Erza slapped the older mans cheek, metal clanking against the skin as he woke up with a cough. He looked at his surroundings, cowering back when he saw the red headed Titania.
"What do you want from me? My money? J-just take it" He stuttered, shaky hands searching through his empty pockets.
"We don't want you're money." Gray stated loudly, getting a look from Erza.
" We need your help. See our friend over there?" She asked, pointing over to the salamander that was in the ice mages arms, his skin pale and cold looking.
" Your spell hit him during our last fight, seeping into a wound which was there previously. We need you to extract it from hi-"
" He's surely dead by now." The wizard stated, cutting Erza off. Gray looked down at the fire mage in his arms, biting his bottom lip.
" If you would let me finish instead of rudely interrupting me. This is not a request, its an order." She threatened, a sword now pointing to the mans throat.
"Or I will not hesitate to kill you." She spat, getting a look of shock from the wizard. He moved over to Natsu, feeling for his pulse as he felt a wavering beat. He closed his eyes, focusing his energy as he searched for the spell eating his insides. He let out a breath, this was so annoying. He sent the wave for a reason.
" Why should I help you?" He spat, looking up at the red head with annoyance. Erza sighed, taking the others arm, pulling it out in front of her as she let her sword slice the skin beneath it, stretching to his fore arm till it came close to his wrist.
" Every time you object." She stated aggressively, pushing down as blood seeped from his arm, a sickening squish and stretch as the skin tore filled the area along with the wizards pained yell." I will go deeper. Do. ?" She asked threateningly, leaving the sword stuck in the crevices of his arm. " Better hurry, or I won't have time to stop the bleeding and you will die." She said with an emotionless look. The man now nodded quickly, using all his power to find his dirty work. he let out a pained sigh as Natsu's body arched, a black mist coming from his seeping wound, blood running down his stomach as the mist went through his bones. There was a pained scream from the salamander, eyes wide with fear and hurt as he gripped the ice mages hand that was holding him close. Gray gritted his teeth, trying to keep Natsu calm but to no avail.
"H-he needs to keep still." The wizard informed, getting a nod from Gray as he held him still.
" S-stop! stop god it hurts! ple-please stop!" Natsu cried, tears falling down his cheeks as his nails gripped Grays arm, getting a sound of protest from Gray. Even though it felt like his nails were going to rip through his skin, Gray didn't move, he held him close.
' This is punishment... His screams..'
Another scream filled the area as blood seeped at the wound, the black marks fading ever so slowly as the mist took them away." Please! Make it s-stop please!" Natsu was now begging, eyes closed shut tightly as he gripped the others arm with all the strength he had. There would definitely be marks in the morning, but Gray didn't care. Finally it stopped, leaving a gasping salamander whimpering and yelping at every touch. The wizard fell back, panting at the power used as well as the blood loss. Erza slowly pulled the weapon away from the others skin, releasing with a pop as skin and blood hung from her sword. This caused a pained yelp from the wizard, now furiously holding his split open and bleeding arm.
"Wendy."
"Y-yes ma'am?" She stuttered, eyes wide as she looked at the scene before her.
" Stitch his arm.. Don't lessen the pain. This is punishment." Erza stated, pointing her sword down at the man." If you ever, hurt any of my friends again, I will come for you, and that arm will be the least of your worries." She threatened, going over to Natsu's side. He desperately tried to stop his tears, but they wouldn't stop. Erza's armor disappeared into lights, tearing off a piece of her shirt as she put it over his stomach, tying it around to stop the bleeding some. This earned a whimper from the fire mage, shaking in Gray's arms. "We must get him back. I will go find Lucy and Happy, then we will leave and get him to the infirmary." She stated as she crossed her arms. Gray only nodded, holding the salamander close as he stood up, getting another whimper.
"I-its gonna get better.. I-I promise.." Gray cried. Why was he crying? because he saw one of the people he cared about the most wither in pain before his very eyes.
And it was his fault.