Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

University was going well for William over all. After a rocky start with Sinclair’s reanimate and Mark dropping out early on he had managed to turned it around making new friends to study with and even growing a lot closer with Amber. Of course Rick had been his rock through it all and he’d been Rick’s. Things hadn’t been easy for them especially for Rick, there were night terrors and panic attacks often  but with therapy he was finally getting better. And William would support him through it all, whatever it took, because he loved him.

But that’s exactly where it all had to go so horribly wrong. Rick had left the dorms to pick up some milk so it was just William on his own reading a massive psychology textbook. Prepping for tomorrow’s quiz was going to liquify his brains. He decided to close the book and lay his head down on the desk taking a short break. It wasn’t getting into his head much anyways.

Then, CRASH

A terrible sound came ringing through his ears leaving him stunned. It took a couple of seconds for him to even realise the window had smashed all over the dorm leaving the floor littered with shards of glass.

The sound of screaming floated through the window finally braking Williams state of shock. Looking outside the scene below was one of utter chaos. One building over, the structure had entirely collapsed with only a few survivors running out the front doors injured and calling for help.

All of a sudden he felt the ground rumble beneath him and a pit in the bottom of his stomach formed rapidly. Another rumble and he was rushing arose the room, glass under his bare feet.

“ARHHHH” William let out a deep scream of pain as a piece of the glass embedded itself into the heel of his foot. But with the screaming from outside getting louder and his growing panic making his breaths shallow and rapid he didn’t have the time to even think about it never mind put shoes on.

It was a struggle to get the door open with everyone in the neighbouring rooms evacuating blocking the it from opening. Soon William managed to squeeze through a crack in the door and joined the avalanche of students rushing outside. The floor was seriously starting to shift beneath them now and William was practically begging cared outside by the flow of the crowd.

Only when hitting the cold winter air did it finally dawn on William the extent of the destruction. The skies were red from the fires raging throughout the city. Bodies littered the ground, many with heads separated from their necks. Seeing this was enough to make William double over and retch, unable to throw up. His eyes watered enough to blur his vision and his breaths were shaky. Then the smell finally hit, iron overwhelming his senses he couldn’t hold back any more and threw up onto the grass.

It was like someone had shoved his head under water, the screams the building collapsing behind him, it all felt so far away and in his head only one thought rung around Williams mind. Find Rick. Keep him safe. He didn’t even notice the pain in his foot as he wandered towards the shop Rick had gone to. Nor did he really register the rubble falling from above coming to collide with and surely crush him. At least the death would be swift he thought.

“WILLIAM” The sound of his name, the panic in there voice, it was enough to snap him out of his dissociative state and he let out a yelp that could have been more of a scream before making contact with what would eventually kill him. But that never came, instead it hovered over his head and Rick stood before him with that rubble in his hands. Relief flooded his entire body. This is what got him to finally start crying and he hugged his strong, life saving boyfriend, planting a loving kiss on his lips. Rick threw the piece of wall aside hugging him back tightly and they just stayed like that for a couple more perfect moments. Whatever was happening, which ever villain was attacking this time, it would all be ok as long as they were together.

Then, descending from above like an angel, Invincible floated into view through the smoke and destruction. If Mark was here there was no villain who could hurt them now. Despite everything a smile spread across Williams face a small amount of euphoria rising within him.

Him and Mark had been growing apart as of late. They’d both been busy with uni and superhero work respectively and had struggled to make time for each other. Despite this William still trusted Mark with his life and knew that when they were together nothing bad could ever really happen to him.

Mark seemed happy too, his face had an almost elated smile on it. Only then did both the men standing below notice the missing Cowell and it looked like he was injured too, with blood splattered up his neck and face. But they figured he couldn’t be to badly hurt if he looked so happy. He’d seen Mark shrug off things that would have easily put William out of commission. The superhero touched down in front of them staring with a strange intensity at the boys interlaced hands, though the smile never left his face.

“Are you alright?” Mark asked with a soft concern in his voice.

“We’re both ok. Mark, what’s going on?!” Rick asked sounding alarmed.

But Mark didn’t even acknowledge that he’d spoken. Instead looking William up and down surveying him for any damage.

“You’re injured! You shouldn’t be walking on that foot!” Mark said with rising concern as he stepped over and scooped up William into a bridal carry like he weighed nothing at all.

“Mark I’m fine, you don’t need to hold me! Shouldn’t you be fighting the villain?” He rebutdtaled.

“What villain?” Mark asked looking slightly confused.

“The one attacking the university!” William was now getting a little concerned about his friend who didn’t seem fully aware of the gravity of the situation.

“On no” Mark let out a light chuckle “that’s me” That horrible pit formed again in Williams stomach as he realised just how small he must seem in Marks grasp. He wasn’t serious. He couldn’t be!

Rick placed his hand firmly on William’s shoulder looking deeply concerned and a little cautious but voice firm.

“I think you should put him down now Mark”

“Who is this?” Mark was now looking at Rick for the first time since he’d arrived. The question sounded more annoyed than curious.

“Rick?… My boyfriend…” William was now very uncomfortable squirming in the Viltrumites arms. But Marks hold was firm and held him tight. Why was Mark asking who Rick was?

“No” Marks smile dropped slightly stepping back away from Rick, arms tightening “You’re supposed to be with me, silly” and then -like it was the most normal thing in the world- Mark leaned down and kissed him. The kiss was deep and passionate, like a couple who’d been apart for far too long. Rick immediately sprung into action attempting to pull the two apart but his efforts were nothing compared to Invisibles strength. When Mark started to slip his tongue into William’s mouth he went from squirming to out right thrashing, turning his head to the side to escape this kiss.

“WHAT THE FUCK MARK! What the hell do you think you’re doing!?!” He yelled still trying to pull away.

“Put him down, now!” Rick’s face had gone from concern to down right anger.

“William? Why are you pulling away from me? Is it because of him?” Looking up at Rick again. Mark actually sounded hurt that his advances were being rejected. Then without warning they flew up into the sky high above the university leaving Rick and the ruins of the buildings behind. The sudden movement made Williams stomach tern and he went from thrashing violently to holding on for dear life. He would usually beg mark to take him flying but right now he wanted nothing more than to be back on solid ground. If Mark was serious about being the one attacking the campus then he’d clearly had some sort of mental break and could drop him at any moment or worse.

“Look, there we go, he’s gone now. You don’t have to pull away anymore”  And he leaned in for another kiss but William covered his mouth before he could make contact, with both hands he kept an iron grip over his face.

“William, stop being silly” Marks voice was firmer now but still laced with affection.

“Mark, please… please put me down. You’re scaring me” it came out more of a whisper than he would have liked but it was true he was afraid of whatever was making Mark act like this.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you! I guess I got a bit over excited, I’m just really happy to have you back. Dad’s gonna be so shocked when I bring you home!”   His smile returned to his face wider than before.

What was he talking about? They’d only hung out a couple weeks ago and he could have called any time. Was he going to take him back to his house? Why? There’s no way Marks dad could actually be there right? He was taken hostage by the Viltrumites, Mark had told him himself.

“Come on, let’s get you home” That look Mark was giving him, it was a mix between pure affection and something darker more positive. They started moving, prompting William to grab on tightly afraid of falling. As the wind blew through his hair he felt the urge to throw up again but instead he just started shaking. He could have sworn that Mark was taking deep breaths of his hair, smelling him several times like some sort of creep.

As they approached the Grayson house instead of descending into it like he’d expected they rose to an even higher altitude eventually joining a circle of flying men. William looked to see who they were and to his utter surprise and shock it was Mark… 7 more times. Each of them looked slightly different, one resembling Omni man to williams great discomfort. From above he had a good enough view to see it wasn’t just his university that got attacked but the entire city, probably beyond that too. William hadn’t even realised that he’d started to panic again breaths being so shallow and rapid it was a struggle getting any amount of air in at all. All  these different versions of Mark, where had they come from? To Williams horror or maybe slightly his relief the insane person carrying him was not his best friend all, he knew that his Mark would never do this to him. Whoever he was with now was a stranger barely worthy of the title Invincible. Then he noticed something, as much as he was staring at them they were all staring back at him to. Some looking confused others bored but one (even in a mask covering his full face) looked noticeably melancholic at the site of him.

“What the fuck are you doing bringing him here for dumbass?!” The one with a poorly shaved Mohawk practically spat with a chuckle. The sudden moment made William recoil in fear and disgust. What he really wanted to do was shout back ‘what the hell are you freaks doing in my city!?!’ but he wasn’t stupid enough to say it out loud.

“I did my part, Paris is practically gone. He’s my consolation prize for all this hard work” The Mark that was holding him practically beamed as he said it. Though Williams blood ran cold with that one simple sentence. What had he done to Paris? This man was a lunatic. He’d practically stopped breathing at this point panic really setting in. It was becoming obvious how much danger he was actually in right now but what was supposed to do against this monster? But still he couldn’t just give in to whatever twisted things this Mark wanted to do to him.

“I’m not some prize Jackass! Put me down!” And now William was thrashing again trying to break free of this man’s iron grip to no avail. It was like Mark didn’t even notice his attempts to get free.

Then again the Mark with the Mohawk spoke through almost cackling laughter. “What?! Why on earth would you want this annoying little brat? If you have to have someone at least pick someone good, like Eve” he was practically wheezing now and William made a note he should probably be offended but if this Mark actually had chosen someone else he wouldn’t be in this situation at all.

“What are you talking about? Why would I want Eve? William is perfect” This only got the Mohawk Mark to double over and laugh harder.

The other Marks seemed mostly uninterested by the conversation if not slightly irritated by Mohawk Marks cackling. Until the one dressed in black and yellow speaks up irritation present in his voice. “ Ugh, where’s Angstrom already! He’s late, I’m gonna kill him when he gets here I swear to god! ”

“You can’t kill him or we’re all gonna be trapped in this dimension” The voice came from the biggest of the Marks, the one with the striking resemblance to Omni man. His tone was not angry or amused but absolute and certain.

So they were from other dimensions? That explains a lot but didn’t exactly make William feel any better about his situation. Before anyone could complain again a green light washed over them and a man with a grim smile stepped out onto a floating translucent platform, orb shaped cameras circling above him.

“Fucking finally” the Mohawk copy groaned.

“Yeah what the fuck man, you were supposed to be here an hour ago” whined a copy with a string symbol on his shoulder.

“Well I’m here now and it seems you’ve done a beautiful job here” he retorts his eyes scanning across the group until landing on William making his stomach turn and sweat soke his shirt. “ Well well, who’s our gest?” Who William assumed to be Angstrom said with a devilish grin.

“He’s my boyfriend” the Invincible carrying him said it so simply like it wasn’t something totally insane.

“No, I am not!” William yelled going back to trying to push out of his captors grip. Angstrom cocked a brow at the scene in front of him seemingly quite amused.

“ He was our friend in quite a few dimensions ” The Omni mark said, not for William’s benefit but to clear up any confusion.

“Stop it Will, you’re gonna fall” This bargain bin version of his friend had the audacity to sound concerned about him. Looking back up at Angstrom “I want to bring him home. Please, I’ve done everything you’ve asked. Just let me steal him!”

That comment was more than enough to get William from struggling to screaming and punching. “ HELP! MARK, PLEASE HELP ME!” He was calling out for his Mark, the real one, the one that would never let this happen to him. He didn’t want to go to anywhere with this crazy Mark, especially not another dimension. Away from is family, his friends, Rick. Just then a question dawned on him that made him want to throw up again. Where was his Mark? Non of these copy’s were bragging about killing him. It seems like something they’d do. But then where was he? Why wasn’t he here fighting these lunatics?

“See! He’s Marks friend, and you want to hurt Invincible right. Let me take him!” He was pleading now practically begging.

“Fine” Angstrom chuckled but his tone was not so light any more. “But I want Invincible here first. I want him to see it” no one moved for a couple of tense moments “Don’t worry, I’ll look after your little boyfriend” Slowly this Mark floated towards the platform and placed William down on it. Sharp stabbing pain shot up his leg as he put weight on his injured  foot but before he could fall a strong hand gripped his upper arm and held him close. Maskless Mark came in for one last kiss but William pulled his head away. With a disappointed look Mark turned and flew into the red sky’s.

Chapter Text

After Maskless Mark left it got quiet. Well except for Williams yelling for him to let go as he slammed his body away from Angstrom. But with his lean frame it didn’t amount to much except throwing them both off balance and greatly irritating Angstrom.

“Ughhh, please someone shut him up!” The Mohawk Mark yelled out as if he wasn’t equally as annoying. In response, one of Angstroms floating orbs swung round and cracked William up side the head. The pain was immediately intense. The first thing he felt was a burning like his head was on fire as skin ripped apart from his forehead. The ache in his skull was so intense no words could form and he began to slump down losing awareness of his surroundings. His vision was beginning to blur slightly and his head and face started to feel  very hot and sticky. The vague acknowledgement that there was now blood flowing down his face and onto his shirt entered his mind but was washed away again with another wave of burning pain and nausea.

“Are non of you going to help fetch Invincible then? ” Angstrom narrowed his eyes at the group of  still in front of him.

“Why would we?” Asked the Mark covered in scars, staring vaguely off into the distance. “I’ve done everything we’ve agreed and now I want my reward”

“You’ll have your new universe, don’t  you worry. But only once I’ve destroyed Invincible”

The scarred Mark looked irritated but not aggressive so resided himself to wait until Angstrom had what he wanted. The other Invincible’s seemed to follow suit.

***

As Maskless Marks was flying through the clouds at breakneck speeds it took him a long moment before he realised that he didn’t actually know where this universes Mark was. He clearly didn’t care to come fight the gathering over his house so what could he possibly be doing? Even when he’d entered the circle with William in hand there was no sign of him. That just made it clearer in his mind that this version of himself didn’t deserve William and he was right to take him away. He could love William better than this Mark, better than that thing he was calling his boyfriend, better than anything in this broken world ever could. And he would give him more too, everything he could ever need, because that’s what his brilliant, sweet, perfect boyfriend deserved.

Scanning through his own memories and life he tried to think where he would go in this situation. But then again who knew how different their lives really were?

As he let his momentum carry him he spotted something odd out the corner of his eye. A flying GDA surveillance device was watching him from a distance and that gave him an idea, he sped off into the distance knowing exactly where he was going this time.

…

The sound of him landing outside the GDA was enough to shatter all windows in the vicinity. As Mark stepped on out of the creator he just created there were already what looked like a small army of GDA agents pointing their guns at him. Mark barely registered them as present and began walking towards the doors through the barrage of bullets.

He wasn’t here to fight, so at some attempt at politeness he knocked on the humongous double doors.

“I’m only here to talk, so just come out and I won’t have to kill you”

A long moment passed before the bullets stoped raining down and the doors opened to reveal a beat up Cecil and Donald with half his face ripped off. Cecil was holding a switch in his hand but whatever it was for hardly mattered to Mark.

“What do you want?” Cecil said with a frown.

“I’ve seen your cameras flying about the place, where is Invincible?”

“And why exactly would we tell you that?” He narrowed his eyes and placed a thumb over the button in his hand.

All Mark wanted now was to be with William again, he’d missed him for so long now it hurt and he wasn’t pleased in the slightest to be wasting time with these people.

Before anyone could even blink Mark had moved inside and his hand was gripping down hard on the back of Donald’s neck lifting him off the ground. Cecil went to click the button but with a hard squeeze Donald let out a pained grown stoping him in his tracks.

“Where is he?” There was a lot more poison in his voice this time.

“D-don’t tell h-him” A croaked voice came out of Donald as he clawed at Marks hand.

“You said you wanted to talk? Put him down and we can talk” Cecil tried to reason. If it were anybody else Mark knew he’d never tell but he was well aware of how Cecil felt about Donald and his patience was running low. With a squeeze, the crunching sounded like thunder and blood coated his hand. What Mark thought was a scream gargled out of Donald’s throat.

“ALRIGHT!” Mark loosened his grip “Alright… he’s at the GDA hospital in Chicago…” Donald fell to his knees then slumped to the floor and before anyone even had the chance to shoot at him Mark was already up in the sky speeding towards the hospital.

…

He started making his way through the hospital wings full of injured heroes. Still most of them came at him fighting despite being no match for him even at full health. He tour through them like paper, beheading them as quickly as possible. With practice he found taking peoples heads off was the most efficient way to make sure they won’t come back. Humans had a nasty habit of always getting back up no matter how much they were injured until they were dead.

It was annoying really, he wasn’t here to fight. Every minute he spent killing these people was a minute William was left alone with those psychos that would probably get a kick out of hurting him… or worse. The thought was making him increasingly nervous.

It took him looking into the private rooms on the intensive care ward to finally find what he was looking for. Atom Eve lying in bed unconscious but alive and Mark sitting hunched over her bed holding her hand in his palms seemingly unaware of the chaos unfolding throughout the rest of the hospital. That just pissed off Maskless Mark even more. Here he was safe and sound with Eve being cared for by the GDA while he just let William run around outside as the world burned down, not lifting a finger to help. Thank god he was here to take him home. His boyfriend would never be outside in danger all on his own ever again.

This Mark turned his head clearly expecting to see a doctor for Eve. When what he saw instead was one of his variants in the doorway absolutely covered in the blood of fallen heroes he was stunned. But only for a moment as within seconds he was winding up a punch.

“STAY AWAY FROM HER!” The original screamed as he barrel towards him.

Maskless caught his punch but was still pushed several steps back. Before Mark could hit again he put his hands up by his head surrendering.

“WAIT! I don’t want to fight you okay?”

A look of confusion swept across Marks face but he stopped punching, still in a fighting position he let Maskless speak.

“I need you to come with me” Maskless Mark said in a steady tone.

“What the fuck are you talking about?!” He practically spat.

“Angstrom wants you and I’m tired of wasting time”

“That’s a joke right? What makes you think I’d trust anything you say”

Maskless Mark was getting angry now and just needed to hurry this along. “Please, don’t fight me on this“ The words were gentle yet his tone was anything but. A clear aggression in his voice. ”I need to get back to William-“

He was abruptly cut off by a hand closing around his throat pushing him back further into the hallway and lifting his feet of the ground. “What the HELL have you done to William!” The rage in his voice stunned Maskless for a second but then it just pissed him off. He grabbed the originals arm so tight he threatened to break it. How dare he act like he has any claim over HIS boyfriend.

“Like you care! Where were YOU when he was running around collapsed buildings!?! Sitting over your super powered girlfriend!!!”

Mark’s hand clenched around his throat. He felt strangely called out by this mass murdering variant and a large pang of guilt struck in his chest. “Where the fuck is he?!” He growled as he lowered his double back to the floor.

“You want him? You’ll have to come with me” Maskless had no intention of actually giving William back but it was enough of an incentive to get Mark to let go. He gave one last concerned look to Eve and kissed her lovingly on the forehead before climbing out the window and flying up into the sky. Maskless was short to follow.

***

Williams head was throbbing, it was like his brain was too big for he’s skull.

“William… William?”

Someone was holding his chin now keeping his head up. He took two deep blinks trying to clear his mind and the tears from his eyes. For a fleeting moment he thought it may have been his Mark come to save him but with his vision clearing it turned out to be the Mark with the full mask. What could he possibly want?

“W-wh… what” he replied in a shaky voice.

“William please… I need you to tell me where my mum is” This Mark sounded panicked and desperate but there was an unmistakable hint of hope in his voice.

How dare he ask him that? It’s not like knew where she’d gone but to even ask. How could he ever betray the Graysons like that, growing up there household had been like a second home and he’d grown to respect Debbie as an excellent role model and parental figure. No way he’d ever sell her out.

“Get fucked” he breathed out angrily.

The hold on his jaw got noticeably tighter and in a much firmer tone he repeated. “I NEED you to tell me Will-“

“DON’T TOCH HIM!” A furious voice came from below them and before anyone even had the chance to react the original Mark flew in and hit Masked Mark with strong upper cut. The Masked variant went flying upwards into the air like a bowling ball. Seeing his friend filled William with an intense euphoria. Maybe everything would be ok.

Mark looked down and the look on his face was horrified, to see the state of his friend covered in is own blood, almost half his face black and blue. He reached down to pick him up so they could get out of here but before he could Angstrom piped up. “Uh uh uh” he mocked as a strong hand rapped around his wrist. Looking around he saw it belonged to the scarred variant.

Seeing his friend here in danger suddenly gave William a boost of energy and he pushed through the pain to try and reach out. But before his hand could get close Mark was violently pulled back into the middle of the circle.

“Let him go ASSHOLES!” The original Mark called out. Before he could make a move back over towards William 3 other variants grabbed him holding him in place. He began to thrash violently trying to work his way out of there grip but it seemed futile.

“Invincible, I’m so glad you could join us” The sarcasm and hatred in Angstroms voice was intense.

Then, as if to block Williams view of what was going on Maskless Mark moved in front of him looking at him with deep hope in his eyes. He gently put his hand on the back of William’s head, getting blood in his hair, then lend in and pressed a soft kiss to his wound. William flinched out of fear and discussed but assuming it was from pain Maskless comforted him. “It’s all going to be alright, don’t worry I’ll take good care of you” in a sickly soothing voice.

Looking up at Angstrom now “Look I got you what you wanted, can we please go home now” he said sounding impatient. This made William start to struggle again even though the pain but Maskless just put his hands on his upper arms to stop him from moving.

“You’re not taking him ANYWHERE!” Original Mark screamed but there was nothing he could do as that twisted version of himself picked up his best friend and cradled him in his arms.

“He’s your friend right?” Angstrom asked but it was more of a statement. “It seems you’ve really let him down” It almost sounded like he was singing it from pure joy. A wave of his hand and a green portal opened beside him. “Oh and just so you know, I’m going to do the same to your mother next” The smile on his face as he said it was absolutely deranged.

As they started to move towards the portal the full reality of his situation began to crash down on William. He was beginning taken and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. He was just a weak human against what might as well have been a god. Tears started to roll down his cheeks. Breathing started to become difficult.

“ MARK !” A scream ripped through his throat. “OH GOD, PLEASE HELP ME!” He pleaded. There was nothing to do, Maskless Marks grip on him was so tight he couldn’t even squirm. There was only one thing left to say, only one last thought that mattered. They were inches from the portal so he opened his mouth and called out. “Please, tell Rick I love him!” Maskless Marks body tensed immediately but he didn’t stop moving and they were both overtaken in a sickly green light.

The last thing he heard was a cry from behind him. “I’m sorry, William!” And then they were gone.

Chapter Text

The green light was blinding but William refused to close his eyes not wanting to miss the last moments before his dimension was gone forever.

As they exited the portal the sky changed from a burning red to a beautiful blue for a cool winters day. The suburban neighbourhood looked quite peaceful beneath them but William was only focused on one thing. The portal floating only half a metre behind them. He could almost reach out and touch it and he did try to. But when Maskless Mark saw him grasping at it he moved them out of arms reach.

“Take me back” He wasn’t yelling any more. Instead he was just crying, his voice breaking around the last word.

“Take me home” he said through a sob. The sight just made Marks hart brake all over again.

The portal was fizzling out behind them now and Williams sobs were only getting louder. Soon it was gone entirely and Mark was left floating there in the sky holding him as he shook and cried. Everyone he’s ever loved are gone.

“Sh sh sh, it’s all going to be alright. Please don’t cry” Mark was trying to comfort him but only made him cry harder. They ended up staying like that for about 10 minutes until all William could do was let out shaky breaths.

Slowly and carefully, as if to not trigger more tears from him, Mark floated down and landed just outside the front door to his version of the Graysons house. Mark took a deep breath as if bracing for something and then used his back to push open the door carrying William inside like a bride and groom on their wedding day.

Inside wasn’t to different from the original Marks home. It still had that sleek modern look to it but it was a little more unkempt. There were dishes piling up in the sink and cloths were sitting unfolded spilling out of washing baskets on the floor.

But in the end there was only one thing that caught anyone’s interest in that room. That being the oppressive presence of Nolan Grayson sitting casually at the kitchen island drinking a coffee and reading a newspaper paper.

The site made William freeze so fast his heart practically stopped. What was Mark doing bringing him here!? He’d watched Invincible and Omni’s fight on the TV -though he was guessing it probably gone differently here- if Nolan decides he wanted to kill him not even Mark could stop him.

Hearing the door open Nolan looked up from his paper and looked incredibly taken off guard. Come to think of it both William and Mark must have looked quite the state standing in that doorway.

“Mark, where have been?” Nolan sounded very casual but there was an undercurrent of worry in his voice. “The protesters have been bolder than usual, I think they’ve been noticing your absence” He didn’t even acknowledge Williams presence, like he didn’t matter in the slightest. And in the eyes of a man who killed humans like they were mere inconveniences he probably didn’t.

“Some creepy guy came to me with an… opportunity. Bust up some other guys dimension and I could have anything I wanted” There was a confidence to his voice, one William had never seen his Mark use around his farther before. Then he nodded down at his prize and beamed like a kid on his birthday. “And look who I found”

For the first time Nolan’s eyes drifted down to the beaten up boy in Marks arms. The stair was enough to give William goosebumps. “And you asked for…” He didn’t look very impressed.

Mark pouted when he didn’t like his father’s response.

Suddenly Nolan used his super speed and appeared in front of the pair in an instant. William let out a small yelp in surprise but it was hardly noticed.

“Are you alright? Do you have any injures?” Nolan asked cupping Marks face in his hands and moving his head around inspecting him for damage. It was odd watching Omni Man behave so fatherly.

“I’m fine, dad” He said pulling his head away and putting on an overly disgusted face on.

Both there eye cast down on William again who shrank under their gaze.  “Fine” Nolan said lightly.

“What?” Mark seemed the tiniest bit surprised.

“You can keep him” Nolan confirmed. And Mark broke out into his most gleeful smile yet. “But if he causes to much trouble, you’ll have to kill him” That sentence alone made William feel like he’d been dunked into cold water struggling to breathe. Yet it seemed to have no such effect on Mark who was practically vibrating with joy.

“Thank you dad, you won’t regret this!” Mark called as he basically bounded up the stairs.

He took them to Marks bedroom and it was still Marks room, but it looked… wrong. Most of the nerdy stuff was gone save a few old DVDs. The only real decoration he had were photos framed on the walls. Looking at them they all contained the same things. Mark, happy with his friends. Him and Amber in a coffee shop or smiling with Eve in front of Mount Rushmore. There were a lot featuring William too; him and Mark on dates, sharing a kiss, there was even one of William sleeping soundly in the bed with a smile on his face. Looking at it made him uncomfortable. The boy in the pictures weren’t him but it was almost and exact copy, the only difference was his hair. It was grown into a messy wolf cut in those photos and William had never had it so long.

Mark placed him down on the bed and just looked at him for a solid few seconds in an uncomfortable silence. His expression was soft much to Williams disgust before he knelt down in front of the bed and took his injured foot in hand. He tried to pull away but Marks hand was too strong yet his touch felt so gentle it made him want to scream.

“There’s still glass in your foot” He announces looking on the edge of tears himself. He disappeared in a blur the reappeared just as quickly holding a first aid kit. “Here, let me clean you up” He picked up a large pare of tweezers.

“I’m fine!” William was pulling back his leg hard trying to retreat further into the bed not wanting to accept any help from the psycho who kidnapped him.

“I promise I’ll be gentle with you sweetheart, but you can’t keep that in your foot” Holding his leg steady he moved the tweezers into the wound prompting a pained grown from William. Getting a strong grip on the glass he gave it a tug triggered a loud yelp.

“Shhh, I know it hurts. You’re being very brave” Another tug and it was slipping out. Soon Mark was holding a 2 inch shard of glass and dropped it into the bin. Then he took an antiseptic wipe and cleaned the entrance wound as blood trickled down to the floor. A bandage later and Mark was now climbing onto the bed pushing William down beneath him.

“What are you doing!?!” William was trying to crawl away but he was trapped.

“Your head” He answers back simply.

“What about my head!”

He took another antiseptic wipe and press it to Williams forehead. “You’re hurt”

The stress and shock of losing everything he’s ever known was enough to dull the pain but it was starting to overtake him again as the adrenaline wore off. The antiseptic stung but he didn’t pull away instead just lying there as Mark dressed his wound feeling disgusting for letting this monster touch him.

After dressing it, Mark just lay down next to him on the bed stroking William’s hair rhythmically. They both stayed like that for a while not wanting to break the quiet peace that had settled over them like a blanket.

William was rather preoccupied at the moment thinking about his situation. Were his parents even still alive right now? The destruction he saw of the city would suggest otherwise. That thought felt like being dropped from the sky falling to  an unforgiving ground. He quickly moved on before he could dwell on it. Rick… was he ok? After everything he’d been through with Sinclair it felt unfair the world would put him through any more. Thinking about it now he suddenly remembered this morning.

After a wonderful night together William had woken up in Ricks dorm room, light filtering through the curtains. He had to get to a class in an hour so was forced to find his way to his feet.

“Don’t goooo” Rick growned from the bed reaching out for him.

Bending down he gave him a long loving kiss then whispered against his lips “sorry, I have to get to class, you’ll be fine without me”

Then he found himself wondering around the room searching for his clothes that had been unceremoniously discarded the night before. With jeans on it was now getting his t-shirt off the top shelf…

While he was musing on how to climb up that high two strong arms wrapped around his waist pulling him into a warm embrace. Rick buried his head in William’s shoulder kissing his skin gently. “Don’t worry about that, you should wear one of my shirts”

“What? Why?” He chuckled.

“Cause’ you look cute in them” He found out his red UU t-shirt and pulled it over William head. Once it was on he gave him one last kiss before seeing him out the door.

Thinking about it made him curl into himself, the shirts fabric suddenly felling like a warm hug from his boyfriend trying to comfort him. And he began to sob all over again.

“What’s wrong?” That familiar voice asked him gently.

“What’s wrong? WHATS WRONG!?!” The fact he even had to ask, was he stupid or just genuinely insane thinking this was normal! “YOU KIDNAPPED ME! YOU TOOK ME FORM MY FAMILY, MY HOME!”

A beat of silence fell between them. Tense, like a wire pulled too tight. Marks face wasn’t angry but it was cold and William stopped breathing fearing that he’d gone too far. Still covered in the blood of defenceless people Mark looked absolutely terrifying. He could lash out and crush his skull at any second if he wanted and there was nothing William could do to stop him. He was stupid to forget that even for a second.

Then his face softened “Look at you, you’re a mess” He took Williams hand and pulled him to his feet clearly intending to ignore what had just been said. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up” He practically dragged him to the bathroom. He reached down and grabbed the hem of William’s shirt pulling it off then went for his belt.

“What are you doing!?! GET OFF!” He tried to push Mark off but he was far too weak.

“You’re covered in blood, you need a shower”

“I can do it myself!” No way was he going the let Mark undress him.

“Stop being silly, you could be concussed. Here just let me help you” The belt was off and he was now unzipping his fly.

“Please…” He looked up and the pleading look in Williams eyes felt like a spear through his hart. Why was he feeling guilty? He was only doing what he knew was best. But still, he moved his hands away.

After a long minute of silence William let out a shaky breath and moved his hands to his waist band slowly pulling down his trousers. Feeling exposed he climbed into the shower.

“You’ve still got your boxers on?” He looked disappointed. William just gave him an intense look and stayed silent. “…Suit yourself” He then pulled off his hero costume and boxers moving into to the shower to.

“What are yo- get out!” He tried pushing Mark out of the shower with no success. Mark only chuckled then twisted him around pining his chest to the wall with his large body. He tried to move away but was stuck in place as the water started falling down on them. Mark took a squirt of shampoo in his hand and massaged it into William’s hair humming a happy little tune. So mush contact made William’s skin crawl.

They stayed close like that for a while until the water had all turned clear and every trace of blood was washed away down the drain. Just when he thought they’d be able to get out Mark buried his face in Williams shoulder. It was hard to tell in the shower but he was pretty sure he was crying. What reason did that bastard have to cry?

“I’ve missed *sob* you so much” He planted a light kiss on his skin. “Please… tell me you missed me to”

He didn’t know what to say. They’d only met today. “I’m not your dead boyfriend…” There was no reaction, it was clear he wouldn’t be allowed to leave until he said it. “I… missed you…to” The words sounded very forced. They left a disgusting taste in his mouth but he just wanted to get out of this shower.

“Don’t worry, we’ll never be apart again” Mark whispered it into his temple like it was supposed to make him feel better but it did the exact opposite. With one last kiss Mark climbed out the shower and threw on some shorts and a T-shirt. William hadn’t realised how much he was being crushed until his lungs could fully inflate again and some light bruising flowered across his chest. Looking at Mark made him feel disgusted but he followed him out anyway.

He rapped a towel around himself and reached for his clothes but Mark kicked them away out of reach. “Those are dirty, here put these on” He handed him a fresh set of his own clothes. No way he was wearing Marks clothes.

“I want mine” That shirt was Ricks and he wasn’t about to let his last connection to him go.

“Will, there covered in blood, you can’t wear these”

“I don’t care! I want to keep them”

Mark looked exasperated for a moment then his face turned more devilish and with a smirk he picked up William’s clothes and began to pull.

“WAIT STOP!” But it was too late the fabric tore with a deafening rip and dropped to the floor. What had that FUCKER done!

“There, now you can’t wear them anyways” He said it with the smuggest grin imaginable. William dropped to his knees but before he could pick up the tatters of the shirt Mark grabbed them.

“Get dressed, I’ll just go throw these out” and like that he sped out the room leaving him alone in the room.

Why was he being so cruel? He was supposed to love William but it certainly didn’t feel that way. It felt like he was a dog’s favourite chew toy.

Mark won, and William put on the clothes being a pare of navy joggers and jumper plus a white T-shirt. All much too big. But mark had made a mistake. He’d left him alone and if he thought William was just going to say put then maybe he didn’t know him so well after all.

With this opportunity and his hart in his mouth, he slipped out the door starting down the hallway. Peering down the stairs it looked like the path to the front door was empty so he began to slip down the steps.

He was only a few steps away but was suddenly scooped up and thrown over a shoulder like a sack of flour. It was Mark taking him back to his room. Shit! He was so close.

“Ahh, good, you got dressed” He said plonking him back down on the bed. “I changed the sheets because we got some blood on them” Was he unaware of what William was trying to do or just ignoring it? “Dad made dinner, you should really eat something”

“…I’m not hungry”

“Come on wi-”

“I said I’m not hungry!” He was upset that his chance had been wasted but that wasn’t the reason he was turning down the food. The real reason was that he didn’t want to be in the presence of Omni man who was sitting down stairs, his words still ringing around in his head ‘If he causes to much trouble you’ll have to kill him’. The words replayed in his mind sending a shiver down his spine.

“…Ok” Mark accepted his answer and walked out the room locking the door behind him. He definitely knew what William was trying to do.

***

Nolan was sitting at the table, in font a bowl of paella. Usually he’d never make something so fancy but he was glad Mark was home and wanted to make him something special (well, fly to Spain and get some but it’s the thought that counts). He knew Mark could handle himself but after not hearing from him for several days he got worried the rebels had done something.

But instead he came home carrying his dead boyfriend? That was definitely a bit of a shock. Alternate universe. He didn’t understand why he would go to such lengths for such a lowly creature. Or at least he wanted to pretend he didn’t. Because he felt that same way about someone, his beloved wife. Debbie…

Just as he was about to continue that thought Mark sat down in front of him. They were both silent for a moment though nether really knew why.

“So alternate universe hay?” Nolan prompted Mark to tell him more.

“Yeah, this man had it out for me in some alternate dimension or whatever so he got a bunch of other mes together to destroy everything” Mark was practically wolfing down dinner.

“What was it like?”

“Pretty boring really… the Mark from there, he… didn’t listen to his dad… protected the earth” It was said with a great caution like he was felling his way out in the dark.

Nolan was very grateful not to have a child like that, his son had always been relatively obedient always trying to get his father’s approval.

…Or at least he did.

It was finally time to take over the plant after years of waiting all he had left to do was to show Mark the way.

But he was resisting.

“There still people dad!” Mark was pleading for him to stop his rampage but Nolan new beater. They were weak so their deaths held no real weight in the world. He just had to make Mark see that. As Cecil sent more pathetic attempts to stop him the collateral damage was massive. Not that he particularly cared.

Mark was busy saving civilians from falling rubble and moving them a safe distance away.

“All this effort, and for what. There lifespans are so short anyway it hardly matters when they die” Mark was wasting his time for nothing.

He was busy fighting of some more reanimen, smashing them through an apartment block not caring if the structure stayed standing, until he heard an inconsolable cry below from his son. Glancing down he saw his son speeding towards the other side of the battlefield  beneath him. He floated down to find Mark on his knees rocking a broken body in his arms, tears carving their way down his face. His breaths were ragged and shallow, eyes panicked and red. He was in quite a state. Nolan recognised the body as Marks boyfriend.

“God *sob* please Will, wake up! I can’t live without you *sob* I can’t do this alone” His voice broke around the words like glass. He looked absolutely pitiful on the floor like that but it was exactly what Mark needed. Because after that he didn’t feel like he had anything left to fight for. He’d seen how easily humans beak and how it could happen in instant. How little the world changed after, it practically didn’t matter.

Mark had joined his farther after that but he never truly forgave Nolan for being the reason for Williams death. This morning seeing him again smiling with that lopsided grin of his was the first time he’d seen Mark so happy since it happened.

“So now I’ve got him back we’ll have to start locking the doors in case he tries getting outside and gets hurt. He’s pretty scared right now but I just have to show him why he should love me again.” Mark ramble on, Nolan didn’t particularly care what he did with the boy now but he pretended to listen for his son’s sake.

Anyway, maybe it would be nice to have someone else around the house. Things had gotten so quiet since Debbie…

***

Back upstairs William was looking out of the window in the locked room. The immediate neighbourhood was very peaceful and quiet but he could see a fire raging off in the distance smoke billowing like an angry cloud. No doubtably the handy work of the two Viltrimites down stairs.

He looked down, the drop was quite far but it definitely wouldn’t kill him. Was he stupid or brave? Maybe a bit of both but he had to try. He was just about to hook his foot over the windowsill when one arm wrapped around his waist pilling him flush against a chest. It almost gave him a hart attack. The contact made him feel sick.

“The view is beautiful isn’t it” Mark whispered lovingly in his ear.

“…uh…yeah” What did he want him to say?

“I brought you some food, you should eat”

“I told you, I’m not hungry”

“…please” He sent the plate of paella down on the night stand. “It’s going to get cold”

“I don’t care” He wouldn’t eat anything that this mad man tried to feed him. William had been relatively combative so far and it wasn’t impossible that Mark had put something in the food to make him relax.

“In that case I think we should go to bed then” Mark climbed into the double bed and pulled back the covers, patting the empty space next to him gesturing for William to come lay next to him.

Mark was crazier than he thought if he actually thought William would crawl into bed with him! Not wanting to be manhandled again he just stood there not sure what to say but certain not getting in that bed.

“Get in… I don’t bite” He said with a sad looking smile.

“I’m not sleeping next to you” William deadpanned.

“Come on you’re already in my clothes” That made William want to rip them off but he didn’t. He snatched a pillow off the bed in response lying down on the floor. “You’re being a bit ridiculous don’t you think” Mark sounded amused but a sadness undercut his words.

“Good night.” He was putting an end to this conversation.

“…Good night”

It took a long while for him to get off to sleep but eventually the pain, the panic and the anger was all drowned out by a need to sleep and he was pulled under.

Chapter Text

***

William was being taken from him by that lovesick psycho.

“MARK” William was screaming for him but what could he do? He was pined in place by 3 very strong versions of himself holding his arms to his side. No matter how hard he struggled they didn’t move an inch.

“OH GOD please help me!” There was no one who could help William now and that thought filled him with a great despair. He thrashed violently anyway, any attempt to get his friend back. They had always been together, since they were children. When Mark was bullied for being a late bloomer at school William stood by him. When William first came out and people stopped talking to him Mark would always be right there with him. They helped each other through messy breakups and stupid fights with their parents. He’d always been right there. The thought of him being gone just didn’t make sense in his mind.

Mark tried kicking and waving around his head, hoping to hit something but he was hurting himself more than the variants.

“Please, tell Rick I love him!” He couldn’t imagine a world without William in it. The despair he felt watching this was crushing. He’d let his friend down royally and just before they were separated forever he called out. “I’m sorry, William!” That didn’t make it better he just needed William to know.

And as the portal closed shut, the sadness he was feeling shifted into something darker. His despair cracked into anger, a rage that drowned him. “BRING HIM BACK!” His scream was deafening. “I SWEAR TO GOD I’LL KILL YOU! BRING HIM BACK, DO YOU HEAR ME!” He thrashed harder knocking everyone off balance.

All he got in response was a smug chuckle from Angstrom. “Oh please, he deserved it. Calling out for a murderer, a monster! He’s just as rotten as the rest of you”

“RIGHT, NOW can we have our dimensions!?!” The version of himself with the Mohawk sounded impatient.

“Like I said, when I’ve destroyed Invincible” He said in a stern voice.

“That is not what we agreed on” The Omni Man look alike said firmly.

“Just give us our dam dimensions already!” The bratty voice came from the variant with a Viltrumite symbol on his shoulder.

“Alright, I’ll put it like this, give us what we came for or we’ll kill you” Those words belonged to a sinister feeling version of himself dressed in yellow and black.

“Don’t be stupid dumbass, if we kill him well be stuck in this shit hole, well just torture you instead” Came from the Mohawk Mark.

The variants let go of him and all flew directly at Angstrom. Mark ,still furious, joined them in their charge. But as they flew green portals ripped open in front of them. The Variants tried to stop but were to slow and flew right in but Mark had fought him before and knew exactly how to evade his tricks. Getting in close his hand wrapped tightly around Angstroms throat and knocked him off his platform. They slammed to the ground and Angstroms lips were turning blue.

“BRING HIM BACK” It didn’t sound like his voice anymore but it commended a great respect. He was fully prepared to crush his wind pipe right there and then if he didn’t do what Mark wanted. Just as it looked like he was about to open the portal he wanted there was a voice behind him.

“Come on Mark! Get him!” Looking behind him Oliver was barrelling towards them. Angstrom got a devilish grin as a portal opened up in front of Oliver who definitely wouldn’t be able to stop fast enough. Time stopped and his brain worked overtime. He knew what decision he had to make, and it made him feel sick.

He had to drop Angstrom so he could move fast enough to grab Oliver bringing him to a full stop. Looking back Angstrom was already disappearing into a green light. Mark sped over reaching out his hand but he wasn’t nearly quick enough and with him was every chance of ever seeing William again was gone.

What struck first wasn’t anger or sadness like last time but a hollowness in his chest like he couldn’t believe what had just happened. William… was really gone. It didn’t seem possible.

“Mark?..” A small voice came from behind him.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!” He screamed at the small figure looking up at him. “WHY DID YOU COME HERE!?!”

“I’m sorry, did I do something wrong?” Oliver looked on the verge of tears fidgeting with his gloves.

“WHY DID YOU-” His voice cracked into a broken sob “-come here” More sobs followed as he fell down to his knees and buried his face in his hands.

…

Mark was groggy waking up in a hospital bed, machines beeping around his head. He tried sitting up but sharp pain shot through his body as he realised he had a broken leg and arm wrapped in casts. How had he ended up here? Oh right Conquest had made a rather eventful visit to Earth. The memory of Eve being disemboweled filled him with a sudden deafening panic. Several monitors went off all around him in response. That had got someone’s attention because the door at the end of the room slipped open. To his relief it was Eve safe and sound slipping into the room looking equally relieved to see Mark awake.

“Eve… thank god you’re safe” He let out a deep sigh mostly adjusting to the pain as he sat up.

“You should lie down, you took a pretty bad beating” She placed a hand gently on his chest, the touch was comforting.

As they lay there all the memories started to come back with more clarity. The earth nearly began destroyed by his variants, Eve nearly dying… William.

“It all my fault, Eve” He let out in a shaky voice burying his head in her shoulder. “Williams gone and I wasn’t there to stop it”

“It not your fault, you didn’t know what would happen” She reassured him.

“I didn’t think-”

“It’s ok, we’ll get him back” She cut in softly. Her words were shore but her face betrayed her. It was clear she didn’t believe a word of what she was saying. She was only trying to soothe him by feeding him false hope. Mark wasn’t finding it helpful.

“…Oh god, and I yelled at Oliver. Is he ok?” More guilt just piled on top of him. “I should probably go and apologise” At least there was someone he could make it up to.

“Don’t worry about that, your mum is explaining things to him. Nobody blames you Mark” That wasn’t right, it was his fault.

…

After some conversation with the doctors and Cecil he was discharged. He wouldn’t need much help to heal because he was a Viltramite so here he was sitting in the car driving home with his mother Debbie, Paul, Oliver and Eve. The car was cramped and every time they went over a speed bump it would send jolts of pain from his injuries. No one was saying anything.

“I’m sorry Oliver, I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It wasn’t you I was angry at” He couldn’t bring himself to look at the small boy sitting next to him.

“Who were you mad at?” The question sounded so innocent. Who was he mad at? Angstrom? Maskless? Himself. He didn’t answer.

“Mum is it ok if you… drop me of by the university?”

“Honey you hurt! We should take you home” Debbie sounded really worried.

“Please mum, there’s something I have to do…”

“It’ll be alright, I’ll go with him” Eve offered but that wasn’t what Mark wanted. He had to do this himself.

“No, I’d rather do this on my own”

They pulled up outside the university and Mark climbed out. “You have 1 hour then I want you back here, got it?” Debbie sounded stern so Mark agreed and the car pulled away.

There were heroes and civilian volunteers alike clearing the rubble. For every survivor they found, 2 more broken bodies were discovered. Mark felt like an intruder, his copy did this and he was here much too late.

But Mark was here for a reason. Cecil had told him that Rick was using his reaniman strength to try help the survivors… And he had not yet been informed of what happened to William. Mark thought he should tell him himself, he owned William at last that. So here he was wondering through the rubble searching for Rick, looking awfully out of place.

A while of searching later an he saw him in a hi vis working with a superhero to lift a large piece of rubble. Unfortunately what they found underneath was a slurry of  innards which Mark really hoped wasn’t still alive.

“I’m sorry, I just need a minute” Rick said doubling over.

“That’s alright, take as long as you need” The super said reassuringly as Rick walked away.

Recognising the perfect opportunity, Mark followed him behind a relatively standing building watching him crouch down on the floor, then cautiously approached.

“…Hey, Rick” He sounded incredibly somber.

“Mark!” Rick immediately jumped up and closed the distance between them. “Are you ok?!”

“-yeah I’m fine” He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to break the news, he really should have come in with a plan.

“Is William ok!? I couldn’t get a hold of Donald, he’s in one of the GDA hospitals right? After that other you took him I got really worried but if you’re alive it means you won! How’d you get him back?!” He was rambling and Mark didn’t really know how to answer any of these questions. That hopeful smile puling at the corners of his mouth and the wide eyes waiting for an answer made Mark feel like running away and letting someone else do this.

“…uhhh, Rick I think we should sit down” His way of putting of the inevitable. But Rick didn’t sit.

“Did he get hurt bad? Tell me he’s gonna be ok though right?” The worry in his voice shifted to panic.

Ok just rip the bandage off. “He took him”

The small smile didn’t move from Ricks face, but the eyes. It looked like they’d been hollowed out.

“…What?” His voice cracked around the word.

“That other version of me… he took him… back to his dimension” Forcing the words out felt like it’s own sort of fight.

“Well we have to go after him then” It was said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“We can’t…”

“WHY THE FUCK NOT!” This is when Rick snapped but instead of sadness or grief like he was expecting he got angry.

“I-uh well- Angstrom got away, he’s the only who can open the portals” He stuttered out.

Rick began to cry, his breathing becoming ragged. “WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU THEN?! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS FRIEND!” Several sobs raked his body. “WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN DOING?! WHY DIDNT YOU SAVE HIM!” The venom in his voice was bitter and acidic.

“I was… with Eve. She got hurt so we were at the hospital…” His voice came out small. Then out of nowhere a fist collided with his face. With all his injuries and Ricks enhanced strength it really stung but that was nothing compared to how ashamed and pathetic it made him feel. His eyes welled up but he couldn’t cry, not now, he didn’t deserve it. But Rick was crying, tears fell to the ground like a rainstorm.

“GET HIM BACK!” Rick demanded and he wished he could. Another punch rained down on him and another and another, Mark just took them. “WHY?! WHY HIM! Why did it have to be him!?” Rick cried, crumpling to the ground. Mark leaned down the beast he could to comfort him only to be slapped away. “GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME! IF YOU CANT SAVE HIM WHAT ARE YOU GOOD FOR?!” Nothing. He wasn’t good for anything now. “LEAVE!” All Mark could do was walk away now as Rick cried. He wasn’t wanted here. Even as he looked back and said, “He said he loves you” Rick picked up a brick and threw it at him, it didn’t hurt but it was enough to brake him inside. The broken sobs from behind him sounded like lightning to Mark despite the loud sound of moving rubble downing him out.

He took off into the sky instead of waiting for his mum. He still had one more person he had to talk to. His mother and Eve were sugar coating things, telling him they could get William back when they knew dam well they can’t. Ever since they got together Eve had had trouble telling Mark hard truths like she did before, she’d always find some way to soften the blow. It was something Mark appreciated but right now he needed someone who would tell him the cold hard truth.

…

He ‘stealthily’ touched down outside of Ambers parents house and knocked on the door. Who he recognised as Ambers mother opened the door, she looked very surprised to see him.

“Mark? Oh god, are you alright?!” She grabbed his hands and helped him inside.

“I’m alright, thank you. Is there any chance I could talk to amber?”

“Yes of course, she’s just upstairs in her room”

“Thank you” he said as he hobbled up the stairs. Then came a knock on Amber’s room.

“Come in” she called through the door and he did. The look of sheer shock on her face was a little amusing after everything. “Oh my god! Mark! Are you ok?!” She said running over and pulling him inside the room.

“Don’t worry! I’m fine, I’m fine” He insisted.

“What are you doing here?” She asked with a head tilt.

“I mostly came here for advice… and I wanted to apologise”

“Apologies? For what?” She sounded confused.

“I…” He was gonna have to tell her what happened. “When all those other me’s came here to destroy everything… we’re exes, any one of them could have had it out for you. Or worse want to take you away” Amber looked uncomfortable no longer meeting him in the eye. “I got detracted after Eve got hurt-”

“Eves hurt!” She interrupted with urgency.

“She’s ok now, but I forgot the people closest to me, I forgot how vulnerable you were…”

Meeting his eye again she said in a serious tone, “You’re right, that is pretty bad…” Now in a lighter tone, “you’re lucky I could fight them all off, about 10 were here trying to get with me but I showed them not to mess with me” The joke made him giggle, the lightest he’d felt since everything happened. “But seriously, I hope you’ve learned your lesson about forgetting about us, you’re incredibly lucky that nothing bad happened to any of us”

“…Actually…” Admitting to how he’d failed didn’t get easier every time he did it. The suddenly serious and concerned look on Ambers face made his stomach twist. “One of the Vaireants… he was in love with William”

“Jesus Christ! Is he alright?!”

“No.” How was he gonna say this? “He took him… away”

“AWAY?! What does that mean!?”

“Back… to his dimension”

“Well we have to go save him then!” He couldn’t even look her in the eye.

“We can’t, the portals are gone, we can’t get him back” A long heavy silence followed. Then Amber began to sob. Her and William had gotten quite close recently and it was a shock to have her friend ripped away so suddenly. They both sat down on the be with tears on their cheeks.

Then after another long silence she asked “Why? Why would he do that?”

“I think they were in love in his dimension” Love? It almost made things seem silly, less tragic, but only a little.

“What… do you think he’s doing to him?”

The question hung heavy in the air between them. Marks mind began to wander and the things he came up with made him sick to his core. “… Maybe he’s treating him really nicely and they’re very happy…” What he wishes could be true, but seeing the state they left in… probably not.

“…Yeah… maybe…” clearly Amber didn’t want to go into what she was thinking of ether.

“It’s my fault, I forgot about the people who needed me most… that’s why I wanted to say sorry. Because I can’t say sorry to him”

“You’re right, it is your fault… but there’s no use in feeling sorry for yourself. The best thing you can do now is make sure that something like this never happens again”

“What?”

“You said you came here for advice, well here it is, get to work protecting the planet and find a way to bring William home”

“B-but we can’t!”

“Then find a way” She didn’t sound angry but firm. Like it was an order.

Leaving, it was getting dark, and Mark had stopped wondering around in shock now but finally had some sort of purpose again. He’d protected the people he loved with any and all means necessary and he would find a way to open a portal or bring Angstrom here or whatever it took to bring his friend home.

***

Chapter Text

The first thing William felt as he woke up was a soft warmth wrapped around him. The last thing he remembered was drifting off into sleep on the cold hard floor, where was he now? There was a horrible pain in his skull that blurred his thoughts. In his groggy state Williams mind wasn’t keeping up with what was happening. There was an arm rapping around him pulling his back flush against a firm chest.

“…Rick?” He whispered. The arm gripped him tighter and that made William’s eyes cautiously open.

“Don’t say that name.” Marks voice, it wasn’t yelling but it was intense. And William realised what had happened, Mark had picked him up off the floor as he slept and tucked him into bed with him. It made William feel sick to know he’d been manhandled by that psycho in his most vulnerable state.

“I told you I wasn’t sleeping next to you!” William yelled as he tried to pull his way out of the bed, but Mark didn’t let him go.

“Would you sleep in bed with him?” The tone was almost accusatory.

“What?! Who?!”

“Rick. Would you get in bed with Rick?” The anger was gone now replaced by hurt and sadness. Mark buried his face in the back of William’s neck and William went very still.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I get in bed with my boyfriend?!” He was out for blood now, at least the figurative kind. This was the only way he could think to hurt Mark back.

Suddenly Mark aggressively flipped him over bringing them face to face. His expression was scary and his grip on William’s forearms was tight. “I’m your boyfriend, me.” He was almost spitting it through gritted teeth. “Could Rick save you from the viltremite invasion? Could Rick give you the whole world on a silver platter!” The yelling made Williams hart stop and made him shut his big mouth. Suddenly the venom from Marks face drained into a slight regret and he pressed their foreheads together. Moving his hand from William’s arm, leaving light bruises, to the back of his head cradling him like he was made of porcelain. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just, I don’t understand why you keep rejecting me. I love you… you just have to let me show you” Williams glair was enough to make him look like a wounded animal. ”I’m your boyfriend now… I can show you how much better I am then him” And Mark leaned in for a kiss.

William slapped his hand over Marks mouth but was being held too tightly to escape. “DON’T YOU DARE”

“What? Scared I’ll be better?” Mark retorted with a devilish grin planting a soft kiss to Williams palm. The sensation was enough for him to snatch his hand away making Marks grin even wider.

“No it’s just, I have a boyfriend and I don’t think he’d like me making out with other men” He said with a bitter sneer. He’d never be beater than Rick and he needed to know that.

Marks smile fell and the sudden change in emotions made William’s stomach twisted. “Why do you keep saying that?” He sounded on the verge of tears.

“Saying what? That I’m not your boyfriend, because he’s dead.” He spat. William knew it wasn’t the smartest thing to say but he couldn’t help himself through his anger.

Marks grip on the back of his head became almost painful like he was planning to rip his hair out. “I know you’re not the same William I lost, I’m not an idiot. But you’re still the man I love, whatever dimension you come from, however… misguided you are”

Love? What a fucking joke. People who love someone don’t force them to take showers together or wear their clothes or kiss them!

William had nothing to say so they both just lay there in silence, the morning sun warming their faces.

That was until a distinctive rumbling came from his stomach and Mark sat up climbing his way out of bed. “Come on you must be hungry, let’s get you some breakfast” William was slowly getting used to conversations being unpredictable and Mark making complete U turns when things weren’t going his way. It was still a little jarring though, to go from raging anger to doting boyfriend within seconds was deeply unnatural.

“I’m still not hungry” That was a lie, he hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning but the fact that Omni Man was out there was enough to keep him in bed for the foreseeable future.

“Come on, don’t be silly” Mark said as he grabbed William’s hand, pulling him to his feet. Practically dragging him to the bathroom William was afraid he would be forced into another shower. To his relief instead of turning on the water Mark grabbed 2 toothbrushes and handed one to him. But the brush in his hand had clearly been used and there was no chance he was putting that in his mouth. So he started looking through the cabinets for a fresh one to Marks grate confusion. “What are you doing?”

“Why did you give me a used one? That’s disgusting”

“Disgusting? It’s your toothbrush” He said sounding amused.

…He knew Mark meant the other him. Before now that other William just existed as a concept in his mind, but seeing the faded bristles of the toothbrush he used forced him to acknowledge the humanity of that other him. For the first time he really wandered what his and Marks relationship what like. Was Mark always such a psycho or did he only become like this after his death?

“Mark…did that other… me… love you back?” It was probably a pretty stupid question to ask, Mark hadn’t ‘explicitly’ hurt him… yet. But there was no proof that he wouldn’t. He ‘seemed’ gentle but was William knew he was anything but. Anyway the chance of getting the truth out of him was so low it definitely wasn’t worth the risk. Still he wanted to know how Mark saw things, how he saw William, what he’d say.

Mark looked dumbfounded. “What kind of question is that?! Of course he loved me! And so do you!” Another silence followed, it wasn’t filled with anger but with hurt. Not wanting to upset Mark any further he decided to just use the toothbrush and get it over with. That seemed to make Mark very happy.

Once they were done Mark took his hand and interlaced their fingers. “Let’s go down stairs, I’ll make some eggs” And William, despite his resistance, was pulled down the stairs. To his relief the rooms were empty and he sat down at the kitchen island feeling very out of place. Mark got to frying some eggs, and William kept giving nervous glances to the stairs holding his breath every time he heard movement from the floor above.

“Walla” The eggs were placed in front of him looking slightly chard round the edges. “Sorry… my mum used to be the one to do this sort of stuff. I’m still learning” He let out a chuckle but William just looked unimpressed. He wouldn’t be charmed by Marks sweet naivety. But after everything he’d been through his head still throbbed and he was emotionally exhausted. Too tired to fight anymore he took the knife and fork and tucked in. Mark was very happy with his cooperation and sat opposite just watching him eat. He had a stupidly in love smile on his face that made him look like an idiot. It made William very uncomfortable. It wasn’t comfort but it was peaceful and right now that was all William could really ask for.

That was until they both heard heavy footsteps on the stairs.  William wiped around seeing Omni Man already in his suit, Mark on the other hand seemed to have no reaction and only spared a glance before looking back at William. Then Nolan casually sat at the kitchen island and poured himself a bowl of cereal like nothing was wrong. Even his presence made William shrink in his chair, just thinking ‘please don’t look at me, please don’t look at me’.

“You’re not dressed, Mark” He was more observing than annoyed but still carrying an authority like you needed to change that.

“I was actually thinking of staying home, just until William is settled-” Mark was abruptly cut off.

“I said you could keep him, not that you could forget your responsibilities. Don’t let him become a distraction or I’ll have to get rid of him. Alright?” The sternness was enough to shake even Mark who usually seemed unbothered by Nolan’s threats of violence. ‘Get rid of him’ was more than enough to get William shaking in fear, cold sweat running down his back. Clearly Nolan intended to kill him rather than let him go free. Seeing Williams fearful state Mark didn’t argue only disappearing and reappearing incredibly fast in the Invincible costume. Nolan stepped outside into the back garden and took off into to the air.

“Ok, I shouldn’t be back too late so you’ll only be on your own a couple of hours. Make sure you eat and rest up that foot ok?” It was posed as a question but William knew it was more of an order so he gave a small, submissive nod and Mark joined his father in the sky…

The second he was alone William jumped up with no regard for that foot Mark seemed so worried about. He was stupid if he thought William would just sit around the house all day waiting for him to come home. Despite them being gone his hart didn’t stop racing for some time.

First he checked all the doors but predictably they were all locked with no keys in sight. But the Graysons household wasn’t known for shutting windows and much like in his own dimension one push was enough to open them up. Looking back it made sense they didn’t worry about break-ins with the two strongest people on the planet living in the house.

The light breeze felt like heaven on his face and for the first time in 2 days he smiled a lot like Mark had been, looking stupid.

But he couldn’t make a break for it just yet, there was still something he had to do.

Clambering over the sink he made it outside and headed straight for the bins. Opening up the top it was disgusting. Food looked like it been sitting there for weeks and mould had started crawling up the sides. And non of that matched the smell of it making his eyes water. But that didn’t matter because sitting in the middle of the mess were 2 halves of a red, blood stained UU T-shirt.

He snatched them up and crawled back inside. Probably looked insane to the neighbours… do they still have neighbours? It looked like the two Viltramites were conquering the earth in this dimension so he wandered if anyone still lived in this untouched neighbourhood. Maybe they killed them all and cleaned up? But there were still well maintained cars in the driveways and the grass seemed freshly mowed. Maybe people do live here? Maybe they could help? He debated going over but Mark would probably just kill them when he got home. More than being useless it would put blood on his hands which William did not want.

Banishing the foolish idea from his mind he chucked the pieces of cloth in the washing machine and got to rummaging through the cabinets. There were caned and instant foods also a lot of junk food. There were also cleaning supplies and for a moment he took the bleach in his hand and considered putting it in Marks drink later. William committing murder? That was laughable and certainly not going to happen. He put it back.

Looking upstairs he found nothing useful so only returned downstairs with a backpack and began shovelling the canned foods into it.

The washing machine beeped signalling it was finished and the cloth went into the tumble dryer.

Now, where did Mark put that first aid kit? He couldn’t find it in any of the rooms, well any except one. He didn’t dare go into Nolan’s room scared that if he went in, Omni Man would notice the air had been breathed or something.

The tumble dryer was done quickly and he next found out a sowing kit to start mending it. Now his hart was slowing down as he began to stich his last piece of Rick and his old life back together. His movements started slow and mathematical but the stitching got messier and rushed as the reality of the situation really started to invade his mind.

Things were looking rather bleak. He didn’t have any shoes or clothes of his own and if Mark found this shirt he’d probably burn it next time -he clutched the fabric a little tighter-. He was outmatched in every way so fighting was impossible. Tracing the dark marks left along his chest, up his arms and across his head he realised resting was only getting Mark to hurt him more. But still, the idea of just letting Mark just do whatever he wanted with him made him sick enough fighting was possibly worth the pain. He’d always been a bit of a wuss when it came to throwing punches but being Marks obedient little house wife was a step too far.

He had food and he had a way out. If he could just find a superhero while Mark and Nolan were gone they could help him… But what would he do after that? He was still a whole dimension away from home with no way back. The despair started to rise in his chest again and his breathing became ragged. Would his own Mark come for him? It had been a day, why has the fight with angstrom taken so long? Was Mark coming? His chest got tight and his hart started to hurt. He couldn’t be stuck here, Mark had to be coming! Picturing the vast, insurmountable distance between him and his friend finally got him to be sick. This didn’t help his rising panic and in fact made his head start to spin. The little food he had eaten was on the living room floor. shit! Marks not gonna be happy! He tried getting up to clean it but through his panic he’d stopped breathing who knows how long ago. The blood all drained from his head and he slammed to his knees. Shit, shit! SHIT! He couldn’t let Mark find him like this.

He WOULD find a way home! He didn’t care how impossible  it seemed.

But the idea of never seeing his parents again never seeing Amber again, Rick being all on his own. It was all too much, no amount of positive thinking could clear his head of the possibility he was stuck here. Despite his desperate attempts for air his throat closed up.

He pictured what his life might look like now, seeing Mark use his body however he saw fit. It made his eyes water and he began to violently shake.

Eventually all the horrible thoughts ran too fast and it just became static in his head. He couldn’t pick a single thought out of the whirlwind and just lay immobilised for who knows how long.

After so long of not being able to think, a couple thoughts started to surface. ‘He’d coached Rick through many panic attacks and PTSD episodes’. ‘He never knew this is what it felt like though and felt horrible Rick had to deal with this all the time’. He would always get him to count his breaths as William rubbed his back.

But he was on his own now so instead he buried his face in the t-shirt and pretended it was Ricks chest. It was nice, a comfort. Despite the night in the bin and a go in the washing machine it still smelled of Rick, of home. His one comfort in this chaotic house.

The aftermath of his panic attack left him feeling fragile and helpless. His legs still shook and there was a pain in his lungs. Running now would be foolish the best thing he could do was clean up then find a good place to hide for when the two men got home until they left again.

Settling in, he was tucked in a crawl space at the back of the attic. It was cramped and uncomfortable but would do until they left again. The t-shirt was safely tucked between the sofa and cushions and the bag was hidden behind the bins outside. Hopefully they wouldn’t be found.

Everything was almost painfully quiet until the sound of the door opening and closing could be heard from downstairs. Two pairs of feet walking around made Williams blood run cold.

Chapter Text

***

Mark had been spending the day destroying  Ottawa to pressure the Canadian prime Minister into disbanding there military. The Canadian armed forces had been a real thorn in there side since they started conquering the planet. Always showing up to evacuate civilians giving the people hope of resistance. It was ridiculous, no one could resist.

He didn’t particularly care to hurt these people but it was necessary. Their lives only held value in the fact there deaths would lead to an easier conquest. So there he was tearing through men, woman and, children separating heads from bodies as his father held Mark Carney ,the Canadian Prime Minister, on top a tall building forcing him to watch.

The military was there raining bullets on them giving the civilians a far more merciful death than Mark would. Every time he got close to someone a bullet would take them out almost instantaneously. It was a real pain, the humans must be desperate to kill off their own. Why were they still fighting the inevitable?

While he was about to go after the tanks and guns something exploded right in his face stunning him for a moment. That moment was enough because just then a large pink spear hit him so hard from the back he flew forward into the base of an apartment block. Crawling out of the rubble he saw a few members of the rebellion “ugh, just great”

Atom Eve, Rexplode and, the Immortal were sanding in fighting stances around him. “Buddy, where you been? We’ve been missing you” Rex said. The obvious sarcasm stung a little, he’d found himself quite fond of Rex before his take over even considering them friends. Even though they were now on opposite sides, and Rex was being an idealistic idiot, Mark still enjoyed there occasional witty banter.

But not today, Mark didn’t really have the patience for this, he needed to get home for William as soon as possible. He sped over about to take Rex’s neck in his hand and crush it but the Immortal hit him with a devastating right hook that through him into the sky. Eve surrounded him with a pink wall so he couldn’t escape but he punched through it with relative ease and floated back down above them. “Stand down Invincible, there’s no need to get civilians involved” Eve commanded with authority. It was funny. She called him Invincible not Mark. He was using her own trick, one would think she would figure it out but she didn’t expect her grief stricken regular best friend to be conquering the planet so she didn’t see him, no one did. Only saw Invincible.

“I don’t have time for you today, so just leave before I kill you” He wasn’t yelling or commending just saying it like the fact it was.

But of course, they didn’t listen and rushed him. Mark punched the Immortal straight through his chest. His hot blood sticking all up his arm. Mark lowered his arm and the Immortal slid right off and fell to the ground. Meanwhile Eve had materialised an enormous almost mountain of lead right over Marks head. Foolishly he’d been scanning the ground for Rex and didn’t notice until he was pinned to the ground by its crushing weight. He could feel Rex charging the mound above him, idiots probably thought they won but Mark knew better. He began to stand supporting the led with his shoulders.

“Rex now!” Eve commanded. He’d make her regret that. His reaction time was quicker than Rex’s so responding first he chucked the bomb directly into a building almost overflowing with refugees he’d displaced. Rex was already igniting the rock and it was too late to turn back now. The entire building was enveloped in a ball of blinding light. There was barely any time for anyone to scream before they were drowned out. The sound was ear splitting leaving a ringing in everyone’s heads. Mark didn’t flinch, didn’t react. There deaths would certainly mean something now and that made Mark feel the slightest bit of pride.

“NOOO” Eves scream ripped through the air. Seeing someone he considers a friend in so much anguish was almost enough for him to feel guilty…

“YOU CRAZY FUCKER!” Rex roared and they both charged him.

He picked up the Immortals corpse and used it as a shield bearing the brunt of Eves attacks and getting blood everywhere. Rex always was a brash idiot and decided to get in close. He was chucking several pieces of charged rubble in Marks face. Those dam explosions were always so annoying, something about the sound and the noise really gave him a headache. So he droped the Immortal and grabbed Rex’s arm pulling him high above the ground. Mark lined up a close line that would pulverise Rex’s head and for a moment he was glad Rex wouldn’t know this was his friend. His fearful eyes were still full of an unyielding anger that burned bright. “Do it motherfucker” The venom in his voice was acidic.

“ARHHHHH” Rex screamed out in pain and began to plummet to the ground. A pink projectile had shot through Rex’s arm severing it completely leaving and hand in Marks grip.

Eve was always such a pain to fight, he really wished she would just give up and help him put down this stupid rebellion. But no, here she was catching Rex then speeding off into the distance. Mark didn’t follow, he could have easily caught up. Even he didn’t know why but he stayed put.

“You never seem to really try when it comes to those two” Omni man was hovering behind holding a bloodied leg. He sounded annoyed but beneath that was the clear sound of disappointment. Mark hated disappointing his father.

“I just… I just need more time” He said sheepishly not making eye contact with his dad. “What happened to Carney?” He asked changing the subject.

“Who?” His dad didn’t even bother to learn the name of the man he was threatening. Sometimes Mark wandered if his father’s hart was really in concurring.

“The Prime Minister” Mark deadpanned.

“Oh right, he wasn’t listening so I ripped a leg off. The Canadians shouldn’t be an issue anymore”

Both men discarded their acquired limbs but Mark didn’t start home just yet. He swooped down and picked up the Immortals already mending body. Severing the head from the neck he started to fly home with it.

“What are you doing with those?” Omni man asked flying along side him.

“I-uh-just want to see something” Mark didn’t want to admit what he was really doing with the corpse, afraid of his father’s disapproval. To Marks relief Nolan didn’t press any further. They just flew home in silence.

…

They quietly touched down in the back garden. He knew the body would probably scare William. His sweet boyfriend always had a rather weak stomach. His dad would always joke how he’d have to toughen up if he wanted to be a real doctor but Mark always liked that softness. Agent all his viltramite training, it was something he wanted to protect.

That’s why he stuffed the body in his shed and locked the doors, content to deal with it later.

Down stairs was empty. That’s good it means William must be resting his foot in bed. Maybe he would even let Mark lay down and cuddle with him. Mark greatly missed cuddling with William -at least without him squirming- after his death he’d been having a difficult time sleeping, finding the bed very cold and empty.

But when he walked into the bedroom it was empty to, the bed looked like it hadn’t been touched since this morning.

He stepped out into the hallway “Will, baby?” He called out but got no response…

“Ok nice game but this isn’t funny. Come out, sweetheart” He tried keeping his voice soft but a note of panic was present.

He burst into the bathroom and nothing. His dad’s room and nothing. The attic and nothing.

“William! Where are you?!” Was he hiding? Why would his boyfriend be hiding from him? Maybe he was scared after his dad had said he’d get rid of William if he became a distraction. That was all just talk though, Mark would never let that happen, not again. “Will, please come out, you’re not in trouble! Please just come out!”

Fear started to grip his chest but he knew William couldn’t get outside, all the doors were locked. He just had to calm down and search carefully.

He walked back downstairs to check again. “Dad, I think William is hiding can you help me lo-“ Mid sentence he saw something that made him stop dead in his tracks. The window over the sink was open. “Did you open a window?” His voice was very serious, so much so Nolan looked a little taken aback.

“No.”

SHIT! How could he forget to lock the windows!? He could be anywhere by now!  What if the rebels took him? What if someone mugs him? The world out there is brutal, it’s safe in the house where Mark could protect him!

He sped out the window and bolted into the sky so fast it broke the sound barrier. That would take some explaining to the neighbours but Mark didn’t care, right now his only priority was finding William and bringing him home.

He started to scan the street from above ready so scope him up the second he saw his beloved but there was no sign of him anywhere.

Mark really started panicking now standing still in the sky, hands shaking and eyes wide. “ WILLIAM ” He screamed violently, his voice shaking… nothing.

***

Williams joints were becoming saw. He’d heard a loud crack about 10 minutes ago, it been silence ever since.

He guessed it was safe to make his get away now and crawled back out into the attic. A long stretch gave him the most satisfying ache in his muscles and he let out a small quiet groan.

Next he made his way down the stairs and the house did appear to be empty. He went straight between the sofa cushions and retrieved his shirt replacing the one Mark put him in. It felt nice to be in it again even if it did hang off his shoulders. He put the jumper over the top and zipped it up hiding the shirt.

The window was still open so he crawled out falling face first onto the stone slabs of the garden patio. It didn’t hurt at all and he hadn’t even realised how much adrenaline was pumping through him in the moment.

He retrieved the bag of food from behind the bins and started running to the bottom of the garden.

The grass under his bare feet felt like freedom. Hope that he might really escape put a wide smile on his face. It felt good, really good.

Until it didn’t.

Within an instant something grabbed his ankle and he was wiped upside down.

SHIT! Was Mark back already!? Fuck! How was he gonna explain this!?! Picturing what Mark was about to do to him was immediately followed by extreme regret. “I’m sorry! I won’t run again! I’m sorry, just please don’t hurt me!”

But when the arm lifted him higher he was able to look up and see the irritated face of Omni Man still in his blood stained suit. William shut his mouth not sure what to say. The grip on his ankle becoming so tight he could feel the pain through the adrenaline. “I don’t particularly care about you or what you do, but you make my son very happy” This was said in a calm and respectful manner but suddenly his hand got so tight it felt like his bone might snap and he let out a loud yelp in pain. “And I’m not letting some little brat take that away” Nolan practically spat at him, his irritation becoming anger.

“I’m s-sorry, I-I won’t run again” William pleaded trying to reach for his ankle that was making a worrying creaking sound.

“No. You won’t.” There were no more warnings. No mercy. Nolan’s hand became a fist around his leg completely snapping the bone and turning the foot 150° the wrong way round.

“ARRHHHHH” A deafening scream ripped through his chest sending several birds flying. The pain was like nothing he’d ever felt before. It was like his leg was on fire and electricity was shooting up his nerves banishing all coherent thoughts from his mind. Tears carved their way down his cheeks. He let out several more screams and cry’s, thrashing trying to kick at Nolan wrist. It did nothing.

Slowly looking up he saw something white and jagged jutting out the side of his leg covered in something red that was dripping down hitting him in the face.

He was shaking and so so afraid of what Nolan would do next. He could rip his leg off or just straight up kill him. William wasn’t proud of what he did next but the fear that gripped him was primal and desperate. “ MARRRK! ” He didn’t want his help, but at the same time he desperately wanted Mark to come and save him. Any version of Mark.

CRASH

A cloud of dirt rippled over the garden and Marks voice called out form behind him. “William!”

He ran over and took William from Nolan and held him in a bridal carry. The sudden movement made him let out a short deep scream.

“Will, baby? What happened?!” Mark sounded very worried, and to Williams great relief, not angry.

“I caught him trying to run off… that shouldn’t be an issue any more” Nolan chuckled. That made William want to lunge at him. Mark on the other hand didn’t yell or defend William but he didn’t exactly look approving of this course of action either.

“…Thank you” Marks voice was small and ashamed but it sounded genuinely grateful, wich broke William’s hart slightly. Of course he was grateful for this grotesque act of violence. Mark started to walk them back into the house and William struggled to get put down but any movement felt like his flesh was ripping and his whole leg was burning. He took one last breath of the outside air knowing he probably wouldn’t breath it again for quite some time. That thought filed him with a deep grief that made him want to thrash through the pain, but he just couldn’t do it instead shaking in his captors arms sobbing and crying. He felt pathetic but didn’t have the strength to care.

Mark started walking up the stairs and every step irritated William wound. Hearing his groans and cry’s Mark took to flying him up instead.

He lay William gently down on the bed and kissed his sweat drenched forehead.

William let out shaky and ragged breaths whimpering loudly.

“Shhh, sweetheart. I know it hurts, I know” Mark comforted softly. He then gave William a sympathetic look “I need to put your foot back so it can heal properly, okay?” That made William’s entire body freeze up for a couple of seconds. He made a stupid move to try crawl away but immediately gave up with a long scream and many hot tears when his ankle shifted.

“Please don’t” He begged in a broken voice. He knew they couldn’t just leave it but was deadly afraid and couldn’t handle any more pain. “Please! I need a hospital!” Yelling wasn’t going to help but he needed to break through Marks calm exterior and make him see how desperate the situation had become.

“It’ll be ok Will, I’ll take good care of you” Was Mark some sort of idiot to think he was safer than a hospital or was he just being purposefully cruel.

William didn’t have the strength to fight back as Mark took his ankle in his hand, he could only cry louder as his body shook more violently. Mark supported his heal in one hand and took the end of his foot in another. “Take a deep breath for me, ok.” William didn’t as he was told.

There was no more talking just a deafening crack as his foot span in an unnatural way.

“ARRRRAHHHHH” He just kept screaming but the longer it went on for the more apparent it was that it didn’t help. Loud sobbing came next but that didn’t last long as the room became fuzzy and even his own cry’s sounded like they were far away. He fizzled out into silence as his vision went black. There was one small moment of acknowledgement that he was passing out before he was gone.

…

He vaguely found himself coming too. A strong pain like being stabbed with a red hot poker pulsed up his leg like a hart beat. He wanted to yell or scream but a tiredness was weighing down on his chest so that only quiet tears came out.

He opened his eyes and looked around to see Mark down the end of the bed wrapping his foot tight with some bandages like that would be enough. Blood still trickled out his open wound but the jagged bone was gone, presumably back in his leg, it’s not like William could tell.

He shortly realised the more intense moments of pain was Mark pulling the bandages tighter and he tried to pull his leg away but the movement was only small and weak.

Noticing the twitch Mark looked up to see William awake and staring at him, that got a small relieved smile. “Thank god you’re awake, I was really worried”

Not worried enough to take him to a hospital though obviously. He tried to ask for a doctor again but all that came out was a pathetic wimpier.

Mark was speedy to finish tending to the wound and William thought it funny, in a bitter sort of way, how that had become a theme for them since getting here.

Then William got a spike of anxiety as Mark lay down next to him and took him in his arms.

He knew he should want to fight but he just didn’t. All he wanted was to be comforted. It didn’t matter who it came from he just longed to be held. William felt dirty and ashamed to do it but he couldn’t help himself from burying his face in Marks chest and cry as Mark rubbed his back and cradled his head.

“Morphine…” William said in a tiny shaking voice, almost a whisper.

Mark leaned back to look into William’s tear stained face. “What?”

“Please… Morphine… for the pain" He begged.

Mark looked away no longer able to meet Williams eye. He had a guilty look on his face. “Will… look I hate seeing you in pain. This hurts me more than it hurts you” William knew he wasn’t getting any pain relief but couldn’t figure out why Mark was doing all this. Did he get off on hurting William or something? “But this is what it’s like when you run away. This world is so brutal… I’ve always been to soft on you, gave you stupid ideas. Putting yourself in danger” What was he talking about? How was this gonna help!? “You need to learn. It’s for your own good”

“Fuck you” He wanted to sound angry but he didn’t he just sounded sad and defeated.

“Just try and get some sleep” It was a soft request and they snuggled together on the bed for the rest of the night. William wasn’t anticipating sleep.

Chapter Text

The night was rough. William and Mark continued to cuddle. Mark fell asleep after a couple of hours looking quite content, William on the other hand couldn’t even feel sleepy through all the pain. Cold sweat drenched every part of his body. The burning sensation shot up his body every time Marks breathing shifted the mattress. His whimpering became silent tears but not from lessening pain just giving up.

Several times in the night he had to puke but not able to leave the bed he could only throw up on himself. It was hot and smelt awful but there was nothing he could do but lie down in it.

Hours passed and not much changed, the morning sun peeked through the curtains and birds sang like there was nothing wrong in the world just out side the window.

He didn’t really feel like he was present anymore just a slab of meat experiencing stimulation.

Eventually Marks eyes fluttered open and he sat up. Looking down, he seemed horrified seeing the state William was in like it wasn’t HIS fault. Staring down it looked like he was stuck in a memory he couldn’t escape.

He couldn’t see himself but he imagined he looked dreadful. “Oh god, look at you!” He sounded slightly hysterical. It felt slightly vindicating to see how guilty Mark looked after what he’d done. “Let’s get you cleaned up” He tried picking him up but that just triggered an unbearable pain and a shrill scream. Mark immediately placed him back down looking extremely guilty and ashamed. “…I think you’ve learnt your lesson… I’ll go get some Morphine” he said it so quietly it was barely audible like he didn’t want anyone to hear what he’d done. He left out the window like some sick joke leaving William alone.

It felt horrible to be all by himself. He should have felt good to have that monster leave him alone but all he longed for was Mark to come back and hold him again, tell him everything was going to be ok.

Shortly Mark returned and William reached out to him feeling desperate to be comforted again. Mark seemed overjoyed to have William want for him but was clearly trying to hide it. He took Williams hand in his own and sat down beside him on the bed. He planted a gentle kiss to the back of his hand. “I’ve got some Morphine for you darling” He held out a small box and handed it to William. He probably thought he was being some amazing boyfriend and not the pice of shit that he was. But still William needed it more than he needed to fight right now.

“Thank you” He felt so weak even speaking made him want to throw up. He took a syringe filled with liquid out the box. After a year of premed he knew how to do this well. With a shaking hand he stuck it in his carotid artery and injected. The relief was almost instant, his entire body relaxed and the tears turned from pain to bliss.

“There you go, feeling better?” Mark asked rubbing his back. William didn’t respond. He felt disgusted with himself for letting Mark touch him this way. But what was fighting gonna do? Only hurt more. This was better. He’ll let himself be looked after now but his complacency certainly wouldn’t last. “Come on, you’re a mess. Let’s take a shower” He picked William up and carried him to the bathroom then set him down on the floor.

William didn’t really want to let him take his clothes off but he figured it would feel even worse to undress himself in front of Mark. He didn’t want to give the impression he wanted this in any way.

Mark stated with unzipping the jumper but half way down he froze in his tracks. William was confused looking up at his shocked face, he looked down at himself and froze to. Shit. As he looked down the red of Ricks shirt starred back at him.

They were both quiet, waiting for the other to say something. What was he meant to say? He tried crawling away but his back hit the wall. “I-I” He couldn’t think of anything to say. Paralysed in fear of what horrible punishment Mark would think up next his legs started to shake.

But Mark didn’t say anything. Just moved over and continued to undress him slowly. He grabbed the hem of the shirt and pulled it over Williams head. While Mark pulled it away the fear was momentarily drowned out and William reached out and grabbed it. The both of them stopped again not sure where to go from there. Mark tried to pull on it gently but William didn’t let go.

“…It’s got sick on it, Will”

Williams grip only got tighter. Tears welled in his eyes. “Please don’t throw it away” He was desperate.

Mark looked down at him but instantly turned his head away. There was a long pause and he thought it was about to be torn to pieces again. Until Mark asked an odd question. “Did my dad do that to you?” He sounded reluctant to ask.

William looked down at himself and realised what he meant. The bruising across his chest from there last shower had turned deep and purple. His arm where Mark has grabbed him and flipped him over wasn’t fairing much better. It was obvious Mark knew it wasn’t Nolan but he wanted to deny it anyway. This was the perfect chance to shove it back in his face. “No. You did.” He said bitterly.

Mark looked like he’d been slapped in the face. He seemed on the verge of tears. Cautiously, he looked back down and made eye contact with William once again. “It was for your own good” He mumbled so quietly it was almost inaudible. Trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

“What?” William asked him to repeat himself.

“At least let me wash it” He said a little more loudly. They both looked at the T-shirt between them. Mark pulled it again, a little harder this time. Scared it would rip William let go but swiped trying to reach it again.

“I’m just going to wash it, ok”

William didn’t want to let it out of his site but his leg still killed him and there was no way he could wrestle it back from Mark. So he just sat back and continued to let Mark undress him. He refused to let him keep his boxers this time despite William’s protests, citing the sweat and sick that had socked in, and he felt repulsed when he noticed Marks eyes lingering at his crotch.

He helped him to his feet and William caught a glimpse himself in the mirror. Instantly he understood why Mark had looked so utterly horrified. He looked horrendous! He thought he was pale before but now? It was like he was looking at a ghost. The bags under his red, puffy eyes were DEEP and pigmented. It looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. His head was still black and blue from Angstroms orb and the scab that had formed over the wound looked gross and grotty. But what really grossed him out was the sick drying in his hair and crusting on the side of his face. If someone found him on the side of the road it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume he was a corpse.

He made eye contact with Mark in the mirror who quickly turned away and pulled William into the shower.

The warm water was like heaven on earth rolling down his skin. It was a ridiculous balancing act keeping his injured foot dry but Mark let him lean back into his chest and masarged the shampoo in for him while he stuck his foot out of the shower. It was a nasty, lovely form of intimacy and for a brief minute he closed his eyes and allowed himself to pretended it was Rick he was showering with.

“Your hair’s getting really long, Will. Do you want me to try cutting it?” Rick asked rubbing shampoo into William’s hair.

“I didn’t know you were a hairdresser” He giggled.

“Oh, I’m like the stone cold Steve Austin of cutting hair. Like if he was a hair dresser instead of wrestling, that would be me”  Rick proudly only getting a sceptical look from his boyfriend.

“Come on I’ll make you really cool” He tried to tempt.

“I look very cool already, thank you very much” This time it was William getting the sceptical look.

The sweet memory relaxed him a great deal and some of the tension melted from his muscles.

…

To soon the shower was over and Mark pulled him back out again. He wrapped them both up in singular towel. William just realised what they how close they actually were and felt a sudden surge of disgust.

He pushed away almost falling over.“I can dry myself thank you” He spat.

Mark didn’t argue only gave him sad puppy dog eyes and got dressed. Just letting him get away with what probably looked like a tantrum? Probably trying to compensate for his earlier behaviour. But it didn’t matter how guilty he felt William would never forgive him. It would never be enough to make him stop hating Mark.

Mark left with all the clothes and shortly returned with a new set. The red shirt was noticeably absent which gave William a lot of anxiety. But Mark did say he was just wasting it, right?

…

Time started moving faster.

At first Mark had refused to return the T-shirt, even after a lot of crying and begging he still said no. Only after William started picking at his nails from stress so much they bled did Mark reluctantly give it back with begs for him to stop. Now William never let it out of his sight.

They’d settled into a bit of a routine over those following days. Mark would go out to ‘work’ in the day. He’d offer to carry William down stairs and let him watch TV while he was gone but he always refused, afraid that he might come into contact with Omni man again. Even the thought of it made his blood run cold through his veins.

So instead he gave him a laptop logged into his Netflix. For a minute William thought Mark was an idiot to give him a device connected to the Internet for him to call for help. But soon that hope was crushed when he saw all modes of communication were blocked.

Once Mark walked in on him trying out Seance Dog out of pure boredom and launched into a 10 minute rant about how it was an underrated masterpiece. It warmed Williams hart a bit remembering a time his own Mark had done a very similar thing after finding him looking at a Seance Dog comic. That fondness was instantly crushed when he said, “When the invasion is done I’m going to force them to make 8 more seasons!” And he was harshly reminded of exactly who he was sharing a bed with. He didn’t watch that show again.

William instead would entertain himself by thinking of the stupidest escape plans possible making himself laugh. He wouldn’t allow himself to think about why his own Mark wasn’t here yet, every time he did a panic attack would overtake him. This once happened in front of Maskless who completely freaked out and gave him way too much morphine. Almost causing an actual hospital trip.

He actually kept asking to be taken to the doctor, scared his leg would heal wrong. But Mark would just pretend he hadn’t said anything or try and placate him by telling him how he’d take care of him. He kept pushing the matter though until one day Mark just snapped and grabbed his broken leg HARD screaming at him to be grateful someone even wanted to look after him. That prompted a lot of screaming and crying and Mark got really upset and guilty. He ended up rocking William in his arms for hours as they cried together. William stopped asking after that.

When Mark would return home, after his ‘work’, covered in someone’s blood he’d make them shower together. William tried to resist at first but he couldn’t walk so would just be moved around despite his protest. When they were in, he’d just close his eyes tight and wait for it to be over. Then Mark would dress him in his clothes always making remarks about how cute or sexy he looked in Marks over sized shirts and jumpers. Much to William’s disgust.

Mark always wanted to take him down for dinner but any time he tried William would use his one working leg to kick him away. Mark would often yell back at him but he wouldn’t grab him so hard to leave bruises any more. He seemed to have this idea that as long as William was physically ok it didn’t matter how distressed he was or how hard he cried. William hardly ate the food Mark brought back upstairs. But when he noticed how much weight William was losing he took to withholding the pain relief until he ate. Not being given much of an option he’d eat the food.

Begrudgingly, he’d realised how much easier everything was when Mark was happy, so he’d stopped purposely antagonising him. He let Mark call him his boyfriend and shower him in praise without correcting him. But he still held his breath any time they touched. He never allowed himself to get comfortable with Mark even with his new softening demeanour.

…

Soon a whole week had passed with no sign of rescue.

It was a crisp Thursday morning and as William woke up he found it quite odd to find himself alone. Mark always said his favourite part of the day was when William woke up in his arms (that was William’s lest favourite part of the day). He hadn’t woken up on his own once since he’d got here.

With this brief moment of rest bite he took a deep breath and looked out the window from the bed.

The garden was actually quite pretty, light snow was settling and a robin was on a branch just outside. He felt jealous, something so fragile like him but at least they could fly away. Be above it all. Unlike him, trapped in a bed unable to move. It wasn’t fair.

He hated being immobilised so much he decided to do something very stupid and walk to the window. Prove he didn’t need to rely on Mark.

He shuffled to the side of the bed and dropped his good leg down. With a deep breath he moved his bad leg to the floor. It grazed the carpet and he let out a small yelp, still he wasn’t ready to give up. It was less of a walk and more of an indignant hop over to the windowsill. He lost his balance for a second but grabbed onto the wall and balanced himself.

Standing there he felt proud to make it without any help. He was sweaty and took deep breaths to deal with the pain but he was there. The window was predictably locked now which was disappointing. He pressed his face up to the cold glass and watched the  snow flakes flutter down, it was really quite enchanting.

That was when he saw something very weird. Mark was moving odd shapes in and out of the shed seemingly examining them in the light. William couldn’t really see properly through the condensation of the glass but some of the objects looked blue and yellow whereas some others looked a deep red. He had no idea what they could be.

Almost giving him a hart attack, Mark turned his head to look directly at him. Suddenly he locked the shed doors and disappeared inside the house.

Shit! Was he in trouble for getting up on his own? He hardly had the time to consider the consequences before the bedroom door swung open making the robin flutter off in fright. “William! What are you doing on that foot?!” He sounded worried but not too angry, leaving William slightly relieved.

“I-uhh just wanted to see the robin” It wasn’t a lie, that was originally what he’d got up to look at but he thought it was probably better to not mention watching him and his strange objects.

Mark walked over and looked out the window beside him. It really was beautiful. He looked down at William’s leg and got a small smile on his face. “Do you want to go outside and see it?”

Asshole knew he couldn’t run with his bad leg, that’s the only reason he was going to let him out. But still, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. He’d only left the bedroom to go to the bathroom and he felt like a caged animal in some sort of perverse zoo. Even the air had started to become stale. “YES! I really want to go and see it!”

Mark seemed very pleased with William’s enthusiasm, he’d been very subdued and quiet when he wasn’t screaming and it was quite possibly the first time William had smiled at Mark since they’d got there.

“God, your smile is beautiful” Mark whispered with dreamy eyes. But not even that was enough to sap William’s excitement.

He found out the key from his pocket and unlocked the window. Then he scooped William up in his arms and floated them outside. The cold air made his cheeks and nose go rosy as he shivered. He was only dressed in Marks basketball shorts and one of his stupid Seance Dog t-shirts. When Mark saw his face he landed them on the roof and wrapped him up in his large jacket making William look like a chubby penguin. Mark definitely found it amusing, that made William pout.

They sat there for a while just watching the snow fall. William reached out his hand and the little robin from earlier landed on the tips of his fingers. He felt less jealous now just peaceful.

Mark, who probably thought he was being slick, moved his hand over William’s who didn’t pull away this time.

That was until a snowball flew over the top of the roof and landed next to them scaring the robin off. It made William jump out of his skin. Where the hell did that come from!? He crawled up and peaked over to the road on the other side of the house.

To his utter shock, there was a group of children playing happily in the snow. Did they not know they lived opposite a mass murdering lunatic!? They seemed to be very content having a snowball fight, it looked fun.

William wasn’t really thinking, just being slapped with sudden hope he was about to call down for help. Ask them to get the GDA or something. But just as he opened his mouth Mark grabbed his hand “William, please don’t do this” He pleaded. His face looked really disappointed and sad.

William was about to ignore him and do it anyway when Mark said something that left him winded. “Please, they already heard you screaming last week. If you cause any more fuss I’ll have no choice, I’ll have to kill them”

Of course they already heard him. What would they have done anyway. Mark was a viltramite, he would have crushed any civilians who tried to help. The hopelessness of it all really weighed down on him but he was determined not to cry in front of Mark. He hated himself for enjoying Marks soft comforts and refused to show he needed it.

Instead he decided to ask a much more interesting question.

“Why are they playing outside? Aren’t they afraid?” He’d been confused by this pristine neighbourhood for a while in a world that’s supposedly so brutal.

“Oh, Nebraska is one of the states that’s surrendered already so there’s no need to destroy the city. As for those kids…” Mark seemed reluctant to admit what came next.“…There to young for the work camps”

“WORK CAMPS! What sort of animals are you!?” William snatched his hand away and it looked like it physically pained Mark.

“This was a mistake, I shouldn’t have brought you out here” Mark said shaking his head as he picked William up and took him back inside despite his squirming. The window shut behind him and he saw the robin fly off into the distance. Here he was again, trapped.

Chapter Text

***

It been a full week since William was kidnapped and Rick was in bad shape.

He hadn’t been out to help clean up the city since he got the news. Instead he was staying at his mother’s farm house just outside the city where the damage hadn’t been so bad. His older brother drove down from a few city’s over when he heard about the attack, relieved to see his family was ok.

Rick had told them his boyfriend died in the attack. He wanted to tell them the truth but that would risk Marks identity. He didn’t particularly care about that but he knew that’s not what William would have wanted.

His family were vere sympathetic, they’d both met William and they said they said quite liked him. They were both very sad at the news. But it didn’t help. His mum would say things like ‘he’s in a better place’ or ‘at least he’s not suffering’ but even that wasn’t true. He’d spent all week lying in bed thinking of the hell William was probably going through. What was that psycho doing to him? He’d thrown up several times just thinking about the possibility’s.

His brother kept trying to get him to come outside and get him active but it wasn’t working. Then he just tried to get Rick talking again, but he would just stair into the distance and give one word reply’s.

The worst thing was the gilt. Why didn’t he get William out of there when he had the chance? It weighed down on him like rocks.

He didn’t even get out of bed when there was a knock on the door. It only got his attention when his Mother walked in to his room. “One of your friends are here to see you, darling” She said trying to coax him downstairs.

“Tell them to go away”

“Come on, they’ve come all this way. Please just go to the door” The worried look on her face made him feel bad so he begrudgingly dragged himself down stairs and walked outside.

He didn’t bother making himself look presentable. His hair was a mess and there were deep bags under his eyes from a lack of sleep. Though he didn’t care what the person outside thought of him at this moment in time.

Suddenly, he was ripped from his drowsy apathy when it registered the person in front of him was Mark Grayson. “Ugh, what do you want” He spat out.

“I came to see how you were holding up” He looked quite concerned. Rick hadn’t been eating well and had lost quite a bit of weight for just one week.

“I’m fine” He deadpanned and went to go back inside. If Mark really cared he would have saved William when he had the chance, this was too little too late.

“Wait!” Rick turned back around with an unimpressed look on his face. “…Do you want to have a drink?” He asked timidly holding up the 12 pack he had in his hand.

Before he could say no. “He’d love to!” His brother’s voice came from in the doorway. He shut the door quickly and locked it with a devilish grin face.

The two of them were left standing awkwardly outside. He was scowling at Mark but eventually gave in with a sigh. “Fine. One drink”

They walked in silence to a nice spot at the end of the field, overlooking a creek. They continued not to speak, only listening to the running water and occasionally taking sips of their beer. It felt very awkward.

“I spoke to Cecil” Mark said trying to brake the tension. “He said he’d look into inter dimensional travel… he said not to get my hopes up”

Another long awkward pause.

“That’s… good” It was probably a lost cause. Why get excited?

“Y’know, William would have really wanted you to get back out there. Save people-”

“What would you know!” He cut him off angrily. “It doesn’t matter what he’d want, HE’S GONE!”

That shut Mark up but only for a second before regaining his confidence. “What would happen if he came back? And found out you just spent your time feeling sorry for yourself instead of saving people. What would he think of you then?!”

“Me? ME! That’s exactly what you did during the attack! And now you’re telling ME to go save people!” He was so god dame angry. How dare that hypocrite!

“I KNOW. I know. That’s exactly what I did, I was selfish. Now if William comes home I’m the one who’s going to have to explain myself” Mark looked back down at his beer. “Come on. Don’t be an idiot like me”

…He didn’t want to believe he had a point… But he just couldn’t stop picturing it. William standing in the doorway, asking him what happened after he left. Having to tell him how he did nothing to help… the look that would be on his face, it made his stomach twist.

“He’d… be really made” Rick said tearing up slightly. “He was always like that”

“Yeah he was, it was really annoying” Mark chuckled.

They settled into another silence but it was somewhat lighter this time.

Rick got a small smile on his face looking out into the sun set. “He’d always say it just how it is, wouldn’t spare your feeling’s… it’s something I always liked about him”

“I liked that to”

They both laughed. But it was a sad laugh.

Then Marks laugh turned happy, really happy. Like there was some really funny joke he couldn’t tell through his laughter. “Did he ever tell you about the time, when we were kids. We were running from these older bullies and we were backed up by the riverbank. And he said to the shortest one that he was just jealous that our puberty still had its chance to kick in!” That actually made Rick start laughing just thinking about it. “They threw us in the river!”

They both sat there sharing William’s most embarrassing stories until the sun was below the horizon and fireflies were buzzing around their heads. The sound of crickets a score to there conversation. All the beers were gone now and both boys were sufficiently hammered.

In the dark of the night it was getting hard to see so they decided to start fire. Usually these were two fairly competent people but in there inebriated state were basically useless. Rick ripped up some dried grass and put it on top Marks singular log. The two couldn’t stop snicking and giggling as they went.

“Shit, we don’t have a lighter” Mark said checking his pockets.

“Wait there! I think there’s one up in the house!” Rick called back as he ran up the field.

He stumbled into the house and grabbed his father’s old lighter from there junk drawer. He was about to go back down to Mark but got what must have seemed like a good idea at the time and grabbed a half drank bottle of vodka from the fridge.

He ran back down and moved the lighter to there ‘fire pit’. The flames it produced were pretty pathetic. A lot of smoke for not a lot of heat.

“Well that was an anticlimax” Mark deadpanned.

“Oh! I have an idea” Rick opened the Vodka and dumped it on the fire. That was not a good idea. The Fire started raging violently and for a second got higher than the already tall pair.

“OH SHIT!” They both stumbled back and fell hard into the dirt. But god it was funny, they were in stitches on the floor.

Ricks brain was fuzzy and he felt like his head was underwater. He was working on his base impulse and wasn’t really thinking. He was just happy, for the first time since the attack he was smiling and that’s right when he made a dumb mistake, just wanting someone to fill the hole. He leaned over and kissed Mark on the lips. It was clumsy and messy. It lasted a few seconds until Mark gently pushed him off. Shit! He just kept thinking ‘Why did I do that!’ Over and over. ‘I don’t even like him!’. His head was spinning with the alcohol.

“I don’t really like…” Mark stuttered out looking bewildered.

“I… I’m sorry- I didn’t mean- oh god!” What the hell was he thinking!? Kissing his boyfriend’s best friend! That’s insane! Just another thing to be guilty about he guessed.

They were quiet. Rick desperately wanted him to stay something, anything. Just stop siting there with that dazed look on his face.

“I ugh, I guess I’m not the only one who’ll be explaining myself to William when he gets back” Mark said with a chuckle.

The joke got Rick to relax but his face still burned with embarrassment. “Yeah… when he gets back” When. “I’m going back out tomorrow. Get the city ready for when he comes home”

Mark smiled at him. “Good, that’s what I wanted to here”

‘I am never living this down’ was the thought soaking in his brain.

***

It been another few days since Mark had taken him outside.

Not much changed except William had become even more closed off than before. This seemed to distress Mark quite a lot. He’d been desperate to make William smile again like before. Trying everything from begging to reminiscing memories William didn’t actually share.

He was now lying in bed with his leg propped up on a pillow. Mark had left to go ‘run an errand’. William had been occupying himself staring out the window but the robin was noticeably absent today so it was just him, all on his own.

There was a knock on the door. That was weird, Mark never normally knocked.

He didn’t have any intention of responding but the door swung open anyway.

Mark cautiously walked in with a hopeful smile on his face. “Hay babe” he was holding a tall dome shape, the nature of which being concealed by a cloth. “How you holding up?”

William didn’t respond, only sparing him a glance before going to look back out the window.

Refusing to be discouraged Mark sat down on the bed. “I got you a present”

“…ok.”

“Aren’t you gonna open it?”

Mark wasn’t going to stop until he got what he wanted so William gave in and sat up. Mark pushed the gift closer so he took it on his lap. He found Marks anticipation quite unsettling but continued to pull off the cloth to reveal a bird cage. Inside was a small, shaky, little robin looking up at him.

“Do you like it? I’ve seen you watching it” He said it sweetly, tilting his head.

"…Thank you” He just wanted this interaction to be over and left alone again. He didn’t smile not wanting to give Mark the satisfaction of thinking he’d done something right.

Marks hopeful look turned sad as he sighed. “I have to go to work. I’ll be home in a couple hours, okay”

He gave William a kiss on the cheek. He didn’t reject it, feeling more neutral about the contact as he got used to it.

He was finally left alone again. When to door closed even the robin felt the shift in atmosphere and began chirping. William opened the cage and stuck in his hand and the bird hopped on. It was cute and sort of a sweet gesture from Mark… in a way.

Chapter Text

William brought out the bird on his hand. “Sorry little buddy, guess you’re stuck here with me”

It wasn’t fair on this poor bird to be locked up… but he didn’t want to be on his own, at least not on his own with Mark. He took the Robin in both hands and held on tight, the heartbeat on his fingers was calming until it started squealing. He immediately let go and the robin flew away landing on the top of the wardrobe.

“I’m sorry! Please don’t fly away” But it didn’t come back, hiding away insisted.

To try and make things more comfortable for his new friend he poured his glass of water onto an empty plate from earlier. He shuffled down to the end of the bed and hopped over to the wardrobe. Getting on his tip tose on one foot was not exactly the best for balance but he managed to push the plate up and over the edge. The Robin let out a few tweets but didn’t show itself.

Like he said, a couple hours later Mark returned. “Hay, how are you?” He asked softly sitting on the bed.

William didn’t respond, only turned away from him like a sulking child.

Mark took a look at the empty cage, the plate poking out on top the wardrobe and the sound of a chirping bird. “I see you liked the present then” He said with a soft but smug smile, tucking some of William’s growing hair behind his ear. And instead of pushing him off William leaned into the contact slightly, the tender touch reminding him so much of Ricks small acts of intimacy. He was immediately disgusted with himself and slapped Marks had away. But it was too late Mark had noticed and was already over excited.

He reached out and cupped Williams cheek in his hand who crawled backwards out of reach. “Do you like it when I touch your hair?!” Mark asked with an unsettling urgency.

“No!” The truth was he was ashamed, after only just over a week of isolation he’d already started craving physical touch. Luckily, he wasn’t so far gone to actually seek it out.

“Don’t worry, when your hair gets longer I’ll do it for you all the time!” Yeah, Mark was already in his own head, nothing William could say now would change his mind. Just great. The idea of Marks fingers in his hair was not at all comforting.

***

Mark was standing in the garden of William’s house tossing up pebbles at his window trying to get his attention.

“What is it that means you can’t just come to the door, idiot?” William called down leaning out the window.

Even when he was calling him an idiot, Williams voice was so angelic it gave him butterflies. He’d been in love with his best friend for years.

When they’d first met, William was 8 and had been yelling at couple of older bullies for trying to squash a frog. He hadn’t wanted it to die so bad he took several punches from older kids. Here he was, this tiny human embodying everything a hero should be everything e Mark should be.

He was determined to befriend him. So much so he ran into the fight and got beat right along side him. Surprisingly, William had found that charming enough to ask him to be friends. And that was the beginnings of his crush. He vowed his new friend would never have to face another bully again.

But soon they grew bigger than there bully’s and there friendship had grown strong. At this point his crush had turned to love, just short of obsession.

He’d make any excuses to spend time with him. Once he saw William looking at a Seance Dog comic and immediately became the world’s biggest super fan just so they’d have another thing to talk about. Now he’d buy Mark Seance Dog merch every birthday and Christmas. Even got him a stupid Seance Dog T-shirt, that was now Marks FAVOURITE shirt. Funny thing was, William didn’t even like it that much but Mark was in to deep now so he had to keep up lie.

Mark had all but given up on being with him and just had to pine after William for the rest of his life. That was until the universe threw him a bone. William had come crying to him confessing that he was gay but he couldn’t talk to his parents, if they found out they would disown him. Life finally took mercy on him.

After that Mark started picking up on little things, like how William’s eyes would linger on him a little to long or how much he loved hugs -but only Marks hugs were good enough.

That’s why he was standing in William’s garden about to ask him out. “Come down here and find out” Mark called back up.

So William did, crawling out the window and climbing down the gutter, much to Marks alarm.

He took a deep breath feeling very nervous. “William, I need you to know. I’ve liked you for a very very long time. And recently… I feel like… maybe… you might like me to?” Mark was dying for an answer but William was just staring at him bewildered. “…I… really like you… and I would be SO happy if you let me take you out…”

“…Like on a date?”

“…yeah…” He answered apprehensively. Shit. Had he been imagining Williams feeling’s! He felt despair crash down on him realising William probably wouldn’t want to be friends with him after this.

William looked down at the ground, seemingly unable to make eye contact. “Mark… Are you only asking me out because you feel bad for me. Like because of my parents and stuff?”

“No! No, I’m not!”

“Because I actually really like you… but I don’t want your pity date-“

Mark couldn’t stand listening to his precious William talk about himself like that, like he was some obligation. He had to put a stop to it the only way he knew how. So he took Willian’s forearms in his hands and leaned in bringing their lips crashing together.

Mark had been fantasising about this for YEARS. And it was everything he’d imagined. At first William just stood there stunned but quickly he started kissing back, their lips moving messily but passionately. It was like they were made for each other.

William’s lips were softer and warmer than Mark had ever hoped. It made him wonder what other parts of him were like…

Eventually they broke apart with a lot of panting. “It’s not a pity date!”

Mark looked down to see Williams teary eyes. “Did I mess up?! Please don’t cry!”

But that just got William to chuckle. “You didn’t do anything wrong, I’m just really happy”

He wanted to take William somewhere really special for there first date. But he hadn’t got his powers yet so he couldn’t fly them anywhere fancy and he was scared that if he waited to long to ask him out some other man would come along and steal him. And if that happened, well he didn’t know what he might do.

So instead he took him to a market outside of town. They had food, they had  live music and many different stalls selling various items. It wasn’t what Mark had always pictured but it seemed to make William very happy anyway.

“I love this music!” William beamed up at him. It made his hart flutter, he was so happy that something he’d done had made William so happy.

“I think it’s jazz. Do you want to go dance?” They joined the group that was already stood in front and tried to awkwardly dance together. This lovely lesbian couple ended up coming over and showed them how they were supposed to do it.

“You’ll be experts by the end of the day!” The taller woman encouraged them. They definitely weren’t experts, in fact they probably looked quite stupid, but that didn’t matter because it put 2 massiv smiles on there faces.

They finished with drinking copious amounts of beer and stuffing their faces with hotdogs from the stand.

Mark looked up from his food to look at William. God he was so beautiful, he even managed to make drunken eating look like a fine art.

He wanted to be closer to him, like they were before in the garden. But he couldn’t just kiss him, he didn’t want to seem like a slut or scare him off. William had always been rather timid or at least he started to be the older they got, Mark found it really cute. He loved the way William relied on him, needed him, it made him feel strong, important.

Then he found the perfect moment, some ketchup had smeared on the side of his mouth. Mark blushed a little before going in and licking it off.

It tasted so sweet, everything tasted sweet from William’s lips.

William looked up at him face red and eyes wide. He didn’t say anything only looked off to the side not making eye contact.

“You had ketchup” Mark pointed out trying to justify his actions, a little flustered now.

William sank into his seat and turned an even brighter shade of red Mark thought he was going to pass out. “It just… embarrassing. We’re in public”

Mark lend over the picnic table, so close his lips brushed William’s ear and whispered suggestively. “Why don’t we go home, somewhere less… public”

They ‘walked’ back to Marks house, it was more of a giddy run. It took a while but the pair’s excitement did waver.

When they reached the house they ran up the stairs zipping past Marks parents.

They entered his room and William got very flustered seeing Mark lock the door behind them.

Mark stalked over and sat on the bed making William appear even more nervous. He found it adorable, he’d never seen him look so small in all there years of friendship.

William walked over and Mark pulled him down until he was practically straddling him. They both blushed before crashing together in a sloppy kiss. Mark leaned back forcing William to lay on his chest as they continued to kiss only braking apart to catch their breaths.

There tongues danced together in a beautiful dance that made his hart skip a beat. This closeness this intensity, it was intoxicating. The blood was leaving his brain and… moving somewhere else.

His erection was throbbing and sensitive. Having William sitting on it was like having an angel blessing him. William on the other hand seemed to not know what to do with this development.

Mark desired to do the next bit for him and grabbed Williams waist with firm hands. He began grinding Williams ass onto his crotch letting out quite soft moans while William covered his bright red face with his horribly sweaty hands.

When William started shackling Mark began to worry he wasn’t enjoying this but it just felt too good to stop. What if William didn’t want to talk to him again after this? At the time it didn’t seem to matter.

But quietly and stifled, William let out his own needy moan and Mark started kissing his neck sort of as a thank you.

***

William woke up on week 3 of his captivity and immediately knew something was off. Marks arms weren’t wrapped around him, pinning him to the bed. In fact Mark wasn’t in the room at all.

William shuffled over to the end of the bed and peaked out the window. Mark had started spending a lot of time in that shed recently, but today it stood empty.

He leaned back down on the bed, determined to enjoy this small moment of rest bite. But that hope was immediately squandered when he heard the unmistakable tap of a pebble on the window.

Confused, William sat up and shuffled to the window making sure not to stand on his bad leg. Looking down, now Mark was standing in the garden with something behind his back. To his surprise the window appeared to be unlocked and he swung it open.

Mark stared up at him expectantly but William didn’t know what he wanted so just stood there awkwardly… “What do you want?…”

Suddenly an expression of realisation came over Marks face and he flew up just outside the window. He took his hand from behind his back and presented a large buquay of red roses.

So it was just another stupid romantic gesgur. Great. He tried to slam the window shut but Mark court it and force it back open. For some bizarre reason he looked really nervous. “William… I love you… and I know you’re having a difficult time adjusting… but you do love me back… and I’d be the happiest man in the world if you’d let me take you out…”

A date?!… A date. Somewhere else, somewhere not here.

Mark was dressed in a black shirt and some nice grey trousers. He didn’t know his friend cleaned up so well. Lucky Eve.

But still Mark taking him on a whole date. Like they were an actual couple. The thought was so revolting he wanted to punch Mark in his stupid face.

But it was his best chance of escape. And he’d began talking to himself like there was another person in the room. Clearly he was already going crazy. At the very least it was an opportunity to see if he could flag down another superhero or something. He just needed to get out of this house.

“William?…” He realised Mark was still waiting for an answer.

“Yes… I- I’ll go on a date with you” He certainly didn’t sound enthusiastic but Mark didn’t seem to care. He practically launched himself through the window pushing their lips together. The force of it actually slitty hurt William but as he started to fall back Mark caught him by his forearms and pulled him back in. The kiss was rough and deep but it wasn’t like he could get away so he just squeezed his eyes shut and waited for it to be over.

When Mark had finally had enough and pulled back he cupped William’s face in his hand and used his thumb to wipe away a tear William hadn’t realised he’d let out during the ordeal.

“Do you want to get changed” Mark asked looking down at his clothes. William was wearing Ricks blood stained UU T-shirt and some of Marks trousers, both comically oversized.

“I‘m fine.”

“You’re not seriously wearing that grotty T-shirt to our date?”

There was no chance he was running away without it. “Yes.”

Mark let out a sigh then moved over to the wardrobe and pulled out a jumper. He walked back over and dressed William in it. “At least cover it up. Y’know anyone would think I don’t take care of you” He said, zipping it up.

They went downstairs, it was the first time William had been out of the bedroom or bathroom in over 2 weeks. It felt uncomfortable. But it was about to get a whole lot worse because standing at the kitchen counter with his arms crossed was Nolan.

When William saw him he wanted to run but was relying on Mark to stay standing. Stuck where he was, all he could do was clutch onto Mark and stare down the man that mangled his leg like a small child hiding behind there parents.  His hart rate shot through roof and his breathing became shallow and rapid. Noticing, Mark wrapped a reassuring arm around his waist and  it felt oddly comforting.

Nolan on the other hand hardly noticed him at all, only letting his eyes scan over him like he was another piece of furniture before landing on Mark entirely.

They didn’t exchange words, Nolan gave an approving nod and Mark ushered them outside into the garden and carried him into the sky.

“Where are we going?” It was difficult to be heard over the wind rushing past there ears.

“You’ll see, I want it to be a surprise” He sounded excited.

It felt like they were flying for hours. His hair wiped his face and his eyes felt hollow with anxious anticipation of where exactly they’d end up.

They’d been over some body of water for quite some time but a little while ago they entered over land again.

Finally, they landed half way up a mountain in a small town. To be fare it was beautiful, the stringed lights hung over streets to be a canopy over the cobbled roads, and more intrestingly, the market packed with people.

There were stands all the way down the road and probably beyond it, all fashioned to look like the front of little cabins. All with various things for sale such as cloths, food, woodwork and anything else he could think of.

To Marks credit this was an excellent place for a first date, wherever they actually were.

Mark paused for a second not setting him down in the quiet ally they’d just landed in. If anything his grip got marginally tighter as he looked down at William with a slitty worried looking face. “Will, I really hope you like it… but… if you cause a big scene we’ll have to go home, and we won’t be able to come back here again”

What difference would a scene make anyway, Mark could fight off everyone here with one hand. It was annoying how he spoke about William like a petulant child throwing a tantrum instead of a hostage trying to escape his captor.

“Yeah, don’t worry I won’t” He tried to sound casual and reassuring but he had absolutely no intention to just sit around and enjoy the scenery.

Mark set him down on his feet very gently, careful to support his side with the bad leg. They slowly walked out into the street and Mark brought them to lovely looking woodwork stand. The bowls and jugs looked pretty but Mark dragged him over to one end of the table with canes lade out. “I can’t just carry you everywhere wouldn’t you rather walk?”

William would much rather have the freedom to walk independently than rely on Mark to get around. “Yes! I want to walk”

Mark called over the shop keeper and started speaking to him in another language William didn’t understand. Did Mark already know this language or did he just really prepare for this date?

He looked down at William with a warm expression. “Go on, pick one”

He didn’t enjoy extravagant gifts, always felling slightly uncomfortable and guilty when people got him something expensive. He chose a simple cane made with dark wood, very little flourishes but the metal ring connecting the pole to the handle.

“Are you sure you want that one? It’s a little boring” Mark asked, a little confused.

“It’s the one I like” William retorted.

The shop keeper came over looking care free until laying eyes on William. His expression changed into a mix of shock and concern. Looking down at himself he realised his appearance probably was quite shocking. All his cloths were hanging of him only serving to exsasterbgait his apparent weight loss and they were not at all appropriate for the mountain weather ether. He’d only just noticed his own body shaking like a leaf. He wasn’t even wearing any shoes showing of the light purple his tose had been turning. Worst of all his forehead was still covered in bruises and a deep red scab. “Sir! Geht es Ihnen gut!?”

William didn’t know what they were saying but before he could even attempt a response Mark very angry cut in. “Ihm geht es gut!”

He threw some money down on the counter and dragged him off shoving the cane into William’s hands. “Mark, wait! I can’t keep up”

Mark did slow down and looked back at him a bit guiltily. “Sorry…”

“What were you two even talking about?”

Mark didn’t seem to like that question. “Nothing you need to worry about. Anyway you’re supposed to be having fun”

He’d been wondering about this subject for a while“…Why wasn’t he scared of you? Doesn’t he know you’re Invinci-“

Mark forcefully pulled him in really close by the hand. I in a sort of angry whisper “No he doesn’t know. That’s not public knowledge so stop making a fuss!”

He didn’t want to go home so just stayed quiet hopping that the storm would pass.

After a long moment of silence he felt nervous to ask the next question, Mark seemed to be very volatile when William did react how he wanted. “...Please can I maybe have some shoes?” When he didn’t immediately responded William thought that must have made him mad and immediately started back peddling. "I’m sorry! It’s just really cold, I-“

Mark cut him off with a gentle kiss, William accepted it quietly just relieved he wasn’t in trouble. “You’re so cute. Of course you can get shoes, that’s why I brought you to a market, silly” He giggled.

With the cane William could walk semi comfortably so Mark only insisted on holding hands so he didn’t ’get lost’. More like so he didn’t run off.

They went to many more stools buying various items. They bought a matching pair of a dark green socks and double breasted coat. Mark got him some lovely leather boots. Getting them on was an up hill battle, every agitation of his leg would get a loud yelp and weird looks from passers by. After one to many of what William assumed were concerned questions from other shoppers Mark decided to buy him a mustard yellow beenie to cover up his bruised and swollen forehead.

Next they went to a food stand and bought some hotdogs and hot chocolate. They were sitting on the edge of the market on a bench overlooking a beautiful scene of snowy mountains and a starry night sky. The hot chocolate warmed his stomach and the hotdog made him sleepy. He was oddly content, or at least as much as he could be. He instinctively looked around for Rick to melt into only to be greeted by Marks happy face instantly putting an end to his good mood.

He’d turned to Mark now so he had to say something not to make it awkward. “…Where are we?”

“What do you mean?” He seemed confused by the question.

“Like what country are we in?..” He wasn’t sure what Marks reaction to that question would be and tensed up in anticipation for trouble.

“Oh, we’re in Switzerland” He said casually.

Switzerland. And in the mountains. Not exactly the big city he was hoping for but he had to at least try.

He dramatically dropped his hot chocolate on the ground spilling it everywhere. “Oops…”

He looked back up at Mark who thankfully seemed to buy the act. “Oh no, do you want another one?”

“Yes, please!” He needed to create some distance between them so he can ask for help. “Can I wait here?” Mark gave him a look full of scepticism and disappointment, still clearly thinking William was gonna run. “Please, my leg hurts…”

Mark let out a deep sigh. “Alright, wait for me here”

William couldn’t believe Mark was actually gonna leave. He smiled up at him until Mark reached down and gently pulled the cane from William’s hands. Both of them knew what the gesture meant. ‘You’re not going anywhere’. Neither of them acknowledged this not even in body language. They just kept smiling all the way until Mark rounded the corner.

If he thought taking the cain would stop William he’d be mistaken. He stood up and tried taking a limping step only for a sharp unbearable pain to shoot through his leg like lightning sending him crashing to the stone floor.

He didn’t scream or cry, the fear of Mark hearing and coming back overwhelmed any amount of pain or self pity. Instead, he crawled. Dragged himself over the road until he reached the side of a building he used it to support himself and stand upright. His body was beginning him  to give up but he couldn’t bring himself to just sit and wait for Mark.

He was already drenched in a cold sweat. Luckily that only helped get someone’s attention quick.

An old man ran over. “Junger Mann! Alles in Ordnung?! Müssen Sie sich hinsetzen?!”

“English? Do you speak English?!” He panted, out of breath.

“A small little, yes” I was broken but it would do. “You need help?”

“Yes! I’ve been kidnapped! Please call the GDA or something! It’s Invi-“

“William!” He froze. Marks voice was calling for him, anger hidden under a blanket of calm. He came up behind William and lovingly wrapped his arms around his waist. “What are you bothering this nice man about?”

“I- I was just asking about the toilet… I need the bathroom” Flimsy cover story, there was no way Mark would believe that.

Mark didn’t say anything for a second then squeezed a little tighter. “I think it’s time to go home, you can go there ok.” It was phrased like a question but William was well aware it wasn’t up to him.

Mark took his hand deceptively gently and pulled him away shoving the cain back into his hands. The stranger didn’t follow. Nether of them spoke even when they walked far enough away no one could see them. Even when they took off into the sky and started the long flight home, it became apparent Mark was playing dumb and pretending nothing happened.

It was a long time until they got home and even though William wasn’t the one flying he was absolutely exhausted. When Mark lay him down on the bed he almost fell asleep right there ready to accept the actuality somewhat pleasant evening, even if his escape plan didn’t go so well. His whole body melted into the mattress and his eyelids felt heavy.

That was all until Mark climbed on top of him. Williams muscles got tense and his eyes shot open to see Mark look down at him expression filled with pure affection. He brushed the back of his hand along William’s cheek. “Did you enjoy today?”

“…Yes…” It wasn’t a lie, not really.

Marks smile got a little wider as he leaned down and let there lips meet. He was soft and loving and William didn’t pull away. Pushing him away would only upset everyone and it wasn’t like Mark was a bad kisser or anything. All in all this could be worse.

When Mark tried to push his tongue in his mouth and William opened up and let it in. Even in his new coat the flight back was freezing and Marks was like a heater, raising the temperature in the room. There tongues moved together messily.

It was even bordering on a nice experience, he let himself get lost in it. Let all the panic and fear melt away, just for now. Mark was getting more passionate as he pushed there bodies flush together. William matched his passion right up until he felt something poking into his crotch.

He went on and tried to ignore the pressure but it got harder and harder when Mark began grinding down on him stimulating his erection. He started moaning into William’s mouth which he found a little uncomfortable.

Still he was intent to just ignore it and continue on like nothing was wrong. But something happened  that he couldn’t ignore. Mark was pulling back and frantically trying to unbuckle Williams belt.

“Hey! What the fuck do you think you’re doing!?” He shrieked.

This time it was William who was being ignored as his trousers slipped down his thighs filling him with a deep sickening dread.

Had he invited this when he agreed to the date? Or when he kissed Mark back? All he knew was that he didn’t like it and his efforts to push Mark away were futile. 

“Get o-“ He was cut off by a harsh kiss as Marks hand tugged at the waistband of his boxers. That only worsened the felling of despair and fear weighing down on him.

When Mark finally pulled back William took the opportunity and swiped at his face determined to get his distress at least acknowledged.

“GET OFF ME!” He moved from swiping to punching and hard. He threw all his strength into the punches which admittedly wasn’t a lot. “STOP, ASSHOLE! STOP!”

Mark hadn’t really reacted much to his outburst, or at least William wasn’t watching his face to notice. William trued to throw a left hock, a move he’d seen his own Mark throw in his fights on the news. Instead of taking it like the rest Mark caught  it by only lifting his hand and letting Williams fist fly into it. His expression was cold and detached, that was that scared William the most. He tried piling his fist back but Marks grip didn’t allow him to move.

“Let go!” He yell agin trying to slap Mark with his other hand but all the anger was drained out of his voice replaced only by fear. Mark caught the other hand before it made contact and pushed them down onto William’s chest leaving him pinned.

Then he’s started to get this horrible feeling on his chest as Mark pushed down onto him with all his body weight. The bed started to creak and he felt like his ribs would give out.

He tried his very hardest to seem strong, more for his own benefit than Marks. But it felt impossible to hold himself together. He couldn’t keep the tears in or stop his whole body from violently shaking.

Marks face was deadly serious as he spoke. “Fine. We don’t have to make love tonight” He applied some more pressure making William shakily groan in pain. His voice turned severe. “But don’t you ever hit me again.” It wasn’t a threat but it still felt like one.

They stayed staring at one another until William realised he wasn’t getting off until he obeyed.

“Understood” He let out in a breathy whisper, the crushing force leaving no room for air in his lungs.

Only then did Mark relieve the pressure and clime off of him. He lay down next to William and nuzzled into his neck. “I’m looking forward to our next date” He whispered.

William just lay there staring at the sealing a little in shock and very confused. How could Mark move from kissing to violence to pure affection in a matter of seconds.

His vision glazed over and thoughts kept spiralling in his head. Why him? Sure, he was no saint. He could be lazy and hold a grudge longer than he needed to and maybe when he was mad he could be a bit childish. But this? Nothing he’d ever done was deserving of this.

Chapter Text

The next morning William woke up being cuddled by Mark. There was a hard pain in his chest from the previous nights… events.

Resting against the night stand was his cain. He also might have gotten a message out to the GDA. Maybe there date hadn’t been a complete disaster, he even remembered enjoying parts of it. Maybe that made him crazy or maybe it just made him stupid. Mark was a psychopath. He didn’t know why he kept having to remind himself of that.

Suddenly he felt an overwhelming disgust at Marks touch. He slowly shuffled out of his grasp carful not wake him.

At least with the cane he didn’t need Mark to carry him around. He made his own way to the bathroom and stood in front of the sink. Making eye contact with himself in the mirror he snapped his head away and opened the cabinet so he didn’t have to look. He was so ashamed he let Mark touch him like that. So disguised with himself that he invited Marks advances.

He snatched up the nasty toothbrush and used it trying to wash the taste of Mark out of his mouth. It didn’t really make him feel any better.

His breathing felt laboured and heavy. He pulled off his UU T-shirt he slept in and took a deep breath. Slowly he closed the cabinet door letting himself come into view.

The bruises looked gnarly and sore. Dark blues and purples fading into yellow where his arms were pushing down on himself.

He reached up and lightly touched his chest. He immediately recoiled his hand at the sore, intense pain.

This wasn’t fair. He can’t even be mad, he invited this on himself. He kissed that psycho, let him think he liked him. Maybe he did deserve this.

He didn’t feel sad or scared, not right now. Right now, he felt anger tensing up his muscles making him want to scream. Everything he was feeling just bubble up inside and spilled out. He was royally pissed off and slammed the cabinet door open and closed. Then again and again and again harder each time. Until the mirror smashed and pieces of glass fell into the snick… oops.

Suddenly, the door next to him swung open. The feeling he found was just annoyance at having to explain all this to Mark.

Tipping his head back, he didn’t even bother to move around, just turning his neck not having the energy for this.

But it wasn’t Mark. Nolan stood there seemingly equally as surprised to see him. Now this was a man who made him feel very nervous. All of a sudden he was very conscious of the fact he was topless and brought his T-shirt up to cover his chest.

“Ice packs are on the top shelf” Then he turned away and left. William was taken aback by the casualness of the interaction.

Checking the top shelf of the cabinet there was in fact a melted ice pack there. The whole thing was very strange.

“William! Was that my dad?! Are you ok?!” He sounded really worried.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” He said, clearly irritated.

“What is this?” Mark grabbed the ice pack from his hand. “You don’t need this” He chucked it across the room and into the bin, grabbing his hand and pulling him back to there room. “You don’t need that, I’m not my farther” He muttered almost a whisper, probably talking to himself instead of William.

He sat them down on the bed. “So, I was thinking… why don’t we make a nice dinner tonight… just you and me” Mark asked slightly nervously. It was a far departure from his demeanour last night. When William didn’t answer he got slightly freaked and started rambling. “Because y’know my dads out tonight destroying New Mexico and I was thinking-“

“Yeah, sure, whatever” William cut in just wanting to put an end to this conversation.

“William… are you… mad at me?”

What kind of question is that?! He just turned to look him in the eye not looking very impressed.

That seemed to make Mark upset and a little panicked as he tried to explain himself. “Will, please. That’s not fair. You can’t just kiss me like that then start smacking me. I had to do something!”

William remained unimpressed. But a slight twinge of guilt prickled at him, other men had on occasion called him a teas when he’d wuss out. It only took him a moment to it brush it off and go back to being angry though.

“But that’s over now, so can’t we just make up?”

Was the offer tempting? He didn’t want to get yelled at or bruised or dragged around. But he also didn’t want Mark to think he was ok with any of this. It felt wrong to just give in even if it was the smart answer.

He turned away. Mark wasn’t pleased with that outcome. Determined to try again he took Williams chin between his index finger and thumb and forced his head back round. “What do you want for dinner tonight?”

“I don’t care.” He wasn’t giving Mark what he wanted.

Mark sighed and pulled William onto his lap. “Ok. What about a dessert?”

“Whatever” Marks patience seemed to be running thin but William was still angry.

Mark looked angry for a minute but then something inside him broke. He didn’t look so mad any more but sad. His face scrunched up and his eyes welled up with tears. “Will, please!” He buried his face in Williams shoulder and started to shake. “Please talk to me. I’m sorry I scared you ok. But you have to talk to me”

William knew it wasn’t logical to feel bad for him. It’s not like he could’ve actually hurt Mark. But why did he feel so conflicted about it. It should be simple, this was his kidnapper. But at the same time this was a man not so different from his friend. The guy he grew up with and cared for. He knew they weren’t the same person but still, he felt the strong urge to comfort him.

Mark let out a pathetic sob. “Ugh, fine. We can make pasta or something alright?”

Mark pulled back revealing his tear stained face. “Yeah, pasta sounds good” He sounded hopeful. Mark leaned in for a kiss but William pulled away still not happy with him. He looked incredibly disappointed but accepted the small amount of progress.

Looking down at Williams chest he looked uncomfortable and pulled one of his own T-shirts out a draw dressing him in it. It bothered William how he grabbed the UU T-shirt and threw it near the bin.

“Ok, I’ve got to go to work now but I’ll be back soon for our date” And he ran out of the door grabbing his costume.

William was irritated at Marks declaration of there date. He definitely did NOT agree to that.

***

Mark was finally done with organising the new Canadian work camps and was on his way home to his boyfriend and there supper romantic date.

He’d been gone longer than he’d expected and it had gotten quite late but that wasn’t going to stop there perfect night together.

Arriving home it was dark out. He climbed through the bedroom window to find William sleeping atop the duvet looking absolutely adorable.

It was a shame that good feeling didn’t last when he noticed William had changed into that stupid red UU shirt. Seriously?! A whole wardrobe of Marks clean, soft good looking clothes and he still keeps choosing that! He just wanted William to willingly wear his clothes for once. A statement that he accepted Mark as his boyfriend and he was proud to show the world who exactly he belonged to. The only reason he hadn’t destroyed that thing already was because the last time he withheld it William started picking at his skin until he bled and Mark hated seeing William hurt, especially when it wasn’t necessary.

He decided to let William sleep while he got ready and took a shower. He then set up down stairs lighting lots of candles and dimming the lights to set the mood .

When he was finally ready he went into the bedroom and woke up William with a kiss to the forehead.

He slowly woke up blinking the sleep out his eyes. It was quite possibly the cutest thing he’d ever seen. He wanted to touch him really bad he reached down to run a hand through William’s hair but the second he made contact William got up and began walking to the door. Ok. That was fine. He’d have plenty of chances to touch him later.

When they reached the top of the stairs Mark leaned down to pick him up but for some reason that seemed to make William quite distressed. “Hey! What are you doing?!”

“I’m carrying you? You can’t do the stairs with your leg like that” It felt obvious that’s what he was doing. What, did William think he was a negligent boyfriend?

“I don’t need you to carry me! I have the cane it’ll be fine.” William sounded annoyed. He didn’t think it was a good idea to let him do it himself but he also didn’t want William to start there dinner angry so he put him down.

William started down the stairs slowly but of course Mark stood right behind him ready to catch him if he fell. Which predictably he did. On the 4th step down he put too much weight on his leg and collapsed sending him face first down the stairs.

Mark reached out and grabbed the back of his shirt. He wiped his hand back throwing William into his chest and scooping him up.

“Are you ok?” He asked tentatively giving him a little kiss on the cheek.

“I’m fine. Put me down!” William demanded.

“Nu uh, you had your chance to try. I’m going to take care of you now” He said in a soft but stern voice as he started down the stairs.

His own William used to be this way. Stubborn, always running into things head first. Didn’t care if it was dangerous or stupid, he loved doing things his way. It was a quality Mark thought he’d taught him out of. But evidently not hard enough… that’s why he died. He heard about the fight on the news and just couldn’t stop himself from finding someone to help.

He wouldn’t let William make that same mistake again. He’d tech him to listen, stop him pushing himself past his limits. Be everything he needed.

He sat William down at the kitchen island and laid out lots of vegetables and knives. “You said pasta right? I was thinking lasagne?”

No response. He just turned and started cutting an onion. “Would you prefer something else?”

“No, lasagne’s fine”

Alright, what’s something William would want to talk about? “So… where’d you get that stupid T-shirt anyways? It not like it even fits you” He tried sounding casual and friendly, put William at ease.

He seemed thrown by the question. “I- uh- It’s a Uni shirt from upstate”

“What? Did they run out of extra smalls?” He teased.

“I am not a small!” He turned bright red embarrassed. “I’m a medium” He muttered turning away to save face.

He found it so cute, but he couldn’t rush in kissing him just yet. Not after last night. He needed William to come to him, to want him. Right now he needed to make William comfortable, get him to talk.

“Why don’t I buy you some more? We could go shopping… together" He said carefully.

William seemed open to it a first but then his exasperation turned, something sour. “I’m not going on anymore dates with you. Ok.”

He didn’t like Williams attitude but if no dates is what would make him like him then that’s what he’d get. “Alright, no date. We’d just be two people, hanging out”

“How would you even buy clothes? Isn’t everyone in America in work camps” He sounded dry and disgusted.

Mark had to turn this conversation around, make William happy. “Oh no, only the lower classes go to the camps. People like us can still go shopping”

It was good news, he couldn’t understand why that made William so upset.

“That’s disgusting! How can do that! Talk about us like we’re special just for having money!” He was reviled.

Mark didn’t understand the over reaction. William had always been clever. He thought he’d understand. Maybe he just had to explain the logic of it all. “Will, that’s all a human prison is. We only copied your design. It’s what’s most efficient”

“That’s different!” William yelled.

“How?” It was a simple question. He asked it calmly.

William seemed confused for a second. He tried to splutter out a reason but then went quiet looking down to the floor and sinking into his seat.

Mark was pleased with this outcome. Now William understood maybe he’d be open to let Mark comfort him, show him it’s not all bad.

“It’s ok to be confused” He reached out and stroked Williams soft hair and he didn’t refuse his affection. It just made Marks hart melt. “I didn’t understand either, when we started to conquer the planet my dad’s methods seemed… excessive. But when he explained it to me I came around, just like you will”

“Yeah, whatever. Let’s just make the stupid lasagne already” He was lashing out because he didn’t want to accept the truth. But Mark could work with that.

They continued on with the cooking. William couldn’t really help that much as he couldn’t stand for to long but Mark didn’t mind at all. He hoped William would see how well he provided.

There wasn’t really much conversation to be had as they cooked but Mark was getting pretty touchy with William; stroking his hair, holding his shoulder. He even let him give him a quick peck on the lips.

When it was done Mark wanted to carry him to the table but William resisted insisting on walking himself.

“Do you like it? I think we did an awesome job”

William was slouched and looking down at the meal twisting his fork in it. “It’s good”

William said it was good! Not just fine or whatever but actually good! He couldn’t keep himself from beaming with pride.

They ate their meal with Mark rambling on about learning to cook from his mum and William silently listening as he picked at his food. Once Mark was finished he just sat there expectantly staring at William waiting for him to eat. William looked up at him through his hair keeping his head facing down. It made him look like an adorable kitten.

“Aren’t you going to finish it? We worked really hard” There was still a lot left on his plate.

“I’m saving some for Red Rush”

Red Rush?! Red Rush was dead, what was he talking about. Did someone break into the house?! Was he sick?!

His face must have been as confused and shocked as his head because William felt the need to clarify. “The bird…” He said it like it should have been obvious but to be fair what was Mark supposed to think?

“You named your bird after… Red Rush?” That wasn’t what he’d expected him to call the bird. It seemed rather random honestly.

“He’s my favourite superhero… and they’re both red” He sounded timid and defensive of his naming choices. Mark would have found it sweet if he wasn’t reeling from the news Red Rush was his favourite superhero!

“Red Rush! What about me!? What does he have that I don’t have!?” Mark whined.

William seemed to find his outrage rather amusing. “I find his accent sexy”

Was he being… teased? He didn’t know whether to be happy at Williams familiarity or sad he preferred another man.

“Your bird can’t eat all that anyways, at least take your share” He said pouting at his prodded ego.

“I’m not really that hungry…” He stopped looking at Mark. “…I just get so anxious locked up all day… maybe if you let me out to the garden in the day I’d feel a bit better”

It was so disappointing. He really thought they were making progress but William was still trying to find a way to leave.

“William. Do you think I’m stupid?” He didn’t want to yell but he couldn’t conceal his anger and irritation. “You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do?”

“What are you talking about?!” He sounded panicked waving his hands out in front of him.

“The only reason I wasn’t angry at you about that stunt you pulled yesterday is because the GDA is gone!" Watching Williams face, now it was his turn to be amused. He smirked but the mean frown didn’t leave his face. “At least not the GDA you know. I’ve done some restructuring. Cecil works for me now.”

That little brat! After everything he’d done for him. He’s been so patient and William hadn’t so much as thanked him!.. But he knew another way his darling could thank him.

He grabbed the end of the table pushing away the only barrier between them with a crash and strode over. He leaned down and kissed him positively biting down on his bottom lip. His teeth drew blood and it tasted good. It tasted sweet. It tasted like his reward.

When he pulled back and stood William stared up at him with blood smeared down his chin. Looking at his little face all shocked and teary eyed felt so vindicating after everything he’d put him through. William tried standing up and backing away but Mark simply just kick out the cane from under him sending him crashing to his knees. He let out a loud yelp.

He wasn’t fighting back this time just siting there wracked with sobs. Good. Finally learnt his lesson then. But Mark wasn’t done teaching just yet.

He yanked William’s hair bring his head up to his hips and with his other hand slowly teasingly started undoing his belt.

“Open up” He was practically singing it he was so excited. William on the other hand was hyperventilating.

The lite flipped on bathing the scene in a harsh bright light. He looked around frantically to find whoever turned on the light switch. Coming face to face with his father who looked very taken off guard. But his dad recovered fast and returned to his usual apathy over such lowly creatures. “Tell him to shut up, I’m going to bed.”

He was frozen in shock. What had he just done. He wasn’t his farther. He wouldn’t let William end up like his mother!

It wasn’t the same though! He was teaching William a lesson! He’d never actually hurt him.

Looking back down what he saw got him to drop Williams hair immediately. The blood was mixed with his drying tears. But what disturbed him was the glassy look in his eyes. Glazed over like he was a million miles away.

They looked just like the eyes that haunted him every time he looked in the mirror. His poor mother.

“Will, baby” He sobbed out. He crashed to his knees joining William on the floor. “I’m sorry! Are you ok? I didn’t hurt you!”

This wasn’t what he had in mind when he took William home. He preferred him to go back to hitting or screaming or even running. Anything than this.

William didn’t say anything, just collapsed into his arm. “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry” Is all he kept saying. Whispering it into his hair like a prayer.

***

Chapter Text

“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry” Mark was whispering into his hair.

William didn’t really feel sad or scared. He just felt numb. Maybe it was the shock but his brain felt like static. All he could feel was the warm embrace of Marks arms dulling the hot pain on his lip and the electricity shooting up his leg. It wasn’t nice, it just wasn’t so bad either.

Mark cried and rocked for a while but eventually stilled.

As his head cleared slightly his thoughts were eerily calm. Why hadn’t he fort back? What should he do now? The questions felt like they came in waves.  William knew he should have been yelling trying to get as far away from Mark as possible… but Mark was so pathetic and small crying on the floor. He was begging for forgiveness and William didn’t know what happened to his grudge but his hart simply melted with so many strange and conflicting emotions.

Maybe if he just moved slowly enough quietly enough this fragile sense of calm wouldn’t be broken. He didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to decide how to feel just yet.

He took a deep sigh slowly grabbed his cane and stood. Marks arms were still holding him but they fell to his side with minimal effort. He couldn’t bring himself to look at that tearstained face.

He walked over to the table and started collecting the dishes. The only sound to be heard was the clinic of plates as he stacked them and started to wash up.

Mark eventually got off the floor and started moving the table back.

His chest clenched but William tried keeping his breathing steady but there was this tenseness in the air. Nether of them spoke only skirting around each other erasing all evidence of the night’s events as they tidied up.

When they were done William started up the stairs and to his relief Mark didn’t try picking him up instead standing at the bottom watching.

It was odd but Mark didn’t follow him to there room either. That was actually a relief because all he really wanted was to be alone right now.

Only after feeding Red Rush and reluctantly brushing his teeth did he accept he was alone and aloud himself to fall asleep.

The next morning he was forced to wake up because the morning sun was shining brightly in his eyes. Irritated, he rolled over only to be jolted out of his drowsy state by Mark, standing dressed in his super suit in the doorway looking very nervous half hidden behind the door frame. “Hey baby, how you feeling?..”

Willian wasn’t really sure how to answer that. Fine? Less than 6 hours ago Mark had assaulted him, how was he supposed to be fine?! But angry? That didn’t feel right either. He was struggling to find the right word so gave up and decided to ask his own question. “Are you going out?”

Mark looked relieved that William was talking to him but did his best to hide it. “Oh yeah, I’m going to work in a minute. Do you need anything before I go?”

“…No.” All there words were casual, friendly even, but there was a tense undercurrent to them.

Mark hesitantly left and he breathed a sigh of relief. He tried going back to sleep but his brain wouldn’t shut up so he climbed out and went to find something to occupy his mind.

Going down stairs he settled on cleaning. Starting with wiping down the work surface but his mind was still racing after the end of that so he moved on to moping. When that didn’t work he tried doing the laundry then dusting then hovering. The whole time he was thinking about what must be wrong with him. At first he attributed his lack of reaction to shock or maybe adrenaline but even now his feelings were all melting together and he couldn’t pick out one from the other.

“Y’know I could get used to this!” Nolan’s voice came out of nowhere making him jump out of his skin. He could have sworn he hadn’t heard him come in. Now one emotion was definitely surfacing over top the rest and that was anxiety.

Only then did his words actually register. Was Omni Man… making a joke? Marks farther wasn’t the most jovial of men even before he turned all murdery. But he still tried to return a small smile not wanting to get on his bad side.

He scurried off back upstairs as soon as the moment passed, to nervous and awkward to stay in the same room as him.

After not too long a knock came at the bedroom door. “…Come in”

Mark timidly entered the room and William tensed up not sure what to expect.

“Um- hey…” Clearly Mark didn’t know what he was supposed to be doing either. “I-uh-got you something” And he held out a small bottle of spray on antiseptic.

He slowly reached out and took it pulling back his hand like it was burned when there fingers brushed together. “…….thanks” After a few more awkward seconds of staring at each other Mark left. After inspecting it he sprayed it in the wound on his lip.

Was Mark angry at him? No his actions didn’t seem angry, they were more… scared. Did Mark feel guilty? Good. He should… But he didn’t like the tense conflict in the house. If he wasn’t lonely before he knew he would be now.

When Mark returned and got into bed William wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Mark didn’t ask to cuddle like usual and William moved right to the edge of the bed to put the most distance between them as possible. That looked like it might of physically pained Mark but he didn’t say anything just winced and rolled over. William could hear him softly crying into his pillow.

The week moved along slowly and Marks behaviour didn’t really change. They’d have one or maybe two awkward 30 second conversations a day and the rest of the time he’d be on edge jumping at the slightest physical contact.

After another week he found himself sitting at the top of the stairs while Mark and his farther hade dinner just to listen to there conversation. He just enjoyed hearing people talk.

Once, he was caught by Nolan who told him he was being creepy and to sit at the table. Now if a genocidal murderer is telling you you’re being weird that’s not something you’re ever gonna recover from. He still never spoke and they didn’t speak to him. After they were done he’d wash up and hear about there plans for the next few days. He’d always be so disgusted with them but wouldn’t dare speak up.

After one more week of this he couldn’t take it anymore. It only been just under two months and his mind was already being bent into submission. He knew it was wrong but he just needed Mark to speak to him anyone to talk to him.

Mark had just gotten home from Australia or wait was that Austria? It didn’t really matter, all that mattered was that Mark was sitting on the bed and William was inching towards him and sat down next to him.

That definitely took Mark off guard so to try put him at ease William placed his hand atop Marks hand. He wasn’t really sure if it had worked until he turned his hand over taking Williams hand in his palm.

That got Williams cheeks to go a little pink and his temple sweat with anxiety.

“I was thinking… about that shopping you mentioned…” That’s when he lost his nerve and hoped Mark had gotten the message.

Mark looked like he’d been given hope agin for the first time in three weeks. “You want to hang out with… me?!” He could barely contain his excitement.

In truth there was a million other people he’d rather hang out with but who was he gonna ask? Omni man? Yeah, don’t think so.

“Sure-“

“Wait right there! Let me go get your shoes!” And he rushed out of the room dropping his hand. William was confused about his feelings. On one hand he didn’t trust Mark not to try anything but on the other just to have someone touch him with gentle hands it felt like finally being able to breathe.

Mark quickly returned with Williams boots and lent down to put them on him. When he made contact William quickly  pulled his leg back. “I can do that myself!”

Holding hands was one thing but having Mark handle his leg made him feel to vulnerable. To Williams relief he didn’t argue only placed the shoes at his feet.

Getting them on was more of a struggle. His first foot was fine but his other ankle was still very sensitive and he simply didn’t have the willpower to push through it. He knew what he needed to do he just felt to ashamed to do it. “Mark… I… can’t…”

Mark very gently took the boot from him. “May I?”

“…Fine” The next emotion to push past the static was irritation but that soon melted away like everything else soon to be replaced by embarrassment as he yelped and whimpered in pain.

“There, all done. Are you alright?” His voice as soft as butter.

Williams face burned a bright red. “I’m fine.”

They silently made their way downstairs and Mark unlocked the door to the back garden allowing William outside. Once he was out he took a deep breath of crisp December air.

“Here, it’ll be cold” Mark said, handing William his green coat from there date.

Putting it on again didn’t invite any good memories as the last time he wore it Mark tried to rip his clothes off. That only piled on to his conflicted feelings about this whole situation.

They both stood there for a minute putting off what they both knew would have to happen next. Slowly, Mark picked him up into a bridle carry making him squeak with nerves. William held on tight to his cane like it was the last thing on earth as Mark flew into the sky.

Chapter Text

Mark was right, the flight was in fact very cold. Because Marks secret identity was well that a secret they had to fly above the cloud line so no one spotted them. It was chilly that when they eventually landed Williams nose and cheeks had turned red. Looking up he caught Mark staring who when they made eye contact turned away and blushed himself. Corny.

When they finally landed they were in a part of the city he didn’t recognise. Hell! They might be in a completely different city all together, it’s not like William would know. It’s just that the architecture seemed vaguely American.

Mark took his hand and started leading him around a couple of blocks and William just let him. He looked around and watched all the people going about there days. They probably looked like an ordinary couple or maybe two friends hanging out. No one here knew the horrifying truth and if they did they’d probably be running away.

Then he noticed something odd, people kept looking over at him and whispering to whoever they were with. He tried to listen in and caught a few things they were saying. ‘Look at his face’ ‘I bet he’s getting beat’ ‘Eww what happened to his lip?’. Clearly Mark had noticed and he seemed quite agitated. He stopped walking and turned around standing over him. It was like he was trying to shield him from the public.

“Just ignore them baby, they don’t know what they’re talking about.” Mark whispered and kissed his still healing forehead as he pulled up William’s hood to hide his face.

“Whatever.” William practically spat. They were hanging out but he was still uncomfortable with Mark acting so intimate.

Mark backed off but didn’t comment on his rudeness only taking his hand again and continuing to walk. “We’re here”

They were standing outside a huge Abercrombie and Fitch that was at least three stories tall. Mark ushered him inside and over to the men’s section. He’d never shopped at such an expensive shop before, in fact he’d been thrifting cloths ever since Amber gave him a half an hour lecture on fast fashion. He had no clue how Mark was going to afford this stuff and he didn’t want to know, Mark had this skill of always making nice things horrifying.

“Just pick a bunch of stuff and we can go try it on"

William timidly went forward to find something he liked. He explicitly noticed Mark hanging back letting him look but keeping a sharp eye on him always standing between him and the door.

He headed straight for the pants section, relieved he wouldn’t be wearing Marks boxers any more. Then he picked out a blue and white pinstripe shirt and some slightly baggy denim trousers.

“I ugh… Mark, can I… have these?” When he turned around to show Mark what he picked out only to seek he was standing right behind him with a bunch of cloths.

“I’ve got a bunch of stuff for you to try on!” Mark sounded very excited and showed him over to the dressing room.

He shoved the cloths in to his hands and pushed him into a changing room. They stood there for a minute staring at each other until Mark stepped forward and tried undoing his coat. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

“You weren’t changing?” He said retracting his hands looking surprised.

“Yeah because I’m waiting for you to leave!”

“You want me to… go?” Mark looked a little disappointed and quite sad but still left to give him some privacy. “I’ll just be out here, come out when you’ve got them on, ok”

Getting his shoes back off again was no easier but he felt weird about the idea of summoning and banishing Mark like a dog so resolved to do this on his own. He had to undo all the laces right up to the bottom as loose as they’d go and very carefully lift his foot out of the boot. Looking closely at his leg the swelling was gone but it still didn’t look right. It was slightly crooked and he could tell something was wrong. A creeping scenes of dread came over him but he forced it down hopping if he ignored it it would go away.

The rest of his clothes slipped off easily as he decided to try on his own outfit first.

“Will? Have you got cloths on?”

“Yeah, I’m coming” He said as he drew back the curtain.

“Wow… you look good, very fashionable”Marks cheeks turned rosey red.

“…Thanks… does that mean I can have them?”

“William. You can have anything you want” He said it like that should be obvious. An excited smile spread across his face. “Now you’ve got to try on the clothes I picked out!”

Begrudgingly, he redrew the curtain and started trying on Marks picks. Some were nice and fit well others weren’t his style or were the wrong size. The pyjamas Mark picked out were way too cutesy. They were all suit style but with harts or rabbits or pink frills. He looked ridiculous. Mark absolutely loved every single one of them. He tried on one pair that was baby blue and had the tiniest little shorts. Mark was definitely not seeing this one!

“Are you ready?” Mark asked but got too impatient and burst in.

“HEY! GET OUT!” He tried covering himself with more cloths but Mark kept staring at him turning red.

“You look… good” He took a big step forward cornering William.

“I SAID GET OUT !” There was something in his voice that time, more than angry more than scandalised. He could hear it even in himself he was scared. Real fear. Mark noticed to and immediately retreated looking very wounded. Maybe… everything that happened shook him up more than he’d thought. Regardless, it melted back into nothing.

Eventually he found out an acceptable pair of navy blue and cream plaid with minimal lace on the hems and collar. “A-Alright, I found something”

Mark gave him a sceptical look. “Are you sure? I prefer the blue one-“

“Well I don’t.” He tried putting his foot down like he actually had any power here.

“That’s ok, we can just get both” William rolled his eyes accepting the partial win. Mark could buy all the skimpy pyjamas he wanted that doesn’t mean he’s going to be wearing them.

They made their way over to till and to his surprise Mark actually had the money to pay for the couple of outfits they got.

“Thank you sir” William called out to the young cashier, desperate for social interaction with other people.

“No problem” He came back with a thick New York assent that made his hart flutter. “Can I ask you something?”

The cool New York man wanted to ask him a question?! “Y-Yeah?”

He leaned in slightly over the table. “Are you two on a date?”

“Y-“ Mark was about to say yes but William abruptly cut him off.

“No, we’re just hanging out”

The cashier looked quite pleased with that. “In that case, could I get your number?”

That got William to blush hard. Was this very cool guy asking him out? Before he could even open his mouth Mark steamrolled him with his own answer. “No. You can’t.”

The cashier looked up to Mark very unimpressed. “I don’t think I asked you”

Only then did William remember who he was here with. Suddenly he felt an overwhelming urge to leave. “Sorry, I don’t actually have a phone”

His soft rejection didn’t seem to calm Mark down who still looked like he was about to lunge across the till. He gave his hand a squeeze and whispered. “Mark? Can we please leave”

Mark looked down at him and his expression softened. “Yeah ok let’s go”

They exited the shop with one last look at the confused cashier. “I think we should just go home”

“You want to leave?! But I thought we were having fun?”

“Please, I just want to go” He didn’t want to put anyone else in danger. Mark hadn’t hurt anyone specifically for him as far as he knew but he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if that changed. He was selfish to even ask Mark to take him here.

Mark let out a sigh and took him down a secluded alleyway. Picking him up Mark took off into the sky and started flying home.

…

It was very late by the time they got back and William was freezing. They entered through the window and unpacked the clothes.

They were both tired so got into there pyjama’s and William realised that Mark was watching him change. It was probably very silly of him to be so scandalised at Mark trying to help him change earlier. He aloud Mark to help him with his boots this time.

“Thank you… for today” Williams still wasn’t sure how to feel about there ‘relationship’ but going outside being around people was something he would always enjoy.

“I’m glad you enjoyed-“ Mark started but was abruptly cut of by a very strange noise from downstairs. Mark stoped and looked very nervous.

“What is that?” William was curious to why Mark had reacted like that.

“I don’t know…”

That answer started a feeling of unease but his emotions felt so dulled he couldn’t muster any real fear. “It’s probably just your dad”

“My dad’s not home……. Wait here, I’ll check it out” And he left.

William didn’t care to listen to him and immediately poked his head out the door listening to Mark descending the stairs.

“Holy shit! You nearly gave me a hart attack”

“Why? I thought you were invulnerable” A mans tired voice snarked.

Williams curiosity got the better of him, he desperately wanted to see who was talking to invincible this way. He crept as quietly as he could down the hall and down the top few stairs.

He saw an older gentleman in a suit and tie. His hair line reseeded like the ocean tide but what grabbed Williams attention  the most was the large scar spanning half his face. He tried not to stare, stewing on the fact he was being left with a very similar scar upside his head.

“Why are you here Cecil?” Mark was annoyed. So this was Cecil.

“Because you didn’t show up to our appointment today” Cecil was clearly annoyed to.

“I got busy alright.” It was weird watching Mark trying to justify himself to someone who wasn’t his father. Cecil seemed to have this very commanding presence even though he was sure Mark could crush him in an instant.

“We had a deal Mark. You’re supposed to inform us before moving into hostile territory! How do you expect us to do our jobs if you don’t do yours.”

“It’s not like I was conquering. They didn’t even know I was there”

“Oh really? Because I’ve just had a very nasty message from the president of Switzerland”

“Ok! Ok, I’ll deal with them”

Suddenly the tone of the conversation shifted. “Looks like we have a rat” Cecil looked directly at him and his hart stopped for a beat.

Mark looked up at him to and he immediately started backing up the stairs scared he might be in trouble.

Suddenly a bright light flashed in front of him blocking his way up the stairs.

“And who might you be?” He sounded more curious than hostile. Though the gun in his holster stopped that from putting him at ease.

“William! I told you to wait upstairs.” Marks was standing right beneath him one step down, not sounding angry but exasperated.

“William? I thought William was dead.” He wasn’t actually talking to William instead staring at Mark with a mix of confusion and concern.

Mark opened his mouth to speak but William just steam rolled over him. “I’m from another dimension.”

“William!”

“Jesus Christ! How the hell did you end up here?”

“Mark kidnapped me.”

“WILLIAM!”

He didn’t know exactly why he was telling Cecil all this, he doubted he could actually help or that he’d even want to. But it felt so good to finally tell someone about everything that happened to him.

Cecil looked down at him with an unreadable expression until Mark picked him up and threw him over his shoulder. “I told you to wait upstairs.” He said annoyed carrying him back to the bedroom.

“HEY! PUT ME DOWN!” He screamed but he chose not to hit him remembering how that turned out last time.

Mark dropped him down onto the bed like a sack of flour. “Stay.” He said it in such a commanding tone he froze for a moment.

Mark pried the cane out of his hand taking it with him as he left so he was trapped on the bed. His face flushed with embarrassment. He probably came off very indignant and helpless. He hated how stupid and tiny it made him feel.

William couldn’t hear what they were talking about only muffled voices through the door. Until Mark raised his voice enough to be heard. “He is non of your concern!”

Eventually Mark returned in a huff and climbed into bed. He was muttering stuff about how stupid Cecil was.

“I thought you said Cecil worked for you?”

“He dose! Anyway it’s non of your business, go to sleep.”

William chuckled and lay back down. He thought Mark was something big and scary but here he was throwing a stupid tantrum like a kid. Maybe he wasn’t as different from his own Mark as he’d thought.

Chapter Text

The next morning William woke up with Mark holding his hand gently rubbing it with his thumb. He felt odd about it. He knew he should hate it but the gentle touch left a warm feeling in his chest. He didn’t want to let go. But his logical brain stopped him from getting any closer.

“William~ I can feel you staring” Mark teasingly whispered.

That gave him the push he needed to pull back his hand ending the intimate moment.

Mark sighed and disappointedly got out of bed putting on his super suit.

“You’re leaving already? It’s only 6AM” He asked sleepily sitting up and rubbing the sleep out his eyes. It was still pitch black outside and a layer of frost was siting on the windowpane.

“Yeah, dad wants me to train some more before we move down into South America. They’ve all unionized or some shit. Ughhh, It’s going to be such a pain” He whined tipping his head back. Then he looked directly back at William and smirked. “Why? You want me to stay?”

“What?! No!” He got very defensive at the idea but he wasn’t exactly sure why. It’s not like this was the first time he’d missed Marks company.

“Ok, Whatever you sayyy~” He gave William a quick peck on the cheek then flew out the window off into the sky.

The winter morning was cold and it was still very early so he lay back down on Marks half of the bed enjoying the body heat he’d left behind. Mark was like a human radiator but he’d never allow himself to actually get close enough to take advantage of it so this was the best he could get. He fell back asleep in the warm embrace of the duvet.

…

He was fast asleep but something dragged him awake. It was bright and pried his eyes open.

It was Cecil! Standing over him with a deep frown line between his eyebrows. “Get up kid, we need to talk.”

He shot up and ripped off the cover grabbing his cane and standing up with such speed that Cecil looked taken aback. “Cecil!?” Someone who could teleport!…

“Yeah, listen. I have a few questions for you”

“Like what?” What could Cecil possibly want from him ?

“You said you’re from another dimension. I’m gonna need you to tell me exactly how you got here” His tone was serious.

Why exactly would Cecil need to know that? What was he trying to get out of this? “…Why should I trust you? You work for Mark, this is probably like some set up or something”

“Why would Mark want to set you up? And more to the point I do not work for him. We have a partnership”

“Yeah a partnership to take over the fucking planet! Why the hell would I tell you about how to get to my dimension!”

“No. A partnership to protect the planet. It’s my job to minimise the human casualties. Which is why if Viltramites can open portals to other dimensions that has some serious implications.” He kept a cool and calm demeanour but William could tell he was getting irritated.

Now he wasn’t an idiot, he’d learnt to take opportunities where he could find them. It sounded like a better idea than waiting for him to go away. “Ok yeah. I’ll tell you anything you want to know…… If you take me with you.”

Cecil took a deep sigh. “I thought you might say that. But if you disappear Invincible’s first suspect is going to be the GDA and I can’t have that.”

“I don’t care! I can’t live like this any more! I want to go home!” He tried not to get emotional. He didn’t want to look as weak as he felt.

“Look kid, I can’t save you but I can help you.”

“How?!”

“The GDA has resources, just ask and I can get it for you. But only if you tell me what happened”

He thought about it for a minute. He still had every intention of running away as soon as the opportunity presented itself. But he couldn’t do it, at least not like this. Mark kept a close eye on the pain meds, never let William so much as look at them on his own. He also kept talking about how terrible the world was, the places Mark refused to show him. The way he was he didn’t stand a chance. “Ok. I want pain medication, a lot, a gun and a phone with a charger… oh and a new toothbrush.” He tried sounding as confident as possible.

“Ok.” One more flash of light and he was gone. William was left standing all alone.

While he waited he got dressed into the outfit he picked out plus his favourite red shirt.

Not too much later, another flash of light appeared and Cecil was back. He chucked the duffel bag over and William caught it in his chest. It felt like a drug deal or something, very adult but the idea didn’t scare him so much.

He checked inside and found everything he’d asked for. Seeing the gun sitting on top of the copious amount of drugs he’d asked for really made him realised how real this just got and he felt nothing. Was it odd how much he took this in stride?

“I got you your stuff. Now tell me how Mark opened that portal.”

“He didn’t. There was an attack at the university and this version of Mark just picked me up and took me to the others-“

“There were others?!”

“I saw 8 but there might have been more. And there was this man Angstrom, he was the one who opens the portals”

“Why would he be assembling an army of viltramites?” He looked quite worried but kept his tone steady.

“He wanted them to destroy my dimension. He was angry at my Mark, but I’m not sure why…”

“Oh I can think of one. Maybe because your boyfriend is a violent dictator-“

“My Mark is not a dictator! He protects the planet from the viltramites!.. And he’s not my boyfriend either”

“So this Angstrom guy is the only one who opens the portals?”

“Yes-“ And before anything else could be said he vanished again.

He only had to hide the bag now which was not as hard as it sounded. Mark and Nolan weren’t the most observant people when it comes to their own home. It wasn’t incorrect to say they underestimated him.

He only had to get up into the attic and shoved it into the crawl space. It wasn’t a place Mark would think to look in.

Before leaving he decided to take out the phone and punched in a number. It rang once it rang twice and it went to voicemail. His mum wasn’t picking up, neither was his dad. He hoped they’d just change their numbers and they weren’t… 

He tried Ricks number next then Ambers and Eves but they all had the same results.

Of course he knew if they picked up it wouldn’t be his friends but he was just so desperate to hear there voices, any versions of them.

He sat there for hours trying again and again until it almost drained the battery. The hope was burning out leaving a hollow sadness behind. Were all his loved ones really dead?….. He put the phone back in the bag holding in the few tears he had left to cry.

As he was at the top of the ladder letting the numb blanket fall back over him it was ripped off again at the sound of a muffled ring tone.

He tore open the bag and ripped out the phone again. It was his dad, he was calling back!

He picked up and with a shaky hand held the phone to his ear. Silence.

“Hello?… Who is this?…” It felt like a drug hearing his voice after so long.

He was scared that his dad would hang up. He had to keep him on the line. “Hello” he wasn’t sure what to say. “Uhh… Mr Clockwell?”

“….William, is that you?!” He sounded like he was in utter disbelief.

Should he answer? It’s not like this was his dad. He could be completely different. But he was also being given an opportunity that he wasn’t about to throw away. “Yes! Yes it’s me dad, it’s me!”

“You’re alive?! How!? Where have you been?! I thought you were dead!” He was rambling off questions most of which William couldn’t answer right now. He sounded like he was crying, hopefully with relief.

“I uhhhh it’s a long story. Are you and mum ok?” He felt bad for lying but desperation kept him going.

There was a long silence and he got a sinking feeling in his gut. “…I’m so sorry… she’s gone…” He sounded horribly bereaved.

William wanted to scream at the idea, but he had to keep reminding himself this wasn’t his mum. His mum could totally be alive he just had to keep hopping.

“William, you need to tell me where you are. I’m coming to get you!”

Shit. As much as he wanted his dad to come pick him up he couldn’t even get out the house. Even if he could get out he was certain Mark would kill his dad the second he found them and bring him right back. There was no chance he could put any version of his father in danger like that. “No. You can’t come here!” He went to hang up.

“WAIT! Please, at least tell me you’re safe!” Was he safe?… He wasn’t sure.

“I’m sorry, dad” His voice broke around the last word. He didn’t want to let go.

“WA-“ He hung up.

“I love you dad” He whispered to an empty room.

Putting everything away, it was like it never happened. Everything except the toothbrush which he brought to the bathroom. Placing it next to Marks he took the old one in his hands. An angry disgusted feeling sat behind the eyes. The blood carried it through his heart that pumped it to his hand- SNAP

The brush was in two pieces and he violently chucked it into the toilet, letting the water splash up the wall. He flushed away the toothbrush and the moment, leaving the feeling behind.

He whittled away the rest of the day with mind numbingly boring chores. At least it was something to do. Washing up, cleaning cloths, and mopping kept him on his feet most of the day.

By the time he was done, it had gotten dark all over again. His leg was killing him like crazy, so he decided to sit on the sofa rather than brave the stairs.

After sitting staring at the wall for god knows how long trying to think about anything other than the call with his dad he dosed off into an anxiety filled sleep.

…

BAM

William shot up at the loud noise immediately pretending he wasn’t just asleep.

It was only Nolan bursting in through the back door.

“Christ, could this stupid plant stop raining for 5 goddam minute” Nolan muttered under his breath tracking in puddles all over the freshly mopped floor! All his hard work! Gone to waist! He wanted to yell at him to take his shoes off but please he wasn’t that stupid.

Nolan started scanning the room. Wiping his finger on the counter to find it clean he gave William an unreadable expression that made him snick into his seat with a mix of embarrassment and fear.

“You missed a spot” He scoffed throwing   a pack of kitchen role over to William which he not so gracefully caught with is face.

That fucking asshole should be cleaning up his own messes. “Why the hell does Mark put up with you anyway?” He muttered so quietly he thought he might not have said it out loud.

“What did you just say to me?” Nolan’s voice was so intense the room froze over and Williams muscles tensed up like it was possible to run. Shit. How had he heard that?! Maybe he was that stupid.

“I-I…” There was no answer that could get him out of this so he let the room stay silent for a several beats. The downpour of rain outside sounded deafening as he wondered if that would be the last thing he would ever hear.

He pressed his eyes shut as hard as possible, not ready to accept his fate but sure in the knowledge there was nowhere else to go.

The most care free voice in the world cut through the air. “Sorry I’m late, I stopped by what’s left of Colombia and picked us up some dinner!” He held up the plastic bags he had in his hands.

“Mark!” William called out as he rushed over grabbing his hand. Mark blushed a deep pink unaware William was using him so Nolan didn’t take his head. “How was South America?”

“Oh, it was nice… well it wasn’t, they threw a bunch of nukes at me, but Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador surrendered” He squeezed Williams hand back then started laying out a bunch of Colombian street food on the table. “You should totally try the Arepas. Arepas? I’m not sure if that’s how you say it. Let me just get out of my suit real quick!” He said as he ran off upstairs.

The temperature dropped back down the second Mark left the room. His head whipped back round to Omni Man who was walking towards him! Each step he took sounded like thunder as Williams hart dropped into his stomach. He wanted to run, scream out for Mark, but his body officially refused and attempts to move. Cold sweat pooled in his hands.

When Omni Man was standing right on top of him with a twisted exasperation on his face William thought he was about to die, sure of it. But instead of putting a hole through his face Nolan simply kicked his cane out from under him sending him crashing to the floor.

“Clean that shit up” He spat down at him before casually stepping over his shaking body and walking up the stairs.

Finally, he let out a shaky whimper and started drying the floor through tremoring hands. His heart beat was so fast it hurt.

Once he was done, his chest still felt tight like he couldn’t breathe. The room felt like it was closing in and he stumbled to the door not actually expecting it to open. He tried the doorknob anyway and shockingly it swung open, Mark must have forgotten to lock it.

He rushed out into the cold air and immediately got pelt with rain but that’s not what stopped him in his tracks. What stopped him were the two people coming out of the shed while dragging something larger behind them. It was dark so he couldn’t make it out but he could have sworn there were chunks of blue and yellow. He was to surprised to speak so he just stood there watching them. They put whatever they were taking in a large bag and one of them threw it over there shoulder.

Then an arm wrapped around his wasn’t making him yelp. The arm gently dragged him inside and he looked up to see Marks worried face. “Will, what were you doing standing out there you’re gonna catch a cold!”

“Who the hell was that?!”

“They’re just some people who work for me. It’s nothing for you to worry about” He gently murmured into his ear not wanting him to be distressed.

“But… what were they doing in there?…” Should he have asked them for help? They work for Mark so they’d probably just throw him back inside. Though Cecil hardly seemed to care what he did.

“Come on, we’re about to eat dinner. Stop worrying about that stuff and sit”

He softly pulled him over to the table and sat him down in front of a plate filled will with warm food. He draped a small hand towel over his shoulders catching the drops from his hair and sat down next to him.

The rest of the night was mostly Mark regaling him with the cool things he saw in South America and Nolan scolding him for sloppy form and slow reactions in there fights.

He was relived when it was finally over and he could sneak off to bed. Getting out of his wet cloths and into his dry pyjamas was like a dream but there was still a cold chill at his core. Wrapping himself in the duvet didn’t help either, he still shivered struggling to fall asleep.

A little while later, Mark came in and joined him in bed. “You really shouldn’t have been standing in the rain like that, I told you you’d catch a cold”

“I haven’t got a cold! It’s just chilly in here” He said while very obviously shivering.

“Yeah, sure” He giggled and pulled William in close.

William should have hated it, having this animal holding him. But his body was so warm and cozy. The heat lulled him to sleep before he had time to really think about what he was doing.