*August's POV*

I sat in silence after the Master left the office. If I wanted to get away, this might be the best chance I had. On the other hand, I had no idea what state Violet was in. and there was no way in hell I was leaving without her.

After sometime, Grey must have gotten tired of standing at the door, because he pulled a chair over and sat instead. I watched him slightly for several minutes before he spoke. I guess it made him uncomfortable.

"You're not going to try anything are you?" he asked.

I considered the question before answering, "Not at the moment." I said.

Grey seemed unsatisfied, "How do I know that's the truth?" he asked.

"I guess you don't." I shrugged.

We were silent for a while longer before Grey spoke again. "You sound different."

I turned to face him, "What do you mean."

"You sound different." Grey repeated, not meeting my gaze.

I shrugged and turned back to the master's cluttered desk, "This is how I've always sounded. You just don't know me."

Despite my fear of the council, and for Violet, there was something about the truth that was comforting. Not for Fairy Tail's sake, or for mine, as I had no guilty conscious but...it was a lot of work to keep up a facade, and I felt better now that it was gone.

"Can I ask you something?" Grey asked.

"I may not answer."

"Surely you knew that Natsu is stronger than Violet." he said, "Why did you let her go?"

I swallowed. I could have explained that we had a plan, or yelled that I knew her strength better than he ever could. But neither one was the truth. "I don't wanna explain it twice." I lied, "I'll tell you when the Master gets back."

Grey didn't ask me anything else after that, and I didn't say anything to him either. After four hours had passed, and it was nearly two in the morning, the door opened and the master returned.

He ordered Grey to leave the room, but I didn't move. I knew I was no match for him, bodyguard or no.

"I just spoke with Violet." the master informed me once the door was again closed.

"She's alright?" I blurted.

"There is no permanent damage," The master nodded.

I took in a sigh of relief. So she wasn't dead at least. But that meant...she would have to suffer the consequences of our failure.

"I know that the two of you are very close to each other." the master continued, "and I would assume that your silence earlier was to keep her safe. But now that she is back, I would ask that you tell me everything."

I stared at him. I would hardly consider this safe...but then again, if he had spent that long talking to her, she must have shared quite a lot. And I knew Violet wouldn't be in any state to form a decent lie. So the best I could do for her now was confirm her story.

"Fine." I said, "but after that, I want to see her."

The master considered my request, and then nodded, "it's a deal." he said.

And so I told him everything. A small bit about the compound, and then about the mission to Fairy Tail. I mentioned Takeshi's threat the night before, and how the plan to kill Natsu had been rushed at best. The master lessened intently, but his face gave nothing away. Once I finished, he nodded.

"That matches that Violet said."

I nodded. At least I'd gotten that right.

"And I know this wasn't in the original deal," he added, "but would you answer one more question for me?"

"What is it?" I asked suspiciously.

"How long has it been since you truly understood what it meant to kill?"

I swallowed. "Did you ask Vi that?"

"No."

"Good." I said.

"And why is that?" he asked.

"Because I don't think she's figured it out yet. What it means to kill I mean."

The master seemed confused, "but I was under the impression that she did not want to kill Natsu."

"That's true." I said, "but…" I struggled for words. Violet just didn't want to kill the Fairies because they had become her friends. She didn't bat an eye when she went on that other job with Takashi. She still didn't completely understand what she was doing. And I didn't want her to find out either. Because once she did...she would never forgive herself. "She doesn't understand yet." I said.

Whether it was because of my archive magic, or just a general proficiency for listening at closed doors, I had long since learned what the outside world really thought of assassins. Every life I took, it was all to protect Violet. There was no other way. And Fairy Tail was no different. Or at least it hadn't been...

"Why haven't you told her?" the master asked, interrupting my thoughts.

It took me awhile to answer. It seemed so obvious to me. Why burden Violet with the truth when the lies of Justice valkyrie where so much easier to swallow. I dodged the question.

"Would you?"

He didn't answer.

"Are you going to tell her now?"

This time I said nothing. I didn't want to see the day when she learned of all the horrible things she'd done. But now...she was going to find out sooner or later. "I don't think it's something that can be told," I admitted, "I think I'll just have to wait until she finds out herself."

The Master nodded. I glance at the clock told me it was nearly five in the morning. A new question burned in my head. I was afraid of the answer, but I asked anyway, "Will you take me to see her soon?"

The master blinked, seeming to snap out of a haze. "Yes of course," he nodded. He stood and opened the door to the office. I followed carefully. The guild hall was not yet officially open, so the usual babble of people was gone. It was kind of creepy.

The master led me into the infirmary, where Violet was sleeping on a nearby bed. She wore a pair of pajamas that were not her own, and one arm was in a sling. The other was resting in a tray of ice.

Erza stood near the door, keeping guard. Lucy was at Violet's bed side, brushing out her long brown hair. Both of them were wearing different clothes than yesterday. I assumed they must have gone home to sleep then returned early.

The master stepped aside, and when Lucy saw me she shrank away. I guessed that meant someone had told her. I stepped closer to the bed, and Lucy looked more uncomfortable. Nervous perhaps.

"What are you doing?" I kept my voice even. I didn't want her to be afraid.

"I was just brushing her hair." Lucy said, looking down, "It's annoying to wake up with it so matted."

"I wouldn't know." I sighed, trying to keep things light.

Lucy didn't seem to know how to react. For a moment I wished I could see into her mind the way Violet would. But I did not want the other things that I knew came with a silver tongue.

I pulled over a chair and sat by the bed, watching Violet, but I did not touch her, I did not want her to wake. And also...I didn't want to know what she was feeling, lest I begin to feel it myself. I had to keep my head. For the both of us.

Lucy got up and went to talk to Ezra and the master in hushed voices, but I paid them no attention. I noticed Violet's slightly open mouth, and the deep, soft breath that ran through it. Her injuries, though painful, would not cause her any permanent damage, at least, not the ones that I could see.

I assumed that Wendy had been in to heal her by now. But how much had she done? How long before Vi would be back on her feet? If it was soon perhaps we could make a run for it. I knew enough to make us disappear. With a little luck we could escape Justice Valkyrie, but there was another guild I had to worry about now. Would they let us go?

As soon as Takashi found out about what happened, he would begin plans to attack us, as well as the rest of Fairy Tail. Even if we did run...would we be able to escape him?

Another option slowly creeped into my head. I had already mentioned to the master that it was possible Justice Valkyrie would launch an attack. And he had seemed unconcerned.

I knew that Fairy Tail had a bit of a reputation of taking out dark guilds. If they went up against Justice Valkyrie, I believed there was a chance that they could win. Especially if they had me feeding them inside information.

I had considered leaving the guild several times before, just talking Violet and running. But my plans had always hated when I realized that our guild would stop at nothing to track us down. But if they were out of the picture… it was possible that Violet and I had a chance of getting away.

If I could convince Fairy Tail to fight...then Violet and I could leave after the war, and start a new life together once it was all over. For the first time ever, we could be truly free. All I had to do was convince the master that it was a good idea.

I felt a presence at my side and turned to see the master watching Violet. "Take as much time as you like," he said without looking at me. "I'm having a mattress moved into my office, and you may sleep there once you are done. I'm sure you understand why I can not leave you unattended."

"Yes." I said. I'd been expecting as much. But a part of me had hoped that they would let me stay in the infirmary with Violet. It had been strange not hearing her breathing on the other side of the room since this job started. But there was nothing I could do about it now.

I watched Violet awhile longer, wondering what she must have gone thought in those woods. The master watched with me, silent and solemn. If I didn't know any better I would say he was also upset by this. But I knew he must side with Natsu, who was a proper member of the guild.

After some time I stood and placed a kiss on Violet's forehead. "I'll be back," I promised. Then I turned to the master and allowed him to lead me to my prison in his office.

When I woke, I would tell warn him of Takashi and the others. I would act as thought I was helping him, giving him the information that he needed to fight Justice Valkyrie. And then when it was all over… we would leave whatever was left behind. It didn't matter to me what guild mark I bore. It had always been Violet and I. The two of us against the world. And that's how it was going to stay.