Wooo you wanna write for Omni mark and reader arm wresting… wooooooo hypnotizing stuff
Summary: You realized you don't actually know how strong Mark is, if only there was a convenient way to test it. GN reader, reader has superstrength
A/N: You didn't specify which sort of reader but I assumed one that could keep up with him, so he gets hero reader back!!
WC:1.1k
You’ve gotten used to working with Invincible, picked up on how he acts when he’s irritated, or tired, even when he’s happy (but that’s a once in a blue moon event). Something you’re pretty proud of actually, considering how little the guy actually emotes. On top of that, with how much time you spend fighting together– it is your job– you’ve got a solid idea of how he fights, and how he fights is not full effort. You can totally tell he’s holding back, which is fair when you’re fighting regular criminals but you’ve fought so many actually juiced up supervillains and you’ve still never seen him punch someone full force.
You first really realized this a couple weeks ago and it’s been bothering you since. You could probably ask him to lift weights until he couldn’t anymore but even with GDA training equipment he might not hit his limit. So what would be the best way to test that? You could try him against you, you’re certainly above average in strength and depending on exactly how much he’s been holding back you might even outclass him.
It’d be a lot easier if Mark ever bothered to participate in sparring matches with literally everyone else. His edgy loner image was just too important, you guess. He doesn’t technically work here anyway, something about his dad not letting him, which is funny to hear coming from a grown man. At least he hangs around, it would be so hard to track down otherwise. It took a bit of wandering GDA halls to find him, (maybe you can bother Cecil about his civilian life? Mark seems like the type to keep things separate but still) it’s not like it was too awful to kill time.
“Mark, hi!” You called once you spotted him walking through the halls, running to catch up to him, he nodded as you approached and that was plenty acknowledgement from him, “You busy?” You asked, slowing your pace to walk side by side with him.
“Not particularly,” Mark answered shortly.
“Cool, cool.” You let the silence linger for a bit before talking again “You’re pretty strong right?”
“Yes?” Mark tilted his head, probably starting to question your intelligence.
“How strong?” You asked, just asking is a bit boring but much less work for you.
“Very.” Which was a real specific and helpful answer, thanks Mark. You suspect he doesn’t actually know but is too prideful to admit it. Or maybe he does know and wants to make you do more work, under the assumption he’s somehow figured out your scheme.
“Man of many words.” You rolled your eyes, “Arm wrestle me,” You demanded, flexing your dominant arm. You weren’t getting enough out of him to segway smoothly, this was easier.
“What?” Mark asked, finally actually turning to look at you (seriously, who taught this guy how to have a conversation?).
“Do you know what arm wrestling is? It’s something people do on earth to test how strong they are,” You explained slowly.
“I was born on earth.” Mark grumbled– you did know that, for the record, but messing with him is funny- “Why do you want to do that?”
“To see if I’m stronger than you, duh,” Why else would you want to do it? Mark tries to act all smart but damn is he dumb sometimes.
“You’re a human, of course you’re not,” Mark dismissed.
“Wow.” You huffed, “Okay, whatever, I see how it is,” You sighed dramatically, hanging your head, “Oh so powerful alien doesn’t think his human friend can do anything,” You glanced back at him after a few moments, catching the way his jaw was clenched. “...Are you going to deny it?” You asked after a few moments of silence.
“Fine, let's arm wrestle,” Mark relented, taking a turn into the nearest room with actual tables.
“Are you gonna deny it?” You reiterated the question, following after him.
“If you win,” He decided, sitting down and holding his arm out.
“When I win,” You corrected, sitting at the table and taking his hand.
Mark was evidently very strong, it took your full effort to push against him, and he still didn’t look like he was even close to breaking a sweat. It seems to be that your ego may have been unfounded, you talked too much trash to lose terribly now, that’s embarrassing. Sure you did reach your original goal of figuring out his strength in proportion to yours but now you need to win, you need to knock Omni-boy’s ego down a few pegs while keeping your pride intact.
An outcome that’s proving to be difficult with how close your arm is getting to the table. Uh oh.
“Hey Mark,” You started, your words coming out a bit strained with how much effort you were putting into not getting trashed. You got a short reply of your name in return and decided that was enough to continue “If I win you’ll agree that I’m not a weak human or whatever I said earlier, but what do you get?”
“I wasn’t aware we were staking anything on this game,”
“Well it’s only fair, I could handle your patrols for the next week,” You offered, “Or, since you’re offering to say something, maybe I could tell you how big and strong I think you are,” you added, leaning in as much as you could while still keeping your elbow on the table.
Mark’s expression didn’t change but you could see the red tint on his face, and more importantly feel the falter in his strength. Taking advantage of the opportunity you created, you slammed his arm against the table with your full force, breaking the table and giving you the win.
Mark just stared at his hand in silence as you celebrated your victory.
“You- you cheated.” He sputtered, a little cherry on top of your win considering how little he ever broke his composure.
“Cheated how?” You asked, some obvious smugness seeping into your tone
“You distracted me.” Mark huffed, standing up and brushing the bits of table off of his suit, “I’d like a rematch, no tricks this time,”
“Nope, I won and I believe you have something to tell me,” You grinned, rocking on your heels.
“This is ridiculous.” Mark complained, switching right back into his usual cold demeanor. You cleared your throat making him sigh, “Fine, you are strong and capable. For a human.”
“You just can’t talk to anyone like a normal person, huh?” You rolled your eyes. That’s probably the best you’re gonna get about him, for now at least.