Hot and Cold

S-Class Mages

~*****~

My fingers throbbed violently as I pushed the needle and thread through my ruined jacket. I try to ignore the obnoxious chewing noises coming from the other side of the living room. "So you paid the full price in jewel for this place?" I hear Gray hum. I glance up and grimace. He's once again in my house, and naked. And eating my snacks I had set out for myself.

"Didn't I tell you not to strip at my place?" I ask irritably.

Gray yawns and stretches. "I was naked when I got here, there was no stripping involved."

"What are you doing here anyway?" I ask irritably.

"I'm surprised you forgot. Natsu and Erza are about to fight." Gray commented. "And you said you wanted a go, too. Are you chickening out?"

I narrow my eyes at him for a moment before huffing and set my jacket down. "For your information, I was trying to fix my damn jacket that Natsu ruined before I fought Erza. I feel weird not having this thing wrapped around my shoulders. It throws me off balance."

Gray just peers down at it before plucking it off the table and with a series of quick needle presses, my jacket looks brand new. "Here you go." Gray tosses it at me before yawning and striding towards the exit. "Now you got no issue fighting Erza."

"Okay, now you sew, what else is new..." I grumble irritably before following after him.

I trail off to the side as Gray joins the others. I perch on one of the barrels and watch closely. Erza starts off the match by requiping into an impressive set of armor. And from what it looks like, perfectly designed to fight against Natsu's fire magic.

Frost erupts from around me as Natsu's fire magic slams near us. Just as I expect them to collide in a powerful strike, someone smacks the gong. "This fight is over!" My head snaps toward the newcomer. It's a strange looking... person? She's dressed in official looking robes. "May I have your attention please? I have come here on behalf of the Magic Council!" I quickly slip off the barrel and raise my jacket up a little, covering the sides of my face as I slip around the other guild members. It's not like I had a warrant or anything, but they seriously did not like me. "As a result of the Eisenwald Incident, a member of your guild has been charged with eleven counts of criminal property damage. Erza Scarlet, you are under arrest!"

"Haah?" I shout aloud. "You're putting her under arrest?!"

~*****~

The guild is rightfully silent after they've taken Erza away. "This isn't fair, you guys! Let me out of here already!" I vaguely hear Natsu shout.

"Natsu, try to calm down." Mira scolds.

"Let me out! Pretty, pretty please?" Natsu shouts from the tiny glass we had to put him in.

"You'll go on a rampage." Mira snaps.

"I'll be good, I swear!" Natsu continues. "Now please just turn me back to the way I was before!"

Mira grunts and leans down to him. "The second we turn you back, you'll run out to save Erza."

"Gimme a break. I couldn't care less what happens to her!" Natsu shouts.

"Even if you wanted to help her, it's not like we can face off with the council." I sigh.

"But don't those jerks on the council realize that Erza did what she had to do to save the lives of the Guild Masters from those bad guys and their evil Death Flute?!" Natsu complained.

"If the Magic Council says you're guilty, then you're guilty. End of story." I mutter over the rim of my glass of ale. "They don't care what we have to say." I fight back the tears beginning to brim at my eyes. The council wasn't forgiving. And they put the blame on good people. People I loved. I heave out a soft sigh.