*Violet's POV*

"You're not going."

"I don't have a choice Vi." August poked his head out of his room, his hair only half brushed.

I sat cross-legged on the sofa in our apartment, digging through both of our heads trying to find a reason for him to stay. I just couldn't understand what made him think this was a good idea. I'd thought Natsu and Gajeel were intimidating when I first saw them, but Laxus made them both look like lost puppies.

I wasn't an idiot. I knew what the master was doing, both of us did. But August was the only one falling for it. Already Gajeel had tried to appeal to him through their shared dark past, and August had told me that he felt it wasn't the same. Laxus's attempt to take over the guild definitely hit us a lot closer to home. But that didn't mean it was a good idea to go on a dinner date with the guy.

August walked out of his room, taking the key from the table and shoving it into his pocket. "It's perfectly safe Vi." he assured me, "He's just another fairy in the end."

"A fairy the size of a forest vulcan."

August chuckled, but didn't change his mind. "All the more reason to feed him our story from the source."

I opened my mouth only to close it again. Was August planning to tell him everything? I immediately hated the idea, but I had to remind myself that this was August's story too. He was allowed to tell whoever he wanted, even if I wanted to keep it to myself.

Then again...August didn't know a thing about the part of the story I didn't want to tell. The only people that knew about that were me, Topaz and Kaze.

And Natsu. I reminded myself. He could have told them. But I knew he hadn't. I could tell from the way the others looked at us. They had no idea what had really happened in those woods.

Was there a reason he hadn't told them?

August came over and gave my shoulder a little squeeze, reminding me of the problem at hand. Stupid. I should have been using that time to think of ways to convince him not to go, not worrying about Natsu. Again.

"I'll see you later tonight."

"I took a deep breath. I knew there was nothing I could do to stop him.

"Don't wait up for me," he said as he moved to the door, "You need your sleep."

I let out a little smile as he left the apartment, trying not to think about all the bad things that could happen now that he was out of my sight.

*August's POV*

I took a deep breath before entering the restaurant. Despite the facade I'd put up for Violet...I could feel my hands shaking in my pockets. This was not a dinner I was looking forward to.

It was clear to me that Laxus knew at least a little about what had happened with my and Violet since he had been gone, but I knew there would be gaps. The only question was which side was the on, the master's or the practical one. Was he here to threaten me or to help me. There was no way to be sure until it was too late.

In truth I didn't even know which one I wanted. The threat was objectively bad, but it wouldn't make me swallow my pride as a helping hand would. Was he acting as a younger, hardened agent of the master or as the guardian of the guild. Either way tonight was not going to be pleasant.

By the time I approached the entrance to the restaurant I felt my heart beating faster than should have been possible. I had been here only a few days before with Gajeel, and at the time I had thought that was the worst case scenario. Now here I was with a pile of muscles the size of a blue whale. If I'd needed to fight Gajeel at least I would have been able to buy enough time to flee. But if Laxus decided to hurt me it was all over.

I took a deep breath and opened the door, hearing a cute little bell ring above my head. It wasn't like he could kill me out in the open. I would just have to decline any field trips to dark allies.

My eyes didn't have to scan the sparse crowd for long before settling on Laxus. Outside the guild he somehow seemed even bigger. I swallowed hard.

"May I help you sir?"

I blinked and realized that one of the waiters had come over to help me get seated.

"Uh no," I said, trying to keep my voice even, "I'm with him."

The waiter's gaze darkened. "Ah." was all he said before turning on a dime and disappearing back into the kitchen.

I stared after him for a moment before moving towards the table. Did Laxus have some kind of reputation here? Surly it had been a long enough time since the battle of Fairy Tail for his other merits to fix the past.

I was still thinking about that when I took my seat at Laxus's table. "There you are." he said gruffly.

I didn't know how to respond. It was clear to me now that he knew who I was. Or some of it at least.

"I see you meet my friend over there." he said.

I looked up. "Didn't seem supper happy."

"Yeah well they don't like me here much."

At first I thought he was gonna elaborate, but then he said nothing. I wondered if he had intended for me to ask him about it. I didn't want to know.

"Anyway," he said, "let me know when you're ready to order, I already know what I want."

"I'm ready."

I had already planned on getting the same thing that Gajeel had made me try last time, even if only to save time.

Laxus leaned forward and smiled, "You got it kid." he waved his hand and a disgruntled waiter appeared. He looked at me first and I mumbled out my order, still not used to eating in restaurants.

"And for you Mr. Dreyar?"

Laxus smiled, gesturing behind him "the usual."

The waiter cringed, and then bowed, "of course sir."

I watched him go, more confused than before. For the first time I looked up at the wall, right above Laxus's head was a large metal sign advertising a free meal to anyone who could eat ten pounds of ribs in one go. Next to it was a line of photographs, the first couple of strangers, and then at least twenty of Laxus.

He followed my gaze. "They act like it's a challenge." he said, "Your food's on me tonight since mine's gonna be free."

The look on my face made him chuckle, but I could think of no response. Before either of us could speak again, the waiter appeared with my food and then returned to the kitchen bringing out a cart laden with large piles of meat.

Laxus grinned as he picked up one of the plates. "Now," he said, "let's talk."