00154. Hela learns about...

Almost a week passed before Theo saw movement from Norman. It wasn't exactly what he expected to happen, but it was within his predictions. Norman reached out to Revival for help, it seemed he wanted to save his family and keep his business. Since Norman didn't want to follow the rules, Theo decided to pay him another visit and let him know that wasn't an option he had open.

It was late at night again as Theo appeared inside the Osborn mansion. He quickly moved through the house and put everyone into a minor genjutsu that made them fall asleep before he moved to Norman's office.

As he opened the door he heard, "I won't need anything else tonight Bernard, I am going to sleep soon."

When Norman didn't get a response he glanced up and froze for a moment. A man cloaked in shadows stood in the doorway. As the man slowly entered the room he said, "I see you tried to choose a third option Mr. Osborn. Let's call that one greed… It's a pity you were only given two choices though and greed wasn't one of them."

Norman narrowed his eyes as he said, "How do you know about that? Revival has cured over twenty thousand people with terminal cancer. My family's issues should be easy for them to fix."

The man nodded in response as he pulled a tablet out from within his cloak and typed on it. After a few moments he stored it away as he said, "You should check your email, I think Revival responded."

Norman felt a sense of foreboding as he glanced at his computer screen for a moment and noticed the icon for a new message. He quickly opened it and after he read it his face fell. It was a reply message from Revival that said 'You only have two choices: Love or Pride.'

Norman slammed both his fists onto the desk as he asked, "Why are you doing this? Why do I have to choose?"

"Isn't it obvious?" The man asked in a mocking tone.

Norman glared up at the man as he said, "If it was, why would I even ask you?"

The man shrugged as he said, "I guess you're not as smart as I thought you were."

Norman continued to glare at the man until he pointed at Norman as he said, "It's just a simple test to see the type of man you truly are."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Norman asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

As the man started to disappear into smoke he said, "You'll find out after you choose."

After the man disappeared, Norman sank back into his chair as he let out a frustrated sigh and thought, 'Why am I not allowed to have my family and my business?'

After Theo left the Osborn home, he went to pick up some food and then head to Genosha. It was time for his weekly movie date with Hela. His portal opened up inside the mystic school hidden there and he quickly made his way down into the depths of the place. He had to pass through a number of hidden and magically protected doors, hallways and stairs before he reached his destination.

Once there he opened the door and said, "I brought you some food Master."

Tao glanced up from her book as she said, "Going on a date with another woman and you decided to bring me food? We'll aren't you, a playboy."

Theo in his Ezekiel form smirked as he said, "What was that? You don't want any of this fried pork belly from your favorite place in Thailand?"

Tao placed her book down and stood up as she said, "Oh, I just remembered I have something important to do. I won't be able to portal you to your date."

Ezekiel instantly gave up as he pulled a bag out of his storage seal and placed it on the table as he said, "Here you go Master."

Tao opened a portal to Hel before she patted Ezekiel on the head as she said, "You're such a good student. Now go enjoy your play date."

Ezekiel huffed slightly before he moved through the portal. On the other side he found Hela who smiled slightly as she asked, "Has it been a week already?"

"Almost, I have stuff coming up and won't be able to stop by for the next few days, so I figured I would just come earlier than normal." Ezekiel said as he sat down in the chair he normally used.

As he started to pull out food and drinks from his storage seal Hela asked, "What do you wanna watch today?"

"How about some stuff from the Gundam franchise? We can start with the Gundam F91 movie and if you like it, watch more from there."

"Gundam? What's that? Hela asked.

Ezekiel finished placing all the food down as he said, "Let's watch it so you can find out."

As they started to eat, the movie also began and after a minute Hela asked, "I thought this was a movie? Isn't this just a kids cartoon like Aladdin?"

Ezekiel shook his head as he said, "While it is animated, this isn't a cartoon. This is from a country called Japan and it's called anime."

Ezekiel took on a serious tone as he looked at Hela and said, "Please never compare anime with cartoons. While some of it is made for kids, a majority of it is meant for teens and adults."

Hela paused for a moment as she took in the serious look Ezekiel gave her before she said, "I'll watch this first and then decide if I agree with you."

After they finished eating and as they watched the rest of the movie, Ezekiel would glance at Hela sometimes to gauge her reaction. Her face remained mostly stoic, but there were hints of emotions sometimes, which made it seem like she enjoyed the movie.

When it was finished Ezekiel turned to Hela as he asked, "So what do you think?"

"It was… Good. Actually, does Midgard have Gundam's? They look like formidable weapons." Hela asked with interest.

Ezekiel shook his head in pity as he said, "Unfortunately the technology of Midgard isn't advanced enough to make something like that."

Hela nodded in understanding before she said, "You don't need to use only technology to create one. A mix of technology and magic would work best."

Ezekiel smiled as he said, "I've already thought about that, but my skills in runes are amateur at best. Maybe in another ten years or so, after I have more practice."

Hela glanced at the paused TV screen as she asked, "You said this is a franchise? What else should we watch?"

"Yeah, it's pretty popular and has a lot of different shows and movies. How about we watch The 08th MS Team." Ezekiel said.

"Okay."

As the first episode started, Ezekiel pulled out a tray of cookies and asked, "You want some cookies?"

One of them floated up in the air and moved towards Hela as she said, "Thank you."

After Hela took a bite her eyes widened in surprise before she said, "These are a lot better than the last cookies you brought."

Ezekiel smiled as he picked up a cookie himself and said, "These are home made by my parents and little sister. She wants to learn how to cook, so my parents have been teaching her."

"I still don't think it's the best idea though. I'm positive that once she learns how to bake a cake, our house will be filled to the brim with them." Ezekiel said with a slight chuckle before he took a bite of his cookie.

Hela glanced at Ezekiel as she said, "I thought you didn't like sweets?"

Ezekiel shrugged as he said, "I don't. But my sister made these specifically for me, so I have to be a good brother and eat a few of them."

They chatted a little more as they watched the complete series and after the last episode Hela said, "Why did they make that last episode? It would have been perfectly fine to end it on episode eleven."

Ezekiel smirked slightly as he said, "You're not the first person to think that and you differently won't be the last."

As Ezekiel thought about packing up and heading back, Hela turned towards him as she asked, "Do you have time for one more?"

Ezekiel pulled out his phone and checked the time before he said, "Sure another movie wouldn't hurt. How about we watch Char's Counterattack?"

As the new movie started to play Hela asked, "Is there any other anime you would recommend I watch?"

Throughout the movie Ezekiel recommended a few movies and shows to watch along with some manga Hela could read. Once the movie ended, Ezekiel cleaned up and said goodbye before he disappeared through a portal.

After Ezekiel left Hela stared at the spot where the portal closed with a hint of sadness in her eyes before she let out a sigh and said, "Play Gundam Wing the series."

Once he arrived back on Earth his phone started to go crazy with a bunch of text messages and missed calls. As he pulled out his phone to see what was going on his phone started to ring. It was Tony and as soon as he answered it he heard, "Finally! Why were you ignoring me?"

"I was off planet, why? What's up?" Ezekiel said.

"I wanted… Wait, did you say off planet? As in you weren't on Earth?" Tony asked in an excited tone.

"Are you an idiot? What else do you think off planet means?" Ezekiel said as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Hey! Don't call me an idiot! I just didn't know you could leave Earth so easily."

"Where do you think I got most of that alien tech from?" Ezekiel asked.

"..."

"FUCK! You've been going to other planets, sleeping with hot alien babes, stealing their technology and didn't invite me?!?! I thought we were friends!?!"

Ezekiel let out an annoyed sigh before he said, "How in the world did you even come to that type of conclusion?… You know what, on second thought, I don't wanna know."

"Will you take me with you the next time you go off planet?" Tony asked in an excited tone.

"So you can go out and get a space STD?"

"Yes!... Wait! I don't want that! I just wanna meet some hot alien women." Tony said.

"Sure you do… Whatever, I'll think about it after you grow up. Now why did you contact me a thousand times like some kind of clingy and suspicious girlfriend?"

"I did not! It was only like a hundred text messages…" Tony said before he added, "Oh yeah! I almost forgot. I finished some of the prototype's you asked for and wanted you to come check them out."

"Really?"

"Yeah, come over and bring some food while you're at it." Tony said before he hung up the phone.

Tao, who heard most of the conversation, said, "Isn't it a little late? Normally you head to bed about this time."

Ezekiel glanced at the time before he said, "Worst case, I'll just let my clone go to school for the day."

Ezekiel put his phone away as he added, "I'll see you later and have a good day, Master."