're just eating breakfast."
"A-man-da," Akko whined, getting out of her blanket web that she found herself trapped in. She stood up, walking with a bit of a sway. "Don't scare me like that." Amanda snickered, holding her still so that Akko can balance herself, Diana sighs with relief as she too gets out of her bed.
"So I'm guessing you both have fun last night eh," Amanda laughed more, ignoring the annoyed slaps from Lotte on her shoulder as she brings Akko away to the living room, leaving both Amanda and Diana in Diana's section. From around the bend, Diana can hear a sudden increase volume of voices, laughing and cheering.
Diana locks eyes with Amanda with an early look of confusion, as far as she was concerned they haven't even told the others of last night's chase. They both agreed to talk about it when everyone was here, including Hannah and Barbara. "What on earth are you talking about?"
Amanda laughs again, crossing her arms with a sly smirk. "Well y'know two girls sleeping in one bed, all alone in one room, one's head a mess the other can't walk straight, doesn't take much to figure out you guys did a bit of Rumpy Pumpy last night eh Diana?"
"AMANDA O'NEIL!" Diana screamed, not wasting any more time to stride across, taking a pillow with her, her cheeks blazing with both anger and embarrassment. It didn't help that only she knew the meaning of the term, both being fluent in the slang of the British. "HOW DARE YOU-" She cut her own words off with grunts of anger as she hit Amanda with a pillow continuously. She just couldn't believe it! The nerve of that girl to even suggest them doing such actions, she doesn't even know why Akko was in her bed.
Amanda didn't care too busy falling to the floor, bombarded with Diana's attacks. In fact, she was cackling with laughter. In the end, Diana was only stopped when Akko returned with everyone else following her and pulled her away. "Diana are you okay?" Akko asked, restraining Diana from doing, even more, damage to the redhead, even then Akko was struggling as Diana kept trying to go against her embrace. "Diana!" Her words of concern were deaf to Diana, she breathes heavy and angry, blue eyes only focusing on Amanda. "Amanda I think you broke her!"
"Amanda is a bit broken too," Sucy commented as she nudged Amanda's now wheezing body. "I'm surprised she managed to keep it up for this long." Constanze and Jasminka looked at each other before they looked sternly down at Stanbot, in his little hands was a chalkboard "ROUND 1 with two boxing gloves underneath it" before he hid it behind his back under their gaze.
"It's just…" Amanda sighed, somehow finding enough sanity to calm herself but that sanity doesn't last long as she looks back at Diana. "Her face!" Amanda screamed again, falling back to a round of laughter.
"I will end you, O'Neil!" Diana yelled which only enforced another horrible cackle from Amanda.
"Diana please calm down, Amanda is just being an idiot," Akko begged, holding Diana's shoulders. Near them, Amanda was still laughing like a hyena, Diana growled at her, her eyes violent as a blue inferno. "You're not helping Amanda!" Akko yelled, ignoring the grin on Amanda's face.
Fury snapped back into Diana as she tried to move but Akko's grip on her was too strong. "Akko please." She said, looking deep into her eyes, "I need to teach this ruffian a lesson."
"Diana, you're better than this, don't stoop to her level." Akko reasoned, her grip loosening on Diana as she pulled her to a sudden hug. "I don't understand what she said but it's nothing to fight about." In her embrace, Diana's anger slowly fades, her movements become weary until-
"I love how you didn't deny my claim Diana" Amanda snickered, hands on her side, her Cheshire grin smothered on her face. "How-"
Diana ran.
She ran, rampaged across her room in a frightening speed that Akko couldn't stop. "Finish that sentence O'Neil," Diana said, voice void of emotion, of control. The look on her was face murder as she stole a throw pillow from the sofa. "I dare you."
Amanda grinned, also too void of care, "How did you like breakfast in bed?"
Diana's cheeks burned crimson, screeching as she lunged the pillow at her. She pounced at Amanda, forcing them both to the ground and for once Amanda looked like she regretted her actions, only holding her back as she grips on her wrist, her sheer strength and willpower being the only deterrent of a scuffle.
"Diana!"
"Amanda!"
Both teams ran to the scuffle on the floor, voices laced with worry and concern. They began to tug and pull away from the two girls apart who were locked in this stalemate of willpower and upper strength.
"Diana!" Akko yelled.
"Amanda!" Jasminka said as well, in union with Akko.
"We're back!" Hannah and Barbara said as well, the door opening, their hands with interlinked, their eyes were tired however the smiles on their faces distracted them from noticing. They looked at the scene, confusion in their eyes.
"Did we miss something?" Hannah asked as they went in and closed the door behind them.
Everyone froze and looked at them, too shocked for words. Diana was about to speak, her anger sapped away at the sight of her teammates, however, the local potion making bested her to it.
"Apparently Diana and Akko did a bit of Rumpy- Pumpy in Diana's bed."
"We did not!" Diana defended instantly, a flurry of red clashed Diana's cheeks once again as both girls stared at her, jaw slack and cheeks tinted pink. Under her, Amanda snorted at the scene, using her now free hands muffle the laugh.
"Of course," Hannah said, blinking the surprise away in her eyes. "We both know you're mature enough not to do that sort of thing at this age."
"Furthermore, from what we can tell you're both fully clothes so the statement is a false claim." Barbara included as well, slight laughter in her voice, "However, I can say it's funny how you got riled up from this Diana, did you change that much when we were gone?"
Diana's anger was sapped away as she stared at them, their presence finally hitting her. They were safe, they're back together again. A relieved smile was forming on her face, tears starting to prick at the corners of her eyes. "Hannah," she cried with happiness, the girl held her head higher upon hearing her name. Diana moved away, climbing away from the mess that she made out of anger. She walked over, gaze switching between the two of them as she got closer. "Barbara," she smiled through tears as she looks at her other teammate. With no hesitation, Diana was enveloped in bigs hugs causing her to back once more this time with laughter. "I'm glad you're both back."
Hannah and Barbara looked at each other, before turning back to Diana with a watery grin to match Diana as they hold her tighter."We're glad to be back too."
"So… hate to break to the reunion," Akko asked after a few moments passed, she looked at them bashfully as all eyes turned to her, Diana noted how she looked everywhere but her as her cheeks tint pink, "But how did I get to Diana's bed?"
"Oh we put ya there," Amanda sighed with a grin as she helped herself up, brushing off all the dust on her clothes, oblivious to the sudden devil stares from Diana. "You were out like a light when we came to your room and since we didn't want to leave alone Jas and I carried ya here and put you in the only bed that was free."
"You mean occupied?" Sucy butted in with a snicker.
Amanda glared at her before dismissing her with a wave of her hand, "Yeah sure whatever, we didn't want to ruin the other beds cause then we would have to fix it so we made you guys sleep next to each other, also-"
"Amanda O'Neil." Diana hissed, closing her eyes and only focusing on the bone crushing hugs her friends are currently giving her as a way to calm down. "You have 1 minute to leave before I personally hunt you down." She opened her eyes when she made the threat, deep ocean abyss drowning Amanda's confidence as her face paled.
She gulped down whatever sliver of confidence she managed to save as she scratched the back of her neck, "Well you heard her Cons, Jas let's bounce." She said before she ran out of the room, Constanze looked at them with a nod before walking ahead, Jasminka smiling at them and with an apology leaving her lips before she too departs as Akko and the others snickered at what happened.
"So," Hannah laughed as she helped herself up, then Barbara then Diana. She crossed her arms, leaning into Barbara slightly as she looked around at her, her eyes catching the broken glass in the window. The mood slowly losing its merry tune as Diana follows her gaze, her heart jumping to her throat as it becomes clear on what they need to do next.
"What," Barbara said though it was dazed as her eyes were lost in thought, a troubled look of confusion on her face. "What did we miss?"
/-/
"And that's what we know currently on what's behind this whole situation," Diana concluded, she was in her uniform and they were in an empty classroom given to Akko for her supplementary magic lessons. Since this area was only known to the teachers and Akko, it was the best place to talk about such sensitive matters without any walls leaking, not to mention Professor Ursula was here with them, though outside of the room, to further their protection with complex spells against eavesdropping.
She told them everything Holbrooke told her and more.
She told them of how the girls involved are already in trouble, how they are barred from the Heart Week Holiday, how the main people moving against them are the higher ups, how she tried to find answers but failed. She told them everything. Everything but the fact that behind the desk her knees are shaking. That she is terrified. Even after last night and her talk with Akko. That she has no clue on what to do and that the dark thoughts that she is to blame, that her black words written on her arm caused this are chaining her to this inner turmoil behind a cool facade.
Diana looks at all of them, her face hiding most of the subtle wincing at the negative complexations that most of them wore. Jasminka was frowning, her eyebrows furrowed as motherly concern was expressed on her face, Constanze was confused yet vigilant, looking around subtly to check if any person was overhearing. Amanda wore held back anger, a tight lip curl of a snarl on her lips as her knuckles clenched white, her eyes not reaching Diana's.
Hannah and Barbara looked like they weren't healed at all, Diana could see how their hands clench much more, how close they sat together, the slight lack of colour to their cheeks. Diana looks away to Akko's team, ignoring the inaudible whispers Barbara and how Hannah holds their hands tighter before wrapping her arm protectively around the girl.
Sucy held no emotion but Diana knows she was unease as well with the whole ordeal since she was constantly assuring Lotte that everything would be fine in a much more smaller voice. She didn't look at Akko, she would know her true emotions with one look, she always had and Diana won't be surprised if she always will.
"Any questions?" Diana speaks clearly to shake away the fear in her voice.
"Yeah I got one Cavendish," Amanda said as she looks her way for once and Diana can see the visible anger in her eyes. "What the hell were you thinking with going solo?"
"Amanda…" Jasminka said, holding her arm to calm her down.
"Not this time Jas," Amanda says as she shakes it off, she stands from her chair, jumping over her own desk, ignoring everyone else shout her name in disapproval before she slams both her hands on the teacher's desk to silence them. Amanda leans forward, her face dangerously close to Diana. "I want to hear an answer."
"She wasn't alone." Akko's voice said from the side, a comforting smile on her face as her eyes catch Diana's. "I was there making sure she'll be safe."
"Well then," Amanda said, turning around to face her, leaning on the desk, arms crossed, voice dripping with obvious sarcasm. "She's in safe hands, a girl who can't fly against a bunch of near professionals, she'll be fine."
"She will be!" Akko shouted, standing from her chair to emphasise it.
"She isn't now though is she!?" Amanda countered just as quickly, stepping forward to Akko with an indescribable expression.
Diana wanted to step in and give her own opinion, particularly since it was about her safety but the look of Amanda's face forced her to stop. Diana has seen many things from Amanda O'Neil. She saw her be at her best, at her most arrogant, angriest, happiest, saddest, rebellious. She seen her smile and not give a damn about other people whens she showed her words, she saw her with hidden cries in her room, the annoyed look of obvious but denying concern near the memorial, the cheeky smirk when she wants to mess around.
But never has Diana seen Amanda be so broken.
"Diana isn't safe!" Amanda shouts, her voice full of raw emotions that it leaves her lips quivering as she stops in the centre of the room. "Right now, she's being hunted by people that we can't face, people we can't protect her from even if we worked together!" Now her eyes are tearful, they cover her cheeks entirely as they rush out like river rapids, her fingers quivering in the tightened fist she held them in.
"And…" Her head ducks into her chest as her back hunched together, her hands closing in as well, cowering to her heart as her body shakes. Unknowing to Diana her hands did the same as if they were ready to catch the shattered falling pieces of her heart from the words that left Amanda's lips.
"It's all my fault."
"Amanda it's not-" Akko retaliated, slamming her hands on the desk as Jasminka and Constanze were already running to their teammate.
Amanda's head snapped back up at Akko, her face morphed to a chaotic mess of anger, desperation and regret, a lot and a lot of regrets. "It is Akko and doesn't even try to fight me on this!" She screamed before she outstretched her hand to her teammates causing them to stop. "That includes you two as well y'know!"
"How?" Diana buts in before she could close her mouth. It was an impulse, a sudden reaction created from the amount of chaos in her system and the sure belief that it would never be Amanda's fault because it's hers. "Explain to us how it is your fault since none of us can see it."
"You all know," Amanda laughs bitterly as she looks at her arm. "Everyone in this the damn school knows."
There was a sombre stillness in the air, it reeked of old scars and bitter blood leaking from reopened wounds. Everyone was quiet, lost in thought. Everyone was transported back in time to that day where Amanda recklessly showed her words, how it created mayhem across the whole student body.
"See, no one can even deny it…" she laughs one more time before it collapses to another broken sob, a bittersweet smile still permanent on her face. "This is all my damn fault because I'm stupid enough to show my stupid words and I'm so sorry that I brought you guys inside this mess as well." She looks up, specifically at Diana with a shattered smile before she falls to the ground in front of her, head touching the ground. "I'm so sorry Diana for hurting you the most."
The words "I'm sorry" repeat again and again like a begging mantra for pardon, the cycle doesn't end even when Akko climbs over and pulls her up, even when Jasminka steals her away to hold her close and reassurance that she didn't cause this at all. One by one, everyone huddles around the green team, to give support, to give hugs, reassurances that Amanda didn't cause this because of her actions before. Diana didn't consider blaming herself at this time, she pushed those thoughts away, suppressed them because Amanda needs her full attention and care.
"It's not your fault Amanda if I had to blame someone it would be the girl who hit me" Diana whispers to her as she wipes away the remaining tears. "And if you still believe that it's your fault then I forgive you, I forgive you for everything, we're friends after all." Her words ended with a hint of a laughter as Amanda too showed a smile, a genuine one.
"No offence Cavendish but that's a lot of bullshit." Amanda laughed, it was tired and weak but it had that partially annoying Cheshire tone that Diana hears whenever Amanda was going to do something to rile her up.
"How…so?" Diana asked cautiously as she looked at Amanda with a confused expression.
"Would you forgive me for suggesting you and Akko had sex in the morning?" She asked with a snicker and, though small and frail, her Cheshire grin along with a waggle of her brows.
"Ahh….well I guess so, especially since we all know that never happened" Diana agreed, ignoring the urge to hit her and the flare of heat on her cheeks.
"Wait, so that's what Rumpy Pumpy meant!?" Akko asked with a slack jaw and crimson cheeks. Amanda laughed hard as Akko failed to look at Diana's eyes and for once Diana decided to suck in the embarrassment as she tried to answer Akko's various stammering questions. Laughter, after all, was one of the best natural forms of healing.
/-/
"You're healed." The nurse said with a smile as she looks at the new set of results, ignoring Diana's confused expression as she looked at her scar on her abdomen. "Congratulations, this is one of the quickest recovery I've seen yet, especially with such a powerful spell to counter, I'm truly surprised and impressed."
"If I'm being honest, I'm surprised as well." Diana admitted as she looks at her scar, "I'm not trying to offend you nor question your reliability Nurse but are you sure that I'm fully healed?"
"Oh don't worry Miss Cavendish," She said with a laugh, "I'm not offended at all, it's quite often where people ask us if we're fully certain about their current status but yes I fully believe that you are 100% healed." The nurse turns to the door, a soft smile on her face before she turns to Diana. "Though I understand why and how the bonds of soulmates is a catalyst for healing."
In an instant, Diana's face flushes a bright red as she looks away from the nurse's laughter and to the floor. They both know who she's talking about, they both know who is behind the door waiting patiently for her. "I don't know how you think that Nurse but I assure you Akko and I aren't soulmates." It would break Diana's heart truly if that was the case, she doesn't want to live in a world without her. The more she thought on the subject the more Diana's heart aches in pain and despite her wounds fully healed it feels like it never did at the thought of Akko dying because of her and her words.
Her thoughts broke free from its dark worries as the soft texture of cloth tickles her cheeks. She looks up startled to see the Nurse dabbing away the tears with her handkerchief that Diana didn't know she had. "Miss Cavendish, please don't cry I'm sure it would worry Miss Kagari on the other side and who knows what she would do if she found out," She hands her the piece of cloth and backs away a bit, a smile on her face. "She's quite protective of you in her own ways, that's why I assumed the bond of soulmates between you as she's quite fond of you."
Diana smiles as she wipes away the lingering tears, her mind replaying to how she fought 5 or is it 10? People when she was hit, how she made her homemade chocolate to help her pain and calm her down, how she followed her to make sure she was safe. "Judging from the big smile on your face, you're quite fond of her too." The nurse smiled warmly as she stood in front of her, papers that proved she was fully healed in her hand."Are you sure you're not soulmates or at least girlfriends?"
Diana looked away from her, cheeks tinted pink as she looked away with a nervous laughter tickling her throat. "I assure we aren't soulmates or looking for a relationship at the present moment."
The Nurse laughed at her as she walked to the door, Diana following her as she tries to let the colour on her cheek to die down. "Whatever you say, Miss Cavendish," she chuckles as her hand holds the handle, checking on Diana to make sure she was ready to leave. "I would say I'll see you soon but that would imply you'll be injured again and I'm sure you don't want that at all," she says as she opens the door once Diana was fully composed once again. "Please stay safe Miss Cavendish and be sure to thank Miss Kagari for her subconscious help."
Diana smiles at her, a small but genuine smile as she bows at her, "Thank you for helping me recover from this in the first place, I gladly appreciate it."
"No need for such manner Miss Cavendish, this is merely my job, after all, now go off to find Miss Kagari, the girl would want to know how you're feeling." The nurse waved it off before she looks up in front of them. "Miss Kagari, we're ready." Diana stands up from her bow as she looks around her, the girl who accompanied her nowhere to be seen in this part of the infirmary. "How peculiar," the nurse mused as she walks the corridor to the main waiting area where there was a small buzz of noise. "She would usually be jumping on us for answers."
Diana follows her, her brows slightly pushed together in confusion before it shoots up in slight worry as the noise becomes distinct and Akko's voice becomes a catalyst for them to get to the waiting area as she increased her walking at a faster pace. The only reason why they didn't run because unless it's an emergency you shouldn't run in a medical area and Diana despite every fibre telling her to run, needs to follow the rules.
"Akko!" Diana called as they arrived at the scene. The scene being a formed huddle of people in the corner of the room, a squabble of noise that only grew louder at Diana's words and a shouting contest between two people, one being Akko, the other was oddly familiar.
The Nurse extended her wand and by the time Diana blinked swirls of pale yellow swarmed the group and lifted them up off feet, breaking apart the circle with ease, sounds of surprise pulsed in the room as everyone levitated in the air. Diana may be healed but that didn't stop the flashbacks puncture her brain and sanity as her eyes recognised the other person in front of her, levitating a couple of feet in the air.
It was the girl who hit her.
Like fireworks, questions exploded in the now growing dark canvas of her mind. Why was she here? Why was Akko with her? What were they talking about? The questions were coloured in the fearsome shades of murderous red and poison green, of rough ocean blue and the blinding light of white. Diana was a mix of wild negative emotions, of fear, anger, hatred and coldness. The girl left a scar on her head and on her body, no what her mind is going through isn't a scar cause she still hasn't healed fully from it. It's a wound that's trying to close but keeps opening again and again with the same old dark thoughts that haunt her like a shadow on a sunny day.
"Diana, would you agree with me?"
Diana blinked out of her thoughts, her face quickly trying to capture her composure or at least the poise that she was listening. "Yes," she said with a clueless nod. Everyone looked at her well everyone except two, the girl who hit her was looking elsewhere and Akko was looking at the ground, face slightly shameful. The Nurse looked at her with a quick approving nod and a short lived smile as her face hardened once more turning to the two people responsible for this mess.
"You heard her, tonight detention, right here after dinner and consider yourself lucky I'm not punishing you, even more, create a mess elsewhere in the school but not in my infirmary." Though it wasn't directed at Diana, Diana still sub consciously gulped as if there was a dagger pointed at her throat. "Understand girls?" Everyone levitating and Diana herself nodded at her words, some more than others as the nurse. "Now everyone leaves but Akko and you can continue on a different day and away from my infirmary," The Nurse ordered as she let everyone down and watched them leave peacefully under her Hawk like gaze.
Diana eyed Akko smiling nervously under her gaze. The only sounds between them were the dying echoes of the other students departing. "Akko," She called once every other student left, her eyes glanced at the door implying them to leave as well when Akko finally looked up at her. "We'll have a talk about this privately." She explained as she passed the doorway, ignoring how everyone else looked at them.
They walked back to the dorms in silence, it wasn't until they were in the dorm corridor themselves, alone in their privacy that Diana started to speak again. "I leave you alone for 30 minutes and you almost got into a fight." Diana sighed, crossing her arms as her head dips, her eyes closed as she tries to not to think of her would be opponent. Her eyes open as her head rises up to fully look at Akko in the eyes. "What exactly were you thinking?"
"I wanted to know more about the girl Diana!" Akko exclaimed without any hint of shame or regret. "People thought we were going to fight hence the big circle even though I didn't want to fight, I just wanted to talk to her!"
Diana's composure would've broke if she wasn't so shocked by the words in general. Even in her head, in every single corner of her mind, nothing could comprehend what Akko was saying. She… wanted to know the person who hit her…more? The same one who cursed her with a scar and horrible nightmares every night? The person who kept a mental wound be reopened again and again, that girl? Was she serious?
"I'm sorry?" Diana asked cold confusion in her voice as the grip on her crossed arms tightened. If Akko noticed the sudden drop in the atmosphere she didn't comment on it or at least she would've realised that they were heading into an unknown territory.
"Yep, maybe if I know her more than maybe we can find out why she did it and maybe see why people are after you and maybe she knows them as well along with other things," Akko said, her optimism for once annoying Diana because unlike the person in front of her, she knows too well that those things only existed in fairytales and in fairy tales that were catered to someone that wasn't her words. In those childhood stories, black words were usually the villains.
"Akko, the girl already said all she knew to the Headmistress. I'm sure she has nothing more to say on the matter." Diana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she walked off to her own room to calm down. She would hate to get angry at Akko at all people, she knows deep down she's trying to help in her own way. "Besides we already know her motives the moment they harassed the Green Team all those days ago." She gave her a quick glance over the shoulder as she paused in her steps. "The girl is colour-phobic so you should drop the subject Akko, though I appreciate your help."
"But-"
"I'll be heading round on tonight's patrol to check on you and the girl's progress," Diana said, turning her head forward as she continued to walk ahead again. "Do try not to cause a fight this time." That should've been the end to some of her negative emotions, at least the unease from meeting the girl who hit her. Somehow though it lingered into a prickly tingle under her skin and just left Diana more worried for tonight's patrol.
/-/
Diana followed the voices drifting in the corridors, the silent whispers that linger in the moon lit walls. The sounds of her footsteps become the steady soothing beat as she walks around, wand up and her eyes vigilant. She would never admit because it would bring more worry and stress to her friends but Diana is scared. In fact, she's terrified of this patrol and she knows the real reason why.
That girl is out there, awake at the same time she is. It only came to her when she was reminded by a senior that there will be people doing overnight detention. She shouldn't have this fear over her, she's stronger than her, smarter than her and more powerful than her. This intense uncertainty was irrational but it's there. Even though she's fully healed now, Diana can remember the pain she went through.
Her steps quickened as the voices became louder, these people were the final people she needed to deal with then she can be in her own dorm safe and sound. After yesterday's fiasco, the headmistress is only letting her patrol until midnight and whilst at first Diana disagreed with the idea, she's grateful for the easy break if she was able to rest her head. The thought of it made her smile in the partially illuminated darkness. She paused in her steps as she saw distorted shadows of students on the wall next to her, her eyes honing in on the flickering light in the next turn. The smile grew more before it switched to her usual stern look as she approached the light.
At the first sight, Diana's look broke to shock and lost. She just froze, partially hidden from the corner as her mind failed to comprehend what was happening.
Akko was there with the girl who hit her, cleaning equipment abandoned as they sat on the furniture, talking, laughing, sharing a chocolate bar that Diana recognised instantly. She heard a muted compliment from the girl but Diana wasn't focused on that. She just stared at Akko. Her emotions a jumbled mess as she stares. She watched as Akko grinned sheepishly, hand scratching the back of her neck before they laughed again, Akko initiating a quick parting hug as she hopped off the furniture.
Diana walked backwards, her mind wanting to erase what she just saw, the harsh brutality of betrayal clawing at her heart. She doesn't know what she was feeling all she knew it was like bleeding a heavy wound, it was the sting behind held back tears and it annoyed Diana even more that she doesn't know what it was. She doesn't know how to combat it if it was an unknown threat. Lost in her feelings, Diana didn't look where she was heading and stumbled into trophy cabinet propped against the wall.
Diana only took a small step forward before her eyes locked with Akko's. Diana searched for the answers lost in Akko's surprised expression, why was she feeling this way? Why the person she cares most about was being friendly with the person she fears the most? Why does everything inside her hurts?
She didn't find them. So she did the next best thing. She turned around and walked away from Akko. It wasn't until she was on the opposite side of the corridor for Akko to notice that she was gone.
"Diana please, I can explain!" Akko called after her. She was running again, Diana can hear her footsteps steadily becoming louder and louder, if she keeps this up she'll catch up to Diana. Diana doesn't want that, for the first time ever since she knows the girl, Diana wants to be in the furthest place away from Akko so she does something she would never do. She breaks the rules and runs as well.
"Diana!" Akko calls again, her voice further away and it takes everything in Diana to not turn around and stop, to let her explain and be reasonable in the way everyone else sees her in the daylight. However, right now it's midnight and in the hollow light of the moon, Diana becomes everything she shouldn't be.
"It's not her fault!"
Everything shatters.
The emotional turmoil that swirls in Diana's head, the heavy pounding of her heart, the rapid rush that she was in to get away. Even her breathing is nought as she stands there, back facing Akko and in the opposite end of the empty corridor that they are in. The air is thick with something ugly and to Diana it reeks of a newly forming bad blood.
"Not. Her. Fault?" Diana said, her voice sharp, a blade forged from the fury bubbling under her skin, ready to tear apart Akko's bold statement. Each word was pronounced like a direct attack and she can tell from Akko's echoed gulp that it hit her. "I'm sorry but I think I misheard something Akko," she apologised with a cold bitter laugh as she turns to her. "It might because I'm a bit busy trying to get through the horrid mess that is Heart Week or because I'm trying to figure out how to defend myself from what could happen to me, because of her."
Her voice wasn't raised, nor was it loud. She didn't need it to be. "Tell me something then," Diana dared, turning to her in a sudden speed, making sure that she knows full well her emotions about this whole fiasco. "Prove to me Akko. That this whole mess isn't her fault."
"She was forced into it!" Akko pounced straight away, with a pathetic reason that made Diana raise her brow as she crossed her arms. "That's one reason."
"Oh was she now?" If Akko didn't notice the amount of sarcasm in her voice, then she was ignoring it or acting stupid. Diana was inclined to believe that right now she was both.
"Yeah, she was peer pressured into it," Akko continued, not fully registering the tone Diana was using, a determined look on her face to try and prove Diana wrong. "She didn't know that it was wrong and she regrets it."
"Does she now?" Diana laughed, this was pure stupidity. Why was she having this conversation with Akko? No, the better question is, why is she listening to her and not her? She was the one hurt after all. "Then I'm sure the internal pain from the pure hatred intent from the blast wasn't hers and was some other person's hatred."
Akko was silent. Her mouth opened then closed, eyes suddenly bursting with a fire to continue until they dimmed as nothing but air left her mouth.
Using this silence, Diana continued to talk and attack Akko's claim and ideals, unaware of how Akko's reactions, how her hands clenched tight, how her head was dipped to hide her gritted teeth. "I don't know what she told you to make you take her side but I'm telling you it's not worth it, she may-"
"You're being unreasonable." Akko murmured but her words rang clear in the empty corridor.
Diana paused in her speech, her eyes blinking in surprise as she lowered her arms, befuddlement drawn across her entire face. "I'm sorry?"
"I said you're being unreasonable Diana!" Akko yelled, raising her head as she pointed her finger at Diana. "You're not even attempting to look at her side!" She declared, her eyes burning with the protective fire that once Diana felt some warmth from when she knew it was for her sake. Now under that gaze, Diana was burning. Scorched into a black crisp as it sparked a small flame on the bridge that they were both on. "She was forced into it, I'm telling the truth!"
Fire was contagious. Therefore it's no surprise that her words turned the small flame into an explosive inferno inside Diana. "So am I telling a lie then?" She challenged as her legs stormed to Akko. "Am I supposed to forgive her for what she did to me? Everything is fine now isn't it?"
"I'm not saying those things," Akko retaliated as she walked up to Diana. "Don't put words in my mouth, Diana!" They met halfway, Diana towering above Akko slightly thanks to her height. Blue eyes bore into brownish red and they stayed there, silent words translated into conversation between the eyes. "I'm just asking you to look at her side of the story." Akko finally said, voice more sullen and softer, her eyes no angry but replaced with a pleading beg of a puppy. "Not everything is black and white y'know."
The word black broke Diana's emotions slightly, her arm shaking as she looks away, briefly glancing at the hidden words on her skin. "Actions speak louder than words Akko, her motives, pressured or not won't ever justify what she did to me." She stated as she turned away, her mind suddenly trying to gain control again, a sick dull feeling corrupted her stomach, a disgusting feeling but Diana couldn't shake it away. "And from what I can see you're more likely to believe your new friend than me, so I'll take my leave now."
"Diana…" Akko said as she watched her friend walk away from her.
"Call me unreasonable if you want but I'm not going waste my time on learning something I already know," Diana called as she reached the spot where she originally stopped. She turned her head slightly to look at Akko, the unsettling feeling in her stomach growing even more and more. "Goodbye Akko."