With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 41

Gray searched the city, rooftops, alleys, abandoned warehouses—no sign of Natsu. His heart pounded with every second that passed, praying he wasn't too late. Then, finally, he spotted him.

There.

Standing on the rooftop of a tall office building, shrouded in the shadows of his new black suit, was Red Dragon—or what was left of him.

Gray climbed up, breathing a sigh of relief when Natsu didn't flee.

"There you are," Gray called out, pulling himself over the ledge. "You're getting harder and harder to track. We need to talk—about the suit."

Natsu didn't turn around.
"This again? Gray, relax. I've got it under control."

"No, you don't. I talked to Erza and—"

Suddenly, a shout from the street below cut him off.

"Hey, it's Red Dragon!"

"What's with the new black get-up?"

"Probably a disguise! He thinks he can fool us!"

"Let's shoot him down—I've got a tranquilizer!"

"Oh, come on! Not this crap again!" Natsu groaned.

"Scatter!" Gray shouted, diving for cover just as the first dart was fired.

But Natsu didn't retreat. He leapt, webbed his way down to the shooter, and grabbed the man by the collar. In one swift, fluid motion, he yanked him up and dangled him over the ledge—ten stories above solid concrete.

"No! Stop! Please!" the man screamed, legs flailing. "If you drop me—I'll die!"

Natsu stared into his panicked eyes, face devoid of mercy.

"Will you really? I mean... maybe a few shattered bones. Internal bleeding. But die? Sounds a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

Gray's blood went cold.

He ran, swung down, crashed through the nearest window—and tackled Natsu. He yanked the screaming man inside to safety just as he passed out from sheer terror.

"Are you out of your freaking mind?!" Gray yelled, shoving Natsu back. "You were gonna kill that guy!"

Natsu brushed dust off his shoulders like it was nothing.

"He was trying to kill us."

"It was a tranquilizer dart! You knew that!"

"So what?"

"So what?! We're heroes, damn it! We don't kill people!"

Natsu narrowed his eyes, the black suit pulsing slightly with every breath.
"Yeah? Well maybe we're tired of the hero business. We save these idiots day after day—and they turn around and put bounties on our heads. Sound fair to you?"

"Not everyone believes the lies. I'm working on clearing your name. But what you almost did—Natsu, that's exactly what Gajeel is accusing you of. And now you're proving him right."

A cold smirk spread across Natsu's face.
"Not for long. He probably won't be accusing us of anything anymore."

Gray froze. "What did you do?"

"None of your business."

"Don't play games with me! Did you hurt him?"

"Not as bad as we hurt Laxus."

Gray's voice dropped to a deadly whisper.
"You attacked them."

"You're surprised? You hate them too."