Chapter 145: A Small Project. 2007 CE

Pluto was standing just outside of Helios's school, leaning against his car as he waited for the boy to come out. He was on a phone call with someone, talking to the blackberry phone that he has.

"Miss Hansen, I believe I have offered you a job back in '99, and you refused, and instead you worked with Mr. Killian, so now why have you contacted me?" Pluto spoke rather calmly, watching the elementary school gate.

"I'm sorry Mr. Smith… I know… but… I was an idiot back then… Killian… he's– he's crazy!"

"He looked like Dahmer when I met him in '99 Miss, of course he's crazy." Pluto snorted. "So, what do you want from me?"

"I- I'm just asking you to help me, Mr. Smith." spoke Hansen rather desperately. 'My research… it's… it's been tainted by Killian! He used it for terror purpose…"

Pluto hummed. "Well, your research is quite valuable to us, Miss Hansen, being able to regrow limbs is a huge breakthrough in the Medical world, not to mention the possibility of curing cancer using your research…"

"I know! But Killian used it for weapons! He wants to be a human torch for god's sake! Please! I promise, you can cut my salary for a few years and I'd still work for you, but please, help me get out of this mess…"

Pluto sighed. "I'm not that petty Miss Hansen, all I need is loyalty to the company."

"Then I'll be loyal!"

"Very well." Pluto hummed. "I'll send my men to pick you up."

"Please, use armed men, Killian's got a ton of bodyguards."

"Will do." Pluto said. "I'll see you next week at 7 am Miss Hansen."

Pluto hung up his phone as kids started to pour out from the school, and between the crowd, he could see his son, looking for him.

Helios looked around the parking lot, and finally saw his father standing beside his car, smiling at him. He smiled back rather excitedly, and ran towards him.

"Hi buddy." Pluto hugged him as Helios threw himself at him. "How's your day?"

"Normal." Helios giggled as he released the hug.

"Come on, let's buy some ice cream." said Pluto as he opened the door for Helios.

"I want chocolate."

"I prefer vanilla, but sure…" Pluto chuckled as both of them entered the car. Pluto started the car, and blasted off from the school.

"Dad…" Helios said shyly.

"Yeah?"

"The teacher gave us a project…" murmured Helios. "S-She said we need to make some kind of art to be displayed in the Parent-Teacher conference next year…"

"Okay, what do you want to make buddy?"

"Well… I don't know…" said Helios, looking outside the window. "But… it was supposed to be a group project…"

"A group project?" Pluto raised his brow. "Well, who's your partner then? Someone I know?"

"It was forced… I don't want to be with her…" Helios murmured in dissatisfaction.

"Helios… What did I tell you about socialising? It's good that the teacher chose it for you, or else you won't be with anyone."

"Anyone's fine, but I don't want to be with her!" Helios grumbled as he crossed his arms.

"Who?" Pluto questioned in confusion.

"Gweny."

"Gweny?" Pluto snorted. "You hate her but you called her that?"

"Everyone calls her that…" Helios whined.

"Is it though?" Pluto chuckled, making Helios whine loudly. "Okay… Okay… I was joking…"

"I hate her!" said Helios, crossing his arms in disgust. "She's so… annoying!"

"Hm, well, Helios, you can't just hate people because they have a different opinion."

"What about you and uncle Ikaris?"

Pluto coughed in embarrassment. "Well, that's different…"

"What's different about it? That he's a man instead of a woman?"

"No, that doesn't correlate at all." Pluto snorted. "Listen Helios, hate is a strong term, you should see behind your biassed glasses and see why he or she acted like that in the first place. Like Gweny for example, why do you hate her?"

"What's 'biassed glasses'?" Helios questioned in confusion.

Pluto sighed. "What I mean is, you should forget why you hate her for a time, and think why she acted like that, okay Helios, why do you hate her?"

"Well…" Helios murmured. "She's… annoying!"

"That's not a reason." Pluto chuckled.

"Um… she said that Ice Age is better than Shrek…"

"Okay, that's heresy…" Pluto murmured.

"Right?!"

"Well, just because of that, you can't hate her Helios," said Pluto. "Maybe she just wants to talk to you, seeing that you have the same interest as her for watching movies…"

"Why? She's popular?" Helios questioned. "She has many friends following her."

"Well, she must see that you're alone and wants to be friends with you."

"I don't need friends…" Helios grumbled. "I have you and mom…"

Pluto smiled as he sighed. He ruffled Helios's hair. "We're not going to be with you forever Helios, there'll be a time where mom and dad needs to go."

"Why?"

Pluto just smiled again sadly as he stopped in front of an ice cream shop. "Okay, come on, let's buy some ice cream."

—

[That Weekend]

A Police car stopped in front of Pluto's home. Pluto got out of the house with Helios holding his arm, and he walked towards the street.

The police car's door opened, revealing a policeman and a blond little girl.

"Captain Stacy." Pluto nodded.

"Mr. Smith." George nodded back. "You know, I never thought I would drive my daughter to a boy's house…"

"They're still kids George." Pluto rolled his eyes.

"But still…" George eyed Helios for a second, making him a bit tense. "If I could, I would've refused sending her here… but alas, Helen insisted…"

"Don't be too dramatic."

"If you had a daughter, you would know the feeling."

"Hm, well, maybe I do know the feeling." Pluto said as he looked at Helios, making weird faces at Gwen, to which she fought back.

"Anyway…" George sighed as he saw the kids' interaction. "I didn't know you lived near us. We live in Forest hills."

"That's good, maybe Helios could visit."

"I hope not…" George murmured as he knelt in front of his daughter. He kissed her forehead. "I'll pick you up at 8 okay? Be nice."

"Okay dad…"

George then soon drove off, working again.

"Helios, could you please escort your friend to my painting room?"

"Dad…"

"You're the owner of the house," said Pluto. "You should escort your guest."

"Fine…" Helios grumbled. "Let's go Gweny."

Gwen then shyly followed Helios to the house, side to side.

"Hey, be nice!" Pluto said to Helios.