Smile (ch11)

REWARD FOR ANTIQUA! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Glad to be adding a little something onto this drabble collection! This is a P-atreon request from Antiqua, who asked for some Akko/Sucy/Diana! An OT3 I'd actually been toying with myself for a while, so I'm glad I finally got to write a bit of it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

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														Chapter 11.

"Uuuugh, this is the woooorst!"

Akko's congested moan of a complaint clogs the air of the dorm room just as thickly as her cold is clogging her nose. Even though it's nearly noon on the weekend, she hasn't even changed clothes or gotten out of bed once.

Lotte, who is dressed and preparing to go out to town for the day, turns back to glance at her sick teammate.

"I mean, Sucy and I kept warning you not to go to bed with wet hair, Akko. I'm sure Diana's told you plenty of times, too."

"She did," Sucy grunts from her desk. "Akko just never listens. As usual."

"Aww, c'mon! You can't blame me!" Akko sneezes. "I used to fall asleep with wet hair all the time as a kid and I never got sick!"

"Probably because you lived with your human family," Sucy mumbles.

"She's right," Lotte agrees. "Wintertime in the witching world is pretty bitter cold. It's easy to get sick if you're not careful." Lotte finishes putting on her coat, snow hat and gloves, and picks up a bag full of Nightfall books she plans to get signed at the town-wide book signing today. "All right you guys, I'm gonna head off."

"Uwaaah, Lotte don't leave meeee!"

"Calm down, Akko. Sucy will be here with you."

"She's probably just gonna experiment on me if I fall asleep..."

"She wouldn't do that! Well... at least not when you're sick. Right, Sucy?"

"Probably."

"Lotte! Don't go!"

"I'm sorry! Hannah and Barbara are already waiting for me! Bye, you guys! Feel better soon, Akko!" And with this, Lotte leaves Akko in Sucy's hands.

And while Akko knows Sucy cares about her, her fears about being tinkered with aren't unprecedented. Akko pulls the blankets up to her chin and huddles beneath them warily. Sucy sighs and turns around in her chair.

"Chill out. I wouldn't experiment on you when you're like this."

"Really...?"

"Course not. I need my guinea pig to be in tip-top shape before I can determine the effects of anything I try."

"Aw, thanks Su- Hey, wait!"

Sucy snickers and picks up a vial she'd been working on all morning. It's a gross greenish color and it's bubbling and steaming. She slinks her way over to Akko and offers it to her.

"Here. Drink."

"What the heck is that?! No way!"

As Akko burrows under her blankets, a polite knock comes on the door. She peeks her head up like a cautious gopher.

"Who is it?"

"It is Diana."

"Oh, thank goodness! I'm saved!"

Diana pushes the door open slowly and steps through with a tray of teacups and a tea pot in her hands. She's instantly perplexed at the sight before her, of Sucy with a bubbling flask and Akko cowering in terror in her bed. Diana places the tray down and heaves a sigh.

"What in the world are you two up to now?"

"Hey, s'not my fault Akko doesn't wanna drink her medicine."

"Medicine?! That stuff looks like it's coming alive!"

Diana puts a hand to her forehead and rubs her temples.

"I've only been here for ten seconds and I'm already feeling a migraine coming."

"Dianaaaa, save me! I don't wanna die! I'm still too young!"

Diana straightens back up and gives Akko a stern look.

"Honestly, Akko. Have a bit of faith in your teammate. Sucy would never toy with you when you weren't feeling well."

"That's what I've been telling her," Sucy shrugs.

Diana steps forward and offers her hand.

"May I? Simply to prove to Akko that nothing is amiss with your concoction?"

"Suit yourself."

Sucy hands the flask over to her. Diana doesn't even flinch at the sight of it as she carries it over to the tray of cups she'd brought. She pours a bit of the green liquid into a teacup and then puts the rest down.

Akko clings to her pillow, dreading the thought that Diana's skin might turn green or her hair might start sprouting mushrooms.

Diana lifts the cup to her lips and takes a dainty sip. In contrast to the horrid appearance of the liquid, the temperature is pleasant and the flavor is like water hinted with cinnamon. Diana feels it settling comfortably in her chest, and she breathes an easy sigh.

"This brew is wonderful, Sucy. I can tell you've used only the finest and freshest ingredients."

"Hah?" Akko pokes her head out further. "Really?"

"Of course," Diana chides her. "Akko, you're being awfully rude. Don't you trust her?"

"Uhhh..."

"Akko!"

"It's fine," Sucy drawls, then smirks. "I can't really blame her if she doesn't."

Diana sighs again. "I will never fully comprehend this relationship..." But nonetheless she picks up Sucy's flask and pours some into another teacup for Akko. "I do think drinking it from this would be a bit more tactful, though."

Diana hands Sucy her flask and the cup for Akko, then begins pouring the tea she'd brought into the other two cups. Sucy slinks back to her teammate's bed and hands Akko the cup.

"C'mon, hurry up and drink it already. It won't be as effective the longer it waits."

Akko sits up and timidly accepts the cup.

"S-Sorry for not trusting you, Sucy."

"Whatever. Like I said, I guess I can't really blame you."

Akko pouts slightly before bringing the cup to her lips. She gives it a sniff, expecting to wrinkle her nose at some repulsive stench. But instead it smells like fresh leaves.

Akko takes a tiny sip. The liquid is thin and clear like water, not sludgy like she'd initially been expecting. Almost instantly, it makes her nose and throat feel clearer. She sighs, and within a minute has drained the entire cup.

As Sucy retreats to her desk to clean up all the plants and potions she'd been using to make Akko's drink, Diana makes her way over with the tea. She pours some for Akko.

"Please be careful," Diana cautions. "Don't spill it on yourself."

"I won't!"

But even as she says it, Akko lets go of her cup and tries to give a salute, which nearly causes the tea to splash over the rim. Diana glares, and Akko just chuckles sheepishly.

In contrast to Sucy's cooler drink, Diana's tea is warm and helps clear up Akko's congestion that way. As she drinks, she can feel warmth spreading through her chest and stomach, allowing her to breathe more easily.

Diana also hands Sucy a cup. Sucy mumbles a "thanks" and sits down on her own bed to drink.

Diana remains standing as she drinks hers, and for a moment the room is quiet, filled with only the whirring of the heating ventilation which seems to be kicking in little by little. After a moment, the three witches finish their tea, and Diana collects the cups again to put them back.

"How are you feeling now?" she wonders. She takes a seat on the edge of Akko's bed and rests the back of her hand against the girl's forehead. Akko tries to shy away.

"I'm fine, Diana!"

"Are you certain you do not have a fever?"

"I dooon't."

Diana decides for herself it's the truth when she doesn't feel any unnatural heat coming off her skin. She withdraws her hand in relief.

"That is reassuring. I'm very glad you did not go through with your plans to go to town today with Lotte and the girls. Barbara tends to get carried away with her obsession and likely would've had the lot of you staying out nearly till curfew in this weather."

"It's not that bad out," Akko mutters. "Just a few flurries."

"A few flurries that would've ensured you only got even sicker," Diana agrees. She turns her attention to Sucy. "I presume it was you who persuaded her to stay in?"

Sucy shrugs.

"I just told her you'd probably be coming over and that it might be nice to spend some quality time alone with the three of us, and then she seemed pretty eager to stay in."

"I see. That sounds very accurate."

"H-Hey, Sucyyy!" Akko puffs up her cheeks and yanks the blankets up to her chin, huddling back against her pillows. Diana reaches out to gently pat her head.

"No need to be embarrassed. Sucy knows you very well, being in such close quarters with you. I'm grateful she's here to look out for you."

"Yeah, when she's not experimenting on me..."

"Only because you're adaptable and have exquisite endurance, I'm certain. Besides, I'm told it's not unusual for a person to pick on someone they have affections for."

"Hah," Sucy smirks. "That explains a lot about how tough you were on Akko, right Diana?"

Diana's cheeks turn slightly pink.

"I... I suppose that could be the case..."

A big dumb grin spreads across Akko's face.

"Aw, you guys are the best! Thanks for picking on me, but like, within reason!"

Diana and Sucy share a somewhat guilty look, but they can't be too upset about their past behaviors when Akko is genuinely so happy.

A few minutes drift by as Sucy finishes tidying up her workspace and Akko snuggles up into Diana's side. The white-haired witch ruffles Akko's hair softly.

"Well then, if you're feeling quite fine, I suppose I should be taking my leave."

Akko frowns.

"Awww, you don't have toooo!"

"Akko's right," Sucy says. "Hannah and Barbara are off in town with Lotte, right? So if you leave you're just going back to an empty room. Might as well stay."

Diana is pleasantly shocked by her words. Sucy is often affectionate around Akko only in subtle little ways, but the times she shows affection towards Diana are much rarer. Diana looks up to her, but Sucy only shrugs casually.

"Are you certain?" Diana asks. "I won't be imposing?"

"No way!" Akko blurts. "Please stay, Diana!"

"Better to be bored with friends than bored by yourself, right?" Sucy adds on.

Diana feels a smile coming on.

"Thank you."

In spite of their romantic relationship, most of Diana's and Sucy's affection tended to be shown toward Akko rather than each other. They were just very different and still tentative to one another.

Both of them were rather aloof and cautious by nature.

Opening up to Akko had been easy, considering she'd essentially barged her way into their hearts. But the relationship between Diana and Sucy specifically was still very delicate.

However, it was little moments like these that brought them steadily closer.

Diana is relishing the moment, smiling softly across the room at Sucy, who has sensed her merriment and opted to look elsewhere. But a loud sneeze from Akko has both witches turning back to the sick brunette.

"Ah-chooo! Ugh, why is it still so cold in here...?"

"It's not," Sucy informs her. "You're just sick."

"Awww, c'mooonn..."

Diana can feel her shivering a little bit now as Akko huddles up against her side. She runs her hand down Akko's back slowly, and sends a compelling look back to Sucy. Sucy meets Diana's gaze with a neutral, unreadable expression. But in the end she caves.

"All right. Make room."

"Really?!"

"Don't ruin it."

As Sucy makes her way over, Diana pulls her legs up onto Akko's bed and carefully maneuvers herself to sit closest to the wall with the Chariot poster. Akko wiggles around in her spot in the middle as Sucy sits on her open side. Diana positions the pillows to ensure all three of them will be comfortable. Akko lifts up the blankets and eagerly encourages them to get under.

"Come on, come on! Before the cold air gets in!" She all but throws the blankets on top of her two girlfriends, then grabs one of each of their arms and yanks them closer to herself. Diana and Sucy both adjust themselves more slowly.

"Akko, there's no need to rush us. We will stay with you."

"Even though it's super cramped," Sucy grunts.

Diana sighs; she gets the feeling she understands how Lotte must feel in having to deal with these two on a daily basis.

Akko wiggles impatiently as she waits for the two of them to get comfortable. She reaches out to either side to grab both of them and tug them closer to each of her sides.

"Look," she says to Sucy. "It's less cramped if we move in closer together!"

"Uhh, actually that's what makes it cramped, pea-brain."

"But it's warmer this way!"

"Calm down, both of you." Diana interjects more reasonably. She slides herself over as much as she can until her shoulder is pressed against the wall, which allows Akko and Sucy to move in a bit more. "There. Better?"

"Yeah," Akko grins. "Thanks, Diana- ah-choo!" Akko quickly buries her face into her elbow. "Ugh, sorry..."

"Are you still cold?" Diana wonders. "Perhaps you should lie down."

"Good idea," Sucy says. "Can't sneeze all over us that way."

Akko grumbles a little bit, but eventually agrees to the terms. She flops down flat onto her back with her flushed cheeks puffed out into a pout, opening both arms expectantly to each of them.

"Fine. But if I gotta lie here and do nothing all day, you guys gotta do it too!"

"Fine by me." Sucy shrugs and lies down on her side without argument. "I did enough experiments today with that drink I gave you. My work's done."

"S-So you were experimenting!"

"Pipe down. You got the good product in the end, didn't you?"

Akko grumbles at her chaotic teammate before turning her head to look up at Diana.

"Come on, Diana! I need you to keep this side of me warm! Don't tell me you have work to do..."

Diana smiles kindly at her, then begins to lie herself down.

"Nothing I have to do is more important than seeing to it that you recover as swiftly as possible."

Akko gleefully pulls Diana in to her other side, now holding each of her girlfriends close up against herself. She grins and hums as she feels the shivers of the cold gradually ebbing away.

"Ahhh you guys are so warm..."

Even as she looks out the window to the fluttering snow flurries, she doesn't feel chilly anymore. A sense of peace and tranquility overcomes Akko. It's rare indeed for her to be put into such a trance, but with a cold under her belt and her two girlfriends snuggled up with her in bed, nothing else could have quelled her boundless energy quite as effectively.

Akko watches the snowfall as she begins to settle down. Her chest feels much clearer now thanks to Sucy's potion and Diana's tea.

She waits until both of them have stopped shifting around and finally lie still. Diana rests an arm across Akko's stomach, and as soon as Sucy notices, she does the same. Their hands come together beneath the blankets as they circle Akko in a loose embrace.

And of course Akko squeezes them with vigor.

"Thanks for staying with me today, you guys." She turns to one side to plant a kiss on Sucy's forehead, then turns the other way to do the same for Diana. "I'm sure I'll be better in no time now!"

"We are glad to hear it, aren't we Sucy?"

"Yeah. Good thing I'll have my guinea pig back to full health."

"Geez, Suuuucyyyy..." Akko hears a snicker from one side of herself, and a soft chuckle from the other. Akko just heaves a sigh. "You guys..."

But as she watches the snowfall and lets the flurry of the snow and the warmth of her girlfriends lull her to sleep, she's got the biggest grin on her face.

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A/N: I really enjoyed writing this! I love writing Sucy's dialogue and mannerisms in general, so to put her with Diana and Akko was so fun! I tried especially hard to keep her and Diana in-character, and tried to honor their canon personalities, even if they were in a relationship in this fic.

Hope you enjoyed!