All of next week when Natsu wasn't in class, he was learning how to use his new powers while also making a costume to wear at the wrestling match on Friday. Gray practiced using his powers too but only because he thought they would be useful to him in helping his aunt around the house. She worked as a teacher for the local elementary school and she had to grade papers at as soon as she came home so she didn't have much time for house cleaning which left Gray to fill that role for her. One day while cleaning the windows he spotted a pile of bills on his aunt's nightstand. It made him feel guilty, Ur had been like a mother to him for years and he figured that maybe the time had come for him to pay her back. But he wasn't going to make money by getting into wrestling or something like that, he was going to get a job.
He looked through the want adds but at first he couldn't find anything that he could apply for that didn't require a certificate. At least nothing that would pay him enough to cover his aunt's bills. Then he saw an add for the press, apparently the publisher was looking for a new photographer to get pictures for the news and the pay was 50 bucks. Now it just so happened that Gray dabbled in photography as a hobby so he decided that this job was perfect.
Right after classes Gray went down to the local press with a resume already prepared and some impressive photographs he had taken a year ago. He hoped that they would be enough to convince the publisher to hire him.
"Excuse me?" He asked approaching the door to the publisher's office. "I'm looking for Gajeel Redfox?"
The man in the desk was real gruff and mean looking, in some ways he kind of reminded Gray as an angry junkyard dog who was just waiting for the right moment to bite. Age wise, he was in his twenties and he looked to be around the same age as Laxus but Gray figured that this guy must've been way smarter than Laxus and a lot scarier too.
"What do you want kid?" He asked.
"Are you Gajeel Redfox?"
"Yes. What's it to you kid?"
"My name is Gray Fullbuster, I'm here about the add."
"What add?"
"The add in the newspaper, it said that you needed a new photographer. I was hoping that you would hire me."
"You wanna work here? You must be joking, you like you're barley out of high school. You are out of high school right?"
"Yes sir and I really need this job."
"No offense but I'm looking for someone more mature."
"But I have a resume and references. I also brought some photos that I've taken. Won't you at least look them over?"
Gray put his resume and his photos on Gajeel's desk. He picked up the photos and gave them a quick skim.
"Hmmm...I've seen better but I guess they're good. I'll think it over and give you a call when I've made a decision."
"Thank you sir."
...
Friday had come at last and Natsu was ready. He had his costume safely hidden in his bag and had mastered his powers almost completely.
"Bye Dad, I'm going to the library to study." He lied.
Now due to his goal to be ready for the wrestling match, he had become very secretive lately and it was starting to make his father worry about him. Igneel wanted to know what exactly his son had been up to lately.
"Hold on son I'll take you." Igneel said.
"That's okay I'll take the train." Natsu said.
"No. No I need the excersise."
They got in the car and Igneel drove him to the library.
"Thanks for the ride Dad. I'll see you later."
"Hang on son we need to talk."
"About what? Can't it wait?"
"No because this is important."
"Alright what do you want to talk about?"
"I want to talk about what's going on with you."
"What do you mean?"
"You've been acting real different lately. You're neglecting your chores, you've been keeping secrets, starting fights-"
"I did not start that fight with Laxus Dad and the jerk had it coming."
"He may have deserved what happened to him but it wasn't your place to deliver it to him."
"Dad if you could do something better than everybody else could, is it wrong to do it?"
"Well it depends. I mean just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Remember with great power comes great responsibility.
"Are you afriad that I'm going to turn into a criminal or something?"
"No, of course not."
"Then stop worrying about me. I'm just trying to get through life. Is that so wrong?"
"Don't tell me to stop worrying about you son because I'm your father so I'm always going to worry about you."
"Dad you always treat me like I'm a little kid who has to depend on you. I'm almost twenty, I'm an adult. I don't need you all the time, I can take care of myself."
Igneel sighed.
"Alright. I didn't mean to lecture you and I'm not scared that you'll turn into a criminal I'm scared that...Nevermind. I'll pick you up at ten. Bye son I love you."
"Bye Dad."
Natsu got out of the car and waited until Igneel had driven away before going to where the wrestling match was being held. During his walk there he couldn't help but feel guilty about how he had spoken to his father. True he did find his father's constant worrying annoying but Igneel only worried about Natsu because he loved him so much.
"I'll apologise when he comes to pick me up." Natsu thought to himself. "Dad shouldn't be scared of me turning to a life of crime. I would never do that."
But what Natsu misunderstood that what Igneel was truly afriad of. He wasn't afriad that Natsu would turn into a criminal, he was afraid that Natsu would turn into a selfish person who would walk out on those who needed him just like his wife.