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Dakota was just delivering paperwork to Aria.

It was very possible that he wasn't expecting the office to be empty. That it would be silent, the desk a section of organized chaos. Perhaps he wouldn't hear the door click behind him as he placed the papers down, hear the latch as the lock slid into place.

What Dakota couldn't overlook completely, however, was the sudden weight that crashed into him. Two pinpricks dug into his back as Aria dropped down onto him from the ceiling, her knee dropping to ram into his back as her weapon was summoned and pressed against his neck. A cold chill gathered at the spot beneath his ear as her hand found his neck and squeezed. "Ah, Dakota. Just the hunter I was hoping to see," she murmured pleasantly.

For his efforts, Dakota was rewarded with another jab to his neck. "Shut up," Aria hissed. "I'm going to make this quick. If you ******** dare make Candace unhappy I will hunt you down and make you wish you pissed Caelius off instead. Pass the warning onto Marcus too."

The division leader stood up and off the trainee, snatching the folder he dropped off and flipped through them briefly. She threw it back into her desk and moved around it, yanking a drawer open to look inside. "Are you still here?" She demanded, weapon raised. "Get out."

Dakota's astute observation managed to drag a bitter laugh from Aria. "No, but he's married to Cassandra who happens to be a Mist Hunter as well. I don't care what happened between you and him. It's my girls I'm more concerned about."

She found what she was looking for. It was a metallic object, difficult to see as her hands quickly fiddled with it. His question brought her a surprised glance, one that faded into a glade. "No, things aren't all right and the longer you linger here the less I can try to mitigate the damage. Kindly leave if you know what's good for you."

Were all Moons this polite and incredibly thick? Aria wondered, setting the device down to look at him. She couldn't help but to feel regret as she looked at him. Aria should have gotten to know him better, to know Marcus better. To learn to trust them and put her faith in someone else other than her own hands and weapon.

It was too late now.

"No, she didn't." Aria replied. "Ask, that is. About marriage. It doesn't matter though; Cass didn't either. As much as I would have liked --" She broke off, shook her head.

"It doesn't matter," she continued briskly, a sharp edge creeping back into her voice. "I have no choice but to trust you and Marcus to support them. Catch." The division leader tossed something towards him. It was a small cylinder with an odd knob-like contraption on one end. It was the bear mace she had sprayed him with on that rescue mission. She had, at least, taken the time to write "sorry" on its side in permanent marker.

The division leader raised her weapon. "Now, I really, really have to insist that you get the hell out of here, Dakota. Otherwise you'll get caught in the crossfire, and the last thing Candace needs is to visit you in the infirmary. Go. Now."

Aria mutely shook her head. Seriously, what the hell was it with moons? They were too nice, too selfless, too --

Too much like him.

"You're an idiot." Aria complimented. "You may be a moon, but you won't be able to defend against this. One last time. Leave, or I will throw you out." Her grip tightened on her weapon. "Neither myself nor Candace would like it if I had to do that."

Dakota left. Aria kept her weapon up, trained on the door.

"Cute."

A runic handgun sprang into her hand from its concealed position. The chambers of the handgun clinked into place, the runes activating and glowing as the speaker leaned back. "We both know that's useless, Aria. Put it down."

"I know why you're here."

"And?" The speaker lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. "I at least had the courtesy to wait for your guest to leave. It's... almost too bad that you won't get to see their wedding."

Aria held the gun for a moment later before she lowered it, the runes dimming as she slid it back into its holster. "Very well then." Her voice sounded hollow, even to her. "Let's get this over with."

The door to Aria's office was closed and locked. Moments later it would bow outwards and shake as an explosion shook the room, the force blowing out the windows and wall facing the training field. The automatic sprinklers would snap on and drench what ashes remained in her office, the fires dying down to reveal the pair clashing in the training field beyond.

It seemed that Aria had run out of time after all.