Violet and I have had many hard jobs, but the worst are the ones when I do nothing. The guild hall was full of life, just like always. No one had a clue what was happening outside the walls. And they wouldn't. Not until Violet came back alone.

There was no way to be sure how long the job would take since we had no definitive number on how many thieves were in that building. So there was no way I could know how things were going. All I could do was wait.

I sat at the bar for a while, eating and making small talk with Grey. but I didn't go for more than a few seconds before glancing at the door. If this where a normal job I would have to be more careful to hide my worry, but as it was, I had every right to be apprehensive. Violet was out there alone. And then thought the others didn't know it,he best case sanrio was that she would show up half dead and sobbing within the hour. Which understandably wasn't something I was looking forward to.

Nevertheless I tried to relax. I had to continue gathering intel. Just because Natsu would be dead by nightfall didn't mean that the job was over. There were still four more targets, many of whom where a lot stronger.

But for the most part I felt prepared. I'd been using my archive magic to watch footage from the grand magic games. I knew everyone's fighting style. In every aspect but strength, Vi and I had the upper hand. So why was I so worried?

"You good there August?" I looked up to find the Master was sitting next to me on the bar. I kept a straight face.

"Fine." I mumbled, glancing again at the door.

The master chuckled. It made my skin crawl. "Worried about Violet I see." he said.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"She'll be fine," he assured me, "Natsu's a good kid. He'll keep her safe."

"Right." I nodded.

"And you're a good kid to you know." I looked up. Had I misheard him?

"For protecting Violet." he said, "I'm glad she decided to share her magic with the guild."

I had almost forgotten about that, it seemed so irrelevant now. "Yeah me to," I said, "it's good for her...to not be alone."

The master nodded, "And what about you?" he asked.

"What about me?" I deadpanned.

The master leaned in close, "are you still hiding your magic from her?"

I sighed, it was a good thing the master didn't suspect us. He was too smart for his own good. "I told her." I said.

"Good," the master nodded, "she deserves to know don't you think?"

"Yeah."

"Well," the master stood up, "I won't keep you trapped here talking to an old man."

"No its...I don't-"

"Don't worry about it," the master smiled, "now go have some fun, take your mind off it."

"O-okay. Thank you sir."

The master nodded and then jumped down on the other side of the bar. I drained my cup and walked deeper into the hall. Talking with people who thought they were my friends.

Some time passed, and thought I wasn't completely at ease, I did relax a little. There was something about Fairy Tail that just felt...safe. No matter who you were.

As the day wore on I knew it was only a matter of time before Violet appeared in the doorway. And even thought I would give anything to have her show up there immediately, I knew that with her arrival, a part of Fairy tail would die. And I didn't necessarily mean Natsu.

When she got back, this place would no longer have the happy go lucky feel that I had come accustomed to. It would be different. And I couldn't be sure that it would ever recover. So I tried to enjoy the time I had. Because soon, the guild as we knew it would come to an end.

About the time I'd been expecting Violet to get back, the main door opened. I tensed, ready to see how bad her injuries where. But it was not Vi that came thought. It was Happy. And he was alone.

Stone hands grabbed my heart and pulled it deep into my stomach as the cat flew through the guild hall. Many of the other fairies waved, asking about Natsu and Vi. but he ignored them all and flew straight to the bar, where the master was waiting. Grey was sitting nearby, and he moved in to hear Happy's news. I watched all of their eyes widen. What had Happy seen? I had to get out. I had to go find Violet.

I stood up and started itching to the door, keeping an eye on the others. The Master saw me, and whispered something to Grey. I broke into a sprint, bursting out the doors and into the hot afternoon.

But I was followed. Gray grabbed the back of my color, bringing me to a dead stop. He reached for my arms and held them against my back. I was traped. "I don't want to make a scene," he growled in my ear. "So if I were you, I would back back to Gramp's office nice and slow."

I sighed. I didn't really have a choice. I realized how stupid I was to run like that, there was no way to know what Happy told them. For all I knew he just saw Vi in the mask, and they had no idea what was really going on. Maybe I could still save us.

I did as Grey asked and walked back into the guild hall. He let go of my arms when we passed through the door. But he stayed uncomfortably close. I knew better than to try anything.

I had never been inside the master's office before, but I knew where it was, and we slipped in unnoticed by the rest of the guild. The master was sitting sternly on the far side of the desk, and after shutting the door behind us, Grey threw me into one of the chairs across from him.

"What did you do?" Grey yelled.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said.

"Don't play dumb." Grey got in my face. "Happy told us everything."

I sighed, but stayed silent. Violet was still out there. For all I knew I was the only thing keeping her alive. So I said nothing.

"Well?" Grey asked.

I looked at the floor.

"If you don't answer me August, I swear I'll-"

The master raised his hand for silence, and Grey begrudgingly obeyed.

I stared up at him, waiting for the hammer to drop. But he still looked as calm and collected as ever. Somehow that made me feel worse.

"Happy had informed us that when on the job with Natsu and Violet, they were attacked but a masked man." The Master told me.

He waited for me to respond, but I kept a straight face and continued to stare at him, just like I'd been taught.

"Happy informed us that the masked man took quite a beating, and that Natsu won the fight."

I swallowed. Something must have gone wrong to have Vi up against Natsu in a straight up fight. I prayed she wasn't dead. But under the circumstances that might be better.

"Happy also told us that in the fight the man's sleeve was ripped. And there was a guild mark on his left arm."

So they did have proof it was her then.

"Do you know why that might be August?" The master asked.

I said nothing. There was nothing I could say that wouldn't make this worse. I set my jaw.

"I'm sure that you think your silence his helping your cause," the Master said, "but I can assure you, we can't reach an agreement until you tell us what's going on."

I said nothing. I didn't trust these people. The best casesinario for Vi and I now was that they would turned us into the magic council before the rest of Justice Valkyrie came down to kill us all.

I glanced at the door. Grey was standing behind my chair, I had no doubt that he could stop me if I tried to run. They hadn't restrained me, but I was unsure of the master's ability, and I knew I couldn't win against Grey in a proper fight. I was traped.

Grey noticed me watching him, looking at the door, "don't even think about running." He said, placing his hands together, preparing an attack. I slumped down in the chair. There was only one way out of this. Their way.

"Why did you run in the first place?" The mater asked.

"Violet." I said.

The old man rested an eyebrow. I guess he gave me more credit than was due. I was more willing to talk than he thought.

"Violet?" He repeated.

"She can't win against Natsu," I said, "I wanted to get to her before it was too late."

"To late?"

"It doesn't matter." I said, "if Happy's telling the truth, she's probably already dead."

"Why would she be dead?" Grey asked.

Now I was the one that was confused, "she lost to him didn't she?" I asked, "she-she…"

I looked down. I didn't want to look weak in front of targets. I would have to face whatever fate they gave me. "Look," I said, "I know how this goes, I'm going to have to repeat all this to the rune knights when you call the magic council. I'd rather save my breath."

The master leaned forward in his chair, getting serious for the first time since Grey dragged me in. "I have no intention of calling the council today," he said.

"You-what?"

"I have no idea why you are here," the master said, "Who or what you are. I will not be calling anyone until I do."

I looked at the ground. It looked like I would have to spill my guts after all. I glanced back at the door, wondering what was happening to Violet...if she wasn't already gone.

"You're not leaving until you tell us everything." Grey said.

I sighed. I was out of options. Out of time, if Violet was still alive, it would be better for her to return to the guild that understood what was going on. It was time to stop pretending. I squared my shoulders and sat up straight, the way I would is this where a debrief back at my real guild. "Violet and I are assassins from the dark guild Justice Valkyrie." I said, "We were sent her on assignment to kill five members of this guild. Natsu Dragneel, Gajeel Redfox, Erza Scarlet, Laxus Dyer and Grey Fullbuster." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Grey take a step back in disgust.

"We have been here working undercover since the beginning," I said, "Last night we moved on to the next part of our plan. Violet would ask Natsu to accompany her on a dangerous job, kill him and then return here, claiming that any injuries she sustained from the unknown attacker."

I didn't need to be an empath like Violet to know that Grey was surprised and revolted. But I was more confused as to how the master felt. He didn't seem afraid of me. Or angry either. I stared at him, daring him to react. But he didn't get the chance.

There was a soft knock on the door, and with a nod from the master, Grey pulled it open.

On the other side was a very pale looking Mira Jane. "Natsu and Violet are back," she said, "I think you should come see them."

"I'll be right there." The master said, and Mira left.

The master stood and walked to the door. "Stay here." He ordered, shutting the door behind him, and leaving me alone with Grey.

*Violet's POV*

(a few hours previously)

I closed my eyes as Natsu reached behind my head and unfastened the mask. I didn't want to see his reaction. But I could not stop from feeling it.

The warm plastic was lifted away, and I felt Natsu's anger melt into sorrow and confusion. I flinched, and inches away from him. Scooting backwards on my butt until my back hit a tree.

Natsu hardly seemed to notice the movement. "Why?" He whispered.

I stared at the ground.

"Who did you do this?" He was so convinced it wasn't me, he was so convinced I was his friend.

I said nothing. I heard him shoot close to me, and I could see him sitting on the edge of my vision. He wanted me to look at him. I didn't move.

"Who made you do this?" He asked again.

I stared at the useless arms in my lap. "No one," I whispered.

Natsu wasn't satisfied.

"Stop lying."

"I'm not."

Natsu reached down and placed his hand on mine, reading me. I flinched at the touch, but he didn't let go.

"Who?"

"No one."

He knew I was telling the truth, but now he was only more confused.

I took a deep breath, my time of playing house with the fairy tail guild had come to an end. I had to face the consequences of my failure. I only hoped August could get away before they got him to. "We're assassins." I said, "August and I. We were playing you the whole time."

Natsu was still touching my hand, but I wished he'd let go. I didn't want him to know about the growing pain in my chest.

Natsu was dumbstruck, "So this whole time...you where…"

"Just go ahead and kill me." I whispered.

"What?" Natsu leaned in, but I didn't repeat myself. I knew the disgust he felt in him was for me. "Why would I do that?" he asked. So he had heard me then.

"I lost." I said. What was wrong? Why didn't he just do it? Sure I had lost before. I'd lost many times before, but they were all back in the compound, back in the training grounds, the worse you could get for that was the whip. This was the real world. A proper mission. Why didn't he just get it over with?

"I don't know how you did it wherever you're from," Natsu said, "but that's not how we do it here."

"Here?"

"Fairy tail." Natsu said it like this was obvious, like I was the strange one.

"But…." I stopped myself before more words came out. If he wasn't going to kill me...then what was he going to do? Maybe take me back to the master, and then he would decide. And I would pull August down to...I began to cry harder.

"Why are you so scared?" Natsu asked.

I looked down at our hands. He was still reading me. I pulled away, struggling not to cry out as I moved my broken arm. I moved backwards, slipping around the tree, putting as much distance between us as I could. "You shouldn't do that." Natsu said, "you'll get more hurt."

"I don't care." I spat. His aura spun, it was cloudy now. Sad?

"Well I do!" he countered.

He stood up and walked toward me, I scooted back in vain. "Stop moving." Natsu ordered.

I didn't lesson, I didn't want to be near him. I didn't want him to read me. My hand landed on a loose bit of dirt, and I fell backwards into the mud. I sensed Natsu standing over me, and shut my eyes, cowering beneath him. I heard him bend down, I raised my arms to protect my head, assuming he was going to strike me.

But then warm arms wrapped around my quaking body. He was...hugging me? Some of the fear that I had gathered during the battle began to dissipate, replaced with Natsu's calm. It was as though he was the empath, pushing me to relax.

We stayed there for a long time, until Natsu finally released me. "I'm taking you back." he said.

I didn't meet his eyes. I had expected as much. But I knew the guild master wasn't stupid enough to show this kind mercy. Whatever it was that waited for me in that guild was not something I was looking forward to, but it was better than what I had just faced, and even I had to admit I needed medical attention.

I sighed. There weren't any other options. Without my arms, standing would have been difficult. I looked around for the nearest tree and scooted towards it. By pushing against the tree I managed to stand, but I was still leaning on it for support. Natsu must have noticed, because he offered to carry me on his back. At first I declined, but he was stubborn, and I gave in.

As the sun began to set over the tear soaked battlefield, I sank my face into Natsu's scarf was we made our way towards Fairy Tail.