*Grey's POV*
Grey knew something was wrong even before the screaming started. Despite what he assumed were Violet's best wishes, he was not someone who was widely considered to be unobservant. He knew why she had refused those sleeping pills the night before.
Grey had formed his suspicions as soon as he'd seen her in South Gate Park, but they were all but confirmed after waking her train earlier that day. Waking from normal sleep didn't cause that kind of reaction. He knew what it must have been, and yet...he had refrained from telling the others.
The event with Natsu in the woods had come to a shock to the entire guild. But as Grey understood it, the way forward was simple. August was working with Gramps to fight back against Justice Valkyrie. It would be a long road and probably not an easy one, but then things would return to a new normal. At least for him.
But Violet and August's lives as they knew were over. And they hadn't been put to rest peacefully.
Grey had no idea what really happened in those woods with Natsu. He doubted he ever would. But he knew that it had been that moment that changed August and Violet's lives forever. The point of no return.
But those thoughts had faded as sleep took him, and did not immediately return upon waking. Through his eyelids Grey could see the light of morning streaming into the room. He opened them slowly, sitting up on his bed roll.
He wasn't exactly sure what time it was, but he knew that he hadn't gotten to sleep until late the night before. To his left Natsu and Happy were still dead asleep. To his right Lucy and Erza were already awake and talking in hushed voices. They gave him a nod of acknowledgment when he looked their way, and then continued their conversation.
Beyond them lay Violet, her futon pushed several feet away from Lucy's leaving a gap between her and the others' neat line. She was facing the wall, but he could see the rise and fall of her breath. Also still asleep.
But as he watched he knew something was off. Her breath was coming a little too quickly. The blanket that had begun the night pulled securely around her shoulders had fallen to her waist here it had become intertwined with her occasionally spasming legs.
First realization, and now came the decision. To wake her now and save her the fear of whatever she was seeing, or leave her be to save her the embarrassment of his noticing. The question became more urgent as a sudden thrash sent her knee into the wall with a dull thunk. The girls turned to watch as a whimper escaped her lips.
Erza's reaction came quicker. She realized what was going on in an instant, then turned to Grey, eyes burning. So he wasn't the only one that had connected the dots then. He had told her about Violet's refusal of sleep the night before. And now they both knew why.
Grey heard something shuffling behind him, and realized that the noise must have woken Natsu as well. He didn't turn to acknowledge him, but crawled closer to Violet and the others.
Erza was lingering halfway between where she had been her own bed roll and the one where Violet lay quivering. She seemed to be dealing with the same questions that had plagued Grey only moments before. Wake her or leave her? Fear or shame?
Lucy had no such qualms.
She was already on her way to Violet, he hands inches away from her shoulders when Violet let out a scream that sent chills down Grey's spine. His hands clutched at the pillow in front of him, knuckes turning white. This seemed to snap Erza out of her haze. There were no two ways about it now. They had to wake her.
More movement sounded from behind Grey, and this time he turned to see Natsu scrambling forward. Ignoring the girls for the moment, Grey moved to intercept him, only to be met with a fiery gaze.
"Let me though." Natsu said, perfectly alert despite only waking seconds before.
"No can do." Grey said, "You promised not to bother her."
Natsu opened his mouth to protest when a low grunt sounded from the other side of the room. Grey turned to see the aftermath of what he assumed had been Violet punching Erza in the process of being woken.
Now Violet was sitting up, a sheet of brown hair hiding her from Ezra's gaze. Her eyes flew up and landed on Natsu before darting back down again, blinking away the tears feebly.
Natsu made to move closer again, only to be stopped by Grey. behind him he heard the others attempting to calm Violet down. He knew that Natsu could only make things worse.
"Let me though, Grey," he said again, but this time it wasn't out of anger. It was a true request. A plea.
"You know I can't," Grey said almost regretfully.
Natsu sighed and sat back on his haunches, Grey let out a sigh, confident that he wasn't going to try to get past again. He looked back to the other side of the room just in time to hear Violet mumble something about "bathroom" and 'sorry" before scampering to the door and closing it behind her.
*August's POV*
The walk back to the guild hall had never been longer. Every step I took was a reminder that I really was returning, of my own volition, to the Fairy Tail guild hall. And still my feet pulled me forward.
I couldn't stop imagining the master's smug expression. The face that knew that I had been too scared to run. Knew that despite my lack of literal imprisonment I was still bound to the guild had been my downfall.
I wondered if it would be the same face he had worn when seeking out Gajeel all those years ago.
I shook my head vigorously. If this really had been one of the old man's mind games, then no amount of overthinking was going to get me out of it. I had known I was bound to return to the guild before I even left it.
And I knew it wasn't just because I had nowhere else to go.
Fairy Tail had a draw that I had never quite experienced anywhere else. An Aura, as Violet would call it. Something about their inefficient job system and chaotic environment. Something about the way people smiled at me despite knowing what I had done. What I had almost done to them. Something about the way that they had refused to hurt Violet even though she had hurt them.
I couldn't turn away from it yet. By letting me go, the master had forced me to prove to myself that I didn't really want to leave. The man was too smart for his own good.
By the time I neared the guild hall, the prospect of running was the last thing on my mind. I knew it was only natural that I enter. It was right. Every brick and board and ridiculously friendly face seemed to pull me in, convince me that I belonged there.
I placed my hand on the door and pushed it open, allowing the familiar smell of booze and magic to wash over me as I stepped over the threshold. Ahead of me, I could see the bulky outline of Gajeel sitting in the seat that I usually sulked in.
I paused in the doorway for only a moment before moving to join him. And as I walked through the bustling building, I whispered to myself the words that I had always longed to say but never had an opportunity for.
"I'm home."
