Violet had hastily stumbled in her bathroom and gotten ready as quickly as she could, only doing the bare minimum and heavily relying on charms to quicken the progress even more. her skin still more of a sickening pale tone than anything else, her hair standing up like crazy and her lips chapped but at least she had brushed her teeth, gotten clean clothes on and gitten rid of any body odour and dirt.

She stumbled out of the bathroom, relief flooding up in her as she saw Reborn waiting for her.

She knew it was stupid and needy but she needed reasurement. Reassurement that her mental break, that her weakness and her story and behaviour didn't make him leave her. She couldn't stomach it. She needed them now. She needed reassurement, more than ever before.

He slowly stepped towards her as he pulled his Fedora down and gently set it to rest on top of her head. "It looks better with your actual face, tesoro."

She couldn't stop the slight hint of blush that crept up, especially as he took care to settle her hair a bit.

"And that bit of colour makes you even more lovely." he might have been flirting but the tone he said it in was so honest that she had problems holding his gaze.

Only to be flooded with panic when he pulled his hand back.

Immediately her hands reached out, again catching on a piece of his suit, her eyes staring at it almost shocked but she couldn't get herself to let go. She needed him right now. She couldn't have him detest her as silly as it sounded, her mind was still unsettled and she needed him.

"It's okay, cara. My hand seems better to hold onto though." he gently untangled her fingers only to link them with his hand "Want to get down?"

She wasn't really sure. This unreasonable fear of rejection was clinging all over her and she wasn't sure how she would be able to handle it if her bondmates had started to despise her because of everything that happened. How her helplessness and weakness had made her look in their eyes.

"It's okay cara. Don't worry. everything will be fine and you should eat."

"I… I'm not that hungry."

"Doesn't change the fact that you need substance. Just a light breakfast. I know Verde was already planning it with Yuni and Fon wanted to help with the cooking process."

"He was?"

"Yes… so whatever is going on behind these pretty little eyes of yours… just ignore it. You matter to us Violet. more than you can imagine and we are all here to support you.. no matter what happens you can count on us. Do you feel up to going down? I can make Fon bring something up if you don't want to."

"No… I should and… i don't want to bother him.""

"You wouldn't."

"Still… I should see them."

"You mean you need to know how they feel?"

She bit her lip ring.

His thumb was gently rubbing over her hand "It will be okay. You can lean onto me, Violet."

Her thoughts were riddled with anxiety as she followed him, closely pressed to him and her hand slightly trembling but he just casually started a conversation about the movie they should watch today, trying to distract her from it while he firmly led her downstairs.

It didn't change the fact that her heart was almost bursting with how quickly and hard it hammered when she entered the kitchen and seeing her bondmates, only Viper missing.

She stifled, her hand clawing into Reborns, not hurting him, never hurting him but holding on tightly in fear.

All of them were staring at her and her eyes were just flickering around in between them, readying herself for rejection and hate.

Fon's voice rang out, speaking softly "Violet?"

"Y-yes?" she stuttered out, almost afraid to look at him but forcing her eyes to focus on him.

He let a relieved sigh out, before his smile came back clearer "Care for breakfast? Yuni and I cooked it for you."

"I…" her gaze flickered to Reborn. She didn't really want to but she just felt so uncertain. The hitman carefully took her with him, pulling her usual chair out, letting her sit down only to pull his straight next to hers, his arm around her shoulder.

Lal had taken Violet's plate and started to put some food on it, her rain flame still flaring slightly, before she sat it down in front of the cloud.

Violet only looked nervously around, all eyes were still on her, not one looked unfriendly or hateful but… she still couldn't calm down completely. this could still change. They could change their opinion in a matter of seconds and her hands still trembled while she slowly picked up her cutlery, her gaze flickering again to Reborn, looking out for any kind of disapproval of her eating but the small smile he had was encouraging, his eyes unreadable though and she hastily looked away.

She knew there was no reason to ask Reborn for permission to eat but she was still so raw. She didn't want to anger them. To disappoint them again. She didn't know what she would do then and it bothered her.

She knew this behaviour wasn't right or what she needed to be but she just couldn't help herself.

She needed reassurement so badly it hurt. She hated that she was so needy but she just couldn't stop it. It was like a force that was drilling into her, her thought immediately jumping to the worst conclusion whenever any of them moved a bit too quickly or ther cutlery made slightly too loud noises.

Violet only calmed down more when they finally started a light conversation but she couldn't help herself from leaning closer towards Reborn. She needed protection even if it was just to shut down her detrimental thoughts and fears.

It didn't help that Viper still hadn't come down. She was worried. She knew she had messed up with Viper. That there was still a need to fix it, if they would let her at all at least.

Whenever her thoughts started to drift she promptly got addressed by one of her fellow bondmates, mostly casual stuff and she knew it had no real meaning besides their attempt to help her.

She took a while to eat, it layd heavy in her stomach and she hadn't been able to actually finish the whole plate but they didn't comment on her lack of appetite. Reborn had started to draw small symbols on her arm at some point, his flame aura on his fingertip and she couldn't help herself from relaxing more and more.

She actually had started to almost be her normal self when her eyes fell onto Viper, making their way through the living room, in the direction of their front door.

"Viper?" she called out before she could stop herself and at once silence hit the kitchen. Even Reborn stilled in his movements.

She couldn't really stop herself from flinching but she focused on Viper "Where… where are you going?"

"...out."

"You… don't want breakfast?"

"I don't need it."

Violet flinched again, already stumbling out of her seat "I can leave! You don't have to go out because of me. I can just leave instead!" she hurriedly pressed out, trying to get out of the kitchen, only to have Reborns hand stop her as he gently took hold of her wrist

"Cara, you don't have to leave for them. They are already on their way out. They won't make you uncomfortable and you don't have to cater to their needs."

Violet actually stifled at that "What are you talking about? Why would Viper make me uncomfortable?"

"Violet?" he almost stared incomprehensibly at the witch.

"I'm serious. I can understand why Viper would not want to be with me but… they don't have to forgo anything to avoid me. i can leave, it was my fault after all." she said it with such a conviction that Fon couldn't stop himself from breaking the fork in his hand

"Violet, stop it."

"No. It's the truth I shouldn't have done this. I shouldn't have made you all suffer like that… not that I'm assuming that it did. I'm sorry. I mean… I shouldn't have lashed out and made an elephant out of a mouse and Viper has every right in the world to despise me for it."

"Violet. Don't say that. Please don't say that. Naturally it affected us, how could it not? But that's not your fault. You did nothing wrong. We were the ones who let it happen. Who brought you to that point and all fault lies with us. We have no excuses for our behaviour." the martial artist was able to push out, carefully controlling his breath to keep his temper in check.

"I have gotten used to it. It's okay. "

"What are you even saying?"

"I'm just used to it. I should have expected it and it's my own fault for not being ready for it and I shouldn't have run away. It's my past after all. It was only a matter of time until it came out and I can't fault Viper for being curious. But I can see my own faults with overreacting."

"Violet, you weren't overreacting. Far from it. Viper went too far. they shouldn't have done it!"

"It's okay."

"No! It's not. Would you react the same way if someone had done that to Teddy?"

"No, Teddy is different. I'm different. It has always been like this. I'm different. You can't compare it."

"I don't see where the difference lies."

"Fon. Leave it alone. This is between me and Viper."

"I…" the storm was searching for words. This wasn't supposed to happen. He didn't know what to do. On the one side everything in him burned to show Violet the error of her ways but he had promised himself to not go over her head again. This wasn't the time to talk her calmly into accepting the truth but what was he supposed to do?

Violet had finally steeled herself, wriggling out of Reborns grasp and stepping towards Viper "Do you hate me?"

The miser flinched "No, Violet no…. I… I… How could I.. Violet I'm sorry. I.. i shouldn't have…"

This, this Violet could almost deal with. She didn't really grasp it but she was good at taking the blame, "Viper I'm not mad at you. I couldn't be. Can you forgive me?"

"There is nothing to forgive Violet! Please don't say this. I can't deal with it. I should grovel at your feet, begging you for forgiveness!"

"But I don't want that. So will you forgive me?" Violet's stubbornness had never relented, had never given in before and it wouldnt do it now either.

"Violet!" The mist seemed close to tears and their whole form was shaking.

"I'm staying with it. I need you Viper."

"You don't! Please… please stop this."

"Are you pushing me away?"

The miser seemed to ring for words, not really understanding, more than just horrified and the heavy stares of their bondmated didn't help either. They had no clue how to handle this. How to deal with Violet or any of this but they didn't need to in the end.

Colonnello stood up "Violet? Viper ate earlier. But I actually have to speak with them. Would you excuse us, kora?"

"Now?"

"Yes, now. It's rather urgent."

"I… I guess?" Violet managed to push out, still on an emotional rollercoaster.

The rain did clap softly on her shoulder for a second before leading Viper outside, sharing one last glance with Reborn before the rain and mist vanished for several hours.

A mist illusion covering the miser when they finally made it back.