A/N - This is a two part prompt, because day 4 and 5 just jived so well with what I had planned.

Knife to the Throat

By Genavere

"Don't!" The blade cut in deeper, a trickle of liquid slid down her throat. Briefly, a thought that it could be sweat from the summer heat, the lack of air circulation in the building, or from the situation Lucy found herself in brought some hope. But hope was fickle, and the rational part of her mind knew exactly what it was.

Hot, sticky blood.

"Don't come any closer." Her captor's voice rasped in her ear. Spittle landed on her face and mixed with the sweat and dirt covering her. If she had the energy, she would have been disgusted, but there were more pressing matters at hand. Like the dagger at her throat.

In front of her, Natsu glared at her capture. Hands full of flames that symbolized his anger. Happy was no where in sight, but she reasoned that he might be bringing the others to their location.

The arm around her chest pulled her back against her captor's chest and she let out a wail of disgust and pain. Her shirt lay in tatters on the ground where she had been. The skin of her back sliced and tattered, as well. For two days, the men they had been chasing had their freedom to do what they wanted with her. And for those two days, they had submitted her to tortures she never wished to experience again.

The only saving grace had been their lack of sexual approach to her. None had wanted to do anything in front of the others. The reason why was beyond her, but when the others had left earlier, the one that stayed behind had decided to try to satisfy himself.

Natsu had once again been her saving grace. Her dignity was still intact, but he had been faster than either expected and now her life hung in the balance.

"Let her go." It was a warning, a threat, and a promise all in one. In the dark rumbling of his tones, she knew he promised this man no more sunrises. There would be at least one death between the three of them.

A warmth grew behind her, right on her butt cheeks through her torn skirt as she was pressed into him. The feeling grew, warm and wet, and then the smell hit her. A new layer of disgust sent shivers over her skin. The man must never have experienced the fury of a dragon slayer before since he pissed himself so easily.

If this man could only know the true nature of her dragon…

"This woman is mine—"

"No." The voice echoed over the shack they were in, different from the cave they stay in the first night she was captive, and the cabin on the second night. "She will never be yours." Natsu stepped forward. Heat spread around him, filling the small area.

Small bits of hay began to smoke and curl in as they burned. Down her back, she could feel the man's sweat man his hold on her slick. Her arms were tied together, from wrist to elbow with them folded over each other. She could do nothing with them, but her legs were still free.

Brown irises met olive ones. His head shook in warning, telling her not to do anything stupid. Says the dragon slayer who always risks himself no matter what they tell him not to do! In answer, her lips pressed together, and he answered likewise.

"Stop that!" He pulled her back further, the blade slid a bit more and she stilled. Natsu stilled. Blood trinkled freely, but she was still safe…still alive. "I may be no wizard, but I can tell you two talk with mind flows."

Natsu raised an eyebrow. "Mind flows?"

"Int speak," he yelled. "Mind talk! Don't make me regret you being here, y-you, uh, boy!"

Lucy closed her eyes, praying that it was not this lackluster man who took her life because of a simple dagger. Though, she tried to tell herself it was not just that.

One of the tools they favored to use on her had the capacity to sap her of any magic power and energy she had. When they thought she seemed lively again, another jolt of it tore through her entire being like a bolt from Laxus. Even if she had her keys, there was nothing in her reserves to call them forward. If she were honest with herself, the heaviness of her limbs and exhaustion she felt made her wary on if she could even walk on her own. Much less use any physical attacks she had trained in. Ones that her partner was not keen on her doing.

Being held hostage, once again, was not what she had wanted from this mission, but out of the circumstances, it had been a better outcome. It had been her and Wendy who had gone together to search for information on their targets while the others did their own investigating. Happy and Carla went off to survey the area, searching for any signs that might be missed from the ground. It was routine. Simple.

Compared to the wars and battles they had endured since the formation of Team Natsu, this mission was a piece of cake. Fairy Tail's strongest team would take care of everything, destroy half of the town, lose part of their reward money, and go home tired and proud. Depending on their mood, they might even give in to their dragon slayers and walk home, taking time to camp and relax together.

That had been the plan.

The hand around her stomach shifted, bringing her attention back to the situation at hand. It caressed the underside of her breast, sending a curl of disgust through her. "S-stop…!"

Heat increased. Everything swam around them. Sweat dripped from her captor's nose onto her shoulder and rolled down the front of her chest.

They would boil to death by the time this stalemate finished.

A rumbling filled the air, menacing. Terrifying. A spark of hope ignited in her.

"Let her go. Now." Slow, drawn out, the words expressed his attitude over the situation. Natsu was done with this.

"S-she surrendered to us!" The man pulled her back, inching towards the back door. Towards the hope of escape and a touch of cool air. "That means she belongs to us!"

There was no lie in what he said. By the time she had surrendered, Wendy had been drained completely of energy and magic by a trap she had fallen in. Lucy had carried her for several miles as they tried to get back to the others. More traps had been laid out. Paths were cut off. Almost all of her own magic was used up when she realized if she did not do something, they would both be captured.

While the young dragon slayer might not like being treated differently, they all saw her as a younger sister. Someone they strove to teach, praise, and protect. So when it came to the point where they would have to either be captured together or one be willing to sacrifice for the other, Lucy made the call.

With the last of her strength, she called Loki forward, gave him her keys and told him to take Wendy as far as he could away from there. She knew if she ran out of magic power, that he could supply his own until he managed to get the girl to safety.

Before he could even argue, she told him of the strategy their pursuers had been using. Each time they set up traps or made them turn back, they set up parameters. There were only two areas left that she knew would likely still be open, and he had to use them while she distracted them.

She could utilize her star dress long enough to buy them time, and maybe open it so she could escape, as well. And with her whip, she had protection.

It had worked, well enough for Loki to get Wendy away, but she had been captured. That was fine, she had told herself. Natsu could track her easily and by nightfall, they would be back together.

What she had not counted on was being dragged behind a boat that flowed down river for half a day before she had been dragged, half drowned, out of the water, shivering and exhausted. Then they had started her torture.

Who would have thought being the pawn had meant her captors thought she was their property. If it had not been so ridiculous or the situation not so dire, she would have laughed.

Smoke rose from the piles of hay around them. Straw popping as it heated and began to catch on fire. The time had come.

She felt the blade fall slightly from her skin, giving her a bit of relief. The metal had begun to burn from the sweltering air. The sweat on both of their bodies mingled and soaked into clothes. When she got home, a long, cold shower would be needed to rid her of the feel of his body pressed against hers. His hands on areas that only her dragon slayer should be able to touch.

A shadow crossed the outside. His body tensed behind her, and she saw Natsu let out a targeted fire breath at the distraction.

Then the door in the back crashed open.

Her eyes flew open as he twisted, his arm pulled out of instinct.

"Lucy!"

A second later, the blood flowing down her throat shined as the line of fire smashed into her captor and engulfed him completely. Arms left her in a rush to put out what they could. In shock, her body fell, choking as she tasted blood in her mouth.

Familiar arms wrapped around her, kept her from falling to the soiled ground. A heated hand gripped the gushing wound on her neck as the heat intensified.

Through her tears, the last thing she remembered was the silent yelling from Natsu above her. His own tears mingled with hers and she thought, how sad it was that she would never see his grin again.

A/N - This story came out way smoother than my flinch prompt, but I think I struggled a bit with that one. Been super proud that I have yet to miss a day of this challenge! All of the prompts have been listed on my tumblr, but the original story one will likely be put on here at some point.

Hope you enjoyed!