Chapter Text
Akko opened her eyes. She was in her dorm. It was very dark, almost totally silent.
Slowly she sat up, frowning. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes for a moment before squinting her eyes at the clock, adjusting to the dark.
Three AM.
She sighed softly, sitting back in her bed. She must have woken up in the middle of the night again. Sure enough, Sucy was lying straight on her bed with her arms crossed dramatically, her eyes closed and lifeless. Listening carefully, she could hear Lotte's breathing from the bunk above here - as her ears became more attuned, she could hear her own breaths, along with the subtle chirping of crickets outside accompanied by the occasional night owl hooting.
Thinking back, she remembered the dream she just woken from. It was like a vision from her past among her first days at Luna Nova - her bumbling around like a fool, which wasn't anything new, her inherent lack of knowledge or understanding of magic. While all of that hurt, the main reason it was a bad dream was none of her friends knew her, as if they'd never met. She remembered Diana looking down on her with a disdainful glare like she always used to. That was when the dream ended.
The image was suddenly carved into her brain.
Akko's eyes widened as she pulled the covers up, as it to hide from the image. Diana was... It was difficult for her to explain, powerful but not just in a magical sense or an intellectual sense, but what she said really mattered, what she thought of Akko seemed like what she really was.
Her hands gripping the duvet tightly, she shook her head and reached for her orb, deciding to browse the witch net until she could forget the dream and get back to sleep.
She became attuned to the ambient sound and the soft moonlight flowing into her room. While it was pleasant, she was struggling to recover from the nightmare, the pale light from the orb straining her eyes slightly. She had forgotten how painful it was when Diana looked at her like that and she wasn't prepared to face it again.
She ended up scrolling through some of the articles Diana had published on researching summoning magic. She didn't know how she got there and she would admit it was slightly creepy - not to mention that she didn't understand any of it at all - but something caught her eye.
Somebody had left a comment continuing a discussion Diana had began on a forum. She furrowed her brow in confusion as a response from Diana appeared immediately in front of her. Tired, she skim-read Diana's response, already knowing she wouldn't get it, before it clicked in her head that right at that moment, Diana was also awake and on the witch net.
"Huh?" She whispered, thinning her eyes.
She bit her lower lip in thought before deciding to send Diana a message.
You have sent a message request to Diana Cavendish.
Akko's eyes widened.
"I didn't meant to - Guess I have to go through this first..." She mumbled. "That's embarrassing." She was surprised as a response arrived from Diana very quickly.
Diana Akko, it is three in the morning. Why on Earth are you awake at this time of night?
Akko was preparing her snarky response before she paused, eyeing the ground awkwardly. She realised that at this point, she might as well answer the question and have a normal conversation.
Akko I woke up
Akko Couldn't get back to sleep
Akko stared at the notification telling her Diana was typing her response, hanging on it like a lifeline. Diana seemed to spend a long time deciding what she would say.
Diana Is something bothering you?
Akko What do you mean?
Diana Is something is disturbing your sleep? Are you okay right now?
Akko I had a nightmare but I'm fine. Thanks Diana
The brunette felt like a fool giving that response but saw no sense in lying, expecting their conversation to quickly end. She was disturbing... Whatever Diana was doing, anyway.
Diana What was the nightmare about?
Akko stared again, hesitantly beginning to type.
Akko I dreamed it back when I first joined Luna Nova, except no one knew me
Akko Everyone hated me
Akko Especially you
Akko I'm a bit shaken
Akko I don't think I'm going to get to sleep for a while
Akko felt awkward typing it up but she decided to go for it.
Akko The worst bit was the way you looked at me when you hated me. I can't forget the image.
Diana Hold on
Akko stared at her message, confused. It was uncharacteristic of her to be this enigmatic in direct conversation.
Akko Diana?
No response. She probably had to go and deal with her online discussion. Akko sighed, realising she was taking up Diana's time for her own satisfaction. It almost felt like she was in the nightmare, just a nuisance to the blonde girl.
Eventually she decided to turn off the orb and put it down, but the moment she did, she heard soft footsteps growing louder from the corridor.
Panicking, she pulled the covers over her, expecting it to be a teacher, scolding her for being awake this late. She screwed her eyes shut as the door quietly opened.
"Akko."
And her eyes darted open to a very familiar voice.
"Diana?" She whispered back, peeking out from under the covers.
"Come here," she said.
"What are you..." Akko stayed still for a moment, noticing the blonde's hand stretched out towards her. Hesitantly she crawled out of her bed, careful to make no noise at all, dressed in her bedwear. Noticing that even Diana's bedwear was extravagant, Akko scoffed internally. "I thought you were talking to people online..." Akko mumbled.
"I was, but this is more important," the blonde responded and gestured for Akko to follow her. Akko didn't have a clue what was happening as Diana stepped out of her dorm, but she couldn't help but follow, carefully shutting the door behind her.
She didn't expect the blonde to step into her and pull her close into a tight hug, Akko's head against her neck. Time froze, moonlight spilling brightly into the corridor for a moment of silence. The brunette instinctively brought her arms around Diana's torso, squeezing her back.
"I don't hate you, Akko," she said softly. "I don't know why you're having nightmares about me not liking you but I can assure you that's not the case. I want you to be totally sure that I appreciate you, I enjoy your company and life at Luna Nova wouldn't be the same without you.
"D-Diana..." Akko stammered, her chest pulling tight and her eyes suddenly damp with tears. Where was it all coming from?
"Come with me," Diana demanded, casually taking Akko by the wrist and walking further down the corridor.
"H-hey, where are we going?" Akko complained, suddenly being pulled.
"Not far," Diana responded confidently.
By now, Akko knew exactly which door led to Diana's dorm. When Diana stopped there, her brain jumped to a thousand different conclusions.
"What are we-" Akko began before Diana's finger softly grazed her lips, prompting her to be quiet as she opened the door. "Hannah and Barbara are light sleepers."
Akko's heart was beating at an unhealthy rate with butterflies in her stomach when they stepped into Diana's dorm, shutting the door behind them.
"Get in," Diana ordered simply.
"What!?" Akko hissed, following Diana's eyes to her bed. "B-but-" she stammered. "Hold on, aren't we, you know, not, ehm..." She stopped as Diana's finger graced her lips again. Diana pointed expectantly at the bed.
"You said you couldn't get back to sleep?" Diana whispered.
Akko stated at the blonde in disbelief.
"Get in," she repeated, her voice impossibly quiet but demanding authority.
Akko couldn't say no and return to her room. She would be embarrassed to admit it but sleeping in Diana's bed was a very appealing prospect - she just couldn't believe that Diana would go to such lengths for her. She pouted and sat down on the bed, lying down.
Diana followed her in.
Akko turned red as Diana faced her - the two girls right up against each other in the bed, their bodies almost touching.
"Now go to sleep," Diana instructed, tucking a strand of hair behind Akko's ear.
Akko couldn't believe what was happening. Hannah and Barbara were in the room. She was more concerned about what they'd think about Diana than what they'd think about herself.
"Akko, I just want to show you that you matter to me," Diana whispered. "And I couldn't rest knowing you were awake in your room thinking I didn't like you." She was slightly blushing herself.
"Diana..."
"But you're very important to me," Diana said while gently placing her hand on Akko's. "Know that and go to sleep."
Akko smiled and closed her eyes. Diana was very convincing. She unconsciously curled her hand around Diana's, very quickly relaxing. She felt the sleeplessness that was bothering her before disappearing quickly, Diana's warmth all she could focus on.
Now, insulated by the thick walls of Diana's fancy dormitory, she couldn't hear the crickets or the night owls, just Diana's soft, barely audible breathing. Diana's face was right in front of her, her eyes closed. She was honestly going to go to sleep like this.
"Thank you Diana," Akko whispered, closing her eyes. She felt Diana softly squeeze her hand.
"You're welcome."