thinking about a human!reader who has lived a pretty decent, normal existence. at least, as normal as it could be with all the hero's trying to exterminate world ending threats daily, and leaving major cities in ruins afterwards. the death of the guardians made the threats worsen over time.
one day, as you were taking your usual midnight stroll, you were stopped by the one and only, omni-man. his only excuse? he said and i quote.
“human, it has come to my attention that you’re releasing strange, aphrodisiacal pheromones; and it has become a problem for me.”
you blink once, twice, thrice, and you’re eyes widened as you finished processing his sentence. you were releasing sexy pheromones?? where was it during your days in college? your vision on omni-man’s flushed face trails down to his pelvic region, where his ragging boner was making itself known beneath his suit.
cue to nolan dragging you to an empty alleyway, stripping you both butt naked, and riding you until you left his hole gaping and filled to the brim with your cum. he let out an uncharacteristic, longing moan as he painted your chest in white.
turns out he’s been wanting you for a while ever since he first caught whiff of your scent that one afternoon a week ago as he was defeating a kaiju.
as for the “aphrodisiacal pheromones” you seem to unknowingly release daily: it only seems to affect nobody else but nolan. you don’t have a problem with it though, as long as you continue to fuck the number one super “hero,” you don’t need anything else.
that’s until mark appears before you with an embarrassed grin and a hard on of his own. then his other variants appeared like beasts in heat, and now conquest. yeah, you’re a viltramite magnet.
Includes: Sinister Mark, No Goggles Invincible, Goggles Invincible, Mohawk Invincible, Omni Invincible
(I love these names sm lol)
Word Count: ~3.5k
Part 2
Warnings: Dark Content, Violence, Yandere Behavior
Sinister Mark
“Oh, you’re pretty tough.”
He was terrifying.
You made the horrible mistake of attempting to trade blows with this variant clad in yellow and black. You were strong, but nowhere near his level. A single hit to your gut gave you visions of the afterlife.
It took all your strength to stay conscious.
You fell harshly to the ground, and within an instant he was on top of you.
You tried to fight him off, but his hands pinned your arms to your sides.
Blood trickled down your forehead as you breathed heavily, your eyes staring back into his black goggles.
“I’m going to kill you,” he said, almost too casually. “Scream if you want, it’ll be music to my ears.”
You couldn’t beat him, but you could endure.
Your body relaxed, your eyes unwavering. He raised a brow.
“Not going to plead for your pathetic life?”
“There’s no point,” you said. Those words felt like daggers to your throat. “Either way I die.”
His gaze flickered up to the cut on your head, noticing the wound was closing ever so slowly. A healing factor?
He then looked back at you and lifted a hand, before harshly jabbing it into your side, just below your ribcage. His fingers opened your skin easily. You gritted your teeth at the newfound pain, him examining the bloody tips of his fingers and your newly opened wound.
Was he going to torture you? Why couldn’t he just rip your head off and be done?
Every fiber of your being wanted to scream out. But you couldn’t give him the satisfaction.
He noticed that your body was already attempting to close the wound, and you shut your eyes to collect yourself. You didn’t know how long they were shut, but once you opened your eyes you were still under his gaze. A smile graced his features.
He… waited for you to collect yourself?
He then leaned in, and for the first time you were afraid of him. His tongue dragged against your forehead, licking off the blood there. His chest was dangerously close to yours, and you could feel the warmth emanating from his body.
Strange. You were certain he was a cold blooded monster.
“I don’t recall ever seeing you in my world,” he said. You felt a hand on your neck and your blood went cold. The pressure was terrifying, but he wasn’t choking you. He tilted your head up. “...Then again, I lost track after killing so many.”
His lips then locked with yours. As you tried to resist he squeezed your neck, causing you to gasp. He then shoved his tongue into your mouth, the metallic aftertaste of your blood leaving you queasy.
In the heat of the moment, you noticed that he now only had one of your arms pinned down.
You needed to stop this.
A punch was hurled at him and he easily caught it, pulling away from your lips. A cold smile graced his features.
“Feisty~” His hand rested on your shoulder and you felt something crack. You immediately lost feeling in your arm, it plopping back down to the ground beside you.
Oh God. Oh God.
Your head shifted to look at your arm. Thankfully, thankfully it was still attached.
“Now should I do your other arm?” He mused. “Or will you be good for me?”
No Goggles Invincible
“This is so much fun!!”
This variant was wild. You didn’t even know you had even encountered him. All you saw was a destructive blur.
Tremors caused you to lose your footing and you fell flat on your face, colliding onto a nearby rock. As you pulled yourself up, you heard a distant cheerful voice and noticed something, no, someone approaching fast.
You threw your hands out in front of you, fear now overtaking your splitting headache. Your last line of defense were your words.
“Stop!!!”
That seemed to have worked because whatever was approaching suddenly halted, you feeling a strong rush of wind in the process. The force was enough to knock you over yet again, but this time someone had caught your hand, preventing your fall.
“Stop? Why?” A voice asked.
It took some time for your vision to clear, but once it did you came face to face with a person clad in blue and yellow. He was smiling at you, and a look of curiosity was in his eyes.
“Invincible…?” You asked. But he was missing his goggles. “Is that you?”
“Yep! That’s me!” He happily said. You had a terrible headache, but was glad a hero was here to help.
“I think someone’s attacking this place,” you told him. Since he was still holding your hand, you squeezed his. Concern was in your voice as you spoke to him. “Stay safe out there okay? I’d hate to see you get hurt.”
His smile widened.
“Aww! My heart! Don’t worry about me, cutie! I’m-”
[TITLE CARD]
You laughed, enjoying his enthusiasm.
“I’m well aware,” you said. He was now beaming. He let go of your hand and floated around you in circles, a smile never leaving his face.
As you wiped the small trickle of blood from your nose, he then stopped behind you, before speaking.
“But I’m actually not the Invincible you know,” he said. You froze at his words, confusion setting in.
“You’re…not?”
“Nope! Do you see all this destruction across the city? That was all me! And oh, it was so much fun!!”
Your heart dropped at the newfound knowledge.
“You did this…” you whispered.
“That’s right!”
He hoisted you into the air and spun you around, vertigo now added onto your headache. He continued to speak.
“And it was awesome! The screams, the destruction, Oh ho! I enjoyed every second of it!”
…How could someone be so sadistic? Why was he telling you this?
Only one morbid reason came to mind.
“Oh God,” you said. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”
“I mean, I definitely considered it!” He admitted. The fear on your face made his smile widen in response. “...But, you’re so sweet. I’d much rather not.”
He then pressed a kiss against your cheek and you froze, hearing the “Mwah!” sound from him as he pulled away.
“I’ll just make you my girlfriend instead, okay? How’s that sound?”
Sounded like a nightmare. You were panicking now.
“What’s your name?” He asked you.
“Let me go!” You exclaimed. He laughed.
“That’s a weird name-”
“No! I said let me go!!”
“Oh, okay! You’re the boss!”
He then dropped you, the sudden fall causing you to scream. You had completely forgotten you were hundreds of feet in the air. He watched your descent in good humor, before frowning.
“Why isn’t she flying?” He asked. It immediately dawned on him. “Oh shit, she can’t fly.”
He then flew down and caught you, laughing at your terrified expression. You were mere moments away from death.
“Why’d you tell me to let go when you don’t have powers?” He asked, still laughing at you. “I thought you did! You’re hilarious~”
You were at a loss for words. As you tried to calm yourself, he smooched your face, only adding to your fear.
“Don’t worry!” He assured you. “I’ll be sure to hold onto you much tighter from now on!”
Goggles Invincible
“Let. Me. Go.”
This variant was condescending. Mostly towards others, but occasionally towards you. He had grabbed you in the midst of the turmoil and taken you into the sky. He now just casually floated in the air, with you in his arms.
“Now why would I do that?” He asked you. “I worked so hard to find you. It would be nice if you reciprocated my feelings.”
Buildings burned in the background, and it was all his doing. You couldn’t even push him away, his grip was too strong.
“You can’t expect me to love you. I don’t even know you,” you said.
“But I know you, Y/n.” He brushed through your hair, removing some stray rubble. “And I know that you’ll love me. Eventually.”
You were sure you never met him before, but somehow he knew you by name?
He then abruptly turned, holding you closer as a stray bullet hit his back. He looked down, and you craned your neck, seeing a few police officers in the distance, guns outstretched.
“Surrender! Now!!”
He sighed, before returning to the ground, setting you down gently. You barely blinked and he had already closed the gap, violently slicing through every person that opposed him.
You watched in horror as he held one last person by their throat, lifting them off the ground. Blood seeped from that officer’s mouth as they gasped for air.
“You almost shot my girlfriend,” he told the officer. His voice was calm, but his tone was terrifying. “Maybe I should sever your spine for that.”
He squeezed their throat harder.
“Or just rip you in two-”
“Don’t!!”
He paused, turning to you, the officer still in his vice grip.
“Please,” you pleaded. “Don’t hurt them.”
You looked at him with so much desperation in your eyes. He smiled, thoroughly enjoying your expression.
“You don’t want me to hurt them, sweetheart? Well, unfortunately I already have-”
“Anymore.” You quickly corrected yourself. “Don’t hurt them anymore. Please…”
The silence that followed was deafening. You could hear your heart violently beating in your chest, awaiting his response.
He then turned his attention back to the officer.
“Consider yourself lucky.”
He released the officer from his hold, much to your surprise (and relief). The now freed officer collapsed to the ground and gasped for air.
You had saved that officer, but unfortunately not the others. It was a horrifying realization.
“Shh, it’s okay…”
As he hovered towards you, you instinctively took a step back, before his hands reached out to grab you. He held you in place, leaning in so only you could hear.
“I did that for you, Y/n. Can’t you see how much I love you? …And I think I deserve a reward, don’t you?”
Your startled look was adorable to him. He leaned in, pushing his lips against yours.
He was gentle. And you had to reciprocate, or he’d kill that last officer, you just knew he would.
So you swallowed your fear and pushed your lips against his. He smiled into the kiss before capturing your lips again, holding you as close as humanly possible this time.
Once you both pulled apart you were breathless, and a knowing smile was on his face.
“See? I told you you’ll love me.”
Mohawk Invincible
This variant was maniacal. The second the prison was attacked you cursed under your breath, gathering your files in hand before making your way down the now crumbling hallways.
You were the head nurse of the psychiatric ward in this prison, and to say you were desensitized to all situations was an understatement.
“I quit,” you grumbled, hearing the sounds of what seemed to be mass destruction outside. “Once I file these reports, I’m getting a new job-”
You stopped when someone slammed through the roof of the prison right in front of you and into the hallway, landing harshly in a pile of cinder blocks.
That person then quickly pulled himself up, wiping the blood from his nose.
“Fuck,” he spat. He was wearing black and blue, and had a mohawk.
Judging by how he looked more pissed than hurt, you decided your best course of action was to remain silent.
He then crouched low, you assuming he was going to take off, but he paused midway when he saw something in his peripheral vision.
You stood there, clad in high heels, a ruffled blouse, and a pencil skirt. Notes were in one hand, and your other hand was on your hip. Although you were frowning, his eyes lit up, his attention now solely on you.
“Hey baby~” Those words rolled off his tongue too smoothly. “How’d you end up in a hellhole like this? I’d be breaking in just to see you.”
“I’m assuming you’re the cause of all this chaos?” You asked him. He made his way over to you, a smile on his face.
“Yea, you’d be right.”
Just your luck to meet the person behind all this. Fire was slowly beginning to spread, and your way out was now obscured by smoke.
“You know…” he said. “I thought this world sucked, but you just might change my mind.”
He seemed completely unfazed by the now raging fire farther down the corridor. You on the other hand had internally panicked, your way out now engulfed in flames.
“Can’t change anything if I’m dead. I don’t suppose you’ll get me out of here?” You asked him. He laughed.
“I mean I could get you out, but I’d want something in return.”
“I see. I’m on my own then,” you said.
You then spun around and raced off, heading back the way you came. Much to your surprise, a few seconds later, he flew right beside you, continuing the conversation.
“You’re going to fucking die at this pace,” he casually said, his tone somewhat amused. Although annoying, he was right. Your high heels were slowing you down significantly. So you pulled them off and ditched them. “Aw, that was my third favorite thing about you.”
Third? "What’s the first thing?”
“Your ass."
Classic.
You stopped when faced with a wall of fire, your new route now also engulfed in flames.
You were trapped.
Sweat dripped down your face as you took a cautious step away from the fire, your back bumping right into his chest. His arms then wrapped around your waist, keeping you still as he leaned in over your shoulder.
“So, are you gonna die here? Or do you want my help?” He taunted you. You were already feeling lightheaded, it wouldn’t be long now.
You kept quiet for a bit, your body becoming heavy.
“...Guess I’ll…” you choked out. “Just die…”
Your legs then gave out, and everything went black.
~
As you regained consciousness, you noticed two things. The first was that you were laying on your back, a ways away from the prison. The second was that someone had pulled their lips away from your lips, their body on top of yours.
“Oh shit, that actually worked-”
“Get! OFF ME!”
You pushed as hard as you could, the person pulling back a bit. It was him. You coughed as you spoke.
“The hell’s wrong with you?! Kissing me while I was unconscious!?”
“I was RESUSCITATING you!” he yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you? You’d rather die than ask for help?!”
“I don’t want your help!”
You tried to move away from him, but his arms locked you in place.
“Oh no you don’t! I saved you, so you owe me.”
“I didn’t want-”
His lips were on yours again, and since you couldn’t push him away, you bit his bottom lip as hard as you could.
Sadly for you, it seemed to have no effect.
He laughed into the kiss, before pain then seared through your lip.
“AH! What the hell?!” You exclaimed, blood now dripping from your top lip. He rolled his eyes.
“You started it.”
Omni Invincible
“...”
This variant was calm.
Of all the people he could encounter, of the billions of people on Earth, he had to spot your variant.
He knew you quite personally in his world, so seeing a different version of you here was jarring to say the least.
He didn’t believe in fate, but this… the probability of seeing you here, at this exact moment? That alone made him question himself.
So he remained silent, and just watched you from the sky.
Amidst the chaos, your car had refused to start. You turned the key as many times as you could, the engine whirring for a few seconds, before coming to a complete halt.
“Well, there goes my escape plan,” you sighed.
You then exited the car, shutting the door behind you. People were screaming and running past you, trying to get as far away from the destruction as possible.
“Guess that’s my next course of action,” you mused. You locked your doors, and paused, staring at your reflection in the car window.
He frowned.
You should really be focused on getting away from the turmoil, but you were taking time to sort out your thoughts instead?
You never really had survival instincts.
“If I die here, then so be it,” you murmured.
You then ran, moving away from the middle of the street, opting to stick more to the sidelines. You had gotten a ways away from the destruction until you heard explosions, noticing a building in the distance was crumbling. Your head whipped to the left, thankful you weren’t in that area.
In your rush, you failed to notice that you were heading towards a large sinkhole where the ground had crumbled.
He furrowed his brows, arms crossed.
He shouldn’t interfere.
You got dangerously close to the edge, more focused on the destruction behind you and not the impending doom directly in front of you.
He shouldn’t interfere.
You then fell over the edge. A gasp of surprise escaped your lips, quickly followed by an ear-piercing scream.
He was forced to act.
Your screaming stopped when you realized you were no longer falling. Relief washed over you in waves, before confusion followed, your eyes looking up to meet your savior. He was clad in red and white. You recognized that outfit.
Omni Man?
Wait no, it wasn’t him… who is this?
“Hey.” Was all he said, his expression neutral as he looked down at you. You could see your reflection in his goggles. “You should be more careful.”
You didn’t care who it was. He saved you, and that’s all that mattered.
Tears spilled from your eyes as you thanked him profusely, causing him to frown.
“I thought I was ready to die,” you said in between tears. “But I’m terrified of meeting my end.”
Those words…
It was the exact words his version of you said before she died.
It was… unpleasant to hear them again.
He didn’t say anything, and you noticed that you were both ascending. Now out of the large sinkhole, you were greeted with the gentle breeze from the world above. You assumed he was going to set you down here, but instead he veered to the right, leading you far away from the destruction.
The once large city was now a speck in your peripheral vision.
He landed in an open field of flowers, before setting you down.
“I need to go back,” he told you. As he turned away from you, you nodded in agreement.
“I understand. You have to help more people, right? And stop the bad guys!”
“. . .”
“Just be safe out there, okay?” you said.
While he was faced away from you, you noticed how darkly stained his cape was towards the bottom.
What was that?
Before you could examine any further, he had turned to face you, a small smile on his face. He offered a hand, and you happily accepted, intertwining your hands with his.
When certain words left his lips, you were taken aback.
“You… want to kiss me?” you whispered, disbelief in your voice. A nod from him confirmed you heard him correctly. “O…o-kay.”
He then leaned in, his lips pressing gently against yours. You returned the gesture, the two of you sharing a kiss. He was so sweet, so gentle. That set your heart ablaze.
You didn’t know who he was, but you knew you loved him.
As he pulled away you quickly leaned again for a quick peck, kissing his cheek.
“Thanks for that, you should go now. People need you,” you said. Your eyes held so much adoration for him. He then ascended into the air, pausing to say something else.
“I’ll check in on you later, Y/n.”
And with that, he was gone.
Your heart was still pounding from the kiss. But as you calmed, you furrowed your brows, letting your thoughts sink in.
“...How did he know my name?”
~
I love the invincible variants so much! Also this is my first ever post! Feedback is very much appreciated ♡
Where Mark Grayson having a sister changes everything and nothing.
You were privileged in a lot of ways; a nice house in the suburbs, a mother that worked in real estate, a father that wrote travel guides after seeing his novels weren’t doing so well, and they both never laid a hand on you. They were reasonable and raised you with a firm but kind hand. Well, maybe your mother more than your superhero father. But even with his usual absences, you and your brother were without a doubt loved. You are grateful, you really are. On top of the warmth provided by your household, you’re special. You’re different than the rest of the general population, with your father sure you’d inherit the powers inherent to his, your, alien heritage. You had the means to do something greater. A purpose. A higher calling.
People lamented not having such a clear path. Yet, you only felt a growing hollowness in your chest. As if you were barely tethered to reality. And you had no real reason to feel that way, at first. Your mom made sure she was there at every moment, every milestone. Your dad, while busy with his heroics, who would always throw you in the air and catch you in his strong arms, always picking up your favourite pastry from a bakery in the Netherlands. Your younger brother looked up to you with stars in eyes, pestering you to play with him.
But even then, you felt aimless. Apprehensive. Empty when you’re left alone, no one to distract you, and only your thoughts to reign freely.
Your dad had shared his origin with you and Mark when you were twelve and nine year olds. Adding to the puberty talk your mom had already given to you. Mark was excited. Why wouldn’t he be? Awesome powers and a future wearing spandex? That was every kid’s dream. Even you felt anticipation at being able to fly one day.
But the planet your father came from, Viltrumite, only gave you anxiety. Devoting yourself to protect the weak, to the point you’d have to leave your own home planet was a daunting task. You don’t know how your father could do it. Protecting strangers so far from home. You liked the comfort of home. Of being with your family. You didn’t even know what you wanted to be when you grow up.
After your dad sent you two to bed that night, you started up at the glow in the dark stars that covered your ceiling in quiet contemplation. You heard your bedroom door slowly creak open. From beneath your blanket, you slowly pushed yourself up.
“Get in here already,” you call and in an instant, he’s climbed onto your bed, starting at you with barely restrained energy. “Getting a bit too old to need a sleep buddy, Mark.”
Your brother shoves at your shoulder indignantly, “I can sleep by myself! And you sleep with stuffed animals!”
“Hey, stuffed animals are for all ages, you’re never too old for them.”
“That’s not what I came here for!” He protests, “We’re aliens!”
“Half-aliens,” you correct, bringing your knees to your chest.
“Same thing! And—and dad’s Omni-man!” He babbles, a far cry from his quiet awe while he listened to your dad earlier.
“I mean, yeah, Mark. I don’t understand how people don’t know, the moustache is a dead giveaway,” you respond. “And you know I like Darkwing and War Woman more.”
Mark calls out your name in frustration, “Aren’t you even a little psyched? We’re going to be heroes! We could be…Omni Boy and Girl!”
You squint at him in the darkness of your room, “Maybe workshop the names a bit more, and that’s not going to happen for a while. I mean, you should be more concerned on whether or not you’re going to grow or not. It’s not looking good, midget.”
Mark, done with your jackass behaviour, lets out a war cry and tackles you off the bed, landing on one of your ridiculously big stuffed animals. You two laughed as you grappled and shoved at each other, only freezing when the light flickers on.
Your mom stares at you menacingly from the doorway.
Your powers came in when you were thirteen. You had been in school, a teacher droning on about trigonometry, and you felt the telltale signs of tinnitus. When your ears popped, you could hear more than you could even comprehend. You slammed your hands over your ears but you could still hear everything. Dozens of teachers talking to their own classes, the gossip of students, the pipes below, and even the creaking of your school’s infrastructure. Ignoring your teacher’s protests, you left. Running through the halls, for the first and not last time, you ditched school, exiting the building.
Your dad found you across town, in a desolate park, grass overgrown and with splintering benches. It was quiet. Quieter. Away from the noise of traffic and crowds.
He had simply stared at your huddled form before picking you up, and flew high. Higher and higher until the only thing you could focus on was the infinite blue of the sky, fluffy white clouds surrounding you two. Your dad rubbed a large hand over your head comfortingly.
“Usually, strength or flight kicks in before the enhanced senses gradually appear for Viltrum children. But it happened all at once for you. Not unheard of, but definitely unlucky,” your father explains, looking down at your with a complicated look in his eyes. “I knew you would get your powers, but I didn’t…prepare myself or you for it.”
At your silence, he continues, “Your mom was worried when she got that call from school. It’s not everyday your kid pulls a jailbreak from school. So why don’t we go let her know you’re okay and we’re going to start training you. Get you up in the sky and you’ll be able to go to that pop cafe you like so much in Tokyo.”
“Pokémon cafe, dad,” you correct, “Mark’s going to be so jealous.”
He laughs, “Soon enough both of you will be like your old man, thrashing monsters and then…”
When he trails off, he only shakes his head and asks if you want to pick up some food before you go home.
Your brother groans and moans at how he’s going to have to wait to get his powers while you’ll be out with dad. Your mom forbids you from going out as a hero as a middle schooler, not that you’d object. Your dad…
Your dad has always had his obligations. You wouldn’t call him absent, but your mom was the one you’d come home to and the one to tuck you and Mark in every night. So it felt like you were getting to really know him for once. He told you more about his home as he helped you fly, not unlike how any other dad would help their kids learn how to ride a bike.
You don’t really go into detail about your lessons with Mark because you know he’d sulk.
You don’t tell your mom because don’t you want to be cause of a disagreement or fight.
You wouldn’t call yourself an inquisitive kid, but there was something unrealistic about Viltrum. You could believe that food shortages and illness could be eliminated. That technology beyond what you could even imagine what out there. What you couldn’t believe was that indisputable peace could exist.
Conflict, idiocy, and more polluted humans. Any living being that had thought that went beyond survival and instinct would inevitably have their own selfish and nefarious thoughts. The cost of free will. Were humans worst off than other species out there? Surely strife was equal.
Humanity isn’t all bad, of course. That’s why even though there’s hurt and pain in the world, people will always have the ability to make their own choices.
Your dad’s brow knitted whenever you discussed this particular topic. There was a certain superiority he had, which was understandable when you were the strongest on Earth, but it seems to have bled into a certain resentment towards the people he was supposed to protect.
Other times, he described beings like you as shepherds, to herd the flock of sheep. He emphasized duty and responsibility, having to make the hard choices that no one else could make. What those ‘choices’ were, you had no idea.
(Sometimes his face contorts when he thinks you’re not looking. With what emotions is a question you stay up thinking about.)
Your dad is patient with you, a good teacher, really. But there are instances where he’s anxious, rushed as if there is something looming behind him.
(He hits hard enough to having you tearing up at his worst moment before his face twists with regret as he moves to comfort you.
Frustration shines through his eyes when you seem disinterested in your training, wanting to play games with Mark instead. A moment later, he relents. His strange mood remains for a couple hours before disappearing like it never happened.
Neither of you mention it.)
When you’re in high school, your dad takes you to get a proper suit from Arthur. The old man reminiscing with your dad with a comfortable ease. They’re friends, you note. It’s nice to see your dad have these moments with people outside of your family.
Your brother had recommend ‘Omni-Girl’ as a your hero name, but you immediately vetoed it. A title wasn’t too important to you since you were just shadowing your dad. You didn’t feel too motivated to throw yourself out in to the thick of it.
(“You see, sometimes it takes more then one punch to finish the job,” your father explains while holding up an armadillo like beast, “So, don’t become discouraged and don’t be afraid to just let them have it.”
And with that he began pummelling the beast.
“Okay, dad.”)
Eventually your dad’s gentle suggestions to be more proactive become firm orders.
(Your dad is cruel sometimes. To his enemies. Even to you. His grip on you too tight and his words too demeaning. He backs away in regret, apologizes, and buys you whatever food you want afterward.)
You begin to patrol aimlessly. You started out with minor conflicts; muggings and other assholes looking to take advantage of other people. Then you began fighting with super powered criminals, ones that could actually stun you or even hurt you. You weren’t too invested in your hero responsibilities, especially since there were more than enough people to pick up the slack. It was a good after school activity at least.
(You used to be on the field hockey team, but after getting your powers, it would just be unfair. People could get hurt.)
You noticed things getting increasingly difficult. You never anticipated how much things would weigh on you. Having to ignore the screams of helped you were forced to tune into because you didn’t want to fail a midterm. People getting hurt or killed because you weren’t fast enough, that you making the wrong choice or move would always have consequences. The same villains would continue to break out and continue to hurt others, you would beat them to a pulp, take note of the casualties, and the cycle would restart.
You alone had the power and capabilities to make a difference in the lives of so many people. People that can’t rely on the Guardians or Omni-Man to be everywhere. Your inaction alone outweighs the sins of many, you realize.
(Mark calls your name. You jolt out of your thoughts. He had out walked you and was now looking back at you in confusion.
“Why are you so slow? Come on!” The now teen complains, urging you to speed up.
“Dude, it’s not like 7/11 is going to suddenly run out of slushies,” you retort, but jog to catch up with him.
“Why can’t you just fly us?” Mark asks, “We would have been home already.”
“What,” you laugh incredulously, “someone could see us and then they’ll know there’s a super in the neighbourhood, and then boom. You’ll have gotten us doxxed, Mark, and we’ll have to put you and mom in some protection program!”
“Overdramatic much? And it’s not like anyone cares about ‘Singularity’,” Mark whispers the last part, quickly glancing around the empty street. “And that’s such a lame hero name, by the way!”
“You don’t even know what it means,” you scoff.
“And you do? I bet you got it from one of those RPGs you’re always playing!”
“Nah, I just got it from some song.”)
Mark is thirteen and he still hasn’t gotten his powers like you had. Outside the house, your dad looks more worried than Mark does. He rests a hand on your shoulder, tells you that one day you’ll have to step up more. That you need to watch over your brother while he’s just human. When he says that, he looks more calm then you’ve seen him in a long time.
Your mom looks at you worriedly when your back is turned. You get it, you aren’t the most social and your beginning to think your mom knows you don’t really have any friends at school now that she no longer tries to get you to invite anyone over.
You just tease Mark and debate with dad until you feel her worry lessen.
You’re tired. You don’t really have a plan for the future. You try not to think about it too much.
(“We Viltrumites…far outlive humans. Eventually, your aging will slow down enough that while your peers will be old and grey, you won’t even look thirty,” your father reveals one evening. The two of you stand at the peak of Mount Everest, watching the sun set in a mirage of pink and orange. It’s beautiful. “Just, don’t get too attached. One day, it will just be us. Don’t let your heart get broken.”
“What about mom? Mark?” You ask. “If…he’s not like us.”
Your father is silent, he doesn’t deny the possibility, “Then we stay with them. Till the end.”
You don’t ask what you do after.)
You wonder if this is how you’ll spend your days. Fighting and fighting as everything changes around you. Do you stop when you can’t recognize what this planet has become?
You’re not particularly skilled or even much of a good person. You’re more than aware of that. You’re selfish. You’re just human, despite your alien blood. Maybe humans and Viltrumites aren’t too different.
(You’re falling. A giant mecha just tossed you out of the city. People are screaming and running away in terror. No matter how much you punch it and how brutal you are in tearing it apart, it keeps rebuilding itself. It’s been hours. By now, people have already evacuated. You’re exhausted and hungry. You want to go home. You don’t want to be here anymore. But, no one else is coming, it’s just you. This can’t be anyone else’s responsibility but yours.
But, you let yourself fall. You could catch yourself. You don’t. The absolute idiot you are, you don’t catch yourself. You can fly, but you don’t.
You land on someone. You can’t tell their gender or even how old they are. How could you, when you’re sitting in the red, mushy remains of them. They’re nothing more than a bloody mess on the ground. You’re covered in a mix of their fluids and organs. You’re screaming. You can’t stop.
Your dad finds you.
“It’s not your fault.”
“It happens.”
“One life versus thousands.”
“They’re insignificant…in the grand scheme of things. People die so easily. Disease, traffic accidents, even just fading away in their asleep.”
You don’t feel any better.
When you get back home, the two of you eat dinner as mom complains about a client.
You two don’t mention anything about the mecha, despite Mark’s begging, besides that it’s been taken care of.)
You stop fighting the evil geniuses and beasts that were always around, demanding attention from the public. You focus on the monsters that hide in the shadows. The ones that aren’t broadcasted on the news. The ones that take advantage of those weaker. Traffickers and gangs. Women, children, and drugs seem to be what’s circulated. Every time you take down one ring, ten more seem to pop up. It’s just as relentless as the usual villainous devastation.
They work in even the most populated cities, keeping everyone down. Girls go missing and people find themselves in debt to loan sharks that never yield.
No one’s around to see you beat normal people and the occasional super-powered thug to mush.
(“You’re doing good work,” Cecil compliments you, watching as his agents usher victims away from the remains of their prisons. They glance at you as they pass. You pretend you don’t notice. “Wasn’t expecting you to start handling the dirty work. We tend leave this kind of thing to our agents.”
You remain silent. Your father doesn’t answer to him. Neither do you. It was nothing personal. You just didn’t want to feel like a tool, more than you already do, at least.
“I get it. You like to work alone, just like your old man. But it would be better for the victims if you’re at least in contact with us. I— we can help.” Cecil offers you an earpiec .
You hesitate, “Don’t contact me for anything besides leads. I don’t do the whole public hero thing anymore.”
He smirks, “Sure, kid.”)
Your dad stares at you in confusion, and then irritation. You two argue.
“You don’t have to deal with this,” he struggles to find the words, “We’re above this. Squashing insects doesn’t make you any smarter or stronger. This isn’t growth. You’ll never change things, not really. You can’t change humanity.”
“I thought you were here to make a peaceful world,” you interject, “How can you do that if you think people are doomed to be infinitely cruel? Have you given up? You’re literally on a committee with the express purpose of helping people, which I’m doing! Throwing the same morons back into prison isn’t doing anything either!”
“Are you really prepared to change things? To change this world? To see the actual value of humans?” He questions with an intensity that cuts the words in your throat. “Do you think you’re ready?”
“Ready? What are you talking about?” You watch him place a hand over his face before turning away. “Dad?”
“Right now, you can’t make the hard choices,” your father concludes.
You two don’t resolve your disagreement, neither of you willing to bend.
Your mother and Mark try to ease the uncomfortable tension when the both of you are home.
“So, uh, how goes the heroing?” Mark asks, cutting into his lasagna.
“Fine,” you and your dad grunt before glaring at each other.
“And this isn’t awkward at all.”
(Your mom strokes your hair. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re going after…a different kind of danger?”
“Not really something to talk about over dinner,” you mumble, laying your head in her lap. “Or brag about.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
You stiffen.
“You’re helping so many people, my baby is a hero. You’re doing so good,” she whispers as your body shakes with sobs, “You always see what others don’t. My considerate girl.”)
You graduate. Rather than go to school, you pick up a camera. You get pictures of heroes no one else can get, see views that only you can find. You also don’t mind doing wedding pictures for some extra cash. You travel, you sometimes run into your dad in the skies. You two are better now. He probably sees your motivations as a phase. And maybe he’s right when it comes to near immortal beings.
Things are okay. Everything seems kind of grey, dull, even, but it’s okay.
Mark calls you one night. He got his powers. Something in you shrivels up. A foreboding feeling washing over you.
You come home. You and your dad sit at the kitchen table.
“You look like the world is ending,” you comment, narrowing your eyes when he doesn’t immediately reply. “I thought you were waiting for him to…become like us.”
“Things are going to be busy with me training Mark for the next little bit,” he speaks up, “I’d appreciate it if you stepped up a bit more.”
“…why? You seemed on top of things when I got my powers,” you note.
“We don’t have that kind of time anymore, Mark is already a late bloomer. I need to get him to your level as soon as possible. You’ve been slacking off on your training too. You’re only getting faster and your senses might be better than mine, but you need to get stronger, to stop holding back,” he stares down at his hands, clenching and unclenching them.
“You’re acting like you’re on a deadline,” you observe, “Are you okay?”
“Just,” he breathes out, “keep an eye out.”
Before you can say anything else, you hear your mom shuffle out of bed above you.
“Alright.”
Mark begins his training and your dad is weirdly wired. A tension residing in him. It’s noticeable to you and your mother.
(You find yourself comparing Mark to a cocoon. Metamorphosis. It’s hard to believe how much he’s grown. How much he’s growing. Who he’ll become.
Invincible, he declares as his name.
“Why can I still see you?” You ask, lounging on his bed.
“You’re not funny,” he scowls. You push yourself up.
“It’s a good name,” you smile at him. “But you do know we can still get the crap beaten out of us, even dad.”
“I know that!” Mark protests, throwing a pillow at you. You catch it and throw it with more than a little force.
Mark huffs as he catches it before, sending it back. And before you know it, you two are tussling like you’re kids again, trying to put the other in a headlock.
“Someone is suddenly a little too confident,” you laugh, before shoving him into the wall.
“And I think someone needs to knock you down a peg, you tyrant! You can’t bully me anymore!” Mark lunges at you but you simply step out of the way as he crashes onto the floor.
He huffs before letting out a chuckle, “We haven’t roughhoused like this since…you got your powers, I think.”
You pause, “I mean if I bumped into you too hard, you’d probably explode.”
“Hey! I wasn’t that scrawny!”
“No, that’s not what I mean. Just be careful around other people.” You warn before grinning, “I mean, yeah, you’ve always been a bit of a late bloomer so I did have to be extra delicate with you—!”
With a battle cry, Mark charges at you as you two begin grappling again. You both freeze when you hear your mom clearing her throat at the doorway.
“Sorry, mom.”
“My bad.”)
You meet your dad at the peak of Mount Everest once again. You’ve both gotten into the habit of visiting when you needed to think. He hasn’t come in a while.
“Sweetheart, do you trust me?” He asks finally turning to stare at you, bathed in orange light as the sky turns to dusk. “That I want the best for you and your brother. Your mother.”
“Of course I do, dad,” you say honestly. Despite his faults, he’s your dad and you know that he loves his family above all else.
“Then I need you to be strong. Stronger than you’ve ever been before.” He brings you in for a hug, cradling your head as if you were still a little girl. “You should go home tonight. I’ll be out late.”
“Okay, dad.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, get some rest.”
You don’t see him tomorrow, not really.
Your mom and brother jolt when they see you come down the stairs, wiping the sleep out of your eyes. Both of them already ready to start their day, unlike you.
“Honey, I didn’t realize you were here!” Your mom exclaims.
Your brother shoots you a look, “When did you even get here?”
“A couple of hours ago,” you yawn halfway through your words. “Dad not home?”
Your mom frowns, “No, he didn’t come back last night.”
“Mom, stop worrying,” Mark reassures her, “he probably got buried under a mountain again or something.”
You remain silent as she chuckles, “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
She heads to the door after telling you she bought more of your usual tea from the store as Mark picks up a box of cereal. “Don’t be late for school—“
You hear her gasp as two men in black stand outside your door.
Donald leads you into a government operated hospital, his exchange with Mark passing over you.
You’ve been here before. A couple of times. When you were inexperienced. You’ve never seen your dad beaten enough to warrant a visit.
Your brother and mother rush into his room, your father laying unconscious on a gurney, hooked up to different beeping machines. You stagger a bit behind them, noticing Cecil in the corner, who nods at you.
Your ears are buzzing as you look away, watching your mother already hover above your father.
“Who did this?” Mark asks sharply.
“We have no idea,” Cecil cuts in, as everyone turns to look at him. “Not yet, anyway. But we’ll find out and when we do, they’ll look a hell of a lot worse than your dad over there.”
He introduces himself to Mark, shaking his hand before acknowledging your mom. “Deborah. I’m so sorry.”
She stands up, glaring, “Cecil, you’ve got a lot of nerve—!”
“Someone murdered the Guardians of the Globe last night,” he interrupts as your mother gasps and your brother lets out an astonished ‘oh my god’.
It takes every muscle in your body to not flinch as you stare down at your comatose dad. Your dad never joined their team despite their numerous offers. He said liked to work alone. Even if attended their numerous parties and get togethers. Even when he laughed with them.
Cecil sighs, “All of them. Tore them down limb from limb. We tried like hell to bring them back, but Nolan was the only survivor.”
“How is that even possible?” Mark asks.
“We don’t know yet. We also don’t know why your dad was at Guardians HQ,” Cecil continues. “A working theory is whoever killed the Guardians, lured him down there to try to wipe them all out at once.”
You ignore Mark’s confusion and Cecil’s pragmatism. Your mother’s tearful demands wash over you, distraught that even your father could have a brush with death.
But you can’t focus on that.
You exit the room.
You might have been the last person your father saw before the attack yesterday. No, you know you were the last one.
(“—do you trust me?”)
“Your brother is out dealing with an invasion,” Cecil informs you, finding your crouched form in the hallway over.
You jolt up, “Where?”
He raises an eyebrow at you, “Not your area of focus, right? I’ve already sent the Teen Team to assist him.”
You’ve met them before. Members in between yours and Mark’s age. They asked you to join them, maybe two years ago.
“He’s new,” you remark, “I should—“
“Singularity,” Cecil interrupts, something he seems fond of doing, “You’re currently the strongest person on Earth.”
You freeze.
“I respect you. You do the work no one notices or wants to notice. The stuff that’s hard to digest. You don’t do it for the fame or recognition. I understand why you don’t want to get involved with the government, but I need your cooperation right now. Whoever did this could come after you next—“
You doubt it.
“And we need someone to pick up the slack more than ever. Can I count on you? Even if it means you’ll be out in the light?”
“Okay,” you nod.
“That easy?” He asks. You shrug.
“What do you need me to do?”
“As much as you can.”
You’ve never not lived in a cycle. You’re back where you started. Just beating down the bad guy that Cecil points you at.
Dragons, hairy beasts, and the Lizard League.
You’d rather you do it than Mark. He has enough to worry about.
You wonder what’s going to happen now. Cecil was using you to close the power vacuum the death of the Guardians would leave. You had to be fast and efficient so no one would notice their absence. So no one would get any smart ideas. You were sending a message that there were plenty of other heroes to fear. At least for the next few days.
You wish time would stop moving forward, just for a little bit. You feel so tired. You don’t want to do this. You’re sick of seeing people hurt other people. Of having to hurt people. But what would you be if you looked away? What would your family think of you if you didn’t help when you had the ability to do so? Were you anyone without these powers at this point?
Your life consisted of nothing but the job, whether it was black market dealers or experiments gone wrong, you had to wear the suit.
(“—be strong.”)
You almost dread the moment your father will awaken. It won’t be long. They might not know much about your species’ durability, but you had a guess.
(“Hey,” Mark’s voice echoes from your phone. “I saw you on TV. Back in the limelight, a bunch of theorists think you’re trying out for the Globe.”
He pauses.
“If,” he starts, “If you need any help—“
“Focus on school,” you interject. “And I heard you fought off those Flaxans pretty well yesterday.”
You hear his breath stutter.
“I know mom left some stuff in the freezer, but do you want me to pick up anything?”
“Sushi,” Mark replies instantly.
“Yeah, I think there’s a place near me—“
“From that one place in Nagoya.”
“Bro.”
“Bro,” Mark pleads, “I know you carry that insulated bag with you. I’ll pay you back.”
“With your burger money?”
“Elitist, but yeah.”
“I’d feel like a bully, so just buy me, like, fifteen milkshakes.”
“I think that’s still just extortion.”)
You get a frantic call from your mom that he’s awake. When you burst into his room you narrowly avoiding your brother crashing into you.
“Careful,” you chide him but he ignores you to approach the now conscious man.
You watch them.
After changing out of your costume and into your civvies, you watch Mark brush off your father’s hand. You sigh. Your mother told you the older woman he had saved hadn’t made it. Your father didn’t seem too concerned, instead turning to the nurse at the front desk, demanding his costume back.
“Manners,” you scold, walking to stand next to him. He only glances at you as the nurse leaves to retrieve the damaged suit.
“You did good, covering for me,” he commends.
“Guess I’ll have to do it a little longer while you recover,” you note. “Don’t take too long, I have my own stuff to get back to.”
Your dad only scoffs before your mother intervenes.
“I’m just glad we’ll all be home again!”
You and your father share a glance. He knows you know.
“I gotta get going,” you step away, “I just wanted to make sure dad was okay. Cecil needs me to go do…something.”
(“Why didn’t you and dad ever tell me that there’s an orange, telepathic cyclops alien that shows up every once in a while?” Mark demands.
“Oh, I don’t know. Three years ago, while I was chilling on the moon, he showed up, I punched him, and then I got to dad to deal with it,” you explain, “Freaked me out.”
“And you didn’t try to talk to him?”
“I was in the middle of some really deep thinking when he showed up,” you defend yourself, “But, he had the wrong planet? That’s funny.”
He groans out your name in exasperation.)
“Singularity,” Cecil’s voice rings out in your ear, “You’re needed. Your brother and the Teen Team aren’t doing so hot—“
“Send me the coordinates.”
When you’re fifty kilometres away, your dad joins you.
“Shouldn’t you be resting?” You ask.
He ignores you, “These Flaxans are on their third attempt to invade?”
“That’s right.”
He grunts, “Let me show you how to nip this kind of thing in the bud.”
“What?”
“Follow my lead. We’ll talk after. I know I owe you that much.”
When you arrive, Mark is being beaten by a Flaxan in a mech suit. Speeding up, you punch the alien off your baby brother, before tossing him into the air with a yell. Omni-man catches him as you turn away.
“Are you okay?” You fret as you crouch down to lift him out of the crater he was slumped in. He groans in pain before perking up at seeing your dad.
In his usual effortless fashion, Omni-man has the army’s attention as he wipes the aliens out in an instant after proving that their attacks could do nothing to him.
Your brother watches in awe as he forces the intruders to retreat back into their portals.
“Singularity,” he calls out from above you, nudging his head toward the last of the Flaxans. The one in the mech suit, the one that wanted to beat your brother to death, still wasn’t keen on leaving, despite the portal behind him.
You close your eyes before turning to your brother, giving his shoulder a squeeze as he stares at you in confusion. “You did good.”
And in the next instant, in tandem, you and Omni-man fly at the enemy with a burst of speed, the three of you disappearing into the portal. The last thing you hear is Mark call out for your dad, and for you. Your name echoing from behind you. You couldn’t even blame him for the secret identity thing.
(Their planet was red. The rocks beneath your feet, the lighting, and even the fear in their eyes as they started at you like you were their reckoning.
“You don’t seem to understand,” Your dad speaks with a menace in his tone unlike anything you’ve ever heard, “Earth isn’t yours to conquer.”
“Dad?”
He looks back at you, and he’s almost remorseful, “Just watch, and I promise I’ll explain everything.
You couldn’t even move if you wanted to. You watched a civilization fall to ruin, buildings collapsing, innocents screaming. It wouldn’t stop. Your dad, who used to throw you in the air until you were screaming with joy, always catching you with strong hands, was now the cause of pure terror.
With a surge of courage, you tackle him, both of you plummeting down to the ground.
“What are you doing?” You cry, gripping his face, “Just stop!”
He says your name, hands grabbing your wrists, “This is what needs to be done.”
“You’re insane,” you state, “you’re actually insane—“
In a quick turn, he throws you down by the wrists before you can react, with a strength you’ve never experienced before.
When you sit up, the screams are louder. Your crash created a crater, but your eyes widen at the sudden warmth you feel, covering your legs, back, and hands.
It’s red. Not again. It’s red.
It’s in your mouth, in your nose, and the only thing you can see is red.
You think you’re screaming, crying. You’re fourteen again, the same idiot that fell and caused devastation. You can’t breathe, you’re choking on your own sobs. You don’t know how much time has passed, only blinking into awareness when you feel your father pulling you into his arms, shushing you as he presses your face into his shoulder.
You cry out in defiance, pushing your hands against him, but his grip only tightens against you.
“It’s okay, it’s over,” he whispers.
“You killed them,” you hiccuped, “The Guardians—“
“I had to—“
“You didn’t! You didn’t have to—“
“I know this is hard, that you never wanted to be a hero,” he interrupts, “And a part of me was always glad about that. That you recognized the futility of it all. But, that only makes it worse on you. You more than anyone knows how crooked and violent that world is, that no matter how many so called heroes appear, it will never end. Not unless people like us step in. Force them to stop, even if it means having to be cruel, to be the monsters in their eyes. For the greater good.”
“Dad—“
“From the moment I stepped foot onto that planet, its fate was already decided. That Earth would become a part of our empire. No more disease or famine. No more lives being sold or slaughtered. But, I faltered. If you and Mark were just human——I couldn’t let them find out about you. But you’re not human. And you don’t need to have these human problems anymore,” he continues, stroking your hair with his bloodied hand. “But I need you to be strong. For your brother and mom. For yourself. For your survival and theirs. We can’t defy the empire. The weak aren’t allowed to live among us, so you need to stop crying.”
“No, no, I can’t,” you try to object.
“You can and you will. For a better world, one where your mom can grow old in, where you and your brother will have each other as everyone around you ages and dies. This is the only way, your empathy will only doom you. Us. So let me—-let me make the hard choices until you can.” He finishes as you cease struggling, only lying limply against him.
As your vision blackens, you hope you don’t wake up.
(Time passes on a different rate on this planet. Your father forces its inhabitants to send you back home, something they are more than willing to do. The days blur together, your father gently cajoling you into drinking and eating in your detached state, cradling you to his chest like you’re a kid. Maybe you still are one. Still unable to handle the pressure, stupid and weak as you are.
You leave behind death and destruction as you return back to your planet, guided by your father.)
You and your father leave those issues outside of the house, so when you return home, your gait is casual even if you look battered.
Entering first, your father walks in, only a bit tired, as if he hasn’t doomed a whole planet.
“I need a shower,” he sighs.
“I called dibs,” you shoot back, following behind him as if you hadn’t spent days crying and cursing him out.
Mark and your mom jump from their seats, pulling you two into an embrace.
“Woah, group hug?” You laugh as your dad holds all three of you in his arms.
You stop when you hear the announcer on the TV declare that the Guardians are dead.
A day later, you find yourself dressed in black, accompanying your family to the televised funeral of the Guardians; heroes, civilians, and the press all attending.
Your father, the murderer, begins his eulogy. You clench your coat in between your fists, scrunching your eyes closed. It’s almost laughable.
Your mom nudges you, “Are you alright? You look…anxious.”
You smile at her, “Just a bit crowded.”
Hours later, you attend the second, and real, funeral. Olga sobbing as the actual caskets lay in front of you. You hold an umbrella over your mother’s head as your father begins to speak. You wonder how sincere he’s being.
“Good to see you again, despite the circumstances. I didn’t realize you three were all related,” Eve greets you.
“Don’t want any nepotism accusations. You know how it is,” you joke with Mark scoffing at you, but you notice his lips twitch.
People soon begin to leave as the rain continues. You watch from a distance as the detective from hell stands off against your father. He’s onto him. You shudder.
(When you turn to leave, your parents stop you.
“Honey, are you sure you don’t want to come home with us?” Your mom looks at you in worry, you feel like that’s all you do to her now.
“Come on, you can choose what we have for dinner,” your dad bribes. You keep your face flat.
“Some publishers approached me about some of my action shots. For the Guardian’s memorial pages,” you explain, squeezing Mark’s arm before turning away.
You feel your father’s stare until you disappear from sight.)
“You sure you won’t consider a place on the team? I wouldn’t even ask you to tryout,” Cecil offers.
“You said you had a ring you wanted me to dismantle?” You deflect.
The man studies you, “Are you okay? Looking a little worse for wear there.”
“Not a fan of funerals.”
“Who is?” The man clears his throat, “You know, we offer a lot of services for heroes. In case, you needed someone to talk to. Our NDAs are ironclad.”
You jolt, “What? I’m fine. Just…tired.”
You don’t meet his dubious gaze.
(Your mom pulls you aside one day.
“You know you can talk to me,” your mom says, “I know you’d want Mark to talk about his problems. You can do the same. You don’t have to leave it out of the house, like your father says to.”
“I know, mom,” you reply.
She frowns at you, “Cecil told me…about what happened when you were younger. It wasn’t your fault.”
You hum, “It was a long time ago. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I asked dad to keep it secret. I didn’t want to…”
When you trail off, she wraps her arms around you, “You’ve helped so many people, but you don’t have to keep doing it. Not at the expense of yourself. It’s your life, you’re still young. Do what makes you happy. You can stop.”
Once, those words would have been your salvation. Now, it’s no longer an option.
“I know, mom,” you smile.
She pulls away to cup your face, “When was the last time you ate something?”
“I had a light breakfast,” you lie.
“Then you’ll have room for some soup. I made your favourite,” she declares confidently, but you see the defeat in her eyes.)
“You have a girlfriend?” You question.
“Why are you saying it like that?” Mark demands.
“Dude, you’re a superhero, high school student slash part timer! How are you going to have any time left?” You ask.
“I’ll make it work,” he insists.
“You’re delusional.”
“And you’re mean.”
(“…are you okay? You’re a bit quiet.” Mark later asks as you two play your usual racing game.
“Need to focus to beat you.”
“You’re in last place. Like always,” Mark teases, “And I meant it in, like, general.”
“Just adult stuff.”
“I’m literally eighteen now.”
“You’re a baby.”
“You can’t even legally drink alcohol yet!”
“In this country.”
“I’m telling mom!”
“I didn’t say I actually drank anything, you snitch!”)
You avoid going home for a while.
Your father hasn’t made any moves. He won’t make any. He’s hesitating. The childish part of you thinks it’s because he’s your father before a Viltrumite. Even if you don’t visit home, you visit him. You argue. You scream. He threatens and bargains. Sometimes he almost reveals something human. Other times, he berates you. Telling you that you’d be the cause of Earth’s destruction, unless you listen.
You can’t fight him.
No matter how many times you try to imagine it, you don’t see yourself beating your dad. You don’t think you could even try.
(Mark calls you one night. He wants to help take down a gang. You already know your father wasn’t happy about that.
“If you feel like your intel is legitimate then go for it. Dad’s never appreciated anything that doesn’t involve some epic battle.” You explain. “You need backup?”
“Nah, I’ll be fine. It’s just this teleporter dude I have to worry about.”
“Remain vigilant, you never what kind of BS desperate idiots will pull.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m more worried about Amber—“
You groan, “You high schoolers are actually so annoying.”)
The next time you see your family, Mark is half dead and being operated on. You can only watch as your parents argue behind you. Your mom pulls you away from the operating room window.
You and your mom stay overnight while your father visits after his patrols. He doesn’t wake up until nearly a week later.
You almost laugh when the first thing on his mind is how he blew off his girlfriend.
(As you’re leaving, Cecil pulls you aside.
“Hey, is everything alright with you and your dad?” He asks. He almost sounds like a CPS worker.
“Yeah, why do you ask?”
“You seem to be avoiding him like the plague, is all. I thought you two were close.” He comments.
Your mouths opens but no sound escapes it. You almost tell him. But you hear your dad’s footsteps approaching.
“Didn’t take you for a gossip,” you chuckle, “I really have to get going though.”)
You’re in Iceland, taking photos of puffins, living in existential dread. This is your life now.
You nearly cry when your phone’s ring rouses you from your sleep. You look around in confusion before realizing you’re in your hotel room. The ringing ends, only to begin again, vibrating noisily against your nightstand.
It’s your mom. You pick up the phone.
“Honey, listen to me carefully—!”
The call cuts off.
“Seriously?” You huff, realizing your phone just died before getting up to search for your charger, rooting around your bag.
After ten minutes of less than fruitful looking, you exit your hotel room to go ask the front desk if they have one instead.
When you walk out of the elevator, you notice a crowd of employees huddled around the lobby television.
When you take a closer look, you notice a familiar kaiju beating up Omni-man and Invincible. Your dad and brother. And Immortal is back from the dead. And now trying to kill your dad.
Phone forgotten, you fly back to your room ignoring the people blown back, looking around confused.
With your costume now on you take off faster than you ever have before. Iceland to somewhere outside of Chicago. Yeah, definitely easy.
By the time you arrive, you see that the kaiju is tied up and that the Immortal is in two pieces on the ground. But your father and brother are missing.
You close your eyes and listen. Before turning to look at where Chicago is; people screaming, buildings collapsing.
“Oh, fuck.”
You find them in a destroyed subway tunnel. Mark covered in red. Your dad’s hand tainted with the same colour. You can smell it. The remains of hundreds of people scattered among the rubble.
Mark whispers your name. He’s scared and he’s hurt, and it’s all Omni-man’s fault.
“Mark,” you begin gently, “Get out of here. Go find mom.”
He starts to protest, but your dad interrupts him, calling your name sternly, eyes red and bloodshot. “Neither of you are anywhere. Not until you both understand.”
“You’ve lost it,” you laugh before charging at him in an instant, arms hooking around him as you break through the damaged ceiling, throwing him into the orange sky above, away from the crying city. Before he can regain his balance, you strike him again, to create more distance.
“You’re still not listening,” He admonishes before closing the gap, gripping you by the shoulders. “My time here has been a speck in the span of my life. You don’t know me, neither of you do. I will burn this planet before I spend another minute living among these animals.”
“Animals?” You’re almost hysterical at this point, “Are you saying that you’d start a family with an animal, you sick fucking bastard—“
He goes to strike you, but you place a hand between his shoulder and neck, and you squeeze—
He shouts in pain but you ignore it, you have to ignore it, as you bring your other hand to punch him down.
You’re not stronger than him. But you are faster. And he’s weak. Tired.
You tackle him in the air, head against his hip as you crush back into the ground a couple hundred miles away from where you left Mark.
He growls your name throwing a punch that you duck under, kicking him in the ribs with punishing force.
He stares at you shocked. For the first time, you’re brutal with your blows, unrelenting. He can take it.
With a cry, you charge again.
Kicking, punching, and even biting, you exchange blows with your father as if you two were nothing more than beasts that are beyond reason.
With a quick kick to his knee, you force him to stagger, seizing the opportunity to wrap your hands around his neck and push him down, following him as you crouch above, and squeeze, trying to crush his windpipes so he can never let out a breath again, never hurt anyone again.
One of his hands grips your forearm, breaking it, but you don’t relent. His other hand, slams against your ribs repeatedly until your choking back blood, but you can’t relent.
As you watch his eyes grow redder and dazed, you realize he’s crying.
No, he’s not crying. Your own tears are falling onto his face.
Mark shouts your name, and you stop immediately, pulling your hands back, frightened.
Your dad struggles to breath again, staring up at you.
“You were almost there,” he exhales, and maybe you imagine it, but you see guilt flash across his expression, before he jabs four of his fingers through your stomach, before pulling out, blood coating his knuckles as you gasp. You feel frozen before you begin to tip, falling onto the ground as your father gets up. He turns you to your side as blood gushes out of your mouth. The gentleness contrasting his cruelty.
(When you were younger, every Christmas, Mark would wake up at the asscrack of dawn to run downstairs. Your mom would have to stop him, telling him he would have to wait for you to wake up before you could all open your presents as a family.
So, every Christmas, he would burst into your room, jumping onto your bed, shaking you as he called your name over and over—)
He’s calling your name over and over, begging you to get up. Mark, your baby brother, hovers above you. He’s crying. You try to ask why didn’t he leave. To warn him that Omni-man is behind him. You’re forced to watch as the man you called dad wrenches Mark away from you despite his struggles, taking off into the sky again.
You slowly but surely begin to shift your legs, moving your unbroken arm against the ground to push yourself up. You ignore your trembling limbs and the way your body cries in protest.
You nearly fall back down, when a sphere like drone begins to speak. Cecil.
“Stay down, we’ll send help—“
“Where,” you breathe out, ignoring the blood seeping out as you talk, “are they?”
Cecil tries to stop you in vain but you push yourself up into a kneeling position, watching blood pour out of your stomach.
“Coordinates.”
Nepal. Mount Everest.
Should you laugh or cry?
You find them in a crater. Because that’s what you Viltrumites do, get beaten until the ground cracks beneath you. Mark is worse off than you, you think. Face bloodied and brutalized. Omni-Man standing above him, a weird tension in his body. He’s distraught. He turns to meet your gaze.
He leaves. Straight into the sky, away from you.
Mark murmurs your name. You stagger over to him before dropping to your knees.
“It’s over, it’s okay, you’re okay,” you nearly snivelled, gripping his hand. He’s battered and beaten, but he’s alive. Your brother is alive. “…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Mark.”
You stay there for hours, as Mark loses consciousness. Only perking up when you hear the noise of Cecil’s helicopter. Your mom jumps out alongside paramedics. Her hands hover above you brokenly, as she takes in your injured body, tears in her eyes.
You watch as Mark is carried away.
“‘M sorry, mom,” you apologize, feeling your sight blur before collapsing, as your mom holds onto you, calling for help.
You hope you don’t wake up.
You wake up before Mark. Your mom at your side. You feel like a walking bruise. Your arm in a cast, and your stomach flickering between numbness and agony.
She’s stroking your head. You can tell she’s still holding back tears.
“You did so good,” she sniffed. You fall asleep to her assurances.
Despite seeming to be in worse state than you, Mark is out of bed before you. Your stomach wound is particularly annoying, it seems. You did not enjoy having to use a feeding tube.
He stares down at you, with teary eyes. “I’m—“
“Thanks for stopping me, Mark, I don’t think I would have survived, otherwise.”
His face cracks.
“He told me before you.” You admit. “It’s my fault, not yours. I didn’t want you or mom to know. I thought I could stop him, change his mind. I guess I didn’t really know him. Don’t blame yourself.”
“You shouldn’t either,” Mark responds, gripping your hand, “It wasn’t right, how he was treating you, what he told you——you were just a kid. Even now, it’s still not okay, you’re his daughter. He shouldn’t have treated you like that.”
When you look at him in confusion, he elaborates, “He mentioned some of the stuff he told you. It wasn’t fair of him to make you hide that stuff. You were only thirteen, and even now…”
You close your eyes when you feel them water. You didn’t want him or mom to feel guilty. Not because of you. Because you were too weak to even have made a difference.
“It’s going to be okay, he’s,” your brother chokes, “gone now.”
When your brother is cleared to go home, you insist they return without you. That they’ve spent enough time in a hospital. Your mom acquiesces. You feel worse because she probably thinks you’re trying to avoid her. For not knowing. But that was your choice, your fault, not hers.
Nolan Grayson is dead. Omni-man is a traitor to humanity. You know things are only going to get worse from here.
You startle when you hear a knock on your temporary room’s door.
“We need to talk.” Cecil states, making himself comfortable in the chair adjacent to your bed.
You sigh wearily.
“Let’s talk.”
Omni-man: Sweetie, you’re not like other girls, and I mean that in a non-misogynistic way.
Singularity:
*
Omni-man, watching as Singularity has a panic attack on the bloodied remains of Flaxans: I really need you to not snitch on me. We’ll literally all die. It’s your fault, by the way.
*
Omni-man: I made her strong!
Cecil: You gave her PTSD and depression??
*
Singularity, staring into the mirror: you stupid piece of shit, go kill yourself
Debbie:
*
Rex: Yeah, and Invincible has a hot sister—
Mark: Yeah—wait, what!?
Rex: you have a hot sister?
Mark: We are so not cool anymore!
*
Omni-man after gravely injuring Singularity: Oh my Shaylaaaaa
Omni-man after beating the shit out of Mark: Why did you make me do this!?
*
Rex: So, I’m single, you’re single, so why don’t we—
Mark: No, not doing this, nope.
Singularity: how to kms
*
Singularity after being dropped in DC: No, you can’t adopt me! Wtf is wrong with you, besides your dumbass name
Batman: I will get you therapy
I somehow finished this before season 3, omg. Yeah Nolan isn’t a good person and definitely put too much pressure on an actual child. I think I did decent with hinting that even before season one, he had issues, especially having to train his daughter. And most people wouldn’t notice because he screams girl dad but he’s actually bad!!
Also please, please tell me if there are any grammar errors in this behemoth. The notes app doesn’t have spellcheck! Or word count…
wc: 1728 // cw: kinda spoilers for the comics, smut, dubcon, rough sex, reader has an alien body with human adjacent genitalia (pussy) // based on this request
a/n: i really took the 'alien reader' to heart and ran with it
[edit]: i've added Earth's Mark perspective!
The sky above you is pale and clear, with the main star shining bright and low, slowly making its way past the horizon. Your head is spinning, but not too bad—the soft, dewy, green bedding you landed on made the impact a little less painful.
You sit up and massage the throbbing spot right behind your rear left antenna. Everything around is so colorful, with lots of different species of plants you've never seen before blooming with what must be this planet's flowers.
The last thing you remember is screaming. And it was you, obviously. Mark would never make a peep, no matter how terrified he truly felt. Perks of Viltrumite training, I guess.
Wait—Where is he, anyway?
Wiping off dust from your spacesuit, you explore the area, looking for your mate. But he's nowhere to be seen. So you get into the air and fly away, eyes flicking around in search for the heir.
It's not like you're worried. Not for him, at least. Mark can fend for himself, and so can you. And together you're indestructible, but on your own—not as much. And since you have absolutely zero idea what planet did you land on, it's best to find him and get out of here.
You might encounter absolutely anything and anyone here; there's no way of knowing if this planet is home to creatures aggressive and vile like the Ragnars, or rather peaceful and kind like the Thraxans. It's also quite possibly not a Viltrum colony, since no one greeted you the moment you hit the ground like a meteorite, struck down like a rookie by some damned satellite.
Calling for him is pointless; if he's near, he will hear you, or find you by your scent. Otherwise, you're risking outing yourself as vulnerable on an alien planet. And if anything hurts you, Mark will wipe any and every species off the surface of this place.
Tall buildings start popping on the horizon line, smaller settlements with tiny houses below you. The area looks calm, peaceful and quiet. But you know you can't trust it, not until—
"Mark!" You yelp happily and glide down at your maximum speed, tackling him to the ground. He lands on his back, arms covering his face as you straddle him with your legs. "I am so happy I've found you—" you mumble between peppering his arms with kisses, and that's when you realize he looks different.
"What are you wearing?" You lean back, resting your weight on all four hands bracketing his head and shoulders. "Or, never mind. Better tell me where the hell are we—stop covering your face!" You groan, forcibly trying to remove his arms, but to no avail. "What is wrong with you?"
"Leave me alone!" Mark shouts and pushes you off him, much gentler than you expected. Something's off, and it settles heavy in your chest, both of your hearts dropping low.
"Hey…" You crawl back to him and try to cradle his face, but he sits up, his back facing you. "It's me," your voice trembles now, as you slowly move closer to him, "your mate."
"I don't know you!"
The words hit you like a thousand daggers. He must be hurt, there's no other explanation for this odd behavior.
"Mark…" you whisper and rest your right hands on his back, smoothing them down the line of the rigid muscles you know so well. When he tenses at your touch like a cornered animal, you gasp. What has this planet done to him?
"You don't remember me?" You question, inching closer, your breath warming his neck. Then, an idea pops up in your head. And so you snake on your right arms around his torso, with one of your left hands threading through his silky, black hair. "I think you need a little reminder," you coo, your lips grazing the back of his ear.
Mark's body is softer than you remember, but as warm as always. His skin prickles when you slide your hand under the weird top he's wearing. You smirk; your plan working just as you wished it would.
"Look at me," you purr and not waiting for his reply, you take his chin and turn his head towards you, until your lips meet his in the softest, gentlest kiss you two ever shared.
It doesn't last long until you're suddenly airborne, Mark left on the ground with eyes open wide like the full moon, shock and terror written all over his face. You want to turn, see who has this steel hold on all four of your hands, until the familiar smell hits your scent glands.
"I'm taking you back home. Now," your Mark growls and flies off with the speed of light, leading you to a glowing, purple portal.
Before you know it, you're back on Viltrum—familiar shade of gray stretching everywhere your eyes can reach. Then, in a blink of an eye, you're in your shared quarters, your back hitting the wall so forcefully all air is kicked out of you.
"You've betrayed me." Mark spits slowly, his fingers curled tight around your neck. With your legs above the ground, you scrape them against the smooth wall for some purchase, but he only pushes you more against the surface.
"I—I thought—it was—you—" You rasp, all four of your hands holding his arm. But that explanation only makes him more furious, as he furrows his brows over his dark, soulless eyes.
"You've mistaken me for some pathetic copy?"
"He—he smelled—" you gulp, very close to running out of oxygen, "—exactly the same—"
"Liar!" He loses it completely and screams, then throws you across the room until you hit the bed with your ass up. Before you get a chance to move, Mark's rough, claiming hands are on you, ripping the bottom of your Viltrumite colony suit into pieces.
"That man you allegedly thought was me," Mark pants, pressing on your bare ass with his already hard cock, "reeked of weakness, and fear."
You whine when he rolls his hips against you and shouts, "And I'm no coward! Say it!"
"You're—" you choke on a sob at his rough fingers sliding up into both of your holes, "—not a coward."
Mark takes away his hand from your already wet folds and smears the slick on your cheeks, before lowering himself, his voice getting low and dangerous as he whispers against your cheek, "Need I remind you, who's your one and only owner?"
With tears streaming down your face, you nod vigorously, but he only grabs your mouth forcefully, making you look at him. "Answer me, now."
"Yes—please, I want—" you yelp as he smacks your ass, correcting your choice of words, "—need a reminder."
"Thought so," he replies, his voice gravelly and laced with heat.
You don't have to wait long, as he grabs both of your lower arms with one hand at the small of your back, his other hand busy with breaking free from the confines of his suit. He hisses when cool air lick his hardened length, only to soothe it seconds later, gliding the tip along your folds.
It only takes him one clean thrust to bury himself up to the hilt, and then he immediately starts rocking his hips with relentless speed and force. You barely have time to adjust to his size, whines and whimper spilling out of you, when Mark pushes his thumb inside your puckered hole.
'I should—execute you—for that," he groans, not slowing down despite your two free arms grabbing at him. "To dishonor me—nhgf—the heir, is treason."
"Please…" you manage between uncontrollable cries, as his cock hits that perfect spot inside you over and over again. With addition of his thumb going in and out your ass, you're pitifully close to your orgasm, the whole dynamic getting you there insanely fast.
"If you're begging for forgiveness—" his voice goes down an octave, laced with effort as hips hit against yours even faster, bed frame squeaking and threatening to break, "—do it properly."
"Forgive me! Please!"
"So pathetic." You can almost hear the faintest smirk in his voice, but it doesn't worry you, because Mark snakes his hand around your waist to your clit, and presses it with the perfect pressure, sending you right over the edge.
You grab and twist your fingers around the plain bedding, your body shaking like a leaf on the wind and coat his length and suit with your slick.
This brings him closer too, as after only a few more thrusts, he still against you and spills hot, white ropes inside you, with quiet groans leaving his cold, plush lips.
For a moment, his chamber is quiet if not for your ragged breaths. When he pulls out, you tremble, feeling his cum trickling down your pussy. Mark throws a wet rag at you with disgust, but you know him well enough to see there's silent praise in his judging look, too.
"Clean yourself. You stink of that pitiful knock-off version of me."
You get up from the bed and wipe away whatever you can, before picking up the shredded pieces of your suit from the ground. When you look up, Mark is already naked—and hard, again.
"Why are you still dressed? You look ridiculous." He raises a brow, staring at the offending remnants of fabric clinging to your chest. Without a peep you free yourself of your top and come up closer to him, risking resting all of your hands on his chest and abdomen.
"On your knees," Mark commands calmly, "you're not forgiven yet."
🪐👽⭐️💜
Mark Grayson, a regular human teenage boy, was still sitting on the ground after someone who looked exactly like him dragged away a green and pink, four-armed alien girl—who kissed him like she knew him—through a purple, glowing portal.
He stared at the sky, were the two of them just vanished, still bewildered. Not with the existence of dimension portals, aliens or his doppelgangers—when your dad's a Viltrumite, you're fully aware of such things.
No, he was terrified with the fact that he liked it—liked her kissing him, and that he was enamored by her smell of all things. And the worst part is, he's probably never going to see her again.
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