There was something off about [Hero], but [Villain] couldn’t put their finger on it.
[Hero] had always been that genre of shy and pure person that makes people want to squish their cheeks until they were reduced to tears- however, they had somehow become even more squishable over the past few days. [Villain] narrowed their silver eyes as they pulled on the two rosy pieces of flesh and hummed, thinking.
[Hero’s] watery doe-like eyes looked down at them, “mwehhhh?????”
“Shhh. Im thinking.” The world’s most notorious businessman says in their gorgeous low voice. It makes [Hero] squirm.
“Maybe…” [Villain] pulled [Hero] forward toward them until their noses were just shy of touching each other, “ you found yourself a lover?”
[Villain] saw those pools of hazel blink rapidly in panic, those tortured cheeks turning more ruddier by the second and that hitched breath speeding up. They had hit the jackpot.
[Hero] watched, flustered, as a mischievous smile bloomed on that beautiful face. Suddenly the person under them seemed too bright for the world, they even sparkled.
[Villain] couldn’t help themselves from teasing when those eyes left theirs, “oho, so my little birdie has gone and found someone to serenade huh?”
OMGTOOCLOSETOOCLOSETOOCLOSE-
A hand pulled down the avoiding chin. Brown eyes were forced to meet amethyst ones and [Hero] knew the gig was up.
[Villain] chuckled, having read their mind.
“Well my sweet little Angel, aren’t you going to say it out aloud?” They gently hugged the feathery half-beast in front of them.
[Hero] buried their face under their white feathers and shrunk into [Villain’s] arms, whispering with soft embarrassment, “I love you.”
[Villain] gave a soft chuckle,“I love you too my precious jewel.”
Diana was feeling good. She was still a little sore and had a slight limp, but she was allowed to walk around without having to roll around in that infernal chair. She stretched for good measure and groaned softly, working out her soreness. Another reason she was feeling good today was Akko finally got released from the infirmary today. The nurse had told Akko, or rather scolded her when she tried magic right after being told no magic for a few days. Diana shook her head and smiled softly at the thought of Akko doing something so reckless, yet something so Akko.
Diana got ready for the day, even though it was the weekend she dressed in her school uniform. She brushed her hair with her new comb, making sure her hair was perfect for her visit with Akko in an hour. She smiled at herself in the mirror and steeled her anxious nerves. She wanted to tell Akko how she felt, she was confident Akko would understand and maybe even like the thought. She had a lot of time to think after their really embarrassing talks that got interrupted by Amanda, Hannah and Barbara. Akko seemed happy to be with her, and the other girls never teased them like this before. They must know something so Diana was going to shoot her shot and hope it doesn't crush their relationship into oblivion, leaving her world dark and lifeless, but it's fine. Akko will not push her away. Hopefully. Her confidence wavering the closer she got to seeing Akko.
Diana walks down the halls with her head held high and a faint smile on her lips. She looks out on the tarnished courtyard and feels a shiver go down her spine. She stops and looks around, trying to figure out why she got the chills. She stared long and hard at a deep shadow along the edge of the building nearby. She thinks she sees movement and cautiously puts her hand on her wand, narrowing her eyes at the dark spot. Nothing moves as she stares so Diana casts an illumination spell, sending it over to find nothing, just a spot deep in shadow. Diana frowns and puts her wand back. She turns on her heels and continues walking towards Akko’s room, the pep in her step returning.
Behind her the shadows ripple and shift before becoming still once more. Two eyes open within the darkness to watch the blonde hair recede back into the building. The eyes blink and disappear, the shadows shift once more before stilling.
Diana nears Akko’s dorm room and hears a loud, animated voice complaining on the other side. It sounded like the person talking was upset about being unable to use magic. Of course Akko would be loudly complaining to her roommates. Diana shakes her head and smiles softly. “Oh Akko,” she breathes out. She raises her fist, knocks curtly on the door and takes a step back, listening to the loud voice quiet and loud footfalls quickly near the door. Akko’s door creaks open and her head pops out of the crack.
“Oh hi Diana! I’m almost ready. Be out in a sec.” Akko disappears back into the room and makes a racket of finishing changing before she exits her room, waving at her relieved roommates. Akko was wearing a cute red t-shirt with a puppy smiling on it and a grey skirt that was just as short as her others. She was still wearing her red sash around her slim waist. Diana takes in everything she can before Akko speaks, “I’m glad you wanted to hang out today. It’ll be fun to get out after being stuck in that stupid bed so much.”
Diana laughs softly. “I thought you loved staying in bed all day. At least you seem to when you sleep through class.” Diana teases, smirking as Akko’s smile falls to a look of disbelief and shock.
“Diannaaaa.” Akko whines, a cute pout forming. She couldn’t believe Diana was teasing her now just like all her other friends. Akko pouts more at Diana, giving her big, red puppy dog eyes and a really stuck out lower lip, using all her charm to make Diana feel bad. Diana’s heart melts at the sight, making her stomach drop. Her smile fades and she starts to feel really bad, Akko’s guilt tripping look destroying her heart.
“I-I’m sorry Akko. I was only teasing.” She replies softly, her eyes falling to her feet. Akko’s eyes widen as she realizes her pout worked a little too well on the heiress.
“Oh no Diana. I-It’s ok. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I just like that you are the only one who doesn’t normally tease me.” Akko says softly, her eyes falling to the floor as well. Akko shifts shyly, annoyed with herself for taking things too far with her crush, making her feel guilty.
Diana’s heart drops upon hearing Akko’s words. She quickly moves forward and pulls Akko into a tight embrace. Akko yelps softly, surprised by the hug, but quickly melts into the warmth of the embrace. She puts her head into the crook of Diana’s neck and sighs, squeezing Diana tightly and tickling Diana’s neck with her hot breath. Diana closes her eyes and enjoys the warmth of Akko against her. Diana’s arms tighten around Akko’s waist, pulling her firmly against herself. They both stay like that, ignoring the plain as day public display of affection in the hallway to just enjoy each others touch for a moment.
Diana slowly lets Akko go, not forcing her out of the embrace, but letting it end naturally. “I’m sorry Akko, for making you upset. I promise to keep my teasing to a minimum. Just know I do it because I love you...” Diana’s face flushes incredibly red as her eyes widen and she stares at a shocked Akko. That was not how she planned this happening. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN! Her heart starts to beat fast enough she was sure Akko could hear it too. Diana’s mind was racing and it made a split second decision before Akko could react, she had planned to confess, just not like this. She had to make a statement. Diana leans in and pecks Akko’s lips. She pulls back and looks surprised at an even more shocked Akko. Diana waits for what feels like forever for an answer, but one never comes. Her nerves get the best of her, so Diana turns and sprints off, her heart broken that Akko wouldn’t say anything to her.
Akko stands completely stunned for a whole two seconds after Diana kissed her before Diana took off, leaving her in a daze of excitement, confusion, and mind numbing happiness. She barely registers Diana’s way too hasty exit as her mind spins and she melts down inside. She falls on her butt and stares off at the fleeting mint-blonde hair bouncing away, her head cocked to the side. ‘I can’t believe she said she loved me. I CANNOT BELIEVE SHE KISSED ME. BY THE NINE THIS IS THE BEST GODDAMN DAY EVER.’ Akko screams in her head while smiling at the blurry hallway. All this excitement was making her dizzy and useless as she sat on the cold stone floor.
After a few moments a finger taps Akko’s shoulder as she sits on the floor with a stupid grin plastered to her face. Akko slowly turns her head to look up at the blurry and dark shape leaning over her. “Hello,” Akko says with her stupid grin.
The figure giggles, which makes Akko feel uneasy. That giggle didn’t sit right with her. “That was so adorable.” The figure says with a sickly sweet voice. “Too bad she ran off before she could see your reaction. And to think that’ll be the last thing she remembers about you.” The sickly sweet voice said with such a cheery and happy tone, as if she didn’t just say such ominous things. Akko opens her mouth to say something to the dark figure, but before she can move she crumples to the floor, her vision slowly fading to black, that awfully sweet giggle echoing in her ears.
Diana runs as fast as she could towards the outside world. Her heart pounds painfully in her chest as her feet pound down the halls she knows she shouldn’t be running down. How could she think Akko would love her back. Why the hell did she kiss her?! Akko certainly would never talk to her again after that. By the nine, Diana was furious at herself and devastated at losing Akko forever. Diana runs outside and keeps going towards the outside of the library to hide in the bushes. She pushes her way through the branches until her hands collide with the walls of the school. Diana breathes heavily and squeezes her eyes shut. She sinks to her knees and rests her forehead against the cold stone. She feels herself sink into the soft dirt and she lets out a deep sob. Diana crumples in on herself and begins to cry softly into her hands. How could she be so stupid to lose Akko, the light of her life. Diana punches the dirt angrily, sinking her fists into the soft dirt repeatedly. She cries, releasing all the pent up emotions within, letting her raw emotions out. It felt good to release them, instead of keeping them pent up and hidden away. After a little she begins to try and collect herself.
Diana takes a deep and ragged breath before sitting up straight and looking at the stone wall in front of her. She places her hands against the cold stone and traces the cracks and the mortar between stones. She takes a few more deep breaths and calms her nerves. Diana pulled her hands from the wall and began to run her palms down her thighs, kneading her flesh and closing her eyes once more. Akko couldn’t possibly hate her that much. They would never be the same, but Diana had to make the most of it and maybe, just maybe she could be Akko’s friend again. Diana reaches her knees with her palms, her fingers curling over her knee caps before her nails are dragged back up her pale thighs. Diana opens her eyes and nods at the wall before slowly standing, brushing the dirt from her shins. Diana slowly made her way out of the bushes, hoping no one would notice her messy hair and red, puffy eyes. She rubbed her thighs anxiously as she thought about her next steps, what would she do now that her relationship with Akko was tainted and possibly ruined forever. Diana shakes her head and starts walking back the way she came, to find Akko and apologize for her rash and stupid feelings, especially for how she acted them out.
Constanze was in her workshop working on her battle mech when the alarm went off. She jumped out from behind her mech and ran to Stanbot, who was jumping up and down, waving its arms and pointing to a screen. Constanze’s eyes widen as she sees Akko being dragged rather crudely across the school grounds and into the forest. A dark shape that resembled a girl dragged Akko by her forearm, the rest of Akko was spread eagle out behind her on the ground, Akko’s head lolling around and drooling.
As the figure disappears into the trees with Akko in tow Constanze jumps up and hits a big red button. She gathers her go bag and motions at Stanbot to get the mech up and ready outside for her.
Constanze rockets out from her workshop through the bed entrance, surprising Amada who jumps and almost falls over off her own bed. “What the hell Constanze! First some thingy on my desk started yelling at me then you come flying up here like a bat out of hell. What’s going on?” Amanda looks on at Constanze as she gestures wildly in response. Amanda looks at her in confusion. “WHAT?” Constanze growls and grabs a piece of paper and quickly scrawls out a basic message just for Amanda, ‘Akko danger hurry now,’ before thrusting it against Amanda’s chest and running out of the room. Amanda quickly reads the message and jumps off of her bed, grabs her wand, and runs to gather their friends. They needed to act fast.
Amanda rushes to the red teams dorm to grab Sucy and Lotte before barreling to the blue team’s dorm to grab Hannah and Barbara. Luckily they run into Jasminka returning from a study session at the library and grab her too. With most of the team together the girls rush outside to find Constanze finalizing her suit up process. Her mech stands up with her inside and points to the forest where she saw Akko getting taken. The mech deploys brooms for all the girls present and they all take off, desperate to find Akko before it is too late.
Diana walks briskly on the other side of the school back towards Akko’s dorm. She nervously tugged down on her skirt hem, trying to keep it together, doing all she could to not run away and hide again. After a surprisingly long walk back to Akko’s dorm, Diana steeled herself and knocked on the heavy wood door. She waited a minute and with no response she tried once more, knocking firmly against the thick wood. Diana began to feel dread build up within her as Akko failed to answer the door. Either she wasn't there and had run off too, or she really didn’t want anything to do with Diana, which hurt Diana’s heart immensely to even think about. Diana slowly turned on her heel and walked briskly away, Akko had to have run off somewhere. It was up to Diana to find her and try her best to fix things. Akko loves to sit up on the tower’s ledge and dangle her feet over the edge and she likes to sneak off to the north building of the school. Diana would start with those two places first, then maybe check the bench in the park where she found Akko after her heart was broken by Shiny Chariot. Hopefully Akko hadn’t been that broken by Diana’s accidental confession.
Diana starts with the tower, walking up all the stairs like Akko typically does. She huffs and puffs as she finally reaches the top. She looks around to find the area empty and devoid of Akko. It felt chilly and lonely without Akko beside her up there. Diana shivered even though it was rather warm out and began the long journey back down the stairs. As she exits the tower she looks up and closes her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face for a moment before heading towards the off limits north building. Diana fiddles with her blue sash as she made her way across the green grounds that were now filled with potholes and rubble. Her hand shook softly as she neared the building and its ruins. She hadn’t really thought about what she planned on saying to Akko when she finally found the girl. She knew she should apologize at least and hope that she will be able to stay Akko’s friend, or at least be able to become Akko’s friend once again, eventually.
Diana carefully made her way through the ruins, looking in every possible hiding spot for the keeper of her heart. After a good thirty minutes of careful searching she came up empty handed. Almost defeated, Diana makes her way out of the ruins and back to her dorm. She collects her broom and looks at the messy coffee table. She frowned and wondered why Hannah and Barbara would leave it in such a mess. Diana shook her head and made her way out into the hallway. She didn’t have time to worry about her teammates leaving a mess and disappearing. She needed to find Akko as soon as possible.
Diana makes her way outside and mounts her broom. She flies to the terminal and makes her way to town. After a short trip Diana dismounts her broom and makes her way down to town and the hidden away park bench where Akko had to be. Diana looks around while she strides through town, watching happy couples hold hands, sit together sharing some ice cream, and be happy with one another. It makes her heart sink when she thinks about how she made Akko feel, she didn’t want Akko to feel bad, she just wanted someone to feel happy with, to hold hands with, to share an ice cream. Diana sighs deeply and lets her head hang low as she nears her love’s location. Diana rounds the corner of bushes and begins to speak to Akko before looking up and finding an empty bench, void of the light she needed in her life. Diana walks up to the bench and collapses into it. Maybe she didn’t really know Akko after all. Maybe she didn’t deserve Akko in her life after all.
Just as Diana hits an all time low since her mother died, she feels her wand buzz. Diana frowns and looks at it. Diana cocks her head at it before the metal stick shot out a thin stream of magic that quickly turned into an urgent message. ‘Akko has been taken. Hurry to the forest, south of the school.’ Diana’s eyes widen in fear. All this time she was searching and crying pathetically all the while Akko had been kidnapped. Diana literally kicks herself and mounts her broom to head back to campus. She needed to save Akko. Then she could face her feelings and Akko’s.
Amanda, Constaze, Jasminka, Lotte, Sucy, Hannah, and Barbara search the forest as thoroughly as possible. The girls scour the woods in the direction Akko was seen being dragged. Constanze searches the ground in her mech, scanning for footsteps and Akko shaped drag marks. The others fly in a back and forth pattern looking for clues. Constanze is barely able to keep track of the drag marks and they follow the faint trail deeper into the woods.
“Hey where is the princess?” Amanda calls out to Hannah and Barbara.
“She went to visit with Akko as far as we know. Did she get taken too?” Hannah says, her voice squeaking as a greater panic begins to set in. If this wasn't an extremely serious situation Amanda would have enjoyed that adorable squeak that came from Hannah.
“Why don’t you try and contact her before assuming the worst. And Constanze only saw Akko being dragged away. No Diana.” Amanda calls out, her eyes staying on the forest below, hoping to spot any clues to help them find her friend. Hannah takes out her wand and speaks to the tip, sending a quick message to Diana. It only takes a minute for an affirmation of receipt and understanding to come back to her. Hannah sighs in relief which makes Barbara do the same. “I think Diana is okay. She responded to my message. Just a quick response though. Hopefully it wasn’t faked by a kidnapper.”
“Way to stay positive,” Amanda growled under her breath. Her eyes spot something on the ground below her, making her dive quickly into the woods. She comes back up with a frown and a torn piece of red sash in her hands. “At least we are still on track.” Amanda says softly. She tucks the fabric into her pocket and the girls keep flying in their pattern with Constaze keeping them on course, following the faint drag marks.
Soon after something catches Amanda’s eye again. This time it wasn’t from the ground. This time it was a shape hurtling at them in the air. Amanda turns to face it, squinting as it nears rapidly. She gulps when she recognizes a very angry Diana hurtling as fast as she could in their direction. “Okay ladies, the angry princess has arrived, and I think she wants to murder someone.”
jay , now safe distance from anyone else : *removes lydias hand from his mouth* ok explain- when did someone knock you up-
lydia : *hits him in the shoulder* dont say it like that! ...it was in another timeline in aot...the baby was erens and...to be fair it was probably an entirely strategic move on his end
jay : ok...none of that made ANY sense
lydia : i know that! i was in a time vaccum and...loved him. which was stupid on my part and ill never make that mistake again. he needed leverage and his enemy saw me as precious...he hid the move from others by claiming he wanted an heir for his powers.
jay : ...oh...so what happened after..?
lydia : i didnt even get to hold him before it was reset...and i was sent back here.
“Y-yeah...yeah...it’s not that bad.” He was trying to hide the fact he was bleeding hard. That Mugger got him good but he didn’t want to scare Zaida...oh, now he feel’s a bit woozie.
