*August's POV*
I watched Violet through the projection of Takashi. It had been a bit surprising at first when I realized that his goal in this was to speak to her alone, but when I really thought about it and made sense. He had done the same on several other occasions before, and it had been her in the woods trying to kill Natsu. It only made sense to think that he would want to talk to her.
So then why did I have the sneaking suspicion that something was wrong?
The master sat stock still to my right, his eyes fixed on Vi. I knew the eye contact was probably making her uncomfortable, but I couldn't look away. As soon as I had appeared to leave the room Takashi had completely changed, as though the spring of his spine had finally been giving some slack, he folded in on himself causally. He was more relaxed, but no less frightening. And even so, I was sure that in all my seventeen years, I had never seen him look like that. But Violet didn't even bat an eye.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to see you when I last contacted August." he said.
"It's okay," Violet said smoothly, "I'm glad I can see you." she looked down at the floor briefly, was that...a blush?
"I'm sorry for sending your current partner away so suddenly." Takashi said, "if he asks you can tell him you gave me a debrief."
Violet nodded naturally. Had she always been this familiar with him? "What did you really want to talk about?" she asked.
"I wanted to let you know that I don't' consider this a failure." Takashi said, "when I told August that I wanted to see some progress I never expected...well I guess you could consider it my fault for allowing him to misinterpret my request."
I blinked. His request had been pretty clear. He wanted dead fairies or else. And I had delivered, at least as far as he knew.
"What do you mean?" Violet asked.
"Well when I told him to kill a fairy, I expected him to do it."
"I-oh…"
I swallowed hard. What the hell did that mean? Violet and I were a team, the will of one was the will of the other, the pride of one, the pride of the other...and Takashi had been the one to suggest that Violet kill Natsu in the first place.
"What I'm trying to say," Takashi said, "is that you did nothing wrong here so…" he looked down, almost bashfully, I shook my head to make sure I wasn't seeing things. "So I wanted to let you know that my offer still stands."
I watched Violet tense up. The master leaned forward with interest. I blinked dumbly. Violet had never mentioned any kind of offer from Takashi.
"Oh," Violet said, "I-that's great."
"Have you had the chance to consider it?" Takashi asked.
Violet opened her mouth, when she closed it again, shaking her head.
"Well I guess that's only fair." Takashi said, "You've had quite the eventful week.
Violet let out a little nervous laugh. "You don't even know half of it."
"Just...think about it." Takashi said, "We worked perfectly together on that last job. If we became partners, we would be unstoppable."
My mouth went dry.
Violet wanted to split up? She wanted to leave me for him? Violet's eyes flashed up to me, for just a fraction of a second, and I looked away. She knew what I was feeling. She knew that this was doing to me.
"I just need some more time," Violet said, "things are...complicated."
"I understand." Takashi said, "if it weren't for the most recent development I would try to visit you again, though with all of the fairies on high alert it may not be the best course of action for a while."
"Right," Violet said, "but I'll look forward to when we can meet again."
Takashi's eyes sparkled. "As do I."
*Violet's POV*
"is there anything else you need to tell me Vi?"
I forced my eyes to stay on Takashi, and not on August who was waiting just beyond the projection.
"Nothing I can think of." I said, trying not to let my guard down even as the conversation came to a close. "Do you want me to call August back in?"
"No, that's unnecessary." Takashi said bitterly. I felt August flinch, this last of hand comment only adding to his boiling anger. "Bid him farewell for me."
"I will."
"Until we meet again Violet."
"Until then."
And the transmission ended.
The master and August stood stock still on the other side of the room, both staring at me, the presence on the other side of the door shifted, then faded, probably feeling down the hallway in preparation for us to come out of the office. But the look on August's face told me that there would still be some time before I returned to the main guild hall.
"What the hell was that?!" he asked.
"August," the master said warningly
"It was nothing." I said, "We were just talking"
We all knew it was a lie.
"How long has it been since he offered for you to become his partner?"
"Just a couple weeks," I said, "he told me when he came to visit, that's why we went on that job together, to see if we would be a good match."
"And you didn't tell me?" August's voice had become frantic, the way it only did when something was horribly wrong. It scared me, even though I knew I was the source of his anger. Especially because I knew.
"There was a lot going on," I said, though I knew that there was nothing I could say that would make him calm down. I felt tears stinging the backs of my eyes and bid them not to fall. Not again. Not in front of the master. "Do we have to do this now?" I asked.
"No," August said cloudy, "We could have done it when he gave you the option to leave me. You could have told me how much you hated working with me then."
"I don't-"
"I don't wanna hear it."
"August," I reached forward, offering my hand, offering proof that I was telling the truth.
"I'll meet you back at the apartment." he said, and pulled the door open before stepping out without a word to the master.
I stood there as the door slammed shut behind him, staring at the last place I had seen him before disappearing. What had I done?
Slowly, the master made his way to my side. I didn't acknowledge him, so he took the initiative to speak first.
"He just needs time." the master said, and I turned to him slowly. He had never been a source of comfort for me considering the circumstances, though I knew that most of the guild considered him wise. The perfect guardian for a guild of loose cannons.
"I've never seen him like that." I whispered. "I mean I have but...never at me." and therein lies the problem. I had often considered August's anger righteous, if it had been turned on me…
"It's been a stressful few days for him as well." the master said, "You have both been working hard to establish new friendships within the guild, but you shouldn't neglect the one you already have."
I nodded slowly. It was no wonder some of the fairies called their master Gramps. I had been unsure before, when Takashi offered me a place at his side. But I knew the answer now. I knew what I had to do.
