With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 44

Back at the hospital, Gajeel sat quietly beside his wife's bed, gently holding her hand and silently praying that God wouldn't call her back to heaven just yet. Maybe the heavens had heard him, because at that moment, Levy's eyes fluttered open.

"No! Don't hurt me, please!" she cried, panic flooding her voice as if she were back at the scene of the crime.

"It's alright, Levy," Gajeel said softly, his voice steady and reassuring. "You're safe now."

"Gajeel? Oh, thank God." She clung to him, relief washing over her. He held her carefully, as if she might break. "What happened?"

"You were shot during a robbery. You've been in a coma for a few days."

"Is he gone?" she whispered, fear creeping back. "The terrible man who shot me?"

"Red Dragon?"

"No, not him. He tried to help me. There was someone else... a masked robber. He's the one who shot me."

Hearing this, a wave of regret and shame crashed over Gajeel.

"I'll be damned. Gray was telling the truth," he muttered under his breath.

"What was that, dear?"

"Nothing. Listen, Levy, I've made a terrible mistake, and I need to fix it right away. Would it be okay if I leave you for now?"

"Of course."

"You won't be alone long. Juvia will be here soon, and I'll come back as soon as I sort this out."

"Do what you have to do."

They shared a tender kiss before Gajeel rushed to his office. First, he pored over the information Gray had left—photos and notes—and then, without hesitation, he called Laxus, demanding he come to the office immediately.

"You lied to me!" Gajeel barked the moment Laxus appeared.

"Okay, okay, I doctored the photos. So what's the big deal?" Laxus shrugged.

"I can't have someone working for me twisting the truth and leaving out facts! It goes against everything I stand for. You're finished, Dreyar—fired. Get out."

"Wait! I have more pictures!"

"Out! Gray was right about you. You're nothing but a lying scumbag. I'm ashamed it took two kids to expose you."

"You can't do this to me!"

"Watch me." Gajeel pressed the call button on his desk. "Security! Come to my office immediately. I have some trash to throw out."

Security arrived quickly, and Laxus was forcibly removed. But karma wasn't finished with him. Apparently, Natsu had alerted Professor Clive about suspicions of Laxus doctoring photos. Knowing Laxus's history of bending rules, Gildarts investigated and discovered that Laxus had used campus technology to manipulate the images. He confronted Laxus in his dorm room.

"Using campus technology for illegal activities like this violates university policy—and the law," Gildarts said sternly. "You're lucky I'm expelling you instead of pressing charges."

"You can't expel me, professor! My old man will kill me!"

"I'm sorry, but you crossed the line this time."

"This isn't about what I did! You're just getting back at me for messing with your prized pupil, that dork Natsu!"

"Believe whatever you want. You're expelled because you broke the rules—and the law. I want you packed and out of here by tomorrow."

A reasonable person would accept responsibility and learn from this. But not Laxus. Instead, he blamed Natsu and Gray for all his misfortunes.

"Those meddling dorks!" Laxus spat. "I'll get them for this!"