*Violet's POV*

The master left me alone when Natsu entered the room. I guess they assumed that if I tried anything he could handle it himself. I got myself into a sitting position, leaning against the headboard. Once this was achieved, I stared into my lap.

Sensing my movement was over, Natsu walked closer and pulled up a chair. He said nothing. I used silver tongue to tell he wasn't sure what to do. He felt guilty, and betrayed as well. Conflicted.

He had intended to start the conversation, but now I knew that he was unable. I had experienced it enough times myself to know the feeling. I didn't know what I could do to help him. Our fight had been my fault of course. And I didn't blame him for what happened, considering I could have revealed myself earlier, pulling the plug is things got bad.

Of course I never would have. I had been prepared to die there. And once the fight proper had started, I had all but expected it. But Natsu didn't know this, so his guilt confused me.

"I didn't want to." The words came unbidden. My hand shot up to cover my mouth on instinct, but the movement distuerebed my injury, and I eased it back down before Natsu could notice.

"I thought you were my friend." he wasn't looking at me, but I didn't dare turn to him just in case.

I had already answered him once, so the silent treatment won't work this time. I had to convince him to leave me along with more direct means.

"I've never had a friend." I said coldly. The admission made something twist deep in my stomach, but I tried not to think about it.

"What about August?" Natsu asked looking up.

I thanked my lucky stars that I'd had the sense to keep my eyes away from him as I prepared my answer.

"Family." I said. There was no other way to describe what August was to me. Besides, he was in the same boat as me now, nothing like Natsu. Nothing like anyone else in the guild.

"You must have known you would lose." Natsu said, "Why did you do something so stupid?"

"I had a plan." I said. I wanted to leave it at that, but my lips kept moving, as if my heart was controlling them rather than my brain, "but one of the thieves, he gave me a little more fear than I bargained for and then...it all went wrong."

"August told us that they'll come for you." Natsu said. "He's been helping Gramps get ready for when they do."

This was news to me, but I tried not to let my reaction show. So Augest wanted to help Fairy Tail after all. That meat we could stay. It also meant we didn't have a good excuse to leave.

"Why didn't you leave me there?" I again the question slipped through my lips before I had the chance to check it's safety. I had to end this conversation quickly before I let anything else slip.

Natsu leaned back, surprised, "if I didn't take you back here you would have died." he said this like it was a good explanation.

I stared out the window, wishing I had said nothing. "I know."

Natsu was confused, but not because he didn't understand what I meant. "You would rather die than be here?" he asked.

"I lost." I said, "Your mercy was...unexpected."

Natsu signed. "Well you better get used to it because-"

He was interrupted when the door opened. "Vi?"

I turned to find August standing in the doorway and immediately relaxed. He rushed forward and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I had not known August to be a hugger, but I felt safe in his embrace.

The master appeared in the doorway. "I should have known you'd come here." he sighed, but I knew he wasn't angry. I could tell he had grown fond of August in the days that I'd been out. But I was still unsure of his feelings towards me.

"You should have told me she was awake." August said he'd release me from the hug and stood between me and the others, his hand still holding mine.

The master said nothing, but August didn't seem to care, he turned back to me. "Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded, glancing at Natsu who had receded to the back wall, "I'm fine." I said.

August smiled, "Wendy got you healed up good, and soon you'll be out of here."

I noticed that he was still using the voice that had been part of his cover at Fairy Tail. it was to light, used too much slang for the real August. What was he playing out. A quick read of him revealed nothing. He seemed normal. I figured the best I could do for now was to play along.

"They're letting us go?" I asked, glancing back toward the master.

"Not exactly." August agmited, "I've been telling them everything they need to know about Justice Valkyrie, and they trust me again but you're…"

"Still a loose cannon." I said.

"Yeah…" August said, "So we can't go back to the apartment, not to mention Takashi knows he can find us there, but Lucy's offered to let you stay at her place, then the others will meet you there latter tonight."

I relaxed when I heard that August was coming to. I didn't want to be separated, but it was in Fairy Tail's best interest to keep us apart...at least until they knew where my loyalties lie. That must be why we wouldn't be alone. This leads into my next question, "others?"

August nodded, "I haven't been left alone all this time. I don't think they'll change that now. As far as I've heard, Lucy and Erza will go with you as soon as you get changed, then Grey Natsu and I will come tonight."

Two bodyguards each. Now that was a bit excessive.

There was a silence, and then, "this is for you." August was holding some kind of bracelet. I noticed for the first time that he was wearing an identical one.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Lacrama." August explained, reaching for my less injured arm, "it keeps us from leaving the guild hall." he said, "unless we're with another member of course."

"Smart," I sighed, watching as August fitted the band around my wrist. As I looked down I realized that another magic bracelet was missing, the one meant to be hiding my true guild mark. Intuitively I looked up at my upper left arm, but it was covered in bandages, hiding the mark of my true guild. I imagined it burning there, reminding me of my transgressions.

I looked up to August. The Fairy Tail guild mark stood out clear as day on his neck. I knew that mine was also covered in bandages, so I didn't bother to look. I knew that August's guild mark for Justice Valkyrie had been in the same place as mine. His upper arm. I noticed now that it should have been peeking out from under his shirt. But his concealing bracelet was missing too so…

I realised that August had noticed my silence, but I didn't care. I reached up to his arm and pushed the sleeve back. Instead of the dark blue outline of swords and wings, I saw a pale white scar depicting the same image.

"Oh," August sighed, "Yeah I got rid of it."

"I didn't know you could do that."

The mark was what bound us to the guild. It's what we used to prove who we were. And it was...gone? Just like that?

"It wasn't easy," August said, "but the master helped me find a spell. nothing I can do about the scar but I-"

He continued talking but I wasn't listening anymore. I thought that his light hearted tone meant that he was planning something. But if his guild mark was gone then...what was he playing at?

I moved to pull his sleeve back into place, accidentally brushing his arm with my hand in the process.

"You're upset." August said.

I pulled my hand away quickly. "It's fine."

I knew that August usually let things like this go, allowing me to lie. But this time he didn't. He reached for my hand again, reading me.

"You're... sad?" he said, condentrating. He wasn't used to this. "It's like you've lost something." he took his and away and looked at me. "Why?"

I didn't know. Justice Vacary hadn't been the best place to be. But they had taken us in. they had fed and clothed us. And now they were nothing to him. Just a little scar, nothing special when both of us had so many. But I knew that we could never go back. And it was my fault for not killing Natsu. If I had just done it...none of this would have happened.

Of course, I keep this to myself, but I wasn't sure August was going to let it go. Lucky I was spared from integration then the master stepped forward and cleared his throat.

August pulled away from me immediately. "I have to go." he said, "but you'll be safe a Lucy's. I'll see you again soon."

I didn't want him to go, but there was nothing I could do to stop it, so I could only watch as he walked out of the room, leaving me alone with Natsu and the master.

Natsu was staring at me, but I looked away. I had no desire to continue our conversation, and he didn't seem to know what to say to me either. I prayed he would just leave.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the master say something to Natsu, who grunted and then left the room.

"I've sent him to fetch Wendy." the master explained, "she's been working hard to heal you these past few days, so be sure to thank her."

I nodded, not looking up at him.

"Then you can head over to Lucy's. Erza will be joining you to, and I'm sure you can guess why."

Another nod. August had said as much.

The master looked over me, I sensed he was waiting for me to speak. When I didn't, he let out a little sigh. "And I thought your brother was hard to talk to," I heard him mumble.

Before I could help myself, my head turned to face him, and he smiled when he saw me. "Lighten up," he said, "the worst can be behind you, if you leave it there."

I opened and closed my mouth several times, not sure what to say, which only seemed to amuse the old man.

A moment later there was a tap at the door, and then Wendy came in, followed by Grey, who looked like he had been standing at the door. I assumed he was only there as a guard.

"That's my cue to leave." the master said, walking back to the door. "But I'll be seeing you."

And then he was gone.