With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 42

At the daily news station, Gray decided to skip the talk and just go straight to action. And by action he sneaked into Gajeel's office while he was in the john, picked the lock of his boss's safe with his tiger claws, grabbed Laxus's pictures, and slipped out of there without being noticed. It might have been illegal but his best friend's safety and sanity were possibly at stake and this might be the only way to get through to him.

He took those pictures to a professional who concluded with careful study that those pictures were indeed doctored. He gave Gray the information to prove it which the young man took back to show his boss.

"You broke into my office and stole from me!" Gajeel shouted enraged when Gray explained what he did. "You're fired Fullbuster! And you're going to jail for breaking in and theft!"

"Fine! I don't care but you have to listen to me! Please!" Gray pleaded. He put the professional's findings on Gajeel's desk. "It was a robber who shot your wife. Not Red Dragon. He's completely innocent and this proves it."

"Kid do you have any idea how much trouble you could get in for doing this? Why are you sticking your neck out for this costumed freak? Would you really be willing to go to jail just prove this guy innocent?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Because if I don't I may just lose a good friend of mine!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I can't explain it but believe me I wouldn't have done this if I didn't know for a fact that Red Dragon wasn't responsible for that robbery or that shooting! And if you don't call off that reward you could be responsible for an innocent man getting seriously hurt or worse! You can't imagine how much one lie can do to ruin someone's life!"

Gajeel looked at Gray. Although annoyed and angry with the tactics he used, he was very impressed with the young man's dedication to the truth. As sleazy as Gajeel was he would never lie.

"Did anyone see you sneak in here or steal those photos?" Gajeel asked.

"No sir."

"Alright then no one will know I let you slide on an illegal act."

"You're not pressing charges?"

"No. I don't entirely believe you about Red Dragon but I do believe that you thought you were doing what was right and I will look at this stuff you brought me."

"You will?"

"Yes. After my visit with my wife. But this is a one time thing kid and don't ever tell anyone I looked the other way for you."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir."

"Now get out of here."

"Yes sir!"

Gray left the station feeling great relief. He was certain that once Gajeel read those notes Natsu would be proven innocent and hopefully it would get that thick headed moron to understand that Gray was looking out for him.

He went back to his dorm and prepared himself to take a long rest when his phone started ringing. It was Erza calling.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Oh Gray thank goodness!" She said. "I've been trying to call Natsu for hours but he refuses to pick up."

"Why? What's going on?"

"I just finished looking at all the data from that ooze. It's got me shaking. I've never seen anything like it."

"Now calm down. Just tell me what you found out."