“No!” Emily spoke before Dean could even open his mouth.
Eighteen years ago she and Norman had already walked through the labs of Vought International.
She knew exactly what those so-called superheroes really were.
Lab-grown products.
Commercial puppets packaged for profit.
Not real heroes in any sense of the word.
Dean was the one she had fought so hard to pull out of that Vought laboratory.
There was no way she was letting him walk straight back into that disgusting place.
Harry looked at his mother’s sharp reaction like she had grown a second head.
“Huh?
Why not?
Isn’t joining The Seven supposed to be a huge honor for big brother?” “If I had powers like his I would be first in line for the tryouts!” “I said no, and that is final!” Emily’s face went dark, but she did not spell out the real reason to Harry.
The fact that Vought manufactured artificial supes was still a tightly guarded secret.
She and Norman had signed non-disclosure agreements when they visited as partners all those years ago.
She could not just tell Harry the truth about Vought’s factory-made heroes.
“But—” “Shut up, Harry.
Don’t argue with Mother.
Keep eating.” Harry still wanted to argue, but one low look from Dean shut him down cold.
Compared to his soft-spoken mother, Harry had zero interest in testing his big brother’s authority.
He shrugged, ducked his head, and went back to cutting the steak on his plate.
Emily was still worried.
She turned to Dean and said firmly, “Dean, do not listen to your brother’s nonsense.
If you really want to be a superhero you can be a lone wolf exactly like Tony Stark.
The Osborn family will back you one hundred percent!” Dean took her hand, held the back of it, and smiled.
“Mother, I know what you’re worried about.
Relax.
I know what I’m doing.” He did not give her a straight answer, just that calm, vague line.
Emily opened her mouth to push further, but Norman cut in.
“Enough, Emily.
The boy is grown.
He has his own plans.
As parents we have to learn to let go.
We cannot keep them under our wings forever.” Emily went quiet for a few seconds, then let out a long breath.
“I’m tired.
Do whatever you want.
I’m going back to my room to rest…” She stood up and left the dining room without another word.
Norman looked at Harry.
“Harry, it’s late.
Go to bed.” “Huh?
I haven’t finished eating yet…” Harry pointed at the half-steak still on his plate.
Norman’s face darkened.
“Still eating?
You’re one more bowl of rice away from turning into a balloon every night.
Time to lose some weight.
Learn from your big brother.
Keep your body in shape and hit the gym for some post-meal exercise before you sleep.” “Alright…” Harry put down his knife and fork with a helpless look, stood up, and left the dining room.
Now only Norman and Dean, father and son, remained at the table.
Norman set the newspaper aside.
His expression turned serious.
“You want to join The Seven?” “You figured it out?” Dean’s face stayed completely calm.
“Don’t be ridiculous.
You’re my son.
I raised you from a baby.
How the hell would I not know what you’re thinking?” Norman gave a disdainful little smile.
“I sure as hell didn’t grow up eating the kind of crap you’re talking about…” Dean was left speechless for a second.
Feeling Norman’s stare locked on him, Dean finally sighed, shut off the TV, and said, “Fine, fine.
Yes, I plan to join The Seven.
Happy now…?” Norman wore a pure “I knew it” look.
“You realize joining The Seven means risking your identity getting exposed, right?” “Of course I know.
But don’t worry.
I’m not a kid anymore.
After taking V1 I can turn myself into pure electricity.
Vought’s usual tricks can’t hold me.” Dean’s voice stayed level.
Before the V1 and the elemental form he might have still had some reservations about Vought.
After all, they had the methods to knock out Soldier Boy—who had the exact same physical stats as him—and ship the guy off to Russia.
Even with Stormfront’s electricity on top of Soldier Boy’s body, he still would not have been completely carefree facing Vought.
But now everything was different.
His raw strength and electricity output had not jumped, yet the elemental form alone already put him in an unbeatable spot.
Even if he could not win a fight, he could just turn into current and walk away whenever he wanted.
So he was done pretending.
No more playing around.
Looking at that calm expression, Norman knew there was no talking him out of it.
Dean had been like this since he was little.
He always acted with a maturity that put every kid his age to shame, and once he locked onto a decision not even eight mammoths could drag him off course.
Norman could only let out a helpless sigh.
“What’s your actual goal for joining Vought’s Seven?” “Money?
You already have more than you can spend.” “Fame?
Being the young master of the Osborn family and a major Stark shareholder isn’t enough for you?” “Just wanting to play superhero?
Like your mother said, the Osborn family can bankroll you as a full-on lone wolf exactly like Tony Stark.
You don’t need to crawl into that hypocritical Vought International and become one of their packaged commercial puppets.” “At least tell me the real reason you’re walking into Vought.” Dean lifted his eyes and met Norman’s green ones.
His tone stayed flat and steady.
“Some things just have to be done by someone, right?” “So what exactly do you want to do?” Norman blinked, not following.
Dean’s voice stayed calm but absolute.
“Change it.” “It’s exactly because of those hypocritical superheroes Vought keeps packaging that someone has to step in and fix this whole fucked-up system.” “Dad, the world is about to go through massive, earth-shaking changes.
If The Seven—the team that’s supposed to represent justice for the entire planet—are nothing but a bunch of hypocritical frauds, then the world that’s coming is going to be a complete disaster.” Norman looked skeptical as hell.
“You say the world is about to change in some earth-shaking way?
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.” “The current world order is basically stable.
World War III is not going to break out, and there is no way the planet is about to get flipped upside down.” Dean shook his head.
“You’re thinking too small.
Your perspective is way too narrow.” “I already told you: don’t try to judge anything with normal logic in a world where people with superpowers are flying around every day…” “The changes I’m talking about aren’t World War III, and they aren’t coming from any country on Earth.
They’re coming from outside the planet.
From forces that are anything but natural.” Norman looked completely lost.
“From outside Earth?
Forces that aren’t natural?
You’re not talking about aliens, are you?”