Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everything changed a few months after his ninth birthday. He remembered and thought about that day a lot.

Mark was lounged in bed looking through the latest Guardians of the Globe comic, waiting for his parents to get back from an appointment. Their neighbour’s daughter, Janice, was downstairs watching tv since his mom had asked her to babysit while they were gone for a few hours.

Mom seemed to be going to those a lot lately even though they never really talked about what it was.

He was pretty sure the appointments were for the hospital, which was weird since they hardly ever went to the hospital. His dad always complained about it when his mom would ask him to make appointments, which he guessed made sense since his dad was Omni-man and apparently Viltrumites never got sick.

His mom still took him to get his vaccine and flu jab though, even though his dad kept saying he didn’t need it since his Viltrumite half would supposedly sort out any human diseases or viruses.

He looked up from his comic book when he heard some noise from downstairs and his parents' voices. He heard Janice talking as well, tv turned off, and some exchanges of ‘thank you’ and ‘call any time’.

His gaze shifted to the window when the front door was closed, Janice walking down the driveway back to her house.

“Mark!” His mom called him from the hallway. “Could you…” There was something weird about her voice, making him frown. “Could you come down here, please?”

Mark’s frown grew. “Okay!” He put his comic book on the bed and went downstairs, something in his stomach giving a twist for some reason.

When he rounded the corner of the stairs he could see his parents on the couch, and his dad was holding his mom’s and she… there was a look on her face that made him feel anxious.

He hesitated on the last step, holding onto the bannister tight. “… Is everything okay?”

His mom’s face broke out into a comforting smile when she saw him, but the smile looked cracked. “Honey, come sit here.”

Mark’s frown deepened, walking over to his parents who made room for him in the middle. “So… what’s wrong?”

His mom took a deep breath, placing a hand on his head. “Do you know when… when grandpa was in the hospital for a while, but then he got better?”

He nodded, remembering it had been when he was around eight. “Uh, yeah… because he was sick?” His stomach plummeted.“Are you… you’re sick too?” He swallowed, feeling his chest tighten. “That’s why you’re going to all those appointments because…” He swallowed again, his mouth tasting like curdled milk. “You’re sick, right?”

His mom looked away briefly before nodding, staring at him with resolve. “Yes. I’m sick.”

“Your mother has lung cancer, son,” his dad finally spoke, voice quiet and calm.

Mark’s eyes widened, looking over his shoulder. “What?”

His mom couldn’t… he knew a lot of people got cancer but… but this was his mom. It wasn’t meant to happen. It just wasn’t.

“But, just like grandpa, I’ll get better.” She pulled him into a hug. “Everything’s going to be fine, Mark,” she said quietly, pressing his head to her chest tightly. “It’s gonna be okay.”

Mark held onto her tight, a lump gathering in his throat, holding onto her tighter when his eyes stung. “But… but what if you die?”

His mom was quiet for a moment. “Mark…” She took a deep breath and gently loosened her hold, cupping his face in her hands, wiping away a small tear gathering under his eye. “I know this is scary, and it’s alright to be upset,” she reassured him. “But I’m going to fight this with everything I’ve got.”

Mark’s eyes stung more. “But… but why can’t dad do something?” He turned to his dad quickly. “You could use your blood or…or um…” His tears built up, hands shaking a little while his dad stared at him with a faint frown. “Or there’s gotta be a superhero who could-could fix and—"

“Mark…” His mom grimaced a little, touching his shoulder.

“That’s not how it works, son,” his dad said, placing a hand on his back.

Mark’s eyes welled up with more tears, as he felt a rise of anger. “And, why not!?” He pushed them away and got off the couch. “You’re Omni-man, you’re supposed to be able to fix this!”

His dad tensed, calmness wavering as he clenched his fists on his lap.

“Mark!” His mom chided, standing up. “That’s enough.”

“No!” Mark felt the tears trail down his cheek, wanting to scream. “It’s true!” He ran back upstairs, a sob building up in his throat.

“Mark!” His dad shouted.

He ignored him and ran to his bedroom, slamming the door shut.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been crying, but when his tears dried out, the sky outside was dark.

Then, there was a small knock on the door. “Mark…” His dad’s voice was quiet. “…I got takeout… fresh from Hong Kong. Though technically it’s more their breakfast than dinner, but the food’s still good.”

Mark buried his face in his pillow, letting out a shaky breath, keeping his back to the door. “I’m not hungry…”

There was a pause from the other side of the door until it opened and he could hear his dad walk in. “I know this is hard.” His dad closed the door behind him. “And, I understand you’re just angry and upset.”

Mark held back a sob threatening to come back up. “…Is mom gonna die?”

The bed dipped when his dad sat down. “I hope not, but…” His dad sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We do have to prepare ourselves for the worst case.”

The sob came out broken, as Mark curled up into a tight ball. “I don’t want mom to die.”

“I know, son.” His dad sighed again. “But… life is fragile and your mother, she’s a strong woman but she’s still…” His dad trailed off. “Mark.” He gently pulled Mark to sit up. “Look at me. Do you trust me?”

Mark sniffled and sat up, resting his back against the bed frame as he wiped his eyes. “…Yeah.”

“Then I need you to trust that I’ll take care of things, and I need you to be strong for your mother.” His dad’s hand felt heavy on his shoulder. “She’s got enough on her plate than having to worry about us.” His dad squeezed his shoulder a little. “Things will be hard, but right now the only thing that matters is putting your mom’s feelings first and supporting her. Do you understand?”

His chest tightened, hunching his shoulders up.  “Yeah, I understand.” He rubbed his eyes, feeling guilty for making things worse. “I’m sorry I yelled, I just…”

“I know you were just upset.” His dad’s smile was grim. “It was a lot take in, I know I was shocked at first.”

Mark nodded, trying to calm down. “…But, can the Viltrumites really not do anything?” he asked hesitantly. “You said they helped planets and cured all diseases and stuff?”

“Human DNA is tricky, son,” his dad replied. “Trust me, if my blood could cure cancer the government would have me hooked up to an IV all day…” He sighed. “Your mom’s going to get the best treatment the hospital can give, and what help we can give is staying strong for her and taking on more responsibilities around the house.”

He nodded, looking down, thinking of how much this would change things. “I can make my own lunches from now on,” he said after a moment, trying to think of ways he could help his mom and dad. “And, I’ll clean my room without her even asking, and do the dishes too!” He’d clean the whole house all day if it meant his mom would get better. “I don’t want her to worry.”

His dad smiled faintly and pulled him close. “I know, son. Neither do I.”

Mark rested his head on his dad’s side, curling in close.

The sun was setting over the neighbourhood.

“Mark, you don’t need to do that.” His mom’s voice was exasperated.

Mark paused from dusting the bedroom window, looking over his shoulder. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.” He clutched the duster tight. “Dust is bad, everything needs to be clean, that’s what Doctor Lay said.”

His mom looked amused a little, laying in bed and looking tired. “I think I can handle some dusting.” She patted the bed. “Come here.”

He put down the duster and sat on the bed next to her. “Do you want some more water?” He glanced at the empty cup by her dinner tray which had some empty bowls by it. “Or some painkillers—”

“Whoa, calm down there, Mother Theresa.” His mom chuckled faintly, coughing a little, which made him grow worried. “I’m fine, I’m going to get a shower in a bit.” She smiled warmly. “And, you need to do your homework.”

“I can do that later,” he argued, frowning. “Helping you is more important.”

His mom sighed. “You’re helping enough,” she reassured. “School’s important too, and you need to do your homework.”

His frown deepened, but he didn’t argue. “Okay, fine…”

His mom kissed the top of his head. “I know you’re just trying to help, but you’re still a kid, I don’t want you taking on too much.”

“I’m not,” he said quickly, squeezing her hand. “I just wanna help you, so you can get better.” He forced a smile. “Besides, I’m not a baby, I don’t need you doing everything for me anymore.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Considering you nearly set a fire when making waffles, I think you still need some help.”

His smile relaxed, a small laughing bubbling in his chest when he remembered. “But, I’m a lot better now, I can even make pancakes!”

His mom’s brow raised. “Wow.” Her smile was teasing, she poked his stomach. “Looks like I have a real-life chef on my hands then.”

He laughed and tried to block her hands when they tickled his stomach. “Cut it out.” He lay on his stomach to stop her and then wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight.

His dad came back home while Mark was washing the dishes, the clock ticking closer to 10pm.

“Mark?” His dad slid the back screen door open, and frowned when he saw him. “Why are you still awake?”

Mark turned the tap off. “I was just cleaning up.” He dried his hands with some kitchen roll. “Mom’s asleep so…”

His mom was sleeping more in the day so the house had started to become a little untidy.

“Right…” His dad looked around briefly, before walking over. “You don’t need to clean up, I can do that.”

Mark’s brow furrowed. “But, you said I should help.”

His dad quickly smiled. “And, you are.” He squeezed his shoulder. “But, you’re still a kid. Let me do the heavy lifting, alright, sport?” His smile was crooked. “You should have seen my apartment before I met your mother, spic and span as they come. Sundays would be my cleaning days.”

Mark laughed a little when he imagined his dad vacuuming every corner of the house and lifting up sofas. “Did you wear an apron?”

His dad smirked, lifting him up with one arm. “Maybe.” Mark laughed and clung to his dad’s bicep, sitting as his dad helped him up and kept him from falling. “Your mom loved it. Used to ask me to put it on every time she came around.”

“Ew, gross.” Mark grinned when his dad bounced him on his arm. “So, who were you fighting this time?” Hearing his dad’s stories was always fun, and it was a nice distraction. “Was it a giant squid? Or a wizard?”

His dad chuckled. “It definitely wasn’t the squid this time,” he replied, bouncing Mark up a bit higher. “But, it’s past your bedtime, so how about we save the stories for later?”

“It’s not that late!” Marka argued, clinging onto his dad’s arm.  “Dan’s dad lets him stay up until eleven.”

“Well, Dan’s dad is also getting Welfare cheques, so let’s not use him as an example.” His dad carried him on his shoulder out of the kitchen. “Besides, I need to check on your mother, so brush your teeth, then bed.”

Mark scowled a little. “Fine, but I want to hear about all the people you fought!”

His dad smirked. “Well, it was a busy day, so that’ll take a while.”

Mark brushed his teeth, and then put his toothbrush away, already dressed in his pyjamas.

He wandered to his parents’ room to say goodnight, the door was a crack open, and the lights still off. He peeked around the door quietly to check if his dad was sleeping.

When he looked in he could see his dad sitting on the bed, staring at his mom while she was asleep. There wasn’t much light but he could just about see his dad’s expression which looked distant but also a little sad. Spaced out.

“Dad?” Mark said quietly, growing concerned.

His dad blinked, and then looked up with a frown. “Mark, I told you to go to bed.”

Mark felt put on the spot. “I know, I was just saying goodnight… sorry.”

“It’s fine.” His dad sighed and stood up, walking over to him. “Come on. Bed.”

Mark hurried off to his room with his dad close behind, and jumped into bed. “Is mom going to the hospital again tomorrow?”

“No.”  His dad walked over to his desk by the bed and closed the comic book he’d been reading. “Her next check-up is Monday.”

“Can I go with her?” He may not like hospitals but he didn’t like the idea of his mom going alone.

“You have school, remember?” His dad drew the curtains closed. “Your mom will be fine.”

Mark’s brow creased. “I guess…”

“I know I can’t be here as often as I should.” His dad pulled the covers further up so he was tucked in. “So, I’m proud of you for looking after her while I’m gone,” he told him. “You’re doing a great job, son, but you still have other responsibilities besides taking care of her. She wouldn’t want you forgetting those.”

Mark nodded, his stomach twisting a bit. “I just want her to get better.”

“I know you do.” His dad stroked his hair gently. “But, it’s my job to handle all the serious stuff and take care of everyone, just like how when you’re old enough, you’ll do the same for your family.” He smiled faintly. “I’ll check on your mother to make sure she isn’t alone during the hospital appointment, okay?”

Mark nodded, relaxing some more. “Yeah.”

His dad smiled, standing up. “Then get some sleep.” He walked over to the door and turned the light out as Mark rested his head on the pillow.

The months seemed to pass slower, the summer dragging into the winter.

Mark shivered a little when he stepped into the house after school, dead leaves still clinging to his boots. “Mom?” He frowned when he saw the lights were off. “Mom? I’m home?”

There was no answer, the whole house was silent.

He started to panic instantly and ran upstairs. “Mom, is everything okay?”

When he went to the bedroom, his mom wasn’t there. Some clothes tossed on the bed and some things missing from the drawers.

Mark felt his panic grow. Why wasn’t his mom here!?

He kept searching around the house, checking to see if she’d fallen somewhere or was just sleeping. Her medication made her tired a lot and the chemotherapy would leave her feeling drained for a long time. So, maybe she was just sleeping somewhere or—

Mark felt a sob build up in his throat, despite trying to calm down. His eyes hurt, knees feeling weak as he slipped down onto the stairs.

He curled his legs up to his chin and cried on the steps. He stayed there for a while, the house feeling colder the longer he was sitting there, hunching himself into a tight protective ball.

The house stayed quiet until he heard a familiar sound of a screen door sliding open.

“Mark?”

He looked up quickly and felt some relief when he saw his dad enter through the back. “Dad!” He ran over and clung to his shirt. “Where’s mom?”

“They had to take her into the hospital.” His dad said, touching his shoulder, and Mark felt like he couldn’t breathe.“Just to make her more comfortable. She’s fine.” His dad’s grip tightened a little. “The hospital has better facilities than here.” He smiled, but it was stiff. “Everything’s fine.”

Mark let out a shaky breath. “Can I see her?”

“Tomorrow.” his dad replied, something distant in his gaze, shoulders tense. “Now’s not a good time,”

“But, I want to see her now.” Mark felt his panic return a bit, not caring when his dad’s expression turned into a frown. “What if something ha—?”

“Mark.” His dad’s voice sharpened, making him nearly flinch at the sudden shift in tone. “I just said now isn’t a good time.”

Mark took a step back, face crumbling. “…What if she’s not there tomorrow?” She could pass in her sleep before he’d get a chance to say goodbye one last time.

His dad’s frown faded, gaze softening. “She will be, son. Your mother’s a strong woman.” He bent down to his eye level. “I know you’re scared, but I need you to be brave for your mother,” he said, tone gentler this time. “I promise I’ll take you to see her tomorrow, just be patient.”

Mark rubbed his eyes, trying to listen and calm down. “… Okay, dad.” He looked at his dad and felt guilty for arguing, knowing it couldn’t be easy having to be a superhero and take care of a family at the same time. “I’m sorry for yelling.” His dad didn’t need him making this worse. “I just want mom to be okay.” He tried not to cry, trying to be brave like his dad wanted. “I don’t want her to leave yet.”

His dad stared at him for a moment, before sighing. “Come here.” He pulled him into a hug and held him. “It’s alright.”

Mark clung onto his dad and buried his face in the crook of the man’s neck, swallowing back a sob.

The small, square, tv was mounted on the hospital wall in the private room, showing the news

“In other news, Omni-man has been non-stop taking out the sub-zero army in Chicago today, beating the guardians to the scene before casualties hit,” the news reporter voiced over as footage showed Omni-man taking out the foot-soldiers with ease.

Mark stared at the tv from his seat by his mom’s hospital bed, his head resting on her lap while she gently stroked his hair.

“Ice soldiers?” His mom’s voice was weak but the amusement rang clear. “You have to admire the creativity.” She chuckled a little. “Back in the nineties, they just ran around with fake wings and masks.”

Mark smiled a little, looking up. “Didn’t you say dad once met a guy dressed like a moth?”

His mom smiled;her face was thinner with less fat on her cheeks, but when she smiled it reminded him of her old self. Even with her hair gone and the bones poking out from her skin.

“Moth-man, what a guy.” She stroked his head. “You know his master plan was to set a swarm of giant moths on the city of New York… except he couldn’t really control them, so most of the bugs just hung around a few lamp posts and skyscrapers and didn’t do anything.”

He laughed. “Did dad have to catch them?”

She chuckled. “Oh, no, that was apparently below his pay grade.” She smirked. “He just arrested the man and then New York had to handle the pest control themselves. The news had a field day with the stories,” she said. “One woman had to chase one of the moths around her apartment for two days.”

Mark laughed harder this time, making her smile more. “How come they didn’t keep them as pets?”

“A few probably did,” she replied, shrugging. “You know how people are.”

He kept smiling as he thought about it. “It sounds cool.” His gaze shifted back to the tv screen where his dad was shown talking with the Guardians of the Globe, the battle over. “…Do you think I could be like that one day?”

“Hm?” His mom looked away from the tv and back at him.

“Have powers and fight crime like dad does.” Mark sat up properly, growing unsure. “He keeps saying I’ll get my powers soon.” He smiled at his mom. “Then I can save people.”

His mom smiled fondly. “I think powers or not…” She stroked his cheek gently. “You can do anything.”

He leaned against his mom’s hand and looked at her warmly. “I wanna be just like dad. Like a real hero.”

“You don’t need to be just like your father to be a real hero, honey.” She smiled in amusement. “Don’t get me wrong, your father’s good but he’s not perfect. He makes mistakes and he still is learning about how to be a better hero,” she told him while he listened closely. “The point is, whatever you do, make sure it’s what you want, Mark.”

He frowned a little, trying to understand. “Okay, I think I get it.” His gaze turned back to the screen, watching his dad stand with the Guardians and imagining for a second that it could be him up there, wearing his dad’s costume.

His mom started coughing, regaining his attention. “Could you…?” She wretched, as he quickly grabbed the glass of water and handkerchief, handing it to her.

He watched his mom worriedly as she drank the water and then coughed into the handkerchief, blood smearing on the cloth before she could hide it.

“Mom…” His stomach lurched when he saw, staring at her worriedly. She clenched the handkerchief in her fist quickly, wiping some saliva from her mouth.

“I’m fine.” She smiled at him, but it lacked the joy from earlier, making her look more tired.

She wasn’t fine. It had been nearly seven months and she was getting worse. Constantly being in and out of the hospital.

He swallowed thickly, taking a deep breath as he held his mom’s hand, staying silent as he listened to her breathing which became heavier and more laboured. The faint crackling and buzzing noise from the tv filtering in.

Mark stared at his mom, watching her breathe slowly through the hospital oxygen mask.

She barely looked like his mom anymore. Her dark hair was gone, with a cap keeping her head warm, and her face was boney. Cheeks popping out like she was skin and bones. The machine beside her bed helping her breathe.

It was hard watching, like seeing someone fade every day, and he’d spent so much time at the hospital it felt like the days meshed until this was just it. He’d quit baseball just so he could visit her after school each day and weekend. Scared that if he even missed one day, she’d be gone.

His tenth birthday had been last month and he hadn’t even wanted to celebrate, despite his mom insisting as much as she could.

“Son?” His dad was back. “I’m sorry, the job took longer than expected. A Volcano.” He walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Why don’t we go home?”

Mark clenched his hands tight on his lap, gaze never leaving his mom. “I don’t want to leave.”

His dad sighed. “Mark, it’s late.”

He held his mom’s hand stubbornly. “She needs me.”

“Mark…” His dad sounded hesitant. “Come on—”

“No.” Mark buried his face in his mom’s stomach, her grip on his hand weak, but still there holding on. “I’m not leaving her alone.”

“…Alright.” His dad’s tone shifted to something numb and empty. “We’ll stay here together then.” His dad sat down next to him in the second chair. “You still need to sleep, though.”

Mark apprehensively lifted his gaze, his mom let out another breath, trying to smile at him, her eyes open and awake. “Okay…” he muttered, leaning back in the armchair, but keeping his gaze on his mom.

His dad didn’t say anything and just stared at his mom, gaze focussed but distant again, and almost looking at her like he didn’t recognise who she was.

Mark shifted uncomfortably and looked away from his dad, staring at his mom. He felt exhausted as he listened to the rhythmic beeps of the machine as he slowly closed his eyes.

He drifted off to sleep before he realised, falling deep until his mind was full of dreams of the baseball game, with his dad and mom cheering him on. His body relaxing and his head drooped against the back of the armchair.

His mind settled into a blank dark space for a while. Until Mark shifted when he started to stir awake again, some noises and beeping disturbing his sleep until he woke up and realised the heart monitor his mom was hooked up to was no longer beeping.

His dad was standing over his mom’s bed as two nurses rushed in, more noises happening and merging together like the buzzing noise from the tv.

“No!” Mark grabbed onto his mom’s arms. “Mom!” His vision blurred, shaking her arm. “Mom, no, no, wake up!”

His dad wrapped an arm around him to pull him away. “I’m sorry, son. She’s gone.”

People were speaking but Mark couldn’t hear them, holding onto his mom’s hand even though her fingers were lax.

He couldn't breathe.

His dad pulled him into a hug and held onto him tight as a sob tore through Mark’s throat, feeling like he was drowning.

Chapter Text

The next week passed in a blur after his mom died.

Mark spent most of the time in his room, mainly sleeping all day and waking up to eat. Sometimes he’d just wake up and start crying even though he wasn’t sure why.

His dad was busy with the funeral plans and everything else so he didn’t really see him much in the lead up to the funeral, which he understood but… having his dad there made things feel less empty. His dad was busy though, so… he just needed to be strong and brave. His dad didn’t need him making things worse.

His mom had a lot of friends, so there were lots of people he hadn’t really met before at the funeral wake. They were all nice, coming over and telling their dad how sorry they were this had happened, and that his mom was in a better place. It was an open casket ceremony, but Mark couldn’t bear to look at her and his dad hadn’t forced him.

A tall woman with long brown hair, glasses, and an expensive black suit placed her hands on his shoulders. “I’m so sorry.” The smile on her face was faint but warm. “Your mother was an amazing woman.”

Mark stared at her, feeling like he knew her from somewhere, but he wasn’t sure where. “Thanks…” he mumbled, not sure what else he could say.

“Thanks, Holly, I appreciate you coming.” His dad shook her hand.

Another man came over as well, the same height as his dad, with heavy muscles and a beard. “I’m sorry, Nolan.” The man shook his dad’s hand firmly. “If you want to talk, you know we’re here.”

“I know, Ross.” His dad nodded, smiling faintly. “Thank you.”

Mark watched the two of them leave, clinging to his dad’s side. His dad rubbed his back. “Can I go upstairs now?”

His dad sighed. “I know it’s hard, but everyone here came to say goodbye to your mom, so we just need to stay a little longer.” He smiled reassuringly. “Just hang in there, okay?”

Mark nodded tiredly, wanting to go upstairs and hide so he could be alone, but his dad wasn’t crying upstairs or hiding. “Okay…”

He stayed by his dad’s side the whole time, which made things a little better. His dad was holding everything together, so he had to be strong as well. Then maybe things would start to get better, or feel somewhat normal again.

His eyes stung, but he tried to push the tears back. Wondering how anything could be normal again with his mom gone.

For two weeks everything just felt like a blur.

“Mark? Everything okay?”

Mark wrapped the covers further around him, staying in bed. “Hm.”

He heard his dad sigh and walk into the room. “I have some time off so I thought we could play some catch.”

Mark apprehensively glanced over his shoulder, to where his dad was standing in the room with a baseball glove and ball. “…I’m tired.”

His dad’s brow furrowed a little. “Son…” He sighed and sat down on the bed. “I know you just miss your mother.” He placed a hand on Mark’s shoulder. “I miss her too, but she wouldn’t want you wasting away in bed all day.”

Mark curled his knees up to his chin. “Everything feels weird without her.”

“I know.” His dad sighed. “I’m still accepting it as well.” He looked away briefly. “But, your mom would want us to move on and live our lives. She’d want us to be happy.” He smiled faintly. “I know you feel sad, but that won’t be forever.”

“…But, how do I stop being sad?” he asked quietly, wanting the feeling to go away.

“Well…” His dad’s brow furrowed slightly. “Sometimes the best way to move on is to push those feelings away, and find better ways to forget.”

“Oh…” Mark didn’t quite understand. “How?”

“By moving on, son.” His dad’s voice was gentle. “Being strong, sometimes means letting go.” He smiled grimly. “When your mother died, I was sad. She was an amazing woman and then suddenly… she was gone.” He sighed, looking away from him. “But I can’t let those feelings stop me from doing my job and looking after you. I have to be strong. That’s what it means to be a hero. We have to put our responsibilities first even though it can hurt.” He smiled at him warmly. “Do you understand?”

Mark stared at his dad, clenching his hands tight on his lap. His dad was right, if he wanted to be a hero as great as him, then he needed to be strong. If he just wasted time being sad all day then he’d just be disappointing his mom.

His mom never cried throughout the whole cancer treatment, she’d always smiled and joked around with him, even when her body grew weaker and her hair fell out. She didn’t let that stop her from being strong.

He nodded, sitting up straighter. “Yes, dad.” He tried to push the bad feelings down until they made his stomach ache a little. “I get it.” He forced a small smile. “And, um, I’ll try harder so things can get better.”

His dad’s gaze was proud, ruffling his head. “That’s my boy.” He gave him a tight hug. “Now, come on, we both might be a little out of practice but let’s see if we can get back into the swing of things.”

Mark’s smile relaxed a little, holding the baseball. “Okay.”

He did start to feel a little better after playing some catch in the backyard.

“Hey, come on, put some more strength into it.” His dad tossed him the ball back.

Mark jumped up to catch it in his glove, starting to grin. “Watch out!” He tossed the ball back but his dad easily caught it.

His dad looked amused. “Here’s a fast one.” He threw the ball a little faster this time but Mark still caught it. “Nice!” His smile grew. “You thinking of joining the baseball team again.”

“Maybe.” Mark shrugged, tossing the ball back to his dad. “The coach was kind of upset I stopped turning up to practice.”

“I’m sure he’ll let you back on the team.” His dad threw the ball his way again.

Mark stumbled a little to catch it, but then grinned when he did. “I guess. It could be fun.” He looked back at his dad and threw the ball. “I’ll need to keep practising.”

His dad nodded, throwing the ball back. “That’s the right idea, son. Keep at it,” he encouraged. “I can set time aside to help you practice.”

“Really?” Mark perked up some more, tossing the ball back to him. “You don’t have to,” he added, remembering what his dad had said earlier. “I know you’re busy.” His smile wavered while his dad paused. “Saving people is more important.”

His dad’s brow furrowed a little. “Saving people is just a part of the job, Mark.” He smiled warmly. “You’re still the most important thing.” He threw the ball back at him. “The world can wait.”

His smile returned brighter this time. “Thanks, dad.” His chest felt warm. “When I get my powers I can help well.” He tossed the ball back to his dad. “Then the world won’t have to wait.”

His dad looked amused, tossing the ball up and down in his grip. “Well, I wouldn’t mind a sidekick.”

Mark’s grin turned into a scowl. “I’m not gonna be a sidekick!”

His dad chuckled. “Are you sure?” He threw the ball back at him. “Darkwing’s got one, cute kid in tights and everything.”

“No way!” he yelled, jumping up to catch the ball. “Guys get beaten up for that stuff!”

His dad just looked more amused, catching the ball when Mark threw it back. “Then they should learn to throw a punch better.” He threw the ball fast this time, making it hard to catch. “Still gotta work on that catch, son.”

“You threw it too fast!” Mark complained, rushing to get the ball that had landed near the back door.

His dad just looked smug. “Hey, if you want to get back on the team, you’ve got to show them you’re still top of the game.”

“Yeah, except they aren’t superhuman,” Mark muttered, wanting to roll his eyes. He circled the ball in his palm.

“Hey, come on, sport, throw it back.” There was a laugh in his dad’s voice, teasing.

He hummed, a small smirk sliding onto his face. He looked at the barbeque behind his dad and off to the side. “Fastball, coming up!”

He adjusted his grip and threw a curveball, the ball going off to the side, causing his dad to frown, and then bouncing off the barbeque. His dad caught the ball before it hit his head. “Huh?”

Mark burst out laughing, when he saw the look on his dad’s face. “Got you!” He smiled in amusement. “It almost hit the back of your head too, like a softball!”

His dad frowned a little, before a smirk fell over his face. “Ha, ha, very funny, Mark.” He tossed the ball up and down in his glove. “Alright then, here’s a fast one!”

Mark grinned and braced him when his dad lifted the arm and threw the ball, and jumped up to catch it.

He wasn’t expecting the ball to go so fast.

“Ah!” He shouted when the baseball hit his upper arm, knocking him backwards and into the grass.

His arm burned with searing pain, the rest of his arm going limp as he curled up, gasping.

“Mark!” His dad rushed over and quickly pulled him into his arms. “Are you okay?”

Mark was barely listening, his vision blurring with tears as he clutched his arm. “I-it hurts.”  He closed his eyes when a sob came out. “H-hurts.” It felt like the bone was broken.

“I know, I’m sorry.” His dad sounded devastated, lifting him up. “I didn’t realise. It was an accident.” He quickly carried him inside. “It’s going to be fine.”

Mark tried to choke back a sob, his arm feeling like it was burning, as he was placed on the couch in the living room. “I can’t move—”

“It’s going to be fine.” His dad kept staying. “Don’t cry.” He quickly wiped his eyes. “Come on, son,  don’t cry. It’ll be fine.” He shushed him while Mark shied away. “Just stay here, I’ll fix you up.”

Mark closed his eyes tight, wondering why his dad didn’t just fly him to a hospital. He didn’t speak, though, trying to block out the pain in his arm while his dad flew off out of the back door.

He curled up tight on the couch, swallowing and trying to calm his breathing.

His dad came back a few minutes later, holding a plastic bag. “It’s okay, Mark. I’m here.” He bent down and took out a black sling. “Now, just stay still, I need to set the bone to make sure it heals properly.”

“Ah!” Mark flinched when his arm was adjusted.

His dad rubbed his back soothingly. “I know. You’re doing great, son, just hang on.” Then he carefully put the black sling on, fiddling with it a bit like he wasn’t quite sure how it worked. “Okay, stay still.”

Mark bit down on his tongue to hide a whimper as the sling was put on, some of the pain-alleviating when the sling properly supported his arm.

Then, his dad took out some painkillers from the bag and then headed to the sink to get a glass of water.

His hand shook a little when he accepted the painkillers and glass, swallowing the pills with the water. “Ugh.” It tasted gross.

His dad sat down beside him on the couch. “It’s okay, son, just breath, it’ll kick in soon,” he reassured. “I was just messing around, I didn’t realise how hard that throw was.” His dad rubbed his back, but Mark flinched, shying away. “Mark…” His dad’s expression looked pained. “You know I’d never want to hurt you.”

Mark’s shoulders hunched, looking up at his dad conflictedly. “…You hurt my arm.”

“It was an accident, son.” His dad kept insisting, cupping his face so he couldn’t look away. “You know I’d never do that on purpose. I just forget how fragile you are.” His dad looked sincere, remorse written on his face. “You’re all I have, and I love you so much.”

Mark’s chest tightened, looking down.

His dad wasn’t perfect, sometimes, superhero’s made mistakes or forgot how strong they were. His dad loved him, he hadn’t been trying to hurt him. If his dad had really been trying to hurt him then the ball would have been thrown hard enough to tear off his arm.

It was just an accident.

 If Mark had his powers then the baseball wouldn’t even have hurt, it would have just bounced off and they’d laugh about it.

“…It’s okay, dad,” Mark said, shifting a little. “I know you didn’t mean it. It was just an accident…”

His dad sighed and pulled him in close. “I promise, that it will never happen again.” He was careful when he hugged him. “I’ll be more careful next time, alright?”

Mark nodded, resting his head on his dad’s chest. The pain in his arm starting to fade a little when the painkillers kicked in. “Okay, dad.”

His dad sighed again. “Let me make it up to you, okay?” He smiled, pulling away to reach into the plastic bag again. “I got us ice cream, so how about we watch a movie? Your pick.”

Mark relaxed a little when he saw the ice cream and the thought of a movie night together. His dad had been so busy they’d barely had time to watch tv together like they’d used to since his mom got sick. “Okay.” He started to smile. “I wanna watch Godzilla!”

His dad chuckled, placing the ice cream on the coffee table. “Okay, you sit here and I’ll get us set up.”

Mark nodded, taking a deep breath as his dad got up again. He shifted his shoulder a bit when the pain stung again, but tried to ignore it. There was no point crying about it, that would just make his dad feel more guilty and stop things from getting better. It had just been an accident, and his dad was sorry.

It was fine.

His dad loved him and would never want to hurt him. In fact, his dad was probably so used to fighting aliens and hanging out with other superheroes, that he just forgot how fragile normal humans were.

Once Mark got his powers he and his dad could mess around for real without having to worry.

His apprehension faded a little, smiling when his dad came back over with soda and bowls for the ice cream. The Godzilla DVD in hand.

Once the lights were off and the movie started, Mark tried to relax, his hands stumbling a bit to eat the ice cream one-handed while the bowl was balanced on his lap.

His dad glanced at him and put an arm around him gently, keeping a hand on his shoulder where the fastening of the sling was. It made him shift his shoulder away slightly.  “If you need more painkillers, let me know, okay, son?”

“Okay.” Mark nodded, his stomach feeling a little weird when the apprehension crept back up. His arm stinging.

Things seemed to get better over the next few weeks, and his arm was healing quickly. Which was good because doing everything one-handed really was a hassle, even though his dad tried to help.

“Hey, careful there, buddy.” His dad caught the milk before it was knocked off the counter.

“Sorry, dad.” Mark smiled sheepishly, eating his cereal.

“You excited about school on Monday?” His dad asked, putting the milk back in the fridge.

Mark nodded, smile a little hesitant. “Yeah, it’ll be nice seeing everyone again.”

He hadn’t left the house that much since the funeral, so it would be nice hanging out with other people besides his dad.

His dad smiled at him, but then suddenly frowned and looked to the side. “Oh, great…”

“Huh?” Mark frowned. “What is it?”

Then, there was a knock at the door.

His dad sighed and walked to the front door. “Sorry, son, I just need to see what he wants.”

“Who?” Mark watched his dad open the front door, straining his neck to look.

When the door was opened, an older man, with half his face slightly disfigured, like clumps of his cheek had been taken out and then the skin had healed over it.

“Cecil.” His dad sounded annoyed, stepping to the side to let him in. “I didn’t know you did house calls.”

“Nolan, sorry but it’s urgent, and you weren’t answering your phone,” Cecil said, sighing, walking inside. “Can we talk?” He glanced over his shoulder at Mark and raised an eyebrow. “Private?”

“Is something wrong?” Mark slipped out of his seat. “Are you a government agent?” he asked, looking over the man’s suit and blue tie. “Are you my dad’s boss!?”

He had heard his dad complaining to mom before about someone called Cecil a few years ago.

Cecil raised an eyebrow. “Cute kid.” He looked at his dad. “Can we have the room, this situation has a time limit, and I don’t want to scare the kid.”

His dad placed a hand on Mark’s head. “Mark’s old enough to hear whatever it is.”

Mark beamed, feeling a warmth spread in his chest when he heard that.

Cecil sighed. “Fine.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’ve got a ground invasion happening in New Jersey, they’ve opened up some portals and are coming through. They’re big and they’re ugly, and currently took out my jets and ground forces. I need you there.”

“Wow…” Mark’s eyes widened.

A real-life alien invasion!

“The Guardians have already been sent ahead, but they’re struggling,” Cecil told his dad bluntly. “They need back-up.” He glanced at Mark. “If you need a babysitter for the kid, it can be arranged.”

His dad sighed, pulling Mark a little closer. “That won’t be necessary.” His dad looked at him reassuringly. “This won’t take long, son, just finish your breakfast and I’ll be back soon, okay?”

“Okay.” Mark nodded quickly. “I’ll be fine, dad. Don’t worry.”

His dad smiled and ruffled his hair. “Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”

“Fine, I’ll teleport back to the centre and monitor from there,” Cecil told his dad. “I’ll have some troops keep an eye on the house just to make sure—”

“Trust me.” His dad looked amused, already heading to the backdoor. “It won’t take long.” He was changed into his Omni-costume before they could blink and flew off.

Cecil rolled his eyes, sighing as he shook his head, and then looked at Mark curiously. Gaze shifting to the black sling. “So… What happened to your arm?”

“Huh?” Mark tensed a little, caught off guard. “Oh.” He tugged at his sleeve to hide the bruise near the strap. “It was an accident,” he said. His stomach feeling weird again. “I tried to… jump off the roof, so I could fly like my dad.”

“…You jumped off the roof?” Cecil repeated slowly, making him feel embarrassed.

“Yeah.” Mark blushed, smiling nervously. “I was being stupid.”

He scrutinised him a little, making Mark feel like he was a bug under a microscope. “Right.”

“Uh, so you’re definitely my dad’s boss, right?” Mark tried to change the subject.

The man raised an eyebrow. “Not sure he’d see it that way.” He checked his watch when it beeped. “Sorry, kid, but I need to go. Stay inside until your dad gets back.” He walked towards the door. “They’ll be agents outside to keep you safe, so just hang tight.”

“Right, sure.” Mark nodded, watching the man leave out of the door.

He touched his arm when the man left, feeling weird. Like he shouldn’t have lied. It wasn’t really a lie though, he argued. It had been an accident.

He didn’t want people getting the wrong idea and thinking his dad had done it on purpose, but he hadn’t. It was just an accident. His dad loved him.

Mark tried to not think about it and hurried over to the tv, turning it on, and then tried to find a news channel showing the alien invasion.

After a few minutes, he found a news station picking up the story, with helicopters reporting on the scene.

The Guardians were battling an alien army that looked almost like bears, large with lots of armour.

Mark watched in excitement when he saw his dad fly in to help The Immortal and Black Samson.

The reporters had to keep a safe distance, but you could see the whole battle going on, and the Guardians were winning, his dad pushing back the alien force like it was easy.

He grinned. “Nice!” He was on the edge of his seat when he saw his dad disarm a whole squad of the aliens, throwing some of them in the air like pinballs, Martian Man sweeping in to round them up with War Woman.

His eyes widened in awe while he watched them. That was his dad fighting alongside the greatest team of heroes on Earth. It was his dad who was taking care of those aliens like it was easy. His dad was the greatest hero there was. He’d be lucky if he could even be half of what his dad was one day.

His smile wavered a little when he remembered what his mom had said, but the memories just made him start to feel sad, so he pushed them to the side, keeping his focus on the tv. Shifting his arm a little when it started to hurt again.

It was around when he was eleven when things started to feel like they were becoming normal, settling into a routine.

His dad was still busy a lot, but they still got to spend time together and hang out, taking trips and vacations to different places. He had to remind himself that sometimes when his dad wouldn’t show up, like today.

Mark looked at his phone, baseball bat slung in his backpack, along with his glove, waiting at the playing fields behind the school. His dad was supposed to pick him up from practise half an hour ago, and then they were supposed to go get dinner in Mexico as an end of the week treat.

His dad texted him apologising and saying he would be late. There was an emergency in Florida.

Mark sighed, rubbing his arm when it irritated him a little, Even though it was fully healed it didn’t really feel the same like the bone hadn’t set properly. It was only minor though, he could still play baseball with it, it was just a little uncomfortable.

He sighed, sitting on the pavement, watching a few cars drive by. His gaze shifted upwards, looking out for his dad.

“Seriously, what’s happening in Florida?” Mark muttered, sighing as he looked down. He tried not to let it bother him, since it was selfish thinking like that. It was his dad’s job to save people, it would be selfish to ignore that responsibility.

He got distracted from his thoughts when he heard a car pull up near him, the engine still running when it paused.

“Hey, you okay, kid?” A man asked, looking out of the window of the blue car, he looked older with a beard, but also reminded him a bit of his maths teacher with how he was dressed.

“Uh, yeah.” Mark tensed a bit, feeling a little uneasy. “I’m just waiting for my dad.”

The man frowned, looking around. “You sure, you’re okay waiting there alone?” he asked, looking concerned. “It’s getting cold.”

“No thanks,” he replied, adjusting his backpack. He remembered what his mom had said about strangers trying to get kids in cars.  “I’m fine, my dad’s on his way.”

“You sure?” The man persisted. “You look kind of cold, you can sit in the back while we wait for your dad.” He smiled at Mark. “I’ve got a blanket back there and there are some sports magazines if you want something to read?”

Mark grew more uncomfortable and stood up. “No, that’s okay.” He pretended to look at his phone. “My dad’s around the corner, I need to go meet him there.” He started walking, looking towards the garage up ahead. “Bye.”

The car kept following, the slow thrum from the engine setting him on edge.

“Hey, wait.”

Mark picked up the pace and walked faster, growing panicked, texting his dad quickly, trying to type out the message quickly on the awkward keypad.

‘Help.’ He clumsily sent the text to his dad.

“Hey!” The car tried to pull in front of him, blocking the road. “Kid, just wait—”

Mark bolted down the street, heading down the side where there were apartments. The car revved behind him, spiking his fear.

He tried to lose the car down a side road between the apartments, running.

His chest seized up when he saw the car block the exit way of the alley, the man got out, holding a knife.

Mark grabbed his bat from his backpack, trying to stand his ground. “Leave me alone!” He swung it, which seemed to make the man angry.

“Cut it out!” The man’s face twisted up, grabbing the bat and easily yanking it from his grip.

Make scrambled to run, but he was grabbed from behind, arm wrapped around his neck in a chokehold.  “HELP!” He started kicking and screaming. “HELP!”

“Shut up!” The man hissed, trying to gag him with a cloth, the edge of the knife digging into Mark’s stomach. “Either you shut up or I’m gonna have to make you shut up.”

Mark screamed into the cloth, tears filling his eyes as he was shaking, the knife-edge pressing further against his stomach. “Hmf.”

“Ssh.” The man warned, slowly moving back. “Now, stay quiet and—”

In a second the man’s arm that had Mark in a chokehold, was ripped from the rest of his body. Omni-man shoving the man’s body into the wall so fast there was a distinct crack and squish from the impact.

Mark stopped breathing, trembling like a leaf when everything felt like it was slowing down when he watched.

“Mark?” His dad was in front of him, looking panicked, and blocking the mangled body from view, and then pulling the severed arm away. “Are you alright?”

He couldn’t speak, everything feeling like it wasn’t really happening. “…H-he…” He blinked a few times, his brain slow and clogged up.

His dad had just ripped off someone’s arm, and now that person was… that person was smashed against the wall, like mashed up tomatoes and mince.

His dad had just killed someone.

“Mark!” His dad shook him, making him flinch.

“Dad?” His gaze refocussed a little, staring at his dad, who looked concerned. “He… he’s dead.”

His dad grimaced a little, pulling him into a hug and hiding his view of the body. “I didn’t have a choice, he was going to hurt you.” He held him tight. “When you said you needed help, I just… did he touch you.” He suddenly lifted his face up, his dad’s expression clouding with cold rage. “Mark, did he try to touch you or…?”

“N-no.” Mark’s voice shook, the shock fading into horror as it sunk in what his dad had just done. “The police, we… we need to—”

“Ssh. Don’t worry about that.” His dad held him tight. “It’s all going to be okay. I promise.”

Mark was still shaking, the smell of the blood, overwhelming his senses like rotten meat.

He pushed away from his dad and then vomited on the ground.  

“I know this is a shock for you, son.”

His dad had killed someone.

Mark’s hands were shaking still, sitting on the couch, with his dad sat down beside him. A heavy hand on his shoulder. “…You killed someone.”

“Because I was protecting you,” his dad said, lifting his chin up. “That man was trying to hurt you, to take you from me, because he was an evil person.” He looked at him earnestly. “He’s hurt other kids before, Mark, younger than you.” His dad stroked his cheek gently like he was something precious. “I almost lost you.”

Mark shivered, holding his hands tight to stop them from shaking.

His dad had just been trying to protect him. Heroes protected people from bad guys, and that man had been a bad guy.

His dad might have used more force than he should, but…

“Mark, listen to me,” his dad was speaking again. “That man didn’t deserve to live,” he said firmly, causing Mark’s eyes to widen. “Even in prison, they would have killed him.” His dad’s voice was cold, and it frightened him a little. “Sometimes a hero has to make tough choices to protect the people they care about. That man died, because he had to, because he would have kept coming back to hurt you if I didn’t stop him.”

Mark swallowed a lump in his throat, feeling conflicted.

The man had tried to kidnap him, and probably would have killed him. If his dad didn’t stop him then the man might have escaped or… or maybe got out of prison and come after him again like in the movies.

His dad wasn’t a bad person, he protected people and kept the world safe. His dad was a hero.

“He… he deserved to die.” Mark wasn’t sure why he felt a need to repeat it, maybe to convince himself. He wasn’t sure.  “It was… a tough choice.” He looked up at his dad. “You were protecting me.”

It may have not been nice, but his dad had done it to keep him safe.

“Yes.” His dad reassured him, nodding. “The hardest part of being a hero is making those choices, Mark.” He sighed, some remorse creeping. “I just wish you hadn’t had to see it upfront this early.”

Mark tried not to think about it, remembering the smell of blood. “…Will you get in trouble?” he asked quietly. “For… for killing him?”

His dad was quiet for a moment, staring at him. “…No, I won’t.”

Mark fidgeted with his hands. “But, the police—”

“Son.” His dad placed a hand over his. “Do you trust me?”

“What?” He looked up in confusion.

“Do you trust me, Mark?” His dad repeated the question.

Mark felt an uneasiness stir in his chest, hesitating. “Yes, I trust you dad.”

His dad smiled faintly, looking proud. “Then trust me, and I promise everything will be alright. I’ll handle the police and everything else.” He pulled Mark close into an embrace. “I’ll always protect you, son. Never forget that.”

Mark held onto his dad, trying to push away the horrible images of the man’s mangled body, and just focussed on his dad’s heartbeat, the sound grounding him.

“I already have a watch?” Mark frowned when his dad fastened a new digital watch to his wrist.

His dad looked amused. “This is a little more high tech,” he said, clipping the fasten in place. “I asked a favour from Cecil, just to make sure you’re safe.” He lifted his wrist. “If you press the red button, that calls me, but it’s only for emergencies, son.” Mark nodded, staring at the watch curiously. “That way when you’re in trouble, I’ll always come.” His dad placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s all just a precaution until you get your powers and can protect yourself.”

Mark smiled a little, touching the watch. “Thanks, dad.” He hugged his dad tight. “I promise when I get my powers I’ll be able to help!” His smile grew. “Then you won’t have to worry anymore and I can protect you.”

His dad chuckled, hugging him tightly. “Well, we’ll see how well you do in training first.”

Mark grinned, resting his head on his dad’s shoulder.

The next few years were quiet.

He tried not to think about the man his dad had… the man his dad protected him from. Even though he was glad the man was dead, it still left a queasy feeling in his stomach, and he still had nightmares about it. Luckily his dad understood, and they never talked about it, everything carrying on like normal.

Things settled into a routine again. The house still seemed emptier without his mom… but things were better.

His dad kept bringing home random souvenirs from his battles which were kind of cool and even set up a ‘man cave’ in the basement with all the souvenirs presented on shelves.

Middle school was okay as well, eighth grade was kind of hard, but he was still managing to keep his grades up. His dad said as long as he was passing that was fine, so it wasn’t like there was a lot of pressure.

The only main issue was some of his classmates.

“What happened?” His dad frowned at him when he saw him after school.

Mark grimaced. The large bruise on his cheek hard to ignore. “Just some jerk at school.” He shrugged, trying to go upstairs. “I don’t really wanna—”

“Mark.” His dad sighed, placing the coffee he’d been drinking on the counter. “Don’t run off.”

Mark sighed and dropped his bag down on the steps, walking over to his dad. “The guy got suspended so it’s not a big deal.”

He didn’t normally get into fights but, Jason was an asshole, and when he’d made that joke about a girl in class who’d gotten cancer, Mark had just snapped and yelled at him.

His dad frowned. “Did you fight back?”

“I tried to hit him first but…” Mark felt put on the spot. “He was bigger than me so…” His gut twisted when his dad gave him a look. “I tried to get a punch in but I just hurt my hand…”

His dad sighed. “Mark…”

He cringed, feeling more embarrassed. How pathetic must it look that Omni-man’s own son couldn’t even put up a fight? “Sorry, dad…”

“Why are you apologising?” His dad raised an eyebrow. “That’s not going to solve the problem, son.” He rubbed his chin. “There’s not much we can do training wise until your powers kick in, but I can teach you basic defence.”

Mark’s eyes widened a little. “You will?” His dad always kept insisting he needed his powers first before actual training could start.

His dad smiled a little. “Go change into something comfortable and we can practice a little in the back.”

Mark nodded, growing excited as he rushed upstairs to change.

After he was ready, he and his dad went outside.

“Okay, first, show me how you hold your fist when you punch,” his dad folded his arms.

Mark nodded and clenched his hands into a fist. “Like this.”

“You’re going to just break your fingers.” His dad looked amused and touched his fist. “Here, adjust your thumb like this.”

His fist was re-arranged, having a  stronger grip. “Okay.”

“Now when you punch, keep your arm straight.” His dad demonstrated.

Mark repeated the action, punching the air. “Like this?”

His dad smiled. “Exactly like that, good job.”

He grinned, punching the air some more. “Cool.”

“Now, punch my stomach,” his dad told him. Mark frowned. “Don’t worry, it’ll barely even tickle.” His dad chuckled. “Trust me.”

He hesitated, but then punched his dad in the stomach. “Ow.” He winced when his fist hit the wall of the stomach like he was punching concrete.

His dad chuckled. “Go on, keep at it. Just don’t hurt your fists.”

Mark nodded, softening his blows a bit so he didn’t hurt himself. “This feels cool.”

It was like hitting a punching bag but kind of different.

“I guess it does.” His dad ruffled his head. “Okay, let’s practice your defence and attack.” He grabbed his wrist, easily stopping the punches. “You need to block any punches.”

Mark frowned, stepping back a little. “So, you’re gonna hit me?”

“No, of course not.” His dad reassured him. “Just some shoving. You’ll need to dodge them.” Then, his dad frowned. “Don’t worry, son, I’m not going to hurt you.”

Mark shifted on the spot a little, feeling apprehensive. A faint sting in his arm. “Right, sure. I know that, dad.” He forced a smile. “So, do I just move or…?”

“Try this.” His dad demonstrated a dodging technique, parrying with his feet. “You see how I’m moving my feet?”

Mark nodded, watching. “Yeah.” He tried it out, earning an approving smile from his dad. “Like this?”

“You’ve got it,” his dad said, smiling. “You think you’re ready?”

Mark nodded, pushing away his nerves. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Okay, I’m gonna move slow.” His dad reached out to shove him but Mark moved out of the way. “Nice, keep at it.”

He tried to be quick, keeping his fists raised as he parried on his feet, avoiding his dad and staying alert.

He didn’t dodge one shove in time and fell on his ass. “Damn it.”

His dad chuckled and lifted him to his feet. “Come on, stay focussed.”

Mark nodded and they went back into position, he kept dodging, trying to be quick. His stomach twisting when his dad nearly managed to shove him, a small bit of fear rising when he remembered when his arm had gotten broken. His mind drifted for a second.

His dad shoved him, and he hit the grass harder this time.

Mark winced, touching his arm which was now caked in mud and sore.

His dad sighed.  “Come on, Mark, let’s go. Next round.”

Mark frowned, hesitating as he felt the mud stick to his skin. “Uh, can we have a break?”

His dad frowned. “We’ve barely been at this for ten minutes.”

His stomach recoiled, feeling small against his dad’s taller and larger frame. “I know, I just, um…”

He didn’t really have an excuse.

Why did he even want to stop? His dad was just teaching him. It was just a shove, it wasn’t like he was being hit.

“Do you want to stop?” His dad bent down to his level, placing a hand on his shoulder. “If you don’t want to do this, Mark, you can tell me.” His dad smiled reassuringly. “You know I’d never force you to do anything.”

Mark hunched over a little, feeling like he was just wasting his dad’s time. How was he supposed to be a superhero if he couldn’t just handle a few shoves? He should be stronger than this. He wasn’t fragile.

His dad was just trying to help him so he could defend himself.

“No, dad, it’s okay.” Mark forced himself onto his feet. “I wanna keep at it.”

His dad's frown cleared, a smile casting over. “That’s my boy.” He ruffled his head. Proud.“Come on, after this, I promise we can watch a movie and have some cheesy nachos.”

Mark nodded, smiling. “Sounds like a plan.” He tried to shove away his uneasiness. “Okay, let’s go.”

By the end of the training session, he was covered in mud and tired.

Mark frowned a little when he looked in the bathroom mirror, towel around his waist after he’d gotten out of the shower.

There were a few small bruises littering his arms, shoulders, and knees from where he’d fallen repeatedly on the ground after being shoved.

They were barely anything though. He’d gotten more from Gym class and Baseball practice. It was fine.

The sharp knock on the door made him jump a little. “Hey, hurry, up in there, sport! The nachos are going to get cold.”

Mark forced a smile even though his dad wasn’t in the bathroom. “Yeah, dad, I’m coming!”

He quickly slipped on his clean t-shirt and got changed in the bathroom, avoiding the mirror.

A few more years passed and they settled into a routine again.

High school was… high school, but thanks to his dad he could handle himself in a fight, which helped when Todd tried to take a swing at him and he’d punched him in the face in return.

This was the new normal. His grades were okay, dad was busy, and he’d gotten used to the empty space at dinner.

Things were going okay.

And, then, when he’d been taking out the trash at work. He threw a garbage bag into space, and suddenly everything changed again.

Chapter Text

He finally had his powers.

Mark felt almost giddy when he got home, heading straight to his room to change out of his orange work uniform, which stunk of fries and burgers.

Having his powers meant he could actually be useful and help people.

He took off his polo shirt and tossed it in the laundry basket, grinning.

He could finally be a hero and start training…

His grin stiffened a little, pausing when he touched the dark bruise on his ribs from his and his dad’s last defence lesson. It was his fault for losing focus and not blocking the shoves in time.

Mark felt a small bit of apprehension still, feeling his excitement dim a little.

His dad kept saying once he got his powers the real training would start. The kind that would make him strong enough to be a hero.

Mark pressed on the bruise, grimacing when it still hurt. Training was supposed to hurt though, a few bruises were just a part of getting better. Before he quit the baseball team, he was getting bruises every practice.

Besides, he had powers now, which meant it would be harder to get injured. He’d be fine.

He shook his head and quickly slipped on a t-shirt, and took off his work trousers.

His dad would be proud he had his powers, which meant Mark would be less of a burden on things. He’d be able to help his dad save people and not have to press a stupid button on his watch every time he was in trouble.

Mark hesitated a little when he came downstairs for dinner, his dad in the kitchen taking out some take away.

“Check this, fresh barbequed steak.” His dad looked over his shoulder and grinned. “Not bad, right?” He held up the smoking meat that was half wrapped in tin foil. “Just smell it.”

Mark smiled in amusement, feeling his nerves fade a little. “Looks good.” He walked over to the counter. “So, I guess pasta leftovers are for tomorrow?”

His dad looked amused. “Trust me, I wrapped enough foil around that baby to last a full week.”

Mark made a face. “Gross.”

His dad patted him on the back. “Go ahead and grab some plates and trays, I’ll put a movie on.”

“Okay, but can it not be another remake?” Mark rolled his eyes, grabbing some plates from the cupboard. “I’m getting really sick of the eighties reboots.”

His dad frowned, cutting the steak up with a knife. “What’s wrong with the eighties?”

“Uh, the hair maybe?” Mark shrugged, smiling when his dad looked offended. “I mean, the facial hair wasn’t that great either.”

“Wash your mouth out.” His dad warned. “The stache is a statement.”

Mark grinned, taking out some dinner trays from the bottom cupboard. “I mean, if you wanna tie all your self-worth to a moustache then…”

“Keep talking and you can have the leftover pasta tonight,” his dad warned, smirking.

Mark just grinned, heading to the couch when his dad set up the movie and then put the dinner on the trays.

“So, anything interesting happen today?” his dad asked when the movie started.

Mark gulped down his soda. “Uh…” He held the glass a little tight. “Yeah.” He couldn’t just lie to his dad. “Something did happen…”

His dad looked amused. “Is it that Amber girl you defended from that other boy?”

“What?” Mark blushed. “Dad, no, why would you even…uh…?” He grew embarrassed when his dad laughed. “It’s not a girl.”

“Okay, relax, I’m just messing around.” His dad’s gaze grew curious. “So, what is it?”

Mark rubbed the back of his neck, staring at his meal. “I…I got my powers.” He smiled at his dad. “I threw some garbage into space… hopefully it won’t come down any time soon.”

His dad stayed silent, expression blank, like he was surprised. “… You got your powers?”

“Yeah.” Mark’s smile wavered, wondering why his dad didn’t look excited. “I know it’s late.” Maybe his dad was disappointed it took so long for his powers to kick in? “Better late than never, though. Right?”

His dad stayed silent for a while longer, causing his smile to fade a little.

Then, his dad smiled. “That’s great, Mark.” He patted his back. “How about we start training tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah, sounds great.” Mark smiled again, ignoring the anxious feeling trailing up his back.

 He was pretty tired the next morning since he’d spent half the night trying to practice flying.

But, the lack of sleep was worth it since he didn’t make an idiot of himself in front of his dad, managing to fly up in the air and balance.

“Whoa!” Mark moved around, his stomach feeling like there were butterflies in it. “I think I got it!” He stumbled a bit, nearly flipping upside down. “Ah!”

His dad looked amused. “Uh, no you don’t.” He then flew ahead. “Follow me,” he said, while Mark followed. “You can wear yourself out flying. It’s like tensing a muscle…”

Mark tried to pay attention but staying balanced was a little hard while also listening to what his dad was saying. He focussed and flew ahead of his dad while the man was still talking.

His dad caught up. “Okay, you don’t want to fall so you’re gonna have trouble relaxing.” His dad looked at him curiously. “It’s like trying to pee your pants,” his dad said, amused.

“What!?” Mark looked over in alarm.

“Peeing your pants on purpose.” His dad looked smug.  “You know, you spend your whole life not trying to do it, so letting go, peeing your pants on purpose is next to impossible.”

Mark frowned, wavering a  bit with his flying. “How do you know this? Who would try that!?”

Had his dad peed his pants before!?

“You are far too good at this then you should be,” his dad mused, looking at him curiously. “Late night practice? Is that why you’re so tired?”

Mark scowled. “Don’t change the subject!”

His dad pointed ahead at an empty field. “Land over there.”

But, he hadn’t learned how to land yet!

“Okay.” Mark tried to land, heading down. “Uh!”

“Slow down,” his dad said, flying alongside him, but Mark seemed to go faster. “Land. I said, land. Why aren’t you slowing down?”

“How!?” Mark yelled as he tumbled down to the ground.

“Slow down.”

“I can’t!” Mark shouted, yelling as he went faster to the ground.

“Stop! Just stop!”

How!?

Mark yelled and tried to fly around, waving his arms. “AH!”

He landed into the field, his body aching when he impacted and left a crater. “Uh….” He winced, trying to move. “Ah…”

He thought his powers were meant to make things hurt less?

“Okay, I guess that still counts as a landing.” His dad floated above him and sighed. “Okay, come on, get up.”

Mark groaned, forcing himself to sit up and got out of the crater. “Uh…”

“Come on, we’re going to try something else,” his dad said.

He dusted himself off, groaning. “Oh, man.” He rubbed his shoulder and winced. “I thought I was supposed to be invulnerable or something?”

“You are… to a degree,” his dad replied, shrugging. “Viltrumites grow stronger the older they get.” His dad looked amused. “Right now, you’re still in the toddler phase when it comes to your powers.”

Mark grimaced. “Seriously?”

His dad looked amused. “Now, let’s practice your attacks.” He poked his chest. “Hit me.”

Mark’s eyes widened. “What!?”

His dad chuckled. “Come on, you didn’t have a problem punching me before when we’d practice defence.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t have powers back then.” He frowned, growing unsure.

“Mark.” His dad gripped his shoulder, making him tense a little. “This training’s serious, it’s not just messing around in the back yard.” He gave Mark a stern look. “If you want to be a hero then you need to take this seriously.”

Mark’s stomach twisted, nodding. “Right, sorry, dad.”

“It’s fine. Now come on, give it your best shot.”

He nodded and raised his fists, trying to hit him, but his dad easily dodged. “Ugh!”

“Remember, punch with your arm.” His dad reminded him, crossing his arms as he floated. “Come on, Mark, we’ve been through this. Fix your stance.”

Mark listened, trying to see it as their small lessons in the backyard. Pivoting on his feet.

Then, his dad started talking about flying again, and showed him how to float in the air, pivoting on his feet. “…We can create our own leverage,” he explained, moving back to back.

Mark watched and tried to copy, floating in the air and moving the heels of his feet to move around. “Cool.” He grinned and raced towards his dad, trying to punch him.

“Good.” His dad dodged, floating around with ease. “But, try it a little more like this…”

Mark tried to punch him again, smiling. “Like what?”

His dad’s fist came out like a brick and hit his chest, knocking him to the ground as the air was struck out of him.

Mark gasped, cradling his chest when he hit the grass, his dad still floating above him.

His dad had never hit him that hard before. It felt like before, when he was ten and the baseball had broken his arm. The blow burning.

He bit down hard on his tongue to hide a wince, trying not to look weak.  He clawed at the grass and tried to sit up. This was training, he couldn’t just lay on the ground like an idiot.

“Son?” His dad frowned and bent down. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you so hard.” His dad touched his shoulder. “Are you alright?”

Mark rubbed his chest, groaning as he sat up. “I’m… I’m fine.” He coughed, finding it hard to speak properly. “It’s fine.” The pain was already fading, and even if it left a bruise, it would heal. “Just…hurts.”

“I know.” His dad looked remorseful, placing hands on both his shoulders. “But, being a hero… the bad guys aren’t going to pull their punches.” He squeezed his shoulders. “You have to be prepared for anything.”

Mark nodded, trying to block out the pain. “I know, dad.” He stumbled a bit to stand up. “It’s okay, I can take it.”

His dad was just trying to prepare him. If he wanted to be a real hero then he needed to be able to handle a few hits.

His dad frowned a little, looking away. “Maybe we should just focus on flying…”

“No, dad, I can take it! I’m fine.” Mark tensed, starting to panic. “I’m sorry, I overreacted, I was just surprised.” What if his dad decided he was too weak and stopped training him? “Dad, please, I wanna be strong!”

His dad sighed. “I know, son.” He pulled him close. “But, you can’t rush these things.”

“Dad, please,” Mark pleaded, looking at him desperately. “I wanna keep going.”

Hid dad stayed quiet for a moment, staring at him.  “…Okay, we’ll spar some more.”

Mark smiled in relief. “Thanks, dad.”

His dad moved back a step. “Okay, guard up.”

Mark swallowed, raising his fists, and flinching a little when his dad’s fist came into view.

He felt exhausted by the time training was finished.

Mark groaned, collapsed on his bed with bruises littering his whole body.

His dad had said they’d heal up quickly, so it was fine… just a part of the job. He’d end up getting more bruises when he actually became a hero… whenever that was.

Mark sighed, turning over to stare at the ceiling. “I don’t even have a name…” His brow furrowed. “Omni-boy? Ugh!” He cringed just thinking about it. “No way!” The other superheroes would laugh at him. “Names... names… Superkid? Uh. No, lame.” He groaned and turned over in bed. “Why is this so hard?”

Then, a knock from the door made him turn around. “Hey, Mark, you still awake?”

“Yeah.” He rolled over and sat up in bed as the door opened. “What’s up?”

His dad stood in the doorway and smiled, holding up two beers. “Drinks on the roof?”

“Uh…” Mark’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that kind of… illegal?”

His dad chuckled, walking over.  “One beer’s fine. Besides, it’s a special occasion. Not every day you get powers.” His dad opened the window, a breeze drifting in. “Come on.”

Mark raised an eyebrow, but then smiled. “Uh, okay.”

He and his dad flew out of the window and onto the roof facing the backyard. He admired the stars while his dad uncapped the beer.

“I know training was tough today.” His dad handed him the beer. “But, I’m proud you stuck with it, son. You’re learning fast.”

Mark smiled, holding the bottle tight. “Thanks, dad.” The soreness from before became easier to ignore when he heard that praise.

His dad clinked the bottles together. “Bottoms up then.”

Mark grinned, chugging the beer and then spluttering and coughing when it ran down his throat. “Ugh!” He grimaced. “It tastes weird.”

His dad laughed. “It takes a while to get used to the taste,” he replied, taking a long sip after. “Go on, it’ll taste better.”

Mark frowned, not really wanting to, but he drank some more after he saw his dad arch an eyebrow. 

The taste definitely wasn't getting better.

He nearly spat it out. “How is this your favourite drink?”

His dad shrugged, drinking the beer without complaint. “I like this flavour. Good quality.” He smirked. “If you think this is bad just wait until you go to some bars downtown.”

Mark sighed. “Think I’ll pass.” He drank some more. “Can we even get drunk?”

“Not with these units,” his dad replied, glancing at the bottle. “We’d need stronger stuff.”

“Guess frat parties are useless then.” Mark shrugged. “I mean, they were already kind of bad so…”

His dad chuckled. “So, have you thought of a name yet?”

“No.” He sighed, staring up at the sky. “It’s hard.” He glanced at his dad. “How did you come up with yours.”

His dad looked like he’d laugh. “Mood board.”

Mark nearly choked. “Mood board!?”

His dad smirked. “It was a productive weekend.” He touched his shoulder. “The name will come soon enough, just give it some time, okay?”

Mark nodded. “Yeah, I guess.” He drank the beer and tried not to grimace. “I still need to make a costume, though.”

“That can be handled when you’re ready.” His dad squeezed his shoulder. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Mark.”

He frowned. “But, you said I was learning fast.” His chest tightened. “I’m nearly ready, dad, I just need a new more days or—”

“Days?” His dad arched an eyebrow. “Mark, it’s going to take weeks before you’re even ready to patrol.”

Mark’s face fell. “Dad, come on, I’m not a little kid. I can do this,” he argued. “I’m not weak.” His stomach twisted. “I can help. I’ve been waiting years to be able to do this.”

His dad’s brow furrowed. “Mark, I just said you’re not ready.”

Mark felt a rise of frustration. “But, I can do this, dad,” he insisted, even though he knew he wasn’t supposed to argue. “If you give me a chance I can show you—”

“Mark.” His dad dug his nails into his shoulder hard, making him flinch. “I said, no.”

Mark hunched over a bit, looking down when he realised he just sounded like a brat. “I’m sorry, I just…” His stomach twisted, staring at the beer in his hands. “I just wanna do what you do and make you proud…”

His dad’s grip slackened. “Mark…” He sighed, wrapping an arm around him. “You will, when you’re ready.” His dad’s tone softened, holding him close. “I know it may seem like I’m being unfair, but… I made a promise to your mother that I’d protect you and prepare you for the world ahead.”

Mark felt his chest tighten when he looked up. “Dad…”

His dad frowned when he stared at him. “Son, you’re all I have.” He rubbed his shoulder a little. “You and I… this is our family. The only thing we have is each other.”  He grimaced, looking away. “And, if you died, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.”

“I know, dad,” he replied quietly, shame and remorse making his stomach hurt.

“When you’re out there in the world, fighting aliens or monsters three times your size, you could die,” his dad said sternly. “If you’re going to survive, you need to be stronger than all of them.” He sighed. “So, I need to be sure you’ll be ready to face that.”

“I get it, dad.” Mark nodded, feeling some more weight on his shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

His dad ruffled his head. “It’s okay, son. I know you’re just eager.” He smiled a little. “I was like that too.” A nostalgic look glinted in his eye. “You should have seen me in my twenties, I thought I was unstoppable.”

Mark perked up. “What did you do?”

His dad drank some beer. “Well, I definitely had an ego… which my superiors weren’t the biggest fans of at first.” He chuckled. “They liked knocking me down a peg, but I proved myself in the end.” He smiled at him. “You have to be patient, Mark. You understand?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I understand, dad.”

His dad smiled, drinking the beer. “Drink up. We’ll be back at training tomorrow morning.”

Mark’s smile wavered, ignoring his apprehension. “Sounds good.” He drank the beer, blocking out the bad taste.

Mark winced and leaned against his locker on Monday morning. He’d wrapped up training yesterday but his body was still sore.

He rested his head on his locker and grimaced when he touched his stomach. He was supposed to heal quickly but the bruises from yesterday still weren’t all gone.

“Hey, everything okay?” Will frowned when he came over. “Did Todd kick your ass this time?”

“No.” Mark sighed, straightening up. “I’m just tired, busy weekend.”

Will stared at him curiously, before shrugging. “Well, okay then…”

Mark sighed, feeling restless still. He knew his dad was just trying to protect him but… he was strong. He could handle a basic mission or some small-time villain.

“Hey, Grayson!” Oh, great, it was Todd.

Mark sighed, looking annoyed. “Seriously?”

Todd cracked his knuckles, nursing a black eye from their fight. “You got lucky last time!”

Did he really have to waste time dealing with this idiot?

Mark rolled his eyes. “Have you seen your face? Not sure it was luck.”

Todd’s eyes flashed, shoving him into a locker, garnering the attention of the other students. “Do you want to get your ass kicked?”

Mark narrowed his eyes. “Fine, then, go ahead. Hit me.”

Todd looked surprised briefly, before he scowled and punched him in the stomach.

It didn’t even hurt, it barely even made the bruise on his stomach sting.

“Huh?” Todd frowned, caught off guard.

“Is that it?” Mark taunted, feeling his frustration grow.

Todd looked alarmed but then punched him in the face. “Ugh!”

It barely even tickled.

Mark narrowed his gaze. “Harder.” He clenched his hand into a fist. “Again.”

Will and the other students were watching in shock.

Todd looked apprehensive but then growled, driving his fist into his chest, and then winced on the impact.

Pathetic.

Mark felt a rise of frustration. How could his dad still think he was still on the same level with assholes like Todd? He was strong enough to break this guy in half.

Todd gave another shout and punched his face. “Freak!”

Mark gritted his teeth and caught the boy’s fist, punching Todd hard in the jaw.

“Mark!” Will shouted.

Todd slammed into the wall, jaw broken and bleeding.

Mark froze, eyes wide when he suddenly realised what he’d done. “Shit.”

“Oh, my God, is he okay!?”

 Some students rushed over to Todd who was on the floor, gasping and spitting out blood.

“Mark, what the hell!?” Will looked horrified.

“I…” Mark’s stomach churned. “I didn’t mean…” His chest tightened when he saw Amber in the crowd, she was staring at him like he was…

Mark stepped back, feeling like he was a freak facing off a mob, and ran away.

Mark curled his legs up to his chin, sitting on the top of Mount Everest, almost surprised how the cold air and lack of oxygen didn’t bother him, but he supposed that was the new normal now.

“Hey?” His dad’s shadow overcast him.

Mark cringed, looking up as he saw his dad floating, dressed in his costume. “Oh, you found me…”

His dad sighed, sitting alongside him. “…Well, it wasn’t hard.” His dad smiled sheepishly, touching the watch on his wrist. “Tracker. Just a precaution.”

“What?!” Mark looked up alarm, and then stared at his watch. “Wait, so that’s how you always knew when I was sneaking out!?”

His dad had seriously put a tracker in his watch?

His dad shrugged. “I may have been a little overprotective, not that you need it anymore.”

Mark frowned, touching the watch. “…So, did the school call you?”

“Yes.” His dad sighed. “You’re suspended for three weeks.”

“What?” Mark grimaced. “Damn it!” He buried his face in his hands.

“Considering you broke that boy’s jaw, you got off pretty lightly,” his dad commented. “Since Todd was the one to throw the first few punches, that seemed to work in your favour.”

Mark groaned, burying his face further in his hands. “I’m sorry.” His shame returned when he remembered the blood. “I… I know I messed up.”

Todd may be an asshole but he didn’t deserve getting his jaw caved in.

His dad didn’t seem mad, placing a hand on his back. “It’s alright, son, I understand.” He frowned. “Truth is, it’s probably my fault as well.”

Mark frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I forgot how restless it can feel getting your powers,” his dad said, looking at him patiently. “I thought training could help release some of that pent up energy, but I should have known better.”

Mark looked away. “I don’t know what was wrong me… I just… I felt angry and I wanted to just punch something.” He sighed, remembering the look on Amber’s face when she saw what he’d done. “I don’t want to lose control and hurt people like that…”

“Learning control can take years to master.” His dad reassured, rubbing his back. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to punch every asshole I’ve met.” He smiled crookedly. “And, honestly, I’m proud you stood your ground.”

Mark’s brow furrowed, looking up. “…You are?”

“You may have used more force than needed, but you didn’t let him walk over you,” his dad said, warmly.

He stared at him warily, not sure whether to feel proud or not. “But…” He rubbed his knuckles. “Heroes are meant to protect people and Todd isn’t… I mean, he’s an asshole but—”

“Heroes also have to stand their ground, son,” his dad told him warmly. “If anything, you taught that bully a lesson.”

Mark became quiet, thinking about it. Before he got his powers he’d originally got in a fight with Todd because he was defending Amber, it wasn’t like he’d started the fight just for the hell of it. It was Todd’s fault for coming back for another round, it wasn’t like Mark had wanted to fight the boy. Now, that Todd had been knocked down a peg then maybe he’d stop trying to pick fights or harass Amber or anyone else at school.

“I guess,” Mark muttered, still feeling unsure.

His dad patted his back and stood up. “Come on, follow me. I have something that’ll cheer you up.”

Mark raised an eyebrow, flying alongside his dad. “Why? What is it?”

His dad smiled. “You’ll see.”

“You’re getting me a super-suit!?” Mark looked around in excitement, the underground tailors decked with different super suits.

Art smirked. “He’s a quick one, this kid.”

His dad looked amused, leaning against the work table. “Well, considering how much extra training we’ll be doing during your suspension, you can’t keep flying around in your pyjamas.”

Mark grinned. “Yes!” He fist-pumped the air. “This is awesome!” He turned to the tailor. “Wait, do you already have one made for me!?” he asked quickly, earning an amused look from Art. “Is it a surprise?”

“Usually we start with a conversation first and I make something custom.” Art shrugged. “But, I do have one that might work.”

Mark nearly bounced on his toes with excitement, as Art went to get something from a box. “Aw, man, this is so cool.”

His dad chuckled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Okay, calm down, sport. You look like you’ll fly into the roof.”

Mark grinned and then ran over to Art when the man pulled out a super suit. “Can I try it on?”

“That’s the idea.” Art chuckled. “The changing rooms are round back.”

Mark hurried off, racing to get changed.

After the costume was on, his excitement faded a little. It was a tight fit, and kind of gave him a wedgie. The goggles were cool, and he liked the yellow, but the orange just felt off…

He frowned, stepping out to show his dad and Art.

“What do you think?” Art asked.

“Well…” Mark turned around, trying to look at his butt. “I don’t know about the orange and yellow. It’s pretty loud.” He looked at his dad. “Dad?”

His dad hummed, looking him over. “Not your best work, Art.”

Art laughed a little and shrugged. “Can’t blame a guy for trying to move unsold merchandise.”

Mark hummed, looking the costume over. “I like the goggles.” He took them off and turned to Art. “They keep the wind out of my eyes when I fly…” He tried to think about how he wanted his costume to look. “But, I was really hoping for something more… I don’t know. Iconic?”

Something that people would see as himself and not just Omni-man’s kid.

“Of course you were,” Art replied. “That’s what everyone wants. Iconic, a symbol,” he continued, causing Mark to smile. “Something kids will draw on the corners of their notebooks at school while they daydream about being as cool as you.” Art rubbed his chin. “It’s also tough as hell to pull off.” He shrugged. “But listen, your dad being who he is, I’m willing to put in a lot of elbow grease into this one.” He smiled at him. “But, I’ll need a little help from you. Have you decided on a name yet?”

“Uh, no, not yet.” Mark rubbed the back of his head.

“Well, having a name helps.” Art shrugged. “Darkwing has dark wings. Red Rush is a red rush when he runs by you. You get it?” he said. “You give me something to work on, and I’ll strive for iconic.”

Mark smiled. “Right, got it!”

His dad looked amused, stepping to his side. “Once you have a name, stop by and tell, Art.”

He nodded, already trying to brainstorm one. “Okay, no problem.”

His dad hadn’t been lying about using his time off school to do extra training.

Mark hissed when he put on a fresh shirt, the dark bruises on his back and stomach spread over like blotches.

His dad said he needed to get better at blocking punches, otherwise, the villains would string him up like a punching bag. He needed to do better. It was important.

Mark cringed, touching the bruises.

“Mark,” his dad was calling him from downstairs.

“Coming!” He put another long-sleeved shirt over to hide the bruises on his arms and then went downstairs. “What’s up?” He looked confused when he saw his dad arranging a fresh flower bouquet by the counter. “Oh…”

His dad only ever got flowers when they were visiting mom’s grave.

“I noticed the old ones were dying off.” His dad looked up, a small but grim smile on his face. “I wanted us to go together to replace them.”

Mark’s stomach twisted, nodding. “Yeah, that’s fine.” He looked at the photo of his mom by the side table. “Let me just put on some shoes.”

His dad nodded, carefully touching the flowers, a distant look overcasting his face.

They normally only visited her grave together for her birthday or the holidays. He knew his dad liked to come there alone and replace the flowers himself.

Mark carefully arranged the flowers at her grave. “Hey, mom…” There was a lump in his throat. It was nice talking to her, even if she wasn’t there, a small part of him hoping she really was in a better place in the afterlife. “I kind of got suspended, and I have a feeling if you were here, you’d be pissed.”

His dad chuckled softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, she would.”

Mark smiled a little, glancing up at his dad. “She’d probably be angry you didn’t ground me.”

His dad smirked. “Probably.”

He stood up, staring at her grave, his grief starting to weigh down on him. “…I wish she was here.”

“I know, son. Me too.” His dad sighed. “I’ve been thinking about her a lot since you got your powers, and how proud she’d be to see the man you’re becoming.”

Mark’s smile grew, but he hid a wince when his dad pressed a hand to his back, pressing on the bruises underneath his shirt. “Thanks, dad,” he replied. His dad smiled, but it looked guarded. “… Is everything okay? You seem kind of… tense.”

His dad sighed, as the smile on his face almost began to look like a grimace. “The world’s changing a lot, son,” he said. “And, now that you have your powers… things will start changing for you too.”

“Yeah, I know.” Mark sighed, glancing down at his knuckles. “Honestly it’s kind of… scary.” He admitted, growing unsure. “I don’t really know what I’m doing.” He looked at his dad. “And, I know I keep messing up in training…”

“Hey.” His dad’s tone was soft. “No one said this was easy. This is a long journey for you and me.” He turned around to look at him. “They’ll be a lot of hard choices up ahead, son,” his dad said gravely. “Along the way, you’re going to have to do things you don’t want to do, or that you think you can’t do.” Mark looked down, remembering the tough choices his dad had to make which had been… difficult to see. “It’s okay to be scared and doubt yourself, but what’s important is being able to push through that, and do what needs to be done.” His dad’s smile was warm. “You’ll do just fine. Do you think you can do that, Mark?”

Mark nodded, taking a deep breath. “Yeah.” He looked at his dad, trying to push away his doubts. “I wanna be just like you.” His stomach twisted when he looked at his mom’s grave. “I wanna make her proud…”

His dad’s smile was fond. “You will, Mark. I promise.” He gripped his shoulders tight. “Son, kid’s your age think they’re invincible and it holds them back and makes them careless.” His dad’s smile grew proud. “But, you’re different, you actually are invincible.”

Mark felt something flutter in his chest, his smile returning.

Invincible.

“Invincible…” He repeated. The word lingering in his head.

“I know you’ll make your mother and me proud.” His dad turned back to the grave. “You’re one of the few people I know I’ll be able to rely on you if things get tough.”

Mark smiled.  “Of course, dad.” He placed a hand on his dad's shoulder. “Always.”

When they were on their way back home, Mark told his dad he just needed to stop by Art’s.

He grinned, running into the shop when he landed, his new name dancing around in his head.

Invincible.

“I got it!” He yelled, bursting through the doors. “I know what name I want!”

Art looked up from his sewing, amused. “Well, let’s get started then.”

Mark yawned, stretching as he got out of bed, getting ready for training.

He grinned when he picked up his new costume, the yellow and blue looking bright. “So, cool!”

He put the costume neatly on his bed, before heading downstairs to grab a quick breakfast. The house felt oddly quiet.

“Hey, dad! Do you want me to get some bacon on!?” Mark called while floating downstairs,

His dad didn’t reply, the house still silent.

He frowned, touching the ground as he looked around. “Uh, dad?”

Had he gone off on a mission or something? It wouldn’t be the first time he’d left the house without telling him.

“Huh…” Mark frowned, looking around. “Well, guess that just means more bacon for me.” He shrugged and walked over to the fridge.

After he’d made himself some bacon and egg, he looked through his phone, replying to some of Will’s messages, his friend asking him if he was free to hang out if he wasn’t busy busting people’s jaws open.

Mark laughed a little, texting back to ask what time.

Then, there was a knock at the door.

“Hm?” He slipped his phone in his pocket and walked over to the door, and then felt his stomach flop when he saw two men dressed in black suits. “…Uh, hello?”

The two men exchanged a look. “We need you to come with us, Mr Grayson,” one of the men with buzz-cut hair said. “It’s about your father.”

Mark’s eyes widened, his stomach plummeting. “What?”

It suddenly felt like he was ten years old again, in a different hospital, but still the same feeling of dread.

The smell of disinfectant making him feel sick, barely even listening to what one of Cecil’s men were saying as they headed to the hospital room. Guards at nearly every door.

His dad was injured, some kind of attack they weren’t giving the details and…

Mark tried not to panic, clenching his hands tight so they wouldn’t shake.

Then, he saw him. “Dad!” He ran over to the hospital bed, his dad unconscious, bruised up, and hooked up to a machine. “Dad, no!” His eyes started to sting, holding his dad’s hand tight, and feeling like his whole world was crashing down again.

Chapter Text

With his dad out of commission, the world still needed saving, and Cecil had said so himself they were short-handed in the superhero department.

The actual hero thing though was harder than he’d thought.

Mark yelled as he nearly crashed into the road, trying to practice the landing technique his dad had taught him.

“Shit!” He managed to not land on his face, heading straight into the action. Green aliens with lasers and tanks firing at people, while bystanders were screaming. “Hold on—”

He reeled back when a gun was fired, splattering blood and guts in his direction as twenty people were taken out in front of him.

Mark stumbled back, his ears ringing from the explosions. Fire spreading from car to car like he’d entered a full massacre.

“Oh, God.” He nearly vomited when he saw the blood on his hands. “Shit!” Flashes of a man smeared against a wall, smelling like rotten meat—

Focus!

Mark tried to fight, disorientated as everything just grew more chaotic around him. His chest seized up when he saw an old woman trying to crawl away while an alien aimed its gun.

“No!” He flew over and grabbed her, trying to fly away and—

Mark went colliding to the ground when he was hit from behind. He winced. Then, he started to panic when he saw the woman now looked in even worse shape, blood staining her clothes and his hands.

What was he supposed to do!?

He couldn’t think, just panicking, until a pink shield blocked a laser from hitting him. A red-headed girl, around his age, came flying into view.

“Get her to the hospital!” The girl yelled, her pink costume looking familiar.

“You’re Atom Eve.” Mark’s words felt clumsy, staring in awe.

Atom Eve was really right there—

“What!?” She looked irritated. “Get her to the hospital! We have this handled!”

Shit! She was right.

“Okay!” Mark scrambled to pick the woman up and flew into the air, trying to find the nearest hospital, and then panicking more when he couldn’t recognise one.

He zoomed off to the nearest one he knew.

Mark was still caked in blood, dragging himself to his dad’s hospital room after handing the injured old woman to the nearest doctor.

“I messed up, dad.” His voice broke a little, kneeling by his dad’s bed, wishing he would wake up and talk to him. “You were right, I’m not strong enough.” His eyes stung, trying not to cry. “I’m sorry.”

His first time out as a hero and he’d been a complete embarrassment. He was almost grateful his dad hadn’t seen; he would have been so disappointed Mark wouldn’t have been able to look at him.

He felt pathetic.

Mark held his dad’s hand tight, feeling like was crouching by his mom’s bedside again, just watching her breathe grow weaker each visit. What if this was it and his dad never woke up? Then what was he supposed to do?

The last of his mom’s family had died three years ago with grandpa, and if she had other relatives, they were strangers. If his dad died, then he’d be alone.

His vision blurred up with tears as his fear grew, covering his mouth to muffle a sob. “Dad, please wake up,” he mumbled, burying his face in the bedsheets. “I-I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.”

He wasn’t sure when he’d fallen asleep, but he woke up when he heard another voice.

“Oh, Jesus Christ, kid.” Cecil sounded annoyed. “You still here?”

Mark tensed, looking up to find Cecil staring at him in annoyance or concern, he wasn’t really sure. “Uh…” Then, he grew embarrassed when he realised he’d fallen asleep by his dad’s bedside. His hair was a mess, and his costume was still bloody. “Oh, uh, sorry.”

Fuck, now he just looked even more pathetic.

Cecil sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Don’t you have school?”

“…I got suspended,” Mark muttered, stiffly standing up. “Sorry.” He tried to rub the crusted blood off his hands.

The director grimaced, looking him over. “Look, kid…” He sighed, looking uncomfortable. “Everyone fucks up on their first day. Don’t take it personal,” he told him stiffly. “Just… just go home. We’ll call you if we need your help.”

Mark shifted awkwardly. “I wanna stay with my dad.” What if something happened to his dad while he was gone? Just like with mom. “Please.” He frowned, looking at Cecil pleadingly. “I don’t wanna leave unless I have to… in case something happens.”

Cecil narrowed his eyes a little, before sighing, turning away. “Fine, I’ll get a cot brought in. Just take a shower.” He walked out of the room, while Mark cringed and smelt himself.

Meeting the Teen Team was like walking in the school cafeteria on his first day. He’d gotten a call from Robot asking him to check out their base so they could get acquainted, whatever that meant.

“These are all our current members, Dublikate, Rex Splode, and Atom Eve,” Robot announced as he walked him into the main room, which was surrounded by high tech he’d never seen before.

“Hey! It’s the ice-man!” said a guy with dark tanned skin, dressed in a red supersuit; Rex Splode wasn’t it? “Thanks for all the help back there!”

Mark tried not to cringe. “Uh, yeah…” He rubbed the back of his neck as he walked over. “Sorry about that… I’m still new to the whole hero thing…”

“Aw!” The three identical East Asian girls in matching purple costumes, Duplakate, surrounded him with four copies, looking him over. “So, what’s your name?”

“Oh, it’s…” He trailed off when he saw Atom Eve approach. “Oh, hey, Atom Eve! Thanks for yesterday.”

She looked amused. “No problem.” She held her hand out. “And everyone calls me Eve.”

“Right.” He shook her hand, it felt nice. “That makes sense.”

Eve smiled slightly as he kept shaking her hand. “And you’re…?”

“Invincible!” he replied, and then quickly stopped shaking her hand when he realised he’d been shaking it for too long.

“Invincible.” She raised an eyebrow. “That’s—”

“Kinda  lame.” Rex grinned like he was joking, placing an arm around Eve, which meant they were a couple…

Mark forced a smile. “Uh, well, I guess it’s a lot to live up to, but you know…”

Fuck, he was bad at this. Maybe this was why Will was his only friend…?

“Don’t listen to him.” Eve rolled her eyes, flicking Rex’s head. “Your name’s fine.”

“Hey!” Rex whined, rubbing his head.

“Invincible,” Robot walked over. “Considering the Guardians are unavailable currently, I assume we can rely on you in any upcoming fights.”

“Oh, yeah, absolutely,” Mark said quickly, growing excited at the thought of being part of a team. “You can call me any time.” He gave them a thumbs-up, and then frowned. “Oh, wait, you’ll need my number.” He looked for his phone in his costume. “Sorry, the pockets are really tight with this thing.”

The Duplakates were very blatantly staring at his butt. “Yeah, we can see that…”

“Ah!” Mark blushed and quickly moved away.

Eve chuckled, the noise sounding like bells, covering her mouth quickly, causing Rex to frown. “Come on, we’ll give you a tour of the base.”

“Oh, yeah, sure.” Mark smiled. “That’d be great, thanks.”

“Come on, let’s start with the training room.” Eve led the way.

“I know you don’t like teams, dad, but they were kind of cool.” Mark applied a damp cloth to his dad’s forehead. “I mean, Rex seemed like a jerk, but Eve was cool.” He smiled slightly, thinking about her. “I mean, I haven’t had the chance to talk to her that much, but she seemed nice…”

He sat down next to his dad’s bed, feeling his chest tighten when his dad remained unresponsive. He sighed and held his dad’s hands, staring at the large bruises on the man’s knuckles.

His dad must have put up a fight against whoever did this to him and killed the other guardians. Omni-man wasn’t the type to go down easily.

Mark smiled a bit at that, and then felt his stomach twist when he thought about yesterday. “…I won’t mess up a second time, dad. I promise.”

The Teen Team were relying on him now as well, so he had to be brave and just get the job done. Even if the blood made him want to vomit. It was just a part of the job. If his dad woke up, then the last thing he would want to find out was that his son had been a failure. Mark wouldn’t be able to face him.

He sighed and squeezed his dad’s hand. Remembering the old woman from yesterday. He wondered if she was doing better…

Mark glanced at his dad briefly, before standing up to go check on the woman.

The second fight against the aliens, apparently called Flaxans, went… slightly better than last time. At least he didn’t make an idiot of himself.

“Hey, watch out!” Eve yelled across the street, which was now a battle zone.

Mark flew up to avoid a laser and then dived at the Flaxan.

They were throwing everything they had at the enemy, but it still didn’t seem enough.

Mark winced when he got hit, clutching his shoulder, but he ignored the blow and kept going.

And, then they started losing.

“Damn it!” Mark was pinned by the slime to one of their tanks, watching Dulplakates doubles get vaporized as Rex was pushed back. Robot was surrounded and Eve had some kind of device over her face.

“I-it seems they spent their time wisely.” Robot was crawling and short-circuiting.

Then, the Flaxan with the missing eye walked over to Eve.

“No!” He tried to break free. “Don’t!” Fuck, the alien was going to kill her. “No! Don’t!”

The alien pointed the gun to her neck and Mark felt his temper explode.

“I SAID, NO!” He shouted, ripping himself free from the substance and charging at the Flaxan, and then pummelled him into a building. “Ah!” He smashed his fists into the alien’s face until he drew blood.

His temper coursed through him, boiling as he kept hitting the alien who’d have sooner had them dead. Like they deserved to die—

“Invincible!” Robot was shouting.

Mark’s fist froze, breathing heaving as he looked over his shoulder and remembered Eve. “Shit.” He dropped the Flaxan and flew over to the girl who was struggling to breathe. “Eve!” He crushed the metal face-hugger, causing her to gasp once it was off. “Are you okay?”

Eve coughed, clutching her throat. “Yeah, now I can breathe.”

“Their wristbands are what keep them young!” Robot was talking, getting back on his feet as the others gathered around. “Destroy their wristbands!”

“What!?” Rex yelled as the Flaxan army charged. “All of them!?”

“Yes!” Robot replied, charging forward.

Rex sighed. “Well, here’s to not dying.”

Mark rushed forward with the others, attacking the Flaxans head on and taking out the wristbands, which was kind of like trying to crush ants with a toothpick.

“How many are there!?” Mark yelled, throwing a Flaxan into another to knock them over, and then broke the wristbands.

“I don’t know, but it’s taking a while!” Eve sliced some bands off. “Robot! Plan.”

“Bear with me.” Robot was doing something to one of the wristbands. “49,000 Kilohertz.”

“Hey, look out!” Mark yelled as Robot was tackled, but then a second later the machine released a sound wave which seemed to knock everything back.

“Ugh!” Mark cringed when the two Flaxans grabbing him grew to corpses. “Gross.” He shoved them off.

Like a wave, the wristbands broke, and the Flaxans started to retreat back to their portals.

The Flaxan general shouted something back at them, but it was in a language they didn’t understand.

“Right back at you, buddy!” Rex blew raspberries. “Way to go Psycho there, Invincible. I take back everything I said about you before, and I said a lot!”

“Uh.” Mark frowned. “I don’t know what happened…” He’d just gotten so angry and then it was just like he’d lost control. “I got mad… I guess.”

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, that was amazing, but also the scariest thing ever,” Rex said, shrugging. “Just don’t ever point that at me, okay?”

Mark’s stomach twisted a little, looking down at his hands, which had blood on them.

Eve looked annoyed and threatened to punch his arm. “Don’t listen to Rex.”

“That’s what I said, Eve.” Rex raised his hands quickly. “UGH…” He rubbed his back. “God, my back.”

“Right…” Mark looked at the carnage left behind.

He supposed for a second battle, this had gone better… or at least he hadn’t run off in a mess.

Mark tensed when his phone started ringing, feeling his stomach twist anxiously as he answered it, hoping it wasn’t bad news.

He flew down the hospital corridor, still dressed in his costume.

His chest swelled in relief when he saw his dad was sat up in the hospital bed awake, while Cecil was leaning against the wall of the room. “Hey, son.”

“Dad!” Mark zoomed over and tackled him into a hug. “You’re okay!”

“Whoa, there.” His dad chuckled, patting his back.

Mark held his dad tight, burying his face in the man’s shoulder. “…I thought you’d never wake up.”

“It’ll take a lot more to make that happen, son,” his dad reassured quietly, rubbing his back gently.

Mark smiled in relief and slowly let go. “Does this mean you can come home?”

“Of course.” His dad squeezed his hand.

Cecil narrowed his eyes a fraction. “The nurse will be back with the discharge papers.” He walked out of the room, causing Mark to frown a bit at his tone.

“Is everything okay?” Mark asked.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” His dad looked him over. “Cecil mentioned you’ve stepped in and been helping out.”

“Oh, yeah.” Mark rubbed his arm, hoping Cecil hadn’t mentioned seeing him sobbing after the first fight. “They were pretty short-handed so…” He smiled faintly. “I know you said I wasn’t ready but… today was pretty amazing, and also kind of terrifying…”

His dad looked amused, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Tell me everything.”

Mark grinned and sat down, feeling like his world was pulling itself back together. “Okay, well, first off I met Teen Team…”

“Are you sure you’re okay for training, dad?” Mark looked at his dad worriedly as they flew in the air, outside in the backyard. “I mean, it’s barely been a week.”

His dad smiled in amusement. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.” He patted Mark on the shoulder. “The stronger we get the quicker we heal, remember?”

Mark nodded, his stomach twisting a bit for some reason when his dad cracked his knuckles and flew ahead. “Yeah, I know.”

“Okay, then.” His dad flew a further distance away. “Since you’ll be fighting real monsters from now on, let’s pick up the pace.” He looked at Mark pointedly. “We’ll practice your attacks again. Try to hit me.”

Mark tried to hide his nerves, lifting his fists. “Okay…”

“Ready when you are.” His dad looked relaxed, hands behind his back like he doubted Mark would even get close enough.

He took a deep breath. If he was going to become stronger… “Ah!” He flew towards his dad.

His dad dodged the blow easily. “It’s like you’re not even trying.”

Mark gritted his teeth and lunged harder. “Ugh!”

“And now you’re trying too hard,” his dad said dryly after dodging. “Slow down.” His dad moved to the side as Mark focussed. “Don’t hit me where I am, hit me where I’m going—"

Mark punched his dad in the jaw, knocking the man back.

“I did it!” He felt a swell of relief and grinned. “Haha. Thanks for the tip!”

His dad’s face twisted, rubbing his jaw. “You know.” Something in his dad’s tone made his grin fall. “You have to be able to take a hit as well!”

Mark flinched when he saw his dad’s fist and rushed to shield his face.

The blow knocked him out of the sky and headfirst into the ground, his jaw aching, tasting blood from where he’d bit his tongue.

Mark groaned, lifting himself up from the dirt and wiping the blood from his mouth.

“Pretty hard with that punch, Nolan.” Cecil’s suddenly spoke up, voice reserved and calm. “Kid might end up in a coma.”

Mark looked up in alarm when he saw Cecil standing by the pavement, watching them with a blank expression.

His dad zoomed down and was by Mark’s side, pulling him to his feet. “We’re just training.” He placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him close. “Right, Mark?”

Mark swallowed some blood and nodded, rubbing his jaw. “Yeah…”

His dad had never hit him in the face before… he probably shouldn’t have goaded him.

“What do you want, Cecil?” His dad asked.

Cecil sighed. “Inside. There’s a situation.”

His dad sighed. “Of course there is…”

Mark followed his dad and Cecil inside, a bruise developing on his jaw.

It turned out the emergency was a cyclops alien called Allan who apparently was an evaluation officer who had mistaken Earth for Urath.

His dad couldn’t stop laughing when he told him. “You’ve got to be kidding me!?”

Mark shrugged, helping him wash the dishes. “It’s true! Like they’re not even spelt the same.”

His dad finished, drying the dishes. “He did seem like an idiot.” He smirked. “To be honest, our fights felt more like training practice, so I never took them that seriously.” He patted Mark on the shoulder. “I thought it would be a good way for you to let off some steam. I didn’t think you’d actually talk to him.”

“I mean, I kind of wanted to know why he was attacking in the first place,” Mark replied, drying his hands after the dishes were finished. “You seriously never tried talking to him?”

His dad shrugged, grabbing two beers from the fridge. “Like I said, he did look like an idiot.” His dad uncapped the two bottles, making Mark frown when he saw. “But, you still beat him, so let’s celebrate.”

“Again, kind of illegal, dad,” Mark tried to joke as he was handed the beer, grimacing a little at the smell.

“Still a victory.” His dad clinked bottles with him and sat down at the counter. “Besides, that’s not even counting what you did to the Flaxans.” He smiled, ruffling his hair. “Robot said you nearly beat one unconscious.”

Mark clenched the bottle tight and shrugged, drinking the beer despite hating the taste. “I just got mad…” He frowned. “He was gonna kill Eve, so I just… snapped.”

“Eve?” His dad’s smile was teasing. “Your girlfriend?”

“Dad!” Mark blushed, punching the man’s shoulder. “She’s not my girlfriend.” He scowled when his dad laughed. “Besides, she has a boyfriend… even if he is an asshole.”

“So?” His dad nudged him playfully. “Why let that stop you?”

“Dad, that’s gross!” Mark grimaced, rolling his eyes. “That’s just… way too messy.”

“Okay, relax, I’m joking.” His dad drank some beer. “What about that Amber girl you like?”

His grimace grew, poking at his bottle. “Yeah, well, she kind of thinks I’m crazy since I broke Todd’s jaw…” His stomach churned. “Everyone at school does. It’s like I can’t even walk down the hallway without someone staring at me like I’ll go full crazy or something…” He sighed, rubbing his bruised cheek. “Will’s the only one who even talks to me anymore…”

God, he sounded like such a loser.

“Hey.” His dad’s tone grew gentler. “You’re not crazy, and Todd had it coming.” He rested a hand on Mark’s shoulder. “Trust me, High School is a blip in your life, son. There’s so much you’re going to accomplish.”

Mark frowned a little. “I guess, but… I don’t know.” He felt sick when he remembered the fight with the Flaxans. “I keep losing control now that I have my powers, and… it just makes more people scared of me.”

“Mark, look at me,” his dad said, causing him to look up. “You’ve been given an amazing power, that’s something you can’t hide. It’s something to be proud of.” His dad smiled reassuringly. “Controlling your temper takes time, but you will control it, and be able to use it to make yourself stronger. So, you can protect people. Just be patient.”

 Mark smiled a little. “Right. Thanks, dad.”

His dad patted his shoulder. “Besides, teenagers are shallow,” he teased. “They’ll probably get over it after a month.”

Mark looked amused. “Hopefully…” Then, he remembered seeing Eve yesterday. “Actually, it’s not all bad though.”

“Oh, really?” His dad raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I was actually thinking of joining Teen Team,” Mark said, smiling. “They seem pretty cool, and it would be good for training and everything.”

“Oh, you were actually serious about wanting to join them?” his dad replied bluntly, causing his smile to waver. “Come on, Mark, you don’t want to waste time with them.”

Mark frowned, staring at the counter. “They’re pretty famous, dad, and Cecil trusts them since the Guardians are…” His stomach twisted when he thought about it. “They’re not a dumb group of kids, they’re heroes.”

His dad sighed, shaking his head. “Their acne has barely cleared up.” He frowned at him. “And do you seriously want to be taking your orders from a machine?”

Mark grew uneasy, fiddling with the bottle. “…I don’t really think it’s a big deal.”

Why was his dad so against him joining a team, anyway?

“Son…” His dad sighed, looking annoyed. “You’re a Viltrumite, we don’t need teams. Why do you think I never bothered?” He squeezed Mark’s neck, making him tense a little. “Besides, we still need to finish your training. There’s a lot I need to teach you, and you’re already behind with school,” his dad lectured. “Joining a team is just going to make you more distracted, and you’re barely passing as it is.”

Mark cringed, his cheeks heating up when he remembered the meeting with the principal. “My grades aren’t that bad…”

His dad rolled his eyes. “Mark, let’s be honest, you’re not exactly an academic whiz. It’d be a miracle if you graduated.” His dad sighed. “You’re failing English, I mean, come on. You use it every day but you’re barely scraping a D recently.”

Mark’s stomach twisted, growing embarrassed. He wasn’t stupid! He just hadn’t been able to do his homework, with training, looking after his dad, patrol, and trying to make sure the world didn’t get destroyed. He barely had time to hang out with Will.

He grimaced, realising his dad was right. Joining a team would just make things worse at school, and if he had to repeat a year he might die from the humiliation.

Mark sighed, staring at the beer label. “Right… sorry.”

His dad heaved another sigh and rubbed his back reassuringly. “After we wrap up your training, and you finish school, then maybe it’ll be a good idea to join a team, okay?”

He sighed, sipping his drink. “Yeah, okay…” He shrugged. “It was just an idea anyway.”

It wasn’t like joining a team was that important, and his dad was right, his grades had been pretty terrible recently. Besides, training with his dad was more important. Teen Team probably didn’t really even care if he joined or not; Rex didn’t like him and Duplakate didn’t seem all that interested.

“…I know being a hero can seem lonely, Mark,” his dad said gently. “A lot of kids your age don’t understand the real weight of the responsibility.” His dad frowned.  “And I know I can’t relate to latest pop culture or who’s dating who, or even whatever social media apps you’re using.” Mark chuckled a little, making his dad smile. “But you’re not alone, you’ll always have me. You know you can talk to me about anything.”

Mark relaxed, feeling a warm glow in his chest.  “You do realise how lame that sounds, right?”

His dad raised an eyebrow. “Why? I can be a cool dad.”

Mark laughed a little. “That just makes you lamer.”

“Hey!” His dad grinned and put him in a headlock, ruffling his head. “Knock it off.”

He laughed, tugging on his dad’s arm, feeling his uneasiness fade further away as he smothered it and enjoyed the moment. Ignoring the soreness of his cheek.

“So, you’re not joining the team?” Eve asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Uh, yeah…” Mark sighed, moving away from her locker. The school day was coming to a close as student milled around them. “I’m already busy training with my dad, and if I don’t get my grades up, I probably won’t graduate.”

She hummed, holding her books. “Right, well okay.” She sighed. “To be honest, things are kind of a mess anyway since you know… the Guardians.”

“Oh, yeah…” Mark grimaced. “I’m going to the funeral with my dad.”

“Yeah, I’m going with the rest of the team. I just can’t get over how they’re gone.” She frowned. “How did your dad even survive?”

Mark shrugged, growing uncomfortable. “Well, he said he put up a fight,” he replied as they walked down the hallway. “He said they were ambushed, so he doesn’t even know who attacked them.”

Eve frowned. “Yeah, but what thing could get the drop on all the guardians and also kill them, without barely even leaving evidence.”

“I don’t know.” Mark’s stomach twisted. “My dad keeps saying to let Cecil handle it, but… he barely even talks about it – I mean, not that I blame him.” He frowned, feeling sick. “Imagine having all your friends die and not even know why?”

“Doesn’t he talk to you about it?” she asked curiously.

“…Not really.” Mark sighed, adjusting his backpack. “My dad isn’t really into talking about is feelings. He’s just not that type of guy.”

“Sounds like my dad,” Eve commented, but then shrugged. “Does he seem angrier? I heard that’s linked to trauma.”

He shrugged, feeling a little uneasy as he touched his healed cheek. “Well, he’s kind of… more intense, I guess.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Is he doing the whole ‘I will avenge them’ crap?”

“…No.” Mark frowned the more he thought about it, walking to the edge of the school. “To be honest, I can’t even tell if he’s interested in finding out who did it…”

“Huh.” Eve’s brow furrowed. “…Doesn’t that seem kind of weird to you?”

They stopped near the gate entrance. “Well, I guess…” he replied warily, growing uncomfortable when he thought about it. “But I’m not a mind reader. For all I know, he could be secretly trying to find out who did it.”

Though, if he was really being honest, his dad didn’t seem that affected by the Guardians dying… but maybe he was just assuming too much.

Eve’s frown stayed, but she didn’t push the subject. “Well, okay, if you think so.”

After the private funeral of the Guardians, his dad got Pizza.

Mark poked at the pepperoni, feeling more uneasy after the private funeral.

“Hey, come on, son, it’ll get cold.” His dad chided, eating another slice.

“I’m not really hungry, dad,” he replied, staring at his plate.

His dad looked at him curiously. “Why, what’s wrong?”

Mark frowned a little. “I mean… we just came from a funeral.”

“More reason not to grieve with an empty stomach,” his dad argued, eating some more pizza.

His frown grew, staring at his dad warily. “…Aren’t you worried though?” he asked hesitantly, causing his dad to look over. “Cecil still hasn’t caught who killed them, what if… I mean, what if whoever did it tries to finish you off?”

His dad’s brow furrowed briefly, before reaching over and placing a hand on his shoulder. “That’s not going to happen, Mark.” He squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. “Last time, they got the drop on me, but it won’t happen again.”

“…Yeah, but how can you be sure?” Mark felt like he was walking on eggshells.

“Well, for one thing, I have you,” his dad replied, surprising him. “Son, a part of being a hero is doing it with the knowledge each day might be your last.” His dad sighed. “I’ve seen countless heroes die in battle, and it isn’t easy, but it’s a part of the job,” he said, a distant look overcasting. “Our lives will always be at risk, and grief is a luxury we don’t always have.”

Mark felt his wariness fade a little, replaced with remorse. His dad was right. Being a hero meant having to sometimes watch people die, even those closest to you or the people you tried to save. His chest tightened when he thought about the old woman, Maya, who hadn’t survived after the Flaxans battle. “I think I get it, dad. It’s just still… I’m trying to wrap my head around it.”

“I know, son.” His dad patted his back. “You’re still learning, but death. It’s a part of the job and sometimes…” His dad looked at a photo of their mother on the wall. “We have to move on and be strong.” His dad’s gaze grew stern when he looked back at him. “We don’t bring those feelings home.”

Mark tried not to grimace, nodding. His dad did care but was just trying to be strong. “Okay… I understand, dad.”

His dad stared at him a little longer. “Mark, I know this is all still confusing, but I need you to trust me, alright?” His dad’s brow creased. “You still trust me, right?”

Of course, he trusted his dad. His dad loved him and was a hero. They needed to stand together to be able to face whatever may lie ahead. His dad was relying on him and needed his support. He trusted him.

There was still a tiny second of hesitation. “…Yeah, dad,” he replied, trying to smile, but he couldn’t shake off his uneasiness. “I trust you.”

His dad’s expression softened. “Then, whatever happens, we can get through it. We’re a team, remember?”

Mark nodded, ignoring the apprehension which wouldn’t seem to go away. “Yeah, I know, dad.”

Mark took a deep breath as he stepped into the small, local Flower shop he normally went to for his mom. Today was April 17^th, her birthday, so the flowers needed to be special.

When he stepped inside, he was greeted with the smell of flowers and wet dirt. “Hey, Osman,” Mark greeted the elder Pakistani man by the counter.

“Mark.” Osman stopped writing up price labels and smiled. “Just you today?”

“Uh, yeah, my dad’s busy writing,” he replied, forcing a smile. “Have you got anything new in? I’m trying to find a spring arrangement.”

Osman nodded, walking away from the counter. “There’s some for Easter, but I think I have something better since it’s your mom.” He pointed at a line of bouquets. “This one, is some Carnations and Yarrow.”

Mark picked up the bunch, the carnations were pink and the Yarrow was white. It looked bright so they’d stand out. “Thanks, I think she’ll like them.” He knew the flowers meant love, and he’d read that Yarrow helped protect other flowers nearby from pests. “Can you trim the roots a little?”

“No problem, come on.” Osman patted him on the back. “Come. I’ll wrap them up.”

“Dad?” Mark frowned when he stepped into his dad’s man cave and saw the man was still writing on the laptop. “Are you ready to go? They say it’s gonna rain later so…”

His dad paused from writing, looking up. “I have a deadline for my editor, so I won’t be able to make it, son.” His dad smiled, but it looked tight. “You go ahead.”

“But…” Mark’s frown grew, stepping further into the room. “It’s mom’s birthday.”

No matter how busy they were, they always visited her grave every year on her birthday.

“…I’ll stop by there tomorrow,” his dad said stiffly, staring at the laptop screen.

He stared at his dad questionably. “But… it’s mom’s birthday,” he repeated numbly, trying to understand what was going on.

His dad sighed and finally closed the laptop. “Mark.” He stood up. “I know you loved your mother, and so did I. She was very special to me.” He walked over to him. “But this ritual… don’t you think it’s time to move on?”

Mark stepped back in alarm. “What?”

His dad sighed and placed hands on his shoulders, keeping him in place. “It’s been seven years, Mark.” His dad’s tone was patient. “She’s gone, and she’d want us to move on.”

His stomach plummeted, staring at his dad like he couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You mean just forget about her?”

“No, of course not,” his dad argued, sighing. “But… the flowers and talking to her like she’s there. All it’s doing is stopping you from moving on, son. Stops you from being the hero you need to be.” His dad frowned while Mark felt a lump gather in his throat. “Being sentimental is how our enemies take advantage of us. You’re a Viltrumite, Mark. You can’t afford those types of weakness—”

“Shut up!” Mark pushed him away, tears threatening to come up. “Don’t talk about mom like that!”

His dad’s eyes widened briefly, before they narrowed. “Mark—”

Mark flew away, not wanting to listen to it.

Mark wiped his eyes when he approached his mother’s grave, trying to keep it together even though his hands were shaking while he held the flowers.

He hadn’t yelled at his dad in a long time.

His legs felt like jelly as he knelt at the grave, growing more upset when he saw weeds start to strangle the dead flowers that hadn’t been replaced.

“Sorry, mom,” he apologised, ripping up the weeds. “I’ve been busy…” He took out the dead flowers he and his dad had left behind last time, the stems brown and dried up. “Happy birthday.” Mark swallowed and carefully planted the new flowers in the grave pots. “I hope you like them.”

The graveyard was quiet, a faint breeze ruffling the leaves. He sat there for a while and stared at the grave, rubbing his eyes some more as he thought about what his dad had said.

His dad always just wanted what was best for him, so maybe he was just trying to help? Maybe going to visit his mom and talking to her grave wasn’t normal? Holding onto the past was bad, he knew that, so his dad was just trying to help him…

Mark quickly wiped his eyes when a tear leaked out. “…I don’t want to be weak, mom,” he whispered, finding it harder to hold back his tears. “And I’m trying to be strong, but it’s like the bar keeps getting higher.” He kept his voice low, staring at his hands. “But if I can’t be a hero, I don’t know what I can do. I’m not smart enough to be anything else…” He hunched his shoulders up. “Being a Viltrumite is the only thing special about me…”

It wasn’t like he could do anything else that was extraordinary as a normal human. He wasn’t creative enough to have some big idea that would change the world, and he wasn’t some genius that could be a doctor, scientist, or something that could make the world better. 

The only thing he had was his powers, that was the only way he’d be able to change the world and make it a better place.

Then, he frowned when frost started to gather on the flowers, and he was suddenly able to see his breath, despite it being a warm spring day. “What the…?”

“Excuse me.” A deep voice came from behind him.

Mark jumped and quickly turned around. “Huh?” He stepped back in surprise when he saw a literal demon in a trench coat standing there, dressed like it was some kind of detective.

Chapter Text

“Who are you!?” Mark shouted at the demon detective.

“Damien Darkblood.” The red demon tipped his hat. “Came for answers…” His eyes narrowed while Mark grew more on guard. “Clues…”

“For what?” Mark stared at him warily.

Why the hell was a demon coming to him for clues? Was there some magic villain on the loose of something?

“The Massacre…things unclear still…seven dead,” Damien said lowly, the air growing colder. “… One alive…. Your father.” He tilted his head. “Hoping you could make the last piece fit.”

Mark tensed and narrowed his eyes, his apprehension growing when he remembered Eve’s conversation. “And, how am I supposed to know?” He shifted on the spot, trying to push away an itch of doubt. “Why don’t you just ask him?”

“Did,” Damien replied, making Mark’s stomach drop. “Answers were… unsatisfactory.”

Mark clenched his hand into fists. “He got attacked as well, and he barely made it out alive!” He yelled, defensive. “Why would he even want to talk about it to you anyway?” He started to grow angry. “What kind of answers were you expecting?”

“Attacked, yes… reason…” Damien stepped closer, causing him to grow more guarded. “Different than the others… I think…”

“And, what’s that meant to mean?” he snapped, a small bit of fear creeping up.

“Father told you nothing?” Damien rubbed his chin as he stared at Mark.

“Of course, he told me stuff!” Mark lost his temper. “Look, my dad, wouldn’t… he wouldn’t kill the Guardians.” His hands were shaking a little. “He’s not…” He pushed back the flashes of a severed arm and the smell of blood and flesh. “He wouldn’t do that!”

His dad was a hero. His dad helped and protected people, risking his life every day. His dad was a hero.

“Hm.” Damien scrutinised him for a moment. “So trusting…”

Mark’s temper flashed, the demon’s tone almost sounding mocking. “Don’t—”

Damian disappeared into thin air when he tried to grab him, leaving a lingering frost.

Mark decided to walk home instead of flying, trying to think and process what had happened.

His dad was a hero.

This Damien Darkblood guy was just… the demon didn’t know his dad.

His dad would never just murder the Guardians of the Globe. The people who’d shown up to his mom’s funeral and comforted his dad. His dad wouldn’t hurt them.

His dad wasn’t a…

Mark’s stomach twisted, dragging his feet. His dad may have killed before, but that was different. That person had been a bad guy, they’d tried to hurt him. His dad had just been protecting him, and besides that man had… had deserved to die.

His dad was a hero. His dad… didn’t seem to care about catching who killed the Guardians.

Mark felt his chest constrict more, finding it harder to breathe. “He wouldn’t do it.” He leaned against a lamppost. “He wouldn’t…”

What if his dad was being controlled? Or blackmailed? Maybe then…

Mark dented the lamppost when he squeezed the metal too hard. “Shit.” He moved away and buried his hand in his face. “Fuck.”

What was he supposed to do? Who was he supposed to talk to?

His dad wouldn’t have killed the Guardians, it had to be something else!

He needed to…

What if Damien told Cecil that it was his dad who did it? Or what if the demon already had?

Mark tried to calm down, and keep walking home, feeling dizzy.

He needed to talk to his dad.

The sun was setting the time he got home, and when he opened the door into the house, his dad was sitting on the couch watching the news.

“Mark?” His dad turned the tv off and quickly walked over. “I was starting to get worried.”

Mark stayed tense, feeling his skin crawl when his dad touched him, unable to look the man in the eye. “Dad… um…”

How was he even supposed to talk about it?

His dad’s expression grew concerned, lifting his chin so he had to look at him. “Son, what’s wrong?” His dad’s brow furrowed. “Did something happen?”

Mark stayed quiet, staring at the genuine worry and concern on his dad’s face. “Dad, did you…?” He was going to be sick.

“Hey.” His dad’s voice was soft. “Come on, Mark, it’s okay. Whatever it is, you can tell me?”

He swallowed a bad taste, but then took a deep breath. “This detective… Damien Darkblood,” he said hesitantly. “He talked to me near mom’s grave and said… he was implying that you’d… that you killed the Guardians.”

“What?” Surprise spread across his dad’s face. “Oh, God, really?” His dad looked impatient, which was confusing. “Where does that freak even get off interrogating you?”

Mark frowned as he watched his dad’s reaction, his fear fading a little when he saw the annoyance on his dad’s face like the whole thing was a bad joke. “…But, why would he accuse—?”

“Son, that detective is an obsessed demon from hell,” his dad said, sighing. “And, because I was the only one to survive, he instantly just makes me suspect number one,” he continued, scowling. “The demon is a conspiracy chaser. He doesn’t care about finding the real truth, he’s just trying to buy himself more time so he doesn’t get sent back to hell.”

Mark’s brow furrowed, doubts messing up his head. “But…”

“Son.” His dad placed hands on his shoulders, staring at him worriedly. “Do you actually think, I’d kill the Guardians?”

Mark nearly winced when he saw the hurt in his dad’s gaze.

Why would his dad even kill the Guardians? It didn’t make any sense. Those were the same people who had attended his eleventh birthday when he’d been feeling low and missed his mom. The same people who let Mark sleep over their headquarters when his dad couldn’t get a babysitter while an alien invasion was happening.

They’d been his dad’s friends for years.

“No… I just…” His chest felt like there was a weight pressing down. “When he said—”

“Hey, ssh.” His dad pulled him into a hug. “It’s alright. I'm not mad. ”

Mark closed his eyes, and held onto his dad, trying to push away the doubts that were screaming to be heard. “I’m sorry, dad.”

“You don’t need to apologise, Mark,” his dad reassured gently, placing a hand on the back of his head. “Honestly it’s my fault as well, I had a suspicion Darkblood wouldn’t stop harassing us, he needs someone to blame,” he said, sighing. “We’re not human, son. Everyone will always see us as outsiders, even if you’re half-human. It doesn’t matter to them.”

He frowned, growing uneasy again. “That’s not…” His dad was an alien, yeah, sure, but that didn’t automatically mean… except it did. His dad wasn’t from Earth and Viltrumites were powerful…

“People are scared of what we can do, son,” his dad said, sounding tired. “I’ve accepted that a long time ago. It’s natural for them to be afraid, just like they were when you stood up to Todd.”

Mark withered a little when he remembered the fear in everyone’s gazes that day. Then what Rex had said. But, it wasn’t like they could just turn off their powers. His dad had only ever used his powers to protect people.

“I’ve never let that stop me from protecting this planet,” his dad continued, pulling away a little to look at him. “Even if people won’t accept us, we still have a job to do. To keep the planet safe.” His dad looked at him almost imploringly. “Which is why I need you to trust me, Mark.”

Mark nodded, his doubts becoming fainter as he listened. “… I do, dad, it’s just…” he took a deep breath, trying to make sense of it all. “It’s like sometimes I think I know you, and then other times, it’s like I don’t.”

“That’s my fault.” His dad squeezed his shoulder. “I know it may seem like I don’t trust you enough, but I do, Mark.” He smiled reassuringly. “I love you, son, and I just want to protect you.” His dad’s gaze looked sad. “And, honestly, ever since your mother died, I’ve been terrified I haven’t done enough to raise you to be the man you need to be.”

Mark swallowed, feeling guilty.  “Dad…”

“If we’re going to face whatever may come ahead, we can’t let outsiders like Darkblood, try to divide us,” his dad said, firmly. “We can’t let anything divide us.” His dad cupped the back of his head. “We’re a family, and family always comes first, Mark.”

Mark nodded, his doubts barely even a whisper now. It was just the two of them, they had to stick together, especially if demons or who knew what were trying to rise against his dad. His dad had no reason to kill the Guardians.

His shoulders still couldn’t seem to relax though, even with the doubts in his head silent. There was something that itched in the back of his head.

He trusted his dad.

His dad was a hero.

For some reason, he had to keep reminding himself that. Like it was some kind of mantra.

He knew his dad didn’t kill the Guardians, but something still felt wrong.

“Mark…” Will kicked his chair from behind.

He looked over his shoulder quickly. Will was frowning and pointed at the clock, and then the test they were supposed to be completing—

Oh.

Mark stared at his incomplete test, he was barely halfway through.

Shit. Why wasn’t he focusing!?

He tugged at his hair and tried to remember the revision he’d done last night. Except it wasn’t last night, since he’d been training with his dad last night, so it was two days ago he’d revised.

Mark buried his face in his hands, staring at his test, which he probably wasn’t even going to get a good score in anyway. Why was he even here doing a stupid test when he could be out saving the world?

He’d rejected the Mars mission so he could at least catch up on some work, but he was still messing up. Maybe taking a two week trip to Mars would have been better?

He rested his head on the desk. Was graduating really a big deal? It wasn’t like he’d score enough to get a decent job anyway. He knew there were superheroes on the Government’s payroll so why not pursue that?

“Are you insane!?” Will nearly choked on his lunch when Mark told him his idea the next day.

Mark shrugged, poking the cafeteria food. “It’s not like my grades are getting any better.”

“Yeah, because you’re hardly here,” Will replied, looking worried. “You’ve skipped like three classes this week.”

There’d been an armed robbery in the city, he couldn’t just let people die.

“I have other responsibilities,” Mark tried to argue. “Like family stuff…” He frowned. “Besides, I talked to my dad and he says it’s my choice.” Then, he shrugged. “So he’ll support me if I wanna leave.”

Will looked even more worried now. “Mark,  I’m a big fan of the whole billionaire high school drop-out success story like the next person, but… you’re seriously just going to drop out without a plan?”

“I have a plan,” Mark insisted, poking at his beans. “Look, I know it may seem crazy, but there’s so much I could be doing right now.” He sighed. “And, it’d be a lot more productive than failing another Geography test.”

Will fell silent, looking at Mark like he was a lost cause. Which he would be if he wasted more time revising for history tests than saving people.

Rex hadn’t even gone to high school and was a member of the new Guardians of the Globe; granted, he was a cheating asshole, but he was doing a lot more for the world than Mark right now.

Mark was conscious of the time while in the air, looking around the city anxiously while his dad was droning on about water diving.

“The key is to make our bodies as narrow and straight as possible to lessen the impact,” Omni-man said as they were high above the city waters overlooking the bridge. “Now, considering the speed you’ll be going at, you’ll need to slow down before you hit the water.”

Mark groaned. “Dad, come on, I know how to dive!”

“Oh, really?” His dad crossed his arms. “It isn’t just diving, son, it’s landing.” Mark sighed and started to zone out a little while his dad was talking. Where was Eve? “You get this wrong and you could cause a tsunami— are you paying attention?

“Huh?” Mark quickly looked back at his dad. “I am! Uh, I just – can we maybe wrap this up?” He smiled nervously. “You said today would be a short session?”

“Yes, if you were paying attention,” his dad replied dryly, causing Mark’s smile to fall. “Have you been listening to a word I was saying?”

“Uh, yeah… about diving?” Mark smiled apprehensively. “And… making a tsunami?”

His dad looked unimpressed. “Really?”

“I’m not wrong!”

His dad sighed and ran a hand down his face. “Mark, you need to pay attention!”

Mark grimaced, hunching his shoulders up. “I know, I’m sorry, dad.”

His dad folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. “I’m going to go through this one more time—”

“Uh…” They were distracted by a glow of pink from the corner of their eye. “Sorry, am I interrupting?”

“Eve!” Mark tensed a bit. “You’re… on time.”

She frowned, glancing at him and then Omni-man. “Uh, yeah. I am. Was I not supposed to be?”

“Uh…” Mark rubbed the back of his neck.

“Eve?” His dad raised an eyebrow, before an amused look overcast his face. “Oh, so this is Eve.” He smirked, glancing at Mark.

Oh, no…

Mark’s cheeks heated up. “Uh, yeah, this is Eve. Glad we cleared that up.”

Eve smiled a little stiffly. “Right.” She looked at his dad. “Nice to meet you, Omni-man.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you too.” His dad’s smirk grew when Mark’s blush grew worse. “Mark mentions you all the time.”

“Okay, we better go then!” He tried to gently push Eve away. “We’re patrolling so—”

“Hey, hold up there, sport.” His dad’s amusement faded. “We still have training.”

Mark grimaced, earning a look from Eve. “Dad, come on.” He turned around and flew closer to his dad. “Can we just cut it short this once?” He clenched his fists tight to stop himself from wringing his hands when he saw his dad’s gaze narrowed. “I know I should have asked sooner, but I was worried you’d say no…”

His dad hummed, staring at him disapprovingly for a long moment which seemed to stretch on. Mark broke eye contact and sagged his shoulders, preparing for the inevitable ‘no’.

Then his dad’s expression softened. “Alright, just this once.”

Mark perked up. “Awesome! Thanks, dad.” He grinned. “I promise I’ll work on that diving until I’m a pro, first thing tomorrow.”

His dad chuckled. “Okay, I’ll hold you to it.” He smirked. “You kids have fun.”

“Will do.” Mark grinned and flew up in the air.

“Bye.” Eve smiled politely and flew further up ahead.

“You’re really thinking of dropping out?” Eve asked as they patrolled together through the city.

“You’re the one who talked about not wanting to go to college last week?” Mark replied.

Eve shrugged. “Yeah, but I’m still graduating high school so I still have more options.” She frowned. “What brought this on anyway?”

“Uh, maybe the fact I’m failing everything,” Mark replied, sighing. “I’m not good at school, Eve.” He looked away in embarrassment. “Even my dad knows I’m not smart enough.”

Her frown. “Wait, what.” She flew in front of him, making him stop. “Did your dad seriously say that?”

Mark grew uncomfortable. “He was just being honest, we joke about it all the time,” he said quickly, feeling like he’d misspoke. “He’s not being a jerk. He just wants what’s best for me and he supports my decision.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Besides, it means we can do more training, and I’m actually good at that.”

Eve’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “Being a hero isn’t the only thing you’re good at.”

He scoffed, shifting ahead. “Oh, yeah! There's the stupid video games, stupid comics, stupid tv shows—”

“Stop acting like you’re a moron.” Eve lost her patience. “Being a superhero isn’t your entire life Mark—”

“You’re the one who was talking about giving it up last week,” Mark argued, defensive. “Seriously, Eve, what’s the big deal? You’re allowed to go off and do what you want, but I’m not?”

She groaned, running a hand down her face. “That’s not it!”

“Then, what is it?” He clenched his fists in frustration.

“Shit, Mark, how are you not seeing it!?” Eve finally snapped. “Your dad is manipulating you.”

“What?” Mark moved back. “No, he isn’t.”

Eve looked uneasy. “Mark… you’re afraid of him.”

His eyes widened, skin prickling anxiously. “No, I’m not!”

He loved his dad.

He wasn’t afraid… just… okay, fine, maybe he was sometimes afraid of his dad, but what teenager wasn’t?

She rubbed her arms. “I know what it’s like to be afraid of a person who keeps saying they have your best interests at heart.” Something dark and hurt was in her eyes, like reliving a memory.

“I’m not afraid of him,” he lied, growing more defensive. “Yeah, sure he’s a little strict, but he’s my dad, Eve. He loves me.”

Eve barely even really knew him, what right did she have to make assumptions about who his dad was?

Her eyes narrowed. “You said he knows you’ve been failing, right? And, he fully supports you wanting to drop out?”

“Yeah—”

“And, did he ever try to help?” she asked pointedly. “Did he ever sit you down and talk about helping you with your grades? Or getting you a tutor? Or did he just call you stupid or even joke about it?”

Mark tensed. “That’s not…” He moved further back, as his stomach churned. “He’s busy—”

“But, not too busy to train, right?” she countered, eyes bearing into him as if she saw right through him.

He bristled, feeling like he was being pushed towards an edge.“Because training is important.” His dad was already saying he was showing better progress. “I need to get stronger and he’s teaching me.”

“But, he doesn’t let you join teams?”

“It’s different!” he grew more frustrated. “I’m a Viltrumite, okay, that means everything’s different. I can’t just be in a team.”

“Why not? Because your dad said so?” Eve argued.

It wasn’t that simple! She had no idea what she was talking about.

“It’s complicated, okay!”Mark’s voice rose. “It’s different, you’re human. You don’t get it,” he snapped. “It’s not just about powers, it’s about learning about Viltrumite culture. My family’s culture!”

Being human was only half of him, which meant there was a whole other half he still needed to learn, especially if he was going to meet another Viltrumite one day. His dad had said, that he needed to be stronger if he was ever going to be accepted by the other Viltrumites in the future.

Eve’s brow furrowed more. “There’s nothing wrong with learning that, but he’s isolating—”

“You don’t even know my dad, Eve,” Mark interrupted, feeling his doubts creeping up. “You don’t know how much pressure he’s under, how much responsibility he has!” His anger grew. “You think being a D List superhero give you the right to judge just because your parents don’t give a shit!”

The minute the insult came out he regretted it when he saw the shocked and hurt look overcome her face.

Then the hurt morphed into anger. “Wow…”

Mark tensed. “Shit, no wait, that’s not what I meant.”

Eve grimaced, flying back a bit. “…If you don’t want to listen, then fine. Drop out of school, keep listening to your dad.” She sighed and rose up higher in the air. “But you’re the one who’s going to get hurt in the end, Mark.”

He felt his stomach sink lower as he watched her leave.

“So, how was the date?” His dad teased when Mark walked in through the backdoor, while his dad was taking some chicken wings out of the oven.

Mark tried not to grimace, shoulders stiff as he closed the door. “It wasn’t a date…”

His dad chuckled, placing the tray on the cooling rack. “Of course, it wasn’t – you wanna eat here or at the table?”

“I’m fine either way,” he replied, trying to perk up as he sat down at the counter.

His dad arched a brow, already noticing something was wrong. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah…” His stomach felt hollow for some reason. “I’ve just been thinking about school.” He stared at his dad for a moment. “Maybe dropping out isn’t the right choice. I’m a senior so maybe I should just try harder so I can graduate.”

His dad hummed, dishing the food out on a plate with some rice. “Well, if that’s what you want, son,” he replied, shrugging. “So long as you think you can manage everything.”

“Well, I could get a tutor,” Mark replied, frowning. “I know I quit my job, but I can get a new one and pay for it.”

His dad frowned a little, pushing his plate towards him. “Are you sure you can handle all that? It’s not as if you need the money, Mark.”

Mark grasped his hands tight under the counter. “Yeah, but I need a tutor, and I mean…” His dad’s gaze felt heavy. “It wouldn’t be so bad making my own money again, you know? You’re always telling me to be responsible.” He looked at his dad warily. “And, if I don’t graduate high school I’ll need to be a hero full time and work for the government, but… what if I get injured or lose my powers like Black Samson, then what’ll happen?”

“Hey.” His dad’s voice was soothing, sitting down next to him. “You’re not going to lose your powers.” He smiled reassuringly. “Besides, I never went to school or College on Earth and my books are bestselling third time this month.”

“But…” Mark kept his gaze on the counter. “What if I change my mind and decide I wanna be a doctor or I don’t know, the president?”

His dad scoffed, as if he’d just told a joke. “I’m not sure you and medical school is your thing, son. I mean, let’s be realistic.”

Something about that rubbed him the wrong way, making him snap. “That doesn’t mean I can’t do it!”

His dad’s eyes narrowed. “Hey.” He clamped a hand on his shoulder. “What did I say about yelling?”

Mark’s temper withered a little when he saw the glare, fear creeping in. “I’m sorry, it’s just…” He swallowed a lump in his throat. “I’m not stupid, dad, I… I can do more than just fighting crime.”

His dad’s glare wavered. “I know that, Mark.” His tone softened. “You can be anything you want,” he reassured him. “It’s just, your powers come with responsibilities. That’s why I’m pushing so hard with your training, it isn’t just about learning about how to beat bad guys, it’s about our heritage.”

“I know it’s important, dad,” Mark muttered, feeling the pressure build up again. “I’m trying, but it’s like everything I do is wrong, and I’m losing people. Like I’m getting trapped in my own head.”

The only people he got to talk to were his dad, Will, and Eve. Now Eve was gone it would just be Will and his dad, and he could barely talk to Will about anything these days since most of what he did was hero stuff.

So, it was just him and his dad, and after what Eve had said… was that normal? Did his dad even care if he didn’t have any friends, he never really had encouraged him that much to make more friends so…

Then there was training which was… hard. It was always hard. No matter how much he tried he couldn’t block his dad’s punches in time and he was too slow.

“Mark.” His dad pulled him close. “I know it’s a lot of pressure, but you can do this. All these doubts are just growing pain.” He sighed. “I know it can seem like I’m overbearing but that’s because I’m trying to help you, so you can realise the type of hero you can be.” He rested Mark’s head on his shoulder. “I know what it’s like to spend your early years without guidance, feeling lost. That’s the last thing I want for you.”

Mark listened, understanding, but the doubts didn’t quieten as easily. “I just need some more breathing room,” he said quietly, tensing when his dad placed a hand on his head, keeping him in place. “I like training together, but maybe… not every morning or evening?”

He missed being able to lay in and not get up so early, feeling like a zombie when he went to school. He wanted to play video games with Will, and go to comic conventions again.

His dad sighed, disappointment clear, making Mark want to shrivel up. “If that’s what you want, son, then that’s okay. We can cut back on training.” He stroked his hair in what was supposed to be comforting, but his dad’s fingers felt like sandpaper. “If you need a tutor, then, we can afford it.” His dad sighed, looking at him sadly. “You know I’ll always support you, Mark.”

Mark nodded, trying to relax since this was good news. His dad was being understanding and promising to support him. This was good. “Thanks, dad.”

His dad eased his hold, letting Mark pull away from him a little.

Things seemed to get better after that, even though Eve wasn’t really talking to him much, but Will was. At least now they could hang out more and play video games like everything was normal. It was nice…

The tutor was annoying since she was old fashioned and always tried to feed him out of date candy, but she helped get his grades up a little. He’d managed to get his math and English back up to C’s and his latest science homework had gotten a B.  

His dad had given him the good news that Cecil had charged Damien Darkblood for trying to frame his dad. Which meant his dad was proven innocent, so that quietened the doubts in his head.

His dad had even joined him to visit mom’s grave on mother’s day. Things were better.    

It was going okay. Good even. So, good he almost forgot that the astronauts sent on the Mars mission hadn’t returned for six weeks, and when he volunteered to go to Mars to find out why… he wished he hadn’t.

“It’s not your fault, Mark,” his dad said solemnly, finding him sitting alone on Mount Everest.

The top of the mountain was quiet, which was comforting.

Mark stayed silent, staring at the sun setting over the horizon. “…I should have gone.”

If he’d chaperoned the mission then maybe the Martian wouldn’t have exterminated the astronauts like they were nothing but pests.

His dad stood behind him and placed a hand on his back. “They were doomed the moment they stepped on the planet, son. There’s nothing you could have done.” His dad’s voice was reassuring. “And, even if you had, think of the risk? Those creatures, parasites, would have destroyed Earth.”

“Not if I’d saved them in time,” Mark kept insisting, feeling sick. “I could… there could have been—”

“Mark.” His dad’s grip tightened, making him tense. “You’re not the one who sent them on the mission. If anything, it’s Mars’ fault for not sending out a warning.”

That was true…

Mark started to feel conflicted. “But…”

“Son, remember what I told you at the hospital when that old woman died?” his dad said softly. “It’s a part of the job. We can only do so much to help them, Mark.” His dad sighed. “Sometimes, humanity is its own doom. The choices they make have consequences.”

“That’s not true…” He mumbled, even though he wasn’t so sure anymore, as his shoulders sagged, growing numb.

Things were still good.

Even if Cecil seemed a little colder towards him, more tight-lipped. Less patient when giving out missions.

“What are you standing around for?” Cecil asked curtly when Mark lingered in the hospital room where the members of Fight Force was severely burned and hooked up to heart monitors. “Those monsters aren’t gonna beat themselves, kid.”

“I…” Mark rubbed his arm. “I’m sorry about the Mars—”

“What?” Cecil looked impatient. “How are you not grasping the situation!?” he snapped, making Mark flinch a little. “Look, kid, if you want to apologise, then go and do your job!”

Mark stepped back, cheeks heating up, feeling like an idiot. “Right, sorry…” He hurried off before Cecil gave him another reprimand.

When Titan approached him, he was hesitant, but the man seemed to just want to help his wife and daughter and make the city better. Helping him felt like the right thing to do.

His dad disagreed.

“Mark, he’s a criminal all he’s doing is using you.” His dad lectured him at dinner.

Mark hunched his shoulders, sitting down at the table. “I’m not an idiot, dad, I know that.” He frowned. “But he just wants to protect his family and make the city better. This machine head guy is just hurting people.”
His dad looked annoyed. “Son, this is small crime, it’s a waste of time.”

His frown grew, growing on edge. “That’s what you said about Mars and then look what happened.”

His dad’s gaze narrowed. “Watch your tone,” he warned coldly, making Mark look away. “And, we already discussed this, that mission was doomed from the start.”

Mark’s stomach churned. “I know, but… I just want to help, dad. I wanna be a hero and this is what heroes do.”

“Okay, so what do you think will happen if you get rid of this Machine head?” His dad challenged.

He faltered. “Well, I don’t know but—”

“Let me tell you exactly what’s going to happen,” his dad interrupted. “You’re going to create a bigger mess than what started!” His voice rose, making Mark flinch. “You’re talking about taking out a mob boss, do you have any idea of what consequences that will have? And, that’s if you can even do it, which trust me is unlikely. You think you’ll just arrest him and that will be it?”

Mark lowered his gaze, starting to feel stupid the more he thought about it.

But, Titan had practically begged him for help…

“… I can’t just ignore someone asking for help, dad,” he said quietly, taking a deep breath as he looked up.

He nearly cringed when he saw the disappointed look his dad was giving him. “…You’re making a mistake, son,” his dad’s voice was calm, which just made it worse. “But, it’s your choice, I can’t force you to change your mind.”

Mark grimaced, putting mashed potatoes on his plate. “Dad, I know it’s a risk but… it feels like the right thing to do.”

His dad just stared at him for a moment, an expression hard to read. “Hm. Can you pass the potatoes, please?”

His chest tightened, passing the potatoes to his dad. “I promise, I’ll be careful.”

His dad hummed, remaining silent, a coldness settling between them.

Mark’s stomach twisted when he saw the dismissiveness. “So… um, how was your day?” His dad ignored him. “I saw on the news you took out that dragon again.”

His dad hummed dismissively, drinking some juice.

He swallowed, feeling low when his dad just kept ignoring him.

Mark realised he was a complete idiot when Machine Head started laughing and a number of villains appeared before them and Titan.

His dad had been right, this had been a mistake.

What made it worse was when the new Guardians of the Globe came and suddenly his mistake became theirs as well.

“Pathetic.” The giant white lion, Battle Beast, broke Mark’s nose with one punch, beating him like he was made of rubber.

Everything hurt and he could barely see, his mouth tasting of blood, while everything else around him felt like a blur of chaos. Black Samson laying bleeding and unconscious beside him, his hand broken and twisted far too back.

The sun from the broken hole in the ceiling hurt his eye, while the white beast pounded on his chest until he couldn’t breathe. 

Mark was choking on his own blood, looking up at the villain who was trying to beat him to death.

The world was growing fainter and blurrier, but from just above the beast's shoulder he could see the red and white colours of his dad’s costume floating above, watching.

“D-dad?” Mark tried to lift his arm.

Battle Beast punch him again, making him go limp as the word faded again and his dad disappeared from sight.

He couldn’t move when he woke up, on a hospital bed with machines hooked up to him.

Everything hurt, and the lights were too bright.

Mark felt dizzy, his head feeling bigger than his body when he tilted it to the side and saw his dad standing above his bedside. “Dad?” he mumbled, throat hurting. “The others…?”

His dad’s expression grew closed off and cold. “In critical condition, after trying to help you.”

That look hurt worse than the beating Battle Beast had given him, making his eyes swell up with tears. “I’m sorry, I didn’t… I…”

His dad’s gaze grew colder, staring down at him in contempt.

He fell silent, looking away when he couldn’t bear the burn of the gaze.

This was all his fault. Everyone had nearly died because of him. Because he’d been an idiot and hadn’t listened to his dad.

Mark closed his eyes when a few tears leaked out. “Dad, I’m sorry.” His eyes stung, grabbing onto his dad’s sleeve. “Please, just…”

His dad looked disappointed and pulled away, and walked out of the room.

His hand dropped to the side of the bed, feeling something in his chest break.

His dad didn’t visit after that, it had been a week and the only people who had stopped by was the nurses, doctors, and Cecil.

It’s not like he blamed his dad, though. The man had every right to be disappointed.

“Not hungry?” A nurse looked concerned when she saw his lunch had remained untouched.

Mark looked away and curled a bit inwards. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright,” she replied gently. “There are other options… would you like me to bring you a tablet or something to read?”

“No, thanks…” Mark murmured, staring numbly at the heart monitor, listening to the beep.

The nurse touched his forehead. “You’re getting another fever,” she said. “I’ll get you a cold towel.”

Mark stayed quiet, curling his arms tighter around himself.

The nurse cast him a look that seemed like pity, before leaving.

His head hurt when he started to wake up, feeling sore all over. When he woke up again he saw his dad sitting by his bedside reading a book.

“…Dad?” Mark said, but his dad didn’t respond. “…I know, I messed up,” he tried to sit up but winced when he moved. “I know it’s… that this is all my fault.” He tried not to cry when his dad didn’t look at him and turned the page of the book. “Just talk to me, please.”

His dad sighed, frown creasing as he closed the book. “Do you know what’s happened now that Machine Head has been arrested, Mark?”

“…No,” Mark replied hesitantly.

“That criminal, Titan, the person who was just helping his family.” His dad’s grimaced. “He’s taken over at the new leader.”

“What?” Mark sat up, but then regretted it when he felt a sharp shock of pain. “Ugh. ”He touched his shoulder. “No, he…”

“He used you to get power, son.” His dad’s gaze was condemning. “Which was exactly what I was trying to warn you about. You didn’t make anything better, you just changed the man in charge.” His dad’s voice stayed calm and cold. “Do you see what happens when you don’t listen to me? When you get involved in things that don’t concern you?”

Mark felt a rise of shame. “I didn’t know he’d…” He buried his face in his hands. “I’m such an idiot.” His hands were shaking. “This is all my fault.”

His dad placed a hand on his shoulder. “This is what I was trying to protect you from.”

“I-I need to apologise, to Robot and everyone,” Mark stammered, his desperation to set everything right growing. “I need to talk to them.”

His dad sighed, looking at him grimly. “After what happened, it’s unlikely they’ll want to see you, son.” His dad’s tone was comforting. “Monster Girl is still in critical condition. She might not make it.”

Mark wanted to scream, his eyes filling with tears when the guilt grew overpowering. “Oh, God…”

Monster Girl could die because of him.

“Ssh, it’s okay.” His dad pulled him close, shielding his head against his stomach as he wrapped his arms around him. “Just give them time, and it’ll be okay. I’m just glad you’re safe, son.” His dad held him tight as Mark started to cry. “I knew you’d pull through, son. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Mark’s sob came out broken, clinging to his dad tighter.

“Uh, and did I mention his ass?” Will swooned, leaning against Mark’s locker.

Mark smiled blandly, putting some books in his backpack. “Yeah, a couple of times.”

Will was looking through photos on his phone of his boyfriend Rick. “We have his dorm for  whole two days.” He smiled coyly. “It’s gonna be busy.”

“Sounds nice,” Mark replied dully, closing his locker, feeling tired.

His friend paused and frowned. “Okay, can you at least pretend to be uncomfortable about me talking about anal?”  He put his phone away and crossed his arms. “Seriously, you’ve practically been a zombie since you got back from the hospital.”

Mark shrugged, slipping his backpack on. “Just tired…”

“Right…” Will still looked concerned. “Well, I don’t leave until tomorrow, so you wanna finish off the level we were on last time?”

“I can’t, I have stuff to do with my dad,” Mark replied, shrugging.

Will hummed, as the two of them walked out of the building. “Well, if you change your mind we can play online later.”

He smiled but it didn’t last. “Yeah, sure.”

“Mark!” Eve called out, walking over.

Mark tensed, gripping his backpack strap tighter. “Oh, hey.”

“Hey,” Eve replied, frowning.

“Uh…” Will looked between them both. “I’ll see you later then.”

Mark tried not to grimace when he left. “Bye…”

Eve shifted uncomfortably. “I tried to visit you at the hospital but your dad said you didn’t want to be bothered.”

“Oh.” He frowned since that wasn’t true but…

It was fine. After the mess he’d made, he didn’t deserve visitors.

“I still tried, but I’ve been pulling overtime since… well, you know…” She sighed, looking at him worriedly. “Are you okay?”

Mark felt the guilt swirl in his chest. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Mark…”

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault,” he said numbly. “I dragged everyone into my mess.”

Her brow furrowed more. “Mark, them coming in wasn’t your fault, we all know the risks,” she replied. “And, everyone makes mistakes, and Black Sampson and Monster Girl pulled through.”

He tried to force a smile. “Yeah, sure…”

Eve stared at him for a moment. “…Did your dad say it was your fault?”

Mark bristled, temper breaking through the haze. “Don’t start that again.” He let the smile drop, narrowing his gaze.

She pursed her lips, crossing her arms. “Okay, fine.” She looked frustrated. “I won’t bring it up… so long as you at least promise to talk to me if something’s wrong?”

He gripped the bag strap, averting his gaze. Remembering the hazy dream of seeing his dad watching Battle Beast beating him. It was just a hallucination, though, his dad hadn’t been there. He’d just been delirious because of the beating… his dad loved him, he wouldn’t just watch him get hurt.

The doubts were screaming again, scraping to rise to the surface, but he pushed them down, trying to settle his mind back into the dull numb place where it felt like he was walking in a haze. “Sure…”

Eve’s gaze was still wary like she didn’t quite believe him. “Right, well, I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah,” he replied, gaze dull as he walked away. “See you around.”

When he turned a corner he saw Todd, shoulders hunched and jaw not fully healed yet. The old bully flinched when Mark walked past, causing him to pause briefly and watch Todd runoff.

Mark winced when his dad landed a punch in his stomach. “Ugh.”

“Mark, focus,” his dad lectured, the two of them training near some fields just outside of the city. “What did I say about leaving yourself open like that?”

He nodded, rubbing his stomach. “Right. Sorry, dad.” He sighed, feeling exhausted.

His dad sighed, staring at him with a flicker of concern. “How about we take a break?” his dad suggested. “Come on, we can take a small fly around the city, it’s a nice day.”

He nodded again, trying to smile. “Yeah, okay.”

They flew back towards the city but at a slow pace, taking their time to look over the tall buildings.

Mark took in a deep breath and tried to relax.

His dad glanced at him. “…I know these last few months have been hard, son.” He sighed, looking ahead. “When this journey started I knew… I knew things would be hard.”

“It’s okay, dad,” Mark replied quietly. “I know I’m the one who keeps messing up.”

His dad’s brow furrowed slightly, slowing down. “Mark, it’s not…” He sighed and touched his shoulder, the two pausing near the city bridge. “I know I can be hard on you.” There was some guilt in his dad’s gaze. “And, it’s not because I want to. I’m doing it because I have to.” His dad held his shoulders tight. “Do you understand?”

“Yeah, I know, dad.” Mark frowned, having heard the same thing over and over. Like his dad constantly needed to keep reminding him.  “You just want what’s best for me.” He let out a deep sigh. “I’m not strong enough yet, so I just… I just need to keep trying.”

If he wanted to be a real Viltrumite, he needed to be strong. So, he could protect people…

“…I wasn’t lying about this road being a long one, son,” his dad said, a distant look overclouding his gaze. “And, I’ll admit, sometimes that scares me too.” His dad’s voice was stiff. “About what may lie ahead for us…”

Mark’s brow furrowed more, staring at his dad questionably. His dad seemed worried but, also like he was anxious. “Dad, it’s okay.” He smiled reassuringly. “We’re a team, remember?”

His dad’s expression was hard to read for a second, like something in him was fighting. Conflicted. “Yes.” His dad’s expression suddenly became calm again. Normal. “We are a team.”

Mark’s smile grew when his dad returned his smile with a smaller one.

Then, like a quake shattering glass, a voice screamed through the city.

“OMNI-MAN!!!”

His dad tensed up, eyes wide, going completely still.

Mark looked over his dad’s shoulder in surprise. He felt his doubts finally overflow, as his stomach plummeted and filled with dread when he saw The Immortal flying towards them, with murder in his gaze and fixed firmly on Omni-man.

Chapter Text

Mark rushed back in alarm when Immortal lunged straight at his dad, sending the two heroes hurtling through the air. “Dad!”

“You’ll pay for what you did!?” The Immortal was screaming, voice carrying through the air.

Mark couldn’t move, watching as his head thrummed.

The Immortal was attacking his dad.

The Immortal was back from the dead after eight months from his murder, and all the resurrected hero’s anger was direct at Omni-Man.

The pieces were sliding together—

“No!” Mark clutched his head, trying to stop himself from thinking.

His dad was a hero.

His dad was a hero.

His dad was—

“MARK, MOVE!” His dad shouted a second before the two men bashed into Mark, sending all three of them hurtling down into the water.

Mark gasped when he hit the surface and his lungs filled with water.

Omni-man was trying to drown the Immortal in the water and…

His dad was trying to kill the Immortal.

The Immortal punched his dad in the face and dragged the two of them back up to the surface.

Mark flew up and gasped for air when he got out of the water, his dad and the Immortal were still fighting in the air, and his dad was starting to win.

The truth kept trying to slide in place despite how much he tried to block it out, but it was impossible to ignore how viciously he saw his dad fight; blood splattering.

Mark heard some helicopters close in, trying to watch the fight—

Omni-man shoved his fist through Immortal’s stomach, the fist coming out the other end soaked in blood.

Everything around him froze, the sound blocked out as he watched his dad remove the first from Immortal’s stomach, the blood gushing out.

Then, his dad lifted an arm and sliced the hero’s head off in one clean strike.

Mark watched in shock as the body fell into the water, his dad covered in blood.

His dad had just killed the Immortal like it was nothing, chopping off the head to make sure the hero stayed dead.

The same Immortal who had lifted Mark on his shoulders during his 11th birthday party, while his dad smiled in amusement.

“Mark.” Suddenly his dad was in front of him, the stench of blood making Mark want to vomit.

Mark edged back quickly, staring at his father with wide eyes. “No… no, no.” He shook his head, growing panicked. “This isn’t happening. You’re not – you’re being controlled!” He tried to convince himself and rationalise. “You’re being controlled.”

Omni-man sighed. “Mark, I’m not…” He grimaced. “He attacked me, I had to defend myself—”

“You killed him.” Mark kept shaking his head. “You didn’t even…”

His dad grabbed his shoulders, getting blood on his costume and making his skin crawl. “Mark, he didn’t give me a choice, it…” Omni-man trailed off when he saw the news helicopter. “Let’s go somewhere to talk so you can calm down—”

“No!” Mark shoved away from him, wanting to be sick when he saw the patches of blood on his shoulders. “This is so messed up.” He tugged at his hair. “You killed him like it was nothing. You…” His eyes started to well up with tears. “Just tell me you’re being controlled, dad, please, just…”

His dad sighed, looking at him sadly. “Son…” He edged a little closer to him. “Listen to me.” His voice was gentle and reassuring. “All I’ve been trying to do is protect you.”

“How is this protecting me?” Mark stared at him in disbelief. “Eve was right, you’re a liar, you’re—"

“It’s not that simple,” his dad’s voice sharpened suddenly, making him tense. “Just… look, let’s just talk.” He looked over at the news cameras. “We don’t have a lot of time.” He looked at Mark almost pleadingly. “Please, Mark, just let me explain why this is happening.”

Mark stiffened, staying silent for a while as he looked at his dad. The person he was supposed to trust and had been for years.

Maybe his dad was being blackmailed. Or… or maybe it was the Guardians who had been evil. His dad wouldn’t just kill like this without a valid reason.

His throat felt dry, swallowing. “…Okay.”

His dad smiled, but it looked wrong in contrast to the blood. “Come on.” His dad grabbed his arm and flew them away from the crowded city.

They went further out of the city limits until they were somewhere quiet and near the woods.

“This isn’t how I wanted you to find out, son,” his dad said, sighing as the two of them floated in the sky.

Mark’s shoulders stayed tense, keeping a distance between them. “Dad, what’s going on?”

His dad stayed quiet for a long while, blood still covering his hands and starting to dry. “I haven’t been honest about our heritage,” he said, before taking a deep breath. “The truth is our people did achieve a perfect society, but we only got there through removing the weak from the population.”

Mark’s eyes widened. “What?”

Remove the weak?

Genocide… they’d committed genocide.

He was going to be sick.

His dad continued, but it just got worse, to the point Mark was struggling to process what he was hearing.

The viltrumites were colonisers, where strength wasn’t just valued, your survival was dependent on it.

His dad wasn’t here to help Earth, he was here to conquer it for the Viltrum Empire.

“We need to prepare Earth for our people’s arrival,” his dad said calmly as if this whole thing didn’t sound insane. That he hadn’t lied to Mark for all these years. “Son?”

Mark’s eyes stung, feeling something in him shatter again.

His dad wasn’t a hero.

His dad edged closer. “Mark, this is good news.” The expression on his dad’s face was almost warm. “We can finally do what we’re meant to do.” He rested a hand on his shoulder. “Be who we were meant to be.”

“You lied to me.” His voice was quiet, as tears gathered in his eyes.

His dad sighed. “I couldn’t tell you anything until I was sure you had your powers, that you were a viltrumite.”

Mark’s skin crawled. “And, if I wasn’t!?” He moved away. “I’d just be another human!”

“Of course not,” His dad replied quickly.

“T-then what else was a lie!?” Mark snapped, tears blurring up his vision. “Was everything about you promising mom to protect—?”

“That was not a lie!” His dad’s voice rose quickly, a flash of anger in his gaze. “I… I promised her I would do whatever it took to protect you.” He stared at him with what looked like sincerity. “It took your mother dying for me to realise just how important you were to me. Once she was gone, I knew I had to do whatever it took to keep you alive even if it meant having to be tough on you.”

He frowned, trying to detect a lie but his dad seemed to be telling the truth. “And, you think she’d want you to enslave the planet.”

“I know there would be a lot of things your mother wouldn’t understand.” His dad grimaced. “But your mother’s gone, Mark, and there were things she was incapable of understanding because she was human.” His dad gripped his shoulders tightly. “I wasn’t lying about this being a long journey for us.” His dad looked hesitant. “Your Viltrumite DNA is so pure you’re practically pureblooded. As you get older, you’ll age slower, you’ll live for hundreds or thousands of years before you even look forty.”

Mark’s stomach lurched. “What?”

“This is why we belong with our own people,” his dad’s voice grew more patient, pulling him close while Mark’s hands shook. “That small little life you had here is nothing but a fraction of the life ahead for you.”

Mark felt like a power drill was being pressed to his head. Imagining Eve’s and Will’s bodies decaying along with everything else.

Everyone he cared about would die until the only person he had left was his dad.

“This isn’t happening.” Mark shook his head, wanting to rip his hair out.

“Mark, listen to me.” His dad was speaking. “Whether you accept it or not, Viltrum has claimed this planet and they will be coming.” There was almost a grimace on his face. “Our job is to make sure that transition is as smooth as possible, so Earth is prepared for its purpose.”

Mark recoiled. “I’m not enslaving my friends!” He moved further back, feeling vomit creep up his throat.

“It’s not enslavement,” his dad tried to argue. “Viltrum can help bring this planet out of the mud, give it the technology needed to improve science and medicine.” He flew closer while Mark’s heartbeat faster. “Climate change and poverty will be a thing of the past.” He grabbed his shoulder despite the flinch Mark gave. “Mark, they can find cures to all the diseases which hold humanity back… no one else would have to suffer as your mother did ever again.”

Mark’s chest seized up, more tears clouding his vision. “You’re lying…” His voice cracked.

His dad frowned. “I’m not lying, son.” He wiped a few of Mark’s tears away with his thumb, dry blood smearing his cheek a little. “I wouldn’t wish your mother’s suffering on my worst enemy, and with our people’s help, we can stop that from happening.”

His dad’s tone was calm and reasonable, to the point he listened, and for a second tried to imagine a possible good future. An idyllic thought of a peaceful negotiation where Viltrum actually would help Earth.

But, at what cost? Why did Viltrum want Earth and what would they take in return?

Mark clenched his hands tight, the foul taste in his mouth getting worse. “…Why does Viltrum want Earth?” His dad stayed quiet for a moment, which made his dread grow. “I’m not listening to you unless you tell me the truth.”

His dad sighed. “…Earth is valuable, son. This is why a peaceful transition is so important. You are an example of how important humans are to Viltrum’s survival.” His dad tried to smile. “The compatibility of human DNA and Viltrumites is almost perfect, better than nearly all the other planets we’ve encountered.”

Mark’s stomach dropped, a shiver trailing down his spine. “What?”

His dad wasn’t really implying that…

“Genetic perfection, is valuable to our species, son, so that we stay strong.” His dad kept talking. “More beings like yourself would help advance Earth by decades.” His dad frowned as Mark stared at him in horror. “It’s classed as … a breeding camp. To ensure—”

“…A breeding camp,” Mark repeated, skin clammy and cold. “You want… you want to enslave everyone so the viltrumites can use humans as… slaves that they can rape—”

“It isn’t like that,” his dad said, frowning.

Mark felt a rush of anger. “Then, what the fuck else is it, dad!?” He shoved away from him. “This whole thing is insane, and you actually think people will go along with it, t-that they’d submit to being bred like-like fucking farm cattle!?”

“Mark.” His dad’s tone shifted to something sterner, gaze narrowing. “It wouldn't be like that, there are more artificial ways to breed and we have a duty to our people, to Viltrum—”

“I don’t give a fuck about what Viltrum wants!” Mark shouted. “Earth is our home.”

“No, son. It’s not.” His dad sighed, disappointed, which made him cringe. “Our home is with our people. Our family.” His dad’s gaze was cold. “Refusing to follow through with that responsibility is a betrayal.” He closed the gap between them again. “This is our mission, Mark. We don’t have a choice.”

“Yes, we do!” Mark felt a rise of desperation. “We can fight back and protect everyone like we’re supposed to!”

It couldn’t have all been a lie, his dad had spent nearly over twenty years protecting Earth. That had to mean something.

His dad’s eyes narrowed. “I want you to think carefully of what you’re saying.” His dad’s tone sent a shiver down his spine. “And, I don’t want to have to hurt you…” Mark felt something in him shrivel up, his dad’s shadow towering over him. “…But if that’s what it takes to make sure you don’t get in the way, then so be it.”

Mark wanted to shrivel up and hide, feeling small and weak against his dad. The look in his father’s eye was cold and detached like they were strangers.

Maybe they were since nearly everything his dad had told him was a lie. How could he say he’d ever really known his dad to begin with?

His dad was stronger than him, he didn’t stand a chance, but… he couldn’t give up and hide like a coward, not when people needed protecting.

Shakily, Mark raised his fists. “Fine.” He tried to push down his fear, wiping away his tears. “Then go ahead.”

His dad’s hands clenched tight, the two of them staring at each other for a long time while the wind bristled the leaves of the forest.

Mark swallowed a lump in his throat, trying to stay calm as he tried to build up the resolve to do what needed to be done, feeling as if he didn’t strike now he never would.

He lunged at his dad with all he had.

His dad grabbed his fists and punched him hard in the face, knocking him down to the ground.

Mark’s jaw burned from the blow and winced when he hit the ground.  He gritted his teeth and forced himself to attack again.

“Really?” His dad grabbed him by the neck before he even could strike a blow and hit him hard in the stomach, winding him. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

Mark barely had time to focus before he was punched in the face again. His dad’s fists pummelling into his face, disorienting him and making the world feel dizzy.

He clenched his teeth and tried to punch him, but his dad grabbed his fists and twisted his arm until he cried out. “AH!” Then another punch was delivered to his face, sending him flying back.

“Had enough yet?” His dad sounded impatient like the whole thing was a chore.

Mark’s arms shook as he forced himself to fly, swallowing back blood.

His dad’s face scrunched up, raising his fist again until they were interrupted by a flying camera in an orb. “Stand down, Nolan!” Cecil’s voice was booming through the machine.

His dad grimaced, grabbing the orb. “Stay out of this.” He crunched the machine in his grip, and then flung it to the ground.

Mark saw an opening and lunged at his dad from behind, hitting the back of his head.

His dad scowled and whipped around to punch him in the gut hard, and sending him flying back in the air by miles.

Mark struggled to stay flying and spat out some blood, trying to stay conscious, every muscle aching. His right eye swelling up from the hard punch in the face.

“What do you think this will solve, Mark!” His dad shouted at him, heading straight to him.

Mark flinched when a giant blue light came down and blasted his dad, knocking him back as well. “Ugh!”

The leaves were ripped off trees by the force of the blast, but when the debris clear, his dad was still floating. Blood leaking from his nose.

His dad scoffed, wiping the blood away. “Tsk.” He zoomed up in the direction of the blast.

Mark went after him, as his father flew further and further towards space.

The ominous blue glow was coming from a satellite, which his dad was flying straight into.

He pulled back when the satellite prepared to fire again as his dad smashed into it, tearing the metal apart like it was paper.

Mark dived out of the way when his dad hurled the debris at him, a large sheet of metal pushed towards him.

His dad attacked him, putting him in a headlock as they fought in space.

He elbowed his dad in the face but the man held on, choking him until he gasped.

Mark’s chest heaved desperately, the vacuum of space suffocating his lungs when he couldn’t breathe. He clawed at his dad’s arm, trying to break free. Black spots appearing in his vision.

Then his dad dragged him back down the Earth, loosening his hold just enough to allow air back into his lungs. Mark rasped as he coughed and breathed frantically.

Then two fighter jets appeared in the air, firing at his dad.

“Oh, please.” His dad sneered, while Mark struggled in his grip. “Look what they need to just mimic a fraction of our power.” He grimaced. “It’s right to pity them, Mark. Wrong to put them above your own people.” Then he shoved him back, as the missiles were fired.

Mark struggled to regain control of his flight, trying to balance.

His dad easily grabbed the first jet and toss the passenger out.

“No!” Mark tried to stop him.He raced to catch the man while his dad chased down the second plane. “I’ve got you!” He grabbed the man mid-air. “Hold on.”

“Ah!” A female pilot was in the other jet, and she was flung out of it by his dad.

Mark rushed to grab her. “No!” He struggled to grab her as the jet was flung at him by his dad, knocking him down and nearly making him drop the man he was carrying.

“Oh, shit!” The pilot clung onto him, sweating and cling desperately.

Mark tried to regain his balance and chase after the second pilot that had fallen. “Hold on!”

“Why are you wasting time on these people!?” His dad caught up to him quickly and ripped the pilot from his arms, crushing the man’s skull in one go.

“NO!” Mark flinched when the blood hit his face, the corpse falling from his grip as he stared at his dad in horror. “You killed him.”

His dad grabbed his arm hard. “Now or in fifty years? What difference does it make?” Then his dad punched him in the face, sending him zooming down towards the sea.

The city limits were seen above before his dad crashed straight into a ship, cracking into two, before barrelling them both into the sea,  saltwater filling his lungs.

His dad flew down into the water and pinned him to a bed of rocks, the water making him choke while his dad hit him repeatedly in the face as he struggled.

Mark was drowning, trying to break out of his dad’s grip to reach the surface.

His dad punched him in the stomach, vomit trying to creep up but trapped by the water.

Then his dad dragged him back up the surface, the water spilling out of his mouth when they emerged.

Mark choked and spluttered, as he was thrown onto a deserted beach near the ocean. He shivered and curled up tight, coughing and struggling to breathe when the water stayed in his lungs. Vomit spilling out of his mouth.

Then his eyes widened in horror when he saw the ship up ahead sink, the people falling into the sea like ants. “No—”

His dad’s boot landed on his back and kept him on the ground.

“We can keep doing this for as long as it takes, Mark.” his dad’s voice was cold and quiet, casting a large shadow. “Until you realise how wrong you are.”

Mark shivered more violently, tears streaming down his face as he looked up. “D-dad, please. ” His voice was raspy and it hurt to speak, acid from the vomit coating his throat. “I have to s-save them.”

His dad grabbed him by the front of his costume, making him flinch. “You’re the reason that happened, son.” His gaze was hard as flint. “They’re drowning because of your stubbornness.”

Mark’s eyes stung with tears, shaking his head. “No, It’s not—”

“Do you think I want to do this, son?” His dad stared at him accusingly, like this really was all Marks fault.  “Do you think I’m enjoying this?”

Mark couldn’t stop shaking, water and vomit dribbling down his mouth as his dad’s grip tightened.  “…You said we were a team, that… that you loved me.”

“I’m doing this because I love you, Mark,” his dad said firmly, making him cringe. “What I’m doing is a fraction of what our people will do to you if you betray them. I’m trying to protect you.”

Mark shook his head, trying to get away from him. “This isn’t protection.”

His dad sighed deeply. “You’re still not listening—"

Then, suddenly there was a flash of blue light as a giant monster, the Hail Mary, appeared in the shallow part of the sea and attacked them both.

A familiar round camera flying close.

“Really, Cecil?” His dad flung him out of the way. “I already beat this thing—”

His dad was hurled across the beach when the creature attacked.

Mark clutched his bruised stomach and flew out of the way as a tentacle came crashing down. He couldn’t dodge the next tentacle that came and grabbed him by the leg. “Ugh!”

“No!” His dad was shouting and lunged at the Hail Mary, knocking a tooth out when he punched it. The tooth the size of a house, as it flew through the air and lodged in the sand.

“Ah!” Mark punched an incoming tentacle while he was dragged across the sand towards the beast’s mouth. The camera staring back at him.

The Hail Mary roared. Mark hit it in its tooth, cracking it, and then grabbed on, trying to shake the tentacle off. Trying to save him.

Mark felt a swell of relief and horror, his confliction growing.

His dad was trying to protect him—

“Shut up.” Mark tried to shake the thoughts off when they made him more confused.

His dad came in and tried to set him loose, striking the tentacle so it hit the sand and loosened.

Mark broke free and moved out of the way before the creature grabbed him again. The Hail Mary’s attention was focused back on his dad and then attacked again.

“Stand back, kid!” Cecil’s voice came from the camera. “Or you’ll end up dead too.”

Mark moved back and watch his dad fighting the Hail Mary. “I thought he killed that thing before.”

“Nearly,” Cecil’s said. “Now it’s drugged up with enhancements with its pain tolerance removed.” His voice was cold. “It might be the only thing strong enough to kill him.”

Mark’s chest tightened, as he watched the creature get a hold of his dad. His eyes widened when he saw the Hail Mary tried to eat his dad, teeth cracking down.

His dad was struggling to stop the mouth from closing and snapping him in two.

His dad might actually die…

Mark clenched his hands tight as he watched his dad struggle.

His dad was losing.

He looked away, his head feeling like wasps were buzzing inside. He should want this, he should want his dad to die after everything that he’d done and everything he wanted to do. The times he’d hit Mark so hard he’d had bruises for days or made him feel stupid. The constant lying, manipulating and killing other heroes that were supposed to be their friends.

His dad was a horrible person.

His dad wasn’t a hero, he was… the person who stayed up late watching dumb movies with him and taught him how to fly like they were best friends. The same father who held him when he cried and made him feel like everything was going to be okay.

The father who’d hit him in training and leave a pattern of bruises but then would hug and hold him afterwards, and talk about how proud he was that Mark was getting stronger.

It was still the same person who had saved Mark from the Hail Mary, even after hurting him.

He watched his dad struggle to fight the monster, he could see how maybe in some twisted way his dad had only hurt him to protect him.

His dad loved him. They were a family.

His skin crawled when he heard his dad shout out when the creature sunk its teeth down.

“Dad!” Mark floated up.

“Don’t be stupid, kid!” Cecil’s voice boomed from the camera.

“You can’t just kill him!” Mark shouted. “He can – you can lock him up or—”

“Kid, your dad just beat you for a mile and killed the guardians, and is capable of levelling a city,” Cecil snapped, camera blocking Mark’s view of his dad. “So unless you want us all dead. Stand down.”

Mark felt on edge, looking at the camera lens and then at his dad who was about to be swallowed whole.

But, he couldn’t just let his dad die.

His stomach twisted when he thought about his mom and then how still she had looked when she died. He refused to let that happen to his dad.

“Invincible!” Cecil shouted as Mark flew towards the creature to save his dad.

Mark stopped the Hail Mary’s teeth from pressing down on his dad, struggling to keep the mouth from closing. “Dad, move!”

His dad looked surprised to see him, but then nodded. “Thank you, son.” Then, he flew straight down the monster’s throat.

“Dad!” Mark shouted. “Ah!” He winced, his arms aching from trying to keep the creature’s mouth closed.

Then, his dad emerged out of the creature's throat dragging its organs with it behind. “Mark, move!”

Mark quickly dived out of the way as his dad pulled out the Hail Mary’s heart and stomach. The monster choked, blood splattering out briefly until it finally collapsed into the water.

For a moment he just stared at the dead creature, and then at his dad who was flying above, coated in blood.

“What the hell have you done!?” Cecil’s voice shouted from the camera.

Mark flinched when the camera got in his face. “I couldn’t just let him die, he’s my dad!”

“It’s okay, son.” His dad’s voice was reassuring before he came behind the camera and crushed it easily. “You did the right thing.”

He moved away, the camera turned to scraps of metal on the beach floor.

“I did it because I don’t want you dead, not because I agree with you!” he snapped, putting some more distance between them.

His dad sighed, his expression still cold. “Mark, do you really think you can beat me? I mean, just look at you.” He gestured at him, and Mark didn’t need to see himself to know there were bruises all over him. “You’re weak. Do you understand what that means, son? What’s going to happen if you keep trying to fight me?”

Mark edged further back when his dad tried to get closer. “I know what’s going to happen if I let you win.”

“Mark, our people need this planet,” his dad insisted. “This is for a bigger purpose.” His gaze stayed narrowed. “Do you really just want me to keep hitting you until you start to see sense?” He edged closer as Mark’s shoulders hunched up. “You already chose a side when you saved me.”

Mark shook his head, even though it was true, wasn’t it? He’d disobeyed Cecil’s orders and potentially doomed Earth by letting his father live.

Except it wasn’t that simple. It was impossible for it to be that black and white.

“I didn’t…” He kept shaking his head. “You’re wrong. Everything you’re trying to do is wrong!”

“No, son.” His dad’s voice grew calmer. “You’re the one willing to let millions die, because you aren’t listening.” His gaze was almost accusing. “You could have let me die back there, but you didn’t, because deep down you know I’m right.” He grabbed the back of his neck, making him wince and try to push him away. “Look at the boat, Mark. Do you see all those survivors?”

Mark stared back at the boat which was sinking quickly, orange lifeboats just out in the distance. “Dad—”

“I could fly over there and kill every single one of them,” his dad threatened softly, making him shiver. “It’d barely take a few minutes to drown the children, the women… and who’s fault would it be?”

Mark’s insides twisted more, closing his eyes as he imagined the water turning red as his dad killed every survivor. His senses filling with the smell of Hail Mary’s blood still lingering on his dad’s costume.

He’d had his chance to stop all this and he’d refused. Because he was too weak to let go of his dad and make the tough decision heroes were supposed to make.

Now, how many more people were going to die because of that? How many would suffer because he wasn’t strong enough?

He hadn’t been strong enough to stop the Flaxans, or strong enough to fight off Battle Beast, and he wasn’t strong enough to beat his dad.

All he did was get people hurt and make a mess of things. He wasn’t a hero, he was pathetic and weak. He couldn’t protect this planet from one Viltrumite, let alone a whole race of them.

“Who’s fault would it be, son?” His dad repeated, firmer this time.

Tears filled his vision again as a sob tore through his throat. “Mine…”

His dad stared at him, gaze cold. “Yes, and you wouldn’t be able to stop me.” He sighed, looking at him in pity, loosening his grip. “I’m trying to make you strong so you’ll survive.” He looked almost remorseful. “You have so much potential, but you’re so misguided and confused.”

Mark collapsed onto his knees, as the tears ran down his cheeks. A hollow feeling spreading in his chest. 

The flashes of the pilot’s skull being crushed replayed in his head, the memories burned into his skull.

“It was always Earth’s destiny to join the empire, son.” His dad gently placed a hand on his head. “If you just listen to me, I promise we can save people’s lives. Liberate this planet with the technology it needs, establish peace.”

Under a dictatorship?

“How is any of this liberation?” Mark felt sick, wanting to curl up and wish this was all just a nightmare.

The grip on his hair tightened warningly. “The empire is peace, son. Fighting it is pointless.” He sighed deeply. “When our people arrive, they won’t tolerate this kind of disobedience. You’ll be killed, along with anyone who gets in the way.”

Eve wouldn’t give up, she’d keep fighting, and she’d die because of it.

Mark shivered when he imagined her beaten up corpse left to rot. He thought about Will being caught up in the chaos as towns were pummelled and cities were destroyed.

It would all be his fault, for not being strong enough, because he kept making the wrong choices and hurting more people every time he tried.

A sob tore through his throat. “No!” He tried to punch his dad, but it was easily blocked.

“…You can’t stop me, Mark.” His dad’s voice was hollow, gripping his fist tight. “There’s no one left who can stop any of this.” His dad’s gaze seemed resigned. “After your mother died, I slowly started to accept that.”

“Shut up!” Mark sobbed and tried to punch him again, but this time his fist was grabbed.

His dad sighed, disappointed. “That’s enough, son.”

“AHH!” Mark cried out when his dad broke his arm in one clean swoop. He dropped back down to his knees, cradling his arm as the pain burned. Hurting worse than it had when his dad had accidentally broken it when he was a child. It made him wonder briefly if that had ever been an accident, to begin with…

“You’re the only family I have, I won’t lose you too.” His dad’s voice was soft, bending down to his level. “I don’t want to have to break your other arm, but I will if I have to. Is that what you want?”

“…No.” Mark clutched his broken arm and felt like he was sinking. More tears trailed down his cheeks.

Every time he tried, he failed and made things worse. He couldn’t stop this unless he got stronger.

His dad’s hand settled on his shoulder near his neck, blood on his hands blending into the red of the gloves. “I know it’ll take you more time to accept this.” He squeezed his shoulder, making him hunch his shoulders up. “And, you can hate me for a thousand years, but it won’t change Earth’s fate. Viltrum won’t give up this planet, it’s as bound to our people as we are, son.”

Mark shivered, vomit creeping up his throat again as it felt like he was being boxed in again and being suffocated.

After a thousand years, his dad would be the only person he’d have left. Everyone else he’d known or cared about would be dead.

He remembered the numb feeling he’d felt in the hospital when he’d been left alone for two weeks with nothing but broken bones and bruises. Nurses just giving him pitying looks as he’d barely been functioning. It made him imagine being alone while everything else turned to dust, with nothing left. That hollow feeling grew like a black hole in his chest, as something in him broke a little more.

“I need you to trust me, Mark, and not get in my way.” His dad was speaking again, squeezing his shoulder again, grounding him. “Can you do that?”

No. He wouldn’t be able to ever trust his dad after this.

Mark looked up at him, exhaustion weighing down on him as his eyes drifted to the sinking ship, the dead sea monster, and then the blood on his dad’s costume.

He swallowed back the vomit, lowering his gaze to the broken camera on the beach.

He’d never wanted his mom back so desperately than in this moment. To just have her stroke his head and give him the advice he needed, even if he didn’t fully understand it at the time. She’d made him feel brave.

“Mark.” His dad’s grip hurt. “Do you trust me?”

No.

Mark choked back a sob that was coming up his throat, as he closed his eyes tight.

But, his mom wasn’t here, only his dad was.

“…Yes.” Mark’s voice was quiet like the life had been sucked out of it.

His dad’s eyes widened, surprise and relief flickering across his face before it settled on something resigned, as he pulled Mark into a hug. “You made the right decision, son.”

Mark stayed quiet, resting his head on his dad’s chest as he tried to block out the pain in his arm. The hollowness in his chest growing and surrounding him as he sunk further down.