Breaking Silence (ch2)

This chapter is very brief, but the fic broke up neatly into three sections, so I'm posting it as three chapters. The next and last one will be the longest.

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

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												Chapter 2. Interference

Diana doesn't sleep all night. Her mind is too jumbled, and her heart can't settle down.

Some part of her knows that Croix is already suspicious of her.

Diana's only hope of dissuading Akko from bringing her the Rod today is getting her alone and convincing her that Croix's true intentions are not what she claims them to be.

Diana moves with an unparalleled conviction this morning as she dresses herself. She's already thinking through today's schedule, mentally pinpointing all of the classes she and Akko will have together, and considering how much time she will have to speak to her at any given instance.

Overall, Diana decides the lunch break will give her the most time, and raise the least suspicion from others.

So Diana does her best to act normally throughout her morning lectures.

During the few classes she shares with Akko, she can tell the brunette is bursting with a subtle, excited energy - the energy of someone who can't wait until the end of the day, because something special is going to happen.

Lotte and Sucy don't seem concerned, however, so Diana can infer Akko hasn't told them what she plans to do with the Rod.

Part of her had hoped she might have, because Diana knows Akko has a much higher chance of listening to her teammates than to her.

But it seems Diana will have to be the one to do this after all.

She won't allow Croix to get her hands on the Rod, or on Akko, for that matter.

Therefore, when the lunch break finally comes around, Diana struts over to Akko's table as soon as she's able to. Diana's stomach is too knotted for her to be able to eat anyway, so she doesn't waste a single second.

She pauses behind Akko's chair, and Lotte and Sucy notice her arrival first. Diana clears her throat to gain Akko's attention.

"Akko. May I have a word with you?"

"Haaaahh?" Akko speaks with her mouth full, then quickly chews and swallows before going on. "What do you want, Diana?"

Diana ignores the bite in Akko's voice and the pang it sends through her own chest. She surveys the room, ensuring Croix is nowhere to be found.

"Come with me. It is urgent."

"Hm? Urgent?" Akko looks across the table to Lotte and Sucy, who both shrug.

Diana lets out a shaking breath. They don't have much time.

"Please."

Something in her eyes or her voice must convince Akko she is being entirely serious. Because Akko pushes herself up and waves to her teammates before following Diana across the cafeteria.

They earn a few puzzled glances from their classmates and professors, but Diana doesn't see Croix taking notice of them, and that's all that matters.

She leads Akko out of the cafeteria doors and into the quiet hallway. When she comes to a halt, Akko crosses her arms and leans back against the nearest wall.

"All right Diana, lemme just make this easier for you," she grunts. "You don't have to apologize about yesterday. I know you won't mean it, anyway."

Another jolt of pain shoots through Diana's chest at the sudden accusation.

"What... What in the world makes you say that? You honestly believe I would-"

"Croix Sensei told me she knows your parents. And they've never been genuine about a single apology they've ever given all their lives. It probably runs in the family, so you can just save your breath."

Diana can't believe what she's hearing - Croix claiming to know her parents.

So many emotions clash together inside her chest in that split second, as though someone's hurled a pile of bricks at her.

Outrage that Croix would be brazen enough to stake such a claim, tell such a blatant lie about knowing Diana's family.

Fear that she'd go that far simply to dissuade Akko from speaking to Diana any further.

Betrayal that Akko wouldn't even give Diana the chance to speak, or believe she'd actually offer a genuine apology.

And guilt for never having given Akko much of a reason to believe that she might.

Diana is stunned into silence at Akko's sudden cruelty, her complete conviction in believing Diana wants nothing but the worst for her. It feels like the jaws of a beast have closed around her heart, sunk its fangs in deep.

Diana can feel the heat swelling behind her eyes. Her voice trembles and betrays her.

"H-How dare that woman... How dare she claim to know my family... It is an outright lie..."

She bites her lip.

But then, something else is made clear to Diana.

Croix had gone through this much trouble – lying about Diana and her family – simply to keep Akko away from her.

In other words, Croix views Diana as a threat.

She knows Diana is the person she needs to be wary of.

This realization fuels Diana to keep going, to forget the pain and to do what she'd set out to do.

Diana shakes herself off and reaches for Akko's hand, grabbing on firmly.

"Akko, you must to listen to me-"

"Oh, Akko! There you are."

Diana's voice cuts off in a gasp as Croix herself steps out of the cafeteria. She's wearing her cool smile as always, and quirks an eyebrow as if she's just unintentionally intruded on their private conversation.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I hope I'm not interrupting."

Her eyes flash from Akko to Diana. Her glare is blank, and it sends a shiver tearing through Diana's body.

Instantly, she releases Akko's wrist, even before Akko can really register that she'd grabbed it at all. The brunette looks from Croix to Diana and back again.

"Oh, not at all! What did you want to talk about, Croix Sensei?"

The woman comes to a halt just a foot shy of them. She makes sure to lock eyes with Diana, making her watch as she lays her hand on Akko's shoulder.

It's not friendly. It's possessive.

"Oh, I just wanted to make sure you remembered to bring your supplies to our lesson today."

"I won't forget!" Akko chirps. "I can't wait till classes are over and I can come see you again!"

"Believe me, I can't wait, either."

This time, the look she shoots Diana isn't even subtle.

It is a clear warning:

Stay out of my way.

"Now then, are you two finished here?" Croix inquires.

Akko flashes Diana a brief glance. Diana beseeches her with her eyes, opening her mouth just a little.

"Akko, please-"

"Well then," Croix interjects, turning Akko away from her classmate. "I've got this new design I want to show you, Akko. Tell me what you think."

Akko willingly turns and begins walking off with the professor. But she steals a look back over her shoulder, back to Diana. Diana doesn't miss the slightly confused and conflicting emotions in Akko's expression.

But ultimately, Croix takes her away.

Diana is left alone in the hallway, with her chest and eyes burning.

But that doesn't matter.

No matter how horrible she needs to make herself in Akko's eyes, she won't allow Croix to take advantage of her or get her hands on the Rod.

She still has a chance.

Diana isn't about to give in until she's done everything within her power to stop this.

She wipes her sleeve across her face, ignoring the damp spots it leaves in her clothes.

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A/N: There isn't much time left for Diana to talk to Akko. And even if she can manage to talk to her, will Akko even listen...?

Next chapter is the last.