With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 26

After telling Ur that they would be at the library studying, Natsu and Gray changed into their superhero alter egos and went to patrol Dr. Kingston's lab and Mard Geer's chemical plant. They were both careful to remain hidden and to be prepared for when the Black Demon showed up. They also had communicators with them so they could call the other in case they needed back up, a little invention Erza procured from a friend of hers.

"Any sign of him?" Natsu asked Gray through his communicator. 

"No. What about you?" 

"Nothing here. Keep an eye on Dr. Kingston, that freak might try to kill him just like how he killed Professor Stien."

"Gotcha and you might wanna do the same for Mard Geer."

"Way ahead of you bro. I'm in a position where I can see him from his office."

"We'll we better not talk for too long, it might give us away. No more calls unless it's an emergency."

"Right."

For hours, Natsu stayed hidden in a corner on the ceiling watching the C.E.O carefully. Mard then got up and left his office, going down a hallway. Natsu followed him but lost him in a crowd of his employees. He tried to find him again but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Suddenly there was an explosion, a minor one that hardly caused any a damage but an explosion no less. Natsu quickly jumped down to intervene. The explosion was caused by Black Demon, he moved to call Gray only to sprayed in the face with knock out gas. The Black Demon's insane laughter was the left thing he heard before he lost consciousness.

"Wake up dragon boy." 

When Natsu came to he found himself outside lying on top of a building with Black Demon standing over him. He willed himself to move but it was like his body wouldn't listen to him.

"You're not dead." The villain said. "Not yet just paralyzed."

"Where am I?" Natsu asked.

"Just the top of some random building." He told him.

"What did you do to those people at the chemical plant? Did you kill them?"

"Relax I only pulled that stunt to get your attention. It's you I wanted."

"So you're going to kill me?"

"A very tempting idea but I had something better in mind. You know you're an amazing creature Red Dragon and you and I are not so different."

"I'm nothing like you. You're a murderer."

"Well to each his own."

"Why have you been attacking and killing these people? What have they done to deserve this?"

"Sorry but that's for me to know and you to find out. Now I'm not going to hurt you at least not at the moment. Right now all I want is for you to hear me out. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what path you've chosen, you've chosen the path of the hero and the people found you amusing at first but in time they'll see you as someone to blame for all the trouble in their lives. In spite of everything you've done for them, eventually they will hate you. Why bother?"

"Because it's right!" Natsu snapped.

"Here's the real truth. There are eight million people in this city. And those teeming masses exist for the sole purpose of lifting the few exceptional people onto their shoulders. You, me we're exceptional. I could squash you like a bug right now." He grabbed Natsu's throat, not firm enough to kill him enough to prove his point. "But I'm offering you a choice. Join me. Imagine what we could accomplish together, what we could create. Or we could destroy, cause the deaths of countless innocents in selfish battle again and again and again until we're both dead. Is that what you want?"

"So what now? Are you going to kidnap my partner and give him the same offer?"

"I thought about it but I saw the way he threw himself after the girl when she fell. He was ready to die if it would ensure her safety and people like that are so very hard to corrupt."

"And what makes you think I wouldn't do the same?"

"Well I haven't seen you do it yet so I think I can get to you before your head is filled with all this heroes must die for what's right crap."

"You're a psychopath."

"We all have our quirks. The thing is I don't really see any potential in that partner of yours but you on the other hand, you have great talent and it's being wasted on this little crusade of yours."

"That's not a fact, that's your opinion." 

"Perhaps but I'm a very smart man and I'm usually right about a lot of things. Still I don't know you so I could be wrong and in the end I'll just kill you and your partner but I know I'm right about one thing, they will hate you and if that doesn't push you to consider my offer then maybe this will. The life of a hero holds no happiness. You continue down on this path you will lose everything. Everything you've ever loved and held dear will be taken from you so that all you'll have left is your hopeless cause."

With that said he got on his glider and flew off, shouting: "Think about it hero!"

An hour later Natsu could move again and he went to meet up with Gray. They went back home where he told Gray what happened and about Black Demon's offer.

"He wants you to join him?" Gray said.

"Yeah apparently he sees that I have great talent and that I'm wasting it on this crusade. I swear the guy's a total psycho."

"What was your first clue? The insane laughter or the fact that he killed people?"

"But he did say something that's got me rattled."

"What did he say?"

"He said that everything I ever loved and held dear would be taken from me."

"So?"

"Call me crazy but I think he threatened the people I cared about."

"I wouldn't call you crazy for that. But he doesn't even know who we are or who we care about so I wouldn't give it too much thought."

"I guess but I've been thinking."

"About what?"

"Maybe I should move out."

"Why?"

"The thing is I think I might be putting your aunt in danger by living with you guys. What if one day I accidentally bring work home with me, if you will."

"You have a point but hey I'm not going to kick you out over paranoia."

"It's not paranoia. Look I don't want to scare you Gray but you know how I felt  when I lost my dad. He was pretty much the only family I had in my life and it was hard for me to just see him go like that. If you were to go through the same thing because of something I did-"

"Hey don't talk like that. I'd never blame you for anything bad that happens to me and I don't think you'd do anything to get my aunt killed. But if you really feel that moving out is for the best fine. You know what I think I'll do that too."

"Really?"

"Why not? I just turned twenty, it's time I get my own place."

"Is your aunt going to be okay with it?"

"Are you kidding? She'll probably jump for joy. The biggest difficulty in her life is finally moving out and giving her some peace."

"I can understand that but seriously, you don't think she would go to tears over you leaving? I mean she basically raised you."

"I know but I've always felt like a burden to her. She had to care of me, there was no alternative. She's my only living relative."

"What are you talking about she had to take care of you? She took care of you because she loves you. I don't know why but she does."

"Ha, ha very funny."