Gajeel put as much into the attack as he could, hitting the mage square with the attack and ripping through the trees with the shards of metal. The other mages dodged into the foliage, yelling curses and retreats as they did so. When Gajeel finally stopped he felt weak, having depleted most of his magical power with the effort. His eyes quickly found Laxus just before he disappeared past the destruction of his roar and he sprinted after him, pushing his legs despite the weariness in them.

"Now… huff… what…?" Laxus was leaning against a tree; his face contorted from the pain as he gripped is side.

"We gotta get your bleeding under control or they'll track us…" Gajeel panted, quickly shedding his shirt and ripping it to re-tie it over and over. He wrapped Laxus's stomach as best he could before finally tying it off, "I'll stitch it as soon as we find a place for the night,"

"I think they went this way!"

"Hurry up! After them!"

"Fuck…" Gajeel growled, tipping his head back to sniff the air, "Follow me,"

They went as fast as they could, Gajeel concealing their footsteps as Laxus stumbled through the pine trees. Every once in a while the voices got dangerously close, but Gajeel found ways to make a diversion whilst they found another track into the forest. After what seemed hours of wandering through the pines and dodging mages, Gajeel spotted a cave partway hidden by brambles that extended into the side of a large hill.

It was dark and cool but dry and Gajeel could easily see despite the sun setting. He led Laxus as far back as he dared, not sure as to where the cavern led. Laxus let out a pained hiss as he dropped to the floor, his breathing coming in tired gasps as he gritted his teeth against the pain and fatigue. Gajeel landed hard next to him, trying his best to hear into the forest. He hadn't sensed anyone tracking them for the past hour but it never hurt to be sure.

"Well, today's been eventful," Gajeel sighed, reaching into is pocket to pull out a handful of metal scraps.

"Eventful… more like a fucking pain…" Laxus panted, unbuttoning his shirt and discarding it next to him.

Gajeel bit back a retort as he ran his fingers over a piece of iron, his magic making it skinnier and skinnier, bending it in the middle and making it a pointed needle. Laxus watched him in silence, secretly thankful for the green light cast by his magic that allowed him to see.

"Seems like you've done this a few times," Laxus growled as he began to untie the rough bandage Gajeel had made.

"Just on myself," Gajeel grunted, popping a nail into his mouth as he worked, "I usually work alone so I had to learn."

"I take it most of those are your doing, then?" Laxus said, nodding to the scars on Gajeel's arm. Gajeel regarded them silently before raking his ruby eyes back up to Laxus.

"Lean back," Gajeel instructed, putting a rough hand on his shoulder. Laxus winced as he slowly leaned himself back. Gajeel's light dissipated leaving him in complete darkness. He could hear the sound of Gajeel's boots scraping against the cave floor and the metal studs on his jacket clinking together quietly before calloused fingertips smoothed across his skin.

"How in the hell can you see?" Laxus brought his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose, taking in a tight breath as the needle pierced his skin.

"Dragon instincts," Gajeel murmured in the darkness, "your eyes aren't the only things you need to see,"

"What the hell's that s'posed to mean?"

"I can smell where the fresh blood is coming from. I can feel where the healthy skin stops. And I can see… barely,"

Laxus could feel Gajeel's breath on his chest as he worked. His hands were quick and masters at what they were doing. Laxus could only barely feel the prick of the needle and the tug of the thread when he tightened the stitches.

"I've always been able to see and hear things Evergreen or Freed or Bixlow couldn't, but not like that," Laxus said quietly as Gajeel finished.

"It has its pros and cons," Gajeel muttered, pushing himself to sit on the balls of his feet and stretching out his arms.

"Yeah? Like what?" Laxus's voice rumbled bitterly in the dark. Gajeel's hands were warm against his skin. His bleeding had made him feel almost light-headed. If it hadn't been for Gajeel's quick thinking the other mages probably would have tracked them to their hiding spot.

Gajeel's shuffling in the dark brought him out of his ever-darkening thoughts. He felt the Iron Mage's presence beside him, could feel the heat from his closeness and it startled him. His warm breath ghosted over Laxus's skin and he could feel the tug of the wire Gajeel had used to stitch the wound. He felt smooth, soft skin brushing by his flesh and he suddenly realized it was his lips.

"Oi… what are you doing?" Laxus jerked away from him only to feel a sharp pang from where Gajeel held the line.

"Calm the fuck down. I'm just cutting the wire," Gajeel's voice came from somewhere extremely close and it made Laxus uneasy to feel his personal space being invaded. He tensed when he felt a rough hand smooth across his midsection; a tug, and then the feel of Gajeel's warm breath grazing against his skin. Laxus felt gooseflesh begin to spread through him from the strangeness of it all. Gajeel, however, acted as if nothing was amiss and nonchalantly ran the thin metallic fiber across his canines, snipping it with his sharp teeth.

For some reason, Laxus felt like he'd been holding his breath.

"You can calm down now, fairy," Gajeel snickered in the darkness, getting to his feet and pacing deeper into the cavern.

"Oi, where the hell do you think you're going?" Laxus growled, brushing off the strange sensation that was still lingering on his skin from the Iron Mage's nearness.

"S'plorin'," Gajeel called back over his shoulder, "You ok to come with or are you just gonna sit there and lick yer wounds?"

"Dammit Redfox," Laxus huffed, pushing himself off the ground and wincing at the protest in his side. He could move a little better, though, and had little problem keeping up with Gajeel as they made their way deeper into the grotto, "If we run into trouble I'm in no condition to fight,"

"Gihi, guess that means you can't barge in like an idiot this time,"

"Do you ever shut the fuck up?" Laxus steamed, sending small charges of electricity into the air to help him see as he followed.

"Gihi,"