*August's POV*
Gajeel called to me as I stormed out of the guild hall, but I took no notice. Even Natsu and the others looked up as I made my way to the door. I didn't care.
I was so angry. And not just at Violet and Takashi, but the whole situation. That she would choose him over me, even now, after everything that we had been through together.
I guessed it only made sense, after all...the way they had been talking...it would be so simple for her to claim it was all my fault, that I alone had turned traitor. Then I would be alongside the rest of the Fairy Tail, and Violet would gain infamy from Takashi's side, and continue the mandate of Justice Valkyrie.
The thought of it made me sick.
But if that's what she wanted...what she really wanted...shouldn't I do everything in my power to give it to her? I reached the door to the guild hall and burst outward. How could I know the difference between what she wanted and what Takashi convinced her she wanted?
I was no empath, but I wasn't blind either. It was clear to everyone who saw them that Violet had a crush on Takashi. If Takashi knew about that he was going to use it against her. That's probably why he thought it would be a good idea to make her his partner. Time alone, unchecked by me or anyone else who cared about Violet's well being. I shivered.
I didn't care what she wanted on that font, a ten year age gap wasn't good in any circumstances.
I took a deep breath. There was no way that could happen now. Violet had told me she wanted to try and make things work with Fairy Tail. and that's what we were going to do. Putting Takashi into the equation just made things a little more complicated.
I slowed my frantic pace, looking around for the first time to see where I had run off to. South Gate Park, the opposite direction from our apartment. I doubted anyone would come looking for me here. I knew it was unfair to keep Violet waiting, thinking I was angry at her. But I needed time. I needed space.
Though when I considered it seriously I knew I was angry at her. I didn't understand why she hadn't told me about Takashi's offer the moment he had made it. Why I hadn't somehow noticed the change to dynamic between the two of them.
I took a deep breath and started at the place where the dirt met the sidewalk. This was going to be a lot more complicated than I'd hoped.
*Violet's POV*
I knew August better than anyone. I knew that the longer I left him to stew in his emotions the worse it would be when I got there. I had to interrupt the chain of overthinking before it made things any worse than they already were. Even if the thought of our inevitable conversation left my mouth tasting of metal.
I left the master's office somewhat confidently, but after scanning through the various faces of the Fairy Tail guild hall I realized that August wasn't among them. My first instinct was to head back to our apartment and look for him there, but I knew I won't find him. If he was angry at me, he wouldn't make it so easy. He was probably dreading our next conversation as much as I was. But it had to be made sooner rather than later. It had to.
I lingered there in the middle of the guild hall alone, unsure of what to do. August was bound to return to the apartment at some point right? Maybe I should wait for him there. Or would it be better to stay at the guild hall, the place where he had seen me last.
As I was trying to work out the best course of action I noticed a presence approaching me and turned slowly, preparing a lie for whatever Fairy had decided to help me this time.
But to my surprise it was Gajeel.
"Hey there," he said, looking me in the eyes, seeking what the others avoided.
Despite never really talking to him myself, I knew his type from the studying I'm done. "What do you want?" I asked bluntly.
"Oh, a prickly one, just like your brother."
I stared at him. I didn't have time for fairy antics right now.
"You're looking for him now right?" he asked, "I saw him run out of here a few minutes ago. He looked pretty pissed if you ask me. What was that old man talking to you about anyway?"
"Do you know which way he went?" I asked, only realizing that I had ignored his question when I felt his reaction. Not that I would have given him an answer for it anyway.
I noticed Gajeel make a split second decision, and then he said, "No, I just watched him leave.'' Apparently he had elected to go with the flow of my interrogation rather than trying to take control. It was a strange kind of power now that I realized I had it. The ability to control what we talked about. Usually it wasn't something I wanted, though I sincerely thanked Gajeel for bending to my wishes this time. I tucked the information away for later.
If he didn't know where August was he was no help to me.
"Well thanks for letting me know," I said, already turning away, "but I have to-"
"Do you want help finding him?"
I looked back, then remembered, as a dragon slayer Gajeel could find him by smell, the way Natsu had done back before everything hit the fan. But was it fair to ask him? Then again, he had been the one to seek me out. I wasn't to blame if he was offering right?
Somehow I still felt dirty about it.
"Hey!"
I turned back to face a disgruntled Gajeel.
"Are you gonna stand there all day or are we gonna find him?"
I took a deep breath, knowing that my next words would sentence me to a long walk with a fairy stranger. "Let's find him."
