*Violet's POV*

I reached the steps that lead up to the train station and hesitated. I had been forging ahead of the others to avoid talking with them. I didn't want to know how much Natsu had shared about our conversation. I didn't want to be expected to know, in hope that no one would bring it up.

I glanced over my shoulder to see how far back they were, but once I did I saw that they were all staring at me. I lost my nerve. I turned back to the train station and walked up the steps and thought of the door. We all had our tickets. We would end up on the same train. If they were that interested in keeping track of me in the meantime then they could quicken their pace on their own.

I refused to appear like I was dependent on them for anything. It was unsightly to expect their watchful gaze. To expect their help. I would take what I was given, but I didn't feel that I was asking for it. Or appear like I needed it, thought in truth in this guild the two were practically one and the same.

I made my way through the train station carefully, staying as far away from the fairies as I could while still allowing them to see where I was going. Upon finding the correct platform I turned and made eye contact with Erza before choosing the car and walking in. I knew it was probably rude not to wait for them properly, but I told myself I didn't care.

I didn't want to be close to them. I didn't want to feel what they felt any stronger than I had to, compassion or pity didn't matter at the moment, they were both strong and distracting, and I was tired and ready to return to August.

I walked down the train car alone and sat in an empty compartment halfway down the car, just like I usually did when August was with me. If I distanced myself from my surroundings then I could almost believe that this was just a normal job. That August would be coming to join me at any moment, ready to return to one of Justice Valkyrie compounds after a quick night job and early morning clean up.

But my fantasies were shattered when I sensed the Fairies entering the train. I had my back to them and made no move to the turn. Instead I turned to the window and watched their reflecting past behind me in the glass. Erza was in the lead, with Natsu and Happy in the back, the former being the least enthusiastic about the prospect of transportation.

They chose a compartment on the opposite side of the aisle as mine, and a few farther down the train. After spending some time playing musical train seats and talking in low voices I saw Lucy break away from the group and walk toward me.

I reminded myself to appear welcoming when she cleared her thoughts behind me. I turned and looked at her, inviting her to continue.

"You mind if I sit with you?" she asked.

I gestured to the seat next to me. Of all the people that they could have sent over, I figured Lucy was probably the one I had been hoping for. Not jittery like Grey or too prying like Erza. and there were a variety of problems with Natsu, though all were negated by his inability to do much of anything while on the train.

Lucy said nothing to me, but it didn't seem awkward. Both of us were watching the other passengers out of the coroner of our eyes. I found myself wondering if Lucy enjoyed people watching. She seemed like the type who would, being friendly and interested in how people lived their lives. I wondered if she was any good at it. I knew I was, but that was for entirely different reasons. The idea of being good at something that survived no objective purpose was strange to me, but I didn't pursue it further. A lot of things were strange to me these days.

My thoughts were interrupted when a man stopped in the aisle next to our compartment. My first thought was of the instance on the train ride the day before when Grey had scared away a creepy stranger. But my fears were dispelled when I saw a small child peering at us from around the legs of who I now assumed was his father.

"Would you ladies mind if we sit across from you?" he asked, "everywhere else is full."

As expected Lucy answered the affirmative, and the man and his child settled into the seats facing ours. As they moved into the tiny area I pulled my legs up to my chest, resting my heels on the edge of the seat to conserve the valuable leg room. Despite appearing cramped, the compact position helped me relax a little more, as if taking up less physical space could also limit the amount of space I held in the minds of those around me.

Despite not originally considering it, ideal I realized the man and his son were a blessing in disguise. With them here to listen in there could be no discussing of difficult topics. I took a deep breath and reached up to push the hair out of my face. Maybe this was going to be an easy train ride after all.

"Whoa!"

I looked down to see the child staring at me. Perhaps I had spoken too soon. He was amazed, elated, couldn't believe his luck, his joy seemed too great for his tiny body to hold in, and he began to bounce up and down in his seat.

"If something is wrong?" asked Lucy, naturally jumping in to save me from speaking. I wished she didn't have to, but also attempted to thank her with my eyes.

"Are you guys wizards?!"

The pisces fell together in Lucy's head, and she settled into a kind of routine. She had been asked this question before, and often. She launched into a mini speech about Fairy Tail and spirits, and the boy watched with wide eyes. I realized now that he must have seen the mark on my wrist when I had brushed my hair aside. I guessed things like that happened a lot for members of official guilds.

The boy was staring at Lucy hanging on every word, the father was listening, but his eyes weren't on Lucy but his son, as if one's joy could bleed into the other's regardless of the original source.

"What's your magic?" I looked down to see the boy looking up at me expectantly. Lucy became nervous, preparing to jump in with some lie or distraction, but I beat her to it.

"Silver tongue." I said. It was unlikely that the boy and his father would know exactly what that meant. "I can make people confused or sleepy in battle, or alert and focused for other things."

"For real Awesome!"

They boy babbled on about what types of magic he thought were cool, then moved on to interrogate us about what it was like to do wizarding work. Lucy took the brunt of the conversation, leaving me with agreeable nods and occasional one word answers.

The entire time Lucy seemed wary of me, as if expecting me to break at any moment. Not for the first time, I wondered what exactly Natsu had told her about our encounter in the woods. I supposed it was possible that I would have to find out someday, but not now.

The train pushed onward across the country side, nearing Magnolia slowly but steadily, nearing the closest thing I had to a home.